Low level exercise echocardiography helps diagnose early stage heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a study of echocardiography versus catheterization.

Background: Increased left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) with exercise is an early sign of heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The abnormal exercise increase in LVEDP is nonlinear, with most change occurring at low-level exercise. Data on non-invasive approach of this condition are scarce.

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST elevation myocardial infarction in nonagenarians.

Objective: To assess outcomes following primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) in nonagenarian patients.

Methods: We conducted a multicentre retrospective study between 2006 and 2013 in five international high-volume centres and included consecutive all-comer nonagenarians treated with primary PCI for STEMI. There were no exclusion criteria.

Stopping or continuing clopidogrel 12 months after drug-eluting stent placement: the OPTIDUAL randomized trial.

Aim: This open-label, randomized, and multicentre trial tested the hypothesis that, on a background of aspirin, continuing clopidogrel would be superior to stopping clopidogrel at 12 months following drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation.

Methods And Results: Patients (N = 1799) who had undergone placement of ≥1 DES for stable coronary artery disease or acute coronary syndrome were included in 58 French sites (January 2009-January 2013). Patients (N = 1385) free of major cardiovascular/cerebrovascular events or major bleeding and on aspirin and clopidogrel 12 months after stenting were eligible for randomization (1:1) between continuing clopidogrel 75 mg daily (extended-dual antiplatelet therapy, DAPT, group) or discontinuing clopidogrel (aspirin group).

Impact of renal failure on all-cause mortality and other outcomes in patients treated by percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Patients with renal failure (RF) have been systematically excluded from clinical trials; consequently their outcomes have not been well studied in the setting of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Aims: To compare cardiovascular outcomes after contemporary PCI in patients with versus without RF, according to clinical presentation (ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI], acute coronary syndrome [ACS] or stable coronary artery disease [sCAD]).

Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing PCI with stent were prospectively included from 2007 to 2012.

Sex-related differences after contemporary primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Whether outcomes differ for women and men after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains controversial.

Aim: To compare 1-year outcomes after primary PCI in women and men with STEMI, matched for age and diabetes.

Methods: Consecutive women with STEMI of<24 hours' duration referred (August 2007 to January 2011) for primary PCI were compared with men matched for age and diabetes.

Accuracy of multislice computed tomography in the preoperative assessment of coronary disease in patients scheduled for heart valve surgery.

Background: Coronary angiography (CA), an invasive and expensive procedure, is still recommended in most patients referred for elective valve surgery. Multislice computed tomography (MSCT) is a promising alternative technique to rule out significant coronary artery lesions.

Aim: To evaluate MSCT in detecting significant coronary artery lesions in patients referred for elective valve surgery.

One-year clinical outcomes in patients with chronic renal failure treated by percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stent.

Background: It is unknown whether the efficacy and safety of drug-eluting stents (DES) apply in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF).

Aims: To compare DES with bare metal stents (BMS) for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in CRF patients.

Patients And Methods: Consecutive patients treated by PCI were allocated to four groups according to type of stent used (DES versus BMS) and creatinine clearance (CrCl).