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Discordance between fractional flow reserve (FFR) and instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) occurs in approximately 20 % of cases. However, no studies have reported the discordance in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic discordance between FFR and iFR in patients with severe AS.We examined 140 consecutive patients with severe AS (164 intermediate coronary artery stenosis vessels). FFR and iFR were calculated in four quadrants based on threshold FFR and iFR values of ≤0.8 and ≤0.89, respectively (Group 1: iFR0.89, FFR0.80; Group 2: iFR ≤0.89, FFR0.80; Group 3: iFR0.89, FFR ≤0.80; and Group 4: iFR ≤0.89, FFR ≤0.80). Concordant groups were Groups 1 and 4, and discordant groups were Groups 2 and 3. Positive and negative discordant groups were Groups 3 and 2, respectively.The median (Q1, Q3) FFR and iFR were 0.84 (0.76, 0.88) and 0.85 (0.76, 0.91), respectively. Discordance was observed in 48 vessels (29.3 %). In the discordant group, negative discordance (Group 2: iFR ≤0.89 and FFR0.80) was predominant (45 cases, 93.6 %). Multivariate analysis showed that the left anterior descending artery [odds ratio (OR), 3.88; 95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.54-9.79, p = 0.004] and peak velocity ≥5.0 m/s (OR, 3.21; 95%CI: 1.36-7.57, p = 0.008) were independently associated with negative discordance (FFR0.8 and iFR ≤0.89).In patients with severe AS, discordance between FFR and iFR was predominantly negative and observed in 29.3 % of vessels. The left anterior descending artery and peak velocity ≥5.0 m/s were independently associated with negative discordance.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE Data on the feasibility of coronary access (CA) through above or outside of the cylindrical shaped-transcatheter heart valve (THV) are very limited. The aims of the present study were to assess the feasibility of CA after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with the LOTUS using multi detector computed tomography (MDCT) and the reliability of algorithm detecting unfavorable CA. METHODS/MATERIALS Post-TAVR MDCT of 41 patients with 82 coronary arteries were evaluated. The relationship and distance between the THV flame and sinotubular junction (STJ) and coronary ostia were assessed. Unfavorable CA was defined as the valve-to-STJ distance < 2-mm or the valve-to-coronary ostia distance < 2-mm if the THV flame was above STJ or coronary ostia. RESULTS MDCT-identified unfavorable CA was observed in 29.3% for the left coronary artery and 41.5% for the right coronary artery. In total, 53.7% of patients had at least one unfavorable CA and 14.6% of those had unfavorable CA for both left and right coronary artery. While patients underwent coronary angiography after TAVR, the success rates of selective coronary cannulation were significantly lower in patients with MDCT-identified unfavorable CA in comparison to those with favorable CA for left (20.0% vs. 100%, P = 0.002) and right coronary artery (0% vs. 100%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Future CA through above or outside of a cylindrical shaped THV may be challenging with a significant probability. Our algorithm identifying unfavorable CA using post-MDCT seems to be useful for estimating the risk of unsuccessful selective cannulation.

BackgroundRecent studies suggested short-term mortality after transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) was comparable between male and female. However, the sex-specific prognostic difference in long-term follow-up after TEER is still unknown. To evaluate the impact of sex on long-term mortality after TEER for functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) using multicenter registry data.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 1220 patients (male 60.3%) who underwent TEER for FMR at 24 centers. Impact of sex on all-cause death and hospitalization for heart failure (HF) after TEER was evaluated using multivariate regression analysis and propensity score (PS) matching methods.ResultsDuring the two-year follow-up, 205 all-cause death and 259 hospitalizations for HF were observed after TEER for FMR. Male had a significantly lower incidence of all-cause death than female (18.7% vs. 14.0%, log-rank p < 0.01). After adjustment by multivariate Cox-regression and PS matching, male was significantly associated with a higher incidence of all-cause mortality after TEER than female (hazard ratio [HR] 2.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.48 to 3.39 in multivariate Cox-regression; HR 2.04, 95% CI 1.17 to 3.57 in PS matching). The sex-specific prognostic difference was even more pronounced after 1-year of TEER. On contrary, there was no sex-related difference in hospitalization for HF after TEER.ConclusionsMale had a higher incidence of two-year all-cause death during after TEER for FMR than female, while this was not observed in hospitalization for HF. This result might indicate that female with FMR is more likely to benefit from TEER for better prognosis.What is known?There were conflicting results in sex-related prognostic difference after TEER for FMR.What the study addsDuring two-year follow-up period, male had higher increased risk of mortality after TEER than female in multivariate regression and propensity score matched analysis, while there was no sex-related difference in hospitalization for HF after TEER. Female with FMR might be likely to derived benefit from TEER concomitant with GDMT as compared to male.

Although a distal radial artery (DRA) approach has recently been used in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization, no studies have so far investigated the safety and feasibility of DRA in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). We aimed to investigate the incidence of conventional radial artery (CRA) occlusion and puncture site complications after DRA puncture in patients undergoing HD.We retrospectively analyzed the data of 117 consecutive patients with HD who underwent coronary angiography or percutaneous coronary intervention via a DRA approach at our institution from September 2017 to December 2019. The primary endpoint was the incidence of CRA occlusion after DRA puncture, as assessed via vascular ultrasonography. Secondary endpoints included difficulty achieving hemostasis, DRA occlusion, aneurysm, arteriovenous shunt, and acute ischemia.The DRA puncture was successful in 106 patients (success rate: 90.5%). Because 21 patients lacked postprocedural vascular ultrasonography data, the primary endpoint was evaluated in 85 patients. CRA occlusion occurred in three patients (3.5%) following DRA puncture. DRA occlusion and aneurysm occurred in five patients (5.9%) and one patient (1.2%), respectively.Catheterization through DRA is feasible in patients undergoing HD, with a clinically acceptable incidence of CRA and complications.

Background Difficulties are often encountered while controlling atrial fibrillation (AF), especially in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Previous data revealed that cryoballoon ablation (CBA) for treating paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) was not inferior to radiofrequency ablation (RFA); however, HD patients were excluded in this prior trial. Thus, the efficacy of CBA for HD patients is still unknown. Methods This retrospective study analyzed HD patients who underwent catheter ablation (CA) for AF from August 2011 to June 2019. Patients who received CBA (CBA group) and those who received RFA (RFA group) were compared. The primary endpoint was defined as freedom from a composite outcome (a documented recurrence of any atrial tachyarrhythmia or a prescription of antiarrhythmic drugs) at one year after CA. Results The RFA and CBA groups were composed of 21 and 23 patients, respectively. Freedom from a composite outcome was 58.4% in the RFA group and 68.2% in the CBA group (Log-rank: p = 0.571). Conclusion Our results suggest that patients on HD with AF who were treated with CBA tended to have better outcomes than patients treated with RFA. Therefore, CBA could be a suitable ablation method for HD patients.

Coronary artery disease is common in patients on dialysis; there is a high rate of bleeding events after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in such patients. We investigated the impact of bleeding events after PCI on mortality in patients on hemodialysis. We included 386 consecutive hemodialysis patients who underwent PCI using a drug-eluting stent (DES) between September 2004 and December 2017 in our hospital, and investigated the impact of bleeding events on all-cause mortality after PCI. Bleeding events were assessed by the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) bleeding definition within 24 months after PCI. A total of 42 patients experienced bleeding events. Of these, 30 patients (71.4%) had TIMI major bleeding events and 12 patients (28.6%) had TIMI minor bleeding events. Patients with bleeding events had significantly higher mortality than patients without bleeding events (survival rate, 55.1% vs 81.5%, log-rank: p

Objective To evaluate the short-, long-term clinical and angiographic outcomes after treatment of true bifurcation lesions using a modified jailed balloon technique (MJBT). Background Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for true bifurcation lesions has high risk for adverse events. Side branch (SB) occlusion is one of the most serious complications. Therefore, novel strategies to avoid SB occlusion during main branch stenting and to keep its patency are important. Methods and results Between February 2015 and February 2018, 328 patients with 349 true bifurcation lesions underwent PCI using MJBT. True bifurcation lesions were defined as Medina classifications (1.1.1), (1.0.1) or (0.1.1) lesions. We investigated the procedural and long-term clinical outcomes. Furthermore, angiographic outcomes were assessed at follow-up diagnostic angiography. The mean age of patients was 71.6 ± 9.9 years. Procedural success was achieved in all patients; postoperative SB occlusion was noted in only one patient (0.3%). The cumulative incidence of all-cause death was 23 patients (7.0%) in the follow-up period (median 717 days). Target lesion revascularization was performed in 19 patients (5.8%) with 23 lesions (6.6%), and 0.6% of myocardial infarction and 0% of definite stent thrombosis were observed. Angiographic follow-up was performed in 243 patients (74.1%); the percent diameter stenosis in SB was not significantly different between after the index procedure and follow-up angiography. Conclusions This MJBT is safe and effective in preserving SB patency for true bifurcation lesions. Furthermore, long-term clinical and angiographic outcomes after MJBT are feasible.

BACKGROUND The MitraClip NT System was approved for marketing in Japan on October 31, 2017, and a prospective, multi-center, single-arm Post-Marketing use Surveillance (PMS) study was launched in 2018. This is the first report of the Japan PMS study with 1-year subject outcomes.Methods and Results:A total of 500 patients were registered between April 2018 and January 2019. Patients with symptomatic chronic moderate-to-severe (3+) or severe mitral regurgitation (MR; 4+), MR with a Society of Thoracic Surgery (STS) replacement score of ≥8%, or presence of 1 pre-defined risk factor were enrolled. Primary outcome measures included acute procedural success (APS), and rate of Single Leaflet Device Attachment (SLDA) at 30 days. The overall cohort was elderly (77.9±9.48 years) with functional MR etiology in 71.6% of the subjects. The majority of subjects were New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III/IV (68.9%), with mean STS replacement score of 11.95±9.66%. The APS rate was 91.13% and the 30-day SLDA rate was 1.21%. Durable MR reduction was achieved with 88.1% of subjects at MR ≤2+ at 1 year. Significant improvement in the functional capacity was observed, with 93% of subjects at NYHA class I/II at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS In the Japan PMS experience, the MitraClip procedure resulted in improvements in MR severity, with significantly improved functional outcomes. These results demonstrate safety and efficacy of MitraClip therapy in the eligible Japanese population.

Background Ventricular‐arterial coupling predicts outcomes in patients with heart failure. The arterial elastance to end‐systolic elastance ratio (Ea/Ees) is a noninvasively assessed index that reflects ventricular‐arterial coupling. We aimed to determine the prognostic value of ventricular‐arterial coupling assessed through Ea/Ees after transcatheter aortic valve replacement to predict clinical events. Methods and Results We retrieved data on 1378 patients (70% women) who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement between October 2013 and May 2017 from the OCEAN‐TAVI (Optimized transCathEter vAlvular iNtervention) Japanese multicenter registry. We determined the association between Ea/Ees and the composite end point of hospitalization for heart failure and cardiovascular death by classifying the patients into quartiles based on Ea/Ees values (group 1: 0.666) during the midterm follow‐up after transcatheter aortic valve replacement. During a median follow‐up period of 736 days (interquartile range, 414–956), there were 247 (17.9%) all‐cause deaths, 89 (6.5%) cardiovascular deaths, 130 (9.4%) hospitalizations for heart failure, and 199 (14.4%) composite events of hospitalization for heart failure and cardiovascular death. The incidence of the composite end point was significantly higher in group 2 (hazard ratio [HR], 1.76; 95% CI, 1.08–2.87 [ P =0.024]), group 3 (HR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.53–3.86 [ P P P =0.015]). Conclusions These findings suggest that a higher Ea/Ees at discharge after transcatheter aortic valve replacement is associated with adverse clinical outcomes during midterm follow‐up. Registration URL: https://www.upload.umin.ac.jp/ . Unique identifier: UMIN000020423.

The patient was an 84-year-old man who had moderate-to-severe eccentric mitral regurgitation due to a prolapsed P1 segment ([Figures 1A and 1B][1], [Videos 1][2] and [2][3]). MitraClip implantation (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, California) was performed via the right femoral vein. When the guiding

The MitraClip System is extensively used in high-risk patients with symptomatic severe mitral regurgitation (MR). Some studies have identified complications associated with use of the MitraClip. We report the case of a 91-year-old woman with severe MR of a prolapsed posterior commissure. Two weeks after using the MitraClip, she developed hemolytic anemia. She was conservatively treated with blood transfusion and medical treatment; fortunately, her general condition did not deteriorate during the follow-up period. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of hemolytic anemia after MitraClip implantation.

© The Author(s) 2021. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/., Background: Ethnic disparities have been reported in cardiovascular disease. However, ethnic disparities in takotsubo syndrome (TTS) remain elusive. This study assessed differences in clinical characteristics between Japanese and European TTS patients and determined the impact of ethnicity on in-hospital outcomes. Methods: TTS patients in Japan were enrolled from 10 hospitals and TTS patients in Europe were enrolled from 32 hospitals participating in the International Takotsubo Registry. Clinical characteristics and in-hospital outcomes were compared between Japanese and European patients. Results: A total of 503 Japanese and 1670 European patients were included. Japanese patients were older (72.6 ± 11.4 years vs. 68.0 ± 12.0 years; p < 0.001) and more likely to be male (18.5 vs. 8.4%; p < 0.001) than European TTS patients. Physical triggering factors were more common (45.5 vs. 32.0%; p < 0.001), and emotional triggers less common (17.5 vs. 31.5%; p < 0.001), in Japanese patients than in European patients. Japanese patients were more likely to experience cardiogenic shock during the acute phase (15.5 vs. 9.0%; p < 0.001) and had a higher in-hospital mortality (8.2 vs. 3.2%; p < 0.001). However, ethnicity itself did not appear to have an impact on in-hospital mortality. Machine learning approach revealed that the presence of physical stressors was the most important prognostic factor in both Japanese and European TTS patients. Conclusion: Differences in clinical characteristics and in-hospital outcomes between Japanese and European TTS patients exist. Ethnicity does not impact the outcome in TTS patients. The worse in-hospital outcome in Japanese patients, is mainly driven by the higher prevalence of physical triggers., Open Access funding provided by Universität Zürich. CT has been supported by the H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al-Thani Research Programme and the Swiss Heart Foundation. L.S.M. has been supported by EU HORIZON 2020 (SILICOFCM ID777204). J.R.G has received a grant “Filling the gap” from the University of Zurich. The InterTAK Registry is supported by The Biss Davies Charitable Trust.

Aims: Difficulties are often encountered while controlling atrial fibrillation (AF), especially in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Previous data revealed that cryoballoon ablation (CBA) for treating paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) was not inferior to radiofrequency ablation (RFA); however, HD patients were excluded in this prior trial. Thus, the efficacy of CBA for HD patients is still unknown. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed HD patients who underwent catheter ablation (CA) for AF from August 2011 to June 2019. Patients who received CBA (CBA group) and those who received RFA (RFA group) were compared. The primary endpoint was defined as freedom from a composite outcome (a documented recurrence of any atrial tachyarrhythmia or a prescription of antiarrhythmic drugs) at one year after CA. The secondary endpoint was freedom from a documented recurrence of any atrial tachyarrhythmia at one year after CA. Results: The RFA and CBA groups were composed of 21 and 23 patients, respectively. Freedom from a composite outcome was 58.4% in the RFA group and 68.2 % in the CBA group (Log-rank: p=0.571). Freedom from any atrial tachyarrhythmia was 63.5% in the RFA group and 90.9% in the CBA group (Log-rank: p=0.042). Conclusion: Our results suggest that patients on HD with AF who were treated with CBA tended to have better outcomes than patients treated with RFA. Therefore, CBA could be a suitable ablation method for HD patients.

Objectives: This study investigated the diagnostic performance of instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) in patients with aortic valve stenosis (AS).Background: The iFR was introduced as a new...

Objective Multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) coronary angiography has been reported as an effective alternative to invasive conventional coronary angiography (CCA) for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, in previous reports, the diagnostic accuracy of MSCT has not been significant enough to be of benefit in symptomatic patients. The aim of this study was to identify the usefulness of 320-slice computed tomography coronary angiography (320-CTA) for symptomatic patients in terms of the diagnostic accuracy of 320-CTA and the prevalence of vasospastic angina pectoris (VSAP) within the study cohort. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 513 consecutive symptomatic patients with suspected CAD who had undergone 320-CTA and CCA. We determined the diagnostic accuracy of 320-CTA using CCA as the reference standard. Ergonovine provocation tests were performed on patients without significant coronary artery stenosis on CCA. Results Of the total cohort of 513 symptomatic patients, 39% had obstructive CAD. The patient based analysis of the accuracy of 320-CTA showed a sensitivity of 91.0%, a specificity of 71.0%, a positive predictive value of 66.5%, and a negative predictive value of 92.5%. Of the 314 symptomatic patients who did not have significant coronary artery stenosis on CCA, 58 (18%) were diagnosed with VSAP using ergonovine provocation tests. Discussion The negative and positive predictive values indicate that 320-CTA cannot replace CCA for symptomatic patients. Indeed, a combination of CCA and ergonovine provocation tests should be taken into consideration for symptomatic patients.

Objectives The aims of this study were to assess whether the transradial approach can be applied to treat complex chronic total occlusion (CTO) and to determine the predictors of transradial percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) failure. Background Consistent data on the outcomes of transradial PCI for treating CTO are scarce. Methods Consecutive patients who were not receiving hemodialysis and had undergone PCI for CTO were enrolled. The clinical and angiographic characteristics, procedural details, and outcomes of the transradial and transfemoral procedures were examined. Results In total, 280 and 305 CTO PCI procedures involved transradial and transfemoral access, respectively. The technical success rates did not significantly differ in the entire cohort analysis and the propensity score–matched analysis (74.6% vs. 72.5%; p = 0.51 and 70.6% vs. 73.3%; p = 0.57). When only cases with J-CTO (Multicenter Chronic Total Occlusion Registry of Japan) scores of ≥3 were examined, the transradial group had a significantly lower success rate than the transfemoral group (35.7% vs. 58.2%; p = 0.04). The use of guiding catheter size 20 mm (OR: 2.97; p Conclusions Transradial PCI for CTO may be feasible in noncomplex cases, although complex cases still pose a challenge. In cases of transradial PCI for CTO, if possible, guiding catheter size ≥7 F should be selected regardless of lesion morphology. Furthermore, the transfemoral approach should be preferentially considered for complex CTO, particularly in cases with calcification.

BACKGROUND The MitraClip®system is a transcatheter-based therapeutic option for patients with chronic mitral regurgitation (MR) who are at high risk for surgery. A prospective, multicenter, single-arm study was initiated to confirm the transferability of this system to Japan.Methods and Results:Patients with symptomatic chronic moderate-to-severe (3+) or severe (4+) functional or degenerative MR with a Society of Thoracic Surgery (STS) score ≥8%, or the presence of 1 predefined risk factor were enrolled. Patients with left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF)

Fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement is a well-established pressure wire-based procedure that is used to assess the functional severity of coronary lesions [(1)][1]. Various randomized trials have demonstrated that FFR-guided revascularization improves clinical outcomes in patients with

Objectives This study aimed to determine the long-term outcomes of SMART stent implantation for femoro-popliteal (FP) lesions. Background The long-term results of SMART stent implantation for FP lesions remained unknown. Methods We studied 319 limbs in 269 patients (mean age: 73.2 ± 7.7 years) who underwent SMART stent implantation for FP lesions (mean treated-lesion length: 118.5 ± 81.0 mm) from 2004 to 2014, retrospectively. These patients were followed-up for a mean of 52.8 ± 33.8 months (median: 51.0 months). Kaplan–Meier and log-rank analyses were used to determine time to event. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated through univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard analyses to estimate predictors of primary patency loss. Results Overall, 37.3% of lesions were TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) IIC/D lesions, and 41.1% exhibited chronic total occlusion. Post-procedural primary patency rates were 87.7%, 79.4%, 68.1%, 53.7%, and 50.3%, at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 years, respectively; the corresponding secondary patency rates were 96.5%, 91.7%, 85.0%, 73.8%, and 67.7%, respectively. TASC IIA/B lesions had considerably better primary patency rates than C/D lesions at all time points. Multivariate analysis indicated that lesion length (with >200 mm vs.

Objective To compare long-term patency after endovascular therapy (EVT) for superficial femoral artery (SFA) occlusive disease between patients with hemodialysis (HD; HD+) and those without HD (HD−). Background Long-term patency after EVT for SFA occlusive disease in HD+ remains unknown. Methods: EVT to SFA was successfully performed in 382 consecutive patients during 2004–2011. Cox proportional hazard model estimated the hazard ratio (HR) for the loss of primary patency (PP), secondary patency (SP), and amputation-free survival (AFS) in HD+. Binominal logistic regression analysis calculated the propensity score (PS) for covariates with a P value of

Eccentric distribution of atheroma has been associated with plaques likely to rupture and cause an acute coronary syndrome, but the factors responsible for the development of eccentricity remain unknown. Endothelial shear stress (ESS) drives plaque formation. We aimed to investigate the role of the local ESS characteristics in the de novo development and progressive worsening of plaque eccentricity in humans.Vascular profiling (3-vessel 3D coronary reconstruction by angiography/intravascular ultrasound, and blood flow simulation for ESS computation) was performed in 374 patients at baseline6-10 months follow-up. At baseline, we identified (i) disease-free segments (n=2157), and (ii) diseased regions of luminal obstructions (n=408).In disease-free regions, baseline low ESS magnitude (p0.001), marked ESS circumferential heterogeneity (p=0.001), and their interaction (p=0.026) were associated with an increased probability of de novo eccentric plaque formation at follow-up. In diseased regions, baseline low ESS (odds ratio [OR]: 2.33, p=0.003) and large plaque burden (OR: 2.46, p=0.002) were independent predictors of substantially increasing plaque eccentricity index with worsening lumen encroachment. This combined outcome was more frequent in obstructions with both features vs. all others (33 vs. 12%; p0.001). The incidence of percutaneous coronary intervention in worsening obstructions with increasing plaque eccentricity was higher (13.3 vs. 4.3%, p=0.011).The local hemodynamic environment has a critical effect on the development of eccentric coronary plaques at both an early and advanced stage of atherosclerosis. Local ESS assessment could help in predicting sites prone to plaque disruption and acute coronary syndromes in humans.

Data regarding neoatherosclerosis after everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) (ABSORB BVS Rev. 1.1, Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, California) implantation are limited.This study investigated the findings of neoatherosclerosis at 5 years after BVS 1.1 implantation by using multi-imaging modalities, including optical coherence tomography (OCT).Patients included in the ABSORB EXTEND (ABSORB EXTEND Clinical Investigation) trial at Shonan Kamakura General Hospital underwent OCT at baseline after the index procedure and at 1 and 5 years. Intimal plaque distributions in the in-scaffold and out-scaffold segments were analyzed.Twenty patients (22 lesions) with stable angina pectoris were enrolled. The median follow-up duration was 67 months (interquartile range: 65 to 69 months), and the mean age was 69 ± 8 years. Patients with diabetes mellitus (25%) were included. Based on the baseline angiogram, 10 (46%) lesions were type B2/C lesions. At 1 and 5 years of follow-up, significant differences in the prevalence of in-scaffold lipid-laden neointima (17% vs. 61%; p = 0.04), calcification (28% vs. 94%; p 0.01), neovascularization (6% vs. 78%; p 0.01), and thin-cap fibroatheroma (0% vs. 22%; p = 0.02) were found. In the out-scaffold segments, no significant difference in the plaque prevalence between 1 and 5 years was noted.The occurrence and progression of in-scaffold neoatherosclerosis with luminal narrowing was observed at 5 years after BVS 1.1 implantation. The small size of the current study warrants confirmation in larger study. (ABSORB EXTEND Clinical Investigation [ABSORB EXTEND]; NCT01023789).

The MitraClipThe MitraClip

This study evaluated long-term results following successful endovascular therapy (EVT) for chronic total occlusion (CTO) below the knee (BTK) using the retrograde approach after a failed antegrade approach.Nineteen patients (19 limbs) with critical limb ischemia (CLI) who underwent successful EVT for BTK-CTO using the retrograde approach after a failed antegrade approach during 2010-2014 were studied.Mean duration of the follow-up period was 25.5 ± 17.9 months, and mean age was 76.0 ± 8.6 years. Patients on hemodialysis accounted for 10 cases (52.6%). Patients with Rutherford class 4 constituted 3 cases (15.8%) , while 8 patients each (42.1%) were categorized as Rutherford class 5 and class 6, respectively. All lesions were de novo CTOs. The mean occlusion length was 203.7 ± 114.7 mm. Vascular access for the retrograde approach was obtained via distal puncture in 9 cases (47.4%), whereas the transcollateral approach was employed in 10 cases (52.6%). The amputation-free survival rates at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years after the index procedure were 78.6%, 66.9%, 66.9%, 50.2%, and 50.2%, respectively.Successful EVT for BTK-CTO using various techniques via the retrograde approach provides promising long-term results in patients with CLI.

In atherosclerosis, carotid artery stenosis (CAS), renal artery stenosis (RAS), lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD), and coronary artery disease (CAD) are common pathologic lesions; their interrelationship is, however, unclear. We studied concomitant multiple atherosclerotic lesions in patients with CAD to understand their prevalence and relations. A cross-sectional analysis was performed on data from consecutive patients who underwent nonemergent coronary angiography. Simultaneous carotid and renal artery Doppler studies and ankle-brachial systolic pressure measurements were reviewed to diagnose concomitant lesions and their severity. The study included 1,734 patients (aged 71 ± 9 years; 70% men), with prevalences of CAS, RAS, lower extremity PAD, and CAD of 6%, 7%, 13%, and 72%, respectively. In patients with CAD (n = 1,253), the prevalences of CAS, RAS, and lower extremity PAD were 7%, 9%, and 16%, respectively; 24% CAD patients had ≥1 additional atherosclerotic lesion. Significant interactions among the prevalences of these lesions were found. In addition, the extent of CAD and the prevalences of CAS, RAS, and lower extremity PAD were significantly correlated. Multivariate analysis supported these relationships. In conclusion, the prevalences of CAS, RAS, lower extremity PAD, and CAD were strongly interrelated in the study population; CAD severity was related to that of other atherosclerotic lesions. Additional systematic screening of other concomitant atherosclerotic lesions is recommended, especially in CAD patients having multivessel disease, left main disease, and/or already diagnosed with other concomitant atherosclerotic lesions.

Objectives To evaluate the risk of long-term dual antiplatelet therapy (DAT) following drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation in octogenarians. Background DES implantation requires DAT; however, DAT-associated risk in octogenarians remains unclear. Methods Two-hundred and six consecutive octogenarians (130 men, 83.3 ± 3.4 years) underwent stent implantation (104 bare metal stents [BMSs] and 102 DESs) and 38.0 ± 13.2 months of follow-up. Results Significantly more DES patients received DAT. The incidence of bleeding events was similar in the DES and BMS groups for 1 year (total: 10.8% vs 5.8%, P = 0.19; major: 4.9% vs 2.9%, P = 0.70). However, after 2 years, significantly more bleeding events occurred in the DES group than the BMS group (total: 2 years, 21.6% vs 9.6%, P = 0.02; 3 years, 29.4% vs 11.5%, P = 0.001; 4 years, 31.4% vs 15.4%, P = 0.007; major: 2 years, 12.7% vs 3.8%, P = 0.04; 3 years, 18.6% vs 5.8%, P = 0.005; 4 years, 19.6% vs 6.7%, P = 0.006). Overall, significantly more total bleeding events (31.4% vs 15.4%, P = 0.007) and major bleeding events (19.2% vs 6.7%, P = 0.006) were observed in the DES group than in the BMS group. The adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were as follows: total bleeding events, 2.203 (95% CI: 1.065–4.556; P = 0.033); major bleeding events, 4.324 (1.506–12.414; P = 0.007). Conclusions DAT was associated with an increased risk of bleeding events in octogenarians after 2 years. DAT discontinuation should be considered for octogenarians 1-year post-DES implantation. (J Interven Cardiol 2013;26:114–122)

Background: In-stent hyperplasia (ISH) may develop in regions of low endothelial shear stress (ESS), but the relationship between the magnitude of low ESS, the extent of ISH, and subsequent clinical events has not been investigated. Methods and Results: We assessed the association of poststent ESS with neointimal ISH and clinical outcomes in patients treated with percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Three-dimensional coronary reconstruction was performed in 374 post-PCI patients at baseline and 6 to 10 months follow-up as part of the PREDICTION Study. Each vessel was divided into 1.5-mm-long segments, and we calculated the local ESS within each stented segment at baseline. At follow-up, we assessed ISH and the occurrence of a clinically indicated repeat PCI for in-stent restenosis. In 246 total stents (54 overlapping), 100 (40.7%) were bare-metal stents (BMS), 104 (42.3%) sirolimus-eluting stents, and 42 (17.1%) paclitaxel-eluting stents. In BMS, low ESS post-PCI at baseline was independently associated with ISH (β=1.47 mm 2 per 1-Pa decrease; 95% CI, 0.38-2.56; P < 0.01). ISH was minimal in drug-eluting stents. During follow-up, repeat PCI in BMS was performed in 21 stents (8.5%). There was no significant association between post-PCI ESS and in-stent restenosis requiring PCI. Conclusions: Low ESS after BMS implantation is associated with subsequent ISH. ISH is strongly inhibited by drug-eluting stents. Post-PCI ESS is not associated with in-stent restenosis requiring repeat PCI. ESS is an important determinant of ISH in BMS, but ISH of large magnitude to require PCI for in-stent restenosis is likely attributed to factors other than ESS within the stent., Hellenic Cardiological Society, Schaubert Family, George D. Behrakis Cardiovascular Research Fellowship

A 74-year-old man included in the ABSORB EXTEND Clinical Investigation ([NCT01023789][1]) underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with an everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) (Absorb BVS1.1, Abbot Vascular, Santa Clara, California) 3.0 × 18 mm in proximal right coronary