Renal Artery Stenting in Consecutive High-Risk Patients With Atherosclerotic Renovascular Disease:A Prospective 2-Center Cohort Study

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the effects of renal artery stenting in consecutive patients with severe atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis and high‐risk clinical presentations as defined in a national protocol developed in 2015. METHODS AND RESULTS: Since the protocol was initiated, 102 patients have been referred for revascularization according to the following high‐risk criteria: severe renal artery stenosis (≥70%) with true resistant hypertension, rapidly declining kidney function, or recurrent heart failure/sudden pulmonary edema. At baseline, the mean 24‐hour ambulatory systolic blood pressure was 166.2 mm Hg (95% CI, 162.0–170.4), the defined daily dose of antihypertensive medication was 6.5 (95% CI, 5.8–7.3), and the estimated glomerular filtration rate was 41.1 mL/min per 1.73m(2) (95% CI, 36.6–45.6). In 96 patients with available 3‐month follow‐up data, mean 24‐hour ambulatory systolic blood pressure decreased by 19.6 mm Hg (95% CI, 15.4–23.8; P<0.001), the defined daily dose of antihypertensive medication was reduced by 52% (95% CI, 41%–62%; P<0.001), and estimated glomerular filtration rate increased by 7.8 mL/min per 1.73m(2) (95% CI, 4.5–11.1; P<0.001). All changes persisted after 24 month follow‐up. Among 17 patients with a history of hospitalization for acute decompensated heart failure, 14 patients had no new episodes after successful revascularization. CONCLUSIONS: In this prospective cohort study, we observed a reduction in blood pressure and antihypertensive medication, an increase in estimated glomerular filtration rate, and a decrease in new hospital admissions attributable to heart failure/sudden pulmonary edema after renal artery stenting. REGISTRATION: URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov. Identifier: NCT02770066

Duration of clopidogrel treatment and risk of mortality and recurrent myocardial infarction among 11 680 patients with myocardial infarction treated with percutaneous coronary intervention: a cohort study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The optimal duration of clopidogrel treatment after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is unclear. We studied the risk of death or recurrent myocardial infarction (MI) in relation to 6- and 12-months clopidogrel treatment among MI patients treated with PCI.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using nationwide registers of hospitalizations and drug dispensing from pharmacies we identified 11 680 patients admitted with MI, treated with PCI and clopidogrel. Clopidogrel treatment was categorized in a 6-months and a 12-months regimen. Rates of death, recurrent MI or a combination of both were analyzed by the Kaplan Meier method and Cox proportional hazards models. Bleedings were compared between treatment regimens.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The Kaplan Meier analysis indicated no benefit of the 12-months regimen compared with the 6-months in all endpoints. The Cox proportional hazards analysis confirmed these findings with hazard ratios for the 12-months regimen (the 6-months regimen used as reference) for the composite endpoint of 1.01 (confidence intervals 0.81-1.26) and 1.24 (confidence intervals 0.95-1.62) for Day 0-179 and Day 180-540 after discharge. Bleedings occurred in 3.5% and 4.1% of the patients in the 6-months and 12-months regimen (p = 0.06).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We found comparable rates of death and recurrent MI in patients treated with 6- and 12-months' clopidogrel. The potential benefit of prolonged clopidogrel treatment in a real-life setting remains uncertain.</p