Covid-19 and Safety in the Cath Lab: Where We Are and Where We Are Headed

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Relationship between circulating VCAM-1, ICAM-1, E-selectin and MMP9 and the extent of coronary lesions

OBJECTIVES: Inflammatory molecules play a role in the development of atherosclerosis, which is the primary origin of cardiovascular disorders. However, to the best of our knowledge, no study has attempted to investigate the relationship between these circulating molecules and the prediction of cardiovascular risk. The present study aimed to investigate the relationships of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, E-selectin and matrix metalloproteinase 9 serum concentrations with the extent of coronary lesions. METHODS: Seventy-four individuals who were undergoing coronary angiography for the first time for diagnostic purposes were enrolled in this study. The extent of the coronary lesion was assessed using the Friesinger Index, and subjects were classified into four groups: no lesions, minor lesions, intermediate lesions and major lesions. Serum biochemical parameters and serum concentrations of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, E-selectin and matrix metalloproteinase 9 were analyzed. RESULTS: The vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 concentration was higher than 876 ng/mL in individuals with intermediate and major lesions (

Diretriz Brasileira sobre a Saúde Cardiovascular no Climatério e na Menopausa – 2024

Women, who represent approximately half of the global population according to estimates as of January 2024, may experience signs and symptoms of menopause for at least one-third of their lives, during which they have a higher risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The effects of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) on the progression of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) events vary depending on the age at which MHT is initiated and the time since menopause until its initiation. Beneficial effects on CVD outcomes and all-cause mortality have been observed when MHT was initiated before the age of 60 or within 10 years after menopause. The decision regarding the initiation, dose, regimen, and duration of MHT should be made individually after discussing the benefits and risks with each patient. For primary prevention of postmenopausal chronic conditions, the combined use of estrogen and progestogen is not recommended in asymptomatic women, nor is the use of estrogen alone in hysterectomized women. Hormone-dependent neoplasms contraindicate MHT. For the treatment of genitourinary syndrome of menopause, vaginal estrogen therapy may be used in patients with known cardiovascular risk factors or established CVD. For women with contraindications to MHT or who refuse it, non-hormonal therapies with proven efficacy (antidepressants, gabapentin, and fezolinetant) may improve vasomotor symptoms. Compounded hormonal implants, or "bioidentical" and "compounded" hormones, and "hormone modulation" are not recommended due to lack of scientific evidence of their effectiveness and safety.Mujeres, que representan aproximadamente la mitad de la población mundial según estimaciones de enero de 2024, pueden experimentar signos y síntomas de la menopausia durante al menos un tercio de sus vidas, durante los cuales tienen un mayor riesgo de morbilidad y mortalidad cardiovascular. Los efectos de la terapia hormonal de la menopausia (THM) en la progresión de la aterosclerosis y los eventos de enfermedad cardiovascular (ECV) varían según la edad en que se inicia la THM y el tiempo transcurrido desde la menopausia hasta su inicio. Se han observado efectos beneficiosos en los resultados de ECV y la mortalidad por todas las causas cuando la THM se inició antes de los 60 años o dentro de los 10 años posteriores a la menopausia. La decisión sobre la iniciación, dosis, régimen y duración de la THM debe tomarse individualmente después de discutir los beneficios y riesgos con cada paciente. Para la prevención primaria de condiciones crónicas en la posmenopausia, no se recomienda el uso combinado de estrógeno y progestágeno en mujeres asintomáticas, ni el uso de estrógeno solo en mujeres histerectomizadas. Las neoplasias dependientes de hormonas contraindican la THM. Para el tratamiento del síndrome genitourinario de la menopausia, se puede usar terapia estrogénica vaginal en pacientes con factores de riesgo cardiovascular conocidos o ECV establecida. Para mujeres con contraindicaciones a la THM o que la rechazan, las terapias no hormonales con eficacia demostrada (antidepresivos, gabapentina y fezolinetant) pueden mejorar los síntomas vasomotores. Los implantes hormonales compuestos, o hormonas "bioidénticas" y "compuestas", y la "modulación hormonal" no se recomiendan debido a la falta de evidencia científica sobre su efectividad y seguridad.As mulheres, que representam cerca de metade da população mundial segundo estimativas de janeiro de 2024, podem sofrer com sinais e sintomas da menopausa durante pelo menos um terço de suas vidas, quando apresentam maiores risco e morbimortalidade cardiovasculares. Os efeitos da terapia hormonal da menopausa (THM) na progressão de eventos de aterosclerose e doença cardiovascular (DCV) variam de acordo com a idade em que a THM é iniciada e o tempo desde a menopausa até esse início. Efeitos benéficos nos resultados de DCV e na mortalidade por todas as causas ocorreram quando a THM foi iniciada antes dos 60 anos de idade ou nos 10 anos que se seguiram à menopausa. A decisão sobre o início, a dose, o regime e a duração da THM deve ser tomada individualmente após discussão sobre benefícios e riscos com cada paciente. Para a prevenção primária de condições crônicas na pós-menopausa, não se recomendam o uso combinado de estrogênio e progestagênio em mulheres assintomáticas nem o uso de estrogênio sozinho em mulheres histerectomizadas. Neoplasias hormônio-dependentes contraindicam a THM. Para tratamento da síndrome geniturinária da menopausa, pode-se utilizar terapia estrogênica por via vaginal em pacientes com fatores de risco cardiovascular conhecidos ou DCV estabelecida. Para mulheres com contraindicação à THM ou que a recusam, terapias não hormonais com eficácia comprovada (antidepressivos, gabapentina e fezolinetante) podem melhorar os sintomas vasomotores. Os implantes hormonais manipulados, ou hormônios “bioidênticos” “manipulados”, e a ‘modulação hormonal’ não são recomendados pela falta de evidência científica de sua eficácia e segurança

Differences in inflammatory response to elective coronary stenting between patients with and without diabetes

INTRODUÇÃO: Pacientes diabéticos têm maior risco de eventos coronários quando submetidos a implante de stent, refletindo, provavelmente, uma resposta pró-inflamatória. OBJETIVOS: Caracterizar a resposta inflamatória a stent coronário em portadores de angina estável, com e sem diabetes. METODOLOGIA: Amostras sangüíneas foram obtidas de 41 pacientes diabéticos e 46 não diabéticos, antes, 24h, 48h e 4 semanas após o implante eletivo de stent coronário. Todos os pacientes usaram clopidogrel e os procedimentos obtiveram sucesso. Foram mensurados a proteína C-reativa (PCR) por nefelometria, a P-selectina solúvel (s) e a molécula de adesão intercelular-1 solúvel (sICAM-1) através da técnica ELISA. RESULTADOS: Diabéticos e não diabéticos apresentaram, respectivamente, concentração préprocedimento de PCR 5,2 ± 7,3 e 7,1 ± 12.1 mg/L, com p=0,74. A sP-selectina variou entre os diabéticos de 136,7 ± 75,5, e entre os não diabéticos de 111,1 ± 61,2 ng/ml, com p=0.09. ICAM-1 variou de 149,7 ± 56,1 e 143,2 ± 40,4 ng/mL, p=0,62. Após o procedimento os níveis de PCR aumentaram significativamente para ambos, diabéticos ou não, com pico às 48h: 13,0 ± 10,8 e 14,0 ± 11,4 mg/L, respectivamente (p= 0,001 vs níveis pré-procedimento). Em relação à sPselectina, diabéticos e não diabéticos apresentaram marcada redução : 114,2 ± 70ng/mL (p=0,03) e 87,7 ± 39,3 ng/mL (p=0,02), respectivamente. Contudo, apenas os diabéticos mantiveram por 48h essa redução. Os níveis de sICAM-1 diminuíram significativamente apenas entre os diabéticos, 48h após o procedimento (redução de 7,7%, p=0,01 vs níveis pré-procedimento). Análise de regressão logística multivariável não mostrou associação entre os marcadores estudados e eventos adversos após um ano de seguimento entre pacientes diabéticos. Por outro lado, níveis de sICAM-1, pré e pós procedimento, para todos os pacientes, estiveram associados com a presença de eventos após um ano: necessidade de nova intervenção (5 pacientes), revascularização cirúrgica (3 pacientes), óbito (1 paciente), infarto agudo do miocárdio (1 paciente) e acidente vascular cerebral (2 pacientes). CONCLUSÃO: Diabéticos e não diabéticos apresentaram elevação nos níveis de marcadores inflamatórios mesmo antes da intervenção. Este achado confirma a presença de um estado inflamatório sistêmico em pacientes com doença coronária estável, quer sejam diabéticos ou não. Todavia, nenhuma diferença marcante na resposta inflamatória após o procedimento ocorreu entre diabéticos e não diabéticos. Ainda mais, sICAM-1 foi um preditor independente de resultados adversos após um ano de stent coronário eletivo para todos os pacientesPatients with diabetes are at increased risk for adverse events after coronary stenting, perhaps reflecting a proinflammatory response. AIM: Characterize the inflammatory response to coronary stenting in stable angina patients with and without diabetes. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from diabetic (n=41) and nondiabetic (n=46) patients before and 24 hours, 48 hours and 4 weeks after elective stenting. All patients were on clopidogrel and underwent successful procedures. C-reactive protein (CRP, by nepholometry), soluble (s) P-selectin (ELISA) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM)-1 (ELISA) were determined. Results: Diabetic and nondiabetic patients presented enhanced and comparable preprocedural concentrations, respectively, of CRP as 5.2±7.3 and 7.1±12.1 mg/L, p=0.74; sP-selectin as 136.7±75.5 and 111.1±61.2 ng/mL, p=0.09; and, sICAM-1 as 149.7±56.1 and 143.2±40.4 ng/mL, p=0.62. CRP levels increased significantly after stenting for both sets of patients, with peak levels at 48 hours: 13.0±10.8 and 14.0±11.4 mg/L, respectively (p=0.001 vs preprocedural levels). Following 24 hours the procedure, diabetic and nondiabetic patients presented marked reductions of sP-selectin levels: 114.2±70 ng/mL (p=0.03) and 87.7±39.3 ng/mL (p=0.02), respectively. However, only diabetic patients had this reduction persist up to 48 hours. Soluble ICAM-1 levels decreased significantly only among diabetic patients after 48 hours of the procedure (7.7% reduction, p=0.01 vs preprocedural levels). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, no association was found between the inflammation markers studied and one-year adverse events among diabetic patients. Nevertheless, for all patients, preprocedural and postprocedural levels of sICAM-1 had a marked association with major adverse cardiac events after a one-year follow-up (n=14, p< 0,05), such as new PTCA (5 patients), cardiac revascularization (3 pacientes), death (1 patient), AMI (1 patient) and cerebral vascular accident (2 patients). CONCLUSIONS: Before undergoing elective coronary stenting, diabetic and nondiabetic patients present increased levels of inflammatory markers. This evidence confirms the presence of systemic inflammation in stable coronary artery disease patients - regardless if the patient has diabetes or not. However, no major difference in postprocedural inflammatory response occurred between diabetic and nondiabetic patients. In addition, for all patients, sICAM-1 was an independent predictor of adverse outcomes after one year of elective coronary stentin

Differences in inflammatory response to elective coronary stenting between patients with and without diabetes

INTRODUÇÃO: Pacientes diabéticos têm maior risco de eventos coronários quando submetidos a implante de stent, refletindo, provavelmente, uma resposta pró-inflamatória. OBJETIVOS: Caracterizar a resposta inflamatória a stent coronário em portadores de angina estável, com e sem diabetes. METODOLOGIA: Amostras sangüíneas foram obtidas de 41 pacientes diabéticos e 46 não diabéticos, antes, 24h, 48h e 4 semanas após o implante eletivo de stent coronário. Todos os pacientes usaram clopidogrel e os procedimentos obtiveram sucesso. Foram mensurados a proteína C-reativa (PCR) por nefelometria, a P-selectina solúvel (s) e a molécula de adesão intercelular-1 solúvel (sICAM-1) através da técnica ELISA. RESULTADOS: Diabéticos e não diabéticos apresentaram, respectivamente, concentração préprocedimento de PCR 5,2 ± 7,3 e 7,1 ± 12.1 mg/L, com p=0,74. A sP-selectina variou entre os diabéticos de 136,7 ± 75,5, e entre os não diabéticos de 111,1 ± 61,2 ng/ml, com p=0.09. ICAM-1 variou de 149,7 ± 56,1 e 143,2 ± 40,4 ng/mL, p=0,62. Após o procedimento os níveis de PCR aumentaram significativamente para ambos, diabéticos ou não, com pico às 48h: 13,0 ± 10,8 e 14,0 ± 11,4 mg/L, respectivamente (p= 0,001 vs níveis pré-procedimento). Em relação à sPselectina, diabéticos e não diabéticos apresentaram marcada redução : 114,2 ± 70ng/mL (p=0,03) e 87,7 ± 39,3 ng/mL (p=0,02), respectivamente. Contudo, apenas os diabéticos mantiveram por 48h essa redução. Os níveis de sICAM-1 diminuíram significativamente apenas entre os diabéticos, 48h após o procedimento (redução de 7,7%, p=0,01 vs níveis pré-procedimento). Análise de regressão logística multivariável não mostrou associação entre os marcadores estudados e eventos adversos após um ano de seguimento entre pacientes diabéticos. Por outro lado, níveis de sICAM-1, pré e pós procedimento, para todos os pacientes, estiveram associados com a presença de eventos após um ano: necessidade de nova intervenção (5 pacientes), revascularização cirúrgica (3 pacientes), óbito (1 paciente), infarto agudo do miocárdio (1 paciente) e acidente vascular cerebral (2 pacientes). CONCLUSÃO: Diabéticos e não diabéticos apresentaram elevação nos níveis de marcadores inflamatórios mesmo antes da intervenção. Este achado confirma a presença de um estado inflamatório sistêmico em pacientes com doença coronária estável, quer sejam diabéticos ou não. Todavia, nenhuma diferença marcante na resposta inflamatória após o procedimento ocorreu entre diabéticos e não diabéticos. Ainda mais, sICAM-1 foi um preditor independente de resultados adversos após um ano de stent coronário eletivo para todos os pacientesPatients with diabetes are at increased risk for adverse events after coronary stenting, perhaps reflecting a proinflammatory response. AIM: Characterize the inflammatory response to coronary stenting in stable angina patients with and without diabetes. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from diabetic (n=41) and nondiabetic (n=46) patients before and 24 hours, 48 hours and 4 weeks after elective stenting. All patients were on clopidogrel and underwent successful procedures. C-reactive protein (CRP, by nepholometry), soluble (s) P-selectin (ELISA) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM)-1 (ELISA) were determined. Results: Diabetic and nondiabetic patients presented enhanced and comparable preprocedural concentrations, respectively, of CRP as 5.2±7.3 and 7.1±12.1 mg/L, p=0.74; sP-selectin as 136.7±75.5 and 111.1±61.2 ng/mL, p=0.09; and, sICAM-1 as 149.7±56.1 and 143.2±40.4 ng/mL, p=0.62. CRP levels increased significantly after stenting for both sets of patients, with peak levels at 48 hours: 13.0±10.8 and 14.0±11.4 mg/L, respectively (p=0.001 vs preprocedural levels). Following 24 hours the procedure, diabetic and nondiabetic patients presented marked reductions of sP-selectin levels: 114.2±70 ng/mL (p=0.03) and 87.7±39.3 ng/mL (p=0.02), respectively. However, only diabetic patients had this reduction persist up to 48 hours. Soluble ICAM-1 levels decreased significantly only among diabetic patients after 48 hours of the procedure (7.7% reduction, p=0.01 vs preprocedural levels). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, no association was found between the inflammation markers studied and one-year adverse events among diabetic patients. Nevertheless, for all patients, preprocedural and postprocedural levels of sICAM-1 had a marked association with major adverse cardiac events after a one-year follow-up (n=14, p< 0,05), such as new PTCA (5 patients), cardiac revascularization (3 pacientes), death (1 patient), AMI (1 patient) and cerebral vascular accident (2 patients). CONCLUSIONS: Before undergoing elective coronary stenting, diabetic and nondiabetic patients present increased levels of inflammatory markers. This evidence confirms the presence of systemic inflammation in stable coronary artery disease patients - regardless if the patient has diabetes or not. However, no major difference in postprocedural inflammatory response occurred between diabetic and nondiabetic patients. In addition, for all patients, sICAM-1 was an independent predictor of adverse outcomes after one year of elective coronary stentin

Association of Serum Alpha-Tocopherol and Retinol with the Extent of Coronary Lesions in Coronary Artery Disease

Background and aims: Fat-soluble vitamins play an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease and progression of atherosclerosis. This study aimed at investigating the relationship of the serum levels of alpha-tocopherol and retinol with the extent of coronary lesions in patients with coronary artery disease. Methods. Patients with coronary artery disease (n=177) aged 30–74 years, who underwent their first coronary angiography, were enrolled. The extent of coronary lesions was assessed using the Friesinger index (FI). Accordingly, patients were grouped as follows: FI = 0–4 (n=90), FI = 5–9 (n=50), and FI = 10–15 (n=37). Serum levels of vitamins were ‬determined via high-performance liquid chromatography and serum biochemical analysis. Results. Assessment of FI-based groups revealed that 50.8% patients had a coronary artery lesion to a low extent (FI 0–4). Individuals in this group were younger and had lower glucose and serum alpha-tocopherol levels than the other groups (p<0.05). Low levels of alpha-tocopherol were more frequent in the FI 0–4 group than that in the other groups (p=0.03). No difference was observed between the mean serum retinol levels among the FI-based groups (n=0.492), and the low frequency of retinol was consistent among the FI groups (n=0.348). Conclusions. The low level of alpha-tocopherol together with the presence of dyslipidemia is probably associated with the initial events in atherosclerosis. Increased alpha-tocopherol levels in patients with more extensive coronary artery lesions may have resulted from altered vitamin E metabolism with increased oxidative stress

Relationship between circulating VCAM-1, ICAM-1, E-selectin and MMP9 and the extent of coronary lesions

OBJECTIVES: Inflammatory molecules play a role in the development of atherosclerosis, which is the primary origin of cardiovascular disorders. However, to the best of our knowledge, no study has attempted to investigate the relationship between these circulating molecules and the prediction of cardiovascular risk. The present study aimed to investigate the relationships of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, E-selectin and matrix metalloproteinase 9 serum concentrations with the extent of coronary lesions. METHODS: Seventy-four individuals who were undergoing coronary angiography for the first time for diagnostic purposes were enrolled in this study. The extent of the coronary lesion was assessed using the Friesinger Index, and subjects were classified into four groups: no lesions, minor lesions, intermediate lesions and major lesions. Serum biochemical parameters and serum concentrations of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, E-selectin and matrix metalloproteinase 9 were analyzed. RESULTS: The vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 concentration was higher than 876 ng/mL in individuals with intermediate and major lesions (p<0.001 and p=0.020, respectively). Moreover, logistic regression analysis showed that these patients had an increased risk of having an intermediate lesion (p=0.007). Interestingly, all individuals with major lesions had vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 concentrations higher than 876 ng/mL. No association was found between the concentrations of the other proteins and the Friesinger Index. CONCLUSIONS: Serum vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 may be associated with the extent of coronary lesions. Moreover, it may represent an alternative to improve the cardiovascular risk classification in patients without acute coronary syndrome

Primary results of the brazilian registry of atherothrombotic disease (NEAT)

Abstract There is limited contemporary prospective real-world evidence of patients with chronic arterial disease in Latin America. The Network to control atherothrombosis (NEAT) registry is a national prospective observational study of patients with known coronary (CAD) and/or peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in Brazil. A total of 2,005 patients were enrolled among 25 sites from September 2020 to March 2022. Patient characteristics, medications and laboratorial data were collected. Primary objective was to assess the proportion of patients who, at the initial visit, were in accordance with good medical practices (domains) for reducing cardiovascular risk in atherothrombotic disease. From the total of patients enrolled, 2 were excluded since they did not meet eligibility criteria. Among the 2,003 subjects included in the analysis, 55.6% had isolated CAD, 28.7% exclusive PAD and 15.7% had both diagnoses. Overall mean age was 66.3 (± 10.5) years and 65.7% were male patients. Regarding evidence-based therapies (EBTs), 4% were not using any antithrombotic drug and only 1.5% were using vascular dose of rivaroxaban (2.5 mg bid). Only 0.3% of the patients satisfied all the domains of secondary prevention, including prescription of EBTs and targets of body-mass index, blood pressure, LDL-cholesterol, and adherence of lifestyle recommendations. The main barrier for prescription of EBTs was medical judgement. Our findings highlight that the contemporary practice does not reflect a comprehensive approach for secondary prevention and had very low incorporation of new therapies in Brazil. Large-scale populational interventions addressing these gaps are warranted to improve the use of evidence-based therapies and reduce the burden of atherothrombotic disease. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT0467772

Cardiac myosin activation with omecamtiv mecarbil in systolic heart failure

BACKGROUND The selective cardiac myosin activator omecamtiv mecarbil has been shown to improve cardiac function in patients with heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction. Its effect on cardiovascular outcomes is unknown. METHODS We randomly assigned 8256 patients (inpatients and outpatients) with symptomatic chronic heart failure and an ejection fraction of 35% or less to receive omecamtiv mecarbil (using pharmacokinetic-guided doses of 25 mg, 37.5 mg, or 50 mg twice daily) or placebo, in addition to standard heart-failure therapy. The primary outcome was a composite of a first heart-failure event (hospitalization or urgent visit for heart failure) or death from cardiovascular causes. RESULTS During a median of 21.8 months, a primary-outcome event occurred in 1523 of 4120 patients (37.0%) in the omecamtiv mecarbil group and in 1607 of 4112 patients (39.1%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.86 to 0.99; P = 0.03). A total of 808 patients (19.6%) and 798 patients (19.4%), respectively, died from cardiovascular causes (hazard ratio, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.92 to 1.11). There was no significant difference between groups in the change from baseline on the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire total symptom score. At week 24, the change from baseline for the median N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide level was 10% lower in the omecamtiv mecarbil group than in the placebo group; the median cardiac troponin I level was 4 ng per liter higher. The frequency of cardiac ischemic and ventricular arrhythmia events was similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS Among patients with heart failure and a reduced ejection, those who received omecamtiv mecarbil had a lower incidence of a composite of a heart-failure event or death from cardiovascular causes than those who received placebo. (Funded by Amgen and others; GALACTIC-HF ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02929329; EudraCT number, 2016 -002299-28.)