A clinical and angiographic study of the XIENCE V everolimus-eluting coronary stent system in the treatment of patients with multivessel coronary artery disease: the EXECUTIVE trial (EXecutive RCT: evaluating XIENCE V in a multi vessel disease)

Scoring model to predict low image quality of drug-eluting stent evaluated by computed tomography coronary angiography

Evaluation of in-stent restenosis (ISR) by computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) is less invasive but often impossible. We aimed to create a scoring model for predicting which drug-eluting stents (DES) cannot be evaluated with CTCA. We enrolled 757 consecutive implanted DES assessed with CTCA. Non-diagnostic evaluation was defined as poor/not evaluative by two different observers. These stents were randomly divided into a derivation (n = 379) and validation (n = 378) group. In the derivation group, we assessed predictors using logistic regression analysis and created a scoring model that would stratify non-diagnostic evaluation of DES-ISR. The validity of this scoring model was evaluated in the validation group using receiver-operating characteristic analysis. The percentage of non-diagnostic stents was 19/21% in the derivation/validation group (p = 0.71). Non-diagnostic evaluation was independently associated with implanted stent diameter (2.25-2.5. vs. 2.5-3 vs. > 3.0 mm), severe calcification, stent-in-stent lesion, and type of DES (stainless vs. CoCr vs. PtCr) in the derivation group. The predicting system of implanted DES non-diagnostic by CTCA (PIDENT) for non-diagnostic evaluation, including these four baseline factors, was derived (C-statistic = 0.86 in derivation group, cutoff: 8 points). The PIDENT score had a high predictive value for non-diagnostic DES in the validation model (C-statistic = 0.87, sensitivity 86%, specificity 74%, cutoff 8 points, p < 0.001). The PIDENT score, consisting of baseline characteristics including implanted stent diameter, severe calcification, stent-in-stent lesion, and type of DES, could identify non-diagnostic evaluation of DES-ISR with CTCA. The PIDENT score was valuable in reducing nonevaluable and meaningless CTCA for DES-ISR.

Hypertension Is an Independent Predictor of Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease in Young Adults with Acute Coronary Syndrome

Background

Risk factors of multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD) among young acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients remain elusive now.

Methods

This retrospective study analyzed data from 187 consecutive young (age ≤45 years) ACS patients (75 STEMI, 30 NSTEMI, and 72 unstable angina) hospitalized in our hospital from January 2012 to December 2016. Thirty-six young male patients with normal coronary angiography (CAG) findings (no-CAD), who underwent CAG due to suspected chest pain in this period, served as control group. There were 83 patients with single-vessel disease (SVD) and 104 patients with multiple-vessel disease (MVD) among ACS patients. Patients were followed up for a mean of 267±124 days by clinical visit or telephone calls.

Results

All included patients were male. Prevalence of hypertension (57.2% vs. 30.6%, p=0.002) and smoking (70.6% vs. 52.8%, p=0.049) was significantly higher in ACS patients than in no-CAD patients. Prevalence of hypertension (72.1% vs. 38.6%, p<0.001) and body mass index (BMI) were significantly higher in MVD group than in SVD group. Multivariable analysis revealed that hypertension was an independent risk factor for MVD after adjustment for age, gender, BMI, smoking, family history of premature CAD, hyperlipidemia, left ventricular ejection fraction, and brain natriuretic peptide (odds ratio=3.71, 95% confidence interval=1.84-7.46, p<0.001). Rate of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) during follow-up (20.2% vs. 4.8%) was significantly higher in MVD group compared with SVD group.

Conclusions

Hypertension is an independent predictor of MVD and MVD is associated with increased MACE rate compared to SVD in young ACS patients during the short-term follow-up.

Rationale and design of the SYNTAX II trial evaluating the short to long-term outcomes of state-of-the-art percutaneous coronary revascularisation in patients with de novo three-vessel disease

AIMS

The applicability of the results of the SYNTAX trial comparing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using first-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) with coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery for the treatment of patients with complex coronary artery disease (CAD) has been challenged by recent major technical and procedural developments in coronary revascularisation. Functional assessment of coronary lesions has contributed to marked improvements in both safety and efficacy of DES implantation. In addition, the recent development of the SYNTAX score II, a clinical tool based on anatomical and clinical factors, allows individualised objective decision making regarding the optimal revascularisation modality in patients with complex CAD. The ongoing SYNTAX II trial is currently evaluating the effectiveness of the clinical and technological advances in the treatment of patients with complex (de novo three-vessel) CAD.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The SYNTAX II trial is a multicentre, all-comers, open-label, single-arm trial aiming to recruit 450 patients with de novo three-vessel CAD in approximately 25 European interventional cardiology centres. All patients will be selected and treated following the SYNTAX II strategy, which includes: a) establishing the appropriateness of revascularisation utilising the SYNTAX score II as a clinical tool to allow objective decision making by the Heart Team, b) ischaemia-driven revascularisation based on functional intracoronary assessment, c) implantation of the new-generation everolimus-eluting platinum chromium coronary stent with thin struts and abluminal bioabsorbable polymer coating to promote rapid vessel healing, d) intravascular ultrasound-guided DES implantation, and e) treatment at centres with expertise in CTO recanalisation. The primary endpoint is a composite of the major adverse cardiac and cerebral events (MACCE) rate at one-year follow-up compared to the historical PCI arm of the SYNTAX trial. An exploratory endpoint will be MACCE at five-year follow-up compared to the historical surgical arm of the SYNTAX trial.

CONCLUSIONS

The SYNTAX II trial will provide valuable information on outcomes of state-of-the-art PCI for the contemporary management of complex (de novo three-vessel) CAD. SYNTAX II will be of critical value in the design of future trials in this arena.

Risk and timing of clinical events according to diabetic status of patients treated with everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffolds versus everolimus-eluting stent: 2-year results from a propensity score matched comparison of ABSORB EXTEND and SPIRIT trials

OBJECTIVES

to compare the occurrence of clinical events in diabetics treated with the Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold (Absorb BVS; Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA) versus everolimus-eluting metal stents (EES; XIENCE V; Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA) BACKGROUND: There are limited data dedicated to clinical outcomes of diabetic patients treated with bioresorbable scaffolds (BRS) at 2-year horizon.

METHODS

The present study included 812 patients in the ABSORB EXTEND study in which a total of 215 diabetic patients were treated with Absorb BVS. In addition, 882 diabetic patients treated with EES in pooled data from the SPIRIT clinical program (SPIRIT II, SPIRIT III and SPIRIT IV trials) were used for comparison by applying propensity score matching using 29 different variables. The primary endpoint was ischemia driven major adverse cardiac events (ID-MACE), including cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), and ischemia driven target lesion revascularization (ID-TLR).

RESULTS

After 2 years, the ID-MACE rate was 6.5% in the Absorb BVS vs. 8.9% in the Xience group (P = 0.40). There was no difference for MACE components or definite/probable device thrombosis (HR: 1.43 [0.24,8.58]; P = 0.69). The occurrence of MACE was not different for both diabetic status (insulin- and non-insulin-requiring diabetes) in all time points up to the 2-year follow-up for the Absorb and Xience groups.

CONCLUSION

In this largest ever patient-level pooled comparison on the treatment of diabetic patients with BRS out to two years, individuals with diabetes treated with the Absorb BVS had a similar rate of MACE as compared with diabetics treated with the Xience EES. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A clinical evaluation of the XIENCE V everolimus eluting stent in the treatment of patients with coronary artery disease: Result from Thailand Registry - XIENCE V performance evaluation (THRIVE study)

Objective

To evaluate the 2-year clinical outcomes of XIENCE^TM V everolimus eluting stent (EES) for the treatment of coronary artery disease.

Background

Percutaneous coronary intervention with a drug eluting stent has become the preferred treatment in patients with coronary artery disease. Everolimus eluting stent had proven efficacy in randomized control trials but those trials may not represent daily practice of interventional cardiology.

Methods

The THRIVE study was a prospective, multicenter, real-world, single-arm registry. Included in the registry were 400 patients in Thailand with coronary artery disease suitable for treatment with the XIENCE^TM V.

Results

At 30 days, 1 year, and 2 years, the respective rate of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), and target lesion revascularization (TLR) was 0.7, 1.0, and 0.5 %. 2.1, 2.1, and 1.0 %, and 2.2, 3.0, and 2.1 %. The cumulative rate for stent thrombosis was 1.6 % at 2 years.

Conclusions

The THRIVE study demonstrated that use of EES yielded a rate for 2 years of major adverse cardiac events comparable to the randomized controlled trial of EES in the SPIRIT trials. This result supports the efficacy and safety of XIENCE^TM V everolimus eluting for daily interventional cardiology practice.

Meta-Analysis of Randomized Control Trials Comparing Drug-Eluting Stents Versus Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting for Significant Left Main Coronary Narrowing

Previous meta-analyses showed that drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation may serve as an alternative to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) stenosis, largely driven by data from registries. Hence, we performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to overcome this limitation. PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Scopus were systematically searched through October 2016 to identify eligible RCTs. The primary outcomes were major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) at 1-year and long-term (≥3 years) follow-ups. This meta-analysis included 5 RCTs, totaling 4,595 patients with ULMCA disease. Compared with CABG, DES showed similar 1-year rates of MACCE (risk ratio [RR] 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.91-1.42), all-cause death, and myocardial infarction, with a higher incidence of revascularization (RR 1.68, 95% CI 1.24-2.27) and lower incidence of stoke (RR 0.43, 95% CI 0.23-0.78). At long-term follow-up, DES placement was inferior to CABG in terms of MACCE (RR 1.27, 95% CI 1.13-1.43) and revascularization (RR 1.70, 95% CI 1.43-2.01). There was no difference in long-term risk of other outcomes between these 2 strategies. In conclusion, DES stenting and CABG for ULMCA disease yield comparable rates of MACCE at 1-year follow-up; however, CABG is associated with a decreased risk of long-term MACCE compared with DES, exclusively driven by the considerable reduction in revascularization events.

Comparison of clinical outcomes after multivessel versus single-vessel stenting with the zotarolimus-eluting stent in the RESOLUTE Global Clinical Trial Program

AIMS

Our aim was to investigate whether long-term (three-year) clinical outcomes after multivessel treatment with the Resolute zotarolimus-eluting stent (R-ZES) were similar to single-vessel treatment.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The RESOLUTE Global Clinical Trial Program enrolled 7,618 patients, of whom 1,562 underwent multivessel and 6,053 single-vessel treatment with the R-ZES. Patients in the multivessel group were more likely to have complex lesions (58% vs. 44%, p<0.001). Clinical outcomes were compared using a Cox regression model adjusted by propensity score to account for differences in baseline characteristics. Compared with single-vessel treatment, multivessel treatment was associated with more complex anatomy and longer mean total stent length (57.8±28.6 vs. 26.7±15.2 mm, p<0.001). At three years, the cumulative incidence of target lesion failure was similar in patients with multivessel and single-vessel treatment (11.0% vs. 9.1%, adjusted p=0.986), as was the incidence of cardiac death or target vessel myocardial infarction (6.7% vs. 5.7%, adjusted p=0.793), the incidence of clinically driven target lesion revascularisation (5.1% vs. 4.4%, adjusted p=0.904), and the incidence of Academic Research Consortium definite or probable stent thrombosis (1.2% vs. 0.9%, adjusted p=0.544).

CONCLUSIONS

Multivessel treatment with R-ZES provided good long-term clinical outcomes that were comparable to those achieved with single-vessel stenting, supporting the efficacy and safety of R-ZES in patients in this setting.

Long-term comparative effectiveness of paclitaxel-eluting and everolimus-eluting stents in New York

OBJECTIVE

First generation paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) and second generation everolimus-eluting stents (EES) were approved for use in percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) in 2004 and 2008, respectively. However, relative long-term outcomes of PES vs EES in real practice remain unclear. We sought to determine the long-term comparative effectiveness of PES vs EES using New York State (NYS) cardiac registries and to assess long-term outcomes of PES vs ZES in six "off-label" and two "high-risk" patient subgroups.

METHODS

A longitudinal database was built by linking the NYS cardiac registries, the statewide hospital discharge data, the National Death Index, and the 2010 U.S. Census file for patients undergoing either PES or EES implantation from July 2008 through December 2009. All-cause mortality, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), target lesion PCI (TLPCI), and target vessel coronary artery bypass graft (TVCABG) surgery were assessed for 9760 propensity score matched patients in the 5-year follow-up period by using the Kaplan-Meier method with further adjustment using Cox proportional hazards regression.

RESULTS

We found that compared with patients receiving PES, patients receiving EES had a significantly lower rate of 5-year TLPCI (adjusted hazard ratio <AHR>: 0.75, 95% confidence interval <CI>: 0.65-0.86), TVCABG (AHR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.53-0.90) and a similar rate of all-cause mortality (AHR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.87-1.10) and AMI (AHR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.83-1.13). We observed similar findings in only two out of eight subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

At 5years, EES was associated with lower TLPCI and TVCABG rates and comparable mortality and AMI rates relative to PES.

Stenting and Adjunctive Delivery of Paclitaxel Via Balloon Coating Versus Durable Polymeric Matrix for De Novo Coronary Lesions: Clinical and Angiographic Results from the Prospective Randomized Trial

BACKGROUND

There is limited comparative clinical data regarding the safety and efficacy profile of paclitaxel delivery via balloon versus stent-polymer matrix. In this study, we aimed to compare the clinical and angiographic results of two different methods of paclitaxel delivery among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for single de novo coronary lesions.

METHODS

A total of 202 patients undergoing PCI due to symptomatic heart disease and at least one significant coronary artery lesion were prospectively enrolled in a multicenter non-inferiority trial. Eligible patients were randomized to a revascularization with either a paclitaxel eluting stent (PES = Coroflex Please, B.Braun) or a bare metal stent (BMS) followed by a paclitaxel coated balloon (PCB) dilation (BMS = Coroflex + PCB = Sequent Please, B.Braun). Clinical follow-up was obtained at 9 months in all patients, whereas angiographic in a subset of 94 (46.5%) patients.

RESULTS

The baseline characteristics were well balanced between groups. At 9 months, the primary endpoint of in-stent late lumen loss in BMS + PCB was comparable and non-inferior to PES (0.21 ± 0.5 vs. 0.30 ± 0.7 mm, respectively. P(non-inf)  < 0.05). At 9 months, the incidence of MACE (7.0 vs. 6.9%, HR = 1, 95%CI: 0.3-2.8; P = 0.99), comprising the occurrence of myocardial infarction (4.9 vs. 3.0%, HR = 1.62, 95%CI: 0.4-6.5; P = 0.32), target lesion revascularization (6.9 vs. 5.0%, HR = 1.42, 95%CI: 0.4-4.4; p = 0.54) and stent thrombosis (4.9 vs. 3.0%, HR = 2.01, 95%CI: 0.5-7.4; P = 0.74) was comparable between BMS + PCB and PES, respectively. In the BMS + PCB group, thrombosis tended to occur within 30 days (3.9 vs. 1.0%; P = 0.38).

CONCLUSIONS

Paclitaxel delivery via drug coated balloon or polymer-stent matrix achieved comparable angiographic and clinical results among patients with de novo coronary lesions. BMS + PCB revascularization was associated with a higher rate of stent thrombosis when compared to newer generation drug eluting stents, therefore, should be recommended as a bail-out for PCB alone angioplasty.

Impact of catheter size on reliability of quantitative coronary angiographic measurements (comparison of 4Fr and 6Fr catheters)

To evaluate the feasibility of catheter down sizing for QCA, the reliability of a 4Fr catheter as a calibration device was evaluated. Repeated coronary angiograms of 9 lesions were obtained using 4Fr and 6Fr catheters under otherwise identical conditions. The calibration factor was measured 10 times by 4Fr and 6Fr catheters. QCA measurements including minimal lumen diameter (MLD), interpolated normal reference (Int N), percent diameter stenosis (%DS), and lesion length (LL) were performed by two technicians twice with a 3-month interval. The intraobserver and interobserver variability of each parameter was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Mean of mean SD of calibration factor was significantly larger in 4Fr than in 6Fr in 9 lesions. The mean of mean coefficient of variance was significantly larger in 4Fr catheters vs in 6Fr catheters. A 6Fr catheter showed excellent reliability for both intraobserver and interobserver variability in MLD, Int N, %DS, and LL. In contrast, 4Fr showed that reliability in intraobserver variability depended on the analyst. Although reliability of interobserver variability in Int N measured by the 4Fr catheter was >0.80, the value was less than that by the 6Fr catheter. Taking these results into consideration, 4Fr catheters are less reliable than 6Fr catheters when measuring QCA data especially for follow-up data that need most accurate measurements of MLD and %DS. It would be better to use a 6Fr catheter to evaluate QCA measurements such as acute gain, late loss, restenosis rate, and device size.

Rapamycin and its analogues (rapalogs) for Tuberous Sclerosis Complex-associated tumors: a systematic review on non-randomized studies using meta-analysis

Background

Rapamycin has gained significant attention for its potential activity in reducing the size of TSC-associated tumors, thus providing alternative to surgery. This study aimed at determining the efficacy of rapamycin and rapalogs for reducing the size of TSC-associated solid tumors in patients with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC).

Methods

Our data sources included electronic searches of the PubMed. We included into our meta-analysis any type of non-randomized study that reported the use of rapamycin and rapalogs for reducing the size of TSC-associated solid tumors in patients with TSC. Data was entered into Cochrane Review Manager Version 5.3 and analyzed.

Results

Four case reports and 4 clinical trials were included. Five patients from the case reports (all with SEGA) and 91 patients from the clinical trials (41 with SEGA, 63 with kidney angiomyolipoma and 5 with liver angiomyolipoma) were included into the analysis. Volume and diameter of SEGAs were significantly reduced by mean difference of 1.23 cc (95 % CI −2.32 to −0.13; p = 0.03) and 7.91 mm (95 % CI −11.82 to −4.01; p < 0.0001), respectively. Volume and mean of sum of longest diameter of kidney angiomyolipomas were significantly reduced by mean difference of 39.5 cc (95 % CI −48.85 to −30.15; p <0.00001) and 69.03 mm (95 % CI −158.05 to 12.65; p = 0.008), respectively. In liver angiomyolipomas, however, reduction in tumor size was not evident. Sum of longest diameter of liver angiomyolipomas in 4 patients were enlarged by 2.7 mm (95 % CI 28.42 to −23.02) by the end of treatment, though not significant (p = 0.84).

Conclusions

Rapamycin and rapalogs showed efficacy towards reducing the size of SEGA and kidney angiomyolipoma but not liver angiomyolipomas. This finding is strengthening the conclusion of our Cochrane systematic review on the randomized trials.

Italian Diffuse/Multivessel Disease ABSORB Prospective Registry (IT-DISAPPEARS). Study design and rationale

BACKGROUND

The Absorb Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold System (Absorb BVS) is an everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold able to provide temporary scaffolding and antiproliferative drug delivery for the treatment of coronary artery disease. This temporary scaffolding could be the true feature to overcome the limitations of the conventional metallic stents. A growing body of evidence worldwide is supporting its implementation into daily practice as being associated with comparable results as the second-generation everolimus-eluting stent. However, these pieces of evidence come from 'studies in which the majority of the patients had low-risk stenoses', whereas patients with more complex coronary artery disease could benefit the most from the Absorb BVS technology.

METHODS

The aim of the IT-DISAPPEARS is to investigate the procedural and clinical performance of the Absorb BVS in patients with long (>24 mm), single-vessel coronary disease or with multivessel disease. At least 50 centers across the Italian territory will enroll 1000 patients with either stable or acute coronary syndromes. Follow-up will end up at 5 years. Primary endpoint will be the cumulative hierarchical incidence of major adverse cardiac events at 1 year, defined as: cardiac death, nonfatal target vessel myocardial infarction, or clinically driven target lesion revascularization. The efficacy as well as safety parameters will be evaluated along with a detailed evaluation of the dual antiplatelet therapy duration/interruption.

CONCLUSION

The IT-DISAPPEARS could provide the first evidence worldwide concerning the performance of Absorb BVS in patients with high-risk diffuse coronary disease.

First-generation versus second-generation drug-eluting stents in current clinical practice: updated evidence from a comprehensive meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials comprising 31 379 patients

Background

First-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) have become the most widely used devices worldwide for management of coronary artery disease. As remote follow-up data were becoming available, concerns emerged in regard to their long-term safety. Second-generation DES were designed to overcome safety issues, but the results of randomised clinical trials remain conflicting.

Methods

We compared the safety and efficacy of first-generation versus second-generation Food and Drug Administration approved DES; the following devices were included: first-generation sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) and paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES); second-generation everolimus-eluting stent (EES), zotarolimus-eluting stent Endeavor and ZES-Resolute (ZES-R). Prespecified safety end points comprised ≤1 and >1 year: overall and cardiac mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), definite/definite or probable ST; efficacy end points were target lesion revascularisation and target vessel revascularisation. Composite end points were analysed as well.

Results

33 randomised controlled trials involving 31 379 patients with stable coronary artery disease or acute coronary syndrome undergoing DES implantation were retrieved. No differences in mortality among devices were found. In the overall class comparison, second-generation DES were associated with a 22% reduction of odds of MI at short-term OR 0.77 (95% CI 0.68 to 0.89) p=0.0002; EES reduced the odds of definite-probable ST compared with PES: OR 0.33 (95% CI 0.15 to 0.73) p=0.006; First-generation SES along with second-generation EES and ZES-R showed similar efficacy in decreasing the odds of repeat revascularisation.

Conclusions

Second-generation EES and ZES-R offer similar levels of efficacy compared with first-generation SES, but are more effective than PES; however, only second-generation EES significantly reduced the incidence of MI and ST, and therefore should be perceived as the safest DES to date.

Everolimus-eluting stents: update on current clinical studies

Everolimus-eluting stents (EES) have become the most commonly implanted coronary stents worldwide. This review describes and analyzes the clinical data supporting the use of EES, focusing primarily on published, randomized, controlled trials. Everolimus-eluting stents have been shown to have less restenosis, stent thrombosis, and periprocedural myocardial infarction compared with earlier generation paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES). Lower rates of adverse events for EES compared with PES were generally seen in all subgroups, with the notable exception of patients with diabetes mellitus. There have been fewer, randomized, clinical trials comparing EES with either sirolimus-eluting stents or zotarolimus-eluting stents, although very good results with EES have been observed in the trials that have been performed. Recent clinical trial data suggest that this excellent safety and efficacy profile is maintained in a next-generation EES designed to have improved mechanical properties and radiopacity.