Explore the vast range of titles available.

In a cohort of 2208 patients who presented with acute myocardial infarction and were treated with clopidogrel, single-nucleotide polymorphisms in five genes known to influence the response to clopidogrel were analyzed. Patients who carried loss-of-function alleles of the gene encoding CYP2C19, as compared with those who did not, had a significantly higher rate of cardiovascular events during the subsequent year. In patients who presented with acute myocardial infarction and were treated with clopidogrel, those who carried loss-of-function alleles of the gene encoding CYP2C19 had a significantly higher rate of cardiovascular events during the subsequent year. Dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel is currently recommended for the prevention of atherothrombotic events in patients after acute myocardial infarction. 1 , 2 However, even with the use of such therapy, a substantial number of subsequent ischemic events still occur. 3 – 6 There is interindividual variability in the response to clopidogrel. 7 – 9 Some studies have suggested that hyporesponsiveness is associated with poorer clinical outcomes after an acute coronary syndrome, particularly after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). 10 However, there is also variability in the identification of biologic hyporesponsiveness to clopidogrel, depending on the test or agonist used and the timing of the assessment. . . .

Data from a French registry of nearly 3200 transcatheter aortic-valve implantation (TAVI) procedures complement data from randomized clinical trials. This emerging technique shows promise in the treatment of high-risk patients with aortic stenosis. Aortic stenosis is now the most frequently diagnosed valvular disease. 1 , 2 Surgical aortic-valve replacement is the definitive therapy for patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. 2 , 3 Operative mortality is low among selected elderly patients but increases with the number and severity of coexisting illnesses. 4 – 6 A survey of hospitalized patients revealed the underreferral to surgery of those with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. 7 Transcatheter aortic-valve implantation (TAVI) was developed as an alternative to surgical aortic-valve replacement in this high-risk patient population. Ten years after the first implantation by Cribier and colleagues, 8 more than 50,000 patients have been treated by TAVI worldwide. . . .

Background Renal dysfunction influences outcomes after pulmonary embolism (PE). We aimed to determine the incremental value of adding renal dysfunction, defined by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), on top of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) prognostic model, for the prediction of 30-day mortality in acute PE patients, which in turn could lead to the optimization of acute PE management. Methods We performed a multicenter, non-interventional retrospective post hoc analysis based on a prospectively collected cohort including consecutive confirmed acute PE stratified per ESC guidelines. We first identified which of three eGFR formulae most accurately predicted death. Changes in global model fit, discrimination, calibration and reclassification parameters were evaluated with the addition of eGFR to the prognostic model. Results Among 1943 patients (mean age 67.3 (17.1), 50.4% women), 107 (5.5%) had died at 30 days. The 4-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (eGFR MDRD4 ) formula predicted death most accurately. In total, 477 patients (24.5%) had eGFR MDRD4  < 60 ml/min. Observed mortality was higher for intermediate–low-risk and high-risk PE in patients with versus without renal dysfunction. The addition of eGFR MDRD4 information improved model fit, discriminatory capacity, and calibration of the ESC model. Reclassification parameters were significantly increased, yielding 18% reclassification of predicted mortality ( p  < 0.001). Predicted mortality reclassifications across risk categories were as follows: 63.1% from intermediate–low risk to eGFR-defined intermediate–high risk, 15.8% from intermediate–high risk to eGFR-defined intermediate–low risk, and 21.0% from intermediate–high risk to eGFR-defined high risk. External validation in a cohort of 14,234 eligible patients from the RIETE registry confirmed our findings with a significant improvement of Harrell’s C index and reclassification parameters. Conclusion The addition of eGFR MDRD4 -derived renal dysfunction on top of the prognostic algorithm led to risk reclassification within the intermediate- and high-risk PE categories. The impact of risk stratification integrating renal dysfunction on therapeutic management for acute PE requires further studies.

Background We assessed the ability of MR-proANP, sST2 and BNP to predict maintenance of sinus rhythm at one year after successful electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation. Methods Prospective, multicenter, observational study including patients undergoing electrical cardioversion of persistent AF. MR-proANP, sST2 and BNP were measured in peripheral venous blood before cardioversion. Primary endpoint was the first recurrence of AF during the 12-month follow-up, defined as ECG showing AF, or any AF episode lasting > 30 s on 24 h holter monitoring. Results We included 61 patients from 12/2017 to 03/2019 with preserved LVEF (≥ 45%), average age was 67.4 ± 7.8 years, 46 were males (75.4%). Sinus rhythm was restored in 51 patients (83.6%). In these 51 patients, plasma concentrations of MR-proANP were significantly higher among patients with recurrent AF at 12 months than among those without recurrence (314.45 [210.90–342.50] vs 214.50 [138.97–264.72] pmol/L, p  < 0.01). There was no difference between groups in terms of sST2 and BNP concentrations. ROC curve analysis identified an MR-proANP threshold of 311.5 pmol/L as having the best predictive value for recurrent AF at 12 months. By multivariable analysis, MR-proANP > 311.5 pmol/L was found to be the sole predictor of AF recurrence (hazard ratio, 4.74; 95% CI, 1.59–14.07), and identified subjects at very high risk of recurrence (positive predictive value = 83.3%). Conclusion Elevated MR-proANP level independently predicts recurrent AF during the year following electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation. Our findings warrant confirmation in larger studies. Trial Registration Registered with ClinicalTrials.gov under the identifier NCT03351816 on 2017-11-20.

We assessed incidence, predictors, and impact on 6-month mortality of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) after coronary angiography with or without percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), according to 3 different CI-AKI definitions. Serum creatinine (sCr) was assessed at baseline and 48 to 72 hours after procedure to classify patients into 3 CI-AKI groups: Group 1: increase in sCR ≥25% over baseline but absolute increase <0.5 mg/dl; Group 2: absolute increase ≥0.5 mg/dl; Group 3: absolute increase ≥0.3 mg/dl or ≥50% over baseline. The association between CI-AKI and all-cause 6-month mortality was assessed using multivariate Cox regression. Among 1,002 patients included, median age was 68 [57 to 79] years. The sample had the following characteristics: 70% men, 25% diabetics, 22% had a history of myocardial infarction, 21% had baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (as calculated by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease)  <60 ml/min/1.72 m2, 34% had ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, 61% underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, and 43% had multivessel disease. Based on changes in sCr, 89 patients (8.9%) were classified in Group 1; 69 (6.9%) in Group 2; and 157 (15.7%) in Group 3, whereas sCr did not increase >25% in the remaining 844 (84.2%). CI-AKI was significantly associated with 6-month all-cause mortality using the definitions for Group 2 (hazard ratio 3.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5 to 6.6, p = 0.002) and Group 3 (hazard ratio 2.03, 95% CI 1.03 to 4.0, p = 0.04), but not Group 1. In conclusion, based on the definition used for CI-AKI, CI-AKI is observed in 6% to 15.7% of patients. An increase of 25% over baseline sCr does not identify high-risk patients. CI-AKI defined as an increase in sCr >0.3 mg/dl identifies 15.7% of the population at 2-fold higher risk of mortality.

IntroductionAfter closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) due to stroke, atrial fibrillation (AF) occurs in up to one in five patients. However, data are sparse regarding the possible pre-existence of AF in these patients prior to PFO closure, and about recurrence of AF in the long term after the procedure. No prospective study to date has investigated these topics in patients with implanted cardiac monitor (ICM). The PFO-AF study (registered with ClinicalTrials.gov under the number NCT04926142) will investigate the incidence of AF occurring within 2 months after percutaneous closure of PFO in patients with prior stroke. AF will be identified using systematic ICM. Secondary objectives are to assess incidence and burden of AF in the 2 months prior to, and up to 2 years after PFO closure.Methods and analysisProspective, multicentre, observational study including 250 patients with an indication for PFO closure after stroke, as decided by interdisciplinary meetings with cardiologists and neurologists. Patients will undergo implantation of a Reveal Linq device (Medtronic). Percutaneous PFO closure will be performed 2 months after device implantation. Follow-up will include consultation, ECG and reading of ICM data at 2, 12 and 24 months after PFO closure. The primary endpoint is occurrence of AF at 2 months, defined as an episode of AF or atrial tachycardia/flutter lasting at least 30 s, and recorded by the ICM and/or any AF or atrial tachycardia/flutter documented on ECG during the first 2 months of follow-up.Ethics and disseminationThe study was approved by the Ethics Committee ‘Comité de Protection des Personnes (CPP) Sud-Méditerranéen III’ on 2 June 2021 and registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04926142). Findings will be presented in national and international congresses and peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberNCT04926142.

BackgroundClinical research is an essential step in the successful translation of knowledge from basic research into concrete clinical applications, yet many people are reluctant to provide consent when actually approached to actively participate in clinical trials.AimsWe investigated the factors that influence older patient’s (≥ 65 years) decisions to accept or refuse to participate in a prospective randomized clinical trial in secondary prevention after acute coronary syndrome.MethodsQualitative approach based on individual semi-structured interviews with patients who were approached for consent to participate in a currently ongoing clinical trial was adopted. Patients were interviewed after the consent process (8 accepted; 8 refused the trial). Interviews were analysed using grounded theory methodology.ResultsSixteen patients aged ≥ 65 years participated. The main concept to emerge from these interviews is that the actual trial itself does not appear to be the primary determinant in the decision to participate in clinical research. Rather, patients’ decisions to participate (or not) in clinical research appear to be primarily determined by their capacity to deal with the current health event that has disrupted their life, and by their available mental and physical resources.Discussion and conclusionOlder patients display varying levels of engagement in their own health, ranging from low engagement with high trust in the medical profession, to high engagement mirrored by distrust of the medical profession. Structural conditions, such as personal benefit from trial participation, or logistic barriers to participation, seem to affect both accepters and refusers in the same manner.

Background Glycemic variability is associated with worse outcomes after cardiac surgery, but the prognosis value of early glycemic variability after transcatheter aortic valve implantation is not known. This study was therefore designed to analyze the prognosis significance of post-procedural glycemic variability within 30 days after transcatheter aortic valve implantation. Methods A post hoc analysis of patients from our center included in the FRANCE and FRANCE-2 registries was conducted. Post-procedural glycemic variability was assessed by calculating the mean daily δ blood glucose during the first 2 days after transcatheter aortic valve implantation. Major complications within 30 days were death, stroke, myocardial infarction, acute heart failure, and life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. Results We analyzed 160 patients (age (median [interquartile] = 84 [80–88] years; diabetes mellitus (n) = 41 (26%) patients; logistic Euroscore = 20 [12–32]). The median value of mean daily δ blood glucose was 4.3 mmol l −1 . The rate of major complications within 30 days after procedure among patients with the lowest quartile of glycemic variability was 12%, increasing from 12 to 26%, and 39% in the second, third, and fourth quartiles, respectively. In multivariate analysis, glycemic variability was independently associated with an increased risk of major complications within 30 days after the procedure (odds ratio [95% CI] = 1.83 [1.19–2.83]; p = 0.006). Conclusions This study showed that post-procedural glycemic variability was associated with an increased risk of major complications within 30 days after transcatheter aortic valve implantation. Trial registration Clinical trial registration number https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ ; identifier: NCT02726958; date: April 4th, 2016

The long-term impact of persistent pulmonary vascular obstruction after pulmonary embolism (PE) remains unknown. Based on ventilation-perfusion lung scan performed at discharge and 3 months after a first PE, we aimed to investigate the prognostic value on 5-year adverse events of (1) residual pulmonary vascular obstruction (RPVO) at discharge (DIS-RPVO), (2) RPVO at 3 months (3M-RPVO), and (3) relative change in RPVO between the 2 scans (RC-RPVO). We performed a prospective, multicenter cohort study from January 2007 to December 2009 including patients who survived at least 3 months after a PE. RC-RPVO was defined as (DIS-RPVO − 3M-RPVO)/DIS-RPVO. The primary end point was a combined end point at 5 years, composed of all-cause death, recurrent venous thromboembolism, chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, and rehospitalization for cardiac causes. Receiver-operating characteristic curves were computed to define thresholds of DIS-RPVO, 3M-RPVO, and RC-RPVO predictive of the primary combined end point at 5 years. Overall, 241 patients were included (high-risk PE: 11.2%, intermediate-risk PE: 51.8%, low-risk PE: 37%). Mean DIS-RPVO was 27.9 ± 15.1%, mean 3M-RPVO was 10.3 ± 10.8%, and mean RC-RPVO was 61.7 ± 33.4%. At 5 years, 112 patients (46.5%) experienced the combined end point. Both 3M-RPVO ≥15% and RC-RPVO ≤37.5% were independently related to the occurrence of the combined end point at 5 years (p = 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively). DIS-RPVO did not predict long-term adverse events. In conclusion, RC-RPVO ≤37.5% and 3M-RPVO ≥15% were independently related to the occurrence of adverse events 5 years after a first PE.

The management of patients with acute massive pulmonary embolism (PE) who do not respond to fibrinolytic therapy remains unclear. We aimed to compare rescue surgical embolectomy and repeat thrombolysis in patients who did not respond to thrombolysis. We conducted a prospective single-center registry of PE patients who underwent thrombolytic therapy. Lack of response to thrombolysis within the first 36 h was prospectively defined as both persistent clinical instability and residual echocardiographic right ventricular dysfunction. Patients underwent surgical embolectomy or repeat thrombolysis, at the discretion of the attending physician. The clinical end point was a combined end point including recurrent PE, bleeding complications, or PE-related death, which was defined as death from recurrent PE or cardiogenic shock. Long-term adverse outcomes included death, recurrent thromboembolic events, and congestive heart failure. From January 1995 to January 2005, 488 PE patients underwent thrombolysis, of whom 40 (8.2%) did not respond to thrombolysis. Fourteen patients were treated by rescue surgical embolectomy, and 26 were treated by repeat thrombolysis. There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between the two groups. The in-hospital course was uneventful in 11 of the surgically treated patients (79%) and in 8 patients (31%) treated by repeat thrombolysis (p = 0.004). There was a trend for higher mortality in the medical group than in the surgical group (10 vs 1 deaths, respectively; p = 0.07). There were significantly more recurrent PEs (fatal and nonfatal) in the repeat-thrombolysis group (35% vs 0%, respectively; p = 0.015). While no significant difference was observed in number of major bleeding events, all bleeding events in the repeat-thrombolysis group were fatal. The rate of uneventful long-term evolution was the same in the two groups. Rescue surgical embolectomy led to a better in-hospital course when compared with repeat thrombolysis in patients with massive PE who have not responded to thrombolysis. The transfer of patients who have not responded to thrombolysis to tertiary cardiac surgery centers could be considered as an alternative option.