Maria Lavda

Impact of balloon aortic valvuloplasty on transcatheter aortic valve implantation with self-expandable valve

BACKGROUND Balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) has been used prior to valve implantation of a self-expandable valve as part of the transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedure. We aimed to evaluate the impact of BAV prior to TAVI. METHODS We retrospectively studied 203 consecutive patients who were treated either with (pre-BAV-TAVI group) or without BAV (D-TAVI group). Implantation depth (ID) was angiographically measured at non-coronary cusp (NCC) and left coronary cusp (LCC) at: the starting point (stage-1), before (stage-2), and after (stage-3) final bioprosthesis release. Paravalvular regurgitation (PVR) and 1-year clinical follow-up were recorded. RESULTS Overall, from stage-1 to stage-3, prosthesis migrated toward the left ventricle, in both cusps and groups. At NCC a forward migration was observed from stage-1 to stage-2 in both groups (p<0.001). In the pre-BAV-TAVI group only, at NCC, an upward migration decreased the ID from stage-2 to stage-3 (p=0.022). PVR ≥grade 2, immediately after expansion was more frequently observed in pre-BAV-TAVI group (41% vs 22%, respectively; p=0.024). However, PVR was similar at discharge. Clinical parameters were comparable between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS The use of BAV prior to TAVI may have an impact on device final position, but not on short- and long-term clinical outcome.

Residual platelet reactivity after clopidogrel loading in ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients undergoing a delayed catheterization. Impact on long term clinical events

Residual platelet reactivity after clopidogrel loading in ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients undergoing a delayed catheterization. Impact on long term clinical events Manolis Vavuranakis ⁎, Konstantinos Kalogeras , Nikolaos Dagres , Maria Kariori , Dimitrios Vrachatis , Carmen Moldovan , Maria Lavda , Evelina Mpei , Aristeidis Androulakis , Gerasimos Siasos , Dimitris Tousoulis , Christodoulos Stefanadis a

Impact of inflammatory process on left ventricular recovery after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Impact of inflammatory process on left ventricular recovery after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Manolis Vavuranakis ⁎, Maria Kariori , Vassilis Voudris , Sophia Thomopoulou , Dimitrios Vrachatis , Konstantinos Aznaouridis , Carmen Moldovan , Christos Stefopoulos , Konstantinos Kalogeras , Ioanna Dima , Velissarios Antonakis , Pavlos Mpounas , Maria Lavda , Dimitris Tousoulis , Christodoulos Stefanadis a

TCT-735 CoreValve device implantation ‘true cover index’ predicts mid-term aortic regurgitation; a novel index

Huelva; Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine and Clinical Scie; MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, District of Columbia, United States; Toda central general hospital; R&D Headquarters, Terumo Corporation; Washington Hospital Center, Washington, District of Columbia, United States; Washongton Hospital Center, Washington, District of Columbia, United States; Johns Hopkins University; Washington Hospital Center, Washington, District of Columbia, United States; Washington Hospital Center, Washington, District of Columbia, United States; Medstar Heart Institute, Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Novel Inflammatory Indices in Aortic Disease

Inflammation plays a critical role in the atherosclerotic process in various vascular beds, starting from endothelial dysfunction and counting all stages of plaque development. The significant contribution of inflammation in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis has been documented over many years but its contribution to the development of other cardiovascular disease remains unclear. Inflammatory process constitutes a basic part of pathogenic cascade of aortic diseases including those of aortic valve stenosis and aortic aneurysms. Thus, both of these entities are related with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the need to detect and investigate indices representative of inflammation that will be easily measured and may reflect the process of these diseases, is mandatory. However, such biomarkers for aortic diseases that could have a significant prognostic value on survival via the early identification of high risk patients, in general, remain few. Therefore, the illumination of role of such biomarkers, will facilitate the understanding of the mechanisms in molecular and/or cellular level that are responsible for the creation of aortic disease. Such an approach may provide a pathophysiological basis for early diagnosis.