Relationship between biomarkers and subsequent clinical and angiographic restenosis after paclitaxel-eluting stents for treatment of STEMI: a HORIZONS-AMI substudy

In-Stent Restenosis

In-stent restenosis (ISR) remains a potential complication after percutaneous coronary intervention, even in the era of drug-eluting stents, and its treatment remains suboptimal. Neoatherosclerosis is an important component of the pathology of ISR and is accelerated in drug-eluting stents compared with bare-metal stents. Coronary angiography is the gold standard for evaluating the morphology of ISR, although computed tomography angiography is emerging as an alternative noninvasive modality to evaluate the presence of ISR. Drug-coated balloons and stent reimplantation are the current mainstays of treatment for ISR, and the choice of treatment should be based on clinical background and lesion morphology.

Associations of myeloperoxidase, interleukin-17A and heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor levels with in-stent restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention: a single-centre case-control study in China

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the changes in serum myeloperoxidase (MPO), interleukin (IL)-17A and heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) levels before and after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and to evaluate the associations of MPO, IL-17A and HB-EGF levels with the 1-year restenosis rate.

DESIGN

Case-control study.

SETTINGS

Xiangyang Central Hospital between January 2012 and December 2017.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients with coronary heart disease who underwent PCI.

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Not applicable.

RESULTS

Finally, 407 and 132 patients were included in the control and in-stent restenosis (ISR) groups, respectively. The general clinical characteristics of the patients were not significantly different between the two groups. The MPO, IL-17A and HB-EGF levels were not significantly different between the two groups at baseline but significantly increased after PCI. The ISR group showed higher levels of MPO, IL-17A and HB-EGF compared with the control group at all postoperative time points. Multivariable analysis showed that MPO, IL-17A and HB-EGF were associated with increased ISR [MPO (OR=1.003; 95% CI: 1.001 to 1.005; p=0.002), IL-17A (OR=1.015; 95% CI: 1.009 to 1.020; p<0.0001) and HB-EGF (OR=2.256; 95% CI: 1.103 to 4.009; p=0.002)]. All three factors had sensitivity and specificity ≥68% for ISR.

CONCLUSIONS

HB-EGF could be used for the detection of ISR after PCI and could be of use for the prediction of ISR, but the value of MPO and IL-17A might be more limited. This will have to be validated in future studies.

Pro-inflammatory Cytokines in Acute Coronary Syndromes

BACKGROUND

Over the last decades, the role of inflammation and immune system activation in the initiation and progression of coronary artery disease (CAD) has been established.

OBJECTIVES

The study aimed to present the interplay between cytokines and their actions preceding and shortly after ACS.

METHODS

We searched in a systemic manner the most relevant articles to the topic of inflammation, cytokines, vulnerable plaque and myocardial infarction in MEDLINE, COCHRANE and EMBASE databases.

RESULTS

Different classes of cytokines (intereleukin [IL]-1 family, Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) family, chemokines, adipokines, interferons) are implicated in the entire process leading to destabilization of the atherosclerotic plaque, and consequently, to the incidence of myocardial infarction. Especially IL-1 and TNF-α family are involved in inflammatory cell accumulation, vulnerable plaque formation, platelet aggregation, cardiomyocyte apoptosis and adverse remodeling following the myocardial infarction. Several cytokines such as IL-6, adiponectin, interferon-γ, appear with significant prognostic value in ACS patients. Thus, research interest focuses on the modulation of inflammation in ACS to improve clinical outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Understanding the unique characteristics that accompany each cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction could illuminate the signaling pathways involved in plaque destabilization and indicate future treatment strategies to improve cardiovascular prognosis in ACS patients.

Interrelationship between diabetes mellitus and heart failure: the role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors in left ventricle performance

Heart failure (HF) is a common cardiac syndrome, whose pathophysiology involves complex mechanisms, some of which remain unknown. Diabetes mellitus (DM) constitutes not only a glucose metabolic disorder accompanied by insulin resistance but also a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and HF. During the last years though emerging data set up, a bidirectional interrelationship between these two entities. In the case of DM impaired calcium homeostasis, free fatty acid metabolism, redox state, and advance glycation end products may accelerate cardiac dysfunction. On the other hand, when HF exists, hypoperfusion of the liver and pancreas, b-blocker and diuretic treatment, and autonomic nervous system dysfunction may cause impairment of glucose metabolism. These molecular pathways may be used as therapeutic targets for novel antidiabetic agents. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) not only improve insulin resistance and glucose and lipid metabolism but also manifest a diversity of actions directly or indirectly associated with systolic or diastolic performance of left ventricle and symptoms of HF. Interestingly, they may beneficially affect remodeling of the left ventricle, fibrosis, and diastolic performance but they may cause impaired water handing, sodium retention, and decompensation of HF which should be taken into consideration in the management of patients with DM. In this review article, we present the pathophysiological data linking HF with DM and we focus on the molecular mechanisms of PPARs agonists in left ventricle systolic and diastolic performance providing useful insights in the molecular mechanism of this class of metabolically active regiments.

Novel Biomarkers for Coronary Restenosis Occurrence After Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation in Patients With Diabetes Having Stable Coronary Artery Disease

The purpose of the study was to assess whether the occurrence of restenosis is associated with CD45+ platelet count and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation for stable coronary artery disease (CAD). The study comprised 126 patients, including 55 patients with type 2 DM and stable CAD who underwent elective coronary artery stenting with DES and follow-up angiography within 6 to 12 months. Blood samples were collected from each patient on the morning of the coronary angiography procedure. The variables related to in-stent restenosis were selected by logistic regression analysis. The logistic regression analysis showed that 2 inflammatory factors, CD45+ platelet count (odds ratio [OR] = 4.51, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.50-13.50, P = .007) and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (OR = 3.09, 95% CI: 1.05-9.10, P = .04), were significantly associated with the risk of in-stent restenosis after stenting with DES in patients with stable CAD and type 2 DM. A receiver operator characteristic curve analysis indicated that the area under the curve was 0.83% (0.05%; P < .001), which showed that the logistic model had good predictive accuracy (based on CD45+ platelet count and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio) for the risk of in-stent restenosis development in DES in patients with CAD and type 2 DM. Two novel biomarkers of restenosis, CD45+ platelet count and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, may be effectively used to predict in-stent restenosis after DES implantation in patients with CAD and type 2 DM.

Secreted Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 of Proliferating Smooth Muscle Cells as a Trigger for Drug Release from Stent Surface Polymers in Coronary Arteries

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of death in industrialized countries. Atherosclerotic coronary arteries are commonly treated with percutaneous transluminal coronary intervention followed by stent deployment. This treatment has significantly improved the clinical outcome. However, triggered vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation leads to in-stent restenosis in bare metal stents. In addition, stent thrombosis is a severe side effect of drug eluting stents due to inhibition of endothelialization. The aim of this study was to develop and test a stent surface polymer, where cytotoxic drugs are covalently conjugated to the surface and released by proteases selectively secreted by proliferating smooth muscle cells. Resting and proliferating human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (HCASMC) and endothelial cells (HCAEC) were screened to identify an enzyme exclusively released by proliferating HCASMC. Expression analyses and enzyme activity assays verified selective and exclusive activity of the matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in proliferating HCASMC. The principle of drug release exclusively triggered by proliferating HCASMC was tested using the biodegradable stent surface polymer poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) and the MMP-9 cleavable peptide linkers named SRL and AVR. The specific peptide cleavage by MMP-9 was verified by attachment of the model compound fluorescein. Fluorescein release was observed in the presence of MMP-9 secreting HCASMC but not of proliferating HCAEC. Our findings suggest that cytotoxic drug conjugated polymers can be designed to selectively release the attached compound triggered by MMP-9 secreting smooth muscle cells. This novel concept may be beneficial for stent endothelialization thereby reducing the risk of restenosis and thrombosis.

D-dimer levels predict ischemic and hemorrhagic outcomes after acute myocardial infarction: a HORIZONS-AMI biomarker substudy

D-dimer is a product of cross linked fibrin degradation and is a measure of the amount of fibrin turnover. As such, D-dimer might be of utility in the prediction of both thrombotic and hemorrhagic events. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate whether elevated D-dimer levels on admission and at discharge could predict subsequent ischemic and hemorrhagic events in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). D-dimer was measured on admission and at discharge in 461 out of a total of 3,602 patients in the HORIZONS-AMI trial, as part of the formal prespecified biomarker substudy. The predictive value for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and non-CABG major bleeding after 3 year follow up was investigated by stratifying patients in groups of D-dimer level and comparing event rates using Kaplan-Meier and calculating hazard ratios using Cox proportional hazards models. D-dimer levels ≥ 0.71 μg/mL on admission were associated with an adjusted hazard ratio of 2.58 for MACE (p = 0.0014) and 4.61 for major bleeding (p = 0.0018). A discharge D-dimer level ≥ 1.26 μg/mL was associated with a higher risk for MACE by univariate analysis (HR 1.88, p = 0.037), but lost its significance after multivariate adjustment (HR 1.77, p = 0.070). High D-dimer levels on admission were associated with a higher risk of MACE and non-CABG major bleeding in STEMI patients undergoing pPCI.