[Angina pectoris].

PURPOSE: Coronary revascularisation is the treatment of choice in patients with stable angina who have significant stenoses. From a pathophysiological point of view, however, mitigation of angina is to be expected only in the presence of reversible ischaemia. Therefore it was the aim of this study to examine the effect of revascularisation on stable angina in relation to the myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) pattern prior to intervention. METHODS: Three hundred and eighty-four patients (58.0+/-8.8 years) referred for angiography underwent MPI. Prior to MPI and at 2-year follow-up, patients were classified as having typical angina, atypical angina, non-cardiac chest pain or no pain, and the severity of chest pain was graded according to the Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) criteria. The patients themselves estimated their pain on a visual analogue scale. Management was based on symptoms and angiographic findings, since the results of MPI were not communicated. RESULTS: Among the 240 patients who were not revascularised, 79% had typical or atypical angina at study entrance versus 40% at follow-up. In comparison, 93% of the 144 revascularised patients had typical or atypical angina before intervention versus only 36% at follow-up. This additional advantage of invasive therapy was present only in patients with reversible defects; revascularisation had no additional effect in patients with normal perfusion or irreversible defects. Similarly, additional, significant reductions in CCS class and visual analogue score were observed exclusively in patients with reversible defects. CONCLUSION: In patients referred for coronary angiography owing to known or suspected stable angina, revascularisation was significantly more effective than medical treatment exclusively in patients with reversible ischaemia.

Angina Pectoris↗

PubMed2005

Direct intramyocardial plasmid vascular endothelial growth factor-A165 gene therapy in patients with stable severe angina pectoris A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study: the Euroinject One trial.

OBJECTIVES: In the Euroinject One phase II randomized double-blind trial, therapeutic angiogenesis of percutaneous intramyocardial plasmid gene transfer of vascular endothelial growth factor (phVEGF-A(165)) on myocardial perfusion, left ventricular function, and clinical symptoms was assessed. BACKGROUND: Evidence for safety and treatment efficacy have been presented in phase I therapeutic angiogenesis trials. METHODS: Eighty "no-option" patients with severe stable ischemic heart disease, Canadian Cardiovascular Society functional class 3 to 4, were assigned randomly to receive, via the NOGA-MyoStar system (Cordis Corp., Miami Lakes, Florida), either 0.5 mg of phVEGF-A(165) (n = 40) or placebo plasmid (n = 40) in the myocardial region showing stress-induced myocardial perfusion defects on (99m)Tc sestamibi/tetrofosmin single-photon emission computed tomography. RESULTS: No differences among the groups were recorded at baseline with respect to clinical, perfusion, and wall motion characteristics. After three months, myocardial stress perfusion defects did not differ significantly between the VEGF gene transfer and placebo groups (38 +/- 3% and 44 +/- 2%, respectively). Similarly, semiquantitative analysis of the change in perfusion in the treated region of interest did not differ significantly between the two groups. Compared with placebo, VEGF gene transfer improved the local wall motion disturbances, assessed both by NOGA (p = 0.04) and contrast ventriculography (p = 0.03). Canadian Cardiovascular Society functional class classification of angina pectoris improved significantly in both groups but without difference between the groups. No phVEGF-A(165)-related adverse events were observed; however, NOGA procedure-related adverse events occurred in five patients. CONCLUSIONS: The VEGF gene transfer did not significantly improve stress-induced myocardial perfusion abnormalities compared with placebo; however, improved regional wall motion, as assessed both by NOGA and by ventriculography, may indicate a favorable anti-ischemic effect. This result should encourage more studies within the field. Transient VEGF overexpression seems to be safe.

Angina Pectoris↗