Fractional Flow Reserve Directed Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Optimization Using High-Definition Intravascular Ultrasound in Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome Versus Chronic Coronary Syndrome.

Background: Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided optimization of suboptimal fractional flow reserve (FFR) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) results in a significant increase in both post-PCI FFR and minimal lumen and stent areas (MLA and MSA, respectively). However, the impact of clinical presentation with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) versus chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) on the efficacy of PCI optimization remains unknown.

Methods: This was a prespecified subgroup analysis of the FFR REACT trial comparing IVUS-guided PCI optimization versus no further treatment in 291 patients with a post-PCI FFR < 0.

Edoxaban Monotherapy and Incidence of Transcatheter Heart Valve Leaflet Thrombosis - The Rotterdam Edoxaban (REDOX) Study.

Background: Trials comparing non-vitamin K oral anticoagulant (NOAC) versus antiplatelet-based strategies have shown a reduction of subclinical leaflet thrombosis at the cost of increased mortality and major-bleedings. NOACs were often combined with antiplatelet therapy.

Aims: The Rotterdam Edoxaban (REDOX) study aimed to evaluate the impact of edoxaban monotherapy on the incidence of hypo-attenuated leaflet thickening (HALT) and reduced leaflet motion (RLM) and to evaluate safety in terms of mortality, thromboembolic events and major bleeding.

Association of Lipoprotein(a) With Changes in Coronary Atherosclerosis in Patients Treated With Alirocumab.

Background: Elevated Lp(a) (lipoprotein[a]) is a risk marker for atherosclerotic disease, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. We examined the association of Lp(a) with changes in coronary atherosclerosis following intensive lipid-lowering therapy.

Methods: In the PACMAN-AMI trial (Effects of the PCSK9 Antibody Alirocumab on Coronary Atherosclerosis in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction), 300 patients with acute myocardial infarction were randomized to receive biweekly alirocumab 150 mg or placebo in addition to high-intensity statins.

Accuracy of Three-Dimensional Neo Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Simulations With Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement in Different Mitral Phenotypes.

Background: Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) is emerging in the context of annular calcification (valve-in-MAC; ViMAC), failing surgical mitral annuloplasty (mitral-valve-in-ring; MViR) and failing mitral bioprosthesis (mitral-valve-in-valve; MViV). A notorious risk of TMVR is neo left ventricular outflow tract (neo-LVOT) obstruction. Three-dimensional computational models (3DCM) are derived from multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) and aim to predict neo-LVOT area after TMVR.

Long-term safety and efficacy of endovascular ultrasound renal denervation in resistant hypertension: 8-year results from the ACHIEVE study.

Background: Ultrasound renal sympathetic denervation (uRDN) reduces blood pressure (BP) in the absence and presence of antihypertensive treatment at 2 months. Beyond 3 years, there is a lack of follow-up data. This study investigated the long-term safety and efficacy of uRDN.

Computed tomography to predict pacemaker need after transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is preferred therapy for elderly patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) and increasingly used in younger patient populations with good safety and efficacy outcomes. However, cardiac conduction abnormalities remain a frequent complication after TAVR ranging from relative benign interventriculair conduction delays to prognostically relevant left bundle branch block and complete atrio-ventricular (AV) block requiring permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI). Although clinical, procedural and electrocardiographic factors have been identified as predictors of this complication, there is a need for advanced strategies to control the burden of conduction defects particularly as TAVR shifts towards younger populations.

Conduction dynamics over time after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: An expert review.

New conduction disorders remain a frequent complication in current transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) era. Left bundle branch block (LBBB) occurs early in about 20-30 % of TAVR-patients, persists at 1 month in about 35-45 % of cases and will likely remain thereafter. Third-degree atrioventricular block (AV3B) affects approximately 15 % of patients.

Age-specific sex differences in intravascular ultrasound based coronary atherosclerotic plaque characteristics.

Insights in age- and sex-specific coronary atherosclerotic plaque characteristics may contribute to a better understanding of coronary artery disease and, ultimately, to its prevention and treatment. In 307 women and 406 men aged 20 to 90 years undergoing intravascular ultrasound imaging, sex-based differences in coronary atherosclerotic plaque characteristics were mainly present in younger patients, while these differences were less pronounced at advanced age.

Impact and limitations of 3D computational modelling in transcatheter mitral valve replacement-a two-centre Dutch experience.

Background: Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative to mitral valve surgery for patients at high or prohibitive operative risk. Prospective studies reported favourable outcomes in patients with annulus calcification (valve-in-mitral annulus calcification; ViMAC), failed annuloplasty ring (mitral valve-in-ring; MViR), and bioprosthetic mitral valve dysfunction (mitral valve-in-valve; MViV). Multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT)-derived 3D-modelling and simulations may provide complementary anatomical perspectives for TMVR planning.

Lesion-Level Effects of LDL-C-Lowering Therapy in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Post Hoc Analysis of the PACMAN-AMI Trial.

Importance: Previous studies investigated atherosclerotic changes induced by lipid-lowering therapy in extensive coronary segments irrespective of baseline disease burden (a vessel-level approach).

Objective: To investigate the effects of lipid-lowering therapy on coronary lesions with advanced atherosclerotic plaque features and presumably higher risk for future events.

Design, Setting, And Participants: The PACMAN-AMI randomized clinical trial (enrollment: May 2017 to October 2020; final follow-up: October 2021) randomized patients with acute myocardial infarction to receive alirocumab or placebo in addition to high-intensity statin therapy.

Conduction Abnormalities after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: Incidence, Impact and Management Using CT Data Interpretation.

The demonstrated safety and effectiveness of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) among low surgical risk patients opened the road to its application in younger low-risk patients. However, the occurrence of conduction abnormalities and need for permanent pacemaker implantation remains a frequent problem associated with adverse outcomes. The clinical implications may become greater when TAVI shifts towards younger populations, highlighting the need for comprehensive strategies to address this issue.

Association of vessel fractional flow reserve (vFFR) with luminal obstruction and plaque characteristics as detected by optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients with NSTE-ACS: the FAST OCT study.

Aims: There is a paucity of data on the performance of angiography-derived vessel fractional flow reserve (vFFR) in coronary artery lesions of patients presenting with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). Optical coherence tomography (OCT) allows for visualization of lumen dimensions and plaque integrity with high resolution. The aim of this study was to define the association between vFFR and OCT findings in intermediate coronary artery lesions in patients presenting with NSTE-ACS.

Demographics and outcomes of patients younger than 75 years undergoing aortic valve interventions in Rotterdam.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is considered a safe and effective alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) for elderly patients across the operative risk spectrum. In the Netherlands, TAVI is reimbursed only for patients with a high operative risk. Despite this, one fifth of TAVI patients are < 75 years of age.

Immediate versus staged complete revascularisation in patients presenting with STEMI and multivessel disease.

Background: Complete revascularisation is supported by recent trials in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and multivessel disease (MVD) without cardiogenic shock. However, the optimal timing of non-culprit lesion revascularisation is currently debated.

Aims: This prespecified analysis of the BioVasc trial aims to determine the effect of immediate complete revascularisation (ICR) compared to staged complete revascularisation (SCR) on clinical outcomes in patients with STEMI.

Role of Lipid-Lowering and Anti-Inflammatory Therapies on Plaque Stabilization.

Atherosclerosis is the predominant underlying etiopathology of coronary artery disease. Changes in plaque phenotype from stable to high risk may spur future major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Different pharmacological therapies have been implemented to mitigate this risk.

Quality-of-life and beliefs about medication in relation to a therapy adherence intervention in resistant hypertension: the Resistant HYpertension: MEasure to ReaCh Targets trial.

Objective: To assess the impact of personalized feedback on therapy adherence testing results on quality of life and beliefs about medication in patients with resistant hypertension, as well as to identify patient-oriented predictors of therapy adherence.

Methods: This study was a prespecified post hoc analysis of the multicenter randomized controlled trial Resistant HYpertension: MEasure to ReaCh Targets (RHYME-RCT). Patients were randomized to a personalized feedback conversation on measured antihypertensive drug levels additional to standard-of-care, or standard-of-care only.

Timing of Complete Multivessel Revascularization in Patients Presenting With Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Background: Complete revascularization of the culprit and all significant nonculprit lesions in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) and multivessel disease (MVD) reduces major adverse cardiac events, but optimal timing of revascularization remains unclear.

Objectives: This study aims to compare immediate complete revascularization (ICR) and staged complete revascularization (SCR) in patients presenting with NSTE-ACS and MVD.

Methods: This prespecified substudy of the BIOVASC (Percutaneous Complete Revascularization Strategies Using Sirolimus Eluting Biodegradable Polymer Coated Stents in Patients Presenting With Acute Coronary Syndrome and Multivessel Disease) trial included patients with NSTE-ACS and MVD.

Segmentation of anatomical layers and imaging artifacts in intravascular polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography using attending physician and boundary cardinality losses.

Intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography are widely available for assessing coronary stenoses and provide critical information to optimize percutaneous coronary intervention. Intravascular polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) measures the polarization state of the light scattered by the vessel wall in addition to conventional cross-sectional images of subsurface microstructure. This affords reconstruction of tissue polarization properties and reveals improved contrast between the layers of the vessel wall along with insight into collagen and smooth muscle content.

Differential Impact of Fractional Flow Reserve Measured After Coronary Stent Implantation by Left Ventricular Dysfunction.

Background: Both left ventricular systolic function and fractional flow reserve (FFR) are prognostic factors after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, how these prognostic factors are inter-related in risk stratification of patients after PCI remains unclarified.

Objectives: This study evaluated differential prognostic implication of post-PCI FFR according to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Sequential Alcohol Septal Ablation to Resolve LV Outflow Tract Obstruction After Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement.

Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) is a notorious complication of transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR). Computed tomography-derived simulations can predict neo-LVOTO post-TMVR, whereas alcohol septal ablation (ASA) can mitigate neo-LVOTO risk. We report a case of sequential ASA of 2 adjacent septal branches to resolve unexpected neo-LVOTO post-TMVR.