Long-term outcomes and determinants of restenosis after renal artery angioplasty in hypertensive patients with renovascular disease

Introduction

Restenosis (RS) following percutaneous angioplasty (PTA) of renal artery stenosis (RAS) might have an unfavorable impact on renal function and blood pressure (BP) outcomes.

Aim

To evaluate prevalence and predictors of RS in patients treated with PTA for RAS, and relationship between BP and renal function (RF) changes with RS.

Material and methods

We analyzed freedom from RS in 210 patients (64.6±12.8; range:20–85y.o.), who underwent 248 successful stent-assisted PTAs in RAS. The change in levels of serum creatinine (SCC), eGFR, systolic/diastolic BPs (SBP/DBP) were analyzed prior to PTA, at 6-, 12-months and final follow-up visits, and whenever RS was diagnosed.

Results

RS was identified in 30 (14.3%) patients and 36 (14.5%) lesions. The Kaplan-Meier RS-free survival curves in fibromuscular dysplasia, atherosclerosis and vasculitis were: 100% and 100%; 95.6 and 83.9%, while 71.4 and 39.7% at 1 and 7-years, respectively. Patients with RS, as compared to RS-free patients, presented with lesser response in changes of: SBP (1.4±17.6 vs −15.8±25.8mmHg; p=0.01), DBP (2.64±10.1 vs. −6.5±14.1mmHg; p=0.002), SCC (22.4±55.2 vs −3.6±43.9μmol/L; p=0.002) and eGFR (−1.85±18 vs. −5.34±19.5mmHg; p=0.045).

In multivariate Cox regression analysis, independent predictors of RS occurred: lack of BP decrease (HR: 4.19, 95% CI: 1.67–10.3; p=0.002), lack of eGFR increase of less than ≤0.17 ml/min/1.73m2 (HR: 2.93, 95% CI: 1.08–7.91; p=0.033), stent diameter ≤5mm (HR: 2.76, 95% CI: 1.09–6.97; p=0.031) and vasculitis (HR: 5.61, 95% CI: 1.83–17.2; p=0.003). RS was treated in 24 patients with RS recurrence in 20%.

Conclusions

RS rate differs depending on RAS etiology. Lack of SBP/DBP and eGFR improvement, vasculitis, and stent diameter are associated with RS risk. Repeated PTA is effective, but recurrent RS occurs in 20% of cases.

Kaplan-Meier RS-free survival curves

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

The benefit of atrial septal defect closure in the elderly patients

Objective

Closure of the atrial septal defect in the elderly patients is controversial. The aim of the study was to evaluate the outcomes of transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) in elderly patients.

Methods

From a total of 650 pts with ASD who underwent transcatheter closure 120 pts over 60 years (70 F, 50 M) with a mean age of 66.7±18.1 (60–78) were analyzed. All patients had an isolated secundum ASD with a mean Qp:Qs: 2.79±1.8 (1.5–3.9). A symptom-limited treadmill exercise tests with respiratory gas exchange analysis and transthoracic color Doppler echocardiographic study as well as Quality of life (QoL) measured using the SF36 questionnaire (SF36q) were repeated in all pts before procedure and after 12 months of follow-up.

Results

The device was successfully implanted in all pts (procedure time 30.1±9.9 (10–59) minutes, fluoroscopy time 10.1±7.2 (6–40) minutes). There were no major complications. The defect echo diameter was 19.5±15.4 (12 - 34) mm. The mean balloon stretched diameter of ASD was 22.0±7.8 (14 - 36) mm. The diameter of the implanted devices ranged 16 - 38 mm. After 12 months of ASD closure, all the pts showed a significant improvement of exercise capacity parameters. Seven QoL parameters (except mental health) improved at 12 months follow up compared to their baseline data. The mean SF36q scale increased significantly in 96 (80.2%) pts of mean 41.6±26.1 (4–71). The right ventricular dimension decreased in 101 pts (84.2%) (Table 1).

Conclusions

Closure of ASD in elderly patients caused a significant clinical and hemodynamic improvement after percutaneous treatment, which is maintained to long-term follow-up what justified this procedure in old age.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Clinical response scores to predict blood pressure and renal function improvement following renal artery stenting for atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis

Background

It is little known about predictors of systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure or renal function (eGFR) improvement in patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS) undergoing stent-assisted angioplasty (PTA). Therefore, we aimed to build a prediction scores that would indicate characteristics of patient subsets with ARAS most likely to have clinical improvement following PTA.

Methods

201 patients who underwent PTA for ARAS (2003–2018) were categorized as eGFR or SBP/DBP responders based on eGFR increase of ≥11 ml/min/1.73m2, decrease of SBP ≥20mmHg and DBP ≥5mmHg at 12-months following PTA. The remaining patients were classified as non-responders. The performance of logistic regression models were evaluated by basic decision characteristics. Continuous data have been transformed into binary coding with help of operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Predictive models have been constructed for each followed by construction of predictive models in each of 3 categories.

Results

Logistic regression analysis showed that: baseline SBP>145 mmHg, DBP >82 mmHg, previous myocardial infarction and Renal-Aotric-Ratio >5.1 were independent influencing factors of SBP response, with relative risk percentage shares of 69.8%; 12.1%; 10.9%; and 7.2%, respectively (sensitivity: 82%, specificity: 86.3%, positive (PPV):82% and negative (NPV) predictive values: 86.3%). The DBP decrease prediction model included baseline SBP >145 mmHg and DBP >82 mmHg, the ARAS progression, index kidney length >106 mm, and bilateral PTA with respective shares of 35.0%; 21.8%; 18.2%; 13.3% and 11.8%. (sensitivity: 76%, specificity: 77.8%, PPV: 80.7% and NPV: 72.6%). The eGFR increase was associated with baseline serum creatinine >122 μmol/L but eGFR greater than 30 ml/min/1.73m2, index kidney length >98 mm, end-diastolic velocity in index renal artery, renal resistive index <0.74, and requirement for >3 BP medications, with respective shares of 24.4%; 24.4%; 21.2%; 15% and 15% (sensitivity: 33.3%, specificity: 93.5%, PPV: 65.6% and NPV: 78.9%).

Conclusions

Current study identified clinical characteristics of patients who most likely to respond to PTA for ARAS. The sutability of the score should be verified in a prospective cohort of patients referred to PTA of ARAS

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

The role of chemokine CCL5/RANTES and metalloproteinase-9 as inflammatory modulators in symptomatic internal carotid artery stenosis

Up to 80% of all ischemic strokes (IS) attributed to internal carotid athero-occlusive artery stenosis (ICAS) are related to a thromboembolic mechanism. One athero-occlusive ischemic event increases the risk for ischemia in another vascular territory, resulting from inflammation within the atherosclerotic plaque induced by cytokines. Thus, ultrasonographic characteristics of vulnerable plaques in ICAS, including plaque echolucency and ulceration might correspond to cytokine activity. The present study aimed to investigate the associations between serum cytokines and atherosclerotic plaque characteristics and the 3-year risk of a major adverse coronary and carotid ischemic event (MACCE) in symptomatic patients treated for ICAS. Plaque characteristics on ultrasonography, serum levels of C-C motif chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5)/regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), interleukin-6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 16 (CXCL16), FAS ligand (FASL) and high sensivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were analyzed in 103 symptomatic patients with ICAS prior to carotid revascularization. The incidence of MACCE: cardiovascular death (CVD), myocardial infarction (MI) and recurrent ischemic stroke (IS) were recorded prospectively for up to 5 years (median 37; IQR 21 - 40 months). Echolucent plaques, in comparison to echogenic plaques, displayed lower median levels of RANTES (P = 0.042) but higher median levels of IL-6 (P = 0.039). There was no relationship between plaque characteristics and median levels of MMP-9, TGF β, CXCL16, FASL, or hs-CRP (P = NS). During follow-up, MACCE occurred in 15 (14.6%) patients. Univariate Cox proportional hazard analysis indicated median RANTES levels < 45.5ng/mL (hazard ratio (HR) = 3.95; 95%CI = 1.10 - 14.2; P = 0.035), MMP-9 > 0.6 μg/mL (HR 4.5; 95%CI = 1.4 - 13.9; P = 0.009), renal impairment (HR 3.48; 95%CI = 1.29 - 9.34; P = 0.013) as potential MACCE risk factors. On multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis, MMP-9 > 0.6 μg/mL and RANTES < 45.5 ng/ml were associated with a 4.72-fold (95%CI = 1.3 - 17.0; P = 0.017) and a 3.8-fold risk increase (95%CI = 1.07 - 13.89; P = 0.038) of MACCE. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed significant differences in MACCE-free survival rates depending on RANTES and MMP-9 median levels. We conclude that serum RANTES, IL-6, and MMP-9 were associated with plaque vulnerability and predicted adverse MACCE in patients treated for ICAS.

P1800The benefit of atrial septal defect closure in patients with borderline shunt

Objective

Closure of atrial septal defect in patients with borderline shunt is controversial. The aim of the study was to evaluate the outcomes of transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) in the patients with the borderline shunt.

Methods

215 pts (126 F,89 M) with a mean age of 31.9±18.2 (16–58) years with a small ASD who underwent transcatheter closure were analyzed. All patients had an isolated secundum ASD with pulmonary to systemic blood flow Qp:Qs ratio≤1.5, mean 1.2±0.6 (1.1–1.5).

A symptom-limited treadmill exercise test with respiratory gas exchange analysis, transthoracic color Doppler echocardiographic study and Quality of life (QoL) (using the SF36 questionnaire (SF36q)) were repeated in all pts before and 36 months after the procedure.

Results

The device was successfully implanted in all pts (procedure time 19.1±5.2 (8–38) minutes, fluoroscopy time 8.1±4.4 (6–13) minutes). There were no major complications. The defect echo diameter was 7.7±3.9 (5 - 15) mm. The diameter of the implanted devices ranged from 6 to 18 mm.

After 36 months of ASD closure, all the pts showed a significant improvement of exercise capacity. 7 QoL parameters (except mental health) improved at 36 months of follow-up compared with baseline. The mean SF36q scale increased in 168 (78.1%) pts of mean 40.2±20.1 (9–72). The right ventricular dimension decreased in 173 pts (80.4%) (Table 1).

Table 1 Parameter Before ASD closure 36 months after ASD closure p value Time of exercise (min) 12.1±5.2 18.6±4.3 <0.001 VO2 peak (ml/kg/min) 10.2±4.7 14.8±4.2 <0.001 SF36q scale 0–100 37.3±22.3 79±29.5 <0.001 Right atrial area (cm2) 20.1±1.7 14.7±1.5 <0.001 Right ventricular area (cm2) 18.1±1.4 12.2±1.5 <0.001

Conclusions

ASD closure in patients with borderline shunt resulted in a significant and long-term clinical and hemodynamic improvement after percutaneous treatment.

Association of increased carotid intima-media thickness with the extent of coronary artery disease

OBJECTIVE

To investigate (a) the relation between intima-media thickness (IMT) in carotid arteries and the extent of coronary artery disease (CAD); and (b) whether IMT is predictive of coronary atherosclerosis. The coexistence of severe extracranial atherosclerosis in patients with CAD was also analysed.

METHODS

Coronary angiography and carotid ultrasound evaluation were performed in 558 consecutive patients (438 men), with a mean (SD) age of 58.8 (9.2) years and suspected CAD. Mean IMT was measured at both carotid arteries and expressed as the mean aggregate value. The relation between IMT and severity of CAD was determined.

RESULTS

A significant correlation between mean IMT and advancing CAD (p < 0.0001) was found. Four independent predictors of CAD were found in the discriminant analysis: age (p = 0.0193), hyperlipidaemia (p < 0.0001), smoking (p = 0.0032), and IMT (p < 0.0001). A significant increase in IMT was observed among patients with one, two, and three vessel CAD. A log normal distribution of IMT values showed that if mean IMT was over 1.15 mm, patients had a 94% probability of having CAD, with sensitivity of 65% and specificity of 80% in the patients with a high risk of CAD. The number of critically stenosed extracranial arteries increased with advancing CAD. None of the patients with normal coronary arteries had severe stenosis of the extracranial arteries. Severe carotid, vertebral, or subclavian stenosis was found in 16.6% of patients with three vessel CAD.

CONCLUSIONS

IMT increases with advancing CAD, patients with mean IMT over 1.15 mm have a 94% likelihood of having CAD, and the coexistence of CAD with severe stenosis of aortic arch arteries is relatively high and was found in 16.6% of patients with three vessel CAD.

Clinical and angiographic performance of a new-generation modular stent design for treatment of de novo coronary lesions

The objectives of the Race Car study were to assess the safety and efficacy of the Medtronic AVE S670 stent, a new-generation stent with a modular design consisting of interconnected sinusoidal rings allowing improved flexibility with good conformability and scaffolding. A total of 285 stents were implanted in 267 patients with (un)stable angina pectoris who underwent angioplasty of a single de novo lesion in a native coronary artery with a diameter between 3.0 and 4.0 mm. Available stent lengths were 9, 12, and 15 mm. The primary endpoint was the 6-month restenosis rate. Secondary endpoints were device and procedural success and major adverse cardiac event (MACE)-free survival at 1 and 6 months. All patients received the study stents and no other stents were used (angiographic success: 100%). Eight patients experienced a MACE during hospital admission (Q-wave MI in 2, non-Q-wave MI in 4, TLR in 2). A procedural success was obtained in 97% of the patients. There were no additional events at 1 month. The clinical endpoints encountered at 6 months were Q-wave MI in 1, bypass surgery in 3, and repeat angioplasty in 25 (MACE-free survival: 86.5%). Quantitative angiographic results were the minimum lumen diameter increased from 1.05 +/- 0.32 before to 2.73 +/- 0.39 mm after stent implantation. At follow-up, the loss in diameter was 0.74 +/- 0.50 mm. The loss index was 0.45 +/- 0.31 and restenosis rate was 13.4%. This study has demonstrated that the S670 stent in patients with (un)stable angina pectoris requiring intervention of a single lesion has a low acute and 6-month major event rate and a low angiographic restenosis rate.

Long-term outcome in patients with unstable angina treated by coronary balloon angioplasty

Comparison of balloon angioplasty results in 472 patients with stable angina (SA) and 158 patients with unstable angina (UA) in 5-year follow-up is reported. Clinical success rate did not differ significantly, while periprocedural complications rate was higher in UA group (22.3 vs. 11.1%, P<0.001). During follow-up UA patients demonstrated higher: restenosis rate (48.5 vs. 30.4%, P<0.001), incidence of myocardial infarction (8.8 vs. 3.0%, P=0.004), although cardiac mortality did not differ significantly (2.2 vs. 1.6%). Reintervention rate in patients with unstable angina resultant from restenosis or significant artherosclerosis progression in coronary vessels, or originating from both of them, was also higher (53.7 vs. 34.1%, P<0.001). Event-free survival was significantly lower in UA patients (43.4 vs. 61.3%, P=0.02). The uni- and multivariate analysis proved that unstable angina was an independent risk factor in restenosis, re-intervention and cardiac events rate, despite perceptible differences in the baseline characteristics. Sub-group analysis of UA patients according to Braunwald classification revealed lower success rate and higher incidence of myocardial infarction during follow-up in post-infarction angina (class C), whereas new onset, no-rest angina (class I) had higher event-free survival in comparison with rest angina (classes II and III).

CONCLUSIONS

UA patients treated by balloon angioplasty had higher periprocedural complications rate, as well as restenosis and re-intervention rate. Despite higher cardiovascular events rate during 5-year follow-up in UA group, survival rate in both groups was high and cardiac mortality did not differ significantly. Unstable angina constitutes a strong independent risk factor in adverse long-term outcome.

The quality of life after aortic valve replacement with homografts or prosthetic valves

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY

The study aim was to evaluate the quality of life in patients after homograft or prosthetic aortic valve implantation. Evaluation was based on clinical and echocardiographic examinations, and on analysis of data from patient questionnaires.

METHODS

Patients undergoing either homograft (HV, n = 220) or prosthetic (PV, n = 220) aortic valve replacement were investigated. The patients groups were similar in age, sex, follow up period, risk factors and type of heart defect, and did not demonstrate any dysfunction of the replacement valve.

RESULTS

During both pre- and postoperative periods, no significant inter-group differences were identified with regard to the occurrence of retrosternal pain, dyspnea, palpitation, fear reaction and circulatory efficiency based on NYHA classification, and self-evaluation of physical activity assessed by patient questionnaires. The majority of patients in both groups noticed on increase in their quality of life and physical activity. The reduced sexual activity (50%) and fear reaction (30%) in both groups did not correlate with their improved sense of well-being. Up to 14.6% of PV patients did not accept the implanted valve, and 65 (29.5%) would have preferred an HV, despite the need for reoperation. Following surgery, 21% of HV patients resumed work, compared with only 7.7% of PV patients. The frequency of claims for disability pension after surgery did not correlate with the considerate clinical and subjective improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients receiving either homograft or prosthetic valves, the subjective evaluation of life quality is comparable with the clinical evaluation, though the homograft valve was better accepted than its prosthetic counterpart.