Richard Gervasoni

SPECT Myocardial Perfusion Reserve in Patients with Multivessel Coronary Disease: Correlation with Angiographic Findings and Invasive Fractional Flow Reserve Measurements

Quantification of myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR) is an emerging topic in nuclear cardiology with an expected diagnostic and prognostic incremental value, especially for patients with severe coronary artery disease. The advent of new dedicated solid-state cameras has opened new perspectives for perfusion quantitation in SPECT. We appraised the feasibility of perfusion reserve estimation using a cadmium zinc telluride camera in a cohort of multivessel patients and its pertinence with respect to angiographic data. Methods: Twenty-three patients with known multivessel coronary artery disease were prospectively enrolled. Dynamic SPECT acquisitions using 99mTc-tetrofosmin at rest and after vasodilator stress were performed using a dedicated cadmium zinc telluride camera. Reconstructed frames were automatically segmented to extract the vascular input function and the myocardial uptake curve. One-compartment kinetic modeling was used to estimate global and regional uptake values, and then myocardial blood flow was derived using the Renkin–Crone equation. Global and regional MPR was assessed using flow difference (stress − rest) and flow ratio (stress/rest). All patients underwent control coronary angiography within 4 wk, which served as the reference for MPR index assessment. Relevant angiographic findings included maximal stenosis and (for a subgroup of 26 vessels) invasive measurement of fractional flow reserve (FFR). A stenosis was considered obstructive if greater than 50% and an FFR abnormal if lower than 0.8. Results: Global MPR correlated well with number of obstructed vessels (P < 0.001). After multivariate analysis, both regional flow ratio and flow difference were significantly associated with maximal stenosis (P < 0.001) and FFR (P < 0.001). Regional MPR indices were significantly different in obstructed and nonobstructed vessels (P < 0.001) and in vessels with normal and abnormal FFR (P < 0.001). With a cutoff of 2, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of regional flow ratio were, respectively, 80%, 85%, and 81% for the detection of obstructed vessels and 89%, 82%, and 85% for the detection of abnormal FFR. Conclusion: Scintigraphic estimations of global and regional MPR in multivessel patients using a cadmium zinc telluride camera appear to correlate well with invasive angiographic findings, including maximal stenosis and FFR measurements.

Kinetics of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T and I differ in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated by primary coronary intervention

Purpose: Cardiac biomarkers including troponins are the cornerstone of the biological definition of acute myocardial infarction. New high-sensitivity cardiac assays determining troponin T (hs-cTnT) as well as I ((hs-cTnI) from Abbott and s-cTnI from Siemens) raise concerns because of their unclear kinetics following the peak. Aims: This study aims to compare kinetics of creatine kinases, hs-cTnT, hs-cTnI and s-cTnI in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated by percutaneous coronary intervention. Methods: We prospectively studied 106 consecutive patients admitted in our institution for STEMI and treated by percutaneous coronary intervention. We evaluated for all the patients simultaneously kinetics of creatine kinases, hs-cTnT (Roche) and two different cTnIs (hs-cTnI from Abbott and s-cTnI from Siemens). Modelling of kinetics was realized using mixed effects with cubic splines. Results: Kinetics of markers showed a first peak at 10.7h (8.0–12.0) for creatine kinases, 11.8h (10.4–13.3) for hs-cTnT (Roche); 11.8h (10.7–11.8) for hs-cTnI from Abbott and 10.2h (8.7–11.6) for s-cTnI from Siemens, respectively. This peak was followed by a nearly log linear decrease for hs-cTnI/s-cTnI and creatine kinases in contrast to hs-cTnT, which appeared with a biphasic shape curve marked by a second peak at 76.9h (69.5–82.8). The analysis of the decrease in percentage of the peak value at 77h showed that hs-cTnT follows a twice lower decrease than other markers. Conclusion: Kinetics of hs-cTnT, hs-cTnI and s-cTnI differ significantly with a linear decrease regarding both cTnI assays contrasting with a biphasic shape curve for hs-cTnT. This is of importance for clinical management of patients in routine settings especially in follow-up after STEMI including the suspicion of reinfarction.

Kinetics of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T or troponin I compared to creatine kinase in patients with revascularized acute myocardial infarction

Abstract Background: Cardiac biomarkers are the cornerstone of the biological definition of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The key role of troponins in diagnosis of AMI is well established. Moreover, kinetics of troponin I (cTnI) and creatine kinase (CK) after AMI are correlated to the prognosis. New technical assessment like high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) raises concerns because of its unclear kinetic following the peak. This study aims to compare kinetics of cTnI and hs-cTnT to CK in patients with large AMI successfully treated by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: We prospectively studied 62 patients with anterior AMI successfully reperfused with primary angioplasty. We evaluated two consecutive groups: the first one regularly assessed by both CK and cTnI methods and the second group by CK and hs-cTnT. Modeling of kinetics was realized using mixed effects with cubic splines. Results: Kinetics of markers showed a peak at 7.9 h for CK, at 10.9 h (6.9–12.75) for cTnI and at 12 h for hs-cTnT. This peak was followed by a nearly log linear decrease for cTnI and CK by contrast to hs-cTnT which appeared with a biphasic shape curve marked by a second peak at 82 h. There was no significant difference between the decrease of cTnI and CK (p=0.63). CK fell by 79.5% (76.1–99.9) vs. cTnI by 86.8% (76.6–92.7). In the hs-cTnT group there was a significant difference in the decrease by 26.5% (9–42.9) when compared with CK that fell by 79.5% (64.3–90.7). Conclusions: Kinetic of hs-cTnT and not cTnI differs from CK. The role of hs-cTnT in prognosis has to be investigated.

Flow cytometric assessment of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein : Prognostic value of recurrent cardiovascular events after acute coronary syndromes

BACKGROUND Clopidogrel fails to elicit an adequate antiplatelet response in 4-30% of patients. Assessing the phosphorylation of intraplatelet vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) is an easy and reliable method of evaluating biological response to clopidogrel. AIM To assess the prognostic value of clopidogrel in patients with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) without persistent ST-segment elevation. METHODS We studied clopidogrel response prospectively in 49 patients treated with a loading dose of 300 mg clopidogrel followed by a maintenance dose of 75 mg/day. VASP index was calculated from the median fluorescence intensity (MFI) of samples incubated with prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and adenosine diphosphate according to the formula [(MFI(PGE1)-MFI(PGE1-ADP))/MFI(PGE1)]x100, and was determined at baseline and at days 1 and 4 after starting clopidogrel. We correlated VASP index with occurrence of recurrent cardiovascular events over six-month follow-up. RESULTS There was a significant stepwise decrease in VASP index from baseline (86+/-6%) to day 1 (71+/-13%) and day 4 (61+/-16%; p<0.001) with marked interindividual variability. Patients who experienced recurrent cardiovascular events displayed a higher VASP index compared with those free of events (76+/-3% versus 59+/-16%, p=0.006). Five of six recurrent events occurred in patients in the upper quartile of VASP index measured at day 4. The best cut-off of platelet reactivity index of VASP to predict high-risk ACS patients was at 70%. CONCLUSION Assessment of VASP index in ACS patients identifies low responders to clopidogrel who are at increased risk of recurrent cardiovascular events.

Intracoronary administration of darbepoetin-alpha at onset of reperfusion in acute myocardial infarction: Results of the randomized Intra-Co-EpoMI trial

BACKGROUND Several trials investigating erythropoietin as a novel cytoprotective agent in myocardial infarction (MI) failed to translate promising preclinical results into the clinical setting. These trials could have missed crucial events occurring in the first few minutes of reperfusion. Our study differs by earlier intracoronary administration of a longer-acting erythropoietin analogue at the onset of reperfusion. AIM To evaluate the ability of intracoronary administration of darbepoetin-alpha (DA) at the very onset of the reperfusion, to decrease infarct size (IS). METHODS We randomly assigned 56 patients with acute ST-segment elevation MI to receive an intracoronary bolus of DA 150 μg (DA group) or normal saline (control group) at the onset of reflow obtained by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). IS and area at risk (AAR) were evaluated by biomarkers, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and validated angiographical scores. RESULTS There was no difference between groups regarding duration of ischemia, Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction flow grade at admission and after PCI, AAR size and extent of the collateral circulation, which are the main determinants of IS. The release of creatine kinase was not significantly different between the two groups even when adjusted to AAR size. Between 3-7 days and at 3 months, the area of hyperenhancement on CMR expressed as a percentage of the left ventricular myocardium was not significantly reduced in the DA group even when adjusted to AAR size. CONCLUSION Early intracoronary administration of a longer-acting erythropoietin analogue in patients with acute MI at the time of reperfusion does not significantly reduce IS.

An hs-TNT Second Peak Associated with High CRP at Day 2 Appears as Potential Biomarkers of Micro-Vascular Occlusion on Magnetic Resonance Imaging after Reperfused ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Introduction: Micro-vascular occlusion (MVO) in a myocardial infarction (MI) is associated with an increased risk of heart failure and mortality. Hs-T-troponin has a double peak kinetic after MI. The aim was to determine if this kinetic was correlated to MVO evaluated by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after MI. Methods: This is a monocentric retrospective study. Inclusion criteria were hospitalization for MI, Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction flow 0 at coronary angiography, reperfusion within 12 h from the onset of chest pain, cardiac MRI within the first month, and a 5-days’ biological follow-up with at least hs-T-Troponin and C-reactive protein (CRP). Statistics were performed using the R software. Results: Ninety-eight patients were included. Fifty-three patients (54.1%) had MVO at MRI. The existence of MVO was associated with a trend of more kissing procedure during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (p = 0.06), a significantly more frequent second peak of troponin (p = 0.048), a significantly higher CRP level (p < 0.0001) and a longer time to balloon (p = 0.01). The association of CRP level above 40 mg/L at day 2 and the observation of a second peak of troponin were associated to 95% of MVO in ST-segment elevation MI patients. By contrast, in the absence of these 2 criteria, MVO was absent in 78% of the cases. This score was associated with a higher rate of hospitalisation at 2 years. Conclusion: A biological score integrating hs-TNT second peak and CRP might help to predict MVO and predict outcomes after reperfused MI in our population.

Is hypertriglyceridemia atherogenic

ASCVD reduction is based on LDL reduction, especially by statins. Highly elevated TG could be harmful, especially because of the risk of pancreatitis. Elevation of TG is mainly due to metabolic disorders and diabetes, alcohol intake and overweight. Genetic factors have been clearly identified in the most severe cases. TG have been generally considered as bystanders for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Both biological and basic research provide strong data suggesting that TG-rich lipoproteins could be involved in the pathophysiology of CVD. Recent epidemiological and genetics studies strongly corroborate the causal role of TG in CVD. This paves the way for new approaches in the management of patients both for primary and secondary prevention.

Area at risk can be assessed by iodine-123-meta-iodobenzylguanidine single-photon emission computed tomography after myocardial infarction: a prospective study

Background Myocardial salvage is an important surrogate endpoint to estimate the impact of treatments in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between cardiac sympathetic denervation area assessed by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using iodine-123-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (123I-MIBG) and myocardial area at risk (AAR) assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) (gold standard). Patients and methods A total of 35 postprimary reperfusion STEMI patients were enrolled prospectively to undergo SPECT using 123I-MIBG (evaluates cardiac sympathetic denervation) and thallium-201 (evaluates myocardial necrosis), and to undergo CMR imaging using T2-weighted spin-echo turbo inversion recovery for AAR and postgadolinium T1-weighted phase sensitive inversion recovery for scar assessment. Results 123I-MIBG imaging showed a wider denervated area (51.1±16.0% of left ventricular area) in comparison with the necrosis area on thallium-201 imaging (16.1±14.4% of left ventricular area, P<0.0001). CMR and SPECT provided similar evaluation of the transmural necrosis (P=0.10) with a good correlation (R=0.86, P<0.0001). AAR on CMR was not different compared with the denervated area (P=0.23) and was adequately correlated (R=0.56, P=0.0002). Myocardial salvage evaluated by SPECT imaging (mismatch denervated but viable myocardium) was significantly higher than by CMR (P=0.02). Conclusion In patients with STEMI, 123I-MIBG SPECT, assessing cardiac sympathetic denervation may precisely evaluate the AAR, providing an alternative to CMR for AAR assessment.

0022 : Transcatheter aortic valve implantation without intensive care unit admission

Objectives The aim of the study was to evaluate feasibility and safety of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) performed without subsequent intensive care unit (ICU) admission using simple clinical, ECG and echocardiographic criteria. Methods We included prospectively 177 consecutive patients who underwent TAVI in our center. Low-risk patients, admitted to conventional cardiology unit, had stable clinical state, LVEF > 40%, transfemoral access, no right bundle branch block (RBBB), permanent pacing with self-expandable valve and no complication during the procedure. High-risk group included other patients who were transferred to ICU. The primary endpoint concerned in-hospital events (VARC-2 criteria). Results Mean age of patients was 83.5±6.5 years and mean logistic Euroscore was 14.6±9.7%. The balloon expandable SAPIENS 3 valve was mainly used (n=148; 83.6%), mostly with transfemoral access (n=167; 94,4%). Among the 61 patients (34.5%) included in the low-risk group, only 1 (1.6%) had a minor complication (NPV: 98.4%; 95% CI: 0.91-0.99). Conversely, 47 patients (40.5%) from the high-risk group had clinical events (PPV: 40.5%; 95% CI: 0.31-0.50), mainly conductive disorders requiring pacemaker (n=26; 22.4%). In multivariate analysis, RBBB (OR: 14.1; 95% CI: 3.5-56.3), use of self-expandable valve without pacemaker (OR: 5.5; 95% CI: 2-16.3), vitamin K antagonist treatment (OR: 3.8; 95% CI: 1.1-12.6) and female gender (OR: 2.6; 95% CI 1.003-6.9) were pre-procedural predictive factors of in-hospital adverse events. Conclusions Our results suggested that TAVI can be performed safely without ICU admission in selected patients. This strategy may optimize efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the procedure. The author hereby declares no conflict of interest Table . In hospital major adverse events in the two groups of patients. Post TAVI adverse events Low risk group (n=61; 34.5%) High risk group (n=116: 65.5%) Death (n=1; 0.6%) 0 1 (0.9%) Acute pulmonary oedema (n=1; 0.6%) 0 1 (0.9%) New high conductive disorder (n=36; 20.2%) 0 36 (31%) Permanent pacing requiring (n=26; 14.7%) 0 26 (22.4%) Major vascular complication (n=1; 0.6%) 0 1 (0.9%) Pericardial effusion requiring medical intervention (n=2; 1.2%) 0 2 (1.8%) Acute kidney injury (Akin 2 or 3) (n=3; 1.8%) 0 3 (2.7%) Secondary transfer to ICU (n=1) (pericardial effusion) 1 (1.6%) Total of patient with at least one complication (n=48; 27.1%) 1 (1.6%) 47 (40.5%)

0486: Aortic valve calcium score evaluated with CT scan predicts outcome after TAVI

Background The clinical risk scores usually used for surgical valve replacement failed to accurately predict outcomes after TAVI and alternative risk parameters are lacking. We proposed to determine the prognostic value of aortic valve calcifications evaluated with CT-scan on outcome after TAVI. Methods This prospective monocentric study included 118 patients referred for TAVI for severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. The procedure was performed via transfemoral route using a balloon expandable (n=61) or a self expandable (n=57) valve. Pre-intervention non enhanced, ECG-gated, multislice CT-scan was done in all patients. Aortic valve calcifications were evaluated using the Agatston calcium score (CS). Procedure-related complications were evaluated and clinical outcome was analysed using a composite criteria (mortality, stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure) at 30-day follow-up. Results Mean CS was 4092±2176. At 30-day follow-up, mortality was 6.8% (n=8) and 28 patients (23%) have presented the composite criteria. On univariate analysis (table), CS appears to be the best predictor of adverse outcome after TAVI, significantly higher in patients who have presented the composite criteria (5785 vs 3565 p 6000 (OR 106; IC95 15,5-727,6). During the follow-up, the 5 patients who have developped a moderate to severe aortic regurgitation had a significantly higher CS than those who developped none or mild regurgitation (10121 vs 3809, p Conclusion High degree of calcification of aortic valve, easily quantifiable on the pre-operative CT-scan appears to be an important prognostic parameter which should be considered by the Heart Team in the decision making. Abstract 0486 – Table: Predictors of adverse outcome after TAVI Presence of composite criteria n=28 Absence of composite criteria n=90 p EuroScore 1 (%) 24,96±11,48 18,55±10,99 0,013 Dislipidemia n(%) 12 (43) 23 (26) 0,08 Body mass index (BMI) n(%) 24,21±4,01 27,33±5,51 0,01 CoreValve prothesis n(%) 18 (64) 39 (43) 0,056 Calcium score 5875,71±3285,84 3565,78±1331,18