Search

: ObjectivesWe sought to determine whether a potent Rho-kinase inhibitor fasudil prevents the occurrence of myocardial ischemia in patients with microvascular angina attributable to coronary microvascular spasm.: BackgroundEffective treatment of patients with angina who have normal coronary arteriograms (microvascular angina) has not yet been established. Rho-kinase–mediated calcium sensitization of the myosin light chain in smooth muscle cells has been implicated as substantially contributing to vascular hyperconstriction.: MethodsWe studied consecutive 18 patients with angina and normal epicardial coronaries in whom intracoronary acetylcholine (ACh) induced myocardial ischemia (ischemic electrocardiographic changes, myocardial lactate production, or both) without angiographically demonstrable epicardial coronary vasospasm. All patients underwent a second ACh challenge test after pretreatment with either saline (n = 5) or fasudil (4.5 mg intracoronarily, n = 13).: ResultsMyocardial ischemia was reproducibly induced by ACh in the saline group. In contrast, 11 of the 13 patients pretreated with fasudil had no evidence of myocardial ischemia during the second infusion of ACh (p < 0.01). The lactate extraction ratio (median value [interquartile range]) during ACh infusion was improved by fasudil pretreatment, from −0.16 (−0.25 to 0.04) to 0.09 (0.05 to 0.18) (p = 0.0125).: ConclusionsFasudil ameliorated myocardial ischemia in patients who were most likely having coronary microvascular spasm. The inhibition of Rho-kinase may be a novel therapeutic strategy for this group of patients with microvascular angina. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

: ObjectivesWe aimed to test the hypothesis that coronary microvascular spasm (MVS) alone causes myocardial ischemia in patients with angina attributable to epicardial coronary spasm, and to determine whether there is a difference in clinical characteristics between those with and without microvascular spasm.: BackgroundPatients with “vasospastic angina” have epicardial coronary artery spasm, but it is unknown whether coronary microvessel disease also contributes to the occurrence of angina in these patients.: MethodsWe studied 55 consecutive patients with angina in whom epicardial coronary spasm was provoked by intracoronary acetylcholine (ACH).: ResultsIn 14 patients (25.5%, Group 1), submaximal dose of ACH induced myocardial ischemia (chest pain, ischemic electrocardiogram changes, lactate production) without large epicardial spasm, suggesting the occurrence of coronary microvascular spasm. By contrast, the remaining 41 patients (Group 2) had evidence of myocardial ischemia only when epicardial spasm was angiographically demonstrated. The Group 1 patients were predominantly women (p < 0.05) and had a history of prolonged (>30 min) chest pain (p < 0.05), whereas the Group 2 patients were more likely men and smokers (p < 0.01).: ConclusionsMyocardial ischemia most probably due to coronary MVS was demonstrated in a sizable portion of patients with epicardial vasospasm, preferentially in women having both typical and prolonged anginal pain. The result suggests that coronary microvascular disease may also contribute to angina in patients with “vasospastic angina.” [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Presents research which tested the hypothesis that primary hyperconstriction, or spasm, of coronary microvessels causes myocardial ischemia at rest. Microvascular angina occurring both at rest and during exercise; Role of reduced vasodilator capacity of coronary microvessels; Methods; Findings; Conclusion that coronary microvascular spasm and resultant myocardial ischemia may cause chest pain in some angina.

Cardiogenic shock frequently leads to death even with intensive treatment. Although the leading cause of cardiogenic shock is acute coronary syndrome (ACS), the clinical characteristics and the prognosis of ACS with cardiogenic shock in the present era still remain to be elucidated. We analyzed clinical characteristics and predictors of 30-day mortality in ACS with cardiogenic shock in Japan. The Japanese Circulation Society Cardiovascular Shock registry was a prospective, observational, multicenter, cohort study. Between May 2012 and June 2014, 495 ACS patients with cardiogenic shock were analyzed. The primary endpoint was 30-day all-cause mortality. The median [interquartile range; IQR] age was 71.0 [63.0, 80.0] years. The median [IQR] value of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate were 75.0 [50.0, 86.5] mm Hg and 65.0 [38.0, 98.0] bpm, respectively. Multivariable analysis showed an odds ratio (OR) of 4.76 (confidence intervals; CI 1.97–11.5, p < 0.001) in the lowest SBP category (< 50 mm Hg) for SBP ≥ 90 mm Hg. Moreover, age per 10 years increase (OR 1.38, CI 1.18–1.61, p = 0.002), deep coma (OR 3.49, CI 1.94–6.34, p < 0.001), congestive heart failure (OR 3.81, CI 2.04–7.59, p < 0.001) and left main trunk disease (LMTD) (OR 2.81, CI 1.55–5.10, p < 0.001) were independent predictors. Severe hypotension, older age, deep coma, congestive heart failure, and LMTD were independent unfavorable factors in ACS complicated by cardiogenic shock in Japan. A prompt assessment of high-risk patients referring to those predictors in emergency room could lead to appropriate treatment without delay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background An early invasive strategy for patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) has been recommended. However, patients at greater risk including the elderly are more often managed conservatively. We aimed to elucidate contemporary practice and outcomes of patients with NSTE-ACS who were referred to our hospital located in Kitakyushu City, one of the most aging metropolises in Japan. Methods A total of 270 consecutive NSTE-ACS patients hospitalized between January 2012 and December 2014 were retrospectively studied. Results Median [interquartile range] age was 73 [64, 80] years. Coronary angiography was performed in 264 (98%) patients. Importantly, 75% and 89% underwent angiography within 24 h and 72 h after admission, respectively. Revascularization was done in 124 (79%). The all-cause, in-hospital mortality was 3.7% and was higher in patients aged ≥ 80 years (8.5% vs. 2.0% in those aged < 80 years, p < 0.0001). No patient developed major bleeding or stroke during hospitalization. Killip class IV at presentation (odds ratio [OR] 8.77, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.64–47.6) and left main trunk disease (OR 7.58, 95% CI 1.28–45.5) were independently associated with in-hospital death. These two variables and a high (≥ 140) GRACE score were associated with a higher 1-year mortality by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis ( p < 0.0001). Conclusions An early invasive strategy was safely done in an elderly cohort of Japanese patients with NSTE-ACS. In addition to early invasive approach, a further therapeutic strategy, most probably targeting a shock status, is needed to improve both short- and long-term survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The present study evaluated clinical benefits of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) for premature ventricular complexes from right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT-PVC) in patients without structural heart disease. Background: It is unknown whether PVC causes left ventricular (LV) dilation, which is a well-recognized precursor of LV dysfunction and heart failure, and whether eliminating PVC by RFA produces clinical benefits in patients with RVOT-PVC. Methods: Frequency of PVC per total heart beats by 24-h Holter monitoring, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic internal dimension (LVDd), mitral regurgitation (MR) by echocardiogram, cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) by chest radiogram, and New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class of 40 patients with RVOT-PVC without structural heart disease were evaluated before and 6 to 12 months after RFA. Results: Before RFA, a subgroup of patients with frequent (>20%) PVC demonstrated significantly enlarged LVDd and CTR, reduced LVEF, increased MR, and deteriorated NYHA functional class as compared to the subgroup with rare (<20%) PVC (54 ± 1 mm vs. 45 ± 1 mm, 52 ± 2% vs. 46 ± 1%, 66 ± 2% vs. 73 ± 2%, 1.2 ± 0.2 degree vs. 0.4 ± 0.1 degree, and 1.8 ± 0.2 vs. 1.3 ± 0.1, respectively; p < 0.05). Furthermore, ablating RVOT-PVC readily produced the improvement of all these abnormalities (47 ± 1 mm, 41 ± 1%, 72 ± 2%, 0.3 ± 0.1 degree, and 1.0 ± 0.0, respectively; p < 0.05 compared with before RFA). Conclusions: These findings suggest that frequent (>20%) RVOT-PVC may be a possible cause of LV dysfunction and/or heart failure, and RFA produces clinical benefits in these patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study examined the relation of Type A behavior pattern and its components to angiographically documented coronary atherosclerosis in 198 Japanese women. A questionnaire-based interview elicited psychosocial and other factors. Type A behavior pattern was measured by 12 questions. Significant coronary stenosis was defined when a 75% or greater luminal narrowing occurred at one or more major coronary arteries or 50% or greater narrowing occurred at the left main artery. Gensini's score also was calculated. Logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals with adjustment for traditional coronary risk factors and the presence of a job. Global Type A behavior pattern showed no material association with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis assessed by both Gensini's score and the presence of significant coronary stenosis. However, its subcomponents, enthusiasm and competitiveness, were positively related to the severity of coronary atherosclerosis, whereas self-confidence and perfectionism were negatively related. These findings suggest overall a null association between global Type A and coronary atherosclerosis as well as the presence of toxic or beneficial components of Type A behaviors in Japanese women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]