Impact of the everolimus-eluting stent on stent thrombosis: a meta-analysis of 13 randomized trials

Ultrathin-strut versus thin-strut stent healing and outcomes in preclinical and clinical subjects

BACKGROUND

Compared with thin-strut durable-polymer drug-eluting stents (DP-DES), ultrathin-strut biodegradable-polymer sirolimus-eluting stents (BP-SES) improve stent-related clinical outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Reduced stent strut thickness is hypothesised to underlie these benefits, but this conjecture remains unproven.

AIMS

We aimed to assess the impact of strut thickness on stent healing and clinical outcomes between ultrathin-strut and thin-strut BP-SES.

METHODS

First, we performed a preclinical study of 8 rabbits implanted with non-overlapping thin-strut (diameter/thickness 3.5 mm/80 μm) and ultrathin-strut (diameter/thickness 3.0 mm/60 μm) BP-SES in the infrarenal aorta. On day 7, the rabbits underwent intravascular near-infrared fluorescence optical coherence tomography (NIRF-OCT) molecular-structural imaging of fibrin deposition and stent tissue coverage, followed by histopathological analysis. Second, we conducted an individual data pooled analysis of patients enrolled in the BIOSCIENCE and BIOSTEMI randomised PCI trials treated with ultrathin-strut (n=282) or thin-strut (n=222) BP-SES. The primary endpoint was target lesion failure (TLF) at 1-year follow-up, with a landmark analysis at 30 days.

RESULTS

NIRF-OCT image analyses revealed that ultrathin-strut and thin-strut BP-SES exhibited similar stent fibrin deposition (p=0.49) and percentage of uncovered stent struts (p=0.63). Histopathological assessments corroÂborated these findings. In 504 pooled randomised trial patients, TLF rates were similar for those treated with ultrathin-strut or thin-strut BP-SES at 30-day (2.5% vs 1.8%; p=0.62) and 1-year follow-up (4.3% vs 4.7%; p=0.88).

CONCLUSIONS

Ultrathin-strut and thin-strut BP-SES demonstrate similar early arterial healing profiles and 30-day and 1-year clinical outcomes.

Poor Below Knee Runoff Impacts Femoropopliteal Stent Failure and Fluoropolymer Antithrombotic Effect in Healthy Swine Model

OBJECTIVE

Poor below knee (BTK) runoff is a predictor of stent failure after endovascular femoropopliteal artery treatment; however, lack of pathological evaluation has prevented characterisation of stent failure. The study aimed to investigate the impact of poor BTK runoff and the antithrombotic effect of the polymer of fluoropolymer coated paclitaxel eluting stents (FP-PESs) in a healthy swine femoropopliteal artery model.

METHODS

FP-PESs and bare metal stents (BMSs) and FP-PES and polymer free paclitaxel coated stents (PF-PCSs) were implanted in the bilateral femoral arteries of healthy swine (n = 6, respectively) following coil embolisation in both tibial arteries to induce poor BTK runoff. Histological assessment and intravascular imaging device evaluation were performed at one month. The Japanese Association for Laboratory Animal Science approved the study protocol (reference number: IVT22-90).

RESULTS

Optical coherence tomography showed significantly lower percent area stenosis in FP-PES compared with BMS (37.3%, [interquartile range (IQR), 25.6 - 54.3] % vs. 92.5% [IQR, 75.5 - 96.1] %, respectively, p = .031), and PF-PCS (8.3% [IQR, 4.5 - 27.0] % vs. 31.2% [IQR, 23.3 - 52.2] %, respectively, p = .031). Histopathological evaluation demonstrated that thin fibrin attachment without re-stenosis was the most dominant neointimal tissue characteristic in FP-PES. On the other hand, neointimal tissue characteristics with significant restenosis of BMS and PF-PCS were mainly organising or organised thrombus.

CONCLUSION

Organising and or organised thrombus attachment due to poor BTK runoff was the main cause of in stent restenosis of the swine femoral artery. FP-PES demonstrated the least percent area stenosis, suggesting the importance of the antithrombotic effect of polymer.

Durable polymer versus biodegradable polymer drug-eluting stents in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing complex percutaneous coronary intervention: a post hoc analysis of the HOST-REDUCE-POLYTECH-ACS trial

BACKGROUND

Comparative data of durable polymer (DP) versus biodegradable polymer (BP) drug-eluting stents (DES) are limited in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

AIMS

We sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of DP-DES and BP-DES in ACS patients receiving complex PCI.

METHODS

This study was a post hoc analysis of the HOST-REDUCE-POLYTECH-ACS trial. ACS patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to DP-DES or BP-DES in the HOST-REDUCE-POLYTECH-ACS trial. Complex PCI was defined as having at least 1 of the following features: ≥3 stents implanted, ≥3 lesions treated, total stent length ≥60 mm, bifurcation PCI with 2 stents, left main PCI, or heavy calcification. Patient-oriented (POCO, a composite of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and any repeat revascularisation) and device-oriented composite outcomes (DOCO, a composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, or target lesion revascularisation) were evaluated at 12 months.

RESULTS

Among 3,301 patients for whom full procedural data were available, 1,140 patients received complex PCI. Complex PCI was associated with higher risks of POCO and DOCO. The risks of POCO were comparable between DP-DES and BP-DES in both the complex (HR 0.87, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.57-1.33; p=0.522) and non-complex (HR 0.83, 95% CI: 0.56-1.24; p=0.368; p for interaction=0.884) PCI groups. DOCO was also not significantly different between DP-DES and BP-DES in both the complex (HR 0.74, 95% CI: 0.43-1.27; p=0.278) and non-complex (HR 0.67, 95% CI: 0.38-1.19; p=0.175; p for interaction=0.814) PCI groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In ACS patients, DP-DES and BP-DES showed similar clinical outcomes irrespective of PCI complexity.

Optimal Antithrombotic Therapy in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Focused Review on High Bleeding Risk

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is a therapeutic cornerstone to prevent stent thrombosis following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the longer the DAPT duration, the higher the incidence of bleeding and mortality. Since the advent of second-generation drug-eluting stents (DES), the continuous evolution of DES has reduced the thrombotic risk and allowed for a shorter DAPT duration. On the other hand, concerns on the elevated risk of bleeding during antithrombotic therapy have been further raised due to the growing number of elderly CAD patients with multiple comorbidities. The consequent debate topic over post-PCI antithrombotic therapy has shifted from simply reducing thrombotic risk to safely minimizing bleeding risk. Due to the significant impact of bleeding on clinical outcomes, including prognosis, current guidelines on antithrombotic therapy for CAD prioritize stratification of patients at a high bleeding risk (HBR) as the top consideration in determining post-PCI antithrombotic therapy. Achieving optimal antithrombotic therapy for each patient undergoing PCI requires a better understanding of the clinical variables constituting the balance of bleeding and thrombotic risk. This review highlights relevant evidence required to optimize antithrombotic therapy for HBR patients undergoing PCI.

Prognostic Implications of Fractional Flow Reserve After Coronary Stenting: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

IMPORTANCE

Fractional flow reserve (FFR) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is generally considered to reflect residual disease. Yet the clinical relevance of post-PCI FFR after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical relevance of post-PCI FFR measurement after DES implantation.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for relevant published articles from inception to June 18, 2022.

STUDY SELECTION

Published articles that reported post-PCI FFR after DES implantation and its association with clinical outcomes were included.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Patient-level data were collected from the corresponding authors of 17 cohorts using a standardized spreadsheet. Meta-estimates for primary and secondary outcomes were analyzed per patient and using mixed-effects Cox proportional hazard regression with registry identifiers included as a random effect. All processes followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Individual Participant Data.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary outcome was target vessel failure (TVF) at 2 years, a composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction (TVMI), and target vessel revascularization (TVR). The secondary outcome was a composite of cardiac death or TVMI at 2 years.

RESULTS

Of 2268 articles identified, 29 studies met selection criteria. Of these, 28 articles from 17 cohorts provided data, including a total of 5277 patients with 5869 vessels who underwent FFR measurement after DES implantation. Mean (SD) age was 64.4 (10.1) years and 4141 patients (78.5%) were men. Median (IQR) post-PCI FFR was 0.89 (0.84-0.94) and 690 vessels (11.8%) had a post-PCI FFR of 0.80 or below. The cumulative incidence of TVF was 340 patients (7.2%), with cardiac death or TVMI occurring in 111 patients (2.4%) at 2 years. Lower post-PCI FFR significantly increased the risk of TVF (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] per 0.01 FFR decrease, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02-1.05; P < .001). The risk of cardiac death or MI also increased inversely with post-PCI FFR (adjusted HR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.00-1.07, P = .049). These associations were consistent regardless of age, sex, the presence of hypertension or diabetes, and clinical diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Reduced FFR after DES implantation was common and associated with the risks of TVF and of cardiac death or TVMI. These results indicate the prognostic value of post-PCI physiologic assessment after DES implantation.

Incidence and Predictors of Outcome in the Treatment of In-Stent Restenosis with Drug-Eluting Balloons, a Real-Life Single-Centre Study

Objectives

To determine the one-year and five-year occurrence and prognosticators of major adverse cardiac events (MACE: composition of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization, and vessel thrombosis), mortality, and target lesion revascularization (TLR) in patients with in-stent restenosis (ISR) treated with drug-eluting balloons (DEBs).

Background

DEBs have become an emerging therapeutic option for ISR. We report the results of a single-center retrospective study on the treatment of ISR with DEB.

Methods

94 consecutive patients with ISR treated with the paclitaxel-eluting balloon were retrospectively studied between August 2011 and December 2019.

Results

The one-year MACE rate was 11.8%, and the five-year MACE rate was 39.8%. The one-year mortality was 5.3%, and the five-year mortality rate was 21.5%. The one-year TLR rate was 4.3%, and the five-year rate was 18.7%. The univariable-Cox proportional hazard models for TLR showed lesion length, and the number of DEBs per vessel is associated with adverse outcomes with H.R. of 1.038 (1.007–1.069) and 4.7 (1.6–13.8), respectively.

Conclusion

Our data indicate that at one year, DEBs provide an effective alternative to stenting for in-stent restenosis. Our five-year data, representing one of the longest-term follow-ups of DEB use, demonstrate high rates of MACE. The high five-year MACE reflects all-cause mortality in a high-risk population. This is offset by a reasonable five-year rate of TLR, indicating that DEB provides both short-term and long-term benefits in ISR.

A Senolytic-Eluting Coronary Stent for the Prevention of In-Stent Restenosis

The vast majority of drug-eluting stents (DES) elute either sirolimus or one of its analogues. While limus drugs stymie vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation to prevent in-stent restenosis, their antiproliferative nature is indiscriminate and limits healing of the endothelium in stented vessels, increasing the risk of late-stent thrombosis. Oxidative stress, which is associated with vascular injury from stent implantation, can induce VSMCs to undergo senescence, and senescent VSMCs can produce pro-inflammatory cytokines capable of inducing proliferation of neighboring nonsenescent VSMCs. We explored the potential of senolytic therapy, which involves the selective elimination of senescent cells, in the form of a senolytic-eluting stent (SES) for interventional cardiology. Oxidative stress was modeled in vitro by exposing VSMCs to H₂O₂, and H₂O₂-mediated senescence was evaluated by cytochemical staining of senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity and qRT-PCR. Quiescent VSMCs were then treated with the conditioned medium (CM) of H₂O₂-treated VSMCs. Proliferative effects of CM were analyzed by staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen. Senolytic effects of the first-generation senolytic ABT263 were observed in vitro, and the effects of ABT263 on endothelial cells were also investigated through an in vitro re-endothelialization assay. SESs were prepared by dip coating. Iliofemoral arteries of hypercholesteremic rabbits were implanted with SES, everolimus-eluting stents (EESs), or bare-metal stents (BMSs), and the area of stenosis was measured 4 weeks post-implantation using optical coherence tomography. We found that a portion of H₂O₂-treated VSMCs underwent senescence, and that CM of H₂O₂-treated senescent VSMCs triggered the proliferation of quiescent VSMCs. ABT263 reverted H₂O₂-mediated senescence and the proliferative capacity of senescent VSMC CM. Unlike everolimus, ABT263 did not affect endothelial cell migration and/or proliferation. SES, but not EES, significantly reduced stenosis area in vivo compared with bare-metal stents (BMSs). This study shows the potential of SES as an alternative to current forms of DES.

Polymer Coating Integrity, Thrombogenicity and Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis of Provisional Stenting Technique in the Left Main Bifurcation Setting: Insights from an In-Vitro Model

Currently, the provisional stenting technique is the gold standard in revascularization of lesions located in the left main (LM) bifurcation. The benefit of the routine kissing balloon technique (KBI) in bifurcation lesions is still debated, particularly following the single stent treatment. We compared the latest-generation drug-eluting stent (DES) with no side branch (SB) dilatation “keep it open” technique (KIO) vs. KBI technique vs. bifurcation dedicated drug-eluting stent (BD-DES) implantation. In vitro testing was performed under a static condition in bifurcation silicone vessel models. All the devices were implanted in accordance with the manufacturers’ recommendations. As a result, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis demonstrated a statistically higher area of high shear rate in the KIO group when compared to KBI. Likewise, the maximal shear rate was higher in number in the KIO group. Floating strut count based on the OCT imaging was significantly higher in KIO than in KBI and BD-DES. Furthermore, according to OTC analysis, the thrombus area was numerically higher in both KIO and KBI than in the BD-DES. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis shows the highest degree of strut coating damage in the KBI group. This model demonstrated significant differences in CFD analysis at SB ostia with and without KBI optimization in the LM setting. The adoption of KBI was related to a meaningful reduction of flow disturbances in conventional DES and achieved results similar to BD-DES.

Prasugrel Dose De-escalation Therapy After Complex Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Post Hoc Analysis From the HOST-REDUCE-POLYTECH-ACS Trial

Importance

De-escalation of dual-antiplatelet therapy through dose reduction of prasugrel improved net adverse clinical events after acute coronary syndrome (ACS), mainly through the reduction of bleeding without an increase in ischemic outcomes. However, whether such benefits are similarly observed in those receiving complex procedures is unknown.

Objective

To investigate whether the benefits of prasugrel dose de-escalation therapy are maintained in the complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) subgroup.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This was a post hoc analysis of the HOST-REDUCE-POLYTECH-ACS trial, a randomized, open-label, adjudicator-blinded, multicenter trial performed at 35 hospitals in South Korea. Study participants included patients with ACS who were receiving PCI. Data were collected from September 30, 2014, to December 18, 2015, and analyzed from September 17, 2020, to June 15, 2021.

Interventions and Exposures

Patients were randomized to a prasugrel dose de-escalation (5 mg daily) at 1 month post-PCI group or a conventional (10 mg daily) group. Complex PCI was defined as having at least 1 of the following features: 3 or more stents implanted, 3 or more lesions treated, bifurcation PCI, total stent length 60 mm or larger, left main PCI, or heavy calcification.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The main analysis end points were MACE (major adverse cardiac event, a composite of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, and repeat revascularization) at 1 year for ischemic outcomes, and BARC (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium) class 2 or higher bleeding events at 1 year for bleeding outcomes.

Results

Of 2271 patients (mean [SD] age, 58.9 [9.0] years; 2024 [89%] male patients) for whom full procedural data were available, 705 patients received complex PCI, and 1566 patients received noncomplex PCI. Complex PCI was associated with higher rates of ischemic outcomes but not with bleeding outcomes. Prasugrel dose de-escalation did not increase the risk of MACE (hazard ratio [HR], 0.88; 95% CI, 0.47-1.66; P = .70 in complex PCI; HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.45-1.46; P = .48 in noncomplex PCI; P for interaction = .84) but decreased BARC class 2 or higher bleeding events (HR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.10-0.61; P = .002 in complex PCI; HR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.38-1.00; P = .05 in noncomplex PCI; P for interaction = .08), albeit with wide 95% CIs.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this post hoc analysis of patients with ACS, prasugrel dose de-escalation compared with conventional therapy was not associated with an increased risk of ischemic outcomes but may reduce the risk of minor bleeding events at 1 year, irrespective of PCI complexity.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02193971.

Acute thrombogenicity of fluoropolymer coated stents versus competitive drug-eluting stents under single antiplatelet therapy

BACKGROUND

Recent clinical studies have suggested the feasibility of 1-month dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for patients receiving drug-eluting stent (DES). Although our previous ex-vivo swine arteriovenous (AV) shunt studies under low dose heparin treatment suggested superior thromboresistance of fluoropolymer-coated everolimus-eluting stent (FP-EES) when compared to other polymer-based DESs, the relative thromboresistance of different DESs under single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT) has never been examined. This study aimed to evaluate platelet adhesion under SAPT in competitive DESs in the in vitro flow loop model and ex vivo swine AV shunt model.

METHODS

The thrombogenicity of FP-EES, BioLinx polymer zotarolimus-eluting stent (BL-ZES), and biodegradable polymer everolimus-eluting stent (BP-EES) was assessed acutely using the swine AV shunt model under aspirin or clopidogrel SAPT. Stents were immunostained using antibodies against platelets and inflammatory markers and evaluated by confocal microscopy. Also, the adhesion of platelet and albumin on the three DESs was assessed by an in-vitro flow loop model using human platelets under aspirin SAPT and fluorescent albumin, respectively.

RESULTS

In the shunt model, FP-EES showed significantly less platelet and inflammatory cell adhesion than BL-ZES and BP-EES. In the flow loop model, FP-EES showed significantly less platelet coverage and more albumin adsorption than BL-ZES and BP-EES.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest FP-EES may have particular advantage for short-term DAPT compared to other DESs.

Late neointimal volume reduction is observed following biodegradable polymer-based drug eluting stent in porcine model

BACKGROUND

The BP-SES has an abluminally applied biodegradable polymer that is fully resorbed after 3-4 months but may have longer-lasting effects. The aim of this study was to determine the long-term vascular response to the novel Ultimaster™ sirolimus-eluting stent (BP-SES).

METHODS

BP-SESs, everolimus-eluting stents (DP-EESs), and bare metal stents were implanted in 22 coronary arteries of 15 mini-swine. All animals underwent optical frequent domain imaging (OFDI) to assess neointimal volume and quality at either 1 (n = 7) or 3 (n = 8) months and at 9 (n = 15) months and were euthanized at 9 months. Stents were subsequently histologically investigated to analyze the vascular response and maturity of neointimal tissue according to cell density.

RESULTS

OFDI revealed greater regression in neointimal volume from 3 to 9 months with BP-SESs than with DP-EESs (-0.6 ± 0.5 mm2 vs. 0.00 ± 0.4 mm2, p = 0.07). Although there was no significant difference between BP-SESs and DP-EESs in the inflammation score (BMS, BP-SES, and DP-EES: 0.1 ± 0.1, 0.3 ± 0.4, and 0.4 ± 0.4, respectively; p < 0.0001) in histological analysis, BP-SESs showed slightly greater maturity than DP-EESs (1.8 ± 0.3, 1.7 ± 0.3, and 1.6 ± 0.3, p = 0.09).

CONCLUSIONS

While both BP-SESs and DP-EESs showed minimal inflammatory responses at 9 months, BP-SESs showed a trend for greater neointimal maturity and regression, which may be related to earlier completion of the vascular response.

Early Vascular Healing Following Bioresorbable-Polymer Sirolimus-Eluting Stent Placement Compared to That with Durable-Polymer Everolimus-Eluting Stent

A recent thinner strut drug-eluting stent might facilitate early strut coverage after its placement. We aimed to investigate early vascular healing responses after the placement of an ultrathin-strut bioresorbable-polymer sirolimus-eluting stent (BP-SES) compared to those with a durable-polymer everolimus-eluting stent (DP-EES) using optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging.This study included 40 patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) who underwent OCT-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Twenty patients each received either BP-SES or DP-EES implantation. OCT was performed immediately after stent placement (baseline) and at 1-month follow-up.At one month, the percentage of uncovered struts reduced significantly in both the BP-SES (80.9 ± 10.3% to 2.9 ± 1.7%; P < 0.001) and DP-EES (81.9 ± 13.0% to 5.7 ± 1.8%; P < 0.001) groups, and the percentage was lower in the BP-SES group than in the DP-EES group (P < 0.001). In the BP-SES group, the percentage of malapposed struts also decreased significantly at 1 month (4.9 ± 3.7% to 2.6 ± 3.0%; P = 0.025), which was comparable to that of the DP-EES group (2.5 ± 2.2%; P = 0.860). The optimal cut-off value of the distance between the strut and vessel surface immediately after the placement to predict resolved malapposed struts was ≤ 160 μm for BP-SES and ≤ 190 μm for DP-EES.Compared to DP-EES, ultrathin-strut BP-SES demonstrated favorable vascular responses at one month, with a lower rate of uncovered struts and a comparable rate of malapposed struts.

10-Year Follow-Up of Patients With Everolimus-Eluting Versus Bare-Metal Stents After ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND

Outcomes data for a durable-polymer everolimus-eluting stent (EES) at extended long-term follow-up in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are unknown.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess the 10-year outcomes of patients enrolled in the EXAMINATION (A Clinical Evaluation of Everolimus Eluting Coronary Stents in the Treatment of Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction) trial.

METHODS

The EXAMINATION-EXTEND (10-Years Follow-Up of the EXAMINATION Trial) study is an investigator-driven 10-year follow-up of the EXAMINATION trial, which randomly assigned 1,498 patients with STEMI in a 1:1 ratio to receive either EES (n = 751) or bare-metal stents (n = 747). The primary endpoint was a patient-oriented composite endpoint of all-cause death, any myocardial infarction, or any revascularization. Secondary endpoints included a device-oriented composite endpoint of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, or target lesion revascularization; the individual components of the combined endpoints; and stent thrombosis.

RESULTS

Complete 10-year clinical follow-up was obtained in 94.5% of the EES group and 95.9% of the bare-metal stent group. Rates of the patient-oriented composite endpoint and device-oriented composite endpoint were significantly reduced in the EES group (32.4% vs. 38.0% [hazard ratio: 0.81; 95% confidence interval: 0.68 to 0.96; p = 0.013] and 13.6% vs. 18.4% [hazard ratio: 0.72; 95% confidence interval: 0.55 to 0.93; p = 0.012], respectively), driven mainly by target lesion revascularization (5.7% vs. 8.8%; p = 0.018). The rate of definite stent thrombosis was similar in both groups (2.2% vs. 2.5%; p = 0.590). No differences were found between the groups in terms of target lesion revascularization (1.4% vs. 1.3%; p = 0.963) and definite or probable stent thrombosis (0.6% vs. 0.4%; p = 0.703) between 5 and 10 years.

CONCLUSIONS

At 10-year follow-up, EES demonstrated confirmed superiority in combined patient- and device-oriented composite endpoints compared with bare-metal stents in patients with STEMI requiring primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Between 5- and 10-year follow-up, a low incidence of adverse cardiovascular events related to device failure was found in both groups. (10-Years Follow-Up of the EXAMINATION Trial; NCT04462315).

Heart team 2.0: A decision tree for minimally invasive and hybrid myocardial revascularization

Recent years have seen an important shift in the target population for myocardial revascularization. Patients are increasingly presenting with more complex coronary artery disease (CAD), but also with multiple comorbidities and frailty. At the same time, minimally invasive strategies such as Minimally Invasive Direct Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (MIDCAB) and Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (PCI) have been developed, which might be more appealing for this group of patients. As a result, the landscape of options for myocardial revascularization is evolving while adequate use of all resources is required to ensure optimal patient care. Heart Teams are confronted with the challenge of incorporating the new minimally invasive strategies into the decision process, yet current guidelines do not fully address this challenge. In this review, the current evidence regarding outcomes, indications, benefits, and risks of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB), MIDCAB, PCI, and hybrid coronary revascularization (HCR) are discussed. Based on this evidence and on experiences from Heart Team discussions, a new decision tree is proposed that incorporates recent advances in minimally invasive revascularization strategies, thereby optimizing adequate delivery of care for each individual patient's needs. Introducing all important considerations in a logical way, this tool facilitates the decision-making process and might ensure appropriate use of resources and optimal care for individual patients.

Omission of aspirin in patients taking oral anticoagulation after percutaneous coronary intervention: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

There is no consensus on optimal antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy after coronary stenting.

METHODS

We identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase using the following keywords: 'antiplatelet', 'dual therapy', 'triple therapy', 'antithrombosis', 'indication for anticoagulation', 'percutaneous coronary intervention', and 'RCTs'. Primary safety end points were relative bleeding events, and secondary efficacy end points were major adverse cardiovascular events including stent thrombosis, death, myocardial infarction, and stroke.

RESULTS

We identified three RCTs including 5387 patients, of whom 2719 (50.5%) received dual therapy (DT) and 2668 (49.5%) received triple therapy. Relative to triple therapy, DT was associated with lower Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction major bleeding [risk ratio (RR): 0.58; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.42-0.82], Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction minor bleeding (RR: 0.46; 95% CI: 0.34-0.62), and clinical bleeding events (RR: 0.61; 95% CI: 0.47-0.81). There was no significant difference for the secondary efficacy end point. In subgroup analyses, results were similar by sex, bleeding risk, and stent type; however, DT appeared suitable for patients aged less than 75 years but not more than or equal to 75 years, implying that there may be no ideal therapy for patients older than 75 years to balance the risk of ischemia and bleeding at the same time.

CONCLUSION

Among patients with an indication for oral anticoagulation after percutaneous coronary intervention, DT appears to be the optimal strategy.

Impact of different coronary angioscopic findings on arterial healing one year after bioresorbable-polymer and second-generation durable-polymer drug-eluting stent implantation

BACKGROUND

The advantage of using bioresorbable-polymer drug-eluting stent (BP-DES) compared with second-generation durable-polymer drug-eluting stent (2G DP-DES) still remains controversial in clinical situations. The purpose of this study to evaluate the degree of re-endothelialization and the prevalence of high-grade yellow-colored plaque (YCP), which might concern arterial healing after BP-DES and 2G DP-DES implantation using a high-resolution coronary angioscopy (CAS).

METHODS

In total, 104 DESs (52: 2G DP-DES and 52: BP-DES) were prospectively observed using CAS 12±1 months after coronary intervention. The grade of neointimal coverage (NIC) over the stent was scored on a 4-point scale from 0 (no coverage) to 3 (complete coverage). YCP grade was also scored on a 4-point scale as 0 (white) to 3 (intensive yellow). High-grade YCP was defined as maximum grade ≥2. Moreover, the prevalence of high-grade YCP and the incidence of thrombus were investigated.

RESULTS

BP-DES revealed better dominant NIC grade and less NIC heterogeneity than 2G DP-DES (p=0.0001 and p=0.015, respectively). The prevalence of high-grade YCP was lower for BP-DES than for 2G DP-DES (p=0.05). However, the incidence of thrombus was not significantly different (p=0.41). Multivariate analysis identified that low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels [odds ratio (OR), 1.03; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.01-1.06, p=0.01] and the usage of BP-DES [OR, 0.36; 95% CI: 0.14-0.91, p=0.03] as independent predictors of high-grade YCP.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with 2G DP-DES, BP-DES was less heterogeneous and well-covered NIC and less prevalence of the high-grade YCP implying optimal arterial healing.

Bioresorbable scaffold: Never say never

Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVSs) were designed to overcome the limitations of metallic stents. Absorb BVS has provided information about strut thickness, scaffold degradation, vessel wall coverage, and their influence on thrombosis. Clinical trials have shown higher rates of target vessel myocardial infarction and stent thrombosis with the absorb BVS than with second-generation drug-eluting stents.

Cut-off value of strut-vessel distance for the resolution of acute incomplete stent apposition in the early phase using serial optical coherence tomography after cobalt-chromium everolimus-eluting stent implantation

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to identify a cut-off value to predict the resolution of incomplete-stent-apposition (ISA) after cobalt-chromium everolimus-eluting stent (CoCr-EES) implantation at early follow-up.

BACKGROUND

To date, appropriate stent apposition at the acute period using intracoronary imaging has been recommended because persistent ISA is considered to be a risk factor for stent thrombosis. We examined the indices for resolving acute ISA. In particular, we determined the cut-off value for strut vessel distance (SV-distance) as visualized by optical coherence tomography (OCT) at 8 months after CoCr-EES implantation. However, the cut-off value of SV-distance for the earlier resolution of ISA is unclear.

METHODS

A total of 95 cases and 103 stents were registered in the MECHANISM Elective substudy. The SV-distance was measured at the deepest site of the target malapposition and every 1 mm from the proximal edge to the distal edge of the mal-apposed area using OCT. Cut-off values for ISA resolution at 1 and 3 months were estimated by SV-distance using receiver operating characteristic analysis.

RESULTS

The total number of analyzed struts was 14,418 at the 1-month follow-up and 11,986 at the 3-month follow-up. The optimal SV-distance cut-off values just after stent implantation to predict ISA resolution were 185 µm at the 1-month follow-up and 195 μm at the 3-month follow-up.

CONCLUSION

For resolution of ISA, SV-distance cut-off values of 185 µm at 1 month postimplantation and 195 μm at 3 months postimplantation can be used as the index of endpoint of the percutaneous coronary intervention.

Comparison of Resolute zotarolimus-eluting and Xience everolimus-eluting stents in patients with de novo long coronary artery lesions: a randomized LONG-DES VI trial

BACKGROUND

Outcomes for stent-based coronary intervention of lesions with long diseased segments remain relatively unfavorable. This study sought to compare the efficacy of Resolute zotarolimus-eluting stents (R-ZES) and Xience everolimus-eluting stents (EES) for very long coronary lesions.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This randomized, multicenter, prospective trial compared the use of R-ZES with EES for very long (≥50 mm) native coronary lesions. The primary end point was in-segment late luminal loss at 12-month angiographic follow-up. A total of 400 patients were needed to assess the primary end point. However, owing to very slow enrollment of patients, this trial was early terminated (302 patients were enrolled), and thus, this report provides descriptive information on primary and secondary end points. The R-ZES and EES groups had similar baseline characteristics. Lesion length was 49.6±10.2 and 50.6±13.3 mm in the R-ZES and EES groups, respectively (P=0.47). The number of stents used at the target lesion was 2.1±0.3 and 2.2±0.5, respectively. Twelve-month angiographic follow-up was performed in 50% of eligible patients. In-segment late luminal loss did not significantly differ between the R-ZES and EES groups (0.17±0.57 vs. 0.09±0.43 mm, P=0.32). In-segment binary restenosis rates were 8.1 and 5.3% in the R-ZES and EES groups, respectively (P=0.49). There were no significant between-group differences in the rate of adverse events (death, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, target lesion revascularization, and composite outcomes).

CONCLUSION

For patients with very long native coronary artery disease, R-ZES and EES implantation showed comparable angiographic and clinical outcomes through 1 year of follow-up.

Time Course of Reendothelialization with Polyzene-F Nanocoated Cobra PzF™ Coronary Stent on Rabbit Iliac Arteries

PURPOSE

Evaluation of reendothelialization with a new thin struts cobalt chromium alloy stent coated with a nano-layer of Polyzene™-F (PzF) in a rabbit iliac artery model.

METHODS

Fifteen stented external rabbit iliac arteries were harvested at Day 7 for electron microscopy analysis following Cobra PzF stents implantation to assess reendothelialization and compare to historical data. Ten additional rabbits were used to assess time course of reendothelialization at 3 and 5 days.

RESULTS

At Day 7, almost complete coverage of endothelial cells was observed with a coverage of 99.54 ± 0.25% of the stented area. No thrombus area was noted. At Day 3, more than half of examined pieces was reendothelialized and reached 78.30 ± 3.7% at Day 5 (p < .01 between each group). All stents were well expanded against the arterial wall and no struts were mal-apposed.

CONCLUSIONS

Reendothelialization was rapid and complete at Day 7. This is the fastest reendothelization process after stenting in this model. No stent occlusion was observed.

Early and Mid-Term Vascular Responses to Optical Coherence Tomography-Guided Everolimus-Eluting Stent Implantation in Stable Coronary Artery Disease

BACKGROUND

Analysis of pooled clinical data has shown the safety of 3 months of dual antiplatelet therapy with everolimus-eluting cobalt-chromium stents (Co-Cr EESs). This study evaluated early and mid-term vascular responses to Co-Cr EESs in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

METHODS

The Multicenter Comparison of Early and Late Vascular Responses to Everolimus-Eluting Cobalt-Chromium Stent and Platelet Aggregation Studies in Patients With Stable Angina Managed as Elective Case (MECHANISM-Elective) study (NCT02014818) is a multicenter optical coherence tomography (OCT) registry. Enrolled patients were evaluated by OCT immediately after everolimus-eluting stent implantation were prospectively allocated to 1 month (n = 50) or 3 months (n = 50) OCT follow-up and then received a 12-month OCT evaluation. The incidences of intrastent thrombus (IS-Th) and irregular protrusion (IRP) were also assessed.

RESULTS

The percentage of uncovered struts was 6.4% ± 10.3% at 1 month (P < 0.001 vs. postprocedure) and 0.5% ± 0.9% at 12 months (P < 0.001 vs. 1 month). The corresponding values in the 3-month cohort were 2.0% ± 2.5% (P < 0.001 vs. postprocedure) and 0.5% ± 1.5% (P < 0.001 vs. 3 months). The incidence of IS-Th was 32.7% at 1 month, 5.4% at 3 months, and 2.0% at 12 months. IRP was observed in 21.8% of patients post-EES but had totally resolved at 1, 3, and 12 months.

CONCLUSION

Early and mid-term vascular reactions after Co-Cr EES implantation in stable patients with coronary artery disease in the MECHANISM-Elective included dynamic resolution of IS-Th and IRP and rapid decrease in uncovered struts. Thus, EES may allow shortening of dual antiplatelet therapy duration less than 3 months in this patient subset.

Long-Term Performance of the COMBO Dual-Therapy Stent: Results from the REMEDEE Registry

BACKGROUND

Data of long-term safety and efficacy of the COMBO dual-therapy stent is lacking. REMEDEE Registry evaluated the COMBO stent and showed low clinical event rates up to 3 year. We report the clinical outcomes at 4-year follow-up of this registry.

METHODS

The REMEDEE Registry is a prospective, multicenter registry with minimal exclusion criteria, evaluating clinical outcomes after treatment with the COMBO stent. A 1000 patients were enrolled between June 2013 and March 2014. Target lesion failure (TLF), defined as a composite of cardiac death, target-vessel myocardial infarction (TV-MI) and target lesion revascularization (TLR), at 4-year follow-up was the primary focus of this analysis.

RESULTS

Four-year follow-up data were obtained in 97.3% of patients. TLF was present in 117 patients (11.9%). Cardiac death occurred in 45 patients (4.6%), TV-MI was observed in 25 patients (2.6%) and TLR was performed in 73 patients (7.5%). Of the 7.5% TLR at 4 years, 1.5% were beyond 2 years. Definite ST was seen in 7 patients (0.7%) and probable ST in 1 (0.1%). No definite or probable ST occurred between 3 and 4 years follow-up. At 4-year follow-up, 93.1% of patients were free of ischemic symptoms.

CONCLUSION

This registry showed excellent 4-year results after COMBO stent placement, with no ST beyond 3 years.

Subgroup Analysis Comparing Ultrathin, Bioresorbable Polymer Sirolimus-Eluting Stents Versus Thin, Durable Polymer Everolimus-Eluting Stents in Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients

BACKGROUND

Presentation with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) constitutes a high-risk subset of patients with worse outcome after percutaneous coronary intervention. We report clinical outcomes in subjects with ACS from the BIOFLOW V trial (BIOTRONIK - A Prospective Randomized Multicenter Study to Assess the Safety and Effectiveness of the Orsiro Sirolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System in the Treatment of Subjects With up to Three De Novo or Restenotic Coronary Artery Lesions) comparing an ultrathin strut (60 μm) bioresorbable polymer sirolimus-eluting stent (BP-SES) with a thin strut (81 μm) durable polymer everolimus-eluting stent (DP-EES).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Among 1334 patients randomized to 2:1 treatment with either BP-SES or DP-EES, 677 (50.7%) ACS patients without ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (MI; 454 BP-SES and 223 DP-EES) were identified in the retrospective post hoc analysis. The primary end point of 12-month target lesion failure, individual component end points, and stent thrombosis were evaluated. Recurrent MI was defined as a ≥50% increase of creatine kinase-myocardial band or in the absence of creatine kinase-myocardial band, troponin >50% increase over previous level and >3× the upper limit of normal). All events were adjudicated by a blinded independent clinical events committee. Overall, baseline clinical, angiographic, and procedural characteristics of the ACS population were similar between the 2 treatment groups. At 12 months, target lesion failure occurred in 5.6% (24/426) of BP-SES patients versus 11.0% (23/209) in DP-EES patients ( P=0.02); target lesion failure composite components were cardiac death, 0% versus 1.0% ( P=0.11); target vessel-related MI, 3.5% versus 9.7% ( P=0.003); and clinically driven target lesion revascularization, 2.8% versus 3.4% ( P=0.80). Spontaneous target vessel MI was 0.5% (2/425) for BP-SES versus 2.4% (5/206) for DP-EES ( P=0.041). Stent thrombosis rates at 1 year were similar (0.5% versus 1.0%; P=0.601).

CONCLUSIONS

In the ACS subgroup population of the BIOFLOW V study, treatment with BP-SES compared with DP-EES was associated with a significantly lower rate of 12-month target lesion failure, a difference driven by significantly lower periprocedural MI and spontaneous MI. These findings support treatment with an ultrathin strut BP-SES in ACS patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT02389946.

Micelle-embedded coating with ebselen for nitric oxide generation

Nitric oxide generation is considered to be a key factor to mimic endothelial function in terms of anti-coagulation and anti-hyperplasia. Herein, ebselen which could play the similar role as glutathion peroxidase-like was loaded into micelles and was further assembled into a layer-by-layer coating. The ability of nitric oxide generation and corresponding biological effect were investigated. Endothelial-mimetic surface has now attracted huge attention in blood-contacting materials, due to its inherent ability of secreting nitric oxide. Among those categories, nitric oxide generation surface is considered to be safe and tunable in the modification of vascular biomedical devices. How to adsorb or immobilize glutathion peroxidase-like catalyst and maintain sustained/safe nitric oxide generation is full of interest. This study aimed at developing a functional coating constructed via layer-by-layer assembly to introduce the catalyst into the coating by pre-loading ebselen in micelles. We firstly introduced phenylboronic acid moiety into the micelle molecule backbone and grafted catechol moiety to chitosan backbone. Then, chitosan, micelles (containing ebselen) and heparin were adopted as polyelectrolytes and then alternatively assembled onto the substrate via layer-by-layer protocol. The catechol was conjugated to the amine groups of chitosan by Schiff base reaction to synthesize chitosan-catechol. The hydrophobic cholesterol was conjugated to the one end of the hydrophilic hyaluronic acid, and the hydroxymethylphenylboronic acid was conjugated to the other end via the esterification of carboxyl (-COOH) and hydroxyl (-OH). The modified hyaluronic acid could spontaneously form micelles in aqueous solution. Ebselen was the loaded into the as-prepared micelles. Chitosan-catechol, heparin, and micelles were alternatively assembled onto the substrate layer by layer to form a micelle-embedded coating. The micelle-embedded coating with ebselen was successfully obtained and the nitric oxide generation ability was in a safe level which was close to healthy endothelial cells. The coating could effectively inhibit platelet adhesion and smooth muscle cell proliferation. The use of ebselen preloaded into micelles could provide a sustained release of catalyst for in situ nitric oxide generation. Besides, this method could also be used to load diverse drugs and regulate desired properties. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the West China Hospital in Sichuan University on March 3, 2018, with approval No. K2018044.

Better Prognosis After Complete Revascularization Using Contemporary Coronary Stents in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

BACKGROUND

The prognostic value of angiographic complete revascularization in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has not been thoroughly investigated, especially for contemporary coronary stents. We compared the clinical outcomes of complete and incomplete revascularization with second-generation drug-eluting stent, according to the presence of CKD.

METHODS

From the Grand Drug-Eluting Stent Registry (N=17 286) in Korea, we selected 8471 patients, who were treated with second-generation drug-eluting stent and had glomerular filtration rate and quantitative coronary angiography data (3014 [35.6%] patients with CKD and 5457 (64.4%) patients with preserved renal function). Angiographic complete revascularization was defined as a residual SYNTAX score (Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery) of 0. The primary outcome was the patient-oriented composite outcome at 3 years, including all-cause death, any myocardial infarction, and any revascularization.

RESULTS

The patient-oriented composite outcome rate after complete revascularization was significantly lower than that after incomplete revascularization in patients with CKD (14.6% versus 21.8%; adjusted hazard ratio, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.64-0.96; P=0.020) and in patients with preserved renal function (8.0% versus 12.0%; adjusted hazard ratio 0.77; 95% CI, 0.63-0.94; P=0.011). The cutoff values of residual SYNTAX scores for predicting better patient-oriented composite outcomes were different according to the presence of CKD, that is, <3 and <8 in patients with CKD and with preserved renal function, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Angiographic complete revascularization led to better clinical outcomes in patients with CKD and with preserved renal function. However, the residual SYNTAX score to achieve a better outcome was lower in patients with CKD than with preserved renal function, favoring more aggressive revascularization in patients with CKD.

Impact of Diabetes Mellitus in Women Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Drug-Eluting Stents

BACKGROUND

Data examining the impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on ischemic risk after percutaneous coronary intervention in women are limited as most clinical trial participants are male. We evaluated (1) the impact of DM on ischemic outcomes in women undergoing drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation and (2) whether the outcomes of new- versus early-generation DES vary by DM status.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We pooled patient-level data of 10 448 women undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with DES from 26 randomized trials. Baseline characteristics and 3-year clinical outcomes were stratified according to DM status (noninsulin-dependent and insulin-dependent) and DES generation. The primary end point was the composite of all-cause death or myocardial infarction. Secondary end points were definite or probable stent thrombosis and target lesion revascularization. Compared with women without DM (n=7154, 68.5%), adjusted risks (adjusted hazard ratios [95% CI]) for death or myocardial infarction among women with noninsulin-dependent DM (n=2241, 21.4%) and insulin-dependent DM (n=1053, 10.1%) were 1.30 (1.11-1.53) and 1.71 (1.41-2.07), respectively ( P_trend<0.001). Similar trends were observed for def/prob stent thrombosis and target lesion revascularization. Compared with early-generation DES, use of newer-generation DES was associated with significant reductions in death or myocardial infarction in the absence of DM whereas differences were nonsignificant in the presence of DM, with similar findings for def/prob stent thrombosis and target lesion revascularization.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of DM is associated with substantial, graded, and durable risks for ischemic events among women undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with DES. The safety and efficacy profile of newer-generation DES is preserved among women without DM, while benefits are nonsignificant among women with DM.

Mortality Following Cardiovascular and Bleeding Events Occurring Beyond 1 Year After Coronary Stenting: A Secondary Analysis of the Dual Antiplatelet Therapy (DAPT) Study

Importance

Early cardiovascular and bleeding events after coronary stenting are associated with high risk of morbidity and mortality.

Objective

To assess the prognosis of cardiovascular and bleeding events occurring beyond 1 year after coronary stenting.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This secondary analysis is derived from data from the Dual Antiplatelet Therapy (DAPT) Study, a multicenter trial involving 220 US and international clinical sites from 11 countries. The study dates were August 2009 to May 2014. Individuals who underwent coronary stenting and completed 12 months of thienopyridine plus aspirin therapy without ischemic or bleeding events remained on an aspirin regimen and were randomized to continued thienopyridine therapy vs placebo for 18 additional months. Individuals were then followed up for 3 additional months while receiving aspirin therapy alone. The analysis began in August 2015.

Exposures

Ischemic events (myocardial infarction not related to stent thrombosis, stent thrombosis, and ischemic stroke) and bleeding events (Global Utilization of Streptokinase and Tissue Plasminogen Activator for Occluded Arteries [GUSTO] classification moderate or severe bleeding).

Main Outcomes and Measures

Ischemic events (myocardial infarction not related to stent thrombosis, stent thrombosis, and ischemic stroke) and bleeding events (GUSTO classification moderate or severe bleeding). Death at 21 months after randomization (33 months after coronary stenting).

Results

In total, 25 682 individuals older than 18 years with an indication for coronary stenting were enrolled, and 11 648 (mean age, 61.3 years; 25.1% female) were randomized. After randomization, 478 individuals (4.1%) had 502 ischemic events (306 with myocardial infarction, 113 with stent thrombosis, and 83 with ischemic stroke), and 232 individuals (2.0%) had 235 bleeding events (155 with moderate and 80 with severe bleeding). Among individuals with ischemic events, 52 (10.9%) died. The annualized mortality rate after an ischemic event was 27.2 (95% CI, 20.3-35.7) per 100 person-years. The cumulative incidence of death after an ischemic event among the total randomized study population was 0.5% (0.3% with myocardial infarction, 0.1% with stent thrombosis, and 0.1% with ischemic stroke). Among individuals with bleeding events, 41 (17.7%) died. The annualized mortality rate after a bleeding event was 21.5 (95% CI, 15.4-29.1) per 100 person-years. The cumulative incidence of death after a bleeding event among the total randomized study population was 0.3% (0.1% with moderate and 0.2% with severe bleeding).

Conclusions and Relevance

In patients treated with dual antiplatelet therapy for at least 1 year after coronary stenting, ischemic events were more frequent than bleeding events, and both events were associated with high risk of mortality.

Trial Registration

clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00977938.

Antiplatelet and anticoagulation regimen in patients with mechanical valve undergoing PCI - State-of-the-art review

A common clinical dilemma regarding treatment of patients with a mechanical valve is the need for concomitant antiplatelet therapy for a variety of reasons, referred to as triple therapy. Triple therapy is when a patient is prescribed aspirin, a P2Y12 antagonist, and an oral anticoagulant. Based on the totality of the available evidence, best practice in 2017 for patients with mechanical valves undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is unclear. Furthermore, the optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy after PCI is evolving. With better valve designs that are less thrombogenic, the thromboembolic risks can be reduced at a lower international normalized ratio target, thus decreasing the bleeding risk. This review will offer an in-depth survey of current guidelines, current evidence, suggested approach for PCI in this cohort, and future studies regarding mechanical valve patients undergoing PCI.

Are Shorter Durations of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Acceptable Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention?

Much debate has centered on whether or not the standard 12-month duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is still necessary postpercutaneous coronary intervention, given recent improvements in stent technology. The benefits of shorter (3-6 months) durations of DAPT include a potential lower risk for bleeding and less patient drug cost and pill burden. Although randomized clinical trials have shown noninferiority for shorter versus longer DAPT regimens in many regards, some endpoints (e.g., myocardial infarction) may still occur less frequently with longer DAPT regimens, particularly in higher risk populations (e.g., acute coronary syndromes). Bleeding risk is either comparable or less with shorter versus longer DAPT regimens. Given the lack of unequivocal data regarding the equality of shorter versus longer DAPT regimens in all patients, there is a growing consensus that an individualized approach is advisable for determining DAPT duration postpercutaneous coronary intervention. Clinical decision aids and updated clinical practice guidelines are available that consider risk:benefit ratios and clinical trial data to assist the clinician in developing a personalized DAPT regimen.

Comparison of drug-eluting balloon versus drug-eluting stent for treatment of coronary artery disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background

Drug-eluting balloons (DEB) have significant value for treating coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the merits of using DEB versus drug-eluting stents (DES) to treat CAD remain controversial. Herein, we conducted a meta-analysis to compare the safety and efficacy of DEB and DES for treatment of CAD.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases for eligible trials comparing DEB with DES for treatment of CAD. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE); the secondary endpoints included in-lesion late lumen loss (LLL), binary restenosis (BR), myocardial infarction (MI), target lesion revascularization (TLR) and mortality.

Results

Twenty-three trials with a total of 2712 patients were included. There were no significant differences in the primary endpoint of MACE between the DEB and DES groups (Risk Ratio (RR) 1.19; 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.87, 1.63); P = 0.27), or in the clinical outcomes of each of MACE’s components, including TLR, MI and mortality. However, efficacy was significantly different between the DEB and DES groups, especially when we compared DEB to second-generation DES: in-lesion LLL (Mean Difference (MD) 0.11; (0.01, 0.22); P = 0.03); binary restenosis (RR 1.46; (1.00, 2.13); P = 0.05).

Conclusions

DEB is equivalent to DES in terms of safety for managing CAD, and DEB may be considered as an alternative choice for treatment of CAD.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12872-018-0771-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Efficacy and safety of dual antiplatelet therapy after coronary stenting in patients with chronic kidney disease

BACKGROUND

We compared efficacy and safety of short- (3 or 6 months) versus long-term (≥12 months) dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation, according to the presence of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

METHODS

Patient-level pooled analysis was performed with 7242 patients (87.2% with 2nd generation DES) from 5 randomized controlled trials.

RESULTS

In both CKD (1273 patients) and non-CKD (5969 patients) population, the rates of patient-oriented composite outcomes at 1-year (POCO, all-cause death, any myocardial infarction [MI], stroke and TIMI major bleeding) were not different between the short- and long-term DAPT (hazard ratio [HR] 1.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.76-1.86, P=.449 in CKD population; HR 1.14, 95% CI 0.83-1.56, P=.434 in non-CKD population). The rates of coronary thrombotic events (any MI and definite/probable stent thrombosis) also did not differ between short- and long-term DAPT in either CKD or non-CKD population. As for bleeding events, long-term DAPT increased the TIMI major bleeding (HR 2.91, 95% CI 1.31-6.48, P=.009) in non-CKD population. The similar trend was observed with long-term DAPT in CKD population. But it did not reach statistical significance (HR 3.15, 95% CI 0.64-15.63, P=.160).

CONCLUSIONS

The rates of POCO and coronary thrombotic events were significantly higher in patients with CKD compared with those without CKD, which were not affected by short- or long-term DAPT. Higher bleeding incidence by long-term DAPT was only observed in non-CKD patients but not in CKD patients. Further large scale studies are warranted to confirm our findings.

Effects of Statin Intensity on Clinical Outcome in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients

BACKGROUND

There has been debate regarding the added benefit of high-intensity statins compared with low-moderate-intensity statins, especially in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).Methods and Results:The Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry-National Institutes of Health consecutively enrolled 13,104 AMI patients. Of these, a total of 12,182 patients, who completed 1-year follow-up, were included in this study, and all patients were classified into 3 groups (no statin; low-moderate-intensity statin; and high-intensity statin). The primary outcome was major adverse cardiac event (MACE) including cardiac death, non-fatal MI, and repeat revascularization at 1 year. Both low-moderate-intensity and high-intensity statin significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; all P<0.001). Compared with the no statin group, both statin groups had significantly lower risk of MACE (low-moderate intensity: HR, 0.506; 95% CI: 0.413-0.619, P<0.001; high intensity: HR, 0.464; 95% CI: 0.352-0.611, P<0.001). The risk of MACE, however, was similar between the low-moderate- and high-intensity statin groups (HR, 0.917; 95% CI: 0.760-1.107, P=0.368). Multivariable adjustment, propensity score matching, and inverse probability weighted analysis also produced the same results.

CONCLUSIONS

When adequate LDL-C level is achieved, patients on a low-moderate-intensity statin dose have similar cardiovascular outcomes to those on high-intensity statins.

Early Strut Coverage in Patients Receiving Drug-Eluting Stents and its Implications for Dual Antiplatelet Therapy: A Randomized Trial

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to measure early strut coverage in patients receiving drug-eluting stents (DESs) and to explore the feasibility of short-term dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) based on the degree of early strut coverage.

BACKGROUND

Data for early strut coverage in patients receiving new-generation DESs, and its implications for DAPT continuation were limited.

METHODS

A randomized, multicenter trial was conducted in 894 patients treated with DESs. Patients were randomly assigned to everolimus-eluting stent (EES) (n = 444) or biolimus-eluting stent (BES) (n = 450) groups and optical coherence tomography (OCT)-guided (n = 445) or angiography-guided (n = 449) implantation groups using a 2-by-2 factorial design. Early strut coverage was measured as the percentage of uncovered struts on 3-month follow-up OCT examination. The primary outcome was the difference in early strut coverage between EES and BES groups and between OCT- and angiography-guided implantation groups. The secondary outcome was a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, and major bleeding during the first 12 months post-procedure in patients receiving 3-month DAPT based on the presence of early strut coverage (≤6% uncovered) on 3-month follow-up OCT.

RESULTS

Three-month follow-up OCT data were acquired for 779 patients (87.1%). The median percentage of uncovered struts at 3 months was 8.9% and 8.2% in the EES and BES groups, respectively (p = 0.69) and was lower in the OCT-guided group (7.5%) than in the angiography-guided group (9.9%; p = 0.009). Favorable early strut coverage (≤6% uncovered strut) was observed in 320 of 779 patients (41.1%). At 12 months, the composite event rarely occurred in the 3-month (0.3%) or 12-month (0.2%) DAPT groups (p = 0.80).

CONCLUSIONS

OCT-guided DES implantation improved early strut coverage compared with angiography-guided DES implantation, with no difference in strut coverage between EES and BES groups. Short-term DAPT may be feasible in selected patients with favorable early strut coverage (Determination of the Duration of the Dual Antiplatelet Therapy by the Degree of the Coverage of The Struts on Optical Coherence Tomography From the Randomized Comparison Between Everolimus-eluting Stents Versus Biolimus A9-eluting Stents [DETECT-OCT]; NCT01752894).

Complete Versus Culprit-Only Revascularization for ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction and Multivessel Disease in the 2nd Generation Drug-Eluting Stent Era: Data from the INTERSTELLAR Registry

Background and Objectives

We aimed to compare outcomes of complete revascularization (CR) versus culprit-only revascularization for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and multivessel disease (MVD) in the 2^nd generation drug-eluting stent (DES) era.

Methods

From 2009 to 2014, patients with STEMI and MVD, who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using a 2^nd generation DES for culprit lesions were enrolled. CR was defined as PCI for a non-infarct-related artery during the index admission. Major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) was defined as cardiovascular (CV) death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, target lesion revascularization, or heart failure during the follow-up year.

Results

In total, 705 MVD patients were suitable for the analysis, of whom 286 (41%) underwent culprit-only PCI and 419 (59%) underwent CR during the index admission. The incidence of MACE was 11.5% in the CR group versus 18.5% in the culprit-only group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.37–0.86; p<0.01; adjusted HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.40–0.99; p=0.04). The CR group revealed a significantly lower incidence of CV death (7.2% vs. 12.9%; HR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.31–0.86; p=0.01 and adjusted HR, 0.57; 95% CI; 0.32–0.97; p=0.03, respectively).

Conclusions

CR was associated with better outcomes including reductions in MACE and CV death at 1 year of follow-up compared with culprit-only PCI in the 2^nd generation DES era.