Low and elevated B-type natriuretic peptide levels are associated with increased mortality in patients with preserved ejection fraction undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement: an analysis of the PARTNER II trial and registry

Aims

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a cardiac neurohormone that is secreted in response to ventricular volume expansion and pressure overload. There are conflicting data regarding the association between BNP levels and outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). We therefore sought to assess the association between baseline BNP and adverse outcomes in patients with symptomatic, severe aortic stenosis (AS), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥50%, undergoing TAVR in the PARTNER 2 Trial and Registry.

Methods and results

A total of 1782 patients were included in the analysis, and BNP was evaluated both as a continuous log-transformed value and by a priori categories: low (<50 pg/mL), normal (≥50 and <100 pg/mL), moderately elevated (≥100 and <400 pg/mL), or markedly elevated (≥400 pg/mL). Clinical outcomes from discharge to 2 years were compared between patients according to their baseline BNP level, using Kaplan–Meier event rates and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models. After adjustment, spline curves revealed a non-linear association between log-transformed BNP and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in which both the lowest and highest values were associated with increased mortality. Two-year all-cause mortality rates for those with low (n = 86), normal (n = 202), moderately elevated (n = 885), and markedly elevated (n = 609) baseline BNP were 20.0%, 9.8%, 17.7%, and 26.1%, respectively. In adjusted models, compared to a normal baseline BNP, low [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 2.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3–5.0, P-value 0.005], moderately elevated (adjusted HR 1.6, 95% CI 1.0–2.6, P-value 0.06), and markedly elevated (adjusted HR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3–3.5, P-value 0.003) BNP were associated with increased all-cause mortality, driven by cardiovascular mortality.

Conclusions

In a large cohort of patients with severe symptomatic AS and preserved LVEF undergoing TAVR, all-cause and cardiovascular mortality rates at 2 years were higher in patients with low and markedly elevated BNP levels.

Clinical Trial Registration

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ unique identifier #NCT01314313, #NCT02184442, #NCT03222128, and #NCT03222141.

Ticagrelor for Refractory Migraine/Patent Foramen Ovale (TRACTOR): An open-label pilot study

OBJECTIVE

After finding that the thienopyridines clopidogrel and prasugrel reduced migraine headache (MHA) symptoms in some patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO), this small pilot study was undertaken to determine whether ticagrelor, a nonthienopyridine P2Y12 inhibitor, would have similar MHA effects and might be better suited for a future randomized trial.

METHODS

MHA patients were screened for PFO. Participants with documented right to left shunt (RLS) and ≥6 monthly MHA days received ticagrelor therapy for 28 days. Those with ≥50% reduction in monthly MHA days were deemed responders and completed 2 additional treatment months.

RESULTS

The 40 participants had a mean age of 36.2 years and mean MHA frequency of 17.4 d/mo. A total of 39/40 were female. A total of 14/40 met criteria for episodic MHA, 26/40 for chronic MHA, 14/40 had migraine with aura, and 22/40 had a moderate-large RLS (Spencer grade ≥4). Seventeen of 40 participants (43%) were responders. MHA reduction continued through 3 treatment months in all responders. MHA responder rates were not statistically different in participants with episodic or chronic MHA, with or without aura, or with small/larger RLS shunt magnitude. Thirteen (32%) patients had medication side effects, without serious adverse events.

CONCLUSION

P2Y12 inhibition with ticagrelor reduced MHA symptoms similarly to our previous thienopyridine experience, but participants seemed to have a less robust MHA benefit and more frequent side effects than with the thienopyridines, making it an inferior choice for a randomized trial.

CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE

This study provides Class IV evidence that ticagrelor reduced MHA symptoms in patients with PFO.

Retrospective review of thienopyridine therapy in migraineurs with patent foramen ovale

OBJECTIVE

We retrospectively reviewed our clinical experience using off-label thienopyridine agents in patients with migraine headache (MHA) and patent foramen ovale (PFO).

METHODS

Between 2011 and 2017, MHA/PFO patients referred to our practice were clinically treated with clopidogrel specifically for MHA. Those with ≥50% reduction in monthly MHA days compared with baseline were deemed MHA responders. MHA nonresponders with inadequate platelet inhibition by PRU testing were offered prasugrel. Thienopyridine-responsive patients were then offered PFO closure.

RESULTS

Of 136 patients (86% female, mean age 37.9 years, mean MHA burden 14.7 days/month), 80 (59%) were MHA responders to clopidogrel. The clopidogrel responder rate was equivalent in episodic, chronic, aura, and nonaura subgroups. A total of 19/45 (40%) MHA nonresponders had inadequate platelet inhibition by PRU testing on clopidogrel. Sixteen of those patients received prasugrel, were adequately platelet inhibited by PRU, and 10/16 (62%) converted to MHA responders. A total of 56/90 thienopyridine-responsive patients underwent subsequent PFO closure with thienopyridine discontinuation after 3 months. Ninety-four percent had ongoing MHA relief. A total of 8/8 responders who stopped thienopyridine without PFO closure had resumption of MHA symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Successful P2Y12 platelet inhibition seemed to reduce MHA symptoms in some patients with PFO, suggesting a platelet-based mechanism/trigger. The nearly parallel response to PFO closure may mechanistically link venous platelet activation with the right-to-left shunt of PFO. Thienopyridine responsiveness could be used to enrich the study population for a new MHA/PFO trial.

CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE

This study provides Class IV evidence that in patients with PFO, P2Y12 inhibition improved MHA symptoms.

Intracardiac vs transesophageal echocardiography for percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion: A meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) is typically performed utilizing transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and fluoroscopy. Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) can be a suitable alternative to guide implantation. Given the limited data, we performed a meta-analysis of all studies that compared ICE vs TEE for percutaneous LAAC.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar, and major scientific conference sessions for published abstracts and manuscripts until 1 August 2018. Studies reporting clinical outcomes comparing TEE vs ICE for endocardial LAAC in human subjects aged greater than or equal to 18 years were included. Two investigators independently extracted the data and individual quality assessment was performed. The analysis was performed using Cochrane Collaboration software, RevMan 5.3.

RESULTS

Five eligible studies consisting of 1157 patients (ICE-391 patients and TEE-766 patients) were included. Four studies were retrospective and one was prospective, nonrandomized. Two studies included Watchman, two included the Amplatzer Cardiac Plug/Amulet device, and one included both devices. There was no significant difference in CHA2DS2VASC or HAS-BLED scores between both groups. There was no significant difference in acute procedural success between ICE vs TEE (risk ratio, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.99-1.04; P = 0.24). There was no significant difference in fluoroscopy time (mean difference [MD], 1.84 minutes; 95% CI, 0.59-4.27; P = 0.14) and total procedure time (MD, -5.06 minutes; 95% CI, -24.6-14.4; P = 0.61) between both groups. There was also no significant difference in complications including pericardial tamponade, device embolization, and stroke between both groups.

CONCLUSION

In our meta-analysis, ICE was as effective as TEE during percutaneous LAAC.

Acute left main stem coronary occlusion following transcatheter aortic valve replacement in a patient without recognized coronary obstruction risk factors: a case report

Background

Acute coronary obstruction following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an uncommon but life-threatening event.

Case summary

A 78-year-old man developed acute left main obstruction following transfemoral TAVR with a balloon-expandable valve. Cardiac arrest ensued, requiring emergent peripheral cardiopulmonary bypass. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to the left main coronary artery was performed with one drug-eluting stent. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) demonstrated focal underexpansion of the stent in its proximal segment which was not responsive to high-pressure non-compliant balloon dilatation, suggesting stent compression from either valve strut or calcific native leaflet. Therefore, to increase radial strength of the scaffolding at the site of compression, we deployed a second stent within the first stent, and further expanded that segment with high-pressure balloon inflations. Final IVUS demonstrated better expansion of the focally compressed segment. Following PCI, left ventricular function normalized completely. The patient was discharged from hospital on Day 3 post-procedure. At 12 weeks follow-up, his dyspnoea had improved significantly, and follow-up transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated normal left ventricular systolic function and normal aortic valve function.

Discussion

Established risk factors for coronary ostial occlusion include a short distance between the aortic annulus and the coronary ostia (<10 mm) and a narrow aortic root (<28 mm at the sinuses of Valsalva). These two factors increase the likelihood that the native valve leaflets are displaced over and obstruct the coronary ostia when the aortic bioprosthesis is deployed. Perplexingly, our patient did not present with any of the recognized risk factors for acute coronary occlusion, suggesting other factors might be at play. We suggest that a leaflet length to coronary sinus height ratio greater than 1 might be an additional useful predictor of coronary occlusion during TAVR. In addition, we suggest that if residual focal stent compression from either valve strut or calcific leaflet exists after stent deployment and the latter is resistant to balloon dilatation, deploying a second concentric layer of stent might improve the radial strength of the scaffolding and improve overall stent expansion.

Transcatheter Versus Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients With Prior Cardiac Surgery in the Randomized PARTNER 2A Trial

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to further evaluate clinical outcomes in patients with and without PCS.

BACKGROUND

Prior cardiac surgery (PCS) is associated with increased surgical risk and post-operative complications following surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), but whether this risk is similar in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is unclear.

METHODS

In the PARTNER 2A (Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valve) trial, 2,032 patients with severe aortic stenosis at intermediate surgical risk were randomized to TAVR with the SAPIEN XT valve or SAVR. Adverse clinical outcomes at 30 days and 2 years were compared using Kaplan-Meier event rates and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models. The primary endpoint of the PARTNER 2 trial was all-cause death and disabling stroke.

RESULTS

Five hundred nine patients (25.1%) had PCS, mostly (98.2%) coronary artery bypass grafting. There were no significant differences between TAVR and SAVR in patients with or without PCS in the rates of the primary endpoint at 30 days or 2 years. Nevertheless, an interaction was observed between PCS and treatment arm; whereas no-PCS patients treated with TAVR had higher rates of 30-day major vascular complications than patients treated with SAVR (adjusted hazard ratio: 2.66; 95% confidence interval: 1.68 to 4.22), the opposite was true for patients with PCS (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.27; 95% confidence interval: 0.11 to 0.66) (p_interaction <0.0001). A similar interaction was observed for life-threatening or disabling bleeding.

CONCLUSIONS

In the PARTNER 2A trial of intermediate-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing SAVR versus TAVR, the relative risk for 2-year adverse clinical outcomes was similar between TAVR and SAVR in patients with or without PCS.

The Effect of Post-Dilatation on Outcomes in the PARTNER 2 SAPIEN 3 Registry

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to understand the effects of balloon post-dilatation on outcomes following transcatheter aortic valve replacement with the SAPIEN 3 valve.

BACKGROUND

Hemodynamics and outcomes with balloon post-dilatation for the SAPIEN 3 valve have not been previously reported.

METHODS

The effects of balloon post-dilatation (BPD) in 1,661 intermediate (S3i cohort) and high surgical risk (S3HR cohort) patients with aortic stenosis enrolled in the PARTNER (Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valves) 2, SAPIEN 3 observational study on outcomes, as well as procedural complications, were assessed.

RESULTS

208 of 1,661 patients (12.5%) had BPD during the initial transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Baseline characteristics were similar except BPD had higher STS score (p < 0.001), significantly less % oversizing (p = 0.004), significantly more ≥moderate left ventricular outflow tract calcification (p = 0.005), and severe annular calcification (p = 0.006). BPD patients had no increase in permanent pacemaker, annular rupture, or valve embolization. Following transcatheter aortic valve replacement, BPD patients had significantly larger aortic valve area (1.72 ± 0.41 cm² vs. 1.66 ± 0.37 cm²; p = 0.04) with no significant difference in prosthesis-patient mismatch (p = 0.08) or transvalvular aortic regurgitation (p = 0.65), but significantly more paravalvular regurgitation (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in 30-day or 1-year outcomes of all-cause death (p = 0.65 to 0.76) or stroke (p = 0.28 to 0.72). However, at 1 year, there was a significantly higher incidence of minor stroke in BPD patients (p = 0.02). Adjusting for baseline differences, including calcium burden, minor strokes were no longer significantly different between the BPD and NoBPD groups (p = 0.21).

CONCLUSIONS

BPD is performed more frequently in patients with lower % oversizing and greater calcium burden. BPD is not associated with procedural complications or an increase in 1-year adverse events of death, rehospitalization, or stroke.

Unveiling transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis and its predictors among elderly patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement

AIMS

Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) has been reported in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) but its prevalence and phenotype are not known. We examine elderly patients with severe symptomatic AS undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and determine the prevalence and phenotype of ATTR-CA non-invasively.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We performed technetium-99m pyrophosphate (99mTc-PYP) cardiac scintigraphy prospectively on patients who underwent TAVR, to screen for ATTR-CA. Transthoracic echocardiography and speckle-strain imaging were performed. We assessed the association of several parameters with ATTR-CA using multivariable logistic regression and constructed receiver operating curves to evaluate the best predictors of ATTR-CA. Among 151 patients (mean age 84 ± 6 years, 68% men), 16% (n = 24) screened positive for ATTR-CA with 99mTc-PYP scintigraphy. Compared with patients without ATTR-CA, ATTR-CA patients had a thicker interventricular septum (1.3 vs. 1.1 cm, P = 0.007), higher left ventricular (LV) mass index (130 vs. 98 g/m2, P = 0.002), and lower stroke volume index (30 vs. 36 mL/m2, P = 0.009). ATTR-CA patients had advanced diastolic dysfunction with higher E/A ratio (2.3 vs. 0.9, P = 0.001) and lower deceleration time (176 vs. 257 ms, P < 0.0001); impairment in systolic function with lower ejection fraction (48% vs. 56%, P = 0.011), myocardial contraction fraction (26 vs. 41, P < 0.0001), and average of lateral and septal mitral annular tissue Doppler S' (4.0 vs. 6.6 cm/s, P < 0.0001). While ATTR-CA patients had more impaired global longitudinal strain (-12 vs. -16%, P = 0.007), relative apical longitudinal strain was the same regardless of ATTR-CA diagnosis (0.98 vs. 0.98, P = 0.991). Average S' best predicted ATTR-CA in multivariable logistic regression (odds ratio 16.67 per 1 cm/s decrease with AUC 0.96, 95% confidence interval 0.90-0.99, P = 0.002) with a value ≤6 conferring 100% sensitivity for predicting a positive 99mTc-PYP amyloid scan.

CONCLUSIONS

Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis is prevalent in 16% of patients with severe calcific AS undergoing TAVR and is associated with a severe AS phenotype of low-flow low-gradient with mildly reduced ejection fraction. Average tissue Doppler mitral annular S' of < 6 cm/s may be a sensitive measure that should prompt a confirmatory 99mTc-PYP scan and subsequent testing for ATTR-CA. Prospective assessment of outcomes after TAVR is needed in patients with and without ATTR-CA.

Atrial Fibrillation is Associated with Increased Pacemaker Implantation Rates in the Placement of AoRTic Transcatheter Valve (PARTNER) Trial

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with worse outcomes in many cardiovascular diseases. There are few data examining pacemaker implantation rates and indications in patients with AF who undergo transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). To examine the impact of AF on the incidence of and indications for pacemakers in patients undergoing TAVR, we evaluated data of 1723 patients without pre-existing pacemakers who underwent TAVR in the Placement of AoRTic TraNscathetER Valve (PARTNER) trial. Permanent pacemaker implantation rates and indications were compared in groups based on baseline and discharge heart rhythm: sinus rhythm (SR) vs. AF. 1211 patients manifested SR at baseline/SR at discharge (SR/SR), 105 SR baseline/AF discharge (SR/AF), and 407 AF baseline/AF discharge (AF/AF). Patients who developed and were discharged with AF (SR/AF) had the highest rates of pacemaker implantation at 30 days (13.7% SR/AF vs. 5.4% SR/SR, p=0.0008 and 5.9% AF/AF, p=0.008) and 1 year (17.7% SR/AF vs. 7.1% SR/SR, p=0.0002 and 8.1% AF/AF, p=0.0034). Conversion from SR to AF by discharge was an independent predictor of increased pacemaker implantation at 30 days (HR 2.19 vs. SR/SR, 95% CI 1.23-3.93, p=0.008) and 1 year (HR 1.91 vs. SR/SR, 95% CI 1.33-3.80). Pacemaker indications differed between groups, with relatively more implanted in the AF groups for sick sinus syndrome (SSS) versus AV block. In conclusion, conversion to AF is an independent predictor of permanent pacemaker implantation in TAVR patients. Indications differ depending on heart rhythm, with patients in AF manifesting clinically significant tachy-brady syndrome versus AV block.

Impact of Coronary Artery Disease Severity Assessed With the SYNTAX Score on Outcomes Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Background

The influence of coronary artery disease (CAD) on clinical and echocardiographic outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is still controversial. We sought to evaluate the impact of CAD severity as measured by the SYNTAX score (SS) on patients undergoing TAVR.

Methods and Results

A total of 377 patients who underwent TAVR in 2 high‐volume centers in North America were included in our retrospective analysis. A blinded angiographic core laboratory calculated the SS on all available coronary angiograms with the use of quantitative coronary analysis. Patients were stratified into 4 groups: (1) no CAD (SS=0); (2) low SS (SS between 1 and 22); (3) intermediate SS (SS between 23 and 32); and (4) high SS (SS ≥33). Patients who had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention within 6 months prior to TAVR were separated into 2 categories based on their residual SS (<8 and ≥8). Patients with previous coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were divided into 2 groups: (1) low CABG SS and (2) high CABG SS. The primary end point was a composite of all‐cause mortality, myocardial infarction, and stroke. At 30 days and 1 year, both the presence and the severity of CAD had no impact on the rate of the combined primary end point and on all‐cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and myocardial infarction. Patients with less complete revascularization (residual SS ≥8 versus residual SS <8 and low CABG SS versus high CABG SS, had similar rates of the combined primary end point, all‐cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, MI, and stroke, at both 30 days and 1 year.

Conclusions

In our core laboratory–validated study, neither the severity of CAD nor completeness of revascularization after percutaneous coronary intervention or CABG were associated with clinical outcomes after TAVR, at both 30 days and 1 year.

Atrial Fibrillation Is Associated With Increased Mortality in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Insights From the Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valve (PARTNER) Trial

BACKGROUND

This study sought to evaluate the impact of atrial fibrillation (AF) on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Data were evaluated in 1879 patients with baseline and discharge ECGs who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement in the Placement of AoRTic TraNscathetER Valve (PARTNER) trial. A total of 1262 patients manifested sinus rhythm (SR) at baseline/SR at discharge, 113 SR baseline/AF discharge, and 470 AF baseline/AF discharge. Patients who converted from SR to AF by discharge had the highest rates of all-cause mortality at 30 days (P<0.0001 across all groups; 14.2% SR/AF versus 2.6% SR/SR; adjusted hazard ratio [HR]=3.41; P=0.0002) and over 2-fold difference at 1 year (P<0.0001 across all groups; 35.7% SR/AF versus 15.8% SR/SR; adjusted HR=2.14; P<0.0001). The presence of AF on baseline or discharge ECG was a predictor of 1-year mortality (adjusted HR=2.14 for SR/AF group and HR=1.88 for AF/AF groups; P<0.0001 for both groups versus SR/SR). For patients discharged in AF, those with lower ventricular response (ie, <90 bpm) experienced less 1-year all-cause mortality (HR=0.74; P=0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

After transcatheter aortic valve replacement, the presence of AF at discharge, and particularly, the conversion to AF by discharge and higher ventricular response are associated with increased mortality. These data underscore the deleterious impact of AF, as well as the need for targeted interventions to improve clinical outcomes, in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00530894.