Effectiveness of atrial fibrillation on high-intensity transient signals to cerebral circulation during TAVI

Background

Cerebral microemboliazations remain a major concern peri-operatively and following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI). We evaluated whether atrial fibrillation may predispose to an increased number of cerebrovascular emboli during the procedure.

Purpose

The aim of the study was to evaluate, using a transcranial doppler, the effect of atrial fibrillation on transient high-intensity signals to middle cerebral arteries during transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Methods

Consecutive patients who underwent transfemoral TAVI with Evolut™ R bioprosthesis, were categorized into two groups. Group A patients with permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) on anticoagulation, Group B patients with sinus rhythm (SR). Dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel was administered to all patients 24 hours prior to the procedure at loading dose, with patients in Group A receiving in addition low-molecular-weight-heparin. The number of detected High Intensity Transient Signals (HITS) was assessed using Rimed Digi-Lite™ Transcranial Doppler on both cerebral arteries during the following phases of the procedure; Phase 0: 30 minutes prior to procedure initiation, Phase I: between access site puncture and introduction of the delivery system, Phase II: during the implantation of the bioprosthesis, until the removal of the delivery system. All implantations were performed without predilation. Furthermore, patients were evaluated by neurologist before TAVI and on discharge day. Safety was evaluated according to VARC-2 criteria.

Results

Twenty-eight patients were evaluated (81±6 years, 16 males (57.1%)). Group A had higher number of total (786±95 vs. 604±103, p=0.002) as well as Phase I HITS (393±94 vs. 285±86, p=0.002). One cerebrovascular event was recorded in Group A and one patient categorized to Group B developed major bleeding due to conversion to femoral surgical cut-down. The average number of received blood units, was higher in AF compared to SR Group (Group 1: 0.8±1.9 vs. Group 2: 0.5±0.7, p: 0.886), without however, reaching statistical significance.

Conclusion

Patients with atrial fibrillation had larger burden of embolic HITS during TAVI indicating high risk patients for embolic cerebrovascular events. This may has implications for future strategies for cerebral embolic protection.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Ippokrateio General Hospital of Athens

Echocardiographic assessment of functional changes of prosthetic valve after transcatheter aortic valve implantation in one year follow up: insights from the multicenter, randomized DIRECT trial

Introduction

The DIRECT trial (Predilatation in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) Trial) was a multicenter, randomized, clinical trial designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of TAVI with or without balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) in patients with symptomatic, severe aortic valve stenosis.

Purpose

To investigate by echocardiography the functional changes of self-expanding prosthetic valves during the first year after TAVI with or without BAV.

Methods

One hundred seventy one consecutive patients with severe aortic stenosis were enrolled at 4 centers and randomized to TAVI using self-expanding prostheses with (pre-BAV) or without pre-dilatation (no-BAV). Transthoracic echocardiography was obtained at baseline, 30 days and 1 year after TAVI.

Results

Of 171 patients, 86 patients were randomized to pre-BAV group and 85 to no-BAV group. Over the one year, 7 (4%) patients died and in 18 (10%) there was no available paired 30 day/1 year echo. At baseline echocardiography the peak and mean aortic valve gradient and the aortic valve area (AVA) in no-BAV group were 77.31±22.56 mmHg, 47.23±14.98 mmHg and 0.69±0.16cm2 and in pre-BAV group 81.97±23.17 mmHg, 49.39±14.78 mmHg and 0.65±0.15cm2 respectively. One year after TAVI, patients in no-BAV and pre-BAV group showed stable peak and mean aortic valve gradients similar to those at 30 days (from 16.36±7.88 to 14.51±6.6 mmHg vs. 17.17±8.88 to 15.95±9.97 mmHg and from 8.87±4.23 to 7.99±4.04 mmHg vs. 9.39±4.79 to 8.38±5.02 mmHg respectively, P<0.001 vs. baseline). The AVA was similarly stable in one year follow up in no-BAV group (from 1.85±0.43cm2 to 1.85±0.44cm2, P<0.001 vs. baseline) and in pre-BAV group (from 1.86±0.49cm2 to 1.84±0.39cm2, P<0.001 vs. baseline). The incidence of moderate or severe paravalvular regurgitation remained unchanged in both groups (from 4.7% to 5.7% in no-BAV group and from 5.8% to 6.6% in pre-BAV group).

Conclusions

In both pre-BAV and no-BAV groups the improvement in hemodynamics of self-expanding prosthetic valves remained durable during the one year echocardiographic follow up assessment.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Private company. Main funding source(s): MEDTRONIC

Real-world comparison of the last generation main balloon-expandable and self-expanding valves in patients undergoing TAVI. Does the type matter?

Background/Introduction

The balloon expandable Edwards Sapien-S3 and Ultra, and the self-expanding Medtronic Evolut-Pro and Evolut-R 34mm represent the main volume of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedures conducted worldwide.

Purpose

In the present study, we aim to compare the peri-procedural and one-year clinical outcomes between these last generation devices.

Methods

Consecutive patients from the ATLAS (Athens-Tokyo-London Aortic Stenosis) registry, who had undergone TAVI with either the S3/Ultra or Evolut-Pro/R 34mm device, in four centers were retrospectively studied. In-hospital procedural characteristics and outcomes were recorded and compared. Kaplan-Meier estimated 1-year all-cause mortality was compared between groups.

Results

In total, 692 patients (352pts treated with S3/Ultra and 340pts with Evolut-Pro/R34mm device) were included in the analysis. Baseline demographics (age, coronary artery disease risk factors, logistic Euroscore and aortic valve hemodynamics) were similar between the two groups.

In terms of peri-procedural and short-term outcomes, patients treated with the Evolut-Pro/R34mm device had significantly lower peak (25.4±3.6mmHg for S3/Ultra vs 14.9±0.6mmHg for the self-expanding valves, p=0.002) and mean (10.7±0.3mmHg S3/Ultra vs 7.9±0.4mmHg Evolut PRO/R34, p<0.001) gradients at discharge.

Conversely, the S3 demonstrated significantly lower rates of at least moderate residual aortic regurgitation (AR) post-operatively (0.3% vs 4.8% for S3 and Evolut-Pro/R34mm respectively, p=0.001). Interestingly, the rate of new permanent pacemaker (PPM) required after the implantation in pacemaker-free patients on baseline, was higher for the S3/Ultra cohort compared to the self-expanding valve group (17.6% vs 11.7% respectively, p=0.054), however not reaching statistical significance yet. As expected, the need for balloon post dilatation of the implanted prosthesis was less among the S3/Ultra patients (5.5% vs 26.1%, p=0.001).

One-year Kaplan-Meier estimated survival was similar between the two groups (85.9% for S3 vs. 90% for Evolut-Pro/R34mm, plog-rank=0.071). Hazard ratio for all-cause mortality (Pro/R34 vs. S3/Ultra) after adjustment for gender and previous MI was similar between the groups (HR=0.73; 95% CI 0.47 to 1.14, p=0.165).

Conclusions

Real life comparison of the last generation balloon expandable and self-expanding devices demonstrates similar 1-year all-cause mortality. The S3/Ultra platforms, as compared to the Evolut-Pro/R34mm, demonstrate less paravalvular leak, at the expense of higher transvalvular gradients. Long-term follow-up and future larger trials are required to establish any potential long-term difference in clinical outcomes and prognosis.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Phosphorylation status of glucocorticoid receptor, heat shock protein 70, cytochrome c and Bax in lymphocytes of euthymic, depressed and manic bipolar patients

Bipolar disorder (BD), a severe mental illness, has been correlated with alterations in glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling. Since it is phosphorylated GR that contributes to receptor function and determines its transcriptional activity, the Ser211 being a biomarker for activated GR in vivo, it is pertinent that we seek to determine the putative role of the total phosphorylation status of GR and site-specific phosphorylation at serine 211 (S211) in BD and their possible association with parameters of apoptosis. In lymphocytes from 48 BD patients under multiple psychotropic therapy and 20 healthy subjects, we measured whole cell GR, total GR phosphorylation, and phosphorylation of GR at serine 211 in nucleus, using immunoprecipitation, phosphospecific antibody and Western-blot analysis. Cytosolic cytochrome c and Bax and whole cell HSP70 were determined by immunoblot analysis. One-way ANOVA statistical analysis was carried out. Total phosphorylated GR was lower (P<0.001) while the GR S211 was higher (P<0.001) in all BD patients as compared to healthy subjects. HSP70 was reduced in euthymic (P<0.05), depressed (P<0.001) and manic (P<0.001) as compared to healthy subjects. Cytochrome c was higher in all-patient groups as compared to healthy subjects, however without reaching statistical significance (P>0.05). Bax levels were lower in the cytosolic fraction of all three BD groups. We provide the first evidence of altered GR phosphorylation joined with signs of apoptosis in lymphocytes of BD patients and suggest that the phosphorylation status of GR may play a role in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder.