符合ABC管理路径对中国急诊心房颤动患者预后的影响

目的探讨符合心房颤动（房颤）更好的管理（atrial fibrillation better care，ABC）管理路径对中国急诊房颤患者预后的影响。 方法纳入2008年11月至2011年10月在中国20家医院急诊就诊的房颤患者，并随访12个月。根据患者是否符合ABC管理路径分为2组：符合ABC路径组与不符合ABC路径组。主要临床结局事件为全因死亡，次要临床结局事件为心血管死亡、卒中和大出血事件。应用Cox回归模型分析上述事件的影响因素。 结果共纳入2 015例房颤患者，年龄（68.5±13.3）岁，其中女1 104例（54.8%）。随访12个月，符合ABC路径组（126/2 015例，6.3%）患者死亡4例（3.2%，4/126），其中心血管死亡1例（0.8%，1/126）；不符合ABC路径组（1 889/2 015例，93.7%）患者死亡275例（14.6%，275/1 889），其中心血管死亡163例（8.6%，163/1 889）。两组患者卒中和大出血发生率差异无统计学意义。多因素Cox模型分析显示，与不符合ABC路径组比，符合ABC路径组的全因死亡风险（HR 0.211，95% CI 0.078~0.572，P=0.002）和心血管死亡风险（HR 0.085，95%CI 0.012~0.612，P=0.014）均显著下降。 结论在当代真实的中国急诊房颤患者队列中，符合ABC路径的临床综合管理与显著降低全因死亡、心血管死亡风险相关，采用ABC路径的综合管理可以改善房颤患者的预后。     

CAS评分和CHA2DS2-VASc评分指导我国非瓣膜性心房颤动患者抗凝治疗的预后比较

目的比较CAS和CHA2DS2-VASc评分两种卒中风险评估模型预测非瓣膜性心房颤动(房颤)患者全因死亡、血栓栓塞、大出血事件以及复合终点发生方面的差异。方法本研究为回顾性队列研究。从中国房颤注册研究(CAFR)中, 选取年龄>18岁的非瓣膜性房颤患者, 随机分为CAS评分组和CHA2DS2-VASc评分组, 并根据基线和随访过程中抗凝状态筛选出2组中依从评分规范抗凝的患者纳入本研究。收集并比较两组患者的年龄、性别等基本信息, 并定期进行随访, 随访内容包括是否接受抗凝治疗以及终点事件。终点事件为全因死亡、血栓栓塞和大出血事件, 复合终点事件为全因死亡和血栓栓塞事件。分析CAS评分组和CHA2DS2-VASc评分组相关终点事件发生情况, 并采用多因素Cox比例风险模型比较两组相关终点事件发生率的差异。结果共纳入5 206例房颤患者, 年龄(63.6±12.2)岁, 女性2 092例(40.2%)。其中CAS评分组2 447例(47.0%), CHA2DS2-VASc评分组2 759例(53.0%)。CAS组左心室射血分数<55%、非阵发性房颤、口服华法林比例以及HAS-BL...     

QRS时限与缺血性心肌病预后关系

目的观察缺血性心肌病患者QRS时限与远期预后相关性方法入选2006年1月至2009年12月于我院导管室进行冠状动脉造影,经左室造影证实LVEF≤35%,出院诊断明确的缺血性心肌病患者。按照患者的心电图记录的QRS波时限将所有患者分为2组,分别为QRS时限120ms组,QRS时限≥120ms组。比较两组患者的基线临床特征,远期预后。影响全因死亡、心脏移植、室性心律失常事件、心衰再入院的危险因素。结果缺血性心肌病患者921例,5例患者失访,916例患者完成研究。入选患者中QRS时限120ms患者835例(91.2%),QRS时限≥120ms患者81例(8.8%)。与QRS时限120ms组比较,QRS时限≥120ms患者,左室舒张末期内径明显增加;心功能分级有所减低;房颤病史更为常见。916例患者随访9-58月,49例(5.3%)患者发生全因死亡;发生全因死亡、新发生的血流动力学改变的室性心律失常、心衰再入院,心脏移植事件总计96例(10.5%)。Cox回归分析显示:超声心动图射血分数≤35%,QRS时限≥120ms,完全性左束支传导阻滞是缺血性心肌病发生全因死亡、心衰再入院、室性心律失常、心脏移植复合终点事件的危险因素。结论冠状动脉造影证实的LVEF≤35%缺血性心肌病患者,QRS时限≥120ms是影响患者全因死亡、心衰再入院、室性心律失常、进行心脏移植事件的高危因素。     

老年营养风险指数对冠状动脉慢性完全闭塞病变患者经皮冠状动脉介入治疗术后远期预后的预测价值

目的 探讨经皮冠状动脉介入治疗（PCI）老年慢性完全闭塞（CTO）病变患者的营养状态与远期预后的关系。方法 纳入2013年6月至2017年10月于西安交通大学第一附属医院346例行PCI的老年CTO病变患者,根据老年营养风险指数（GNRI）分为3组：无营养不良风险组（GNRI≥98,186例）,营养不良低风险组（92≤GNRI<98,114例）,营养不良中度/高度风险组（GNRI<92,46例）。主要终点事件为全因死亡,次要终点事件为心血管死亡。结果 纳入的346例患者平均年龄为72岁,中位随访33个月,Kaplan-Meier生存分析显示,营养不良中/重度风险患者在全因死亡及心血管死亡方面的预后均比其他两组差（Log-rank检验,全因死亡：P=0.004,心血管死亡：P=0.003）。多因素Cox回归分析提示全因死亡与中/重度营养不良、淋巴细胞计数及左心室射血分数相关,心血管死亡只与中/重度营养不良相关。与无营养不良风险患者相比,营养不良中/重度风险患者全因死亡及心血管死亡风险显著增加（HR 2.580,95%CI 1.139～5.842,P=0.023;HR4.709...     

经导管封堵治疗外科瓣膜置换术后二尖瓣瓣周漏长期随访研究

目的探讨经导管封堵外科二尖瓣置换术后瓣周漏的长期临床疗效。方法本研究为回顾性研究。入选2010年3月至2018年12月在上海交通大学医学院附属胸科医院完成经导管介入封堵二尖瓣置换术后瓣周漏的患者。技术成功定义为封堵器稳定植入于瓣周漏部位, 不影响人工二尖瓣功能以及周边组织;无介入相关并发症, 如新发溶血或溶血加重等;经超声心动图证实二尖瓣瓣周反流程度减轻1级以上。于介入术后30 d, 1、3年对患者进行随访, 主要研究终点为全因死亡和因介入失败或严重并发症转为外科手术, 并记录封堵器介导性溶血、慢性肾功能不全等发生情况, 完善超声心动图检查。结果共纳入75例患者, 年龄(54.3±22.9)岁, 男性38例。患者术前均有心功能下降和(或)溶血。技术成功率72.0%(54/75)。术后新发溶血或溶血加重者14例(18.7%)。随访期间全因死亡7例(9.3%), 其中心原性死亡3例。3年无临床终点事件生存率为81.3%(61/75)。再次外科手术的比例为9.3%(7/75), 原因包括封堵器介导性溶血(3例)、人工瓣膜干扰失功(2例)及中度以上残余反流(2例)。超声心动图随访结果显示, 封...     

老年冠心病合并慢性肾脏病发病状况及其对远期预后的影响

目的 调查老年冠心病（CHD）患者合并慢性肾脏病（CKD）的发病状况及其对远期预后的影响.方法 采用回顾性队列研究的方法.纳入795例老年冠心病患者,依照基线时是否合并CKD,分为合并CKD组（n=228）与单纯CHD组（n=567）,调查两组患者的基线指标水平及相关危险因素情况.以全因死亡作为研究终点,进行10年随访,分析合并CKD对老年冠心病患者远期预后的影响及其他相关危险因素.结果 老年冠心病患者中CKD发生率为28.7%,呈现出随年龄增加递增的趋势.老年冠心病患者发生CKD的独立危险因素包括：年龄、慢性心衰病史、血红蛋白水平、血尿酸水平.随访10年,老年冠心病患者全因死亡率为32.8%,合并CKD组患者全因死亡率,显著高于单纯CHD组患者死亡率（41.7% vs.28.9%,P＜0.05）,合并CKD死亡风险是单纯CHD死亡风险的1.725倍（95%CI：25.6%～33.0%）.10年全因死亡多因素分析显示,CKD是老年冠心病全因死亡的独立危险因素.结论 住院老年冠心病患者CKD发病率高,预后不佳.CKD是老年冠心病患者全因死亡独立的危险因素.     

植入型心律转复除颤器在一级预防心力衰竭患者中的应用

目的 观察左心室射血分数（LVEF）≤0.35心力衰竭患者的预后,评价植入型心律转复除颤器（ICD）作为心脏性猝死（SCD）一级预防的疗效.方法 回顾性分析2007年1月1日至2009年12月31日在北京协和医院心内科住院LVEF≤0.35且否认既往心肺复苏、晕厥和持续室性心动过速（室速）或心室颤动（室颤）心力衰竭患者,收集住院期间临床资料和实验室检查数据,以电话随访为主,主要观察终点为全因死亡,次要观察终点为全因死亡或首次心脏性再住院的联合终点.使用Kaplan-Meier法进行生存分析.结果 共83例患者入选,5例（6.4％）失访,78例完成了随访,包括ICD组20例和对照组58例.经过中位21.5（2.0～41.0）个月随访,共19例（24.4％）死亡.总体1、2、3年全因死亡率分别为16.5％、26.4％、35.0％.ICD组和对照组1年死亡率分别为10.5％和18.3％ （P=0.525,Log-rank检验）,ICD组死亡率降低了42.6％;18个月死亡率分别为10.5％和24.8％（P=0.340,Logrank检验）,ICD组死亡率降低了57.7％.全因死亡或心脏性再住院联合终点事件的1、2、3年发生率分别为40.1％、56.0％、76.0％.ICD组和对照组1年联合终点事件发生率分别为26.5％和44.1％（P=0.203,Log-rank检验）,ICD组事件发生率降低了39.9％;18个月联合终点发生率分别为26.5％和54.6％（P=0.110,Log-rank检验）,ICD组事件发生率降低了51.5％.结论 LVEF≤0.35心力衰竭患者预后较差,ICD具有降低死亡率和心脏性再住院率的倾向性.需要进一步扩大样本量研究来证实.     

肥厚型心肌病患者碱性磷酸酶/白蛋白比值与生存率的关系

目的：探讨肥厚型心肌病（hypertrophic cardiomyopathy,HCM）患者碱性磷酸酶/白蛋白比值（alkaline phosphatase-albumin ratio,APAR）与生存率的关系。方法：纳入2017年1月至2020年12月期间在我院心内科就诊的>18岁的354例HCM患者。通过全自动生化分析仪检测血清碱性磷酸酶（连续监测法）和白蛋白（透射比浊法）水平,计算二者比值APAR。本研究主要事件为全因死亡率,次要事件为心血管死亡率。结果：随访期间,共有44例患者达到全因死亡终点,其中30例（8.5%）归因于心血管原因。死亡者入院时APAR显著高于存活者[1.76(1.27,2.24)vs. 3.80(3.08,4.34),Z=-7.438,P <0.001]。入院时APAR预测HCM患者全因死亡的ROC曲线下面积为0.846(95%CI:0.775～0.918),对应截断值为2.88,特异度为78.7%,敏感度为84.1%。经Spearman秩相关分析,APAR与左心室舒张末期外径、静息左心室流出道梯度、左心室质量指数、二尖瓣反流程度和左心室室壁厚度...     

术后即刻基于计算流体力学的造影血流储备分数对冠心病患者临床结局的影响

目的 探讨经皮冠状动脉介入治疗（PCI）术后即刻基于计算流体力学的造影血流储备分数（post-PCI caFFR）对冠心病患者临床预后意义。方法 回顾性入选CAF研究队列中2013年8月至2020年12月在北京大学第一医院完成冠状动脉CT血管造影检查后行PCI的冠心病患者729例。采集患者人群基线信息，测量post-PCI caFFR，并采集随访信息。以主要不良心血管事件（MACE，包括心原性死亡、非致死性心肌梗死和缺血驱动的血运重建）为主要研究终点。次要研究终点为全因死亡、任何原因的血运重建。通过时间依赖的受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线计算预测MACE风险最佳postPCI caFFR值，根据该值进行分组。绘制不同组别MACE的Kaplan-Meier曲线。使用Cox比例风险模型分析post-PCI caFFR与临床各结局指标的关系。结果 729例患者中，男性517例（70.92%），平均年龄（64.40±10.31）岁。平均随访（4.29±2.11）年中，共14例（1.92%）患者失访。ROC曲线分析显示postPCI caFFR最佳界值为0.86,424例患者post-PCI ca...     

高龄老年高血压人群收缩压与全因死亡的关系

目的探讨高龄老年高血压人群SBP与全因死亡的关系。方法以开滦研究(ChiCTR～TNC～11001489)人群为对象,采取前瞻性队列研究方法,纳入1069例高龄老年高血压病人,以全因死亡为终点事件。依据观察对象SBP进行分组,采用寿命表法分别计算不同SBP组累积终点事件发生率,并采用Cox比例风险模型分析SBP对终点事件的影响。结果本研究平均随访(9. 3±2. 7)年,共发生全因死亡513例。多因素Cox比例风险回归模型分析显示,无论如何分组,各SBP组的全因死亡风险差异均无统计学意义(P 0. 05)。结论SBP不是影响高龄老年高血压病人全因死亡的主要因素。     

Association of Cognitive Impairment With Mortality and Readmission in Patients With Heart Failure: A Meta-analysis

Cognitive impairment is a frequent condition in patients with heart failure (HF). This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of cognitive impairment on all-cause mortality and readmission among HF patients. We systematically searched articles indexing in PubMed and Embase databases until August 5, 2022. Original studies investigating the association of cognitive impairment with mortality and/or readmission for more than 3-month follow-up in patients with HF were selected. Twelve studies including 9556 patients were eligible. The prevalence of cognitive impairment ranged from 13.5% to 63.4% in HF patients. For patients with cognitive impairment vs those without, the pooled adjusted risk ratio (RR) was 1.88 (95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.42-2.48) for all-cause mortality, 1.48 (95% CI 1.19-1.84) for readmission, and 1.53 (95% CI 1.35-1.73) for combined endpoints of all-cause mortality/readmission, respectively. Cognitive impairment is a significant predictor of all-cause mortality/readmission in patients with HF, even after adjustment for the conventional confounding. Evaluation of cognitive function may help to improve risk classification of HF patients.     

Optimal therapeutic range for oral anticoagulants in Japanese patients with prosthetic heart valves: a preliminary report from a single institution using conversion from thrombotest to PT-INR

The thrombotest (TT) technique has been widely used in Japan for monitoring oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT). The therapeutic range was originally recommended to be 10%–25%. However, the International Committee for Standardization in Hematology/International Committee on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ICSH/ICTH) recommended using the international normalized ratio of prothrombin time (PT-INR) for monitoring OAT. It is necessary to use a universal standard measure for monitoring OAT in accordance with the ICSH/ISTH recommendation. We simultaneously measured TT and PT in blood samples from 1 157 patients on long-term warfarin therapy, and studied the correlation between TT and PT-INR. An excellent linear correlation was obtained between TT-INR and PT-INR with the regression equation PT-INR = 1.0420 TT-INR − 0.0987 (r = 0.905, P < 0.001). We also examined the correlation between the incidence of thromboembolism in 170 patients receiving warfarin therapy after prosthetic valve replacement; 50.5% received concomitant antiplatelet therapy. Thromboembolism occurred in 9 of 170 patients during a mean follow-up period of 2.44 years. The average TT values in patients with and without thromboembolism were 26.4% (PT-INR: 1.53) and 21.1% (1.73), respectively (P < 0.01). The incidence of thromboembolism did not differ significantly between patients on warfarin alone (average TT: 22.2%) and those on warfarin and antiplatelet agent (average TT: 20.9%). Our results suggest that the incidence of thromboembolism is low in Japan despite a less intensive regimen having been adopted. Received: June 22, 2000 / Accepted: October 4, 2000     

Comparison of antithrombotic strategies in patients with cryptogenic stroke and patent foramen ovale: an updated meta-analysis

Purpose

Patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO) and cryptogenic ischemic stroke (CS) are at risk for stroke recurrence. The optimal antithrombotic strategy in patients who undergo medical management is still debated.

Methods

We systematically searched the literature for studies that reported on cerebrovascular event recurrences and/or death in patients with PFO treated with oral anticoagulation (OAC) or antiplatelet therapy (APT) for secondary prevention of CS. The efficacy endpoints were stroke recurrence and the composite of stroke, transient ischemic attack or all-cause death. Major bleedings represented the safety endpoint.

Results

A total of 16 studies with 3953 patients (OAC?=?1527, APT?=?2426) were included. Weighted mean follow-up was 2.9 years. OAC was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of stroke compared with APT (RR 0.65; 95% CI 0.44–0.95; ARR 2%, NNT 49), while no difference was found regarding the composite outcome (RR 0.78; 95% CI 0.57–1.07) and the safety outcome (RR 1.57; 95% CI 0.85–2.90; p?=?0.15).

Conclusions

OAC was more effective than APT in reducing the risk of stroke recurrence in patients with PFO and CS, without a significant increase in the risk of major bleedings. Our findings support the need for further randomized data focused on the comparison of antithrombotic strategies in this setting.

     

Left atrial volume index: Can it provide additional prognostic information in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention?

Introduction

We sought to assess the prognostic impact of left atrial (LA) size on long-term outcomes of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Impact of 6-month angiographic restenosis inside bare-metal stents on long-term clinical outcome in patients with coronary artery disease

This study enrolled 536 patients who underwent successful coronary stenting with bare-metal stents and 6-month angiographic follow-up examinations between 1998 and 2000. Baseline characteristics and angiographic and procedural parameters for these patients were obtained. Primary endpoints were all-cause mortality and nonfatal myocardial infarction. Patients were assigned to instent restenosis or non-instent restenosis groups based on 6-month angiographic follow-up results. Restenosis inside a bare-metal stent was defined as more than 50% stenosis at the intervention site. In total, 178 (33.2%) patients had restenosis inside bare-metal stents, while 358 (66.8%) patients were without. At mean follow-up of 56.8 +/- 20.3 months, 36 (6.7%) patients had a primary endpoint event while 500 (93.3%) patients had no primary endpoint event. Survival rates for patients free from primary endpoints in the instent restenosis and non-instent restenosis groups were 96.0 versus 99.4% at 1 year and 89.8% versus 94.8% at 5 years, respectively (P = 0.0033). Survival rates for patients free of all-cause mortality in the instent restenosis and non-instent restenosis groups were 96.0% versus 99.4% at 1 year and 91.6% versus 96.3% at 5 years, respectively (P = 0.0079). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that restenosis inside bare-metal stents was an independent predictor of primary endpoint events (odds ratio: 2.053; 95% CI: 1.048-4.022; P = 0.036) and was a predictor of total mortality with borderline significance (odds ratio: 2.036; 95% CI: 0.936-4.431; P = 0.073). In conclusion, in this study, restenosis inside bare-metal stents at 6-month angiographic follow-up was an independent predictor of long-term outcome-all-cause mortality and nonfatal myocardial infarction. Thus, this study provides clinical evidence that patients with restenosis inside bare-metal stents at 6-month angiographic follow-up likely warrant aggressive follow-up.     

抗血小板与抗凝治疗预防非瓣膜性心房颤动缺血性卒中的疗效评价

目的 评价抗血小板治疗与抗凝治疗预防非瓣膜性心房颤动(房颤)缺血性卒中疗效及安全性.方法 采用Cochrane系统评价方法,计算机检索PubMed、Embase、CENTREN及其下属各临床注册试验数据中心、中国生物医学文献数据库、中文科技期刊数据库、中国期刊全文数据库,检索时间截至2009年12月,纳入中外文抗血小板治疗与抗凝治疗预防非瓣膜性房颤缺血性卒中随机对照试验(RCT).由两名评价者独立评价纳入研究质量、提取资料并交叉核对.采用RevMan 5.0软件进行荟萃分析.结果 共纳入14个RCT,包括15 880例患者.荟萃分析结果显示:与对照组比较,抗血小板治疗不减少非瓣膜性房颤缺血性卒中(RR=0.83,95%CI0.68～1.00,P=0.05),不减少房颤全因死亡(RR=0.88,95% CI 0.73～1.07,P=0.21),可能增加房颤患者严重出血1.9倍(RR=2.88,95%CI1.21～6.86,P=0.02),不减少房颤体循环栓塞(RR=0.71,95%CI0.34～1.51,P=0.38),不增加房颤患者颅内出血(RR=3.25,95%CI0.84～12.62,P=0.09).抗血小板治疗与抗凝治疗比较显示:抗凝治疗显著降低房颤缺血性卒中发生率(RR=1.84,95%CI1.48～2.28,P＜0.01),房颤全因病死率二者差异无统计学意义(RR=1.06,95%CI0.90～1.23,P=0.50),严重出血发生率二者差异无统计学意义(RR=0.95,95%CI0.76～1.19,P=0.66),抗凝治疗显著降低房颤体循环栓塞发生率(RR=1.94,95%CI1.24～3.03,P=0.004),抗凝治疗显著增加颅内出血发生率(RR=0.49,95%CI0.31～0.78,P=0.003).结论 与对照组比较,抗血小板治疗不减少非瓣膜性房颤缺血性卒中及体循环栓塞,并可能增加房颤严重出血事件1.9倍;抗血小板治疗与抗凝治疗比较,抗凝治疗显著降低房颤缺血性卒中及体循环栓塞发生率,不增加房颤严重出血但显著增加颅内出血发生率.由于纳入的研究有限,结局指标不够统一,得出的结论尚需更多设计严谨、使用统一结局指标、随访时间较长的大样本RCT来进一步证实.

Abstract：

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and security of anti-platelet and anticoagulant therapy on prevention of ischemic stroke in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation ( NAF). Methods We searched PubMed, EMbase, CENTREN and its affiliated clinical trial registration data center, CBMdisc,VIP,and CNKI databases from establishment to Dec 2009 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs)covering the use of anti-platelet agents and anticoagulants for patients with NAF. Meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.0 software after the strict evaluation of the methodological quality of the included RCTs. Results Fourteen RCTs involving 15 880 patients were include. Compared with placebo or no use of anti-platelet drugs, antiplatelet therapy didn't reduce ischemic stroke (RR = 0. 83,95% CI0. 68 to 1.00, P = 0. 05 ), systemic emboli ( RR= 0. 71, 95% CI0. 34 to 1.51, P = 0. 38 ) and all-cause mortality (RR = 0. 88, 95% CI0. 73 to 1.07, P= 0. 21 ) while significantly increased the major bleeding ( RR = 2. 88, 95% CI 1.21 to 6. 86, P= 0. 02 ) in patients with NAF, intracranial hemorrhage was not affected by antiplatelet therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation ( RR= 3. 25, 95% CI0. 84 to 12.62, P =0. 09). Compared with anti-platelet therapy, anticoagulant therapy significantly reduced the incidence of ischemic stroke (RR = 1.84,95% CI 1.48 to 2. 28 ,P ＜0. 01 ) and systemic emboli (RR= 1.94, 95% CI 1.24 to 3.03, P = 0. 004 ) but significantly increased the incidence of intracranial hemorrhage ( RR =0. 49, 95% CI0. 31 to 0. 78, P= 0. 003 ), did not affect all-cause mortality ( RR = 1.06, 95% CI0. 90 to 1.23, P = 0. 50) and the incidence of major bleeding ( RR = 0. 95, 95 % CI0. 76 to 1.19, P = 0. 66) in NAF patients. Conclusions Compared with the placebo and no use of anti-platelet drugs, anti-platelet therapy didn't reduce ischemic stroke and systemic emboli but increased the risk of major bleeding in NAF patients. Compared with anti-platelet therapy, anticoagulant therapy significantly reduced the ischemic stroke and systemic emboli without increasing the risk of major bleeding, but significantly increased the incidence of intracranial hemorrhage in NAF patients. Since the study included RCTs with limited and less uniform outcome endpoints, the conclusions should be verified with RCTs with more uniform endpoints and longer follow-up time.     

Hemostatic markers in Japanese patients undergoing anticoagulant therapy under thrombo-test monitoring.

The objective of this study was to evaluate several molecular markers of hemostasis in 84 patients with hypercoagulable state, treated with warfarin under thrombo-test (TT) monitoring; TT was expressed as percent of control (TT%). In all patients, the average values of international normalized ratio (INR) of prothrombin time (PT;PT-INR) was 1.68+/-0.49; this increase in PT-INR was not, however, significant in patients under TT% monitoring. There were no thrombotic or severe bleeding complications in these patients during a period of 2 years. Plasma levels of thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), plasmin-plasmin inhibitor complex (PPIC), D-dimer, and soluble fibrin monomer (sFM) were slightly increased, suggesting that anticoagulant therapy was not completely effective in our Japanese patients based on the values of TT%. Activated partial thromboplastin time, PT-INR, TT% and protein C activity were significantly correlated with the dose of warfarin; fibrinogen, activated thromboplastin, TAT, PPIC, D-dimer, sFM, protein S and thrombomodulin were not significantly correlated with the dose of warfarin. The PT-INR was negatively correlated with TT%, protein C and protein S, and the correlation between PT-INR and TT-INR was better than that between PT-INR and TT%. The range of TT% was not correlated with the plasma levels of TAT, PPIC, D-dimer or sFM, but the range of PT-INR was correlated with the plasma level of TAT, D-dimer and sFM. The percentage of TAT, D-dimer and sFM within normal range was significantly low in patients with high PT-INR. These finding showed that PT-INR is better than TT% for monitoring the anticoagulant therapy with warfarin, and that TT should be expressed as INR. The values of PT-INR should be more than 1.7 during the anticoagulant therapy with warfarin in Japanese patients with high risk of thrombosis.     

Direct Oral Anticoagulant Versus Warfarin After Left Atrial Appendage Closure With WATCHMAN: Updated Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

In the pivotal WATCHMAN trials, warfarin was used for post-procedural anticoagulation in the first 45 days after left atrial appendage closure. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) versus warfarin after WATCHMAN. We performed a literature search of 5 electronic databases to identify studies comparing DOAC with warfarin after WATCHMAN. We pooled outcomes for the efficacy (thromboembolism, device-related thrombus [DRT], peridevice leak [PDL] >5 mm) and safety endpoints (bleeding, mortality). Thromboembolism was defined as ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, or systemic embolism. We included 10 cohort studies with 2,440 patients, of whom 1,397 (57.3%) received DOAC. Concerning periprocedural outcomes (within 7 days following implantation), DOAC was associated with a reduction in major bleeding (Risk ratio [RR] 0.32; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.11-0.92) compared with warfarin, without significant differences in all bleeding (RR 0.46; 95% CI 0.15-1.42) and thromboembolism (RR 0.93; 95% CI 0.21-4.16). On first follow-up transesophageal echocardiography, DRT (RR 0.79; 95% CI 0.39-1.60) and PDL>5 mm (RR 0.44; 95% CI 0.16-1.20) were comparable among groups. With a mean follow-up of 1.5-12 months, DOAC was associated with reductions in major bleeding (RR 0.52; 95% CI 0.30-0.89) and all bleeding (RR 0.38; 95% CI 0.25-0.58) compared with warfarin. The outcomes of thromboembolism (RR 0.79; 95% CI 0.36-1.73) and all-cause mortality (RR 0.49; 95% CI 0.19-1.28) were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Following WATCHMAN implantation, DOAC was associated with reductions in major bleeding and all bleeding compared with warfarin at mid-term follow-up. The outcomes of thromboembolism, all-cause mortality, DRT, and PDL >5 mm were comparable among groups.     

Microalbuminuria and tubular proteinuria as risk predictors of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in essential hypertension: final results of a prospective long-term study (MARPLE Study)*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of microalbuminuria (MAU) or tubular proteinuria (TPU) on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events and all-cause mortality, and to assess whether a normalization of MAU and/or TPU induced by angiotensin-converting enzyme-inhibitor-based antihypertensive treatment with ramipril improves cerebrovascular prognosis in essential hypertensive patients without diabetes mellitus. METHOD: A prospective, controlled, multicenter study was performed involving 3529 hypertensive participants (average follow-up 42.5 months). Ramipril was the basic antihypertensive medication. Proteinuria analysis (albumin, alpha 1-microglobulin, SDS electrophoresis) was performed by quantitative measurement every year. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed once yearly. The main outcome determined was cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: In patients with TPU and/or MAU, the risk for endpoints increased significantly compared with normal (TPU, 30.0%; MAU, 54.7%; MAU + TPU, 64.0%; macroproteinuria, 74.4%). A change of protein excretion either from pathologic to normal or from normal to pathologic showed a clear trend to correlate with cerebrovascular endpoints (P = 0.056 and P = 0.055). Normal protein excretion at baseline and during follow-up indicated a significantly better prognosis than pathologic proteinuria at baseline and during follow-up. (P < 0.0001). TPU normalized in 31.9%, MAU in 30.6%, MAU + TPU in 29.3%, and macroproteinuria in 10.2% of patients. A total of 445 (25.4%) patients with normal protein excretion developed pathologic proteinuria during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In non-diabetic hypertensive patients, MAU as well as TPU increases the incidence of cardiovascular events. Normalization of MAU, TPU or macroproteinuria during angiotensin-converting enzyme-inhibitor-based treatment correlates with a reduction of cardiovascular events. Beyond blood pressure control, normalization of MAU and TPU should be considered as a further therapeutic goal. There is a need for further studies to optimize treatment if proteinuria is unresponsive to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.     

Vasodilator Stress CMR and All-Cause Mortality in Stable Ischemic Heart Disease: A Large Retrospective Registry

ObjectivesThis study explored the association of ischemic burden, as measured by vasodilator stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), with all-cause mortality and the effect of revascularization on all-cause mortality in patients with stable ischemic heart disease (SIHD).BackgroundIn patients with SIHD, the association of ischemic burden, derived from vasodilator stress CMR, with all-cause mortality and its role for decision-making is unclear.MethodsThe registry consisted of 6,389 consecutive patients (mean age: 65 ± 12 years; 38% women) who underwent vasodilator stress CMR for known or suspected SIHD. The ischemic burden (at stress first-pass perfusion imaging) was computed (17-segment model). The effect of CMR-related revascularization (within the following 3 months) on all-cause mortality was retrospectively explored using the electronic regional health system registry.ResultsDuring a 5.75-year median follow-up, 717 (11%) deaths were documented. In multivariable analyses, more extensive ischemic burden (per 1-segment increase) was independently related to all-cause mortality (hazard ratio: 1.04; 95% confidence interval: 1.02 to 1.07; p < 0.001). In 1,032 1:1 matched patients using a limited number of variables (516 revascularized, 516 non-revascularized), revascularization within the following 3 months was associated with less all-cause mortality only in patients with extensive CMR-related ischemia (>5 segments, n = 432; 10% vs. 24%; p = 0.01).ConclusionsIn a large retrospective registry of unselected patients with known or suspected SIHD who underwent vasodilator stress CMR, extensive ischemic burden was related to a higher risk of long-term, all-cause mortality. Revascularization was associated with a protective effect only in the restricted subset of patients with extensive CMR-related ischemia. Further research will be needed to confirm this hypothesis-generating finding.