The Importance of Mehran Score to Predict Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with TAVI: A Large Multicenter Cohort Study

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has developed as an alternative to surgery for symptomatic high-risk patients with aortic stenosis (AS). An important complication of TAVI is acute kidney injury. The purpose of the study was to investigate if the Mehran Score (MS) could be used to predict acute kidney injury (AKI) in TAVI patients. Methods: This is a multicenter, retrospective, observational study including 1180 patients with severe AS. The MS comprised eight clinical and procedural variables: hypotension, congestive heart failure class, glomerular filtration rate, diabetes, age >75 years, anemia, need for intra-aortic balloon pump, and contrast agent volume use. We assessed the sensitivity and specificity of the MS in predicting AKI following TAVI, as well as the predictive value of MS with each AKI-related characteristic. Results: Patients were categorized into four risk groups based on MS: low (≤5), moderate (6–10), high (11–15), and very high (≥16). Post-procedural AKI was observed in 139 patients (11.8%). MS classes had a higher risk of AKI in the multivariate analysis (HR 1.38, 95% CI, 1.43–1.63, p < 0.01). The best cutoff for MS to predict the onset of AKI was 13.0 (AUC, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.57–0.67), whereas the best cutoff for eGFR was 42.0 mL/min/1.73 m2 (AUC, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.56–0.67). Conclusions: MS was shown to be a predictor of AKI development in TAVI patients

Quantitative flow ratio-based outcomes in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation quaestio study

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is common in patients with aortic valve stenosis (AS) ranging from 60% to 80%. The clinical and prognostic role of coronary artery lesions in patients undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) remains unclear. The aim of the present observational study was to estimate long-term clinical outcomes by Quantitative Flow Ratio (QFR) characterization of CAD in a well-represented cohort of patients affected by severe AS treated by TAVI. Methods: A total of 439 invasive coronary angiographies of patients deemed eligible for TAVI by local Heart Teams with symptomatic severe AS were retrospectively screened for QFR analysis. The primary endpoint of the study was all-cause mortality. The secondary endpoint was a composite of cardiovascular mortality, stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and any hospitalization after TAVI. Results: After exclusion of patients with no follow-up data, coronary angiography not feasible for QFR analysis and previous surgical myocardial revascularization (CABG) 48/239 (20.1%) patients had a QFR value lower or equal to 0.80 (QFR + value), while the remaining 191/239 (79.9%) did not present any vessel with a QFR positive value. In the adjusted Cox regression analysis, patients with positive QFR were independently associated with an increased risk of all-casual mortality (Model 1, HR 3.47, 95% CI, 2.35−5.12; Model 2, HR 5.01, 95% CI, 3.17−7.90). In the adjusted covariate analysis, QFR+ involving LAD (37/48, 77,1%) was associated with the higher risk of the composite outcome compared to patients without any positive value of QFR or non-LAD QFR positive value (11/48, 22.9%). Conclusions: Pre-TAVI QFR analysis can be used for a safe, simple, wireless functional assessment of CAD. QFR permits to identify patients at high risk of cardiovascular mortality or MACE, and it could be considered by local Heart Teams

Serum levels and clinical response to digoxin in congestive heart failure in the elderly

Since two centuries the use of digitalis glycosides for treatment of congestive heart failure has received conflicting acceptance by clinicians. We studied a group of94 old-aged patients with various degrees of chronic heat failure receiving chronically two types of digitalis(digoxin or B-metyl-digoxin) to evaluate compliance, adverse reaction and clinical picture. The study confirmed that both drugs were able to give a good compliance, with therapeutic plasma levels, without signs of accumulation. In conclusion treatment of elderly patients with low doses of digitalis without clinical signs of heart insufficiency or referring this event in the past , o showing sub-therapeutic serum digoxin levels is a practice not to be stresse

Livelli plasmatici di beta-endorfine e infarto miocardico acuto.

Livelli plasmatici di B-endorfine e infarto miocardico acut

Long-term outcomes with cobalt-chromium bare-metal vs. drug-eluting stents: the REgistro regionale AngiopLastiche dell'Emilia-Romagna registry.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the long-term efficacy of cobalt-chromium bare-metal stents (CCSs) with that of first-generation drug-eluting stents (DESs) in patients within a large real-world multicentre registry. METHODS: The incidence of major adverse cardiac events [death, acute myocardial infarction, and target-vessel revascularization (TVR)] and angiographic stent thrombosis were assessed in consecutive patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with CCS (n = 1103) or DES (n = 5195) during 2-year follow-up. Propensity score-adjusted outcomes, overall and in patients with low (≤ 10%), intermediate (10-15%), and high (>15%) 1-year restenosis risk, were estimated. RESULTS: DES-treated patients had significantly higher rates of diabetes, longer lesions, and smaller vessel diameters than CCS-treated patients (all P < 0.0001). However, CCS patients were older and presented a higher rate of hypertension, previous myocardial infarction, and heart failure (all P < 0.01). At 2 years, adjusted rates of myocardial infarction, death, and cumulative-stent thrombosis were similar for DES and CCS. DES provided statistically significant (P < 0.01) reductions in TVR and adjusted major adverse cardiac event rates (9.7 and 17.2%, respectively) compared with CCS (13.2 and 21.2%, respectively). In patients at highest and intermediate risk of restenosis, adjusted TVR rates were significantly (P < 0.01) lower with DES (12.2 and 8.9%, respectively) than CCS (19.9 and 17.1%, respectively), but rates were similar in low-risk patients. CONCLUSION: DESs were more effective than CCSs in lowering TVR rates in patients with an intermediate-high baseline restenosis risk

Lipids and serum apoproteins in subjects with slight or mild coronary atherosclerosis evaluated with angiography

In this study 126 subjects (91 males and 35 females, range of age 43-65 years) were studied by coronary angiography. We considered positive for coronary atherosclerosis also patients showing mild or moderate stenosis (&gt; or = 25%). In all subjects we have evaluated serum lipid and apoprotein A-I, B, C-II, C-III and E levels; therefore also cholesterol concentrations in all lipoprotein fractions, separated by sequential ultracentrifugation (VLDL d &lt; 1.006, LDL d 1.006-1.063, HDL d &gt; 1.063 g/ml) and apoprotein B in LDL have been measured. Subjects with coronary atherosclerosis have shown significantly higher levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratios than controls. Therefore, a lower apo A-I/apo B ratio in males and a higher LDL-apo B levels in females has been found in subjects with coronary atherosclerosis in comparison with controls. The stepwise multiple analysis has demonstrated that LDL-cholesterol levels is the parameter that best correlates with the presence of coronary atherosclerosis. These data confirm the importance of the reduction of LDL-cholesterol levels in primary and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease

P1517Risk of acute kidney injury in transcatheter aortic valve implantation procedures and impact on 30-day outcome

Abstract Background Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a safe and effective procedure for patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis who do not qualify for surgery. Nevertheless, post-procedure acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication and it is associated with worse outcomes. Aim To assess the impact of acute kidney injury (AKI) occurring immediately after the TAVI procedure on patients' outcome. Methods We conducted a multicenter retrospective study on patients treated with TAVI from 2010 to 2018. The assigned treatment, the selection of the device (self-expandable/balloon-expandable valve) and the type of approach used were determined by each individual Center on the basis of the patient's characteristics and the choice of the operator. All patients had an intermediate or high Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score. Basal creatinine and glomerular filtrate (using the body mass index, sex and age) were evaluated for each patient. According to the KDIGO criteria, AKI is defined as an increase in serum creatinine (SCr) ≥0,3mg/dl within 48 hours or an increase in SCr ≥1.5 times baseline or urine volume &lt;0,5ml/kg/h for 6 hours. The incidence of post procedural AKI and its correlation with the short-term mortality and outcomes was evaluated as primary end point (stroke/TIA/RIND, cardiac tamponade, bleeding, vascular complications, cardiocirculatory arrest with subsequent ROSC, definitive pacemaker implantation, postoperative atrial fibrillation, left bundle branch block de novo).Postoperative outcomes were defined according to the updated Valve Academic Research Consortium 2 definitions Results A total of 371 pts were analysed. Mean age was 82.3±5.9 and the majority of the pts had an STS score&gt;10 (97.6%). Incidence of Acute kidney Injury (AKI) stage 3 post TAVI, according to VARC-2 criteria, was 16,2%. In patient with AKI, the hospitalization time was longer 18,7±6,1 days vs 8,4±6,1 days without AKI (p&lt;0,01). Patients with AKI had an increased risk of in hospital mortality (OR 50,0; 95% CI 5,2–390,16; p&lt;0,01) and 30 day mortality (OR: 5,88; 95% CI 2,08–16,60; p&lt;0,01). Acute Kidney Injury instead was more common in patients treated with transapical access (OD 3,9-CI 95% 2,16–7,07; p&lt;0,01) or with PAD (OR 1,87 - CI 95% 1,03–3,41; p=0,03) AKI and short term mortality Conclusion Acute kidney injury is a frequent complication after TAVI. AKI seems to be the strongest predictor for 30 day mortality and increases the hospitalization time. AKI was more common in patients treated with a transapical approach or if they presented a PAD. In contrast, pre-procedural chronic kidney disease did not seem to correlate directly with an increased risk of AKI. </jats:sec

Natural History of Coronary Atherosclerosis in Patients With Aortic Stenosis Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: The Role of Quantitative Flow Ratio

BACKGROUND: The prognostic impact of functionally significant coronary artery disease, as assessed with quantitative flow ratio (QFR), in patients with severe aortic stenosis treated with transcatheter aortic valve replacement is unknown. METHODS: This is a retrospective study with blind analysis of angiographic data, enrolling consecutive patients with severe aortic stenosis treated with transcatheter aortic valve replacement at 4 Italian centers. None of the patients enrolled received pre-transcatheter aortic valve replacement or concomitant coronary revascularization, either for the absence of significant coronary stenoses or by clinical decision. Visual estimation of diameter stenosis and QFR analysis were performed in all coronary arteries. The end point was all-cause mortality at a 3-year follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 318 patients were enrolled. At visual estimation, 140 patients (44%) presented a diameter stenosis ≥50% in at least 1 coronary artery, whereas 78 patients (24.5%) had at least 1 vessel with QFR &lt;0.80 and, therefore, included in the positive QFR group. Overall, 69 (21.7%) patients died during the follow-up. In the Kaplan-Meier analysis, patients with positive QFR experienced significantly higher rates of death during follow-up compared with those without (51.1% versus 12.1%; P&lt;0.001), whereas no significant difference was evident in terms of death between patients with or without significant coronary artery disease according to angiographic evaluation (24.3% versus 19.7%; P=0.244). In a multivariate regression model, positive QFR was an independent predictor of all-cause death during follow-up (hazard ratio, 5.31 [95% CI, 3.21-8.76]). CONCLUSIONS: Coronary QFR can predict mortality in patients with severe aortic stenosis treated with transcatheter aortic valve replacement without revascularization