Dariouch Dolatabadi

Cardiopoietic cell therapy for advanced ischemic heart failure: results at 39 weeks of the prospective, randomized, double blind, sham-controlled CHART-1 clinical trial

Aims Cardiopoietic cells, produced through cardiogenic conditioning of patients’ mesenchymal stem cells, have shown preliminary efficacy. The Congestive Heart Failure Cardiopoietic Regenerative Therapy (CHART-1) trial aimed to validate cardiopoiesis-based biotherapy in a larger heart failure cohort. Methods and results This multinational, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study was conducted in 39 hospitals. Patients with symptomatic ischaemic heart failure on guideline-directed therapy (n = 484) were screened; n = 348 underwent bone marrow harvest and mesenchymal stem cell expansion. Those achieving > 24 million mesenchymal stem cells (n = 315) were randomized to cardiopoietic cells delivered endomyocardially with a retention-enhanced catheter (n = 157) or sham procedure (n = 158). Procedures were performed as randomized in 271 patients (n = 120 cardiopoietic cells, n = 151 sham). The primary efficacy endpoint was a Finkelstein–Schoenfeld hierarchical composite (all-cause mortality, worsening heart failure, Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire score, 6-min walk distance, left ventricular end-systolic volume, and ejection fraction) at 39 weeks. The primary outcome was neutral (Mann–Whitney estimator 0.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.47–0.61 [value > 0.5 favours cell treatment], P = 0.27). Exploratory analyses suggested a benefit of cell treatment on the primary composite in patients with baseline left ventricular end-diastolic volume 200–370 mL (60% of patients) (Mann–Whitney estimator 0.61, 95% CI 0.52–0.70, P = 0.015). No difference was observed in serious adverse events. One (0.9%) cardiopoietic cell patient and 9 (5.4%) sham patients experienced aborted or sudden cardiac death. Conclusion The primary endpoint was neutral, with safety demonstrated across the cohort. Further evaluation of cardiopoietic cell therapy in patients with elevated end-diastolic volume is warranted.

Initial experience with the Glidesheath Slender for transradial coronary angiography and intervention: a feasibility study with prospective radial ultrasound follow-up.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and safety of the Glidesheath Slender in routine transradial (TR) coronary angiography and intervention.

Reply: The C-CURE Randomized Clinical Trial (Cardiopoietic stem Cell therapy in heart failURE).

We appreciate the interest of Dr. Mielewczik and colleagues in the C-CURE (Cardiopoietic stem Cell therapy in heart failURE) trial. As outlined in our paper [(1)][1], feasibility and safety were the primary endpoints in this first-in-man study that assessed cardiogenically-oriented, autologous bone

First prospective multicenter experience with the 7 French Glidesheath slender for complex transradial coronary interventions

To assess the feasibility and safety of the 7 French (Fr) Glidesheath Slender for complex transradial (TR) percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI).

Importance of guiding catheter disengagement during measurement of fractional flow reserve in patients with an isolated proximal left anterior descending artery stenosis

To determine the impact of ostial guiding catheter disengagement during measurement of fractional flow reserve (FFR) in patients with an isolated proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD) stenosis.

Severe catheter kinking and entrapment during transradial coronary angiography: percutaneous retrieval using a sheathless guide catheter.

The transradial (TR) approach for coronary angiography and intervention is increasingly used worldwide because of several advantages such as reduced bleeding and vascular complications. During TR procedures, aggressive catheter manipulation in the setting of complex and tortuous arterial anatomy can lead to catheter kinking and entrapment. Several percutaneous retrieval techniques using either homolateral radial access or femoral access have been described previously. We demonstrate, for the first time, the use of a sheathless guide catheter as a rescue technique to successfully retrieve a severely kinked and entrapped diagnostic catheter during TR access.

Occurrence of longitudinal stent compression before stent deployment: Two case studies.

Several recent reports have described the occurrence of longitudinal stent deformation (LSD, defined as the distortion or shortening of a stent along the longitudinal axis), following its successful deployment. However, few reports have described LSD prior to any stent deployment. This previously unrecognized complication is the result of modifications to stent design. It has been noted that the new-generation stent platforms have a reduced number of connectors, which in turn causes a reduction in longitudinal stent strength. To corroborate previous findings by our lab and others (Vijayvergiya et al, 2013), we describe here two cases of LSD prior to stent deployment that occurred due to crushing of the proximal stent edge by the guide catheter while attempting to withdraw the crimped stent. In addition, we discuss the associated risk factors, such as the length of the stent, and specific management strategies, including technical guidelines and use of fluoroscopic guidance for maneuvering the stent during the procedure.