| 1. |
- Gargani, Luna, et al.
(författare)
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Detecting the vulnerable carotid plaque : The Carotid Artery Multimodality imaging Prognostic study design
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine. - 1558-2027. ; 23:7, s. 466-473
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundCarotid artery disease is highly prevalent and a main cause of ischemic stroke and vascular dementia. There is a paucity of information on predictors of serious vascular events. Besides percentage diameter stenosis, international guidelines also recommend the evaluation of qualitative characteristics of carotid artery disease as a guide to treatment, but with no agreement on which qualitative features to assess. This inadequate knowledge leads to a poor ability to identify patients at risk, dispersion of medical resources, and unproven use of expensive and resource-consuming techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, and computed tomography.ObjectivesThe Carotid Artery Multimodality imaging Prognostic (CAMP) study will: prospectively determine the best predictors of silent and overt ischemic stroke and vascular dementia in patients with asymptomatic subcritical carotid artery disease by identifying the noninvasive diagnostic features of the 'vulnerable carotid plaque'; assess whether 'smart' use of low-cost diagnostic methods such as ultrasound-based evaluations may yield at least the same level of prospective information as more expensive techniques.Study designWe will compare the prognostic/predictive value of all proposed techniques with regard to silent or clinically manifest ischemic stroke and vascular dementia. The study will include ≥300 patients with asymptomatic, unilateral, intermediate degree (40-60% diameter) common or internal carotid artery stenosis detected at carotid ultrasound, with a 2-year follow-up. The study design has been registered on Clinicaltrial.gov on December 17, 2020 (ID number NCT04679727).
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| 2. |
- Bajraktari, Gani, et al.
(författare)
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Echo- and B-Type Natriuretic Peptide-Guided Follow-Up versus Symptom-Guided Follow-Up : Comparison of the Outcome in Ambulatory Heart Failure Patients
- 2018
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Ingår i: Cardiology Research and Practice. - : HINDAWI LTD. - 2090-8016 .- 2090-0597.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Recent European Society of Cardiology and American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Guidelines did not recommend biomarker-guided therapy in the management of heart failure (HF) patients. Combination of echo- and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) may be an alternative approach in guiding ambulatory HF management. Our aim was to determine whether a therapy guided by echo markers of left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP), lung ultrasound (LUS) assessment of B-lines, and BNP improves outcomes of HF patients. Consecutive outpatients with LV ejection fraction (EF) <= 50% have been prospectively enrolled. In Group I (n=224), follow-up was guided by echo and BNP with the goal of achieving E-wave deceleration time (EDT) >= 150 ms, tissue Doppler index E/e' < 13, B-line numbers < 15, and BNP <= 125 pg/ml or decrease > 30%; in Group II (n=293), follow-up was clinically guided, while the remaining 277 patients (Group III) did not receive any dedicated follow-up. At 60 months, survival was 88% in Group I compared to 75% in Group II and 54% in Group III (chi(2) 53.5; p<0.0001). Survival curves exhibited statistically significant differences using Mantel-Cox analysis. The number needed to treat to spare one death was 7.9 (Group I versus Group II) and 3.8 (Group I versus Group III). At multivariate Cox regression analyses, major predictors of all-cause mortality were follow-up E/e' (HR: 1.05; p=0.0038) and BNP > 125 pg/ml or decrease <= 30% (HR: 4.90; p=0.0054), while BNP > 125 pg/ml or decrease <= 30% and B-line numbers >= 15 were associated with the combined end point of death and HF hospitalization. Evidence-based HF treatment guided by serum biomarkers and ultrasound with the goal of reducing elevated BNP and LVFP, and resolving pulmonary congestion was associated with better clinical outcomes and can be valuable in guiding ambulatory HF management.
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| 3. |
- Bytyci, Ibadete, et al.
(författare)
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Left atrial compliance index predicts exercise capacity in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction irrespective of right ventricular dysfunction
- 2019
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Ingår i: Echocardiography. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0742-2822 .- 1540-8175. ; 36:6, s. 1045-1053
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background and Aim: Predictors of exercise capacity in heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remain of difficult determination. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of exercise capacity in a group of patients with HFpEF and right ventricle (RV) dysfunctionMethods: In 143 consecutive patients with HFpEF (age 62 ± 9 years, LV EF ≥45) and 41 controls, a complete echocardiographic study was performed. In addition to conventional measurements, LA compliance was calculated using the formula: [LAV max − LAV min/LAV min × 100]. Exercise capacity was assessed using the six‐minute walking test (6‐MWT). Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) < 1.7 cm was utilized to categorize patients with RV dysfunction (n = 40) from those with maintained RV function (n = 103).Results: Patients with RV dysfunction were older (P = 0.002), had higher NYHA class (P = 0.001), higher LV mass index (P = 0.01), reduced septal and lateral MAPSE (all P < 0.001), enlarged LA (P = 0.001) impaired LA compliance index (P < 0.001) and exhibited a more compromised 6‐MWT (P = 0.001). LA compliance index correlated more closely with 6‐MWT (r = 0.51, P < 0.001) compared with the other LA indices (AP diameter, transverse diameter and volume indexed; r = −0.30, r = −0.35 and r = −0.38, respectively). In multivariate analysis, LA compliance index <60% was 88% sensitive and 61% specific (AUC 0.80, CI = 0.67–0.92 P = 0.001) in predicting exercise capacity.Conclusion: An impairment in LA compliance was profound in patients with HFpEF and RV dysfunction and seems to be most powerful independent predictor of limited exercise capacity.
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| 4. |
- Fabiani, Iacopo, et al.
(författare)
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Imaging of the vulnerable carotid plaque : Role of imaging techniques and a research agenda
- 2020
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Ingår i: Neurology. - 1526-632X. ; 94:21, s. 922-932
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: Atherothrombosis in the carotid arteries is a main cause of ischemic stroke and may depend on plaque propensity to complicate with rupture or erosion, in turn related to vulnerability features amenable to in vivo imaging. This would provide an opportunity for risk stratification and-potentially-local treatment of more vulnerable plaques. We here review current information on this topic. METHODS: We systematically reviewed the literature for concepts derived from pathophysiologic, histopathologic, and clinical studies on imaging techniques attempting at identifying vulnerable carotid lesions. RESULTS: Ultrasound, MRI, CT, and nuclear medicine-based techniques, alone or with multimodality approaches, all have a link to pathophysiology and describe different-potentially complementary-aspects of lesions prone to complications. There is also, however, a true paucity of head-to-head comparisons of such techniques for practical implementation of a thorough and cost-effective diagnostic strategy based on evaluation of outcomes. Especially in asymptomatic patients, major international societies leave wide margins of indecision in the advice to techniques guiding interventions to prevent atherothrombotic stroke. CONCLUSIONS: To improve practical management of such patients-in addition to the patient's vulnerability for systemic reasons-a more precise identification of the vulnerable plaque is needed. A better definition of the diagnostic yield of each imaging approach in comparison with the others should be pursued for a cost-effective translation of the single techniques. Practical translation to guide future clinical practice should be based on improved knowledge of the specific pathophysiologic correlates and on a comparative modality approach, linked to subsequent stroke outcomes.
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