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Introduction: The predictors of stent treatment failure and their importance 10 years after treatment with drug-eluting stents (DESs) have not been reported in detail. Methods: Data were retrieved from the SORT-OUT II database encompassing 2,849 non-left main coronary lesions in 2,073 unselected all-comer patients treated with first-generation DES and followed clinically for 10 years. Stent treatment failure (STF) was defined as definite or probable stent thrombosis, target lesion revascularization (TLR), or >70% restenosis left untreated. Target lesion failure (TLF) was defined as cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, or TLR. Characteristics predicting higher hazard ratios (HRs) were identified by the multivariate Cox regression analysis. Results: A stent diameter ≤2.5 versus ≥3.5 mm had STF 23.3 versus 11.8% and TLF 27.9 versus 18.8%. Stent length <20 versus >40 mm had STF 13.0 versus 29.0% and TLF 18.7 versus 34.6%. In multivariate analysis, decreasing stent diameter (HR: 1.24 [3.0 mm] to 2.12 [2.25 mm], reference ≥3.5 mm) and increasing stent length (HR: 1.15 [20–30 mm] to 2.07 [>40 mm], reference <20 mm) predicted STF together with diabetes (HR: 1.31), previous revascularization (HR: 1.31), restenotic (HR: 2.25), bifurcation (HR: 1.45), and chronically occluded lesions (HR: 1.54). A predictive score (PS) was calculated for each lesion from the HRs for the predictors present. The 10-year rates of STF were 10% in lesions with a PS ≤ 1.5 and 37% in those with PS ≥ 3.5. Conclusions: Ten-year outcomes show large variations depending on the stent size and a few patient and lesion characteristics. The calculation of a PS from these unambiguous variables may be used to improve the risk estimate in individual lesions and patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS), coronary pathology may range from structurally normal vessels to severe coronary artery disease.Objectives: The purpose of this study was to test if coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) may be used to exclude coronary artery stenosis ≥50% in patients with NSTEACS.Methods: The VERDICT (Very Early Versus Deferred Invasive Evaluation Using Computerized Tomography in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes) trial (NCT02061891) evaluated the outcome of patients with confirmed NSTEACS randomized 1:1 to very early (within 12 h) or standard (48 to 72 h) invasive coronary angiography (ICA). As an observational component of the trial, a clinically blinded coronary CTA was conducted prior to ICA in both groups. The primary endpoint was the ability of coronary CTA to rule out coronary artery stenosis (≥50% stenosis) in the entire population, expressed as the negative predictive value (NPV), using ICA as the reference standard.Results: Coronary CTA was conducted in 1,023 patients-very early, 2.5 h (interquartile range [IQR]: 1.8 to 4.2 h), n = 583; and standard, 59.9 h (IQR: 38.9 to 86.7 h); n = 440 after the diagnosis of NSTEACS was made. A coronary stenosis ≥50% was found by coronary CTA in 68.9% and by ICA in 67.4% of the patients. Per-patient NPV of coronary CTA was 90.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 86.8% to 94.1%) and the positive predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity were 87.9% (95% CI: 85.3% to 90.1%), 96.5% (95% CI: 94.9% to 97.8%) and 72.4% (95% CI: 67.2% to 77.1%), respectively. NPV was not influenced by patient characteristics or clinical risk profile and was similar in the very early and the standard strategy group.Conclusions: Coronary CTA has a high diagnostic accuracy to rule out clinically significant coronary artery disease in patients with NSTEACS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The optimal timing of invasive coronary angiography (ICA) and revascularization in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome is not well defined. We tested the hypothesis that a strategy of very early ICA and possible revascularization within 12 hours of diagnosis is superior to an invasive strategy performed within 48 to 72 hours in terms of clinical outcomes.Methods: Patients admitted with clinical suspicion of non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome in the Capital Region of Copenhagen, Denmark, were screened for inclusion in the VERDICT trial (Very Early Versus Deferred Invasive Evaluation Using Computerized Tomography) ( ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02061891). Patients with ECG changes indicating new ischemia or elevated troponin, in whom ICA was clinically indicated and deemed logistically feasible within 12 hours, were randomized 1:1 to ICA within 12 hours or standard invasive care within 48 to 72 hours. The primary end point was a combination of all-cause death, nonfatal recurrent myocardial infarction, hospital admission for refractory myocardial ischemia, or hospital admission for heart failure.Results: A total of 2147 patients were randomized; 1075 patients allocated to very early invasive evaluation had ICA performed at a median of 4.7 hours after randomization, whereas 1072 patients assigned to standard invasive care had ICA performed 61.6 hours after randomization. Among patients with significant coronary artery disease identified by ICA, coronary revascularization was performed in 88.4% (very early ICA) and 83.1% (standard invasive care). Within a median follow-up time of 4.3 (interquartile range, 4.1-4.4) years, the primary end point occurred in 296 (27.5%) of participants in the very early ICA group and 316 (29.5%) in the standard care group (hazard ratio, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.78-1.08). Among patients with a GRACE risk score (Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events) >140, a very early invasive treatment strategy improved the primary outcome compared with the standard invasive treatment (hazard ratio, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.67-1.01; P value for interaction=0.023).Conclusions: A strategy of very early invasive coronary evaluation does not improve overall long-term clinical outcome compared with an invasive strategy conducted within 2 to 3 days in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome. However, in patients with the highest risk, very early invasive therapy improves long-term outcomes.Clinical Trial Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT02061891. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: First-generation drug-eluting coronary stents (DES) were introduced in 2003 to 2004, and their use resulted in a considerable reduction in the development of in-stent restenosis at the cost of an increased risk of late stent thromboses.Objectives: This study followed clinical outcomes of patients included in a large randomized trial for 10 years to enable detection of late changes in annual event rates that could necessitate medical attention.Methods: A total of 2,098 unselected all-comer patients (50% with acute coronary syndrome) were randomly assigned to have a first-generation DES implanted. This study recorded the occurrence of a major adverse cardiac event (MACE) assessed as the composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization. Stent thromboses were also assessed.Results: Of the 2,098 unselected patients, 73.1% were still alive after 10 years. During the follow-up period, MACE occurred in 346 (32.5%) in the group receiving a sirolimus-eluting stent and in 342 (33.1%) in the group receiving a paclitaxel-eluting stent (hazard ratio: 0.96; 95% confidence interval: 0.83 to 1.11; p = 0.60), with a steady annual rate of 2.6% after the first year. Definite, probable, and possible stent thrombosis appeared in 279 patients (13.3%), with no difference between stent types and with a steady annual rate of 1.3% after the first year.Conclusions: Among the surviving patients, the long-term annual MACE rate and the stent thrombosis rate appeared constant for both stent types, with no apparent late changes. Although there is no need for extraordinary medical attention for these patients, the absence of declines in annual event rates calls for continuous surveillance. (Danish Organization on Randomized Trials With Clinical Outcome II [SORT OUT II]; NCT00388934). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite successful treatment of the culprit artery lesion by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stent implantation, thrombotic embolisation occurs in some cases, which impairs the prognosis of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We aimed to assess the clinical outcomes of deferred stent implantation versus standard PCI in patients with STEMI.Methods: We did this open-label, randomised controlled trial at four primary PCI centres in Denmark. Eligible patients (aged >18 years) had acute onset symptoms lasting 12 h or less, and ST-segment elevation of 0·1 mV or more in at least two or more contiguous electrocardiographic leads or newly developed left bundle branch block. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1), via an electronic web-based system with permuted block sizes of two to six, to receive either standard primary PCI with immediate stent implantation or deferred stent implantation 48 h after the index procedure if a stabilised flow could be obtained in the infarct-related artery. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause mortality, hospital admission for heart failure, recurrent infarction, and any unplanned revascularisation of the target vessel within 2 years' follow-up. Patients, investigators, and treating clinicians were not masked to treatment allocation. We did analysis by intention to treat. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01435408.Findings: Between March 1, 2011, and Feb 28, 2014, we randomly assigned 1215 patients to receive either standard PCI (n=612) or deferred stent implantation (n=603). Median follow-up time was 42 months (IQR 33-49). Events comprising the primary endpoint occurred in 109 (18%) patients who had standard PCI and in 105 (17%) patients who had deferred stent implantation (hazard ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·76-1·29; p=0·92). Procedure-related myocardial infarction, bleeding requiring transfusion or surgery, contrast-induced nephopathy, or stroke occurred in 28 (5%) patients in the conventional PCI group versus 27 (4%) patients in the deferred stent implantation group, with no significant differences between groups.Interpretation: In patients with STEMI, routine deferred stent implantation did not reduce the occurrence of death, heart failure, myocardial infarction, or repeat revascularisation compared with conventional PCI. Results from ongoing randomised trials might shed further light on the concept of deferred stenting in this patient population.Funding: Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation, and Danish Council for Strategic Research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and multivessel coronary disease have a worse prognosis compared with individuals with single-vessel disease. We aimed to study the clinical outcome of patients with STEMI treated with fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided complete revascularisation versus treatment of the infarct-related artery only.Methods: We undertook an open-label, randomised controlled trial at two university hospitals in Denmark. Patients presenting with STEMI who had one or more clinically significant coronary stenosis in addition to the lesion in the infarct-related artery were included. After successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of the infarct-related artery, patients were randomly allocated (in a 1:1 ratio) either no further invasive treatment or complete FFR-guided revascularisation before discharge. Randomisation was done electronically via a web-based system in permuted blocks of varying size by the clinician who did the primary PCI. All patients received best medical treatment. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause mortality, non-fatal reinfarction, and ischaemia-driven revascularization of lesions in non-infarct-related arteries and was assessed when the last enrolled patient had been followed up for 1 year. Analysis was on an intention-to-treat basis. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01960933.Findings: From March, 2011, to February, 2014, we enrolled 627 patients to the trial; 313 were allocated no further invasive treatment after primary PCI of the infarct-related artery only and 314 were assigned complete revascularization guided by FFR values. Median follow-up was 27 months (range 12–44 months). Events comprising the primary endpoint were recorded in 68 (22%) patients who had PCI of the infarct-related artery only and in 40 (13%) patients who had complete revascularisation (hazard ratio 0∙56, 95% CI 0∙38–0∙83; p=0∙004).Interpretation: In patients with STEMI and multivessel disease, complete revascularisation guided by FFR measurements significantly reduces the risk of future events compared with no further invasive intervention after primary PCI. This effect is driven by significantly fewer repeat revascularisations, because all-cause mortality and non-fatal reinfarction did not differ between groups. Thus, to avoid repeat revascularisation, patients can safely have all their lesions treated during the index admission. Future studies should clarify whether complete revascularization should be done acutely during the index procedure or at later time and whether it has an effect on hard endpoints.Funding: Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation and Danish Council for Strategic Research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and multivessel coronary disease have a worse prognosis compared with individuals with single-vessel disease. We aimed to study the clinical outcome of patients with STEMI treated with fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided complete revascularisation versus treatment of the infarct-related artery only. Methods We undertook an open-label, randomised controlled trial at two university hospitals in Denmark. Patients presenting with STEMI who had one or more clinically significant coronary stenosis in addition to the lesion in the infarct-related artery were included. After successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of the infarct-related artery, patients were randomly allocated (in a 1:1 ratio) either no further invasive treatment or complete FFR-guided revascularisation before discharge. Randomisation was done electronically via a web-based system in permuted blocks of varying size by the clinician who did the primary PCI. All patients received best medical treatment. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause mortality, non-fatal reinfarction, and ischaemia-driven revascularisation of lesions in non-infarct-related arteries and was assessed when the last enrolled patient had been followed up for 1 year. Analysis was on an intention-to-treat basis. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01960933. Findings From March, 2011, to February, 2014, we enrolled 627 patients to the trial; 313 were allocated no further invasive treatment after primary PCI of the infarct-related artery only and 314 were assigned complete revascularisation guided by FFR values. Median follow-up was 27 months (range 12–44 months). Events comprising the primary endpoint were recorded in 68 (22%) patients who had PCI of the infarct-related artery only and in 40 (13%) patients who had complete revascularisation (hazard ratio 0·56, 95% CI 0·38–0·83; p=0·004). Interpretation In patients with STEMI and multivessel disease, complete revascularisation guided by FFR measurements significantly reduces the risk of future events compared with no further invasive intervention after primary PCI. This effect is driven by significantly fewer repeat revascularisations, because all-cause mortality and non-fatal reinfarction did not differ between groups. Thus, to avoid repeat revascularisation, patients can safely have all their lesions treated during the index admission. Future studies should clarify whether complete revascularisation should be done acutely during the index procedure or at later time and whether it has an effect on hard endpoints. INSET: Research in context.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study done to observe the impact of the usage of Biolimus-Eluting Stents having biodegradable polymers with the bare metal stents on the patients of Acute Myocardial Infarction with the help of randomized trials. It mentions that bare metal stents has shown its capability of minimizing the reocclusion of infarcted vessel but the healing of vessel is reduced with the symptoms of inflammation. It is suggested by the author that new stents with biodegradable polymers help in controlled drug release. It also presents the brief information of experimental design.

It is unknown whether high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) predicts outcome depending on implanted stent type. We investigated the prognostic value of hs-CRP in relation to type of stent implanted in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Immediately before primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI), 301 patients had blood drawn. Patients were categorized according to hs-CRP levels and combination of hs-CRP (≤2 vs >2 mg/L) and stent type (bare metal stent [BMS] vs drug-eluting stent [DES]). Hs-CRP >2 mg/L (median, hazard ratio 2.7, 95% confidence interval 1.3 to 5.6, p = 0.007) and the combined variable of hs-CRP >2 mg/L and BMS (hazard ratio 2.4, 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 4.5, p = 0.006) independently predicted the composite end point of death and MI at 36-month follow-up. There was a significant interaction (p = 0.006) for hs-CRP and stent type. Survival analysis demonstrated significant differences for occurrence of death and MI: 4.8% in BMS + CRP ≤2 mg/L, 11.9% in DES + CRP ≤2 mg/L, 17.6% in DES + CRP >2 mg/L, and 27.9% in BMS + CRP >2 mg/L. None of the 14 stent thromboses occurred in patients with BMS + CRP ≤2 mg/L. In conclusion, preprocedure hs-CRP predicts outcome after pPCI in patients with STEMI. Our hypothesis-generating data indicate that BMS implantation should be preferred when hs-CRP is ≤2 mg/L and DES when hs-CRP is >2 mg/L to decrease long-term adverse outcomes including stent thrombosis in patients with STEMI treated with pPCI. These findings need confirmation in larger randomized clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare long-term clinical outcomes after implantation of drug-eluting stents (DES) and bare-metal stents (BMS) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Background: The evidence of long-term efficacy and safety after implantation of DES in patients with complex lesions is scarce. Methods: We randomly assigned 626 patients with STEMI referred within 12 h to have a DES or a BMS implanted in the infarct-related lesion with or without distal protection during primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Results: At 3 years, target lesion revascularization was 6.1% in the DES group compared with 16.3% in the BMS group (p < 0.001), and the rate of major adverse cardiac events was 11.5% versus 18.2%, respectively (p = 0.02). Whereas all-cause mortality did not differ significantly, the rate of cardiac death was higher in the DES group, 6.1% versus 1.9% for the BMS group (p = 0.01). The occurrence of reinfarction, stroke, and stent thrombosis was similar. Conclusions: Implantation of DES in patients with STEMI reduces the long-term rate of major adverse cardiac events compared with BMS, but patients with DES had a higher risk of cardiac death not attributed to myocardial infarction or stent thrombosis. (Drug Elution and Distal Protection During Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction [DEDICATION]; NCT00192868) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of distal protection during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Background: The use of distal filter protection during primary PCI increases procedure complexity and may influence lesion treatment and stent implantation. Methods: The STEMI patients were assigned to distal protection (DP) (n = 312) or conventional treatment (CT) (n = 314). Clinical follow-up was performed after 1, 6, and 15 months, and angiographic follow-up after 8 months. All target lesion revascularizations (TLRs) were clinically driven. We report the pre-specified end points of stent thrombosis according to the criteria of the Academic Research Consortium, TLR, and reinfarction after 15 months. Results: The total number of stent thrombosis was 11 in the DP group and 4 in the CT group (p = 0.06). The rate of definite stent thrombosis was significantly increased in the DP group as compared with the CT group, with 9 cases versus 1 (p = 0.01). Clinically driven TLRs (31 patients vs. 18 patients, p = 0.05) and clinically driven target vessel revascularizations (37 patients vs. 22 patients, p = 0.04) were more frequent in the DP group. Conclusions: In primary PCI for STEMI, the routine use of DP increased the incidence of stent thrombosis and clinically driven target lesion/vessel revascularization during 15 months of follow-up. (Drug Elution and Distal Protection in ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Trial [DEDICATION]; NCT00192868) [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: Our purpose was to evaluate the long-term use of sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) and bare-metal stents (BMS) in patients with complex coronary artery lesions. Background: Although the use of SES has proved to be effective in patients with simple coronary artery lesions, there are limited data of the long-term outcome of patients with complex coronary artery lesions. Methods: We randomly assigned 322 patients with total coronary occlusions or lesions located in bifurcations, ostial, or angulated segments of the coronary arteries to have SES or BMS implanted. Results: At 3 years, major adverse cardiac events had occurred in 20 patients (12%) in the SES group and in 59 patients (38%) in the BMS group (p < 0.001). Four versus 2 patients suffered a cardiac death (p = NS), and 5 versus 1 died of a noncardiac disease (p = NS) in the SES versus the BMS group. Six patients in the SES group versus 15 patients in the BMS group suffered a myocardial infarction (p < 0.05) during the 3-year observation period, and target lesion revascularization was performed in 8 patients (4.9%) versus 53 patients (33.8%), respectively (p < 0.001); of these, 4 in the SES versus 7 in the BMS group were performed between 1 and 3 years after the index treatment (p = NS). According to revised definitions, stent thrombosis occurred in 5 patients (3.1%) in the SES group and in 7 patients (4.4%) in the BMS group (p = NS); very late stent thrombosis was observed in 4 versus 1 patient. Conclusions: A continued benefit was observed up to 3 years after implantation of SES in patients with complex coronary artery lesions. The rate of late adverse events was similar in the 2 groups, and stent thromboses occurred rarely after 1 year. (Sirolimus Eluting Stents in Complex Coronary Lesions [SCANDSTENT]; NCT00151658) [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of distal protection during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in native coronary vessels. Background: Embolization of material from the infarct-related lesion during PCI may result in impaired myocardial perfusion and worsen the prognosis. Previous attempts to protect the microcirculation during primary PCI have had conflicting results. Methods: We randomly assigned 626 patients with STEMI referred within 12 h to have PCI performed with (n = 312) or without (n = 314) distal protection. The primary end point was complete (≥70%) ST-segment resolution detected by continuous ST-segment monitoring. Blood levels of troponin-T and creatine kinase-MB were monitored before and after the procedure, and echocardiographic determination of the left ventricular wall motion index (WMI) was performed before discharge. Results: Patients were well matched in terms of demographic and angiographic baseline characteristics. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of the primary end point (76% vs. 72%, p = 0.29), no difference in maximum troponin-T (4.8 μg/l and 5.0 μg/l, p = 0.87) or maximum creatine kinase-MB (185 μg/l and 184 μg/l, p = 0.99), and no difference in median WMI (1.70 vs. 1.70, p = 0.35). The rate of major adverse cardiac and cerebral events (MACCE) 1 month after PCI was 5.4% with distal protection and 3.2% with conventional treatment (p = 0.17). Conclusions: The routine use of distal protection by a filterwire system during primary PCI does not seem to improve microvascular perfusion, limit infarct size, or reduce the occurrence of MACCE (Drug Elution and Distal Protection During Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction; NCT00192868). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Clinical and Angiographic analysis with a Cobalt Alloy Coronary Stent (Driver) (CLASS) study was a prospective, nonrandomized, multicenter study designed to assess the safety and efficacy of a cobalt-chromium alloy-based stent in patients with stable or unstable angina pectoris. A total of 203 lesions were treated in 202 enrolled patients. The percentage of major adverse cardiac event-free patients was 87.6% (177 of 202) at 6 months (primary safety end point; major adverse cardiac events were defined as death, myocardial infarction, emergency bypass surgery, or target lesion revascularization [percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or coronary artery bypass grafting]). The angiographic success rate (primary efficacy end point) was 100%, and the procedural success rate was 98%. The binary in-stent restenosis rate at 6 months was 12.6%. Our results have demonstrated that the Driver cobalt-chromium alloy stent can be used with a low 6-month incidence of major adverse cardiac events, a low 6-month binary restenosis rate, and high angiographic and procedural success rates. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: The purpose of the SCANDSTENT study was to evaluate the use of sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) in complex coronary lesions. Background: The use of SES improves angiographic and clinical outcomes compared with bare-metal stents (BMS) in simple coronary artery lesions, but there is limited evidence of their safety and efficacy when implanted in complex lesions. Methods: We randomly assigned 322 patients with symptomatic complex coronary artery disease to receive either SES or BMS. The lesions were occluded (36%), bifurcational (34%), ostial (22%), or angulated (8%) in morphology. The primary end point was the difference in minimal lumen diameter six months after stent implantation. Results: The patients were well matched in terms of demographic and angiographic baseline characteristics; 18% had diabetes. The reference vessel diameter was 2.86 mm in mean, and the lesion length 18.0 mm. At follow-up, patients who received SES had a minimal lumen diameter of 2.48 mm compared with 1.65 mm in those who received BMS (p < 0.001), a diameter stenosis of 19.3% versus 43.8% (p < 0.001), and 2.0% versus 31.9% developed restenosis (p < 0.001). The rate of major adverse cardiac events was 4.3% with SES versus 29.3% with BMS (p < 0.001), and stent thrombosis was observed in 0.6% in the SES group versus 3.1% in the BMS group (p = 0.15). Conclusions: The use of SES markedly reduced restenosis and the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events in patients with complex coronary artery lesions without increasing the risk of stent thrombosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

BACKGROUND: Complete revascularization is the standard treatment for patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction and multivessel disease. The FIRE trial (Functional Assessment in Elderly Myocardial Infarction Patients With Multivessel Disease) confirmed the benefit of complete revascularization in a population of older patients, but the follow-up is limited to 1 year. Therefore, the long-term benefit (>1 year) of this strategy in older patients is debated. To address this, an individual patient data meta-analysis was conducted in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction =75 years of age enrolled in randomized clinical trials investigating complete versus culprit-only revascularization strategies. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane database were systematically searched to identify randomized clinical trials comparing complete versus culprit-only revascularization. Individual patient-level data were collected from the relevant trials. The primary end point was death, myocardial infarction, or ischemia-driven revascularization. The secondary end point was cardiovascular death or myocardial infarction. RESULTS: Data from 7 randomized clinical trials encompassing 1733 patients (917 randomized to culprit-only and 816 to complete revascularization) were analyzed. The median age was 79 [interquartile range, 77-83] years. Of the patients, 595 (34%) were female. Follow-up ranged from a minimum of 6 months to a maximum of 6.2 years (median, 2.5 [interquartile range, 1-3.8] years). Complete revascularization reduced the primary end point up to 4 years (hazard ratio, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.63-0.96]) but not at the longest available follow-up (hazard ratio, 0.83 [95% CI, 0.69-1.01]). Complete revascularization significantly reduced the occurrence of cardiovascular death or myocardial infarction at the longest available follow-up (hazard ratio, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.58-0.99]). This was observed even when censoring the follow-up at each year. Long-term rate of death did not differ between complete and culprit-only revascularization arms. CONCLUSIONS: In this individual patient data meta-analysis of older patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction and multivessel disease, complete revascularization reduced the primary end point of death, myocardial infarction, or ischemia-driven revascularization up to 4 years. At the longest follow-up, complete revascularization reduced the composite of cardiovascular death or myocardial infarction but not the primary end point. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous monitoring of left ventricular (LV) function during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was performed in 40 patients (53 +/- 2 years) with a miniature, nuclear detector system after labeling the patients' red blood cells with technetium-99m. Balloon dilation (113 seconds, range 60 to 240) induced on average a 0.12 ejection fraction (EF) unit (19%) decrease in the LVEF, which was explained by a 34% increase in end-systolic counts. Balloon dilation of the left anterior descending artery (n = 23) produced a decrease in the LVEF of 0.17 +/- 0.13 EF units compared with the decrease of 0.06 +/- 0.07 EF units in patients undergoing dilation of the left circumflex artery (n = 9) and 0.05 +/- 0.04 EF units in patients treated for a stenosis of the right coronary artery (n = 8), (p = 0.02). Balloon deflation was associated with an immediate return to pre-PTCA levels. In 10 patients with 2 identical balloon occlusions, the second occlusion led to a significantly less decrease in the LVEF (0.41 +/- 0.14 vs 0.44 +/- 0.15) and electrocardiographic ST-segment deviation (88 +/- 54 microV vs 65 +/- 42 microV) than the first. We conclude that PTCA is associated with an abrupt transient decrease in the LVEF. The effect of balloon occlusion of the left anterior descending artery is more pronounced than balloon occlusion of the left circumflex and the right coronary arteries. Neither single nor multiple balloon occlusions were associated with post-PTCA global LV dysfunction, whereas the lesser degree of LV dysfunction and electrocardiographic signs of myocardial ischemia during the second of 2 identical balloon occlusions suggests that preconditioning can be induced during PTCA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluates the effect of four weeks of ramipril on left ventricular performance and mitral regurgitation in clinically stable patients with chronic valve disease secondary to mitral valve prolapse with and without rupture of chordae tendinae. Measurement of heart rate using a standard sphygmomanometer; Absence of adverse effects in biochemical parameters.

Not all coronary angiograms can be acquired through the femoral route. The transradial catheterisation procedure in patients with occlusive atherosclerotic iliofemoral disease is described. Transfemoral left-sided cardiac catheterisation was performed in approximately 99.5% of patients referred for coronary angiography, while out of 48 patients in whom transfemoral access was impossible, transradial coronary angiography was successful in 37. With the exception of one, all patients with coronary artery disease had lesions of the right coronary artery, more than 70% had multivessel disease and 14% had stenosis of the left main coronary artery. Ten patients had angioplasty performed during the same procedure. Complications occurred in 5 out of 39 cases, 2 (5%) of these were severe. Although the femoral route was used in more than 99% of an unselected population referred for coronary angiography, it was found that transradial angiography and angioplasty can be performed in patients with occlusive atherosclerotic iliofemoral disease with considerable success and an acceptable complication rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents reply by the author on comments made by researchers Karl Isaaz and Antoine Gerbay on their article assessing the effect of deferred stent implantation in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction..

Abstract: Introduction: To investigate the efficacy of implantation of sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) in the ostium of coronary arteries. Methods: We assigned 96 patients with lesions located in ostias of the coronary circulation to receive a SES or a bare-metal stent (BMS). Results: At follow-up the late lumen loss was 0.07mm in the SES versus 1.06mm in the BMS group (p <0.001); −0.04mm versus 0.11mm (p =0.12) in the neighbour ostium. The rate of target lesion revascularisation was 2% with SES and 39% with BMS (p <0.001), and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) 6% versus 41% (p =0.001). Conclusions: In patients with ostial coronary lesions the angiographic outcome is improved and the long-term MACE rate is low after SES compared with BMS implantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The residual SYNTAX (Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery) score (RSS) quantitatively assesses angiographic completeness of revascularization after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and has been shown to be a predictor of events after angiography-guided PCI. In stable patients undergoing functionally complete revascularization with fractional flow reserve (FFR) guidance, RSS did not predict outcome. Whether this is also true in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is unknown.Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the RSS could predict outcomes in patients with ACS.Methods: From the DANAMI-3-PRIMULTI (Primary PCI in Patients With ST-elevation Myocardial Infarction and Multivessel Disease: Treatment of Culprit Lesion Only or Complete Revascularization), FAME (Fractional Flow Reserve Versus Angiography for Multivessel Evaluation), and FAMOUS-NSTEMI (Fractional Flow Reserve Versus Angiographically Guided Management to Optimise Outcomes in Unstable Coronary Syndromes) trials, 547 patients presented with ACS and underwent functionally complete revascularization. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were defined as the composite endpoint of all-cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and any repeat revascularization. The RSS was based on the recalculation of the SYNTAX score after PCI. We compared differences in 2-year outcome by the RSS subgroups: 0, 1 to <5, 5 to <10, ≥10 (RSS = 0 represents angiographically complete revascularization).Results: The study population consisted of 271 patients with unstable angina/non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and 276 with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. The mean RSS was 6.7 ± 5.8. MACE at 2 years occurred in 69 patients (12.6%). Patients with and without MACE had similar RSS after PCI (RSS: 7.2 ± 5.5 vs. 6.6 ± 5.9; p = 0.23). Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed a similar incidence of MACE regardless of the RSS subgroups (p = 0.54). With and without adjustment of clinical variables, RSS was not a significant predictor of MACE or of each component of MACE.Conclusions: After complete revascularization of functionally significant stenosis by FFR, the extent of residual angiographic disease is not associated with subsequent ischemic events in patients presenting with ACS. These results suggest that the concept of functionally complete revascularization is applicable even in ACS patients. (Fractional Flow Reserve Versus Angiography for Multivessel Evaluation [F.A.M.E.] NCT00267774; Fractional Flow Reserve Versus Angiographically Guided Management to Optimise Outcomes in Unstable Coronary Syndromes [FAMOUS NSTEMI] NCT01764334; Primary PCI in Patients With ST-elevation Myocardial Infarction and Multivessel Disease: Treatment of Culprit Lesion Only or Complete Revascularization [DANAMI-3-PRIMULTI]; NCT01960933). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-term prognosis of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) aged 45 years or younger and differences according to gender have not been well characterized. Methods We included 16,685 consecutive STEMI patients from 2003 to 2012 (67,992 patient-years follow-up) from the Eastern Danish Heart Registry and the Swedish Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty Registry who were treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Results We identified 1026 (6.2%) patients up to 45 years of age (mean age: 40.7 vs. 66.3 years, P < 0.001). Patients in the young group were predominantly men (79.7% vs. 71.9%) and smokers (71.2% vs. 44.2%, P < 0.001) but with a lower prevalence of hypertension (17.3% vs. 39.3%), hyperlipidemia (18.0% vs. 23.8%), diabetes (9.0% vs. 12.4%) and previous myocardial infarction (6.9% vs. 12.2%, all P < 0.001) compared with older patients. Young patients had a 0.8% annual mortality. During the follow-up period 6.3% of young patients died vs. 28.5% of older patients ( P < 0.001). Both 30-day-mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 0.26, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.12–0.54, P < 0.001) and mortality after 30 days and onwards (HR = 0.25, CI: 0.17–0.37, P < 0.001) were significantly lower in the young group. There was no difference in short-term (HR = 0.78, CI: 0.32–1.90, P = 0.59) or long-term (HR = 0.62, CI: 0.33–1.91, P = 0.59) mortality between women and men in the young group (HR = 0.79, CI: 0.21–1.80, P = 0.39). Conclusions STEMI patients, aged 45 years or younger, have an excellent prognosis after treatment with primary PCI. Long-term annual survival is more than 99% in these patients. Young women with STEMI do not have a worse long-term prognosis than young men with STEMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Short-term mortality has been studied thoroughly in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), whereas long-term cause of death in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains unknown. Objectives The goal of this study was to describe the association between time and cause of death in patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI. Methods A centralized civil registration system, patient files, and public disease and death cause registries with an accurate record linkage were used to trace time and cause of death in 2,804 consecutive patients with STEMI (age 63 ± 13 years, 72% males) treated with primary PCI. Results Patients were followed up for a median of 4.7 years. During a total of 13,447 patient-years, 717 patients died. Main causes of death within the first 30 days were cardiogenic shock and anoxic brain injury after cardiac arrest. Age, culprit vessel size and flow, and the presence of heart failure and diabetes were independent predictors of mortality. After 30 days, the annual cardiac mortality rate was <1.5%. Causes of death beyond 30 days were noncardiac in 65% of cases (mainly malignancies and pulmonary diseases). The 30-day, 1-year, and 5-year all-cause (and cardiac) mortality rates were 7.9% (7.3%), 11.4% (8.4%), and 23.3% (13.8%), respectively. Conclusions Patients who survive the first month after an STEMI treated with primary PCI have an excellent prognosis, with a <1.5% annual risk of successive cardiac death. Noncardiac causes are responsible for the majority of later deaths in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperglycemia upon hospital admission in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) occurs frequently and is associated with adverse outcomes. It is, however, unsettled as to whether an elevated blood glucose level is the cause or consequence of increased myocardial damage. In addition, whether the cardioprotective effect of exenatide, a glucose-lowering drug, is dependent on hyperglycemia remains unknown. The objectives of this substudy were to evaluate the association between hyperglycemia and infarct size, myocardial salvage, and area at risk, and to assess the interaction between exenatide and hyperglycemia. A total of 210 STEMI patients were randomized to receive intravenous exenatide or placebo before percutaneous coronary intervention. Hyperglycemia was associated with larger area at risk and infarct size compared with patients with normoglycemia, but the salvage index and infarct size adjusting for area at risk did not differ between the groups. Treatment with exenatide resulted in increased salvage index both among patients with normoglycemia and hyperglycemia. Thus, we conclude that the association between hyperglycemia upon hospital admission and infarct size in STEMI patients is a consequence of a larger myocardial area at risk but not of a reduction in myocardial salvage. Also, cardioprotection by exenatide treatment is independent of glucose levels at hospital admission. Thus, hyperglycemia does not influence the effect of the reperfusion treatment but rather represents a surrogate marker for the severity of risk and injury to the myocardium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Hypercoagulability evaluated with thrombelastography (TEG) has been reported to be associated to thrombembolic events in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that graft patency and post-CABG thrombembolic events are related to the pre-surgical TEG status. Design. 124 patients scheduled for CABG were matched according to mean age, gender and mean left ventricular ejection fraction in two groups defined by their pre-surgical TEG status (TEG-hypercoagulable and TEG-normocoagulable). Three months after the operation graft patency was assessed with multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). Major adverse cardiovascular and cerebral events (MACCE) were recorded for a median period of 7 months (range 3 to 37 months) after CABG. Results. A total of 359 grafts were analyzed, 186 in TEG-hypercoagulable and 173 in TEG-normocoagulable patients. Frequency of bypass graft occlusion was not significantly different between the two groups (TEG-hypercoagulable = 21 and TEG-normocoagulable = 18, p = 0.9). The number of MACCE was significantly higher in the TEG-hypercoagulable compared to the TEG-normocoagulable group (TEG-hypercoagulable = 30% and TEG-normocoagulable = 9% p = 0.004). Conclusions. Hypercoagulability, as evaluated by TEG in patients undergoing CABG is associated with an increased risk of post-surgical thrombembolic events, however not accompanied by augmented coronary bypass graft failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) has become an important modality to evaluate the presence of coronary artery disease. Coronary artery stenosis of intermediate severity remains a therapeutic dilemma. Measurement of fractional flow reserve (FFR) during coronary angiography is the most established technique to determine the hemodynamic severity of a coronary artery lesion. The aim of this study was to compare CCTA with FFR. Methods: In 56 coronary artery stenoses (42 patients) we performed CCTA, quantitative coronary angiography and FFR. CCTA measurements included diameter stenosis (DS, %), area stenosis (AS, %), minimal lumen diameter (MLD, mm), minimal lumen area (MLA, mm2), lesion length (LL, mm), plaque volume (mm3) and burden (%). Results: FFR averaged 0.81±0.14, and 10 lesions had an abnormal FFR (<0.75). We found significant correlations between FFR and DS (r =−0.67, p <0.001), AS (r =−0.68, p <0.001), MLD (r =0.58, p <0.001), MLA (r =0.53, p <0.001), LL (r =−0.36, p =0.02), plaque volume (r =−0.36, p =0.02) and plaque burden (r =−0.59, p <0.001). By multivariate regression analysis AS and LL were the strongest determinants of an abnormal FFR. The optimal cut-off value for AS was >73% (sensitivity 90%, specificity 80%, negative predictive value 97%, and positive predictive value 50%) and for LL >10 mm (sensitivity 60% and specificity 49%). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that quantitative CCTA is correlated to FFR. Using our CCTA criteria of abnormality, significant coronary artery stenoses can be ruled out with a high negative predictive value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment with newer direct-acting anti-platelet drugs (Ticagrelor and Prasugrel) prior to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with improved outcome in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) when compared with Clopidogrel. We compared infarct size following treatment with Ticagrelor/Prasugrel versus Clopidogrel in the DANish trial in Acute Myocardial Infarction (DANAMI-3) population of STEMI patients treated with primary PCI. Patients were loaded with Clopidogrel, Ticagrelor or Prasugrel in the ambulance before primary PCI. Infarct size and myocardial salvage index were calculated using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) during index admission and at three-month follow-up. Six-hundred-and-ninety-three patients were included in this analysis. Clopidogrel was given to 351 patients and Ticagrelor/Prasugrel to 342 patients. The groups were generally comparable in terms of baseline and procedural characteristics. Median infarct size at three-month follow-up was 12.9% vs 10.0%, in patients treated with Clopidogrel and Ticagrelor/ Prasugrel respectively (p < 0.001), and myocardial salvage index was 66% vs 71% (p < 0.001). Results remained significant in a multiple regression model (p < 0.001). Pre-hospital loading with Ticagrelor or Prasugrel compared to Clopidogrel, was associated with smaller infarct size and larger myocardial salvage index at three-month follow-up in patients with STEMI treated with primary PCI. • Newer P2Y 12 antagonists are superior to Clopidogrel in terms of clinical outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndromes. • The mechanism of action mediating this difference is unclear. • A plausible mechanistic explanation could involve a decrease in final infarct size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• SuPAR was a strong prognostic biomarker of non-cardiac mortality after STEMI. • The suPAR level was independent of sampling time < 12 h after revascularization. • SuPAR may identify patients in risk of non-cardiac mortality prior to discharge. Identification of patients at high risk of non-cardiac mortality following ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) could guide clinicians to identify patients who require attention due to serious non-cardiac conditions after the acute phase of STEMI. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if the non-specific and prognostic biomarker of inflammation and comorbidity, soluble urokinase receptor (suPAR), could predict non-cardiac mortality in a cohort of STEMI patients. SuPAR was measured in 1,190 STEMI patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). The primary endpoint was non-cardiac mortality, secondary endpoints were cardiac mortality, all-cause mortality, reinfarction and periprocedural acute kidney injury. Backwards elimination of potential confounders significantly associated with the respective outcome was used to adjust associations. Patients were followed for a median of 3.0 years (interquartile range 2.5– 3.6 years). Multivariate cox regression revealed that a plasma suPAR level above 3.70 ng mL−1 was associated with non-cardiac and cardiac mortality at hazard ratios 3.33 (95% confidence interval 1.67–6.63, p = 0.001, adjusted for age) and 0.99 (0.18–5.30, p = 0.98, adjusted for previous myocardial infarction and left ventricular ejection fraction), respectively. In patients with pPCI treated STEMI, suPAR was an independent prognostic biomarker of non-cardiac but not cardiac mortality and may identify patients with high risk of non-cardiac mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To predict irreversible reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) during admission for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in addition to classical clinical parameters. Irreversible reduction in LVEF is an important prognostic factor after STEMI which necessitates medical therapy and implantation of prophylactic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). A post-hoc analysis of DANAMI-3 trial program (Third DANish Study of Optimal Acute Treatment of Patients With ST-elevation Myocardial Infarction) which recruited 649 patients who had CMR performed during index hospitalization and after 3 months. Patients were divided into two groups according to CMR-LVEF at 3 months: Group 1 with LVEF≤35% and Group 2 with LVEF>35%. Group 1 included 15 patients (2.3%) while Group 2 included 634 patients (97.7%). A multivariate analysis showed that: Killip class >1 (OR 7.39; CI:1.47–36.21, P = 0.01), symptom onset-to-wire ≥6 h (OR 7.19; CI 1.07–50.91, P = 0.04), LVEF≤35% using index echocardiography (OR 7.11; CI: 1.27–47.43, P = 0.03), and infarct size ≥40% of LV on index CMR (OR 42.62; CI:7.83–328.29, P < 0.001) independently correlated with a final LVEF≤35%. Clinical models consisted of these parameters could identify 7 out of 15 patients in Group 1 with 100% positive predictive value. Together with other clinical measurements, the assessment of infarct size using late Gadolinium enhancement by CMR during hospitalization is a strong predictor of irreversible reduction in CMR_LVEF ≤35. That could potentially, after validation with future research, aids the selection and treatment of high-risk patients after STEMI, including implantation of prophylactic ICD during index hospitalization. • Irreversible damage to the myocardium after STEMI can be predicted in 47% of the patients. • ICD implantation can be considered in these patients with irreversible damage to the myocardium. • Cardiac MRI during admission for STEMI can help directing the future treatment in selected patients. • 77% of STEMI patients with LVEF <35% will experience increase in their LVEF to >35% within three months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the impact of sampling bias due to reported as well as unreported exclusion of the target population in a multi-center randomized controlled trial (RCT) of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We compared clinical characteristics and mortality between participants in the DANAMI-3 trial to contemporary non-participants with STEMI using unselected registries. A total of 179 DANAMI-3 participants (8%) and 617 contemporary non-participants (22%) had died (Log-Rank: P < 0.001) after a median follow-up of 1333 days (range: 1–2021 days). In an unadjusted Cox regression model all groups of non-participants had a higher hazard ratio to predict mortality compared to participants: eligible excluded (n = 144) (hazard ratio: 3.41 (95% CI: (2.69–4.32)), ineligible excluded (n = 472) (hazard ratio: 3.42 (95% CI: (2.44–4.80), eligible non-screened (n = 154) (hazard ratio: 3.37 (95% CI: (2.36–4.82)), ineligible non-screened (n = 154) (hazard ratio: 6.48 (95% CI: (4.77–8.80). Sampling bias had occurred due to both reported and unreported exclusion of eligible patients and the difference in mortality between participants and non-participants could not be explained only by the trial exclusion criteria. Thus, screening logs may not be suited to address the risks of sampling bias. • Participants in the DANAMI-3 trial were not representative to the background population with STEMI. • Participants in the DANAMI-3 trial were not representative to the per protocol target population. • Sampling bias and unreported screening had occurred. • Screening logs may not be suitable for addressing issues of external validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The FIREHAWK is a drug-eluting stent with a fully biodegradable sirolimus-containing polymer coating localised to recessed abluminal grooves on the stent surface. We investigated clinical outcomes with this targeted, low-dose, biodegradable polymer, sirolimus-eluting stent compared with XIENCE durable polymer, everolimus-eluting stents in an all-comers population.Methods: The TARGET All Comers study was a prospective, multicentre, open-label randomised non-inferiority trial done at 21 centres in ten European countries. Patients with symptomatic or asymptomatic coronary artery disease and objective evidence of myocardial ischaemia who qualified for percutaneous coronary intervention were randomised 1:1 to undergo implantation of a FIREHAWK or XIENCE. Randomisation was web-based, with random block allocation and stratification by centre and ST elevation myocardial infarction. Outcome assessors were masked to treatment allocation, but treating physicians and patients were not. The primary endpoint was target lesion failure at 12 months, a composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, or ischaemia-driven target lesion revascularisation. The control event rate for XIENCE was assumed to be 7%, the non-inferiority margin was 3.5%, and the primary analysis was in the intention-to-treat population, censoring patients who did not have either an event before 365 days or contact beyond 365 days. Late lumen loss was the primary endpoint of an angiographic substudy designed to investigate the non-inferiority of the FIREHAWK compared with the XIENCE stent. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02520180.Findings: From Dec 17, 2015, to Oct 14, 2016, 1653 patients were randomly assigned to implantation of the FIREHAWK (n=823) or XIENCE (n=830). 65 patients in the FIREHAWK group and 66 in the XIENCE group had insufficient follow-up data and were excluded from the analyses. At 12 months, target lesion failure occurred in 46 (6·1%) of 758 patients in the FIREHAWK group and in 45 (5·9%) of 764 patients in the XIENCE group (difference 0·2%, 90% CI -1·9 to 2·2, pnon-inferiority=0·004, 95% CI -2·2 to 2·6, psuperiority=0·88). There were no differences in ischaemia-driven revascularisation or stent thrombosis rates at 12 months. 176 patients were included in the angiographic substudy, in which in-stent late lumen loss was 0·17 mm (SD 0·48) in the FIREHAWK group and 0·11 mm (0·52) in the XIENCE group (p=0·48), with an absolute difference of 0·05 mm (95% CI -0·09 to 0·18, pnon-inferiority=0·024).Interpretation: In a broad all-comers population of patients requiring stent implantation for myocardial ischaemia, the FIREHAWK was non-inferior to the XIENCE as assessed with the primary endpoint of target lesion failure at 12 months and in-stent late lumen loss at 13 months. The FIREHAWK is a safe and effective alternative stent to treat patients with ischaemic coronary artery disease in clinical practice.Funding: Shanghai Microport Medical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) is recommended in patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) within <12 h of symptom onset. However, patients-reported symptom duration is not always reliable. Cardiac specific troponin T (cTnT) and the endogenous stress marker copeptin have different temporal release patterns for myocardial infarction MI. We hypothesized that copeptin/troponin-ratio is associated to the duration of coronary occlusion and therefore inversely proportional to myocardial salvage. Method Patients older than 18 years with first time STEMI referred to pPCI were eligible. cTnT and copeptin values were measured at admission. A cardiac magnetic resonance scanning (CMR) was done during the index admission for assessment of area at risk (AAR), and later 3 months to assess final infarct size (FIS). Myocardial salvage index (MSI) was calculated based on these measurements. Results A total of 468 patients were included. The median time from patient-reported onset of symptoms to pPCI was 192 min (IQR 150 min - 290 min). At presentation 416 (89%) patients had hs-cTnT values above the 99th percentile, median hs-cTnT was 53 ng/l (IQR 24 ng/l-146 ng/l) and 318 (68%) patients had copeptin values above the 99th percentile (18.9 pmol/l), median copeptin was 50 pmol/l (IQR 14 pmol/l-131 pmol/l). Symptom duration showed a weak but significant association with AAR (R 2  = 0.02, p  = .04), FIS (R 2  = 0.03, p  < .01) and MSI (R 2  = 0.04, p < .01). Copeptin/troponin-ratio was significantly associated with symptom duration (R 2  = 0.19, p < .01), but not AAR (R 2  = 0.02, p  = .19), FIS (R 2  = 0.02, p  = .12), or MSI (R 2  = 0.01, p  = .25). Conclusion Copeptin/troponin-ratio is associated with patient-reported symptom duration, but there was no association with area at risk, final infarct size or myocardial salvage index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The impact of disease severity on the outcome after complete revascularization in patients with ST-segment--elevation myocardial infarction and multivessel disease is uncertain. The objective of this post hoc study was to evaluate the impact of number of diseased vessel, lesion location, and severity of the noninfarct-related stenosis on the effect of fractional flow reserve--guided complete revascularization. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the DANAMI-3-PRIMULTI study (Primary PCI in Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction and Multivessel Disease: Treatment of Culprit Lesion Only or Complete Revascularization), we randomized 627 ST-segment--elevation myocardial infarction patients to fractional flow reserve--guided complete revascularization or infarct-related percutaneous coronary intervention only. In patients with 3-vessel disease, fractional flow reserve--guided complete revascularization reduced the primary end point (all-cause mortality, reinfarction, and ischemia-driven revascularization; hazard ratio [HR], 0.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.17--0.64; P=0.001), with no significant effect in patients with 2-vessel disease (HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.47--1.26; P=0.29; P for interaction =0.046). A similar effect was observed in patients with diameter stenosis ≥90% of noninfarct-related arteries (HR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.18-- 0.62; P=0.001), but not in patients with less severe lesions (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.44--1.19; P=0.21; P for interaction =0.06). The effect was most pronounced in patients with 3-vessel disease and noninfarct-related stenoses ≥90%, and in this subgroup, there was a nonsignificant reduction in the end point of mortality and reinfarction (HR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.08--1.32; P=0.09). Proximal versus distal location did not influence the benefit from complete revascularization. CONCLUSIONS: The benefit from fractional flow reserve--guided complete revascularization in ST-segment--elevation myocardial infarction patients with multivessel disease was dependent on the presence of 3-vessel disease and noninfarct diameter stenosis ≥90% and was particularly pronounced in patients with both of these angiographic characteristics. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01960933. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To test if cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) can be used in the triage of patients at high risk of coronary artery disease.Design: The diagnostic value of 64-detector CCTA was evaluated in 400 patients presenting with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction using invasive coronary angiography (ICA) as the reference method. The relation between the severity of disease by CCTA and a combined endpoint of death, re-hospitalization due to new myocardial infarction, or symptom-driven coronary revascularization was assessed.Results: CCTA detects significant (>50%) coronary artery diameter stenosis with a sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value of 99%, 81%, 96% and 95%, respectively. CCTA was used to triage patients into guideline defined treatment groups of "no or medical treatment", "referral to percutaneous coronary intervention" or to "coronary artery bypass graft surgery" and was compared to the index ICA. CCTA correctly triaged patients in 86% of cases. During a median follow-up of 50 months, the presence of an occluded artery by CCTA was associated with adverse outcome.Conclusion: CCTA has high diagnostic and prognostic value in patients with high likelihood of coronary artery disease and could, in theory, be used to triage high risk patients. As many obstacles remain, including logistical and safety issues, our study does not support the use of CCTA as an additional diagnostic test before ICA in an all-comer NSTEMI population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]