Procedural outcomes of chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary interventions in patients with acute kidney injury

Background: The prognostic impact of contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) in patients undergoing chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains underestimated. Methods: We examined 2707 consecutive procedures performed in a referral CTO center between 2015 and 2019. CA-AKI was defined as an increase in serum creatinine ≥ 0.3 mg/dL or ≥ 50% within 48 h post-PCI. Primary endpoints were in-hospital major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE, composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization, stroke) and at one year of follow-up. Results: The overall incidence of CA-AKI was 11.5%. Technical success was comparable (87.2% vs. 90.5%, p = 0.056) whereas procedural success was lower in the CA-AKI group (84.3% vs. 89.7%, p = 0.004). Overall in-hospital MACCE was 1.3%, and it was similar in patients with and without CA-AKI (1.6% vs. 1.3%, p = 0.655); however, the rate of pericardial tamponade requiring pericardiocentesis was significantly higher in patients with CA-AKI (2.2% vs. 0.5%, p = 0.001). In multivariate analysis, CA-AKI was not independently associated with higher risk for in-hospital MACCE (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.34, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.45–3.19, p = 0.563). At a median follow-up time of 14 months (interquartile range [IQR], 11 to 35 months), one-year MACCE was significantly higher in patients with vs. without CA-AKI (20.8% vs. 12.8%, p < 0.001), and CA-AKI increased the risk for one-year MACCE (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.46, 95% CI 1.07–1.95, p = 0.017) following CTO PCI. Conclusions: CA-AKI in patients undergoing CTO PCI occurs in approximately one out of 10 patients. Our study highlights that patients developing CA-AKI are at increased risk for long-term MACCE

A koszorúér-betegség szignifikáns progressziójának prediktorai = Predictors of significant progression of coronary artery disease

Háttér és célkitűzés: Iszkémiás szívbetegség gyanúja esetén validált prediktorokon alapuló, a kórkép valószínűségét előrejelző rendszerek segítik a klinikus diagnosztikus munkáját. Ezzel szemben már ismert koszorúér-betegség esetén nincsenek bevált prediktorok, amelyek a koszorúér-betegség szignifikáns progresszióját jeleznék. Jelen célkitűzésünk az volt, hogy meghatározzuk azon tényezőket, amelyek az ismert obstruktív koszorúér-betegség szignifikáns progres - szióját (de novo szignifikáns natív koronárialézió, és/vagy de novo szignifikáns in stent restenosis) jelzik. Módszerek: Retrospektív vizsgálatunkba olyan 212 egymást követő, elektív rekoronarográfián átesett beteget vontunk be, akiknél korábban már invazív koronarográfiával igazolták az obstruktív koszorúér-betegséget (38% nő, átlagéletkor 64±10 év). Kizárásra kerültek a tervezett perkután koronária-intervenció, tervezett intrakoronáriás nyomásgrádiens-meghatározás és az akut koronária szindróma miatt indikált vizsgálatok. Feldolgozásra kerültek a panaszok jellemzői, az indikációk, a stressz tesztek eredményei, az anamnesztikus adatok, az elektrokardiográfia, az echokardiográfia, a korábbi szívkatéterezések és intervenciók paraméterei. Eredmények: A betegek 59%-ánál detektáltunk szignifikáns progressziót (64% natív koronárialézió, 20% in stent restenosis, 16% mindkettő). A vizsgált változók közül az alábbiak bizonyultak a legerősebb prediktornak: utolsó szívinfarktus óta eltelt idő; megelőző koronarográfia óta eltelt idő; legutolsó perkután intervenció óta eltelt idő; típusos vagy atípusos mellkasi fájdalom; előző intervenciók során nem történt gyógyszerkibocsájtó stentimplantáció; szegmentális falmozgászavar; bármilyen mellkasi fájdalom; sima fém stent beültetése az utolsó intervenciókor. Következtetés: Eredményeink segítséget nyújthatnak egy olyan prediktív rendszer kidolgozásához, amely előre jelezheti a koszorúér-betegség szignifikáns progressziójának valószínűségét, így segítve a nem invazív vizsgálatok és a rekoronarográfia mérlegelését. = Background: In patients with suspected coronary artery disease, validated pre-test probability models help the clinician’s decision-making, based on simple patient and symptom characteristics. For patients with history of definitive coronary artery disease similar pre-test probability evaluation is not available. In our retrospective analysis, we sought to investigate the predictors of significant progression of coronary artery disease (de novo significant native coronary lesion and/or de novo significant in stent restenosis) in patients with history of obstructive coronary artery disease validated by previous angiogram. Methods: Consecutive 212 patients, referred for repeated elective coronary angiography, were involved (38% woman, age 64±10 years). Exclusion criteria were: scheduled coronary intervention or fractional flow reserve measurement based on previous angiogram, acute coronary syndrome. Characteristics of symptoms, indications, medical history, results of non-invasive tests, parameters of echocardiography, electrocardiography, previous coronary angiograms and interventions were assessed. Results: Progression was found in 59% of the patients (64% native coronary lesion, 20% in stent restenosis, 16% both). Among the investigated variables, the strongest predictors are the followings: time since the last myocardial infarction, time since the last coronary angiography, time since the last coronary intervention, typical, or atypical chest pain, no drug-eluting stent in coronary arteries, regional wall motion abnormality, any kind of chest pain, use of bare metal stent at the last intervention. Conclusion: Our results may help to create pre-test probability models in the future, to predict significant progression of coronary artery disease to facilitate the decision-making between invasive and non-invasive approach

Diagnostic Performance of On-Site Computed Tomography Derived Fractional Flow Reserve on Non-Culprit Coronary Lesions in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

The role of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) in the assessment of non-culprit lesions (NCL) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is debated. In this prospective clinical study, a total of 68 ACS patients with 89 moderate (30–70% diameter stenosis) NCLs were enrolled to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of on-site CT-FFR compared to invasive fractional flow reserve (FFRi) and dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) as reference standards. CT-FFR and FFRi values ≤0.80, as well as new or worsening wall motion abnormality in ≥2 contiguous segments on the supplying area of an NCL on DSE, were considered positive for ischemia. Sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive value of CT-FFR relative to FFRi and DSE were 51%, 89%, 75%, and 74% and 37%, 77%, 42%, and 74%, respectively. CT-FFR value (β = 0.334, p < 0.001) and CT-FFR drop from proximal to distal measuring point [(CT-FFR drop), β = −0.289, p = 0.002)] were independent predictors of FFRi value in multivariate linear regression analysis. Based on comparing their receiver operating characteristics area under the curve (AUC) values, CT-FFR value and CT-FFR drop provided better discriminatory power than CCTA-based minimal lumen diameter stenosis to distinguish between an NCL with positive and negative FFRi [0.77 (95% Confidence Intervals, CI: 0.67–0.86) and 0.77 (CI: 0.67–0.86) vs. 0.63 (CI: 0.52–0.73), p = 0.029 and p = 0.043, respectively]. Neither CT-FFR value nor CT-FFR drop was predictive of regional wall motion score index at peak stress (β = −0.440, p = 0.441 and β = 0.403, p = 0.494) or was able to confirm ischemia on the territory of an NCL revealed by DSE (AUC = 0.54, CI: 0.43–0.64 and AUC = 0.55, CI: 0.44–0.65, respectively). In conclusion, on-site CT-FFR is superior to conventional CCTA-based anatomical analysis in the assessment of moderate NCLs; however, its diagnostic capacity is not sufficient to make it a gatekeeper to invasive functional evaluation. Moreover, based on its comparison with DSE, CT-FFR might not yield any information on the microvascular dysfunction in the territory of an NCL

Elevated Fasting Glucose and C-Reactive Protein Levels Predict Increased All-Cause Mortality after Elective Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Surgical aortic valve replacement in the elderly is now being supplanted by transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Scoring systems to predict survival after catheter-based procedures are understudied. Both diabetes (DM) and underlying inflammatory conditions are common in patients undergoing TAVI, but their impact remains understudied in this patient group. We examined 560 consecutive TAVI procedures and identified eight pre-procedural factors: age, body mass index (BMI), DM, fasting blood glucose (BG), left-ventricular ejection fraction (EF), aortic valve (AV) mean gradient, C-reactive protein levels, and serum creatinine levels and studied their impact on survival. The overall mortality rate at 30 days, 1 year and 2 years were 5.2%, 16.6%, and 34.3%, respectively. All-cause mortality was higher in patients with DM (at 30 days: 8.9% vs. 3.1%, p = 0.008; at 1 year: 19.7% vs. 14.9%, p = 0.323; at 2 years: 37.9% vs. 32.2%, p = 0.304). The presence of DM was independently associated with increased 30-day mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 5.38, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24–23.25, p = 0.024). BG levels within 7–11, 1 mmol/L portended an increased risk for 30-day and 2-year mortality compared to normal BG (p = 0.001 and p = 0.027). For each 1 mmol/L increase in BG 30-day mortality increased (HR 1.21, 95% CI, 1.04–1.41, p = 0.015). Reduced EF and elevated CRP were each associated with increased 2-year mortality (p = 0.042 and p = 0.003). DM, elevated BG, reduced EF, and elevated baseline CRP levels each are independent predictors of short- and long-term mortality following TAVI. These easily accessible screening parameters should be integrated into risk-assessment tools for catheter-based aortic valve replacement candidates

Short- and Medium-Term Outcomes Comparison of Native- and Valve-in-Valve TAVI Procedures

Background: In high-risk patients with degenerated aortic bioprostheses, valve-in-valve (ViV) transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has emerged as a less invasive alternative to surgical valve replacement. To compare outcomes of ViV and native valve (NV) TAVI procedures. Methods: 34 aortic ViV-TAVI performed between 2012 and 2022 using self-expanding valves, were included in this retrospective analysis. Propensity score matching (1:2 ratio, 19 criteria) was used to select a comparison NV-TAVI group from a database of 1206 TAVI procedures. Clinical and echocardiographic endpoints, short- and long-term all-cause mortality (ACM) and cardiovascular mortality (CVM) data were obtained. Subgroup analyses were completed according to the true internal diameter, dividing patients into a small (≤19 mm) valve group (SVG) and a large (>19 mm) valve group (LVG). Results: Clinical outcomes of ViV- and NV-TAVI were comparable, including device success [88.2% vs. 91.1%, p = 0.727], major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events [5.8% vs. 5.8%, p = 1.000], hemodialysis need [5.8% vs. 2.9%, p = 0.599], pacemaker need [2.9% vs. 11.7%, p = 0.265], major vascular complications [2.9% vs. 1.4%, p = 1.000], life-threatening or major bleeding [2.9% vs. 1.4%, p = 1.000] and in-hospital mortality [8.8% vs. 5.9%, p = 0.556]. There was a significant difference in the immediate post-intervention mean residual aortic valve gradient (MAVG) [14.6 ± 8.5 mm Hg vs. 6.4 ± 4.5 mm Hg, p < 0.0001], which persisted at 1 year [p = 0.0002]. There were no differences in 12- or 30-month ACM [11.8% vs. 8.8%, p = 0.588; 23.5% vs. 27.9%, p = 0.948], and CVM [11.8% vs. 7.3%, p = 0.441; 23.5% vs. 16.2%, p = 0.239]. Lastly, there was no difference in CVM at 1 year and 30 months [11.1% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.889; 22.2% vs. 25.0%, p = 0.742]. Conclusions: Analyzing a limited group (n = 34) of ViV-TAVI procedures out of 1206 TAVIs done at a single institution, ViV-TAVI appeared to be an acceptable approach in patients not deemed appropriate candidates for redo valve replacement surgery. Clinical outcomes of ViV-TAVI were comparable to TAVI for native valve stenosis