International journal of cardiology. Heart & vessels最新文献

Background

Deficiency of 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] is a treatable condition that has been associated with coronary artery disease and many of its risk factors. A practical time to assess for 25(OH)D deficiency, and to initiate treatment, is at the time of an acute myocardial infarction(AMI). The prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency and the characteristics associated with it in patients with acute myocardial infarction are unknown.

Methods

In this study 25(OH)D was assessed in 314 subjects enrolled in a Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Science and Research(SJICS&R). Patients enrolled from December 1, 2011 to February 28, 2012 had serum samples sent to a centralized laboratory for analysis using the ELECYS assay. Normal 25(OH)D levels are ≥ 30 ng/ml, and patients with levels < 30 and > 20 ng/ml were classified as insufficient and those with levels ≤ 20 ng/ml as deficient. Vitamin D and other baseline characteristics were analyzed with T-test and chi-squared test.

Results

Of the 314 enrolled patents, 212 (67.5%) were 25(OH)D deficient and 50(16%) were insufficient, for a total of 83.5% of patients with abnormally low 25(OH)D levels. No significant heterogeneity was observed among age or gender sub groups but 25(OH)D deficiency was more commonly seen in those with lower socioeconomic status, lower activity levels, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia(LDL), hypertriglyceridemia and in smokers.

Conclusion

Vitamin D deficiency is present in most of the patients with acute myocardial infarction and it is associated with many of its risk factors in our study.

Background

Previous clinical trials have demonstrated the clinical and angiographic superiority of everolimus-eluting stents (EES) compared with paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) in the small coronary vessel. However, the differences of vascular response including assessment of morphological neointimal tissue (NIT) characteristics using optical coherence tomography (OCT) have not been fully evaluated. The aim of this study is to evaluate the differences of chronic vascular response following small coronary stenting between EES and PES using OCT.

Methods and results

A prospective OCT examination at 9 month follow-up was performed for 50 small coronary artery diseases (50 patients) treated by a single 2.5 mm stent for each stent group. Cross-sectional area within stent segments were analyzed at an interval of 1 mm. NIT structure (homogeneous or heterogeneous) was evaluated for qualitative assessment. Homogeneous NIT was observed significantly higher and heterogeneous NIT was lower in EES compared with PES (93% vs. 89%; p = 0.003, 6.5% vs. 10.3%; p = 0.002, respectively). The frequencies of exposed and malapposed struts were lower in EES compared with PES (0.2% vs. 1.7%; p = 0.0001, 0.1% vs. 0.3%; p = 0.001, respectively). NIT eccentricity index and NIT area were lower in EES compared with PES (0.69 ± 0.08 vs. 0.76 ± 0.10; p = 0.001, 0.97 ± 0.42 mm² vs. 1.27 ± 0.67 mm²; p = 0.01, respectively).

Conclusions

A favorable vascular response was observed after EES implantation compared with PES for small coronary artery disease. In addition, the characteristics of NIT after EES implantation were more stable than PES at 9 month follow-up.

Background

The time course of progressive dilatation of the right ventricle (RV) in adults with pulmonary regurgitation (PR) late after repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is poorly characterized.

Methods

We analysed cardiac MRI data (1.5 T) from 14 adult repaired TOF patients (26 ± 11 years of age) with dilated RVs and known significant PR, on 2 separate visits with a between MRI period of 2.1 ± 1.0 years.

Results

Indexed RV end diastolic volume (RVEDVi) increased over 2 years (142 ± 19 to 151 ± 20 mL/m², p = 0.005; change = 8.4 ± 9.3 mL/m², range = − 6 to 26 mL/m²; annual mL/m² increase = 4.3 ± 4.6; annual percentage increase = 3.1 ± 3.3%), whilst RV ejection fraction decreased (53 ± 8 to 49 ± 7 %, p = 0.039). RV muscular corpus (RVMC) EDVi significantly increased (130 ± 19 to 138 ± 20 mL/m², p = 0.014), whereas RV outflow tract (RVOT) EDVi did not (12 ± 7 vs 13 ± 6 mL/m², p = 0.390). No other RV or LV measures significantly changed during the inter-MRI period. The change in RVEDVi correlated significantly with LV end diastolic volume (r = − 0.582, p = 0.029), RVEDVi:LVEDVi (r = 0.6, p = 0.023) and RVMC EDVi (r = 0.9, p < 0.001) but not RVOT EDVi (r = 0.225, p = 0.459).

Conclusions

Adult repaired TOF patients with free PR experienced a mean 3.1%, or 4.3 mL/m², annual increase in RVEDVi, unrelated to the initial RVEDVi or PR fraction. The increase in RVEDVi was due to RVMC rather than RVOT dilatation. This provides a guide to the frequency of MR surveillance and insights into the natural history of progressive RV dilatation in this setting.

Objective

The proper treatment of chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation (CIMR) is still under evaluation. The different role of mitral valve repair (MVr) or mitral valve prosthesis insertion (MVPI) is still not defined.

Methods

From May 2009 to December 2011 167 patients with ejection fraction (EF) ≤ 40% had MV surgery for CIMR, MVr in 135 (80.8%) and MVPI in 32 (19.2%). Indication to MVPI was a MV coaptation depth > 10 mm. EF was lower (26 ± 7 vs 32 ± 6, p = 0.0000) in MVPI, whereas MR grade (3.6 ± 0.8 vs 2.7 ± 0.9, p = 0.0000), left ventricle dimensions (end diastolic, LVEDD, 62 ± 7 vs 57 ± 6 mm, p = 0.0001; end systolic, LVESD, 49 ± 8 vs 44 ± 8 mm, p = 0.0018), systolic pulmonary artery pressure (51 ± 22 vs 41 ± 16 mm Hg, p = 0.0037) and NYHA Class (3.6 ± 0.5 vs 2.8 ± 0.6, p = 0.0000) were higher.

Results

In-hospital mortality was similar (3.1 vs 3.7%) as well as 3-year survival (86 ± 6 vs 88 ± 4) and survival in NYHA Class I/II (80 ± 5 vs 83 ± 4). One hundred thirty nine patients had an echocardiographic evaluation after a minimum of 4 months (13 ± 8). EF rose significantly in both groups (from 26 ± 7% to 30 ± 4%, p = 0.0122, and from 32 ± 6% to 35 ± 8%, p = 0.0018). LVESD reduced significantly in both groups (from 49 ± 8 to 43 ± 9 mm, p = 0.0109, and from 44 ± 8 to 41 ± 7 mm, p = 0.0033). MR grade was significantly lower in patients who had MVPI (0.1 ± 0.2 vs 0.3 ± 0.3, p = 0.0011).

Conclusions

With appropriate indications, MVPI is a safe procedure which provides similar results to MVr with lower MR return, even if addressed to patients with worse preoperative parameters.

Aims

Characterization of neointimal tissue is essential to understand the pathophysiology of in-stent restenosis (ISR) after drug eluting stent (DES) implantation. Using optical coherence tomography (OCT), we compared the morphologic characteristics of ISR between first and second generation DES.

Methods and Results

OCT was performed in 66 DES-ISR, defined as > 50% angiographic diameter stenosis within the stented segment. Patients with ISR of first generation sirolimus-eluting stents (SES), paclitaxel eluting stents (PES) and second generation zotarolimus-eluting stents (ZES), everolimus-eluting stents (EES) and biolimus-eluting stents (BES) were enrolled. Quantitative and qualitative ISR tissue analysis was performed at 1-mm intervals along the entire stent, and categorised as homogeneous, heterogeneous and neo-atherosclerosis. The presence of microvessels and peri-strut low intensity area (PSLIA) was determined in all ISR. Neoatherosclerosis was identified by lipid, calcium and thin-cap fibro-atheroma (TCFA) like lesions. We compared the two DES generations at both early (< 1 year) and late (> 1 year) follow-ups.

In second generation DES a heterogeneous pattern was prevalent both before and after 1 year (57.1% and 58.6% respectively). Neo-atherosclerosis was more common in the early period in first generation DES (19.4% vs 11.7%, p < 0.01), but after one year was more prevalent in second generation DES (7.0% vs 19.3%, p < 0.01). Similar prevalence of TCFAs was observed in both groups in all comparisons.

Conclusions

When ISR restenosis occurs in second generation DES, the current data suggest a different time course and different morphological characteristics from first generation. Future prospective studies should evaluate the relationship between ISR morphology, time course and clinical events.

Background

There is no evidence from randomized trials for the benefit of routine non-compliant balloon (NCB) post-dilation after stent deployment. Despite being the gold standard, intravascular ultrasound is infrequently performed due to time and cost constraints and a suitable alternative technology is required for routine assessment of stent expansion. The purpose of this study was to assess the contribution of NCB post-dilation in optimizing contemporary stents by using digital stent enhancement (DSE).

Methods

We treated 120 patients with stent insertion and assessed the stents with DSE before and after NCB use. Optimal expansion was defined as the minimum stent diameter (MSD) ≥ 90% of the nominal stent diameter, an adaptation of the MUSIC and POSTIT trial criteria. Stent deployment was performed at 12 atm pressure followed by routine NCB post-dilation at ≥ 14 atm.

Results

The mean reference diameter on QCA was 2.75 mm (SD 0.63) and mean stent diameter was 3.15 mm (SD 0.46). At a mean stent deployment pressure of 11.7 atm (SD 2.4), only 21% of stents were optimally expanded. After NCB inflation at a mean of 16.9 atm (SD 2.8), MSD increased by 0.26 mm (SD 0.24), optimal stent expansion increased from 21% to 58% and mean stent symmetry ratio increased from 0.83 to 0.87 (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Contemporary stents are sub-optimally expanded in the majority of cases after standard deployment compared with nominal sizes. Adjunctive NCB post-dilation optimized an additional 37% of stents. DSE analysis can assist in qualitative and quantitative stent assessments and can potentially facilitate a selective NCB post-dilation strategy to achieve optimal stent expansion.

Background

Glucocorticoids as well as mineralocorticoid have been shown to play essential roles in the regulation of electrical and mechanical activities in cardiomyocytes. Excess of these hormones is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Intracellular sodium ([Na⁺]_i) kinetics are involved in cardiac diseases, including ischemia, heart failure and hypertrophy. However, intrinsic mediators that regulate [Na⁺]_i in cardiomyocytes have not been widely discussed. Moreover, the quantitative estimation of altered [Na⁺]_i in cultured cardiomyocytes and the association between the level of [Na⁺]_i and the severity of pathological conditions, such as hypertrophy, have not been precisely reported.

Methods and results

We herein demonstrate the quantitative estimation of [Na⁺]_i in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes following 24 h of treatment with corticosterone, aldosterone and dexamethasone. The physiological concentration of glucocorticoids increased [Na⁺]_i up to approximately 2.5 mM (an almost 1.5-fold increase compared to the control) in a dose-dependent manner; this effect was blocked by a glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonist but not a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist. Furthermore, glucocorticoids induced cardiac hypertrophy, and the hypertrophic gene expression was positively and significantly correlated with the level of [Na⁺]_i. Dexamethasone induced the upregulation of Na⁺/Ca^{2 +} exchanger 1 at the mRNA and protein levels.

Conclusions

The physiological concentration of glucocorticoids increases [Na⁺]_i via GR. The dexamethasone-induced upregulation of NCX1 is partly involved in the glucocorticoid-induced alteration of [Na⁺]_i in cardiomyocytes. These results provide new insight into the mechanisms by which glucocorticoid excess within a physiological concentration contributes to the development of cardiac pathology.

A review of the predictive ability of arterial and valvular calcification has shown an additive effect of calcification in more than 1 location in predicting mortality and coronary heart disease, with mitral annual calcification being a particularly strong predictor. In individual arteries and valves there is a clear association between calcification presence, extent and progression and future cardiovascular events and mortality in asymptomatic, symptomatic and high risk patients, although adjustment for calcification in other arterial beds generally renders associations non-significant. Furthermore, in acute coronary syndrome, culprit plaque is normally not calcified. This would tend to reduce the validity of calcification as a predictor and suggest that the association with cardiovascular events and mortality may not be causal. The association with stroke is less clear; carotid and intracranial artery calcification show little predictive ability, with symptomatic plaques tending to be uncalcified.

Background

Expert consensus statements on management of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) emphasize the importance of having discussions about deactivation before and after implantation. These statements were developed with limited patient input. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors associated with patients' experiences of end-of-life discussions, attitudes towards such discussions, and attitudes towards withdrawal of therapy (i.e., generator replacement and deactivation) at end-of-life, in a large national cohort of ICD-recipients.

Methods

We enrolled 3067 ICD-patients, administrating the End-of-Life-ICD-Questionnaire.

Results

Most (86%) had not discussed ICD-deactivation with their physician. Most (69%) thought discussions were best at end-of-life, but 40% stated that they never wanted the physician to initiate a discussion. Those unwilling to discuss deactivation were younger, had experienced battery replacement, had a longer time since implantation, and had better quality-of-life. Those with psychological morbidity were more likely to desire a discussion about deactivation. Many patients (39%) were unable to foresee what to decide about deactivation in an anticipated terminal condition. Women, those without depression, and those with worse ICD-related experiences were more indecisive about withdrawal of therapy. Irrespective of shock experiences, those who could take a stand regarding deactivation chose to keep shock therapies active in many cases (39%).

Conclusions

Despite consensus statements recommending discussions about ICD-deactivation at the end-of-life, such discussion usually do not occur. There is substantial ambivalence and indecisiveness on the part of most ICD-patients in this nationwide survey about having these discussions and about expressing desires about deactivation in an anticipated end-of-life situation.