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Optimal antiplatelet therapy after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery remains controversial. This study evaluated the role of dual antiplatelet therapy using aspirin and clopidogrel (DAPT) versus antiplatelet therapy using aspirin only (ASA) on post-CABG clinical outcomes and costs. In the Department of Veterans Affairs Randomized On/Off Bypass (ROOBY) trial, clopidogrel use after CABG was prospectively collected beginning in year 2 of this study to include 1,525 of the 2,203 original ROOBY patients who received aspirin after CABG. Discretionarily, surgeons after CABG administered either DAPT or ASA treatments. The ROOBY trial's primary 30-day composite (mortality or perioperative morbidity), 1-year composite (all-cause death, repeat revascularization, or nonfatal myocardial infarction), and costs were compared for these 2 strategies. Of the 1,525 subjects, 511 received DAPT and 1,014 received ASA. DAPT subjects, compared with ASA subjects, had lower rates of preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction of ≥45% (78.8% vs 85.7%, p <0.001), on-pump CABG (36.6% vs 57.1%, p = 0.001), and endoscopic vein harvesting (30.0% vs 42.8%, p <0.001). ASA patients were more likely to have earlier aspirin administration and receive 325 versus 81 mg dosages. The 30-day composite outcome rate was significantly lower for DAPT patients compared with ASA patients (3.3% vs 7.1%, p = 0.003), but the 1-year composite outcome was equal between the 2 groups (12.0% vs12.0%, p = 1.0). At 1 year, there were no cost differences between the 2 groups. Propensity analyses did not significantly alter the results. In conclusion, DAPT appeared safe and was associated with fewer 30-day adverse outcomes than aspirin only and with no 1-year outcome or cost differences., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Clopidogrel use post coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has become more popular under the assumption that it improves graft patency. The purpose of this sub-analysis from the Randomized On and Off-Pump Bypass (ROOBY) trial is to evaluate the role of clopidogrel use post CABG to improve graft patency when added to standard aspirin therapy., Methods: The ROOBY trial was a multi-center, randomized, controlled clinical trial that compared on-pump versus off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Clopidogrel use post CABG was left at the discretion of the operator. Detailed data regarding the use and timing of clopidogrel post CABG were collected prospectively, along with 1-year angiograms to evaluate graft status., Results: Of the 2,203 subjects undergoing CABG, 953 patient records had complete clopidogrel use and 1-year angiographic data. Of these, 345 (36.2%) received clopidogrel post CABG prior to discharge. Compared with patients with no post-CABG clopidogrel use, baseline characteristics were similar for the clopidogrel group except for the following: lower preoperative aspirin use (80.2% vs 86.7%, p = 0.009); higher preoperative clopidogrel use (23.5% vs 14.0%, p < 0.001), less on-pump (35.9% vs 55.9%, p < 0.0001); and lower endoscopic vein harvesting (30.8% vs 42.5%, p < 0.001) rates. Overall 1-year graft patency rates were not different between the clopidogrel and no-clopidogrel groups (86.5% vs 85.3%, p = 0.43). Multivariable analyses did not alter these findings., Conclusions: This study suggests that routine post-CABG clopidogrel use may not translate to improved 1-year graft patency. Future studies appear warranted to better define the role of more aggressive antiplatelet therapy post CABG on graft patency and clinical outcomes., (Copyright © 2014 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the predictors of major bleeding and the impact of major bleeding on outcomes, including mortality, in acute coronary syndromes (ACS)., Background: Whether major bleeding independently predicts mortality in patients with ACS undergoing an early invasive strategy is undefined., Methods: Patients (n = 13,819) with moderate- and high-risk ACS were randomized to heparin (unfractionated or enoxaparin) plus glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibition (GPI), bivalirudin plus GPI, or bivalirudin monotherapy (plus provisional GPI). Logistic regression was used to determine predictors of 30-day major bleeding and mortality., Results: Major bleeding rates in patients treated with heparin plus GPI were higher versus bivalirudin monotherapy (5.7% vs. 3.0%, p < 0.001) and similar versus bivalirudin plus GPI (5.7% vs. 5.3%, p = 0.38). Independent predictors of major bleeding were advanced age, female gender, diabetes, hypertension, renal insufficiency, anemia, no prior percutaneous coronary intervention, cardiac biomarker elevation, ST-segment deviation >/=1 mm, and treatment with heparin plus GPI versus bivalirudin monotherapy. Patients with major bleeding had higher 30-day rates of mortality (7.3% vs. 1.2%, p < 0.0001), composite ischemia (23.1% vs. 6.8%, p < 0.0001), and stent thrombosis (3.4% vs. 0.6%, p < 0.0001) versus those without major bleeding. Major bleeding was an independent predictor of 30-day mortality (odds ratio 7.55, 95% confidence interval 4.68 to 12.18, p < 0.0001)., Conclusions: Major bleeding is a powerful independent predictor of 30-day mortality in patients with ACS managed invasively. Several factors independently predict major bleeding, including treatment with heparin plus GPI compared with bivalirudin monotherapy. Knowledge of these findings might be useful to reduce bleeding risk and improve outcomes in ACS.

Background: The REPLACE-2 trial demonstrated the noninferiority of bivalirudin with provisional glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GPIIb/IIIa) blockade as compared with heparin plus planned GPIIb/IIIa blockade among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary revascularization. Provisional drug was used in 374 (6%) of the 6010 patients. We sought to analyze the predictors for provisional drug use and to assess the outcomes in this cohort., Methods: Outcome among the 5.2% of patients in the heparin plus GPIIb/IIIa blockade group and the 7.2% of patients in the bivalirudin group who received provisional placebo or GPIIb/IIIa inhibitor, respectively, was compared against patients without provisional drug use and between randomized arms. Multivariate models identified predictors of provisional drug use and outcome at 30 days, 6 months, and 1 year., Results: Myocardial infarction, repeat revascularization, and bleeding events occurred more frequently among patients who required provisional drug than those who did not, but there were no differences in 1-year mortality. Ischemic and hemorrhagic end points occurred at similar rates among patients receiving provisional drug in either the heparin plus GPIIb/IIIa group compared with the bivalirudin group. Independent predictors of provisional drug use were randomization to bivalirudin, recent infarction, multilesion intervention, impaired pretreatment coronary flow, and lesion complexity. Provisional drug use, but not randomization to bivalirudin, independently predicted 30-day and 6-month ischemic events., Conclusions: Provisional administration of a GPIIb/IIIa inhibitor is associated with more frequent ischemic and bleeding events, reflecting the procedural complications that led to the use of provisional drug. The proportion of bivalirudin-treated patients who will require provisional GPIIb/IIIa blockade, however, is not large enough to have a significant deleterious impact on the overall incidence of ischemic end points or to invalidate the strategy of bivalirudin plus provisional GPIIb/IIIa blockade.

Malignant ventricular arrhythmias can result from isolated right ventricular infarction, and reports of this phenomenon in the literature are rare. We present a case of a 46-year-old man with acute onset of chest pain angiographically confirmed to be a result of isolated occlusion of a right ventricular branch artery. He developed ventricular fibrillation within 5 hours of symptom onset. This case highlights the point that despite its benign clinical appearance and preserved left ventricular function, necrosis of right ventricular tissue can have life-threatening consequences.

• Androgen deprivation increases cardiovascular risk in patients with prostate cancer. • Lower cardiovascular risk seen with continuous therapy vs. intermittent therapy. • Lower risk with continuous therapy seen in patients with prior cardiovascular disease. • No difference in cardiovascular risk in patients without prior cardiovascular disease. • No difference in risk of metabolic events was observed between treatment groups. Intermittent androgen deprivation therapy (iADT) alleviates some side effects of continuous (c) ADT in patients with prostate cancer (PC), but its relative impact on ADT-associated comorbidities is uncertain. We assessed real-world use of iADT and cADT and associated risk of cardiovascular and endocrine/metabolic events in patients with nonmetastatic (nm) PC. This retrospective longitudinal cohort study included patients with nmPC initiating systemic ADT with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (goserelin, histrelin, leuprolide, and triptorelin) or antagonists (degarelix) in the US Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results-Medicare database (2010–2017), who had ≥ 36 months of continuous insurance coverage, unless death occurred, and did not receive chemotherapy or next-generation hormonal therapies during follow-up (through 2019). Risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE [myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiomyopathy/heart failure, pulmonary embolism, ischemic heart disease, all-cause mortality]) and endocrine/metabolic events (diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, bone fractures, and osteoporosis) were examined between cohorts. Inverse probability of treatment-weighted Cox regression models estimated adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of the outcomes. Of 10,655 eligible patients, 2,095 (19.7%) received iADT and 8,560 (80.3%) cADT. Median follow-up was 43.9 and 48.4 months and median ADT duration (excluding iADT gaps) was 22.0 and 13.5 months for the iADT and cADT cohorts, respectively. Patients receiving cADT had a lower risk of MACE vs. iADT (HR 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.83–0.96). No difference in risk of endocrine/metabolic events was observed (HR 0.97; 95% CI 0.92–1.03). Subgroup analysis found that the difference in MACE was maintained in patients with a history of cardiovascular disease (HR 0.90; 95% CI 0.83–0.98) and eliminated in patients without (HR 0.94; 95% CI 0.82–1.08). Patients with nmPC who received cADT had a lower risk of MACE and similar risk of endocrine/metabolic events vs. those who received iADT. Further research assessing both regimens is needed to inform treatment decisions. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Atherosclerotic changes within the coronary artery wall can affect vessel distensibility. Objective: This study evaluated the relationship between the coronary distensibility index (CDI) and the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) measured by computed tomographic angiography (CTA). Methods: One hundred thirteen subjects, age 63 ± 10 years, 32% women, who underwent coronary artery calcium (CAC) scanning and CTA, were studied. Early diastolic and mid diastolic (MD) cross-section area (CSA) of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery were measured 5 mm distal to the left main bifurcation. CDI was defined as Δlumen CSA/[lumen CSA in MD × estimated central pulse pressure (eCPP)] × 103 {eCPP = 0.77 × peripheral pulse pressure}. LAD diameter measured by CTA and quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) was compared in 19 subjects without CAD. CAD was defined as normal (no stenosis and CAC 0), mild (stenosis ≤ 30%), moderate (stenosis 31%–69%), and severe (stenosis ≥ 70%) on CTA. Results: Excellent correlation was observed between CTA and QCA measured by CDI (r 2 = 0.96, P = 0.0001). CDI decreased from normal coronaries (6.75 ± 1.43) to arteries with mild (5.78 ± 1.45), moderate (3.96 ± 1.06), and severe (3.31 ± 1.06) disease (P = 0.004). The risk factor adjusted odds ratio of lowest versus 2 upper tertiles of CDI was 1.28 for mild, 8.47 for moderate, and 10.59 for severe CAD compared with the normal cohort. The area under the ROC curve to predict obstructive CAD (stenosis ≥ 50%) increased significantly from 0.71 to 0.84 by addition of CDI to CAC (P < 0.05). Conclusion: CTA-measured CDI is inversely related to the severity of CAD independent of age, sex, cardiovascular risk factors, and CAC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article analyzes patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) managed invasively by the femoral access site from the large-scale contemporary Acute Catheterization and Urgent Intervention Triage Strategy (ACUITY) Trial, in order to assess the impact of vascular closure devices (VCD) and the antithrombotic regimen on rates of access site bleeding (ASB). Major bleeding is reduced by bivalirudin monotherapy than heparin according to the ACUITY trial. The demographics and baseline characteristics of patients are cited.

Objectives: In this substudy of the ACUITY (Acute Catheterization and Urgent Intervention Triage strategY) trial, we investigated the relationship between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and clinical outcomes, and compared the safety and efficacy of bivalirudin monotherapy versus heparin plus a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor (GPI). Background: CKD is an important predictor of prognosis in the general population. The outcomes of patients with CKD and acute coronary syndromes (ACS) have not been well studied. Methods: In the ACUITY study, 13,819 patients with moderate- and high-risk ACS undergoing an early, invasive strategy were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 antithrombin regimens: a heparin plus a GPI, bivalirudin plus a GPI, or bivalirudin monotherapy. CKD (creatinine clearance <60 ml/min) was present in 2,469 (19.1%) of 12,939 randomized patients with baseline creatinine clearance data. Results: Patients with CKD had worse 30-day and 1-year clinical outcomes than those with normal renal function. There were no significant differences between bivalirudin monotherapy and heparin plus a GPI in rates of 30-day composite ischemia (11.1% vs. 9.4%, p = 0.27) and net clinical adverse outcomes (16.1% vs. 16.9%, p = 0.65). There was remarkably less major bleeding (6.2% vs. 9.8%, p = 0.008) at 30 days, but no significant difference in 1-year composite ischemia (22.0% vs. 18.9%, p = 0.10) or mortality (7.1% vs. 7.3%, p = 0.96). Conclusions: In patients with ACS, CKD is associated with higher 30-day and 1-year adverse event rates. Compared with heparin plus a GPI, the use of bivalirudin monotherapy in patients with CKD results in nonstatistically different ischemic outcomes, but significantly less 30-day major bleeding. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the impact of upstream clopidogrel in patients with non–ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS) requiring coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) from the ACUITY (Acute Catheterization and Urgent Intervention Triage strategY) trial. Background: Despite benefits of clopidogrel in patients with NSTE-ACS undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, this agent is often not administered upstream (before angiography) as recommended by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines because of potential bleeding in the minority of patients who require CABG. Methods: The ACUITY trial enrolled 13,819 patients with NSTE-ACS undergoing early invasive management. The timing of clopidogrel initiation was per investigator discretion. A 5-day washout period before CABG was recommended for patients having received clopidogrel. Results: Of 13,819 patients enrolled, 1,539 (11.1%) underwent CABG before discharge. Clopidogrel-exposed patients had a longer median duration of hospitalization (12.0 days vs. 8.9 days, p < 0.0001), but fewer adverse composite ischemic events (death, myocardial infarction, or unplanned revascularization) at 30 days; 12.7% vs. 17.3%, p = 0.01), with nonsignificantly different rates of non–CABG-related major bleeding (3.4% vs. 3.2%, p = 0.87) and post-CABG major bleeding (50.3% vs. 50.9%, p = 0.83) compared with those patients not administered clopidogrel. By multivariable analysis, clopidogrel use before CABG was an independent predictor of reduced 30-day composite ischemia (odds ratio: 0.67, 95% confidence interval: 0.48 to 0.92, p = 0.001) but not of increased post-CABG major bleeding (odds ratio: 0.98, 95% confidence interval: 0.80 to 1.19, p = 0.80). Conclusions: Clopidogrel administration before catheterization in patients with NSTE-ACS requiring CABG is associated with significantly fewer 30-day adverse ischemic events without significantly increasing major bleeding, compared to withholding clopidogrel until after angiography. These findings support the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines for upstream clopidogrel administration in all NSTE-ACS patients, including those who subsequently undergo CABG. (Comparison of Angiomax Versus Heparin in Acute Coronary Syndromes [ACS]; NCT00093158). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Electrical storm is defined as a recurrent episode of hemodynamically destabilizing ventricular tachyarrhythmia that usually requires electrical cardioversion or defibrillation. We describe three cases presenting with electrical storm under differing circumstances: (1) a 57-year-old man with ST-elevation myocardial infarction within 1 week of a posterior circulation stroke who developed refractory sustained ventricular tachycardia 10 days after an acute myocardial infarction; (2) a 65-year-old man who developed polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation following dobutamine echocardiography; and (3) a 20-year-old woman who developed intractable ventricular fibrillation following an overdose of a weight-reduction pill. The management of electrical storm is discussed, and evolving literature supporting the routine use of intravenous amiodarone and beta-blockers in place of intravenous lidocaine is critically examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We sought to evaluate clinical outcomes of patients with diabetes mellitus in the ACUITY (Acute Catheterization and Urgent Intervention Triage Strategy) trial, overall and by treatment arm. Background: In the ACUITY trial, 13,819 patients with moderate- or high-risk acute coronary syndromes (ACS) were randomized to heparin (unfractionated or enoxaparin) plus glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibition (GPI), bivalirudin plus GPI, or bivalirudin monotherapy. Compared with heparin plus GPI, bivalirudin monotherapy resulted in similar protection from ischemic events with less major bleeding. Whether these results apply to patients with diabetes is unknown. Methods: We evaluated the impact of diabetes on 30-day net adverse clinical outcomes (composite ischemia [death, myocardial infarction, or unplanned ischemic revascularization] or major bleeding), overall and by antithrombotic strategy. Results: Diabetes was present in 3,852 randomized patients (27.9%). Compared with nondiabetic patients, diabetic patients had higher 30-day rates of net adverse clinical outcomes (12.9% vs. 10.6%; p < 0.001), composite ischemia (8.7% vs. 7.2%; p = 0.003), and major bleeding (5.7% vs. 4.2%; p < 0.001). Among diabetic patients, compared with heparin plus GPI, bivalirudin plus GPI resulted in similar rates of net adverse clinical outcomes (14.0% vs. 13.8%; p = 0.89), while bivalirudin monotherapy resulted in a similar rate of composite ischemia (7.9% vs. 8.9%; p = 0.39) and less major bleeding (3.7% vs. 7.1%; p < 0.001), yielding fewer net adverse clinical outcomes (10.9% vs. 13.8%; p = 0.02). Conclusions: Diabetic patients with ACS managed invasively have higher rates of composite ischemia and major bleeding. Compared with treatment with heparin plus GPI, bivalirudin monotherapy provides similar protection from ischemic events with less major bleeding, resulting in a significant reduction in net adverse clinical outcomes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with increased risk of multiple medical problems including myocardial infarction. However, a direct link between PTSD and atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD) has not been made. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) score is an excellent method to detect atherosclerosis. This study investigated the association of PTSD to atherosclerotic CAD and mortality. Six hundred thirty-seven veterans without known CAD (61 ± 9 years of age, 12.2% women) underwent CAC scanning for clinical indications and their psychological health status (PTSD vs non-PTSD) was evaluated. In subjects with PTSD, CAC was more prevalent than in the non-PTSD cohort (76.1% vs 59%, p = 0.001) and their CAC scores were significantly higher in each Framingham risk score category compared to the non-PTSD group. Multivariable generalized linear regression analysis identified PTSD as an independent predictor of presence and extent of atherosclerotic CAD (p <0.01). During a mean follow-up of 42 months, the death rate was higher in the PTSD compared to the non-PTSD group (15, 17.1%, vs 57, 10.4%, p = 0.003). Multivariable survival regression analyses revealed a significant linkage between PTSD and mortality and between CAC and mortality. After adjustment for risk factors, relative risk (RR) of death was 1.48 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03 to 2.91, p = 0.01) in subjects with PTSD and CAC score >0 compared to subjects without PTSD and CAC score equal to 0. With a CAC score equal to 0, risk of death was not different between subjects with and without PTSD (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.67 to 6.82, p = 0.4). Risk of death in each CAC category was higher in subjects with PTSD compared to matched subjects without PTSD (RRs 1.23 for CAC scores 1 to 100, 1.51 for CAC scores 101 to 400, and 1.81 for CAC scores ≥400, p <0.05 for all comparisons). In conclusion, PTSD is associated with presence and severity of coronary atherosclerosis and predicts mortality independent of age, gender, and conventional risk factors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A risk-management approach based on the Framingham risk score (FRS), although useful in preventing future coronary artery disease (CAD) events, is unable to identify a considerable portion of patients with CAD who need aggressive medical management. Coronary artery calcium (CAC), an anatomic marker of atherosclerosis, correlates well with presence and extent of CAD. This study investigated mortality risk associated with CAC score and FRS in subjects classified as “low risk” versus “high risk” based on FRS. In total 730 veterans without known CAD (61 ± 10 years old, 12.8% women) underwent measurement of their FRS and CAC. Subjects were classified as “discordant low risk” (DLR) if their FRS was <10% and CAC score was ≥100 (n = 108, 14.8%) or “discordant high risk” (DHR) if their FRS was ≥20% and CAC score was 0 (n = 104, 14.2%). Survival analysis was used to compare mortality rates associated with FRS and CAC in DLR versus DHR subjects. Mortality rate during the mean 48-month follow-up was 7.3% (n = 53) including 18.5% (n = 20) in the DLR group and 7.7% (n = 8) in the DHR group, respectively. Adjusted relative risks of mortality were 5.46 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.44 to 12.20, p = 0.0001) in subjects with CAC score ≥100 compared to CAC score 0 and 1.35 (95% CI 1.01 to 4.32, p = 0.04) in subjects with FRS ≥20% compared to FRS <10%. Adjusted relative risk of mortality was 3.6 (95% CI 1.57 to 8.34, p = 0.003) for DLR compared to DHR. Areas under the receiver operator curve to predict mortality were 0.72 for FRS, 0.82 for CAC score, and 0.92 for the combination. In conclusion, the prognostic value of CAC to predict future mortality is superior to the FRS. Addition of CAC score to FRS significantly improves the identification and prognostication of patients without known CAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It was previously reported that event-free survival rates of symptomatic patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) diagnosed by computed tomographic angiography decreased incrementally from normal coronary arteries to obstructive CAD. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical outcomes of symptomatic patients with nonobstructive CAD with luminal stenoses of 1% to 49% on the basis of coronary plaque morphology in an outpatient setting. Among 3,499 consecutive symptomatic subjects who underwent computed tomographic angiography, 1,102 subjects with nonobstructive CAD (mean age 59 ± 14 years, 69.9% men) were prospectively followed for a mean of 78 ± 12 months. Coronary plaques were defined as noncalcified, mixed, and calcified per patient. Multivariate Cox proportional-hazards models were developed to predict all-cause mortality. The death rate of patients with nonobstructive CAD was 3.1% (34 deaths). The death rate increased incrementally from calcified plaque (1.4%) to mixed plaque (3.3%) to noncalcified plaque (9.6%), as well as from single- to triple-vessel disease (p <0.001). In subjects with mixed or calcified plaques, the death rate increased with the severity of coronary artery calcium from 1 to 9 to ≥400. The risk-adjusted hazard ratios of all-cause mortality in patients with nonobstructive CAD were 3.2 (95% confidence interval 1.3 to 8.0, p = 0.001) for mixed plaques and 7.4 (95% confidence interval 2.7 to 20.1, p = 0.0001) for noncalcified plaques compared with calcified plaques. The areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curve to predict all-cause mortality were 0.75 for mixed and 0.86 for noncalcified coronary lesions. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the presence of noncalcified and mixed coronary plaques provided incremental value in predicting all-cause mortality in symptomatic subjects with nonobstructive CAD independent of age, gender, and conventional risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndromes randomized in the Acute Catheterization and Urgent Intervention Triage Strategy (ACUITY) trial who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) were examined. The ACUITY trial assessed the safety and efficacy of bivalirudin alone versus bivalirudin plus a glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitor versus heparin plus a GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor in 13,819 patients with moderate- and high-risk acute coronary syndromes, 7,789 of whom underwent PCI. A total of 329 patients (4.2%) underwent PCI of SVGs in ACUITY. The primary end points at 30 days were composite ischemia or major adverse cardiac events (death, myocardial infarction, or unplanned target vessel revascularization), major bleeding (unrelated to coronary artery bypass grafting), and net adverse clinical events (composite ischemia or major bleeding). The rates of ischemic, bleeding, and net clinical end points were similar with bivalirudin monotherapy, bivalirudin plus a GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor, and heparin plus a GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor. Net adverse clinical outcome rates at 30 days were 22%, 26%, and 22% (p = 0.67), respectively, for the 3 groups. Major adverse cardiac event rates at 1 year were 37%, 37%, and 43% (p = 0.95), respectively. Minor bleeding unrelated to coronary artery bypass grafting at 30 days was significantly lower with bivalirudin alone compared with heparin plus a GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor (26% vs 38%, p = 0.05). In conclusion, bivalirudin is an effective anticoagulant in PCI of SVGs in acute coronary syndromes, with similar rates of major adverse cardiac events and net adverse cardiac events and lower minor bleeding complications in comparison with heparin plus a GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor or bivalirudin plus a GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relation between oxidative stress and coronary artery calcium (CAC) progression is currently not well described. The present study evaluated the relation among the biomarkers of oxidative stress, vascular dysfunction, and CAC. Sixty asymptomatic subjects participated in a randomized trial evaluating the effect of aged garlic extract plus supplement versus placebo and underwent measurement of CAC. The postcuff deflation temperature-rebound index of vascular function was assessed using a reactive hyperemia procedure. The content of oxidized phospholipids (OxPL) on apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB) particles detected by antibody E06 (OxPL/apoB), lipoprotein(a), IgG and IgM autoantibodies to malondialdehyde–low-density lipoprotein and apoB-immune complexes were measured at baseline and after 12 months of treatment. CAC progression was defined as an annual increase in CAC >15%. Vascular dysfunction was defined according to the tertiles of temperature-rebound at 1 year of follow-up. From baseline to 12 months, a strong inverse correlation was noted between an increase in CAC scores and increases in temperature-rebound (r2 = −0.90), OxPL/apoB (r2 = −0.85), and lipoprotein(a) (r2 = −0.81) levels (p <0.0001 for all). The improvement in temperature-rebound correlated positively with the increases in OxPL/apoB (r2 = 0.81, p = 0.0008) and lipoprotein(a) (r2 = 0.79, p = 0.0001) but inversely with autoantibodies to malondialdehyde–low-density lipoprotein and apoB-immune complexes. The greatest CAC progression was noted with the lowest tertiles of increases in temperature-rebound, OxPL/apoB and lipoprotein(a) and the highest tertiles of increases in IgG and IgM malondialdehyde–low-density lipoprotein. In conclusion, the present results have documented a strong relation among markers of oxidative stress, vascular dysfunction, and progression of coronary atherosclerosis. Increases in OxPL/apoB and lipoprotein(a) correlated strongly with increases in vascular function and predicted a lack of progression of CAC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]