Impact of telmisartan in modifying vascular risk

Telmisartan, a selective angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker (ARB), has been investigated in many trials, in particular, in order to assess its antihypertensive effect in various situations and its ability to protect organs susceptible to hypertension. In addition to its antihypertensive properties, it has positive metabolic and vascular effects (partly because of its sustained action). Several large-scale trials have focused on the effect of telmisartan on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, including comparisons of that with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor in subjects at high vascular risk. Telmisartan was used in the largest ARB research programme (the Ongoing Telmisartan Alone and in Combination with Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial [ONTARGET] and Telmisartan Randomized Assessment Study in ACE Intolerant Subjects with Cardiovascular Disease [TRANSCEND] trial)

Apport du scanner cardiaque dans les procédures d'implantations percutanées de valve aortique

Introduction : L implantation de valve aortique par voie percutanée (TAVI) est maintenant le gold standard dans la prise en charge des patients porteurs d un rétrécissement aortique (RA) serré contre indiqués à la chirurgie conventionnelle du fait d un risque chirurgical élevé. Le choix de la taille de la prothèse passe par une évaluation de la taille de l anneau aortique et une analyse fine de la racine aortique. Le scanner cardiaque (CT) semble pouvoir donner des informations complémentaires à l échographie, cependant l influence de ces données sur les résultats de la procédure est mal connue. Matériel et méthodes : Il s agit d une étude prospective monocentrique, non randomisée et ouverte. La série consécutive de patients porteurs d un RA serré ayant bénéficiés d un TAVI ont été inclus de mai 2011 à avril 2013. Deux stratégies de sizing de la prothèse aortique ont été comparées : la première se base sur les données de l échocardiographie trans-thoracique et trans-oesophagienne (groupe échographie). La deuxième stratégie s appuie en plus de l échocardiographie sur les résultats du CT (groupe CT). Le critère principal de jugement est composite, il s agit de la survenue de décès, d insuffisance aortique sévère, de complication vasculaire et d accident vasculaire cérébral au cours du suivi. La fréquence de survenue de certains évènements précoces (décès, insuffisance aortique sévère (IAS), complications vasculaires, AVC et syndrome coronarien aigu) a aussi été comparée entre les groupes. Résultats : Soixante-dix patients ont été inclus, 27 patients dans le groupe CT et 43 dans le groupe échographie. Quarante-six patients ont bénéficié d une prothèse aortique Edwards Sapien et 24 de type Corevalve, avec une répartition équilibrée entre les deux groupes. Sur un suivi moyen de 1 an, 18 patients ont présenté le critère primaire (35% des patients groupe échographie vs.11% groupe CT p=0.04) avec notamment une prévalence d IAS plus haute dans le groupe échographie (16 vs. 0%, p=0,03). L analyse Kaplan-Meier révèle une association péjorative à la non réalisation du CT (Chi2 = 6,78, p = 0,01). L analyse de Cox en univariée et multivariée identifie la réalisation d un CT (hasard ratio [HR]: 0.22, 95% ; intervalle de confiance (IC) 0,06 to 0,809 ; p < 0.02), et un antécédent de syncope (HR: 3,9 ; 95% IC: 1,37 to 11 ; p < 0.01) comme les seuls prédicteurs indépendants du critère primaire. Les complications précoces sont aussi survenues de manière statistiquement plus fréquente dans le groupe utilisant uniquement l échographie (53% vs. 18% p 0,004). Conclusion : Dans notre étude, l utilisation du scanner cardiaque dans la stratégie de sizing de la prothèse aortique avant TAVI a permis de réduire la survenue d évènements cardio-vasculaires précoces et à long terme. Celui-ci doit maintenant faire partie du bilan pré-procédure standard.GRENOBLE1-BU Médecine pharm. (385162101) / SudocSudocFranceF

Cost-effectiveness of percutaneous coronary intervention with cobalt-chromium everolimus eluting stents versus bare metal stents: Results from a patient level meta-analysis of randomized trials.

BACKGROUND Second-generation drug eluting stents (DES) may reduce costs and improve clinical outcomes compared to first-generation DES with improved cost-effectiveness when compared to bare metal stents (BMS). We aimed to conduct an economic evaluation of a cobalt-chromium everolimus eluting stent (Co-Cr EES) compared with BMS in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). OBJECTIVE To conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) of a cobalt-chromium everolimus eluting stent (Co-Cr EES) versus BMS in PCI. METHODS A Markov state transition model with a 2-year time horizon was applied from a US Medicare setting with patients undergoing PCI with Co-Cr EES or BMS. Baseline characteristics, treatment effects, and safety measures were taken from a patient level meta-analysis of 5 RCTs (n = 4,896). The base-case analysis evaluated stent-related outcomes; a secondary analysis considered the broader set of outcomes reported in the meta-analysis. RESULTS The base-case and secondary analyses reported an additional 0.018 and 0.013 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and cost savings of $236 and$288, respectively with Co-Cr EES versus BMS. Results were robust to sensitivity analyses and were most sensitive to the price of clopidogrel. In the probabilistic sensitivity analysis, Co-Cr EES was associated with a greater than 99% chance of being cost saving or cost effective (at a cost per QALY threshold of $50,000) versus BMS. CONCLUSIONS Using data from a recent patient level meta-analysis and contemporary cost data, this analysis found that PCI with Co-Cr EES is more effective and less costly than PCI with BMS. © 2016 The Authors. Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Identification of myocardial diffuse fibrosis by 11 heartbeat MOLLI T1 mapping: averaging to improve precision and correlation with collagen volume fraction

Objectives: Our objectives involved identifying whether repeated averaging in basal and mid left ventricular myocardial levels improves precision and correlation with collagen volume fraction for 11 heartbeat MOLLI T1 mapping versus assessment at a single ventricular level. Materials and methods: For assessment of T1 mapping precision, a cohort of 15 healthy volunteers underwent two CMR scans on separate days using an 11 heartbeat MOLLI with a 5(3)3 beat scheme to measure native T1 and a 4(1)3(1)2 beat post-contrast scheme to measure post-contrast T1, allowing calculation of partition coefficient and ECV. To assess correlation of T1 mapping with collagen volume fraction, a separate cohort of ten aortic stenosis patients scheduled to undergo surgery underwent one CMR scan with this 11 heartbeat MOLLI scheme, followed by intraoperative tru-cut myocardial biopsy. Six models of myocardial diffuse fibrosis assessment were established with incremental inclusion of imaging by averaging of the basal and mid-myocardial left ventricular levels, and each model was assessed for precision and correlation with collagen volume fraction. Results: A model using 11 heart beat MOLLI imaging of two basal and two mid ventricular level averaged T1 maps provided improved precision (Intraclass correlation 0.93 vs 0.84) and correlation with histology (R2 = 0.83 vs 0.36) for diffuse fibrosis compared to a single mid-ventricular level alone. ECV was more precise and correlated better than native T1 mapping. Conclusion: T1 mapping sequences with repeated averaging could be considered for applications of 11 heartbeat MOLLI, especially when small changes in native T1/ECV might affect clinical management

Imaging and impact of myocardial fibrosis in aortic stenosis

Aortic stenosis is characterized both by progressive valve narrowing and the left ventricular remodeling response that ensues. The only effective treatment is aortic valve replacement, which is usually recommended in patients with severe stenosis and evidence of left ventricular decompensation. At present, left ventricular decompensation is most frequently identified by the development of typical symptoms or a marked reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction <50%. However, there is growing interest in using the assessment of myocardial fibrosis as an earlier and more objective marker of left ventricular decompensation, particularly in asymptomatic patients, where guidelines currently rely on non- randomized data and expert consensus. Myocardial fibrosis has major functional consequences, is the key pathological process driving left ventricular decompensation, and can be divided into 2 categories. Replacement fibrosis is irreversible and identified using late gadolinium enhancement on cardiac magnetic resonance, while diffuse fibrosis occurs earlier, is potentially reversible, and can be quantified with cardiac magnetic resonance T1 mapping techniques. There is a substantial body of observational data in this field, but there is now a need for randomized clinical trials of myocardial imaging in aortic stenosis to optimize patient management. This review will discuss the role that myocardial fibrosis plays in aortic stenosis, how it can be imaged, and how these approaches might be used to track myocardial health and improve the timing of aortic valve replacement

The Role of Imaging in Measuring Disease Progression and Assessing Novel Therapies in Aortic Stenosis

Aortic stenosis represents a growing health care burden in high-income countries. Currently, the only definitive treatment is surgical or transcatheter valve intervention at the end stages of disease. As the understanding of the underlying pathophysiology evolves, many promising therapies are being investigated. These seek to both slow disease progression in the valve and delay the transition from hypertrophy to heart failure in the myocardium, with the ultimate aim of avoiding the need for valve replacement in the elderly patients afflicted by this condition. Noninvasive imaging has played a pivotal role in enhancing our understanding of the complex pathophysiology underlying aortic stenosis, as well as disease progression in both the valve and myocardium. In this review, the authors discuss the means by which contemporary imaging may be used to assess disease progression and how these approaches may be utilized, both in clinical practice and research trials exploring the clinical efficacy of novel therapies

Effects of alirocumab on types of myocardial infarction: insights from the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES trial

Aims  The third Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction (MI) Task Force classified MIs into five types: Type 1, spontaneous; Type 2, related to oxygen supply/demand imbalance; Type 3, fatal without ascertainment of cardiac biomarkers; Type 4, related to percutaneous coronary intervention; and Type 5, related to coronary artery bypass surgery. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction with statins and proprotein convertase subtilisin–kexin Type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors reduces risk of MI, but less is known about effects on types of MI. ODYSSEY OUTCOMES compared the PCSK9 inhibitor alirocumab with placebo in 18 924 patients with recent acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and elevated LDL-C (≥1.8 mmol/L) despite intensive statin therapy. In a pre-specified analysis, we assessed the effects of alirocumab on types of MI. Methods and results  Median follow-up was 2.8 years. Myocardial infarction types were prospectively adjudicated and classified. Of 1860 total MIs, 1223 (65.8%) were adjudicated as Type 1, 386 (20.8%) as Type 2, and 244 (13.1%) as Type 4. Few events were Type 3 (n = 2) or Type 5 (n = 5). Alirocumab reduced first MIs [hazard ratio (HR) 0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.77–0.95; P = 0.003], with reductions in both Type 1 (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.77–0.99; P = 0.032) and Type 2 (0.77, 0.61–0.97; P = 0.025), but not Type 4 MI. Conclusion  After ACS, alirocumab added to intensive statin therapy favourably impacted on Type 1 and 2 MIs. The data indicate for the first time that a lipid-lowering therapy can attenuate the risk of Type 2 MI. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol reduction below levels achievable with statins is an effective preventive strategy for both MI types.For complete list of authors see http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehz299</p