BACK TO THE BASICS: ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT SARCOIDOSIS

Background: 18-F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) plays an important role in the diagnosis and management of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS). False positive study can be seen in conditions that increase myocardial FDG uptake or due to artifacts. Case: An 83-year-old male with mitral regurgitation who underwent Tendyne Transmitral Valve Implantation was referred for FDG-PET due to bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy on recent CT. FDG-PET showed moderate area of severely decreased perfusion involving the distal lateral wall and apical wall at rest. There was increased FDG uptake in the distal lateral and apical wall on the attenuation corrected images (AC) that was not present on the non-AC images. Decision-making: FDG accumulation in myocardial tissue is only indicative of increased cellular metabolic activity and is not specific for CS. Several reports of non-specific FDG uptake around prosthetic cardiac valves and devices have been reported. Although the uptake pattern in this case was consistent with active CS, it became apparent that this was an artifact due to the Tendyne prosthesis after the CT data of the Tendyne valve location was co-registered with the FDG data. Conclusion: FDG-PET is frequently used in diagnosing active CS and for disease monitoring. When interpreting the images, taking into consideration the clinical context, patient’s history and supporting data is vital to avoid misdiagnosis. Thus, going to basics of integrating all data cannot be over-emphasized

Impact of Routine Platelet Reactivity Testing with VerifyNow Assay on Antiplatelet Choice After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background: High on-treatment ADP platelet reactivity (HPR) measured by VerifyNow P2Y12 assay (VN) is an established risk factor for ischemic events after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We hypothesized that routine use of VN at time of PCI in clinical practice may affect choice of P2Y12 antiplatelet therapy at discharge. Methods: In a single center retrospective analysis, we examined the influence of VN testing on choice of P2Y12 inhibitor post PCI in routine clinical practice. Assessment of HPR was used routinely in clinical care during the time period of analysis at discretion of clinical providers. Subjects with PRU>208 after the loading dose of clopidogrel or during clopidogrel steady state were switched to alternate P2Y12 inhibitors. Results: We identified 1001 patients with PCI during the time period specified. A total of 252 subjects underwent VN testing. Among those, 43% were found to have HPR on clopidogrel and were switched to alternate therapies (prasugrel [n=60], ticagrelor [n=48]). Patients who had VN platelet function testing were more likely to be discharged on clopidogrel as compared to those who did not have VN assay done (57% vs. 50%, p=0.039). There was no significant difference in 1-year net-MACE (CVD, MI, stent thrombosis, BARC 2 or higher bleeding) using tailored antiplatelet therapy (VN testing) as compared to standard of care group (adjusted HR:0.92, 95% CI: 0.54-1.5, p=0.74). Conclusion: Routine use of VN assay in personalized antiplatelet treatment decision-making after PCI is associated with lower likelihood of using novel P2Y12 inhibitors

Intensified P2Y12 inhibition for high-on treatment platelet reactivity

High on treatment platelet reactivity (HPR) during treatment with clopidogrel has been consistently found to be strong risk factor for recurrent ischemic events after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Insufficient P2Y12 receptor inhibition contributes to HPR measured by the VerifyNow (VN) assay. Prasugrel and ticagrelor are more potent P2Y12 inhibitors than clopidogrel and commonly substituted for clopidogrel when HPR is documented, however benefit of VN guided intensified antiplatelet therapy is uncertain. We identified patients who had undergone platelet reactivity testing after PCI with VN after pretreatment with clopidogrel (n = 252) in a single center observational analysis. Patients who had HPR defined as PRU > 208 were switched to alternate P2Y12 inhibitors. Primary clinical endpoint was 1-year post PCI combined cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction (MI), and stent thrombosis. One hundred and eight (43%) subjects had HPR and were switched to prasugrel (n = 60) and ticagrelor (n = 48). Risk of recurrent 1-year primary endpoint remained higher for HPR patients switched to either ticagrelor or prasugrel as compared to subjects who had low on treatment platelet reactivity (n = 144) (LPR) on clopidogrel [Hazard Ratio: 3.5 (95% CI 1.1–11.1); p = 0.036)]. Propensity score matched analysis demonstrated higher event rates in patients with HPR on alternate P2Y12 inhibitor as compared to patients with LPR (log-rank: p = 0.044). The increased risk of recurrent events associated with HPR measured by VN is not completely attenuated by switching to more potent P2Y12 inhibitors. Non-P2Y12 mediated pathways likely contribute to increased incidence of thrombotic events after PCI in subjects with HPR

CAD-LT score effectively predicts risk of significant coronary artery disease in liver transplant candidates

Background & Aims Patients with cirrhosis and significant coronary artery disease (CAD) are at risk of peri-liver transplantation (LT) cardiac events. The coronary artery disease in liver transplantation (CAD-LT) score and algorithm aim to predict the risk of significant CAD in LT candidates and guide pre-LT cardiac evaluation. Methods Patients who underwent pre-LT evaluation at Indiana University (2010-2019) were studied retrospectively. Stress echocardiography (SE) and cardiac catheterization (CATH) reports were reviewed. CATH was performed for predefined CAD risk factors, irrespective of normal SE. Significant CAD was defined as CAD requiring percutaneous or surgical intervention. A multivariate regression model was constructed to assess risk factors. Receiver-operating curve analysis was used to compute a point-based risk score and a stratified testing algorithm. Results A total of 1,771 pre-LT patients underwent cardiac evaluation, including results from 1,634 SE and 1,266 CATH assessments. Risk-adjusted predictors of significant CAD at CATH were older age (adjusted odds ratio 1.05; 95% CI 1.03–1.08), male sex (1.69; 1.16–2.50), diabetes (1.57; 1.12–2.22), hypertension (1.61; 1.14–2.28), tobacco use (pack years) (1.01; 1.00–1.02), family history of CAD (1.63; 1.16–2.28), and personal history of CAD (6.55; 4.33–9.90). The CAD-LT score stratified significant CAD risk as low (≤2%), intermediate (3% to 9%), and high (≥10%). Among patients who underwent CATH, a risk-based testing algorithm (low: no testing; intermediate: non-invasive testing vs. CATH; high: CATH) would have identified 97% of all significant CAD and potentially avoided unnecessary testing (669 SE [57%] and 561 CATH [44%]). Conclusions The CAD-LT score and algorithm (available at www.cad-lt.com) effectively stratify pre-LT risk for significant CAD. This may guide more targeted testing of candidates with fewer tests and faster time to waitlist. Lay summary The coronary artery disease in liver transplantation (CAD-LT) score and algorithm effectively stratify patients based on their risk of significant coronary artery disease. The CAD-LT algorithm can be used to guide a more targeted cardiac evaluation prior to liver transplantation

Social deprivation index and ischemic events after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with diabetes mellitus

The aim of this study was to assess neighborhood-based differences in outcomes of diabetics versus non-diabetics undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions. Disparities in healthcare access impact long-term outcomes in safety net populations. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with worse clinical outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and may disproportionately impact patients with CAD from underserved populations. We created a geocoded retrospective cohort of patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at an urban safety net hospital in this single-center cohort analysis. We evaluated long-term ischemic events in diabetics versus nondiabetics through review of electronic medical records. Social deprivation index (SDI) was calculated based on US-census tract level and stratified according to quintiles. Among 1002 patients, 46% (n = 463) were diabetic and among those 48% (n = 222) were in the highest quintile of SDI. Baseline and angiographic characteristics were similar among diabetic and nondiabetic subjects. Among diabetic patients, those in the highest SDI quintile had significantly higher risk of cardiovascular death and myocardial infarction as compared to those in the remaining quintiles (log rank: p = 0.029) (adjusted hazard\u27s ratio: 1.72 [95% CI: 1.01-2.92], p = 0.04). There was no association of the SDI with outcomes in nondiabetic patients (log rank: p = 0.39). In an underserved population, patients with diabetes and high SDI demonstrate higher rates of adverse ischemic events and cardiovascular death during long-term follow up after PCI. Further research examining the impact of disparities in healthcare access on outcomes after PCI in patients with diabetes is warranted