Impact of hypertension on clinical outcome in STEMI patients undergoing primary angioplasty with BMS or DES: insights from the DESERT cooperation.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a well known risk factor for atherosclerosis. However, data on the prognostic impact of hypertension in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are inconsistent and mainly related to studies performed in the thrombolytic era, with very few data in patients undergoing primary angioplasty. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the impact hypertension on clinical outcome in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI with BMS or DES. METHODS: Our population is represented by 6298 STEMI patients undergoing primary angioplasty included in the DESERT database from 11 randomized trials comparing DES vs BMS for STEMI. RESULTS: Hypertension was observed in 2764 patients (43.9%), and associated with ageing (p<0.0001), female gender (p<0.001), diabetes (p<0.0001), hypercholesterolemia (p<0.0001), previous MI (p=0.002), previous revascularization (p=0.002), longer time-to-treatment (p<0.001), preprocedural TIMI 3 flow, and with a lower prevalence of smoking (41% vs 53.9%, p<0.001) and anterior MI (42% vs 45.9%, p=0.002). Hypertension was associated with impaired postprocedural TIMI 0-2 flow (Adjusted OR [95% CI]=1.22 [1.01-1.47], p=0.034). At a follow-up of 1,201 \ub1 440 days, hypertension was associated with higher mortality (adjusted HR [95% CI]=1.24 [1.01-1.54], p=0.048), reinfarction (adjusted HR [95% CI]=1.31 [1.03-1.66], p=0.027), stent thrombosis (adjusted HR [95% CI]=1.29 [0.98-1.71], p=0.068) and TVR (adjusted HR [95% CI]=1.22 [1.04-1.44], p=0.013). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that among STEMI patients undergoing primary angioplasty with DES or BMS, hypertension is independently associated with impaired epicardial reperfusion, mortality, reinfarction and TVR, and a trend in higher ST

Diagnostic and therapeutic approach of congenital solitary coronary artery fistulas in adults: Dutch case series and review of literature

Background Coronary artery fistulas (CAFs) are infrequent anomalies, coincidentally detected during coronary angiography (CAG). Aim To elucidate the currently used diagnostic imaging modalities and applied therapeutic approaches. Materials and Methods Five Dutch patients were found to have CAFs. A total of 170 reviewed subjects were subdivided into two comparable groups of 85 each, treated with either percutaneous 'therapeutic' embolisation (PTE group) or surgical ligation (SL group). Results In our series, the fistulas were visualised with several diagnostic imaging tests using echocardiography, multidetector computed tomography, and CAG. Four fistulas were unilateral and one was bilateral; five originated from the left and one originated from the right coronary artery. Among the reviewed subjects, high success rates were found in both treatment groups (SL: 97% and PTE: 93%). Associated congenital or acquired cardiovascular disorders were frequently present in the SL group (23%). Bilateral fistulas were present in 11% of the SL group versus 1% of the PTE group. The fistula was ligated surgically in one and abolished percutaneously in another. Medical treatment including metoprolol was conducted in two, and watchful waiting follow-up was performed in one. Conclusions Several diagnostic imaging techniques are available for assessment of the anatomical and functional characteristics of CAFs