Prognostic role of coronary artery ectasia in patients with nonobstructive coronary artery disease

AIMS

Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) has been linked to the occurrence of adverse events in patients with ischemia/angina and no obstructive coronary arteries (INOCA/ANOCA), while the relationship between CAE and myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) has been poorly investigated. In our study we aimed at assessing differences in clinical, angiographic and prognostic features among patients with CAE and MINOCA vs. INOCA/ANOCA presentation.

METHODS

Patients with angiographic evidence of CAE were enrolled at the University Hospital of Parma and divided into MINOCA vs. INOCA/ANOCA presentation. Clinical and quantitative angiographic information was recorded and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) was assessed at follow-up.

RESULTS

We enrolled a total of 97 patients: 49 (50.5%) with MINOCA and 48 (49.5%) with INOCA/ANOCA presentation. The presentation with MINOCA was associated with a higher frequency of inflammatory diseases ( P  = 0.041), multivessel CAE ( P  = 0.030) and thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow < 3 ( P  = 0.013). At a median follow-up of 38 months, patients with MINOCA had a significantly higher incidence of MACE compared with those with INOCA/ANOCA [8 (16.3%) vs. 2 (4.2%), P  = 0.045], mainly driven by a higher rate of nonfatal MI [5 (10.2%) vs. 0 (0.0%), P  = 0.023]. At multivariate Cox regression analysis, the presentation with MINOCA ( P  = 0.039) and the presence of TIMI flow <3 ( P  = 0.037) were independent predictors of MACE at follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Among a cohort of patients with CAE and nonobstructive coronary artery disease, the presentation with MINOCA predicted a worse outcome.

Dual Antiplatelet Therapy or Antiplatelet Plus Anticoagulant Therapy in Patients with Peripheral and Chronic Coronary Artery Disease: An Updated Review

Despite evidence-based therapies, patients presenting with atherosclerosis involving more than one vascular bed, such as those with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD), constitute a particularly vulnerable group characterized by enhanced residual long-term risk for major adverse cardiac events (MACE), as well as major adverse limb events (MALE). The latter are progressively emerging as a difficult outcome to target, being correlated with increased mortality. Antithrombotic therapy is the mainstay of secondary prevention in both patients with PAD or CAD; however, the optimal intensity of such therapy is still a topic of debate, particularly in the post-acute and long-term setting. Recent well-powered randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have provided data in favor of a more intense antithrombotic therapy, such as prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and a P2Y12 inhibitor or a therapy with aspirin combined with an anticoagulant drug. Both approaches increase bleeding and selection of patients is a key issue. The aim of this review is, therefore, to discuss and summarize the most up-to-date available evidence for different strategies of anti-thrombotic therapies in patients with chronic PAD and CAD, particularly focusing on studies enrolling patients with both types of atherosclerotic disease and comparing a higher- versus a lower-intensity antithrombotic strategy. The final objective is to identify the optimal tailored approach in this setting, to achieve the greatest cardiovascular benefit and improve precision medicine.

215 PREDICTORS OF RECURRENT CEREBRAL ISCHEMIA AFTER PATENT FORAMEN OVALE CLOSURE: A SINGLE CENTER OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Background

Transcatheter patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure is an effective therapy in patients with cryptogenic stroke (CS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA) and evidence of PFO. However, the incidence of recurrent cerebral ischemia is not negligible and underlying pathogenic mechanisms remain largely unknown. We sought to evaluate the magnitude of the problem and to assess predictors of recurrent stroke/TIA after transcatheter PFO closure.

Methods

We enrolled non-randomized consecutive patients who underwent PFO closure for secondary prevention of neurological ischemic events at the University Hospital of Parma between 2004 and 2021. Clinical, echocardiographic and procedure-related features were collected for each patient. The incidence of recurrent ischemic neurological events was assessed at follow-up.

Results

We enrolled a total of 154 patients. The primary indication for PFO closure was previous stroke (85 [55.2%] subjects) and a third of patients (51 [33.1%]) suffered from migraine, 22 [14.3%] with and 29 [18.8%] without aura. Moreover, mean Risk of Paradoxycal Embolism (ROPE) score at hospital admission was 6.4 ± 1.5. After a median follow-up of 112 months, the incidence of recurrent cerebral ischemia occurred in 13 [8.4%] patients, with an annualized rate of 0.92/100 patients. The presence of migraine, obesity and ROPE &lt; 7 were independent positive predictors of recurrent stroke/TIA.

Conclusion

The presence of obesity, a familiar history of CVD, ROPE &lt; 7 and migraine were independent positive predictors of recurrent ischemic neurological events after PFO closure.