Endovascular therapy combined with immunosuppressive treatment for occlusive arterial disease in patients with Takayasu's arteritis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of endovascular therapy combined with immunosuppression for the treatment of arterial occlusive disease in patients with Takayasu's arteritis (TA). METHODS: From January 1998 to June 2003, 25 patients (22 women; age 37.8+/-15.5 years) with TA were treated with angioplasty for symptomatic lesions or with a hemodynamically significant aortic narrowing. The patients with active disease, defined as an increase in inflammatory markers (e.g., erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR]), were treated with immunosuppressive agents before intervention. Angioplasty was performed after the ESR had been normalized. RESULTS: In the 25 patients, 58 vascular territories (7 aortic, 9 carotid, 3 vertebral, 11 subclavian, 2 superior mesenteric, 18 renal, 4 iliac, and 4 coronary arteries) were treated with angioplasty only (19 lesions) or with stents (39 lesions). The mean ESR when the vascular lesions were initially diagnosed was 35.6+/-26.2 mm/h, which fell to 18.5+/-7.8 mm/h after immunosuppressive therapy. The endovascular procedure was performed successfully in 52 (90%) of 58 lesions. During the mean 23.7+/-18.4-month follow-up, 9 (17%) treated segments restenosed; 4 were treated with repeat angioplasty. The overall cumulative primary clinical success rate was 82%; secondary clinical success was 90%. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular therapy for stenotic lesions in patients with TA is safe and effective when disease activity is strictly controlled with immunosuppressive treatment.     

Optical coherence tomography analysis of strut coverage in biolimus- and sirolimus-eluting stents: 3-Month and 12-month serial follow-up

Background

No randomized studies have been conducted to investigate serial changes in optical coherence tomography (OCT) analyses following implantation of biolimus-A9-eluting stents (BES) and sirolimus-eluting stents (SES).

Methods

A total of 60 patients fulfilling the study criteria were randomly assigned into BES (n = 30) and SES (n = 30) implantation groups. Serial OCT evaluation at post-procedure, 3- and 12-month follow-up was performed in 46 patients [BES (n = 22) and SES (n = 24)]. OCT analyses were compared according to the type of stents and the follow-up time intervals. The percentage of uncovered struts was defined as the ratio of uncovered struts to total struts in all cross-sections. The primary endpoint was the percentage change (Δ) of uncovered struts in the 3- and 12-month follow-up samples.

Results

The percentage of uncovered struts at the 3-month time period was not significantly different in the BES and SES groups; the median value (interquartile range) was 14.7% (0.0–23.4) versus 8.6% (0.7–21.5) (p = 0.98), respectively. However, OCT at the 12-month follow-up showed a significantly lower percentage of uncovered struts [2.6% (0.8–5.6) versus 6.2% (1.7–14.7), (p = 0.028), respectively] without significant difference of neointimal thickness. BES showed a greater reduction of percentage Δ of uncovered struts from 3–12 months than that of SES [− 17.2 ± 14.5% versus − 7.7 ± 16.3%, respectively (p = 0.043)].

Conclusions

Both drug-eluting stents showed a high percentage of incomplete strut coverage at 3 months. However, BES showed a significantly lower percentage of uncovered struts at 12 months compared to that of SES. This was achieved by superior strut coverage from 3 to 12 months.     

The applicability of the Asian modified criteria of the metabolic syndrome in the Korean population

BackgroundWe compared the metabolic profiles and risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in Koreans with non-diabetic metabolic syndrome (MetS). [We applied four criteria of MetS: the NCEP criteria, the Asian modified NCEP (a-NCEP) criteria, the WHO criteria and the Asian modified WHO (a-WHO).]MethodsThe study group composed of 2724 subjects enrolled in the cardiovascular genome center. There were 728 patients with significant CAD. The different criteria of the MetS were applied for the study population.ResultsAmong the 2724 participants, 522 (19.2%) met the NCEP criteria, 796 (29.2%) met the a-NCEP criteria, 361 (13.3%) met the WHO criteria and 576 (21.1%) met the a-WHO criteria. The clinical parameters, lipid profile, apoA1 and apoB level were not different between the participants classified as MetS by using the different criteria. The odds ratio for CAD prediction were not significantly different according to the metabolic criteria (odd ratio: 1.755 [95% CI: 1.423–2.163] in NCEP criteria, 2.120 [1.763–2.549] in a-NCEP criteria, 1.854 [1.466–2.343] in WHO criteria, 2.205 [1.810–2.687] in a-WHO criteria). The serum level of apoA1 and apoB showed strong correlations with MetS classified by all criteria and the HOMA index and insulin level showed better correlations with WHO-MetS criteria.ConclusionsAll the MetS criteria showed similar metabolic profiles and all four criteria had similar predictive value for CAD. Conventional MetS criteria, applied to the non-diabetic Asian population, may underestimate the population at risk. Our data suggests that the Asian modified criteria will decrease the risk for underdiagnosis while demonstrating similar metabolic profiles and CAD risk compared to the conventional criteria.     

Systemic immunosuppressive therapy inhibits in-stent restenosis in patients with renal allograft.

BACKGROUND: Cyclosporine is used routinely for prophylaxis for renal allograft rejection. In experimental animal studies, cyclosporine had been shown to inhibit smooth muscle cell proliferation during the arterial response to injury. We investigated whether systemic immunosuppression may inhibit in-stent restenosis in renal transplant patients undergoing coronary stenting. METHODS: From 1993 to 2003, 33 renal transplant patients with 45 coronary lesions and 37 dialysis patients with 52 lesions underwent coronary stenting using bare metal stents at our center. We followed all patients clinically for a mean period of 37 +/- 31 months and 40 patients angiographically at 14 +/- 15 months after coronary intervention. Cyclosporine was combined with corticosteroids in 32 patients and one patient received tacrolimus instead of cyclosporine. RESULTS: The baseline clinical and angiographical characteristics were similar and the success rate of the procedure was 100% in both groups. In renal transplant group, the mean dose of cyclosporine was 192.5 +/- 68 mg/day and the blood cyclosporine level at the time of procedure was 152.9 +/- 51.5 ng/mL. The rate of in-stent restenosis was 7.1% in renal transplant group and 57.1% in dialysis group (P < 0.0001). The mean late loss was 0.47 +/- 0.57 mm in renal transplant group when compared with 1.51 +/- 1.09 mm in dialysis group (P = 0.004). The overall rate of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) was 6.1% in renal transplant group and 35.1% in dialysis group (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Renal transplant patients receiving combined immunosuppressive agents showed markedly low rates of in-stent restenosis and MACE after coronary revascularization with stent. We consider that this result may be related to the ability of combined immunosuppressive therapy to inhibit inflammatory reaction and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation induced by coronary stenting.     

Comparison of sirolimus‐eluting stent and paclitaxel‐eluting stent for long‐term cardiac adverse events in diabetic patients: The Korean multicenter angioplasty team (KOMATE) registry

Background: There is some controversy on long‐term cardiac outcomes between sirolimus‐eluting stents (SES) and paclitaxel‐eluting stents (PES) in diabetes mellitus (DM). We compared cardiac adverse events after SES and PES implantation in patients with DM over a period of 3 year. Methods: A total of 634 patients with DM treated with SES (n = 428) or PES (n = 206) were consecutively enrolled in the KOMATE registry from 2003 to 2004. We assessed major adverse cardiac events (MACEs, cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, ischemia driven target vessel revascularization) and stent thrombosis (ST) according to the definitions set by the Academic Research Consortium. Results: Propensity score (PS) analysis was performed to adjust different baseline characteristics. The mean follow‐up duration was 38 ± 8 month (at least 36 month and up to 53 month). The 3‐year MACE rate did not show a significant difference between the two groups [52 (12.1%) in SES vs. 29 (14.1%) in PES, P = 0.496]. The definite and probable ST at 3 year were similar in both SES and PES [12 (2.8%) in SES vs. 7 (3.4%) in PES, P = 0.681]. There were no differences in hazard ratio for MACE and ST between two stents [MACE, crude: 0.844 (0.536–1.330) and adjusted for PS: 0.858 (0.530–1.389); ST, crude: 0.820 (0.323–2.083) and adjusted for PS: 0.960 (0.357–2.587)]. Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that long‐tem cardiac outcomes including ST were not significantly different between SES and PES in patients with DM. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Plant-derived exosomal microRNAs inhibit lung inflammation induced by exosomes SARS-CoV-2 Nsp12

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Complete revascularization of total obstruction of both subclavian arteries and descending abdominal aorta by combined surgery and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty

A 48-year-old man was admitted with chest pain, intermittent claudication and right upper extremity weakness. Magnetic resonance angiography revealed total occlusion of both subclavian arteries and descending abdominal aorta below renal artery. End-to-side aorta to bifemoral graft surgery and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of both subclavian arteries were performed. Follow-up angiography after 6 months revealed patent left subclavian artery but 70% occluded right subclavian artery. Therefore re-intervention was performed at right subclavian artery.     

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement with Minimal Contrast Dye in Patients with Renal Insufficiency

PurposeConcerns have been consistently raised in regards to the considerable amount of contrast dye used during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in patients with renal insufficiency. In the present study, we introduced minimal contrast TAVR and compared its 30-day clinical outcomes with conventional TAVR.Materials and MethodsWe retrospectively investigated 369 patients who underwent TAVR between July 2011 and April 2020 in our institute. Among them, 93 patients with severe aortic stenosis and renal insufficiency (estimated glomerular filtration rate ≤50 mL/min/1.73 m²) were included and divided into a conventional TAVR group (n=56) and a minimal contrast TAVR group (n=37). In the minimal contrast TAVR group, the total amount of contrast was <10 mL during the entire TAVR procedure. Thirty-day major adverse clinical events (MACE), including death, stroke, implantation of permanent pacemaker, and initiation of hemodialysis, were investigated.ResultsThe incidence of MACE was significantly lower in the minimal contrast TAVR group than the conventional TAVR group (16.2% vs. 42.9%, p=0.010). Death occurred in 9 patients (16.1%) in the conventional TAVR group and in 0 patients in the minimal contrast group (p=0.011). Hemodialysis was initiated in 2 patients (5.4%) in the minimal contrast TAVR group and in 7 patients (12.5%) in the conventional TAVR group (p=0.256). Multivariate regression analysis showed that the minimal contrast TAVR procedure was an independent predictor for reducing MACE (hazard ratio 0.208, 95% confidence interval: 0.080–0.541, p=0.001).ConclusionMinimal contrast TAVR is feasible and shows more favorable short-term clinical outcomes than conventional TAVR in patients with renal insufficiency.     

Successful Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention without Stenting: Insight from Optimal Coherence Tomography

For patients with acute myocardial infarction, current management guidelines recommend implantation of a drug-eluting stent, dual antiplatelet therapy (including potent P2Y12 inhibitors) for at least 1 year, and maintenance of life-long antiplatelet therapy. However, a pilot study showed favorable results with antithrombotic therapy without stent implantation when plaque erosion, not definite plaque rupture, was confirmed using optical coherence tomography (OCT), despite the patients having acute myocardial infarction. Here, we present a case where successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention was performed without stenting with the aid of OCT in a patient with ST-elevation myocardial infarction who developed thrombotic total occlusion of the right coronary artery.