1. |
- Berger, J. S., et al.
(author)
-
Design and rationale for the Effects of Ticagrelor and Clopidogrel in Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease (EUCLID) trial
- 2016
-
In: American Heart Journal. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-8703. ; 175, s. 86-93
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Despite overwhelming data demonstrating the efficacy of antiplatelet therapy in heart disease and stroke, data in peripheral artery disease (PAD) are less compelling. Aspirin has modest evidence supporting a reduction in cardiovascular events in patients with PAD, whereas clopidogrel monotherapy may be more effective in PAD. Ticagrelor, a potent, reversibly binding P2Y(12) receptor antagonist, is beneficial in patients with acute coronary syndrome and prior myocardial infarction. The EUCLID trial is designed to address the need for effective antiplatelet therapy in PAD to decrease the risk of cardiovascular events. Study design EUCLID is a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, multinational clinical trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ticagrelor compared with clopidogrel for the prevention of major adverse cardiovascular events in subjects with symptomatic PAD. Subjects with established PAD will be randomized in a 1: 1 fashion to ticagrelor 90 mg twice daily or clopidogrel 75 mg daily. The primary end point is a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or ischemic stroke. Other end points address limb events including acute leg ischemia, need for revascularization, disease progression by ankle-brachial index, and quality of life. The primary safety objective is Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction-defined major bleeding. Recruitment began in December 2012 and was completed in March 2014; 13,887 patients were randomized. The trial will continue until at least 1,364 adjudicated primary end points occur. Conclusions The EUCLID study is investigating whether treatment with ticagrelor versus clopidogrel, given as antiplatelet monotherapy, will reduce the incidence of cardiovascular and limb-specific events in patients with symptomatic PAD.
|
|
2. |
- Adingupu, D. D., et al.
(author)
-
Radial artery intima-media thickness regresses after secondary prevention interventions in patients' post-acute coronary syndrome and is associated with cardiac and kidney biomarkers
- 2017
-
In: Oncotarget. - : Impact Journals, LLC. - 1949-2553. ; 8:32, s. 53419-53431
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Radial artery intima-media thickness (rIMT) measured by ultra-high-resolution ultrasound is associated with increased cardiovascular risk and predicts outcomes. We performed non-invasive high-resolution ultrasound of the radial artery to investigate vascular changes in subjects presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and who had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Purpose: In the present work, we aimed to follow rIMT change over time post-acute coronary syndrome as a tool to monitor potential response to intensified medical therapy. Methods: We examined 256 subjects who underwent PCI due to ACS and healthy controls (n= 39) and we measured a number of biomarkers, which are known to be associated with cardiovascular disease. Images of radial artery were acquired bilaterally in the longitudinal view using a 50 MHz transducer (Vevo 2100 VisualSonics, Inc, Toronto, Ontario, Canada). Carotid IMT (cIMT) and rIMT were measured at <1 month after index PCI followed by a repeated measurement of rIMT at 4 months from the ACS in a sub-set (n= 117). Results: rIMT measured within 1 month post ACS was significantly higher than rIMT after 4 months from ACS, (p < 0.0001), mean +/- SD (rIMT right 0.35 +/- 0.08; rIMT left 0.37 +/- 0.08) vs. (rIMT right 0.29 +/- 0.08; rIMT left 0.31 +/- 0.09) respectively. There was no statistically significant change in cIMT. In healthy controls there were no changes in rIMT or cIMT overtime. High levels of CX3CL1 and myeloperoxidase measured within one month post ACS are associated with increase of rIMT, r=0.38 (p< 0.0001) and r=0.41 (p< 0.0001) respectively. Conclusions: rIMT seem to decrease systemically after ACS and is accompanied with corresponding biomarker change. The cause and clinical implications of the observed decrement in rIMT after ACS need further studies.
|
|
3. |
- Blomster, Juuso I., et al.
(author)
-
Coronary flow reserve as a link between exercise capacity, cardiac systolic and diastolic function
- 2016
-
In: International Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-5273. ; 217, s. 161-166
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Decreased coronary flow reserve (CFR) is associated with increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events. We sought to investigate how CFR from left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery reflects clinical markers of cardiac function. Methods: We enrolled 400 patients referred for myocardium perfusion scintigraphy due to chest pain at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden. Transthoracic echocardiography including adenosine-assisted CFR in LAD was performed at a separate occasion. Results: Median age was 62 years (range 32-83) and 47% were female. Prior myocardial infarction had occurred in 28% of the population. In adjusted multivariate models, CFR in LAD was associated with echocardiography left ventricle ejection fraction at rest (beta = 0.97, p = 0.033) as well as under stress (beta = 1.52, p = 0.0056) and maximum exercise capacity (beta = 6.27, p = 0.026). CFR in LAD outweighed left ventricle ejection fraction as the determinant of maximum exercise capacity. Hyperaemic diastolic mitral annulus peak velocity measured by vector velocity imaging was inversely associated with LAD CFR (beta = -0.39, p = 0.0077). In subgroup analyses these findings were associated with normal coronary perfusion in myocardium perfusion scintigraphy. Conclusions: In patients with angina-like symptoms CFR measured in LAD reflects well both systolic and diastolic cardiac function emphasizing the essential role of myocardial microvascular circulation in cardiac physiology. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
|
|
4. |
- Norgren, Lars, et al.
(author)
-
Outcomes of Patients with Critical Limb Ischaemia in the EUCLID Trial
- 2018
-
In: European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. - : W B SAUNDERS CO LTD. - 1078-5884 .- 1532-2165. ; 55:1, s. 109-117
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: Critical limb ischaemia (CLI) implies an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and the optimal antithrombotic treatment is not established.Design, Materials, Methods: The EUCLID trial investigated the effect of monotherapy with ticagrelor versus clopidogrel in 13,885 patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD); the primary endpoint was cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or ischaemic stroke. Patients planned for revascularisation or amputation within 3 months, were excluded. This analysis focuses on the subgroup with CLI, defined by rest pain (58.8%), major (9.0%) or minor (32.2%) tissue loss.Results: In EUCLID, 643 patients (4.6%) had CLI at baseline. Diabetes mellitus was more common in the CLI group, while coronary disease, carotid disease, and hypertension were more common in the non-CLI group. A majority of CLI patients (62.1%) had only lower extremity PAD. In patients enrolled on the ankle brachial index (ABI) criteria, ABI was 0.55 +/- 0.21 (mean +/- SD) for those with CLI versus 0.63 +/- 0.15 for those without CLI. The primary efficacy endpoint significantly increased among patients with CLI compared with those without CLI with a rate of 8.85 versus 4.28/100 patient years (adjusted for baseline characteristics hazard ratio [HR] 1.43 [95% CI 1.16-1.76]; p = 0.0009). When acute limb ischaemia requiring hospitalisation was added to the model, significant differences remained (adjusted HR 1.38, [95% CI 1.13-1.69]; p = 0.0016). The 1 year mortality was 8.9%. A trend towards increased lower limb revascularisation among those with CLI was observed. Bleeding (TIMI major, fatal, intracranial) did not differ between those with and without CLI.Conclusions: Nearly 5% of patients enrolled in EUCLID had CLI at baseline. Milder forms of CLI dominated, a result of the trial design. Patients with CLI had a significantly higher rate of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity versus those without CLI. Further efforts are required to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in PAD, especially in patients with CLI.
|
|
5. |
- Utkovic Westergren, Helena, et al.
(author)
-
Determinants of coronary flow reserve in non-diabetic patients with chest pain without myocardial perfusion defects
- 2017
-
In: PLoS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 12:4
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Microvascular dysfunction could be responsible for chest pain in patients without myocardial perfusion defects. We evaluated microvascular function using ultrasound-assessed coronary flow reserve (CFR) in patients with chest pain and normal myocardial perfusion scintigram. Secondly, we investigated association between cardiovascular parameters and decreased CFR in a sex specific manner. A total of 202 (128 women) non-diabetic patients with chest pain and suspected myocardial ischemia, but without myocardial perfusion defects on myocardial perfusion scintigram, were enrolled and underwent CFR examination and blood sampling. All patients were followed- up for cardiovascular events. We used a supervised principal component analysis including 66 variables such as clinical parameters, ongoing medication, coronary artery disease history, lipids, metabolic parameters, inflammatory and other cardiovascular parameters. During a median follow-up time of 5.4 years, 25 cardiovascular events occurred; (men; 18, women; 7). Average CFR of the study cohort was 2.7 +/- 1.2 and 14% showed impaired CFR< 2.0. In an adjusted Cox regression analysis, CFR< 2.0 independently predicted eventfree survival (HR: 2.5, p = 0.033). In the supervised principal component analysis high insulin resistance assessed by Homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance was the strongest biochemical marker associated with decreased CFR. Interestingly, upon sex specific multivariable linear regression analysis, the association was only significant in men (beta = -0.132, p = 0.041) while systolic blood pressure remained an independent predictor in women (beta = -0.009, p = 0.011). In non-diabetic patients with chest pain without myocardial perfusion defects, low CFR has prognostic value for future cardiovascular events. Insulin resistance appears to be a marker for decreased CFR in men. Indeed, in the context of contribution of traditional risk factors in this patient population, the value of systolic blood pressure seems to be important in the women.
|
|
6. |
- Westergren, Helena, 1977, et al.
(author)
-
Insulin resistance, endothelial function, angiogenic factors and clinical outcome in non-diabetic patients with chest pain without myocardial perfusion defects
- 2016
-
In: Cardiovascular Diabetology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1475-2840. ; 15:36
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Patients with angina-like symptoms without myocardial perfusion scintigram (MPS)-verified abnormality may still be at risk for cardiovascular events. We hypothesized that insulin resistance could play a role in this population even without diagnosed diabetes. We further explored physiological and blood biomarkers, as well as global gene expression patterns that could be closely related to impaired glucose homeostasis to deepen our mechanistic understanding. Methods: A total of 365 non-diabetic patients with suspected myocardial ischemia referred to MPS were enrolled and followed up regarding event-free survival with a median time of 5.1 years. All patients underwent endothelial function assessment by reactive hyperemic index (RHI) using EndoPAT and extensive biomarker analysis. Whole blood global gene expression pathway analysis was performed in a subset of patients. Results: Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) added independent prognostic value in patients without myocardial perfusion defects. In a multivariable analysis, HOMA-IR was inversely associated with low RHI. Furthermore, elevated HOMA-IR was associated with decreased levels of vascular endothelial growth factor D, stem cell factor and endocan as well as to increased level of interleukin-6. Global gene expression pathway analysis of whole blood cells showed that high HOMA-IR and impaired endothelial function were associated with upregulated pro-inflammatory pathways and down-regulated eukaryotic initiation factor-2 pathway. Conclusions: Insulin resistance measured by HOMA-IR is associated with endothelial dysfunction and confers independent prognostic information in non-diabetic patients with chest pain without myocardial perfusion defects. Increased systemic pro-inflammatory state and decreased levels of pro-angiogenic vascular growth factors may be important underlying molecular mechanisms.
|
|
7. |
- Wu, J. H. Y., et al.
(author)
-
Effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors on cardiovascular events, death, and major safety outcomes in adults with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- 2016
-
In: Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. - : Elsevier BV. - 2213-8587. ; 4:5, s. 411-419
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background In patients with type 2 diabetes, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are known to reduce glucose concentrations, blood pressure, and weight, but to increase LDL cholesterol and the incidence of urogenital infections. Protection against cardiovascular events has also been reported, as have possible increased risks of adverse outcomes such as ketoacidosis and bone fracture. We aimed to establish the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on cardiovascular events, death, and safety outcomes in adults with type 2 diabetes, both overall and separately for individual drugs. Methods In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and websites of US, European, and Japanese regulatory authorities from Jan 1, 1950, to Sept 30, 2015, for data from prospective randomised controlled trials assessing the effects of SGLT2 treatment compared with controls. We excluded duplicate reports, trials of compound drugs, trials that lasted 7 days or fewer, trials that did not report on outcomes of interest, and articles that presented pooled trial data for which the individual trials could not be identified. We extracted data in duplicate using a standardised approach. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events. Secondary outcomes were cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, admission to hospital for unstable angina, heart failure, and all-cause mortality. We estimated summary relative risks with fixed-effects meta-analysis, with the I-2 statistic used to estimate heterogeneity of results beyond chance. Findings The analyses included data from six regulatory submissions (37 525 participants) and 57 published trials (33 385 participants), which provided data for seven different SGLT2 inhibitors. SGLT2 inhibitors protected against the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (relative risk 0.84 [95% CI 0.75-0.95]; p=0.006), cardiovascular death (0.63 [0.51-0.77]; p<0.0001), heart failure (0.65 [0.50-0.85]; p=0.002), and death from any cause (0.71 [0.61-0.83]; p<0.0001). No clear effect was apparent for non-fatal myocardial infarction (0.88 [0.72-1.07]; p=0.18) or angina (0.95 [0.73-1.23]; p=0.70), but we noted an adverse effect for non-fatal stroke (1.30 [1.00-1.68]; p=0.049). We noted no clear evidence that the individual drugs had different effects on cardiovascular outcomes or death (all I I-2 < 43%). Safety analyses showed consistent increased risks of genital infections (regulatory submissions 4.75 [4.00-5.63]; scientific reports 2.88 [2.48-3.34]), but findings for some safety outcomes varied depending on whether anlayses were based on data extracted from regulatory submissions or trials reported in the scientific literature. Interpretation These data suggest net protection of SGLT2 inhibitors against cardiovascular outcomes and death. The efficacy results were driven by findings for empagliflozin (the only SGLT2 inhibitor for which data from a dedicated long-term cardiovascular safety trial have been reported), although results for the other drugs in the class were not clearly different. Adverse events were more difficult to quantify than was efficacy, with the effects of individual drugs in the class seeming to differ for some safety outcomes. Results from ongoing studies will be crucial to substantiate these findings across the drug class, but the available data provide a strong rationale to expect benefit from use of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes at high risk of cardiovascular events.
|
|