Secondary medical prevention and clinical outcome in coronary artery disease patients with a history of non-coronary vascular intervention: A report from the CORONOR investigators.

Aim: To assess the level of secondary prevention and the outcome of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients who have a history of non-coronary vascular intervention.

Background: Patients with polyvascular disease have been reported to receive less evidence-based medications, with worse risk factor control and to be at higher risk than patients with single-bed disease. It is unknown whether these findings remain valid in the modern era of secondary prevention.

Serum hepatocyte growth factor levels predict long-term clinical outcome after percutaneous coronary revascularization.

Aims: To evaluate, in patients referred for elective percutaneous coronary revascularization (PCR) without heparin pre-treatment, the relationship between baseline serum levels of the angiogenic growth factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and clinical outcome.

Methods And Results: In 488 consecutive patients undergoing elective coronary angioplasty, hsC-reactive protein, HGF, and VEGF levels were measured before heparin administration. The primary endpoint, a composite of death and myocardial infarction, occurred in 44 patients at a median follow-up of 14.

[The use of the RESCUE thromboaspiration system in acute coronary syndrome].

Interventional procedures associated with acute coronary syndromes or performed on saphenous bypass grafts frequently lead to embolic complications, resulting in no-reflow phenomenon, side-branch occlusion, or peri-procedural infarction. The RESCUE thrombo-aspiration system was used in 19 percutaneous coronary interventions. After initial use of the aspiration device, 81% of procedures were followed by stent deployment.

Angioplasty in the diabetic patient.

Patients with diabetes have an increased risk of coronary artery disease, and are at an increased risk of mortality and morbidity with coronary revascularization procedures. This article provides a review of the currently available information on percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the diabetic patient. The effectiveness of PCI in diabetes is discussed, and the factors that may influence outcomes are explored.