Pooled Analysis Comparing the Efficacy of Intracoronary Versus Intravenous Abciximab in Smokers Versus Nonsmokers Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Revascularization for Acute ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Cigarette smokers with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) may present different response to potent antithrombotic therapy compared to nonsmokers. We assessed the impact of smoking status and intracoronary abciximab in patients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We pooled data from 5 randomized trials comparing intracoronary versus intravenous abciximab bolus in patients undergoing primary PCI.

Outcome after percutaneous coronary intervention for different indications: long-term results from the Swedish Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty Registry (SCAAR).

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical outcome for different indications for PCI in an unselected, nationwide PCI population at short- and long-term follow-up.

Methods And Results: We evaluated clinical outcome up to six years after PCI in all patients undergoing a PCI procedure for different indications in Sweden between 2006 and 2010. A total of 70,479 patients were treated for stable coronary artery disease (CAD) (21.

Intracoronary abciximab in diabetic patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Although intracoronary abciximab failed to improve prognosis compared with intravenous route in unselected ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients, little is known about the role of intracoronary abciximab in diabetic patients.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of intracoronary abciximab administration in diabetic patients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: Reperfusional and clinical outcomes of intracoronary abciximab compared with intravenous bolus abciximab according to diabetic status were evaluated in a pooled analysis of five randomized trials including 3158 STEMI patients.

Soluble interleukin 6 receptor levels are associated with reduced myocardial reperfusion after percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction.

Aims: Interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) signalling has been suggested to play a causal role in the development and outcome of coronary heart disease (CHD). The aim of this study was to investigate the association of sIL-6R levels with myocardial reperfusion after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods: Blood was sampled from 70 patients presenting with STEMI at 6 different time-points (baseline, post-PCI, t=1h, t=6h, t=24h, t=2w).

Effects of baseline coronary occlusion and diabetes mellitus in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Several studies have highlighted the prognostic role of preprocedural Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow in the infarct-related artery (IRA) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, the impact of preprocedural IRA occlusion in patients with diabetes with STEMI has been insufficiently studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of baseline IRA occlusion and diabetic status in patients with STEMI who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention by using data from a pooled analysis of randomized trials comparing intracoronary with intravenous abciximab bolus administration.

Uninterrupted oral anticoagulation versus bridging in patients with long-term oral anticoagulation during percutaneous coronary intervention: subgroup analysis from the WOEST trial.

Aims: To investigate the optimal periprocedural antithrombotic strategy in patients on long-term oral anticoagulation (OAC) who require percutaneous coronary intervention with stenting.

Methods And Results: The WOEST study was a randomised controlled trial which recruited 573 patients on long-term OAC who underwent PCI. The periprocedural treatment strategy was left to the operator's discretion.

Effect of metformin on left ventricular function after acute myocardial infarction in patients without diabetes: the GIPS-III randomized clinical trial.

Importance: Metformin treatment is associated with improved outcome after myocardial infarction in patients with diabetes. In animal experimental studies metformin preserves left ventricular function.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of metformin treatment on preservation of left ventricular function in patients without diabetes presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Intracoronary versus intravenous bolus abciximab administration in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a pooled analysis of individual patient data from five randomised controlled trials.

Aims: In recent years, intracoronary bolus abciximab has emerged as an alternative to the standard intravenous route in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The aim of the current study was to perform an individual patient-level pooled analysis of randomised trials, comparing intracoronary versus intravenous abciximab bolus use in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI.

Methods And Results: Individual data of 3,158 patients enrolled in five trials were analysed.

Interhospital transfer due to failed prehospital diagnosis for primary percutaneous coronary intervention: an observational study on incidence, predictors, and clinical impact.

Background: For patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), guidelines recommend prehospital triage and direct referral to a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)-capable centre in order to minimize ischemic time. However, few have studied failed prehospital diagnosis. We assessed the incidence, predictors, and clinical impact of interhospital transfer for primary PCI after initial referral to a non-PCI-capable centre due to a failed prehospital STEMI diagnosis.

Population trends in percutaneous coronary intervention: 20-year results from the SCAAR (Swedish Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty Registry).

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics and outcome of all consecutive patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in an unselected nationwide cohort over the past 2 decades.

Background: Over the last 20 years, treatment with PCI has evolved dramatically, but the change in patient characteristics has not been well described.

Methods: We included all patients undergoing a PCI procedure for the first time between January 1990 and December 2010 from the SCAAR (Swedish Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty Registry).

Use of clopidogrel with or without aspirin in patients taking oral anticoagulant therapy and undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: an open-label, randomised, controlled trial.

Background: If percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is required in patients taking oral anticoagulants, antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel is indicated, but such triple therapy increases the risk of serious bleeding. We investigated the safety and efficacy of clopidogrel alone compared with clopidogrel plus aspirin.

Methods: We did an open-label, multicentre, randomised, controlled trial in 15 centres in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Multiple biomarkers for the prediction of short and long-term mortality after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: the Amsterdam Groningen collaboration.

Multiple biomarkers improve prognostication for long-term mortality in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, one-third of mortality after STEMI occurs within initial discharge. Our objective was to determine whether multiple biomarkers (glucose, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)) predict both short-term as long-term mortality in STEMI.

Percutaneous aortic valve replacement using a subclavian artery graft.

Over the past few years transcatheter heart valve implantation (THI) has become an alternative treatment for aortic valve replacement. The THI does not require a midline sternotomy or cardiopulmonary bypass and can be performed through a transfemoral or a transapical approach. In case of severe peripheral vascular disease the transapical route is usually chosen.

Metformin in non-diabetic patients presenting with ST elevation myocardial infarction: rationale and design of the glycometabolic intervention as adjunct to primary percutaneous intervention in ST elevation myocardial infarction (GIPS)-III trial.

Background: Left ventricular dysfunction and the development of heart failure is a frequent and serious complication of myocardial infarction. Recent animal experimental studies suggested that metformin treatment reduces myocardial injury and preserves cardiac function in non-diabetic rats after experimental myocardial infarction. We will study the efficacy of metformin with the aim to preserve left ventricular ejection fraction in non-diabetic patients presenting with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Clinical impact of intracoronary abciximab in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention: an individual patient data pooled analysis of randomised studies.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to perform an individual patient-level pooled analysis of randomised trials, comparing intracoronary versus intravenous abciximab bolus use in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background: Abciximab represents a cornerstone in the treatment of STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI. Intracoronary abciximab bolus administration has been proposed as an alternative strategy to the standard intravenous route.

Inducible cardiac ischaemia is related to a decrease in the whole-blood Toll-like receptor 2 and 4 response.

TLR (Toll-like receptor) activation-induced inflammatory responses are important in the progression of atherosclerosis. We previously showed that TLR-dependent leucocyte responsiveness is acutely attenuated following percutaneous coronary intervention or vascular surgery. Furthermore, cytokine release following whole-blood TLR-2 and TLR-4 stimulation is negatively correlated with fractional flow reserve, suggesting that chronic ischaemia can elicit an enhanced inflammatory response.

Quantitative analysis of the impact of total ischemic time on myocardial perfusion and clinical outcome in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Early reperfusion of the infarct-related coronary artery is an important issue in improvement of outcomes after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). In this study, the clinical significance of total ischemic time on myocardial reperfusion and clinical outcomes was evaluated in patients with STEMI treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention and thrombus aspiration and additional triple-antiplatelet therapy. Total ischemic time was defined as time from symptom onset to first intracoronary therapy (first balloon inflation or thrombus aspiration).

Usefulness of thrombus aspiration for the treatment of coronary stent thrombosis.

Current treatment for coronary stent thrombosis (ST) often lacks satisfactory results and clinical outcome is poor. We investigated the impact of manual thrombus aspiration during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on myocardial reperfusion and clinical outcome in patients with angiographically proved ST. We interrogated our PCI registry for patients with a first stent placement from January 2002 through May 2010 who had undergone an emergency repeated PCI procedure and systematically reviewed coronary angiograms and hospital records for evidence of ST.

Culprit vessel only versus multivessel and staged percutaneous coronary intervention for multivessel disease in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: a pairwise and network meta-analysis.

Objectives: The purposes of this study were to investigate whether, in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and multivessel disease (MVD), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) should be confined to the culprit or also nonculprit vessels and, when performing PCI for nonculprit vessels, whether it should take place during primary PCI or staged procedures.

Background: A significant percentage of STEMI patients have MVD. However, the best PCI strategy for nonculprit vessel lesions is unknown.

Comparison of the temporal release pattern of copeptin with conventional biomarkers in acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Early detection of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) using cardiac biomarkers of myocardial necrosis remains limited since these biomarkers do not rise within the first hours from onset of AMI. We aimed to compare the temporal release pattern of the C-terminal portion of provasopressin (copeptin) with conventional cardiac biomarkers, including creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), cardiac troponin T (cTnT), and high-sensitivity cTnT (hs-cTnT), in patients with ST-elevation AMI.

Methods: We included 145 patients undergoing successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for a first ST-elevation AMI presenting within 12 h of symptom onset.

Circulating leukocyte and carotid atherosclerotic plaque telomere length: interrelation, association with plaque characteristics, and restenosis after endarterectomy.

Objective: Shorter leukocyte telomeres are associated with atherosclerosis and predict future heart disease. The goal of the present study was to determine whether leukocyte telomere length is related to atherosclerotic plaque telomere length and whether it is associated with plaque characteristics or recurrence of disease.

Methods And Results: Telomere length was measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction in atherosclerotic plaques and leukocytes in patients with carotid atherosclerosis undergoing carotid endarterectomy (n=684) and of leukocytes in age- and gender-balanced subjects without clinical atherosclerosis (n=780).

Sudden cardiac death: epidemiology, circadian variation, and triggers.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) remains a major health issue accounting for over 5% of annual mortality in the Western world. There are several causes of SCD, most commonly, coronary artery disease. Although identifying the prodrome of SCD has attracted considerable interest, a large proportion of patients die before any medical contact is established.