Platelet reactivity in patients with acute coronary syndrome treated with prasugrel or ticagrelor in comparison to clopidogrel: a retrospective pharmacodynamic analysis.

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and a P2Y inhibitor is a mainstay of the prevention of stent thrombosis following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In the 2015 European guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), prasugrel (PRA) and ticagrelor (TICA) combined with aspirin are recommended as first-line therapy. Clopidogrel (CLO) is recommended as an alternative medication for patients with contradictions to these new drugs.

Five-year outcomes of chronic total occlusion treatment with a biolimus A9-eluting biodegradable polymer stent versus a sirolimus-eluting permanent polymer stent in the LEADERS all-comers trial.

Background: Few data are available on long-term follow-up of drug-eluting stents in the treatment of chronic total occlusion (CTO). The LEADERS CTO sub-study compared the long-term results in CTO and non-CTO lesions of a Biolimus A9™-eluting stent (BES) with a sirolimus-eluting stent (SES).

Methods: Among 1,707 patients enrolled in the prospective, multi-center, all-comers LEADERS trial, 81 with CTOs were treated with either a BES (n = 45) or a SES (n = 36).

Biolimus-eluting stent with biodegradable polymer improves clinical outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: To investigate clinical outcomes of coronary intervention using a biolimus-eluting stent (BES) compared with a sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the Limus Eluted from A Durable versus ERodable Stent (LEADERS) coating trial at the final 5-year follow-up.

Methods: The LEADERS trial is a multicentre all-comer study, where patients (n=1707) were randomised to percutaneous intervention with either BES containing biodegradable polymer or SES containing durable polymer. Out of 1707 patients enrolled in this trial, 573 patients had percutaneous coronary intervention for AMI (BES=280, SES=293) and were included in the current analysis.

Paclitaxel-coated balloon catheter versus paclitaxel-coated stent for the treatment of coronary in-stent restenosis: the three-year results of the PEPCAD II ISR study.

Aims: Treatment of bare metal in-stent restenosis with the paclitaxel-coated balloon catheter based on the PACCOCATH® technology has yielded superior six-month angiographic and one-year clinical results compared to a paclitaxel-eluting stent. The three-year clinical follow-up is presented.

Methods And Results: One hundred and thirty-one patients with coronary bare metal in-stent restenosis (>70%, length: <22 mm, vessel diameter: 2.

A prospective, non-randomized comparison of SAPIEN XT and CoreValve implantation in two sequential cohorts of patients with severe aortic stenosis.

Objectives: Few data is available comparing Edwards SAPIEN XT - SXT (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, California) with Medtronic CoreValve - CoV (Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota) in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Methods: We selected consecutive patients undergoing transfemoral TAVR with SXT or CoV at our Institution.

Improved safety and reduction in stent thrombosis associated with biodegradable polymer-based biolimus-eluting stents versus durable polymer-based sirolimus-eluting stents in patients with coronary artery disease: final 5-year report of the LEADERS (Limus Eluted From A Durable Versus ERodable Stent Coating) randomized, noninferiority trial.

Objectives: This study sought to report the final 5 years follow-up of the landmark LEADERS (Limus Eluted From A Durable Versus ERodable Stent Coating) trial.

Background: The LEADERS trial is the first randomized study to evaluate biodegradable polymer-based drug-eluting stents (DES) against durable polymer DES.

Methods: The LEADERS trial was a 10-center, assessor-blind, noninferiority, "all-comers" trial (N = 1,707).

Magnetic resonance myocardial perfusion imaging at 3.0 Tesla for the identification of myocardial ischaemia: comparison with coronary catheter angiography and fractional flow reserve measurements.

Aims: To assess image quality and diagnostic performance of 3.0 Tesla (3T) cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) myocardial perfusion imaging with a dual radiofrequency source to detect functional relevant coronary artery disease (CAD), using coronary angiography and invasive pressure-derived fractional flow reserve (FFR) as reference standard.

Methods And Results: We included 116 patients with suspected or known CAD, who underwent 3T adenosine myocardial perfusion CMR (resolution 2.

Aortic valve calcium score as a predictor for outcome after TAVI using the CoreValve revalving system.

Background: TAVI is a novel treatment option for patients at too high risk for surgery. Risk scores for surgical valve replacement failed to accurately predict outcomes after TAVI and alternative risk parameters are lacking so far.

Objective: We evaluated the CT-derived aortic valve calcification score as a predictor for outcome during and after TAVI.

Long-term clinical outcomes of biodegradable polymer biolimus-eluting stents versus durable polymer sirolimus-eluting stents in patients with coronary artery disease (LEADERS): 4 year follow-up of a randomised non-inferiority trial.

Background: The effectiveness of durable polymer drug-eluting stents comes at the expense of delayed arterial healing and subsequent late adverse events such as stent thrombosis (ST). We report the 4 year follow-up of an assessment of biodegradable polymer-based drug-eluting stents, which aim to improve safety by avoiding the persistent inflammatory stimulus of durable polymers.

Methods: We did a multicentre, assessor-masked, non-inferiority trial.

Dilemma of antithrombotic therapy in anticoagulated atrial fibrillation patients squeezed between thrombosis and bleeding events: a single-centre experience.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of bleeding, thromboembolic complications, and the rate of stent thrombosis or restenosis in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In this retrospective analysis, we included patients with AF who underwent PCI with stent implantation from 2003 to 2006. Combinations of aspirin, clopidogrel, and oral anticoagulation with phenprocoumon (OAC) were used for antithrombotic management.

Paclitaxel-coated balloon catheter versus paclitaxel-coated stent for the treatment of coronary in-stent restenosis.

Background: Treatment of in-stent restenosis with paclitaxel-coated balloon catheter as compared with plain balloon angioplasty has shown surprisingly low late lumen loss at 6 months and fewer major adverse cardiac events up to 2 years. We compared the efficacy and safety of a paclitaxel-coated balloon with a paclitaxel-eluting stent as the current standard of care.

Methods And Results: One hundred thirty-one patients with coronary in-stent restenosis were randomly assigned to treatment by a paclitaxel-coated balloon (3 microg/mm2) or a paclitaxel-eluting stent.

Beneficial effects of ramipril on myocardial diastolic function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, normal LV systolic function and without coronary artery disease: a prospective study using tissue Doppler.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors can improve cardiovascular outcome in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Myocardial diastolic function (Ve) is a known marker of cardiovascular prognosis. It could potentially indicate the effects of preventive therapy if evaluated by tissue Doppler.