Risk of Stent Thrombosis Among Bare-Metal Stents, First-Generation Drug-Eluting Stents, and Second-Generation Drug-Eluting Stents

Three-Year Clinical Outcomes With the Cilotax Dual Drug-Eluting Stent vs Everolimus-Eluting Stents in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND

This study compared the safety and effectiveness of paclitaxel/cilostazol-eluting Cilotax stents with those of everolimus-eluting stents in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Real-world data from the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry were examined.

METHODS

A total of 5,472 patients with acute myocardial infarction underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with Cilotax stents (n = 212) or everolimus-eluting stents (n = 5,260). The primary end point was the 3-year rate of target lesion failure. The other end points were major adverse cardiovascular events (a composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, and ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization), target vessel revascularization, and stent thrombosis. A propensity score matching analysis was performed to adjust for potential confounders by using a logistic regression model; propensity score matching generated 2 well-balanced groups (Cilotax group, n = 180; everolimus-eluting stents group, n = 170; N = 350). After propensity score matching, baseline clinical characteristics were similar between the groups.

RESULTS

After percutaneous coronary intervention, compared with the everolimus-eluting stents group, the Cilotax group more often had major adverse cardiovascular events (24.1% vs 18.5%; P = .042), myocardial infarction (8.0% vs 3.2%; P < .001), target lesion revascularization (8.0% vs 2.6%; P < .001), target vessel revascularization (11.3% vs 4.5%; P < .001), and stent thrombosis (4.7% vs 0.5%; P < .001) before matching. Even after matching, the Cilotax group had more frequent target lesion revascularization (9.4% vs 2.9%; P = .22) and stent thrombosis (5.6% vs 1.2%; P = .34).

CONCLUSION

In patients with acute myocardial infarction who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, use of the Cilotax stent was associated with higher rates of target lesion revascularization, target vessel revascularization, and stent thrombosis than were everolimus-eluting stents. Use of the Cilotax dual drugeluting stent should be avoided in the treatment of myocardial infarction.

A 2024 scientific update on the clinical performance of drug-coated balloons

Continuous advances in the field of interventional cardiology have led to the development of drug-coated balloons (DCB). These represent a promising device for overcoming the well-known limitations of traditional metallic stents, which are associated with a persistent yearly increased risk of adverse events. This technology has the ability to homogeneously transfer the drug into the vessel wall in the absence of a permanent prosthesis implanted in the coronary vessel. Robust data support the use of DCB for the treatment of in-stent restenosis, but there is also currently growing evidence from long-term follow-up of large randomised clinical trials regarding the use of these devices in other scenarios, such as de novo small and large vessel disease, complex bifurcations, and diffuse coronary disease. Other critical clinical settings such as diabetes mellitus, high bleeding risk patients and acute coronary syndromes could be approached in the upcoming future by using DCB, alone or as part of a blended strategy in combination with drug-eluting stents. There have been important scientific and technical advances in the DCB field in recent years. The purpose of this paper is to review the most current data regarding the use of DCB, including the mid- and long-term follow-up reports on the safety and efficacy of this novel strategy in different clinical and angiographic scenarios.

A more-Comers populAtion trEated with an ultrathin struts polimer-free Sirolimus stent: an Italian post-maRketing study (the CAESAR registry)

Introduction

The use of contemporary drug-eluting stents (DES) has significantly improved outcomes of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, concerns exist regarding the long-term proinflammatory effects of durable polymer coatings used in most DES, potentially leading to long-term adverse events. First-generation polymer-free stent technologies, such as sirolimus- and probucol-eluting stents (PF-SES), have shown an excellent safety and efficacy profile. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the new ultrathin Coroflex ISAR NEO PF-SES, in a more-comers PCI population.

Methods

The CAESAR (a more-Comers populAtion trEated with an ultrathin struts polimer-free Sirolimus stent: An Italian post-maRketing study) registry is a multicenter, prospective study conducted in Italy, enrolling more-comers CAD patients undergoing PCI with the Coroflex ISAR NEO stent. Patients with left main (LM) disease, cardiogenic shock (CS), or severely reduced left-ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were excluded. The primary endpoint was target-lesion revascularization (TLR) at 1 year.

Results

A total of 425 patients were enrolled at 13 centers (mean age 66.9 ± 11.6 years, Diabetes mellitus 29%, acute coronary syndrome 67%, chronic total occlusion 9%). Of these, 40.9% had multivessel disease (MVD) and in 3.3% cases, the target lesion was in-stent restenosis (ISR). Clinical device success was reached in 422 (99.6%) cases. At 1 year, only two (0.5%) subjects presented ischemia-driven TLR. The 1-year rates of target vessel revascularization and MACE were 0.5% and 5.1%, respectively. Major bleeding was observed in four (1.0%) patients.

Conclusion

In this multicenter, prospective registry, the use of a new ultrathin Coroflex ISAR NEO PF-SES in a more-comers PCI population showed good safety and efficacy at 1 year.

High platelet reactivity strongly predicts early stent thrombosis in patients with drug-eluting stent implantation

Stent thrombosis (ST) is a fatal complication after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The association between P2Y12 reaction unit (PRU) level and stent thrombosis occurrence remains unclear. Based on the multicenter, observational PTRG-DES (Platelet function and genoType-Related long-term proGnosis in DES-treated patients) registry of patients with drug-eluting stents (DES) implantation, a total of 11,714 patients with PRU values were analyzed. We sought to identify the predictors of early stent thrombosis (EST) and compared the primary outcome, a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and revascularization, between EST and non-EST groups. EST, defined as definite ST within 1 month after index PCI, occurred in 51 patients. PRU values were significantly higher in the EST group (263.5 ± 70.8 vs. 217.5 ± 78.7, p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, PRU ≥ 252 (OR, 5.10; 95% CI 1.58-16.46; p = 0.006) and aspirin reaction unit ≥ 414 (OR 4.85; 95% CI 1.07-21.97; p = 0.040) were independent predictors of EST. The cumulative incidence of primary composite outcome at one year was significantly higher in the EST group (38.2% vs. 3.9%, Log-rank p < 0.001). In patients treated with clopidogrel after successful DES implantation, EST was associated with higher platelet reactivities, and a greater risk of cardiovascular events.Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT04734028.

48-Month Clinical Outcomes and Prognostic Factors in an All-Comers Population with Acute Coronary Syndrome and Chronic Coronary Syndrome Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with a Sirolimus-Eluting Stent

We characterized the performance as well as safety of a second-generation thin-strut sirolimus-eluting stent with a biodegradable polymer, Alex Plus (Balton, Poland), deployed in the acute coronary syndrome (ACS) setting. We enrolled patients who were subjected to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between July 2015 and March 2016 and took into consideration demographics, clinical and laboratory data, and clinical outcomes. We defined the primary endpoint as the 48-month rate of major cardiovascular adverse events (MACE), including cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), or target lesion revascularization (TLR). The secondary endpoints were all-cause death, cardiac death, MI, and TLR rates at 12-, 24-, 36-, and 48 months. We enrolled 232 patients in whom 282 stents were implanted, including 88 ACS and 144 chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) patients. The mean age of the ACS population was 67 ± 13 years old, and 32% of it consisted of females. Patients with ACS were characterized by lower rates of arterial hypertension (85.2% vs. 95.8%, p = 0.004), dyslipidemia (67% vs. 81.9%, p = 0.01), prior MI (34.1% vs. 57.6%, p < 0.001), and prior PCI (35.2% vs. 68.8%, p < 0.001). At 48 months, among the ACS patients, the rates of MACE, death, cardiac death, MI, and TLR were 23.9%, 11.4%, 7.9%, 9.1%, and 10.2%, respectively. No stent thrombosis cases were reported. Multivariable Cox regression revealed that the statistically significant MACE predictors were massive calcifications in coronary arteries (HR 9.0, 95% CI 1.75-46.3, p = 0.009), post-dilatation (HR 3.78, 95% CI 1.28-11.2, p = 0.016), prior CABG (HR 6.64, 95% CI 1.62-27.1, p = 0.008), vitamin K antagonist use (HR 5.99, 95% CI 1.29-27.8, p = 0.022), and rivaroxaban use (HR 51.7, 95% CI 4.48-596, p = 0.002). The study findings show that Alex Plus was effective and safe in a contemporary cohort of real-world ACS patients undergoing primary PCI. The outcomes were comparable between the ACS and chronic coronary syndrome patients, with a trend of lower TLR in ACS patients at 4 years.

Highly reproducible rat arterial injury model of neointimal hyperplasia

Models of arterial injury in rodents have been invaluable to our current understanding of vessel restenosis and play a continuing role in the development of endovascular interventions for cardiovascular disease. Mechanical distention of the vessel wall and denudation of the vessel endothelium are the two major modes of vessel injury observed in most clinical pathologies and are critical to the reproducible modelling of progressive neointimal hyperplasia. The current models which have dominated this research area are the mouse wire carotid or femoral injury and the rat carotid balloon injury. While these elicit simultaneous distension of the vessel wall and denudation of the luminal endothelium, each model carries limitations that need to be addressed using a complementary injury model. Wire injuries in mice are highly technical and procedurally challenging due to small vessel diameters, while rat balloon injuries require permanent blood vessel ligation and disruption of native blood flow. Complementary models of vascular injury with reproducibility, convenience, and increased physiological relevance to the pathophysiology of endovascular injury would allow for improved studies of neointimal hyperplasia in both basic and translational research. In this study, we developed a new surgical model that elicits vessel distention and endothelial denudation injury using sequential steps using microforceps and a standard needle catheter inserted via arteriotomy into a rat common carotid artery, without requiring permanent ligation of branching arteries. After 2 weeks post-injury this model elicits highly reproducible neointimal hyperplasia and rates of re-endothelialisation similar to current wire and balloon injury models. Furthermore, evaluation of the smooth muscle cell phenotype profile, inflammatory response and extracellular matrix within the developing neointima, showed that our model replicated the vessel remodelling outcomes critical to restenosis and those becoming increasingly focused upon in the development of new anti-restenosis therapies.

Prevalence, Management and Outcomes of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Coronary In-Stent Restenosis: Insights From the France PCI Registry

BACKGROUND

Despite the evolution of stent technology, there is a non-negligible risk of in-stent restenosis (ISR) after Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Large-scale registry data on the prevalence and clinical management of ISR is lacking.

METHODS

The aim was to describe the epidemiology and management of patients with ≥1 ISR lesions treated with PCI (ISR PCI). Data on characteristics, management and clinical outcomes were analyzed for patients undergoing ISR PCI in the France-PCI all-comers registry.

RESULTS

Between January 2014 and December 2018, 31,892 lesions were treated in 22,592 patients, 7.3 % of whom underwent ISR PCI. Patients undergoing ISR PCI were older (68.5 vs 67.8; p < 0.001), and more likely to have diabetes (32.7 % vs 25.4 %, p < 0.001), chronic coronary syndrome or multivessel disease. ISR PCI concerned drug eluting stents (DES) ISR in 48.8 % of cases. Patients with ISR lesions were more frequently treated with DES than drug eluting balloon or balloon angioplasty (74.2 %, 11.6 % and 12.9 %, respectively). Intravascular imaging was rarely used. At 1 year, patients with ISR had higher target lesion revascularization rates (4.3 % vs. 1.6 %; HR 2.24 [1.64-3.06]; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In a large all-comers registry, ISR PCI was not infrequent and associated with worse prognosis than non-ISR PCI. Further studies and technical improvements are warranted to improve the outcomes of ISR PCI.

Advancements in Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Techniques: A Comprehensive Literature Review of Mixed Studies and Practice Guidelines

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a widely used therapy for coronary artery disease (CAD), but it carries risks and complications. Adhering to evidence-based practice guidelines is crucial for optimal outcomes. This review compares the recommendations of the 2021 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association/Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (ACC/AHA/SCAI) and 2018 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines for coronary artery revascularization and discusses emerging trends and novel devices in PCI. A comprehensive literature review of mixed studies, clinical trials, and guidelines was conducted. Intravascular imaging, including intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography, for stent optimization, is also recommended when feasible. However, differences reflecting variations in evidence quality interpretation and applicability were identified. Furthermore, novel devices and technologies with the potential for improving outcomes were highlighted, but their safety and efficacy compared to standard-of-care techniques require further evaluation through extensive randomized trials. Clinicians should stay updated on advancements and personalize treatment decisions based on individual patient factors. Future research should address evidence gaps and barriers to adopting innovative devices and techniques. This review provides recommendations for clinical practice, emphasizing the need to remain current with the evolving landscape of PCI to optimize patient outcomes. The discoveries provide valuable counsel for the deliberation of clinical interventions and prospective inquiries within the realm of interventional cardiology. Overall, the review underscores the importance of evidence-based practice and ongoing advancements in PCI for CAD management.

Challenges and chances coexist: A visualized analysis and bibliometric study of research on bioresorbable vascular scaffolds from 2000 to 2022

BACKGROUND

Bioresorbable scaffolds (BVS) provide a transient supporting force for blocked vessels and allow them to return to previous physiological characteristics. After verification with twists and turns, it has been acknowledged as an emerging revolution in percutaneous coronary intervention that expresses the current concept of intervention without placement. Through this bibliometric study, we organized the knowledge structure of bioresorbable scaffolds and attempted to predict future research hotspots in this field.

METHODS

seven thousand sixty-three articles were retrieved from the web of science core collection database from 2000 to 2022. Then, we utilize CiteSpace 6.1.R2, Biblioshiny and VOS viewer 1.6.18 to analyze the data visually.

RESULTS

First, according to the spatial analysis, the number of annual publications has shown an approximately increasing trend over the past 2 decades. The USA, the People's Republic of China, and GERMANY published the most articles on bioresorbable scaffolds. Second, SERRUYS P ranked first for his most prolific work and highest cited frequency in this domain. Third, the hotspots in this field can be inferred from the keyword distribution; they were the fabrication technique based on tissue engineering; the factors to be optimized for bioresorbable scaffolds, such as mechanical property, degradation, and implantation; and the common adverse effects of bioresorbable scaffolds, such as thrombosis. Most importantly, in terms of burst detection, we could speculate that cutting-edge technology for manufacturing scaffolds represented by 3D printing constitutes the future hotspots in bioresorbable scaffold development.

CONCLUSION

In the first visualized bibliometric analysis of BVS, we attempt to provide a panoramic view. By enrolling extensive literature, we review the growing trend of BVSs. Since its first introduction, it has been through periods of early prosperity, questioned safety subsequently and the resultantly advanced techniques in recent years. In future, the research should focus on utilizing novel techniques to consummate the manufacturing quality and assure the safety of BVSs.

Single antiplatelet therapy directly after percutaneous coronary intervention in non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome patients: the OPTICA study

BACKGROUND

Early P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy has emerged as a promising alternative to 12 months of dual antiplatelet therapy following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

AIMS

In this single-arm pilot study, we evaluated the feasibility and safety of ticagrelor or prasugrel monotherapy directly following PCI in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS).

METHODS

Patients received a loading dose of ticagrelor or prasugrel before undergoing platelet function testing and subsequent PCI using new-generation drug-eluting stents. The stent result was adjudicated with optical coherence tomography in the first 35 patients. Ticagrelor or prasugrel monotherapy was continued for 12 months. The primary ischaemic endpoint was the composite of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, definite or probable stent thrombosis or stroke within 6 months. The primary bleeding endpoint was Bleeding Academic Research Consortium type 2, 3 or 5 bleeding within 6 months.

RESULTS

From March 2021 to March 2022, 125 patients were enrolled, of whom 75 ultimately met all in- and exclusion criteria (mean age 64.5 years, 29.3% women). Overall, 70 out of 75 (93.3%) patients were treated with ticagrelor or prasugrel monotherapy directly following PCI. The primary ischaemic endpoint occurred in 3 (4.0%) patients within 6 months. No cases of stent thrombosis or spontaneous myocardial infarction occurred. The primary bleeding endpoint occurred in 7 (9.3%) patients within 6 months.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides first-in-human evidence that P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy directly following PCI for NSTE-ACS is feasible, without any overt safety concerns, and highlights the need for randomised controlled trials comparing direct P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy with the current standard of care.

A Case of Subacute Stent Thrombosis

A 67-year-old male presenting with an anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) underwent stent placement in the left anterior descending coronary. The patient was discharged on an appropriate medical regimen containing dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). Four days later, the patient presented with repeat acute coronary syndrome symptomatology. Electrocardiogram demonstrated ongoing STEMI in the previously treated artery distribution. Emergency angiography revealed restenosis and total thrombotic occlusion. Post-intervention stenosis was 0% after aspiration thrombectomy and balloon angioplasty. Stent thrombosis is a high-mortality and therapeutically challenging condition requiring prepared clinicians who recognize predisposing risk factors and initiate early management.

Drug loaded implantable devices to treat cardiovascular disease

INTRODUCTION

It is widely acknowledged that cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) continue to be the leading cause of death globally. Furthermore, CVDs are the leading cause of diminished quality of life for patients, frequently as a result of their progressive deterioration. Medical implants that release drugs into the body are active implants that do more than just provide mechanical support; they also have a therapeutic role. Primarily, this is achieved through the controlled release of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) at the implementation site.

AREAS COVERED

In this review, the authors discuss drug-eluting stents, drug-eluting vascular grafts, and drug-eluting cardiac patches with the aim of providing a broad overview of the three most common types of cardiac implant.

EXPERT OPINION

Drug eluting implants are an ideal alternative to traditional drug delivery because they allow for accurate drug release, local drug delivery to the target tissue, and minimise the adverse side effects associated with systemic administration. Despite the fact that there are still challenges that need to be addressed, the ever-evolving new technologies are making the fabrication of drug eluting implants a rewarding therapeutic endeavour with the possibility for even greater advances.

A Review of Systemic Hematological Manifestations and Stent Thrombosis

Stent thrombosis (ST) has significant morbidity and mortality following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). ST is uncommon making the identification of nonprocedural predictors challenging. Numerous case reports of ST in both benign and malignant hematological conditions exist. Given ST could be a Herald event of an undiagnosed condition and condition-specific treatment may be available, it is important to consider specialist testing in an unexplained ST. This review included a case presentation of ST in previously undiagnosed paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and a literature review of ST in other acquired thrombophilias including myeloproliferative disorders (MPNs), antiphospholipid syndrome, hematological malignancies, and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). Inherited thrombophilias and common pitfalls in thrombophilia and coagulation testing are also discussed. The cardiac-hematology landscape is becoming increasingly complex and there is a paucity of how to best manage ST in these patients. There is clear variability in practice and the use of multidisciplinary input between cardiologists and hematologists is essential.

Ten-year clinical outcomes of drug-eluting stents with different polymer coating strategies by degree of coronary calcification: a pooled analysis of the ISAR-TEST 4 and 5 randomised trials

BACKGROUND

Long-term data concerning the efficacy of different polymer-coating strategies of new-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) in patients with coronary artery calcification (CAC) are scant.

AIMS

We aimed to investigate 10-year outcomes by degree of CAC after new-generation DES implantation with different polymer-coating strategies.

METHODS

We analysed individual patient and lesion characteristics of patients randomised to treatment with polymer-free sirolimus-eluting, biodegradable-polymer sirolimus-eluting and permanent-polymer zotarolimus- or everolimus-eluting stents. Endpoints of interest at 10 years were all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), target lesion revascularisation (TLR) and definite or probable stent thrombosis (ST) according to the degree of CAC (no, mild, moderate or severe) and coating strategy (polymer-free vs biodegradable-polymer vs permanent-polymer).

RESULTS

A total of 4,953 patients with 6,924 lesions were included. No, mild, moderate or severe CAC was present in 24.5%, 41.8%, 25.8% and 8.0% of patients, respectively. At 10-year follow-up, overall event rates were high, with an incremental increase according to the degree of CAC (all-cause mortality: no 25.3%, mild 32.1%, moderate 41.7%, severe CAC 46.5%; adjusted [adj.] p=0.004; TLR: no 17.4%, mild 16.5%, moderate 19.8%, severe CAC 28.7%; adj. p=0.001; MI: no 4.9%, mild 5.9%, moderate 6.0%, severe CAC 10.5%; adj. p=0.02; and ST: no 1.3%, mild 1.4%, moderate 1.8%, severe CAC 3.6%; adj. p=0.57). In patients with moderate-severe CAC, event rates were comparable, regardless of the DES polymer-coating strategy.

CONCLUSIONS

At 10 years after PCI with new-generation DES, there was an incremental increase in adverse events by degree of coronary calcification. These detrimental effects do not seem to be impacted by different polymer-coating strategies.

Time Trend in Incidence of Sudden Cardiac Death After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention from 2009 to 2017 (from the Japanese Multicenter Registry)

The advances in the integrated management of patients with coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have reduced subsequent cardiovascular events. Nonetheless, sudden cardiac death (SCD) remains a major concern. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the time trend in SCD incidence after PCI and to identify the clinical factors contributing to SCD. From a prospective, multicenter cohort registry in Japan, 8,723 consecutive patients with coronary artery disease undergoing PCI between 2009 and 2017 were included. We evaluated the SCD incidence 2 years after PCI; all death events were adjudicated, and SCD was defined as unexpected death without a noncardiovascular cause in a previously stable patient within 24 hours from the onset. The Fine and Gray method was used to identify the factors associated with SCD. Overall, the mean age of the patients was 68.3 ± 11.3 years, and 1,173 patients (13.4%) had heart failure (HF). During the study period, the use of second-generation drug-eluting stents increased. The 2-year cumulative incidence of all-cause mortality and SCD was 4.29% and 0.45%, respectively. All-cause mortality remained stable during the study period (p for trend = 0.98), whereas the crude incidence of SCD tended to decrease over the study period (p for trend = 0.052). HF was the strongest predictor associated with the risk of SCD (crude incidence [vs non-HF] 2.13% vs 0.19%; p <0.001). In conclusion, the incidence of SCD after PCI decreased over the last decade, albeit the high incidence of SCD among patients with HF remains concerning.

Identification of post-procedural optical coherence tomography findings associated with the 1-year vascular response evaluated by coronary angioscopy

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides higher resolution intravascular imaging and allows detailed evaluations of stent implantation sites post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Coronary angioscopy (CAS) can evaluate the vascular response after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. The post-PCI OCT findings that are associated with the CAS 1-year vascular response have not been known. We enrolled 168 lesions from 119 patients who underwent OCT-guided PCI using DES and follow-up CAS observation at 1 ± 0.5 year from August 2012 to December 2019. Outcome measures were sufficient neointimal coverage (NIC) defined as stent struts embedded in the neointima, subclinical intrastent thrombus, and vulnerable stented segments defined as those with angioscopic yellow or intensive yellow color 1 year after PCI. We identified the post-PCI OCT findings associated with these CAS findings. Sufficient NIC, subclinical intrastent thrombus, and vulnerable stented segment were detected in 85 lesions (51%), 47 lesions (28%), and 54 lesions (32%), respectively. A multivariate analysis demonstrated that malapposed struts were negatively associated with sufficient NIC (odds ratio 0.87; 95% CI 0.76-0.99; p = 0.029). However, no specific OCT findings immediately after PCI were associated with subclinical intrastent thrombus or vulnerable stented segment. Malapposition immediately after PCI was negatively associated with sufficient NIC at 1 year even without associations between post-PCI OCT findings and subclinical intrastent thrombus or vulnerable stented segment.

Genetic Backgrounds Associated With Stent Thrombosis: A Pilot Study From a Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Registry

Background

Stent thrombosis (ST) is a rare, yet devastating, complication following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), with poorly understood pathophysiologic characteristics and genetic backgrounds.

Objectives

The authors performed a genome-wide association study to identify the common genetic loci associated with early stent thrombosis (EST) and late/very late ST (LST/VLST) in a contemporary Japanese multicenter PCI registry.

Methods

Among 8,642 PCI patients included in the registry, 42 who experienced stent thrombosis [EST (n = 15) and LST/VLST (n = 27)] were included (mean age, 67.6 ± 10.8 years; and 88.1% men). We conducted a genome-wide association study using the BioBank Japan patient population as the control (control #1: acute coronary syndrome [n = 29,542] and control #2: effort angina [n = 8,900]) to identify significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and evaluate the performance of polygenic risk scores (PRSs) for predicting these conditions.

Results

We compared patients with EST with controls #1 and #2 and identified SNPs (rs565401593 and rs561634568) in NSD1, and patients with LST/VLST with controls #1 and #2 and identified SNPs (rs532623294 and rs199546342) in GRIN2A. PRS for LST/VLST showed high predictive performance (area under the curve 0.83 [95% CI: 0.76-0.89] and 0.83 [95% CI: 0.77-0.89]), whereas PRS for EST showed modest predictive performance (area under the curve 0.71 [95% CI: 0.58-0.85] and 0.72 [95% CI: 0.58-0.85]).

Conclusions

We identified different genetic predispositions between EST and LST/VLST and demonstrated that the incorporation of PRS may aid in risk prediction of this highly fatal event.

Comparison of MECHANISM of early and late vascular responses following treatment of ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction with two different everolimus-eluting stents: a randomized controlled trial of biodegradable versus durable polymer stents

The early and mid-term arterial healing profile of biodegradable polymer-coated everolimus-eluting stents (BP-EES) is unclear, especially in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) culprit lesions. This study aimed to compare early- and mid-term arterial healing between durable polymer-coated everolimus-eluting stents (DP-EES) and BP-EES in STEMI patients. In a prospective, multicenter, non-inferiority trial, STEMI patients were randomized to receive BP-EES (n = 60) or DP-EES (n = 60). The primary endpoint of this study was the mean percentage of covered struts (%covered struts) on FD-OCT 2 weeks post-PCI. Key secondary endpoints included the percentage of uncovered struts, frequency of abnormal intra-stent tissue, and percentage of malapposed struts by FD-OCT 2 weeks and 12 months post-PCI. They underwent serial frequency-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) evaluations immediately after percutaneous coronary intervention, and at 2 weeks and at 12 months after the procedure. The primary endpoint of %covered struts at 2 weeks was 71.4% in BP-EES and 72.3% in DP-EES [risk difference - 0.94%, lower limit of one-sided 95% confidence interval (CI) - 5.6; P_{non-inferiority} = 0.0756]. At 12 months, the mean percentage of uncovered struts was significantly lower [1.73% (95% CI 0.28-3.17) vs. 4.81% (95% CI 3.52-6.09); p = 0.002], and the average malapposed volume was significantly smaller in the BP-EES group than in the DP-EES group (p = 0.002). At 12 months, BP-EES had a significantly larger average neointimal area with a significantly smaller average intra-stent tissue unevenness score than DP-EES, suggesting more uniform neointimal coverage with BP-EES. Strut coverage was comparable between BP-EES and DP-EES at 2 weeks. Non-inferiority could not be proven because of an insufficient sample size. The significantly better arterial healing with BP-EES at 12 months suggests a safer profile for STEMI culprit lesions.Trial registration: jRCTs022180024 https://jrct.niph.go.jp/en-latest-detail/jRCTs022180024.

Post market surveillance registry (PIONEER) of the Yukon Choice PC-Elite Coronary Stent System for percutaneous coronary intervention in Indian acute coronary syndrome population

AIM

The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy profile of a newer generation biodegradable DES, the Yukon Choice PC Elite with a temperature controlling mechanism, in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

METHODS

This prospective multi-center study (PIONEER Registry) was conducted in an Indian ACS population, therefore providing data in real world clinical practice. Patients with ACS underwent DES implantation in de novo native-vessel coronary lesions with the Yukon Choice PC Elite biodegradable polymer DES and were followed up for a year.

RESULTS

A total 999 patients were evaluated. The majority of patients were male (79.2%). A total of 6.7% of the patients had a history of prior myocardial infarction (MI) and 2.7% of patients had a history of previous coronary artery bypass graft. The clinical presentations of the patients included: unstable angina pectoris (UA) (46.4%), ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI) (38.1%), and Non-ST-segment elevation MI (NSTEMI) (15.4%). Implantation of the device was successful in 99.9% of cases. The median stent length and stent size were 21.0 mm (Range: 8.0-40.0 mm) and 2.8 mm (Range 2.0-4.0 mm), respectively. Through to one-year clinical follow-up after percutaneous coronary intervention, all-cause death occurred in 4 of 999 patients (Crude Percentage: 0.4%). Cardiac death, MI, TLR, and stent thrombosis were occurred in 1 (0.1%), 8 (0.8%), 12 (1.2%) and 1 (0.1%) patients, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The results of this post marketing surveillance registry suggest favorable safety and efficacy outcomes associated with the Yukon Choice PC Elite biodegradable DES in a real world Indian ACS population.

Vascular healing in high-bleeding-risk patients at 3-month after everolimus-eluting stent versus biolimus A9-coated stent implantation: insights from analysis of optical coherence tomography and coronary angioscopy

The prevalence of high-bleeding-risk (HBR) patients who undergo coronary stenting has been reported as 20-40%. This study sought to assess vascular healing in HBR patients by coronary angioscopy (CAS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). We prospectively analyzed 38 HBR patients with coronary artery disease who successfully underwent everolimus-eluting stent (EES) implantation (20 patients, 23 lesions) or drug-coated stent (DCS) implantation (18 patients, 18 lesions). Follow-up coronary angiography, CAS, and OCT were planned at 3 months after the procedure. The clinical characteristics and inclusion criteria of HBR were comparable between groups. CAS analysis showed that mean yellow color grade was significantly higher with EES than with DCS (1.33 [1.0, 1.67] vs. 1.0 [0.67, 1.5]; P = 0.04). In contrast, OCT analysis demonstrated that most struts in both groups were well-apposed struts with neointimal coverage (93.9% each; P = 1.00), and percentages of the mean neointimal area were comparable between EES and DCS (4.4 ± 3.5 mm² vs. 4.5 ± 4.1 mm²; P = 0.91). The frequency of uncovered struts was significantly lower with EES than with DCS (2.4% vs. 5.3%; P < 0.001), whereas the frequency of malapposed struts was significantly higher with EES than with DCS (3.5% vs. 0.8%; P < 0.001). During follow-up, no stent thrombosis or major bleeding complications were encountered in either group. Among HBR patients, both EES and DCS demonstrated good vascular healing at 3-month follow-up with some different features in CAS and OCT assessments.

Neoatherosclerosis prediction using plaque markers in intravascular optical coherence tomography images

Introduction

In-stent neoatherosclerosis has emerged as a crucial factor in post-stent complications including late in-stent restenosis and very late stent thrombosis. In this study, we investigated the ability of quantitative plaque characteristics from intravascular optical coherence tomography (IVOCT) images taken just prior to stent implantation to predict neoatherosclerosis after implantation.

Methods

This was a sub-study of the TRiple Assessment of Neointima Stent FOrmation to Reabsorbable polyMer with Optical Coherence Tomography (TRANSFORM-OCT) trial. Images were obtained before and 18 months after stent implantation. Final analysis included images of 180 lesions from 90 patients; each patient had images of two lesions in different coronary arteries. A total of 17 IVOCT plaque features, including lesion length, lumen (e.g., area and diameter); calcium (e.g., angle and thickness); and fibrous cap (FC) features (e.g., thickness, surface area, and burden), were automatically extracted from the baseline IVOCT images before stenting using dedicated software developed by our group (OCTOPUS). The predictive value of baseline IVOCT plaque features for neoatherosclerosis development after stent implantation was assessed using univariate/multivariate logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses.

Results

Follow-up IVOCT identified stents with (n = 19) and without (n = 161) neoatherosclerosis. Greater lesion length and maximum calcium angle and features related to FC were associated with a higher prevalence of neoatherosclerosis after stent implantation (p < 0.05). Hierarchical clustering identified six clusters with the best prediction p-values. In univariate logistic regression analysis, maximum calcium angle, minimum calcium thickness, maximum FC angle, maximum FC area, FC surface area, and FC burden were significant predictors of neoatherosclerosis. Lesion length and features related to the lumen were not significantly different between the two groups. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, only larger FC surface area was strongly associated with neoatherosclerosis (odds ratio 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-1.80, p < 0.05). The area under the ROC curve was 0.901 (95% CI 0.859-0.946, p < 0.05) for FC surface area.

Conclusion

Post-stent neoatherosclerosis can be predicted by quantitative IVOCT imaging of plaque characteristics prior to stent implantation. Our findings highlight the additional clinical benefits of utilizing IVOCT imaging in the catheterization laboratory to inform treatment decision-making and improve outcomes.

Ten-year patterns of stent thrombosis after percutaneous coronary intervention with new- versus early-generation drug-eluting stents: insights from the DECADE cooperation

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

The DECADE cooperation is a pooled analysis of individual patient data from drug-eluting stent (DES) trials with a 10-year follow-up. This analysis reports the risk of definite stent thrombosis (ST) through to 10 years after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients treated with early- and new-generation DES.

METHODS

Individual patient data from 5 DES trials with a 10-year follow-up were pooled. The primary endpoint was definite ST up to 10 years after PCI. Patients were divided into 2 groups as per the generation of DES implanted (early and new DES). Individual participant data were analyzed using a 1-stage approach.

RESULTS

We included 9700 patients, 6866 in the new DES group and 2834 in the early DES group. Through to 10 years, definite ST occurred in 69 of 6866 patients treated with new DES and in 91 of 2834 patients treated with early DES (1.0% vs 3.5%, adjusted hazard ratio, 0.32; 95%CI, 0.23-0.45). The rate of definite ST was lower in the new DES group than in the early DES group from 1 to 5 years (rate ratio, 0.14; 95%CI, 0.08-0.26) and from 5 to 10 years (rate ratio, 0.23; 95%CI, 0.08-0.61) after PCI.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of definite ST through to 10 years after PCI with new-generation DES was 1%. New-generation DES are associated with a lower 10-year incidence of definite ST than early-generation DES, particularly beyond 1 year after PCI.

Percutaneous coronary intervention versus repeat surgical revascularization in patients with prior coronary artery bypass grafting: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives

Repeat coronary artery bypass grafting (RCABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are both used for the treatment of symptomatic patients with coronary artery disease and prior CABG, but the optimal treatment strategy remains unknown. We sought to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare operative and follow-up outcomes following RCABG versus PCI in patients with prior CABG.

Methods

Medline and Embase were searched for studies comparing RCABG versus PCI. The primary outcome was follow-up mortality, and secondary outcomes were follow-up repeat revascularization, operative mortality, periprocedural stroke, and myocardial infarction. Time-to-event outcomes were summarized as incidence rate ratios, whereas operative outcomes were summarized as odds ratios. A random effect meta-analysis was performed. Individual patient survival data was extracted from available survival curves and reconstructed using restricted mean survival time.

Results

Among 2982 articles, 7 studies (9945 patients) were included. In the aggregated data meta-analysis, there was no difference in follow-up survival between RCABG and PCI (incidence rate ratio, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.83-1.25); however, restricted mean survival time analysis of individual data showed a survival benefit for RCABG over PCI (0.7 years; 95% CI, 0.23-1.19 years; P = .004). PCI was found to have a higher incidence rate of follow-up need for repeat revascularization (incidence rate ratio, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.16-2.23), but lower odds for operative mortality and stroke. No difference in the odds for myocardial infarction was found.

Conclusions

In patients with prior CABG, PCI is associated with better operative outcomes, but RCABG is associated with better survival and freedom from repeat revascularization at follow-up.

Temporal patterns, characteristics, and predictors of clinical outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for stent thrombosis

BACKGROUND

There are limited data on the outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) following stent thrombosis (ST) and differences exist based on timing.

AIMS

Our aim was to study the rates of PCI procedures for an ST indication among all patients admitted for PCI at a national level and to compare their characteristics and procedural outcomes based on ST timing.

METHODS

All PCI procedures in England and Wales (2014-2020) were retrospectively analysed and stratified by the presence of ST into four groups: non-ST, early ST (0-30 days), late ST (>30-360 days), very late ST (>360 days). Multivariable logistic regression models were performed to assess the odds ratios (OR) of in-hospital MACCE (major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, a composite of mortality, acute stroke and reinfarction) and mortality.

RESULTS

Overall, 7,923 (1.4%) procedures were for ST indication, most commonly for early ST (n=4,171; 52.6%), followed by very late ST (n=2,801; 35.4%) and late ST (n=951; 12.0%). The rate of PCI for ST declined between 2014 and 2020 (1.7 to 1.4%; p<0.001). Early ST was the only subgroup associated with increased odds of MACCE (OR 1.22, 95% CI: 1.05-1.41), all-cause mortality (OR 1.21, 95% CI: 1.07-1.36) and reinfarction (OR 2.48, 95% CI: 1.48-4.14), compared with non-ST indication. The odds of mortality were significantly reduced in ST patients with the use of intravascular imaging (OR 0.66, 95% CI: 0.48-0.92) and newer P2Y12 inhibitors (ticagrelor: OR 0.69, 95% CI: 0.49-0.95; prasugrel: OR 0.54, 95% CI: 0.30-0.96).

CONCLUSIONS

PCI for ST has declined in frequency over a 7-year period, with most procedures performed for early ST. Among the different times of ST onset, only early ST is associated with worse clinical outcomes after PCI. Routine use of intravascular imaging and newer P2Y12 inhibitors could further improve outcomes in this high-risk procedural group.

Anti-atherosclerotic therapies: Milestones, challenges, and emerging innovations

Atherosclerosis is the main underlying pathology for many cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), which are the leading cause of death globally and represent a serious health crisis. Atherosclerosis is a chronic condition that can lead to myocardial infarction, ischemic cardiomyopathy, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease. Elevated plasma lipids, hypertension, and high glucose are the major risk factors for developing atherosclerotic plaques. To date, most pharmacological therapies aim to control these risk factors, but they do not target the plaque-causing cells themselves. In patients with acute coronary syndromes, surgical revascularization with percutaneous coronary intervention has greatly reduced mortality rates. However, stent thrombosis and neo-atherosclerosis have emerged as major safety concerns of drug eluting stents due to delayed re-endothelialization. This review summarizes the major milestones, strengths, and limitations of current anti-atherosclerotic therapies. It provides an overview of the recent discoveries and emerging game-changing technologies in the fields of nanomedicine, mRNA therapeutics, and gene editing that have the potential to revolutionize CVD clinical practice by steering it toward precision medicine.

Stent Thrombosis After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: From Bare-Metal to the Last Generation of Drug-Eluting Stents

Since their introduction in clinical practice in 1986, different types of coronary stents have been developed and become available for the treatment of coronary artery disease. Stent thrombosis (ST) is an uncommon but harmful complication after percutaneous coronary implantation, with a high occurrence of acute myocardial infarction and risk of mortality. Among several procedural and clinical predictors, the type of coronary stent is a strong determinant of ST. This article reviews the available evidence on the most used coronary stent types in the modern era and the related risk of ST.

Shortening the duration of dual antiplatelet therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention for acute coronary syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

The decision to shorten the duration of DAPT following PCI in patients with ACS remains controversial because of the concern for increased ischemic events.

METHODS

We performed a comprehensive literature search in seven databases to explore the efficacy of 1 to 3 months of DAPT in patients who underwent PCI for ACS. Randomized controlled trials that compared 1 to 3 months with 6 to 12 months of DAPT after PCI for ACS were identified. Integrated hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated by random effects model for each prespecified outcome of interest. Meta-regression analyses were performed to examine the association of outcomes with select patient characteristics.

RESULTS

A total of 9 randomized controlled trials consisting of 25,907 patients were included. There was no difference in the hazard of NACE (HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.79-1.07) and MACE (HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.78-1.17) between 1 and 3 months of DAPT and 6 to 12 months of DAPT. However, implementing 1 to 3 months of DAPT was associated with lower hazard of both any bleeding (HR 0.55, 95% CI 0.46-0.66) and major bleeding (HR 0.47, 95% CI 0.36-0.62). Meta-regression revealed a nonsignificant but increasing trend of both NACE and MACE with greater proportion of left main and left anterior descending coronary artery lesions and greater proportion of STEMI included in the trials.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that 1 to 3 months of DAPT has similar efficacy for preventing ischemic events with reduced bleeding risk compared with 6 to 12 months of DAPT.

Ultrathin Struts Drug-Eluting Stents: A State-of-the-Art Review

New-generation drug-eluting stents (DESs) represent the standard of care for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Recent iterations in DES technology have led to the development of newer stent platforms with a further reduction in strut thickness. This new DES class, known as ultrathin struts DESs, has struts thinner than 70 µm. The evidence base for these devices consists of observational data, large-scale meta-analyses, and randomized trials with long-term follow-up, which have been conducted to investigate the difference between ultrathin struts DESs and conventional new-generation DESs in a variety of clinical settings and lesion subsets. Ultrathin struts DESs may further improve the efficacy and safety profile of PCI by reducing the risk of target-lesion and target-vessel failures in comparison to new-generation DESs. In this article, we reviewed device characteristics and clinical data of the Orsiro (Biotronik, Bülach, Switzerland), Coroflex ISAR (B. Braun Melsungen, Germany), BioMime (Meril Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Gujarat, India), MiStent (MiCell Technologies, USA), and Supraflex (Sahajanand Medical Technologies, Surat, India) sirolimus-eluting stents.

Independent Clinical Impacts of Procedural Complexity on Ischemic and Bleeding Events in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: Long-Term Clinical Study

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between a complex percutaneous coronary intervention (C-PCI) and long-term clinical outcomes in the AMI cohort. A total of 10,329 patients were categorized into the C-PCI and non-C-PCI groups. The primary ischemic endpoint was a composite of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs, cardiac death, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis and revascularization). The primary bleeding endpoint was the risk of overt bleeding (BARC 2, 3 or 5). The median follow-up duration was 4.9 (2.97, 7.16) years. The risks of MACEs and bleeding were significantly higher in the C-PCI group (hazard ratio (HR): 1.72; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.60 to 1.85; p < 0.001; and HR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.17 to 1.50; p < 0.001, respectively). After propensity score matching, compared to the non-C-PCI group, the adjusted MACE rate in C-PCI remained significantly higher (p < 0.001), but no significant interaction (p = 0.273) was observed for bleeding. Significant differences in overt bleeding were observed only within the first three months (p = 0.024). The MACEs were consistently higher in the C-PCI group with or without severe comorbid conditions (p < 0.001 for both). Patients with AMI who undergo C-PCI experience worse long-term ischemic outcomes after successful PCI, regardless of the presence of severe comorbidities.

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.

Revascularization strategies for patients with established chronic coronary syndrome

Coronary artery disease is the most common type of cardiovascular disease, leading to high mortality rates worldwide. Although the vast majority can be treated effectively and safely by medical therapy, revascularization strategies remain essential for numerous patients. Outcomes of both percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass grafting improve in a rapid pace, resulting from technical innovation and ongoing research. Progress has been achieved by technical improvements in coronary stents, optimal coronary target and graft selection, and the availability of minimally invasive surgical strategies. Besides technical progress, evidence-based patient-tailored decision-making by the Heart Team is the basic precondition for optimal outcome. The combination of fast innovation and long-term clinical evaluations creates a dynamic field. Research outcomes should be carefully interpreted according to the techniques used and the trial's design. Therefore, more and more trial outcomes suggest that revascularization strategies should be tailored towards the specific patient. Although the European Society of Cardiology/European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery guidelines on myocardial revascularization date from 2018 and a large variety of trial outcomes on revascularization strategies in chronic coronary syndrome have been published since, we aim to provide an updated overview within this review.

Long-Term Outcomes and Clinical Predictors of Mortality Following Occurrence of Stent Thrombosis

Background Stent thrombosis (ST) remains a significant medical issue. In particular, longer-term mortality and clinical predictors after ST occurrence have yet to be elucidated. Methods and Results This was a multicenter, retrospective, observational study. A total of 187 definite ST cases from January 2008 to December 2017 were enrolled, and the long-term clinical outcomes were investigated. The primary outcome measure was the cumulative mortality after ST occurrence. In addition, independent predictors of mortality were assessed. Among the stent types causing ST, bare-metal stent, first-generation drug-eluting stent, second-generation drug-eluting stent, and third-generation drug-eluting stent comprised 31.0%, 19.3%, 36.9%, and 6.4% of cases, respectively. Median duration from stent implantation to ST was 680.5 (interquartile range, 33.8-2450.5) days. Cumulative mortality was 14.6%, 17.4%, 21.2%, 24.4%, and 33.8% at 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 years, respectively. The cumulative mortality did not significantly differ by type of stent, and mortality of late ST was higher than that of early ST and very late ST; however, it did not reach statistical significance after the multivariate analysis. Independent predictors of mortality were hemodialysis (hazard ratio [HR], 7.80; 95% CI, 3.07-19.81; P<0.001), culprit lesions in the left main trunk (HR, 8.14; 95% CI, 1.71-38.75; P=0.008), culprit lesions in the left coronary artery (HR, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.10-6.96; P=0.030), and peak creatine kinase (HR, 1.017; 95% CI, 1.011-1.022; P<0.001). Conclusions The 10-year cumulative mortality after ST reached 33.8%. Close follow-up is thus mandatory for patients with ST, especially with hemodialysis, culprit lesions in the left main trunk and left coronary artery, and high peak creatine kinase.

In Stent Neo-Atherosclerosis: Pathophysiology, Clinical Implications, Prevention, and Therapeutic Approaches

Despite the dramatic improvements of revascularization therapies occurring in the past decades, a relevant percentage of patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) still develops stent failure due to neo-atherosclerosis (NA). This histopathological phenomenon following stent implantation represents the substrate for late in-stent restenosis (ISR) and late stent thrombosis (ST), with a significant impact on patient’s long-term clinical outcomes. This appears even more remarkable in the setting of drug-eluting stent implantation, where the substantial delay in vascular healing because of the released anti-proliferative agents might increase the occurrence of this complication. Since the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of NA diverge from native atherosclerosis and early ISR, intra-coronary imaging techniques are crucial for its early detection, providing a proper in vivo assessment of both neo-intimal plaque composition and peri-strut structures. Furthermore, different strategies for NA prevention and treatment have been proposed, including tailored pharmacological therapies as well as specific invasive tools. Considering the increasing population undergoing PCI with drug-eluting stents (DES), this review aims to provide an updated overview of the most recent evidence regarding NA, discussing pathophysiology, contemporary intravascular imaging techniques, and well-established and experimental invasive and pharmacological treatment strategies.

Sirolimus Release from Biodegradable Polymers for Coronary Stent Application: A Review

Drug-eluting stents (DESs) are commonly used for the treatment of coronary artery disease. The evolution of the drug-eluting layer on the surface of the metal stent plays an important role in DES functionality. Here, the use of biodegradable polymers has emerged as an attractive strategy because it minimizes the occurrence of late thrombosis after stent implantation. Furthermore, understanding the drug-release behavior of DESs is also important for improving the safety and efficacy of stent treatments. Drug release from biodegradable polymers has attracted extensive research attention because biodegradable polymers with different properties show different drug-release behaviors. Molecular weight, composition, glass transition temperature, crystallinity, and the degradation rate are important properties affecting the behavior of polymers. Sirolimus is a conventional anti-proliferation drug and is the most widely used drug in DESs. Sirolimus-release behavior affects endothelialization and thrombosis formation after DES implantation. In this review, we focus on sirolimus release from biodegradable polymers, including synthetic and natural polymers widely used in the medical field. We hope this review will provide valuable up-to-date information on this subject and contribute to the further development of safe and efficient DESs.

Early vascular healing after implantation of the polymer-free biolimus-eluting stent or the ultrathin strut biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting stent in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the difference in early vascular healing between the ultrathin-strut biodegradable-polymer sirolimus-eluting Orsiro stent (O-SES) and the polymer-free biolimus-A9-eluting BioFreedom stent (BF-BES), assessed with optical coherence tomography (OCT) after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions (STEMIs).

METHODS

Eighty patients with STEMI who underwent primary PCI were randomly allocated 1:1 to treatment with BF-BES or O-SES. OCT was acquired after PCI and at 1-month follow-up. The primary endpoint was 1-month OCT-assessed vascular healing index based on the presence of uncovered and malapposed stent struts and intraluminal filling defects where low vascular healing index indicated favorable vascular healing.

RESULTS

At 1-month, the vascular healing index was similar in O-SES 11.5 [interquartile range (IQR) 9.5-17.5], compared to BF-BES 11.5 (IQR 7.1-12.5; P = 0.14). Percentage of uncovered struts [O-SES 31.5% (IQR 20.7-41.9), P = 0.43] vs. BF-BES 27.8% (IQR 19.4-41.9; P = 0.44), and median volume of neointimal hyperplasia [O-SES 4.9 mm3 (IQR 1.4-13.1) vs. BF-BES 7.1 mm3 (IQR 2.8-17.0), P = 0.18] did not differ significantly between the two stent groups. Complete coverage was not observed in any of the stents. The percentages of stents with malapposition did not differ significantly (O-SES 87.1% vs. BF-BES 71.4%, P = 0.14) whereas percentage of malapposed struts [O-SES 3.5% (IQR 0.8-5.5) vs. BF-BES 0.8% (IQR 0.0-1.8), P = 0.003] was lower in the BF-BES group.

CONCLUSION

In patients with STEMI, the drug-coated BF-BES and the thin strut O-SES had similar vascular healing index at 1-month. However, the thin O-SES struts were more often malapposed.

The outcome of primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with stent thrombosis

BACKGROUND

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a recommended management strategy for patients with de novo ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Still, the efficacy of primary PCI in-stent thrombosis (ST) induced STEMI is unclear. The aim was to assess the clinical characteristics and the in-hospital outcomes of patients undergoing primary PCI for STEMI caused by acute, sub-acute, or late ST.

METHODS

A sample of hundred consecutive patients who presented with STEMI due to ST were included in this study. The angiographic evidence of a flow-limiting thrombus or total vessel occlusion (thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade 0 to II) at the site of the previous stent implant was taken as ST. Primary PCI was performed, and all enrolled patients and in-hospital mortality were observed.

RESULTS

Male patients were 69, and the mean age was 58.9 ± 7.78 years. ST was categorized as acute in 40 patients, sub-acute in 53, and late in the remaining seven patients. Killip class III/IV was observed in 45 patients. Dissection was observed in 25, under deployment in 74, and/or malposition in 24 patients. Thrombus aspiration was performed in 97, plain old balloon angioplasty in 76, and stenting in 22 patients. Final TIMI III flow was achieved in 32 patients. During a mean hospital stay of 4.93 ± 2.46 days, the mortality rate was 27%.

CONCLUSION

In-hospital mortality after primary PCI was observed in more than 1/4th of the patients with STEMI due to ST undergoing primary PCI.

Advances in the Post-coronary Artery Bypass Graft Management of Occlusive Coronary Artery Disease

Revascularisation of chronic total occlusion (CTO) represents one of the most challenging aspects of percutaneous coronary intervention, but advances in equipment and an understanding of CTO revascularisation techniques have resulted in considerable improvements in success rates. In patients with prior coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery, additional challenges are encountered. This article specifically explores these challenges, as well as antegrade methods of CTO crossing. Techniques, equipment that can be used and reference texts are highlighted with the aim of providing potential CTO operators adequate information to tackle additional complexities likely to be encountered in this cohort of patients. This review forms part of a wider series where additional aspects of patients with prior CABG should be factored into decisions and methods of revascularisation.

Cardiovascular Risk Profile, Presentation and Management Outcomes of Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

BACKGROUND

Coronary artery bypass (CABG) is an important revascularization procedure with excellent long-term results. However, bypass grafts, particularly venous grafts, develop structural changes and atherosclerotic plaques that may cause angina or even acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Here we aimed to study patients with previous CABG presenting with an ACS and evaluated their cardiovascular (CV) risk profile, clinical presentations, angiographic findings, management strategies and short and long term outcomes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This represents an observational retrospective cross sectional single center study including all consecutive patients with previous CABG presenting with ACS at the University Heart Center of the University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2016. Mean age was 76.4 years and 83.1% were males. Major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) at 1-year follow up and long-term follow up were analyzed using Kaplan Meyer survival analysis.

RESULTS

We included 510 patients with ACS and prior CABG. Most patients were elderly at the time of presentation. 60.2% were diabetics and 58.6% obese, 43.5% hypertensives and 37.8% had hyperlipidemia. 73% (n=372) presented as unstable angina (UA), 22.5% as NSTEMI (n=115) and only 4.5% as STEMI (n=23). The acute events occurred in 4.9% (n=25) before discharge, in 4.9% (n=25) within the first year and in 90.2% (n=460) thereafter. Most of the patients (92.2%; n=470) had stenosed or occluded venous bypass grafts at presentation, while a minority (7.8%; n=40) had significantly narrowed or occluded arterial grafts. CV risk profiles were similar in both groups. However, arterial graft disease occurred earlier after CABG and more likely presented as NSTEMI rather than UA compared to the SVG group. In 54.7% (n=279) primary PCI of the saphenous graft, and in 13.5% (n=69) of the native coronary arteries was performed, while 6.5% (n=33) underwent redo CABG and 25.3% (n=129) received medical treatment only. MACE at 1 year occurred in 12.2% (n=62) with repeated revascularization as the most common event (7.2%; n=37) followed by cardiac death (2.4%; n=12), MI (1.2%; n=6), cerebrovascular infarction (1.2%; n=6) and major bleeding (0.2%; n=1). Hypertensive and obese patients, those with myocardial infarction or an ACS before discharge or during the first year after CABG had higher MACCE. In patients undergoing pPCI the rate of cardiac death and MI at 1 year was lower with an intervention in the native coronary arteries and with redo CABG compared to pPCI of bypass grafts.

CONCLUSION

Thus, patients with ACS and prior CABG typically present as UA and much less frequently as NSTEMI-ACS and particularly STEMI. Most events occur after one year, particularly with SVG. The 1 year MACCE rate is comparable to those with native coronary artery ACS. Hypertensive and obese patients, those with MI or with an ACS before discharge had higher MACCE rates.

2021 ACC/AHA/SCAI Guideline for Coronary Artery Revascularization: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines

AIM

The guideline for coronary artery revascularization replaces the 2011 coronary artery bypass graft surgery and the 2011 and 2015 percutaneous coronary intervention guidelines, providing a patient-centric approach to guide clinicians in the treatment of patients with significant coronary artery disease undergoing coronary revascularization as well as the supporting documentation to encourage their use.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted from May 2019 to September 2019, encompassing studies, reviews, and other evidence conducted on human subjects that were published in English from PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Collaboration, CINHL Complete, and other relevant databases. Additional relevant studies, published through May 2021, were also considered. Structure: Coronary artery disease remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Coronary revascularization is an important therapeutic option when managing patients with coronary artery disease. The 2021 coronary artery revascularization guideline provides recommendations based on contemporary evidence for the treatment of these patients. The recommendations present an evidence-based approach to managing patients with coronary artery disease who are being considered for coronary revascularization, with the intent to improve quality of care and align with patients' interests.

2021 ACC/AHA/SCAI Guideline for Coronary Artery Revascularization: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines

AIM

The guideline for coronary artery revascularization replaces the 2011 coronary artery bypass graft surgery and the 2011 and 2015 percutaneous coronary intervention guidelines, providing a patient-centric approach to guide clinicians in the treatment of patients with significant coronary artery disease undergoing coronary revascularization as well as the supporting documentation to encourage their use.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted from May 2019 to September 2019, encompassing studies, reviews, and other evidence conducted on human subjects that were published in English from PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Collaboration, CINHL Complete, and other relevant databases. Additional relevant studies, published through May 2021, were also considered.

STRUCTURE

Coronary artery disease remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Coronary revascularization is an important therapeutic option when managing patients with coronary artery disease. The 2021 coronary artery revascularization guideline provides recommendations based on contemporary evidence for the treatment of these patients. The recommendations present an evidence-based approach to managing patients with coronary artery disease who are being considered for coronary revascularization, with the intent to improve quality of care and align with patients' interests.

Long term safety and efficacy of the Yukon Choice Flex sirolimus-eluting coronary stent-a real-world data from India

In-stent restenosis and stent thrombosis are the major concerns while choosing a coronary stent. This single-centre, retrospective study evaluated the one and three-year clinical outcomes following implantation of Yukon Choice Flex (YCF) sirolimus-eluting stent. A total of 168 consecutive patients with 217 lesions underwent stenting with YCF stent. The presentation was with acute coronary syndrome in 158 (94%) patients. At 3 years, 9 (5.3%) patients died due to cardiac cause. Myocardial infarction, and definite stent thrombosis occurred in 10 (6%) and 4 (2.4%) patients respectively. Redo stenting and coronary artery bypass surgery was performed in 3 (1.8%) and 1 (0.6%) patient respectively. The use of YCF sirolimus eluting stent was associated with a favourable safety and efficacy profile at one and three-years of follow-up in a high-risk population.

Stent-Related Adverse Events as Related to Dual Antiplatelet Therapy in First- vs Second-Generation Drug-Eluting Stents

Background

There are limited data on the long-term stent-related adverse events as related to the duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in second-generation (G2) drug-eluting stents (DES) compared with first-generation (G1) DES.

Objectives

This study sought to compare the long-term stent-related outcomes of G2-DES with those of G1-DES.

Methods

The study group consisted of 15,009 patients who underwent their first coronary revascularization with DES from the CREDO-Kyoto PCI/CABG (Coronary Revascularization Demonstrating Outcome Study in Kyoto Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting) Registry Cohort-2 (first-generation drug-eluting stent [G1-DES] period; n = 5,382) and Cohort-3 (second-generation drug eluting stent [G2-DES] period; n = 9,627). The primary outcome measures were definite stent thrombosis (ST) and target vessel revascularization (TVR).

Results

The cumulative 5-year incidences of definite ST and TVR were significantly lower in the G2-DES group than in the G1-DES group (0.7% vs 1.4%; P < 0.001; and 16.2% vs 22.1%; P < 0.001, respectively). The lower adjusted risk of G2-DES relative to G1-DES for definite ST and TVR remained significant (HR: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.37-0.76; P < 0.001; and HR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.68-0.81; P < 0.001, respectively). In the landmark analysis that was based on the DAPT status at 1 year, the lower adjusted risk of on-DAPT status relative to off-DAPT was significant for definite ST beyond 1 year in the G1-DES stratum (HR: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.24-0.76; P = 0.004) but not in the G2-DES stratum (HR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.26-1.68; P = 0.38) (P_interaction = 0.14).

Conclusions

G2-DES compared with G1-DES were associated with a significantly lower risk for stent-related adverse events, including definite ST and TVR. DAPT beyond 1 year was associated with a significantly lower risk for very late ST of G1-DES but not for that of G2-DES.

3-Year Clinical Outcomes After Implantation of Permanent-Polymer Versus Polymer-Free Stent: ReCre8 Landmark Analysis

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this analysis was to assess long-term clinical outcomes of the polymer-free Amphilimus-eluting stent (PF-AES) compared with a latest generation permanent-polymer drug-eluting stent (DES) in an all-comers population.

BACKGROUND

PF-AES possess multiple properties improving targeted drug elution without the presence of polymers. Evaluation of long-term clinical performance of PF-AES versus latest generation permanent-polymer DES has not yet been performed in a large randomized trial introducing shortened dual-antiplatelet therapy.

METHODS

In this physician-initiated, multicenter, randomized, all-comers trial, patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with implantation of DES were enrolled. Patients were stratified for diabetes and troponin status and randomized to implantation of a permanent-polymer zotarolimus-eluting stent (PP-ZES) or a PF-AES. Dual-antiplatelet therapy duration was 12 months in troponin-positive patients and 1 month in troponin-negative patients. A noninferiority analysis was conducted to compare the 2 arms regarding target lesion failure (TLF) between 1 and 3 years.

RESULTS

A total of 1,491 patients were randomized and treated. In this landmark analysis, between 1- and 3-year follow-up, TLF occurred in 35 patients (4.9%) in the PP-ZES arm and 37 PF-AES patients (5.1%). Clinical noninferiority of the PF-AES was confirmed, with a risk difference of 0.2% (upper limit 1-sided 95% CI: 2.2%; P_{noninferiority} = 0.0031).

CONCLUSIONS

ReCre8 (Randomized "All-Comer" Evaluation of a Permanent Polymer Resolute Integrity Stent Versus a Polymer Free Cre8 Stent) is the first randomized, multicenter trial with a head-to-head comparison of PP-ZES compared with PF-AES to investigate clinical outcomes of these new-generation DES in an all-comers population with long-term follow-up. On the basis of the present results, PF-AES are clinically noninferior to PP-ZES regarding TLF between 1 and 3 years. (Randomized "All-Comer" Evaluation of a Permanent Polymer Resolute Integrity Stent Versus a Polymer Free Cre8 Stent; NCT02328898).