Association between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and all-cause mortality in patients with coronary artery disease: a real-world analysis using data from an international network.

The current cholesterol guidelines recommend maintaining low levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, recent studies have suggested that both very low and very high LDL-C levels may be associated with increased mortality in the general population. We utilized data from TriNetX, a global health research network, to investigate the association between LDL-C levels and all-cause mortality in patients with CAD.

Percutaneous coronary intervention or medical therapy in patients with severe aortic stenosis and coronary artery disease undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a real-world analysis using data from an international network.

Patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) due to severe aortic stenosis have a high prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD). As many of them have high surgical risk, CAD treatment in this group has typically been carried out with optimal medical treatment or paired with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, the best approach in this scenario is not well established.

Stem-cell therapy in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction with reduced ejection fraction: A multicenter, double-blind randomized trial.

Background: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is a major determinant of long-term prognosis after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). STEMI patients with reduced LVEF have a poor prognosis, despite successful reperfusion and the use of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone inhibitors.

Hypothesis: Intracoronary infusion of bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells (BMMC) may improve LVEF in STEMI patients successfully reperfused.

Three vs twelve months of dual antiplatelet therapy after zotarolimus-eluting stents: the OPTIMIZE randomized trial.

Importance: The current recommendation is for at least 12 months of dual antiplatelet therapy after implantation of a drug-eluting stent. However, the optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy with specific types of drug-eluting stents remains unknown.

Objective: To assess the clinical noninferiority of 3 months (short-term) vs 12 months (long-term) of dual antiplatelet therapy in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with zotarolimus-eluting stents.

Optimized duration of clopidogrel therapy following treatment with the Endeavor zotarolimus-eluting stent in real-world clinical practice (OPTIMIZE) trial: rationale and design of a large-scale, randomized, multicenter study.

Background: Current recommendations for antithrombotic therapy after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation include prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and clopidogrel ≥12 months. However, the impact of such a regimen for all patients receiving any DES system remains unclear based on scientific evidence available to date. Also, several other shortcomings have been identified with prolonged DAPT, including bleeding complications, compliance, and cost.

Comparison of direct stenting versus stenting with predilation for the treatment of selected coronary narrowings.

Direct stenting may reduce costs, procedure times, and injury to the vessel wall, positively influencing acute and late results. This study was designed to demonstrate 6-month clinical outcome equivalence between direct and standard stenting techniques. Four hundred eleven patients (425 lesions) were randomized in 7 sites to undergo direct (210 patients, 216 lesions) or conventional (201 patients, 209 lesions) stent implantation.