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David Antoniucci

Publications and source records attributed to David Antoniucci.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Predictors of restenosis after treatment of bifurcational lesions with paclitaxel eluting stents: a multicenter prospective registry of 150 consecutive patients.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was the assessment of the clinical, angiographic and procedural characteristics correlated with freedom from adverse events at 1 year in a real life setting of consecutive bifurcation lesions. BACKGROUND: Even if stent implantation has shown to be superior to conventional balloon angioplasty in most coronary lesions, bifurcation treatment with stent implantation both in main and in side branch (SB) still raises controversy. METHODS: We reviewed the results obtained in a prospective multicenter registry of 150 patients with 158 bifurcation lesions involving a SB of sufficient diameter to be treated, if necessary, with a polymer based paclitaxel eluting stent (PES, TAXUS). Two stents were used in 118 lesions (74.7%). Final kissing balloon inflation was performed in 87/118 lesions (73.7%) and in 30/40 lesions (75.0%) of the 2 and 1 stent group respectively. RESULTS: At 1-year clinical follow-up we observed 4 stent thromboses, all involving the SBs of the 2 stents group (2.7%). Unlike previous reports, revascularization involved the main vessel in the majority of patients (21/150, 14.0%). After an exploratory multivariable analysis the only parameter predictive of target lesion revascularization (TLR) (HR 0.52; CI 95% 0.11-0.86; p = 0.02) and target vessel revascularization (TVR) (HR 0.47; CI 95% 0.14-0.90; p = 0.03) was postprocedural main branch minimal lumen diameter (MB-MLD). CONCLUSIONS: In a real life setting of consecutive bifurcation lesions, thrombosis rate, concentrated in the SB and the 2-stents group, and need for target lesion revascularization remain higher than in less complex lesion subgroups treated with PES. No differences in immediate success and TLR were observed between 2 stents and 1 stent groups. The frequently observed suboptimal stent expansion and final MB-MLD predict 1 year revascularization.

Aged↗

Incidence, clinical findings, and outcome of women with left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome.

Left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome (LVABS) is a clinical condition that may mimic ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (AMI). To assess incidence, clinical findings, and outcome of white women with LVABS, we reviewed 305 consecutive women with chest pain and anterior ST-elevation AMI referred for potential mechanical revascularization; 36 (12%) patients met the diagnostic criteria for LVABS and were compared with the remaining 269 women with angiographic evidence of coronary artery disease (CAD). Patients with LVABS showed a lower incidence of diabetes mellitus (5% vs 21%, p = 0.023), a higher rate of antecedent stressful events (26% vs 3%, p <0.0001), and a higher heart rate at admission (91 +/- 20 vs 82 +/- 19, p = 0.018) than women with CAD. Urgent angiography showed no significant CAD in patients with LVABS and an average of 1.6 +/- 0.7 diseased coronary arteries (>50% stenosis) in the 269 control women (p = 0.0001). Peak creatine kinase-MB value was lower in patients with LVABS (21 +/- 26 mU/ml) than in women with CAD (307 +/- 302 mU/ml, p = 0.0001). The only independent predictors of LVABS among women with anterior AMI were peak creatine kinase-MB value (p = 0.0001) and the presence of an antecedent stressful event (p = 0.001). LV systolic function at admission was similar between women with LVABS and those with CAD (echocardiographic ejection fraction 35.6 +/- 8.4% vs 35.5 +/- 8.0%, p = 0.944) but was significantly different at discharge (ejection fraction 50.1 +/- 9.6% vs 45.2 +/- 13.5%, p = 0.021). Moreover, at 6-month follow-up, women with LVABS showed a better survival rate (97% vs 86%, p = 0.055) and freedom from major cardiac events (death, reinfarction, or rehospitalization 92% vs 69%, p = 0.001) than women with CAD. In conclusion, few women presenting with clinical features of anterior AMI have LVABS. Despite a favorable outcome, LVABS should be considered in the differential diagnosis of women with chest pain and ST-segment elevation in the precordial leads. Peak creatine kinase-MB value and the presence of an antecedent stressful event are strong predictors of LVABS in women with anterior AMI.

Aged↗

Testing prospectively the effectiveness and safety of paclitaxel-eluting stents in over 1000 very high-risk patients: design, baseline characteristics, procedural data and in-hospital outcomes of the multicenter Taxus in Real-life Usage Evaluation (TRUE) Study.

BACKGROUND: Paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) have been proved effective in randomized trials enrolling highly selected patients. Yet, given the uncertainty concerning results of PES implantation in very high-risk patients and lesions, we designed a prospective multicenter registry, the Taxus in Real-life Usage Evaluation (TRUE) Study. STUDY DESIGN, PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS AND IN-HOSPITAL OUTCOMES: Consecutive patients undergoing PES implantation were enrolled provided that the target lesion treated with PES was an unprotected left main (ULM), a true bifurcation, a chronic total occlusion (CTO), a long lesion (>28 mm), located in a small vessel (<2.75 mm), or the patient had diabetes mellitus. Clinical events will be adjudicated at 1, 7 and 12 months, with 4- to 8-month angiographic follow-up. The primary end-point will be the 7-month occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE, i.e. the composite of cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction [MI], coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG] and percutaneous target vessel revascularization [TVR]). To date, patient enrollment has been completed reaching the target of 1065 subjects. These included 322 (30.2%) diabetics, 115 (10.8%) subjects undergoing PES implantation for ULM, 229 (21.5%) in a bifurcation, 191 (17.9%) in a CTO, 430 (40.4%) in a small vessel, and 289 (27.1%) in a long lesion. An average of 1.5+/-0.6 vessels and 2.0+/-1.0 lesions were treated per patient, with 2.0+/-1.2 PES implanted per patient, and a 46+/-30 mm total PES length per patient. In-hospital MACE occurred in 39 (3.7%) patients, with 2 (0.2%) cardiac deaths, 32 (3.0%) MI, 5 (0.5%) TVR, no CABG, and 4 (0.4%) acute stent thromboses. IMPLICATIONS: Despite the availability of randomized trials, only carefully designed and prospective registries can provide timely and accurate assessment of the risk-benefit profile of PES in very high-risk patients. Indeed, the TRUE Study, including as much as 115 ULM and 229 bifurcation interventions, should give important insights into the outcome of PES in such an unprecedented and challenging context.

Combined Modality Therapy↗

Comparison of ticlopidine vs. clopidogrel in addition to aspirin after paclitaxel-eluting stent implantation: insights from the TRUE (Taxusin Real-life Usage Evaluation) Study.

Thienopyridines and aspirin are beneficial in patients undergoing bare-metal stent implantation, and aspirin and clopidogrel treatment have also been proved effective after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. However, despite the common substitution of clopidogrel with ticlopidine because of cost or patient intolerance, there are no data on the comparison of ticlopidine vs. clopidogrel after DES implantation. We hereby compare ticlopidine vs. clopidogrel after paclitaxel-eluting stent implantation in subjects enrolled in the prospective multicenter Taxus in Real-life Usage Evaluation (TRUE) Study. Across the 505 analyzed patients (112 treated with ticlopidine and 393 with clopidogrel), similar rates of early and mid-term (7 months) adverse thrombotic events were found with either antiplatelet regimen, with the notable exception of 2 cases of late stent thrombosis in patients who had prematurely withdrawn ticlopidine treatment just 3 months after the procedure. These findings thus support the overall safety and effectiveness of ticlopidine after DES implantation, and also confirm the increased risk of late thrombosis when premature withdrawal of thienopyridines occurs.

Aspirin↗

Heart failure and left ventricular remodeling after reperfused acute myocardial infarction in patients with hypertension.

In the thrombolytic era, hypertension has been shown to adversely affect the development of heart failure after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We sought to examine the relation between antecedent hypertension and heart failure after mechanical reperfusion and to test the impact of postinfarction left ventricular remodeling on heart failure in hypertensive patients. A series of 953 patients (324 hypertensives) with AMI treated with successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention underwent a 5-year follow-up. A subgroup of 325 subjects underwent 2D echocardiography at admission, 1 month, and 6 months. From day 1 to 6 months, despite similar improvement in regional and global left ventricular function and similar 6-month infarct artery patency rate, left ventricular end-diastolic volume increased in the normotensives (122+/-36 mL to 131+/-47 mL; P<0.001) but not in the hypertensives (127+/-41 mL to 128+/-31 mL; P=0.768). At 6 months, the incidence of left ventricular remodeling in hypertensive and normotensive patients was not different (22% versus 28%; P=0.210). However, at 5 years, the incidences of hospitalization for heart failure (7% versus 3%; P=0.014) and of New York Heart Association functional class > or =2 (53% versus 40%; P<0.001) were higher in hypertensive as compared with normotensive patients. Hypertension was found to be a predictor of heart failure (hazard ratio, 2.23; P=0.015). In conclusion, patients with antecedent hypertension are at higher risk to develop heart failure after AMI, even when successfully reperfused by primary percutaneous coronary intervention. However, the increased incidence of heart failure in hypertensive patients is not associated with a greater propensity to postinfarction left ventricular remodeling.

Aged↗

Drug-eluting stent-supported percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total coronary occlusion.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine the clinical and angiographic outcomes after drug-eluting stent (DES)-supported percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total coronary occlusion (CTO). BACKGROUND: There are few data about the efficacy of DES-supported PCI for CTO. METHODS: All consecutive patients who had a sirolimus-eluting stent or a paclitaxel-eluting stent implanted for CTO from December 2003 to December 2004 were analyzed. Clinical and angiographic outcomes of patients treated with DES were compared with a case-matched control group of patients treated with bare metal stents (BMS) in the 12 months before the routine use of DES. RESULTS: Successful DES-supported PCI was performed in 92 patients and 104 CTO. The case-matched control group consisted of 26 patients and 27 CTO successfully treated with BMS. There were no differences between groups in baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics. Stent length in the DES group was higher as compared with that of BMS group (51+/-28 mm vs. 40+/-19 mm, P=0.073). The 6-month major adverse cardiac event (MACE) rate was lower in the DES group as compared with that of BMS group (9.8% vs. 23%, P=0.072). The angiographic follow-rate was 80% in the DES group and 81% in the BMS group. The 6-month restenosis rate was 19% in the DES group and 45% in the BMS group (P<0.001). By multivariate analysis, it was found that in the DES group, the only predictors of restenosis were stented segment length (OR 1.031, 95% CI 1.01-1.06, P=0.009) and a target vessel reference diameter<2.5 mm (OR 6.48, 95% CI 1.51-27.83, P=0.012), while the only predictor of MACE was stent length (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.08, P=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: DES implantation for CTO decreases the risk of mid-term restenosis and MACE. Small vessels and diffuse disease requiring the implantation of multiple stents and very long stents for full coverage of the target lesion are still associated with a relatively high risk of restenosis.

Aged↗

Long-term prognostic implications of nonoptimal primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction.

AIM: To evaluate the long-term outcome of a nonoptimal result of a primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS AND RESULTS: An optimal PCI result was defined as TIMI flow grade 3 and residual stenosis < or = 20%. Long-term clinical follow-up (51 +/-+/- 21 months) data were collected from 1,009 consecutive patients with ST-elevation AMI who underwent primary PCI. Overall, an optimal primary PCI result was achieved in 958 patients (95%). At 5-year follow-up, patients with nonoptimal PCI had a higher rate of all-cause mortality (47% vs 19%; P < 0.00001 by log-rank test) than those with an optimal mechanical reperfusion. Fifty-two percent of the deaths in the nonoptimal PCI group occurred within the first month. Interestingly, after this period, estimated survival of 30-day alive patients was not significantly different to that of patients with an optimal PCI (P = 0.06 by log-rank test). Nonoptimal PCI result emerged as an independent predictor of 1-month mortality (OR = 3.030, 95% CI = 1.265-7.254; P = 0.013), but not of 5-year mortality. At long-term follow-up, cumulative rates of nonfatal reinfarction, hospitalization for heart failure, and additional revascularization procedures were similar between patients with nonoptimal and optimal primary PCI (4% vs 5%, P = 0.695; 4% vs 5%, P = 921; and 22% vs 20%, P = 0.816, respectively). CONCLUSION: A nonoptimal primary PCI result represents a strong predictor of early mortality. However, in patients surviving the early phase, the incidence of clinical events at long-term follow-up seems to be similar to successfully reperfused AMI patients.

Aged↗

Drug-eluting stent supported percutaneous coronary intervention for unprotected left main disease.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine the clinical and angiographic outcomes of unselected patients receiving drug-eluting stents for unprotected left main disease. BACKGROUND: The results of several series of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for left main disease in the pre-drug-eluting stent era have arisen concerns on the safety and mid-term efficacy of PCI. METHODS: Consecutive patients with unprotected left main disease were considered eligible for drug-eluting stent supported PCI. The surgical risk score (risk of death within 1 month) of each patient was calculated according to the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) model. RESULTS: One-hundred and one patients with unprotected left main disease underwent PCI. The mean EuroSCORE was 19 +/- 23. Successfully left main stenting was performed in 98 patients (primary success rate 97%). The overall 1-month mortality rate was 9.9%. The 1-month mortality rate was 50% in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) on presentation, and 4.5% in patients without AMI on presentation. The 1-month mortality rate of patients with a risk score <13 was 3%, while it was 21% in patients with a risk score >or=13. At 6 months, the mortality rate of the entire cohort of patients increased to 12.8%, and the one of the non-AMI patients to 7.8%. Survival rate was 86% +/- 4% (mean follow-up 295 +/- 175 days). Target vessel revascularization was performed in 14 patients (16%). The 6-month in-segment restenosis rate was 16%. CONCLUSION: Drug-eluting stent supported PCI may provide early and mid-term outcomes comparable or superior to those expected from coronary artery surgery. (c) 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Aged↗

Routine percutaneous coronary intervention in elderly patients with cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Age is a strong predictor of cardiogenic shock (CS) and death in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Few data on the impact of a routine early percutaneous revascularization strategy in elderly patients with CS complicating AMI exist. METHODS: We performed an analysis of age-related differences in outcome in 280 consecutive patients with AMI complicated by CS who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between January 1995 and September 2004 and who were included in a single-center prospective registry of primary PCI for AMI. RESULTS: Of the 280 patients with CS, 104 (37%) were > or = 75 years. The mean age of the elderly group was 81 +/- 5 years, and half of the patients were > or = 80 years. Most patients in both groups underwent PCI within 6 hours of their symptom onset. The PCI success rates were 92% in the elderly group and 97% in the younger patient group (P = .062). The 6-month mortality rates were 56% in the elderly group and 26% in the younger patient group (P < .001). At multivariate analysis, the variables independently related to the risk of 1-year mortality in the elderly group were age (hazard ratio 1.07, 95% CI 1.02-1.12, P = .005) and PCI failure (hazard ratio 4.01, 95% CI 1.53-10.51, P = .005). CONCLUSION: A strategy of routine emergency PCI in elderly patients with CS complicating AMI is highly feasible. Among elderly patients, age remains to be a strong predictor of mortality. However, outcome after successful PCI is better than previously reported.

Age Factors↗

Ability of mechanical reperfusion to salvage myocardium in patients with acute myocardial infarction presenting beyond 12 hours after onset of symptoms.

BACKGROUND: The ability of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to salvage myocardium in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) presenting >12 hours after symptom onset is questionable. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of primary PCI to salvage myocardium in patients with STEMI presenting between 12 and 48 hours after the symptom onset. METHODS: In the BRAVE-2 trial, 365 patients with acute STEMI presenting between 12 and 48 hours from the symptom onset were randomized to an invasive (PCI) or a conservative treatment strategy. Two-hundred sixty-one patients enrolled in 2 centers had scintigraphy before randomization and 5 to 10 days later and constitute the cohort of the present study. Salvage index (proportion of initial perfusion defect salvaged) was the primary end point of this study. RESULTS: There were 131 patients randomly assigned to the invasive treatment and 130 patients assigned to the conservative treatment. Initial perfusion defect (median [25th-75th percentiles]) did not differ between groups (17.0% [9.0-28.5] vs 16.0% [9.0-37.5] of the left ventricle; P = .99). The final infarct size, measured in the follow-up scintigraphy, was significantly smaller in patients assigned to the invasive treatment than in those assigned to the conservative treatment (8.0% [2.0-16.0] vs 12.0% [3.2-25.0] of the left ventricle; P = .004). Salvage index was 0.44 (0.13-0.80) in the invasive group versus 0.23 (0.0-0.50) in the conservative group (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Primary PCI leads to significant myocardial salvage in patients with STEMI presenting between 12 and 48 hours after symptom onset.

Aged↗

Rheolytic thrombectomy in acute myocardial infarction: the Florence experience and objectives of the multicenter randomized JETSTENT trial.

The Florence-AngioJet randomized trial was the first study that assessed the efficacy of Rheolytic thrombectomy before direct infarct artery stent implantation in patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction (MI). This study was based on a sample of 100 patients with a first acute MI and the endpoints of the study were early ST-segment resolution, corrected thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count, and infarct size as assessed by technetium-99m sestamibi scintigraphy at 1 month. All 3 endpoints were reached. Patients randomized to thrombectomy before direct stenting had a higher incidence of early ST-segment elevation resolution (90% vs. 72%, p = 0.022), lower corrected TIMI frame counts (18.2 +/- 7.7 vs. 22.5 +/- 11.0, p = 0.032), and smaller infarcts (13.0 +/- 11.6% vs. 21.2 +/- 18.0%, p = 0.010) as compared to patients randomized to direct stenting alone. The AngioJET Thrombectomy and STENTing for Treatment of Acute Myocardial Infarction (JETSTENT) trial is a multi-center international randomized trial based on a sample of 500 patients with acute MI, the aim of which is the confirmation of the results of the Florence trial. Patients with a history of previous MI will be enrolled. No restriction based on clinical status on presentation or high-risk coronary anatomy will be used. Thus, patients with cardiogenic shock will be included. To be eligible, patients must have visible thrombus or a persisting total occlusion, and all use of AngioJet must follow the specific technique used in the Florence experience. The primary hypothesis of the study is that rheolytic thrombectomy before infarct artery stenting provides a better reperfusion as revealed by electrocardiogram and scintigraphy. The subsequent increase in myocardial salvage could result in a decreased incidence of death and heart congestive failure due to left ventricle remodeling at a mid-term follow up.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

ST-segment analysis to predict infarct size and functional outcome in acute myocardial infarction treated with primary coronary intervention and adjunctive abciximab therapy.

ST-segment resolution is used to classify the response to reperfusion therapy in acute myocardial infarction, but the possibility to predict outcome in individual patients is unclear, particularly in the setting of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and abciximab therapy. We studied 213 patients who underwent successful revascularization with PCI. Maximal ST-segment elevation was measured before and 30 minutes after PCI. Patient outcome was defined on the basis of infarct size and left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) as derived from gated single-photon emission computed tomography that was acquired 1 month after infarction. Patients who had > or =50% ST resolution showed a smaller infarct (15.1 +/- 13.6% vs 19.9 +/- 15.7%, p < 0.05) but not a higher left ventricular EF (48.7 +/- 12.3% vs 45.2 +/- 11.8%) than did patients who had <50% resolution. According to cluster analysis of infarct size and left ventricular EF, 132 patients had favorable outcome (central values: infarct size 7.5%, left ventricular EF 55%) and 81 did not (central values: infarct size 30%, left ventricular EF 36%). Using receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis, the optimal ST-resolution cutoff was >60%, with 77% sensitivity and 51% specificity for predicting favorable outcome. ST-segment elevation < or =4.5 mV before PCI was 80% sensitive and 48% specific, and ST-segment elevation < or =1 mV after PCI was 74% sensitive and 60% specific for predicting favorable outcome. In conclusion, in the setting of primary PCI and abciximab therapy, ST-segment elevation resolution requires a high threshold (>60%) to effectively classify patients; the capability of ST-segment analysis to predict patient outcome is limited, with ST-segment elevation after PCI showing the best compromise between sensitivity and specificity.

Abciximab↗

Predictors of outcome after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation for complex in-stent restenosis.

Few data are available on the effectiveness of sirolimus-eluting stent implantation for the treatment of in-stent restenosis, and no data exist about the predictors of outcome after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation for complex in-stent restenosis (diffuse, proliferative, or total occlusion). From April 2002 to May 2004, 136 patients with 161 complex in-stent restenoses underwent sirolimus-eluting stent implantation. At 9 months, 5 patients had died (3 of cardiac and 2 of noncardiac causes), no reinfarctions had occurred, and 11 target vessel revascularization procedures had been performed. The target vessel revascularization rate was 8%, and the in-segment binary restenosis rate was 17%. The predictors of the risk of recurrence were unstable angina as the clinical presentation of in-stent restenosis, an ostial location of the target lesion, lesion length, and sirolimus-eluting stent diameter < or =2.5 mm.

Aged↗

Myocardial infarction redefined: impact on case-load and outcome of patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome and nondiagnostic ECG at presentation.

Risk stratification of chest pain (CP) is still debated. Objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of a risk stratification model for patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and nondiagnostic ECG at presentation, in whom the occurrence of myocardial infarction was either diagnosed following traditional (t-MI) or the recently redefined (r-MI) criteria. First-line 6-h work-up categorized 3068 patients with suspected ACS and nondiagnostic ECG into low-risk for short-term coronary events, intermediate-risk who entered second-line work-up, and high-risk. Intermediate-risk patients with positive second-line work-up and high-risk patients were considered for urgent coronary angiography. Angina, non-fatal MI, sudden death, and revascularization constituted composite end-point (CE) for in-hospital and 6-month outcome. ACS incidence was 16%; r-MI increased by 62% the diagnosis of MI over t-MI. Among 2024 discharged low-risk patients, 12 (0.6%) had non-fatal CE at 6 months. ACS was diagnosed in 19% of 503 intermediate-risk and 96% of 389 high-risk patients. Among ACS patients, in-hospital CE occurred in 14% of t-MI, 7% of r-MI, and 9% of unstable angina (UA) patients (t-MI vs. r-MI and t-MI vs. UA: p<0.05, for both); 6-month CE occurred in 23%, 16% and 12% of t-MI, r-MI and UA, respectively (t-MI vs. UA: p<005). Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were high both for diagnostic (97%, 98%, 99%, respectively) and treatment (83%, 98%, 97%, respectively) strategy. Risk stratification, and categorization according to traditional or redefined MI and UA criteria allow safe allocation of resources in CP patients with suspected ACS and nondiagnostic ECG at presentation because outcome is accurately predicted.

Acute Disease↗

Mechanical reperfusion in patients with acute myocardial infarction presenting more than 12 hours from symptom onset: a randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT: No specifically designed studies have addressed the role of primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) presenting more than 12 hours after symptom onset. Current guidelines do not recommend reperfusion treatment in these patients. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether an immediate invasive treatment strategy is associated with a reduction of infarct size in patients with acute STEMI, presenting between 12 and 48 hours after symptom onset, vs a conventional conservative strategy. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: International, multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial conducted from May 23, 2001, to December 15, 2004, of 365 patients aged 18 to 80 years without persistent symptoms admitted with the diagnosis of acute STEMI between 12 and 48 hours after symptom onset. INTERVENTIONS: Random assignment to either an invasive strategy (n=182) based predominantly on coronary stenting with abciximab or a conventional conservative treatment strategy (n=183). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary end point was final left ventricular infarct size according to single-photon emission computed tomography study with technetium Tc 99m sestamibi performed between 5 and 10 days after randomization in 347 patients (95.1%). Secondary end points included composite of death, recurrent MI, or stroke at 30 days. RESULTS: The final left ventricular infarct size was significantly smaller in patients assigned to the invasive group (median, 8.0%; interquartile range [IQR], 2.0%-15.8%) vs those assigned to the conservative group (median, 13.0%; IQR, 3.0%-27.0%; P<.001). The mean difference in final left ventricular infarct size between the invasive and conservative groups was -6.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], -10.2% to -3.5%). The secondary end points of death, recurrent MI, or stroke at 30 days occurred in 8 patients in the invasive group (4.4%) and 12 patients in the conservative group (6.6%) (relative risk, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.27-1.62; P = .37). CONCLUSION: An invasive strategy based on coronary stenting with adjunctive use of abciximab reduces infarct size in patients with acute STEMI without persistent symptoms presenting 12 to 48 hours after symptom onset.

Abciximab↗

Comparison of the usefulness of Doppler-derived deceleration time versus plasma brain natriuretic peptide to predict left ventricular remodeling after mechanical revascularization in patients with ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction and left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

The correlation between Doppler deceleration time (DT) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and their predictive value for detecting left ventricular (LV) remodeling in patients who are treated with primary percutaneous intervention for infarction and LV dysfunction are unknown. Fifty-six patients (64 +/- 12 years of age; 11 women) who had a first ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and systolic dysfunction that was successfully treated with direct primary coronary intervention underwent 2-dimensional Doppler echocardiographic and plasma BNP evaluation at days 1 and 3 and 1 and 6 months after the index infarction. Repeat coronary angiograms were obtained at 1 and 6 months. Because of previous consistent evidence, 3 days after the index infarction was the time point of comparison between BNP and DT values. Echocardiographic LV remodeling was defined as an increase in end-diastolic volume index above baseline values of 2 x SD. Ventricular remodeling occurred in 20 patients (36%). Multivariate analyses that included BNP level, Doppler DT, echocardiographic measurements of systolic function, peak creatine kinase, and anterior infarct location showed Doppler DT to be the only predictor of LV remodeling (odds ratio 0.963, 95% confidence interval 0.936 to 0.990, p = 0.008). The optimal cutoff for DT in the prediction of 6-month LV remodeling was <136 ms (sensitivity 75%, specificity 97%, accuracy 81%, area under receiver-operating characteristic curve 0.90). Thus, in patients who have a first ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and LV systolic dysfunction that is successfully treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention, Doppler-derived DT 3 days after index infarction is more effective than BNP level in detecting patients who are at higher risk for 6-month LV remodeling.

Aged↗

Abciximab as adjunctive therapy to reperfusion in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: a meta-analysis of randomized trials.

CONTEXT: The benefits of abciximab in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are still a matter of debate. OBJECTIVE: To combine data from all randomized trials conducted with abciximab in STEMI. DATA SOURCES: Formal searches of electronic databases (MEDLINE, PubMed) from from January 1990 to December 2004. STUDY SELECTION: We examined all completed, published, randomized trials of abciximab in STEMI. The following key words were used for study selection: randomized trial, myocardial infarction, reperfusion, primary angioplasty, facilitated angioplasty, stenting, fibrinolysis, IIb-IIIa inhibitors, and abciximab. DATA EXTRACTION: Information on study design, type and dosage of drugs, inclusion and exclusion criteria, number of patients, and clinical outcome was extracted by 2 investigators. Disagreements were resolved by consensus. DATA SYNTHESIS: Eleven trials were analyzed, involving 27115 patients (12,602 [46.5%] in the abciximab group, 14,513 [53.5%] in the control group). When compared with the control group, abciximab was associated with a significant reduction in short-term (30 days) mortality (2.4% vs 3.4%, P = .047) and long-term (6-12 months) mortality (4.4% vs 6.2%, P = .01) in patients undergoing primary angioplasty but not in those treated with fibrinolysis or in all trials combined. Abciximab was associated with a significant reduction in 30-day reinfarction, both in all trials combined (2.1% vs 3.3%, P<.001), in primary angioplasty (1.0% vs 1.9%, P = .03), and in fibrinolysis trials (2.3% vs 3.6%, P<.001). Abciximab did not result in an increased risk of intracranial bleeding (0.61% vs 0.62%, P = .62) but was associated with an increased risk of major bleeding complications when combined with fibrinolysis (5.2% vs 3.1%, P<.001) but not with primary angioplasty (4.7% vs 4.1%, P = .36). CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis shows that, when compared with the control group, adjunctive abciximab for STEMI is associated with a significant reduction in 30-day and long-term mortality in patients treated with primary angioplasty but not in those receiving fibrinolysis. The 30-day reinfarction rate is significantly reduced in patients treated with either fibrinolysis or primary angioplasty. A higher risk of major bleeding complications is observed with abciximab in association with fibrinolysis.

Abciximab↗