Carbohydrate antigen 125-guided pre-TAVI medical optimization: impact on quality of life and clinical outcomes.

Introduction And Objectives: Carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), a biomarker associated with fluid overload, has proven useful in managing diuretic therapy in heart failure. We aimed to evaluate the impact of diuretic optimization guided by CA125 before transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) on outcomes.

Methods: This prospective interventional study enrolled patients scheduled for TAVI, in whom baseline CA125 was measured 2 weeks before TAVI.

Clinical History and Detectable Troponin Concentrations below the 99th Percentile for Risk Stratification of Patients with Chest Pain and First Normal Troponin.

Decision-making is challenging in patients with chest pain and normal high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT; <99th percentile; <14 ng/L) at hospital arrival. Most of these patients might be discharged early. We investigated clinical data and hs-cTnT concentrations for risk stratification.

Frailty Tools for Assessment of Long-term Prognosis After Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Objective: To evaluate the 5 components of the Fried frailty phenotype (self-reported unintentional weight loss, physical activity questionnaire, gait speed, grip strength, and self-reported exhaustion) for long-term outcomes in elderly survivors of acute coronary syndrome.

Methods: A total of 342 consecutive patients (from October 1, 2010, to February 1, 2012) were included. The 5 components of the Fried score and albumin concentration, as malnutrition index, were assessed before hospital discharge.

Undetectable high-sensitivity troponin in combination with clinical assessment for risk stratification of patients with chest pain and normal troponin at hospital arrival.

Background: Undetectable high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) in a single determination upon admission may rule out acute coronary syndrome. We investigated undetectable hs-cTnT (
Methods: This study was a retrospective design involving 2254 consecutive patients (July 2016-November 2017).

One-year efficacy and safety of prasugrel and ticagrelor in patients with acute coronary syndromes: Results from a prospective and multicentre ACHILLES registry.

Background: Prasugrel and ticagrelor have demonstrated higher efficacy than clopidogrel in their main clinical trials for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, the long-term prognosis and different clinical characteristics related to the type of antiplatelet prescription in current clinical practice ACS patients have not been analysed in depth. The objective of this study was to analyse the clinical profile of ACS and the efficacy and safety of novel oral P2Y inhibitors in current clinical practice patients discharged afterACS.

Refractory congestive heart failure: when the solution is outside the heart.

Refractory congestive heart failure is associated with an ominous prognosis in which the treatments strategies remain scarce and not well validated. In the last years, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) has emerged as a therapeutic alternative in this subset of patients. So far, it has been associated with a significant improvement in functional capacity and quality of life, together with a striking reduction in the risk of readmissions.

Feasibility of Implanting 50-60 mm-Tapered Drug Eluting Stents in Chronic Total Occlusions.

Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of chronic total occlusions (CTO) usually involves multiple overlapping stents implantation to cover long coronary segments. A higher rate of restenosis has been described with stent overlapping. Recently, new long tapered stents emerged as a potential tool for treating long coronary lesions.

Conservatively managed patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome are undertreated with indicated medicines.

Introduction And Aims: Patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) are often managed conservatively. Clinical practice guidelines recommend treating these patients with the same pharmacological drugs as those who receive invasive treatment. We analyze the use of new antiplatelet drugs (NADs) and other recommended treatments in people discharged following an NSTE-ACS according to the treatment strategy used, comparing the medium-term prognosis between groups.