Low-Dose vs High-Dose Paclitaxel-Coated Balloons for Femoropopliteal Lesions: 2-Year Results From the COMPARE Trial.

Background: So far only 1-year data have been reported for direct comparisons of paclitaxel-coated balloons (PCBs) using different coating technologies.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to report the 24-month results on the efficacy and safety of low-dose vs high-dose PCBs with nominal paclitaxel densities of 2.0 and 3.

Long-Term Effectiveness and Safety of Femoropopliteal Drug-Coated Balloon Angioplasty : 5-Year Results of the Randomized Controlled EffPac Trial.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess 5-year effectiveness and safety of femoropopliteal angioplasty with the Luminor® 35 drug-coated balloon (DCB).

Materials And Methods: The EffPac trial was a prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial that enrolled 171 patients of Rutherford category 2 to 4 with medium length femoropopliteal lesions. Patients were allocated 1:1 to either Luminor® 35 DCB angioplasty or plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA).

Drug-coated Balloon Angioplasty of Femoropopliteal Lesions Maintained Superior Efficacy over Conventional Balloon: 2-year Results of the Randomized EffPac Trial.

Background Paclitaxel drug-coated balloon (DCB) catheter angioplasty is the preferred treatment for revascularization of femoropopliteal lesions in peripheral artery disease, but mortality is a safety concern. Purpose To assess 2-year efficacy and safety of DCB angioplasty compared with conventional balloon angioplasty (also known as plain old balloon angioplasty or POBA). Materials and Methods This prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial enrolled consecutive participants with symptomatic superficial femoral and/or popliteal artery disease at 11 German centers between September 2015 and December 2016.

COMPARE: prospective, randomized, non-inferiority trial of high- vs. low-dose paclitaxel drug-coated balloons for femoropopliteal interventions.

Aims: Drug-coated balloons (DCBs) for femoropopliteal interventions have not been tested against each other. We aimed to directly compare efficacy and safety of a high-dose (In.Pact™) vs.

Efficacy and safety of a novel paclitaxel-nano-coated balloon for femoropopliteal angioplasty: one-year results of the EffPac trial.

Aims: Although paclitaxel drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty is an established endovascular treatment for peripheral artery disease, restenosis remains a major concern. Thus, we compared a novel paclitaxel-coated DCB with nano-coating technology with uncoated plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA).

Methods And Results: This multicentre trial randomly assigned 171 patients with stenotic and occlusive lesions of the femoropopliteal artery to angioplasty with a novel DCB or uncoated POBA.

Drug-Eluting Stent Versus Drug-Coated Balloon Revascularization in Patients With Femoropopliteal Arterial Disease.

Background: Randomized trials of drug-eluting stents (DES) and drug-coated balloons (DCB) for femoropopliteal interventions reported superior patency rates for both strategies compared to standard balloon angioplasty. To date, head-to-head comparisons are missing.

Objectives: The authors sought to compare DES versus DCB for femoropopliteal lesions through 36 months.

Svelte integrated delivery system performance examined through diagnostic catheter delivery: the SPEED registry.

Aims: The multi-center SPEED registry evaluated the procedural success and in-hospital clinical outcomes of direct stenting with the Svelte 'all-in-one' coronary stent Integrated Delivery System (IDS) through diagnostic catheters to identify the clinical indications for which this approach is appropriately suited.

Methods & Results: Forty-eight (48) patients with 54 lesions of lengths ≤20 mm and RVD 2.5-3.

[Takotsubo syndrome from original description up to now].

Stress-induced cardiomyopathy, also known as takotsubo syndrome, imitates an acute ST elevation myocardial infarction or an acute coronary syndrome, but without concomitant coronary artery disease. It mainly affects postmenopausal women, but no established epidemiologic data of this syndrome are available to date. Furthermore, the underlying etiologies are still largely unknown.

Contribution of right-sided heart enlargement to cardiomegaly on chest roentgenogram in diastolic and systolic heart failure.

We investigated the contribution of a dilated right-sided heart to roentgenographic cardiomegaly in patients with heart failure (HF) and a normal ejection fraction (EF; diastolic HF) and those with HF and a decreased EF (systolic HF). We compared the cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) on upright chest roentgenograms and major- and minor-axis dimensions of the 4 cardiac chambers on echocardiograms in patients with HF and a normal EF (> or =0.50, n = 35) and those with a decreased EF (<0.

Usefulness of an elevated B-type natriuretic peptide in predicting survival in patients with aortic stenosis treated without surgery.

Patients with aortic stenosis (AS) may remain asymptomatic with good prognoses for many years but have poor prognoses once they develop symptoms. Because the presence of symptoms is subjective, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) may provide a more objective indication of the prognoses of patients with AS. We evaluated 124 patients with AS (valve area <1.

Therapy for diastolic heart failure.

There is little objective to guide the therapy of patients with diastolic heart failure. Because of the similarities of pathophysiology abnormalities in diastolic and systolic heart failure, it is a reasonable inference to suggest that the proven therapy for systolic heart failure may also be of benefit in patients with diastolic heart failure. Treatment of underlying or exacerbating conditions in diastolic heart failure, such as hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, ischemia, diabetes, anemia, obesity and pulmonary disease is an important means of managing diastolic heart failure.

Statin therapy may be associated with lower mortality in patients with diastolic heart failure: a preliminary report.

Background: No therapy has been shown to improve survival in heart failure (HF) with a normal ejection fraction (EF). There are plausible reasons to hypothesize that statins may be of benefit in HF with a normal EF.

Methods And Results: We evaluated 137 patients with HF and an EF > or =0.

Contribution of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction to heart failure regardless of ejection fraction.

Heart failure (HF) has been classified as systolic and diastolic based on the left ventricular ejection fraction. We hypothesized that left ventricular diastolic dysfunction is an important element of HF regardless of ejection fraction. Two hundred six patients who had clinical HF were compared with 72 age-matched controls.

Relation of anemia to diastolic heart failure and the effect on outcome.

We evaluated the frequency and importance of anemia in 137 patients with heart failure and a normal ejection fraction (diastolic heart failure). We found that anemia is common in these patients and is associated with greater elevations in serum B-type natriuretic peptide, more severe diastolic dysfunction, and a worse prognosis.

Effect of candesartan and verapamil on exercise tolerance in diastolic dysfunction.

Diastolic dysfunction may be exacerbated by increased systolic blood pressure (SBP) during exercise. Ang II may contribute to this process. We performed a randomized, double-blind, crossover study of two weeks of candesartan (16 mg) and verapamil (SR 160 mg).

Diastolic mitral annular velocity during the development of heart failure.

Objectives: We sought to investigate the mechanism of reduced diastolic mitral annular velocity with diastolic dysfunction, despite elevated left atrial (LA) pressure.

Background: The peak rate of left ventricular (LV) early diastolic filling (E) and velocity of the mitral annulus due to long-axis lengthening (E(M)) are reduced in mild diastolic dysfunction. With more severe dysfunction, E increases in response to increased LA pressures.

Magnetic resonance imaging in detection and functional assessment of coronary artery disease.

The past few years have brought significant improvements in the field of cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which evolved from an experimental technique to a clinically accepted method of coronary artery disease detection (stress MRI) and viability assessment. In this article, we describe current MRI technology for detection and functional assessment of ischemia, such as dobutamine/atropine MRI, perfusion techniques, viability, and flow reserve in native coronary arteries and grafts. With further refinement in the technology, wide acceptance of cardiovascular MRI is anticipated in clinical practice.