Kazumasa Nosaka

Early eicosapentaenoic acid treatment after percutaneous coronary intervention reduces acute inflammatory responses and ventricular arrhythmias in patients with acute myocardial infarction: A randomized, controlled study

OBJECTIVE We examined whether early loading of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) reduces clinical adverse events by 1 month, accompanied by a decrease in C-reactive protein (CRP) values in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI). BACKGROUND Acute MI triggers an inflammatory reaction, which plays an important role in myocardial injury. EPA could attenuate the inflammatory response. METHODS This prospective, open-label, blinded endpoint, randomized trial consisted of 115 patients with acute MI. They were randomly assigned to the EPA group (57 patients) and the control group (58 patients). After percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), 1800 mg/day of EPA was initiated within 24h. The primary endpoint was composite events, including cardiac death, stroke, re-infarction, ventricular arrhythmias, and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation within 1 month. RESULTS Administration of EPA significantly reduced the primary endpoint within 1 month (10.5 vs 29.3%, p=0.01), especially the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias (7.0 vs 20.6%, p=0.03). Peak CRP values after PCI in the EPA group were significantly lower than those in the control group (median [interquartile range], 8.2 [5.6-10.2] mg/dl vs 9.7 [7.6-13.9] mg/dl, p<0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that EPA use was an independent factor related to ventricular arrhythmia until 1 month, with an odds ratio of 0.29 (95% confidence interval, 0.09 to 0.96, p=0.04). CONCLUSIONS Early EPA treatment after PCI in the acute stage of MI reduces the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias, and lowers CRP values.

Early initiation of eicosapentaenoic acid and statin treatment is associated with better clinical outcomes than statin alone in patients with acute coronary syndromes: 1-year outcomes of a randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND Early initiation of EPA treatment in combination with a statin within 24h after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) reduces inflammation and ventricular arrhythmia compared with statin monotherapy; however, the impact of early initiation of EPA treatment on cardiovascular events is unclear. We determined whether early eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) treatment in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) reduces adverse cardiovascular events. METHODS This prospective, open-label, blind end point-randomized trial consisted of 241 patients with ACS. Patients were randomly assigned to receive pitavastatin (2mg/day) with or without 1800mg/day of EPA initiated within 24h after PCI. The primary endpoint was defined as cardiovascular events occurring within 1year, including death from a cardiovascular cause, nonfatal stroke, nonfatal MI and revascularization. RESULTS The mean EPA/arachidonic acid ratio at follow-up was 0.40 in the control group and 1.15 in the EPA group. A primary endpoint event occurred in 11 patients (9.2%) in the EPA group and 24 patients (20.2%) in the control group (absolute risk reduction, 11.0%; hazard ratio, 0.42; 95% confidence interval, 0.21 to 0.87; P=0.02). Notably, death from a cardiovascular cause at 1year was significantly lower in the EPA group than in the control group (0.8% vs. 4.2%, P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS Early initiation of treatment with EPA combined with statin after successful primary PCI reduced cardiovascular events after ACS. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR); Registry Number, UMIN000016723; URL, http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index-j.htm.

Low serum level of secreted frizzled-related protein 5, an anti-inflammatory adipokine, is associated with coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE Secreted frizzled-related protein 5 (SFRP5) is an anti-inflammatory adipokine that is associated with insulin resistance in animals. To extend these observations to humans, we investigated the association of serum SFRP5 levels in subjects with and without coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS Subjects (n=185, 68±11 years, 79% male) suspected of having CAD were enrolled in the study and were divided into two groups, CAD and non-CAD subjects, according to the results of their coronary angiographies. Serum SFRP5 levels of the subjects were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS The serum SFRP5 levels in the subjects with CAD were significantly lower than those in the non-CAD subjects (median [interquartile range]: 47.7 [26.6] vs. 52.4 [29.6] ng/mL, respectively; p=0.02). The serum SFRP5 levels significantly correlated with body mass index, the homeostasis model of assessment of insulin resistance, adiponectin levels, and CAD severity. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a decreased serum SFRP5 level (log transformed) was independently associated with CAD for all subjects (adjusted odds ratio, 0.36; 95% confidence interval, 0.14-0.94; p=0.03). CONCLUSION Serum SFRP5 levels are significantly associated with CAD in humans, suggesting that low SFRP5 levels may contribute to CAD.

Elevated serum adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein concentrations are independently associated with renal dysfunction in patients with stable angina pectoris

BackgroundChronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with cardiovascular events. Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) plays an important role in atherosclerosis. We investigated whether plasma A-FABP is involved in renal function in patients with stable angina pectoris.MethodsA total of 221 patients with significant coronary artery stenosis were enrolled after coronary angiography. CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2. The severity of coronary stenosis was assessed using a modified Gensini score and coronary angiography. Serum A-FABP levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsSerum A-FABP levels were significantly correlated with both eGFR (r = -0.41, p < 0.01) and the severity of coronary artery stenosis (r = 0.16, p = 0.02), and these relationships remained significant after adjusting for confounding factors. The prevalence of CKD and multi-vessel disease was significantly higher among patients with serum A-FABP levels above the median value of 20.3 ng/ml than among patients with serum A-FABP levels below the median value (57% vs. 27%, p < 0.01 and 64% vs. 48%, p = 0.02, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that the presence of three-vessel disease in comparison with single-vessel disease was independently associated with the higher A-FABP (per doubling) (odds ratio; 2.26, 95% confidential interval; 1.28-3.98, p < 0.01) and tended to be associated with the lower eGFR (p = 0.06).ConclusionSerum A-FABP may have a significant role in the interplay between renal dysfunction and coronary atherosclerosis.

Serum adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein is independently associated with complex coronary lesions in patients with stable coronary artery disease

The association between circulating adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) levels and coronary artery disease (CAD) is reported. We assessed whether plasma A-FABP levels are associated with angiographic coronary lesion morphology in patients with stable CAD. Serum A-FABP levels were analyzed in 115 patients with stable CAD (mean age 69 ± 10 years; 80 % men). These patients were angiographically studied and divided into two groups: simple lesions (n = 34) and complex lesions (n = 81). We also compared 50 age- and gender-matched controls with no evidence of CAD. Serum A-FABP levels in patients with stable CAD were significantly higher than those in controls. In patients with stable CAD, serum A-FABP levels were significantly higher in patients with complex lesions than in those with simple lesions: median (25th–75th percentile), 23.4 (17.7–30.8) vs 18.2 (12.2–24.7) ng/ml, P < 0.01. Serum A-FABP levels were also significantly associated with angiographic scores of extent of coronary lesion (r = 0.21, P = 0.02). Multiple logistic analysis that included dyslipidemia, statin therapy, and extent score demonstrated that serum A-FABP was independently associated with complex lesions. The multiple adjusted odds ratio for a complex lesion with a serum A-FABP level (per doubling) was 2.38 (95 % confidence interval, 1.03–6.41; P = 0.03). High serum A-FABP levels were significantly associated with complex coronary lesions in patients with stable CAD, suggesting that high A-FABP levels may be involved in coronary plaque vulnerability.

Serum cystatin C as a biomarker of cardiac diastolic dysfunction in patients with cardiac disease and preserved ejection fraction.

Diastolic dysfunction of the heart is correlated with cardiac mortality. Serum cystatin C (CysC) is an endogenous marker of kidney function. It is not clear whether serum CysC is associated with diastolic dysfunction in patients with varying cardiac conditions with concomitant diastolic abnormalities and preserved ejection fraction (EF). The authors measured serum CysC levels in patients with cardiac diseases and examined the relationships between serum CysC levels and diastolic function. Serum CysC was measured and echocardiography was performed in 124 consecutive patients with cardiac diseases. Transmitral flow (TMF) patterns surrogating diastolic function were categorized into two groups: a normal group and an abnormal group. Serum CysC and BNP showed a significant positive correlation. There were no significant differences in serum CysC among those cardiac diseases. Seventy-eight patients with cardiac disease and preserved EF (left ventricular EF ≥50%) and without renal dysfunction (estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥60 mL/minute/1.73 m(2) ) were examined. Multivariate linear regression analysis demonstrated that left atrium diameter and abnormal TMF patterns were independent determinants of serum CysC. Furthermore, patients with elevated serum CysC levels had poor prognosis. Serum CysC is associated with diastolic dysfunction in patients with various cardiac diseases and preserved EF. Serum CysC might be a biomarker of cardiac diastolic dysfunction in patients with preserved EF.

EARLY INITIATION OF EICOSAPENTAENOIC ACID AND STATIN TREATMENT IS ASSOCIATED WITH BETTER CLINICAL OUTCOMES THAN STATIN ALONE IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROMES: 1-YEAR OUTCOMES OF A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED STUDY

Early initiation of EPA treatment in combination with a statin within 24 h after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) reduces inflammation and ventricular arrhythmia compared with statin monotherapy; however, the impact of early initiation of EPA

Successful transcatheter repair of severe aortic valve stenosis with a fishhook-like calcification

An 84-year-old extreme frail woman presented with symptomatic severe aortic valve stenosis. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed a tricuspid aortic valve with eccentric calcification. The aortic annulus area was 399 mm as observed using multidetector computed tomography (CT), which also revealed a huge fishhook-like calcification extending from the commissure between the left and right coronary cusp to the sinotubular junction through the aortic annulus and the sinus of Valsalva (Fig. 1a–c). Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) was scheduled. The calcification was not deformed during intraoperative balloon aortic valvuloplasty, and a cineangiogram during the procedure revealed a balloon indentation on the calcified leaflet (Fig. 1d). CT re-evaluation showed a 22-mm distance between the sinus of Valsalva and the calcified commissure (Fig. 1c). Therefore, a 23-mm SAPIEN XT valve (Edwards Life-science, Irvine California) was implanted with 1 mL filling lesser than the recommended volume. A cineangiogram found that the calcification was not deformed and that the prosthetic valve was mainly expanded toward the noncoronary cusp (Fig. 1e). Postoperative CT showed that the prosthetic valve was implanted in an elliptical shape (Fig. 1f). The patient remains well 12 months after the procedure, with trivial paravalvular leakage on TTE, aortic valve mean pressure gradient of 13 mmHg, and aortic valve area of 1.5 cm.

Differences in endothelial dysfunction induced by paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation: Insights from restoration of sinus rhythm by catheter ablation ☆

BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with endothelial dysfunction. Studies have shown the incidence of cardiovascular events to be greater in patients with persistent AF (PeAF) than paroxysmal AF (PAF). OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate whether endothelial dysfunction and the impact of catheter ablation on the endothelial function differs between PAF and PeAF. METHODS We prospectively measured the endothelial function by reactive hyperemia peripheral arterial tonometry (RH-PAT) in 103 PAF, 75 PeAF, and 51 control patients at baseline, with follow-up in the AF patients at 6 and 12months after the catheter ablation. RESULTS The log-transformed RH-PAT index (ln RHI) was the highest in the control group, followed by the PAF and PeAF (0.67±0.23, 0.57±0.29, and 0.45±0.3, respectively, p<0.001) groups. PeAF was determined to be an independent factor of endothelial dysfunction (ln RHI <0.55) even after adjustment for the conventional cardiovascular risk factors. For 12months after the catheter ablation, 102 (99%) PAF and 72 (96%) PeAF patients maintained sinus rhythm. On average, the ln RHI in the PAF group did not change during the follow-up, but it significantly increased in the PeAF group to a level comparable to that of the PAF patients 6months after the catheter ablation (0.53±0.28, p=0.034), and maintained the same level at 12months after the catheter ablation. CONCLUSIONS The persistent form of AF may independently contribute to endothelial dysfunction. In addition, by catheter ablation, the maintenance of sinus rhythm may protect against exacerbations of endothelial dysfunction.

EARLY LOADING OF OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS DECREASES INFLAMMATION AND IN-HOSPITAL EVENTS IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION UNDERGOING PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION

GISSI prevention trial demonstrated that long term assumption of omega-3 fatty acids improves significantly the prognosis of patients with a history of myocardial infarction (MI), mainly due to anti-arrhythmic effects. However, the acute effect of omega-3 fatty acids especially on arrhythmic events