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BACKGROUND Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an important cause of acute coronary syndrome, yet its pathophysiology is only partially understood. We sought to assess the association between endothelial dysfunction (ED) and SCAD. METHODS We prospectively assessed patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome who were diagnosed with SCAD. The control arm had established coronary artery atherosclerotic disease (AD) according to previous coronary angiography. ED was assessed using the EndoPAT 2000 while patients returned to their steady state condition. A total of 16 patients with SCAD and 66 patients with AD were included. RESULTS Microvascular reactivity as assessed with the EndoPAT was significantly worse in the AD group compared to the SCAD group. The median RHI in the AD group was 1.76 (IQR 1.52, 2.2) vs. a median RHI of 2.08 (IQR 1.73, 2.79) in the SCAD group (p

Background Radial artery occlusion (RAO) is the most common complication following transradial approach (TRA) for cardiac catheterization. Our aim was to assess if decreasing radial hemostatic device (RHD) time reduces the risk of RAO among individuals receiving small sheath sizes with no adjunctive heparin. Methods We randomized 450 individuals undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization via the TRA to 3 durations of RHD time: 10, 20 or 30 minutes. After this time period, the RHD was gradually released over 20 minutes. The primary efficacy endpoint was forearm hematoma grade ≥2 (5-10 cm) and the primary safety endpoint was RAO (as determined by Doppler ultrasound) one-hour post RHD removal (pre-discharge). Results The mean age was 66 years and 64% were male. 5 French sheaths were used in all patients. Hematoma grade ≥2 occurred only in 1 patient in the 20 minutes groups (P=0.39). RAO occurred in 6.7% of patients in the 10 minute group, 10.7% in the 20 minute group and 6% in the 30 minute group (P=0.26). Conclusion Among patients receiving small caliber sheaths without adjunctive heparin, the incidence of forearm hematoma and RAO are low. Shorter durations of RHD time did not further reduce the risk of these complications. Brief summary We assessed if reducing radial hemostatic device (RHD) time decreases the risk of radial artery occlusion (RAO) in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization via the trasradial approach while small size sheaths and no heparin are used. We randomized 450 individuals into 3 durations of RHD time: 10, 20 or 30 minutes. The incidence of forearm hematoma and RAO were low and not different between groups.

Introduction Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is often associated with myocardial ischemia despite lack of focal epicardial coronary stenoses and this is partially attributable to microvascular dysfunction. The index of microvascular resistance (IMR) is a hemodynamic index that is independent of epicardial stenoses and reflects coronary microvascular function. Purpose To investigate the relationship between microvascular dysfunction and the degree of hypertrophy in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients. Methods We performed a prospective study to assess epicardial and microvascular coronary hemodynamics in 12 subjects with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography. A pressure-temperature sensor coronary guidewire was used with intracoronary injections of room-temperature saline to measure mean coronary transit time during rest and hyperemia induced with intravenous adenosine. IMR was calculated by multiplying mean coronary transit time during hyperemia by distal coronary pressure in each subject. Left ventricular mass was calculated from baseline echocardiographic studies using established methods. Continuous variables are shown as mean ± standard deviation. Results Six subjects were male; mean age was 59.8±11.6 years. Baseline body mass index was 30.5±6.1 kg/m2 and left ventricular ejection fraction was 76.7% ± 11.0% with mean left ventricular mass 230.1±76.6 grams by echocardiography. Ten subjects had asymmetric septal hypertrophy; one subject had marked apical hypertrophy and one subject had asymmetric septal and inferolateral hypertrophy. Resting left ventricular outflow tract gradient was 59.4±37.8 mmHg and increased to 90.0±54.1 mmHg with Valsalva maneuver. Systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve was present in 10 subjects. Hemodynamic variables included coronary flow reserve (2.1±1.2); hyperemic mean transit time (0.29±0.15 sec.), and IMR (21.7±10.2). Index of microvascular resistance was strongly positively correlated with left ventricular mass (Figure 1; Pearson r=0.68, p=0.021). Figure 1. IMR is correlated with LV mass Conclusion(s) Microvascular dysfunction as assessed by IMR is strongly correlated with left ventricular mass and may contribute to symptoms in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Radial artery occlusion is the most common complication following trans-radial approach (TRA) for cardiac catheterization. Our aim was to compare short durations of compression hemostatic device (CHD) application post TRA in patients not receiving anticoagulation. Patients (n=450) undergoing