Raffaela Fetiveau - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Raffaela Fetiveau
Giornale italiano di cardiologia, 1995
A potential limitation to the clinical utilization of dobutamine stress echocardiography is the h... more A potential limitation to the clinical utilization of dobutamine stress echocardiography is the higher incidence of side effects in respect to other noninvasive tests for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease reported by some authors. Due to the increased utilization of this test for the evaluation of chest pain and for prognostic stratification in patients with a recent myocardial infarction, we analyzed the results of 373 consecutive tests to evaluate the incidence and clinical significance of side effects induced by dobutamine. Dobutamine stress echocardiography was performed in 256 patients (69%) for the evaluation of chest pain; 85 out of 256 (33%) suffered from a previous myocardial infarction. 117 patients (31%) were studied in the early phase after an acute myocardial infarction for prognostic purposes. Dobutamine was infused starting with the dose of 5 gamma/kg/min over 3 minutes with incremental steps of 10-20-30-40 gamma/kg/min over 3 minutes under 2D-echocardiographic...
Italian heart journal. Supplement : official journal of the Italian Federation of Cardiology, 2002
Early risk stratification and an invasive approach (coronary angiography and reperfusion if indic... more Early risk stratification and an invasive approach (coronary angiography and reperfusion if indicated) have recently emerged as the treatment of choice in non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes. An aggressive pharmacologic therapy, i.e. glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists, is also more effective in case of risk assessment at the time of the admission of the patient in the coronary care unit. Recent data have assessed the advantages of abciximab over tirofiban in unstable patients submitted to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), whereas non-anticorpal molecules (tirofiban, integrilin) are indicated for the medical treatment of high-risk patients in order to reduce myocardial necrosis during the acute phase. A good platelet inhibition with the oral tienopiridine derivative clopidogrel, resulted in a lower incidence of major cardiovascular events at follow-up both in patients treated conservatively as well as in patients submitted to PCI (CURE and PCI-CURE trials). The early ris...
Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine, 2008
In patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary pe... more In patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs), we sought to correlate circulating CD34+ and CD34+ CD133+ cell levels with clinical and laboratory findings that are known to affect prognosis in such patients. Although recent studies have focused on circulating adult peripheral blood stem cells in those patients, the possible relations between their circulating number and the various factors that may influence STEMI outcome have never been reported. In 74 patients with STEMI presenting within 12 h from symptoms onset and treated with successful primary PCI, blood samples were collected before PCI (baseline) and 5-8 days thereafter (post-PCI). Myocardial blush was used as an index of effective myocardial reperfusion. Left ventricular functional recovery was assessed with echocardiography at 4-6 months. In STEMI patients, baseline CD34+ cell as well as CD34+ CD133+ cell numbers were lower than that of age-matched participants without history of ischemic heart disease. Both cell populations however increased post-PCI (P < 0.0001). A significant inverse relation was found between both CD34+, CD34+ CD133+ cell numbers and age, whereas both cell populations were directly related to myocardial blush grade (CD34+ r = 0.39, P = 0.002; CD34+ CD133+ r = 0.37, P = 0.003). By multiple regression analysis, a significant myocardial blush (grade 2-3) was the only predictor of left ventricular functional recovery (OR 10.77, 95% CI 3.1-22.8). CD34+ and CD34+ CD133+ cell number rises 5-8 days after STEMI, such increase being hampered by old age and favoured by effective myocardial reperfusion after primary PCI.
European Heart Journal, 2006
Aims The aim of this study was to correlate total and differential leucocyte (WBC) count with myo... more Aims The aim of this study was to correlate total and differential leucocyte (WBC) count with myocardial blush, peak CK levels, and left ventricular (LV) functional recovery at 6 months in 238 consecutive acute myocardial infarction (MI) patients treated with successful primary coronary angioplasty (PCI). Methods and results Total and differential WBC counts were measured on admission and every 24 h for at least 4 days after PCI. ST-segment resolution and myocardial blush were evaluated immediately after successful primary PCI. LV functional recovery (defined as improvement involving at least two segments, or at least one segment, when only two were asynergic on the basal examination) was obtained through echocardiographic evaluation of LV wall motion at the baseline and at 6 months. Basal CK (P , 0.001) and increased neutrophil levels (P , 0.001) were the only independent factors related to peak CK, whereas neutrophils and monocytes peaks were related to ST-segment resolution as well as to myocardial blush grade (MBG) 2-3. MBG 2-3 and monocytes number (both as continuous values as well as percentile values) were the only variables independently associated with 6-month LV functional recovery. Conclusion The present study shows that neutrophils and monocytes counts on the first days after acute MI treated with primary PCI are related to markers of effective myocardial reperfusion such as MBG 2-3 and ST-segment resolution. However, only monocytes and MBG are significantly and independently associated with contractile recovery of the infarcted area at 6 months.
Circulation, 2002
Background — ST-segment elevation (ΣSTe) recovery and the angiographic myocardial blush (MB) grad... more Background — ST-segment elevation (ΣSTe) recovery and the angiographic myocardial blush (MB) grade are useful markers of microvascular reperfusion after recanalization of the infarct-related artery. We investigated the ability of a combined analysis of MB grade and ΣSTe changes to identify different patterns of myocardial reperfusion shortly after primary percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and to predict 7-day and 6-month left ventricular (LV) functional recovery. Methods and Results — MB grade and ΣSTe recovery were evaluated shortly after successful primary PTCA (restoration of TIMI grade 3 flow) in 114 consecutive patients with ΣSTe acute myocardial infarction. LV function was assessed by 2D echocardiograms before PTCA and at 7 days and 6 months thereafter. By combining MB and ΣSTe changes, 3 main groups of patients were identified. Group 1 patients (n=60) had both significant MB (grade 2 to 3) and ΣSTe recovery (>50% versus basal ΣSTe) and a high rate of 7-day (65%) and...
The American Journal of Cardiology, 1994
Cardiovascular Revascularization Medicine
AIM To compare the long-term outcomes of patients implanted with Absorb bioresorbable scaffold (B... more AIM To compare the long-term outcomes of patients implanted with Absorb bioresorbable scaffold (BRS) with optimal versus suboptimal technique. METHODS AND RESULTS All patients who received an Absorb between March 2012 and January 2016 were selected from 19 Italian centers databases to assess the impact of an optimal implantation technique (CIAO criteria) on long-term device-oriented composite end-point (DOCE) - including cardiac death (CD), target-vessel myocardial infarction (TV-MI) and ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization (ID-TLR) - on its single components and on scaffold thrombosis (ScT). CIAO criteria consist of predilation (balloon/vessel ratio 1:1), correct sizing (BRS/proximal reference vessel diameter -RVD- ratio 0.8-1.2) and high-pressure postdilation with non-compliant (NC) balloon (≥20 atm for balloon/BRS ratio 1:1 or ≥16 atm for a 0.25-0.5 mm oversized balloon). Among the 1.434 patients analyzed, 464 (32.4%) fulfilled all CIAO criteria for every BRS implanted (CIAO 3 group), while 970 (67.6%) did not in at least one of the received BRS (CIAO 0-1-2 group). At 31.0 (interquartile range -IQR- 24.8-38.5) months follow-up, CIAO criteria did not impact on DOCE (8.2% vs. 8.0%, p = 0.92), ID-TLR (6.9% vs. 7.1%, p = 0.72) or ScT (1.9% vs. 1.8%, p = 0.80) in the overall population. At multivariate analysis overall BRS length (p = 0.001), severely calcified lesions (p = 0.03) and absence of CIAO criteria (CIAO 0, p = 0.005) were independent predictors of DOCE in long-term follow-up. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that strict application of an optimal Absorb implantation technique doesn't improve long-term DOCE or ScT but may mitigate the worse outcome of patients with calcific lesions.
Italian heart journal : official journal of the Italian Federation of Cardiology, 2004
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to assess the effect of periprocedural antibiotic treatment ... more BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to assess the effect of periprocedural antibiotic treatment with roxithromycin on circulating cell adhesion molecules and restenosis after coronary stent implantation. METHODS Case-control study enrolling 25 consecutive patients submitted to coronary stenting for stable, single-vessel coronary artery disease, treated with 300 mg roxithromycin once daily for 5 days, starting 2 days before the procedure (group R). Twenty-five patients, matched for lesion site, length and diameter, as control group (group C). The serological status for Chlamydia pneumoniae (CP) infection (IgG, ELISA) was assessed in all patients. The plasma concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), E-selectin and C-reactive protein at 1 month after coronary stenting were compared with baseline values. Binary restenosis (> or = 50%) was also evaluated at 6 months. RESULTS sICAM-1 significantly decreased at 1 month in group R vs group C (371 +/- 181 vs ...
Journal of cardiovascular medicine (Hagerstown, Md.), Jan 9, 2018
Drug-coated balloons (DCBs) are a recognized alternative to stents for the treatment of in-stent ... more Drug-coated balloons (DCBs) are a recognized alternative to stents for the treatment of in-stent restenosis (ISR), and there is some initial clinical evidence about their efficacy for the treatment of small coronary vessels. Newer-generation DCBs were developed to overcome the reduced deliverability of the previous generation, also warranting a more effective drug delivery to vessel wall. However, the vast majority of new-generation DCBs still lack of reliability due to paucity of clinical data. Between 2012 and 2015, all patients treated with Elutax SV DCB (Aachen Resonance, Germany) at nine Italian centers were enrolled in this retrospective registry. Primary outcome was the occurrence of target-lesion revascularization (TLR) at the longest available follow-up. Secondary endpoints were procedural success and occurrence of device-oriented adverse cardiovascular events including cardiac death, target-vessel myocardial infarction, stroke, and TLR. A minimum 6-month clinical follow-up...
Italian Heart Journal Official Journal of the Italian Federation of Cardiology, Sep 1, 2004
The aim of this study was to assess the effect of periprocedural antibiotic treatment with roxith... more The aim of this study was to assess the effect of periprocedural antibiotic treatment with roxithromycin on circulating cell adhesion molecules and restenosis after coronary stent implantation. Case-control study enrolling 25 consecutive patients submitted to coronary stenting for stable, single-vessel coronary artery disease, treated with 300 mg roxithromycin once daily for 5 days, starting 2 days before the procedure (group R). Twenty-five patients, matched for lesion site, length and diameter, as control group (group C). The serological status for Chlamydia pneumoniae (CP) infection (IgG, ELISA) was assessed in all patients. The plasma concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), E-selectin and C-reactive protein at 1 month after coronary stenting were compared with baseline values. Binary restenosis (> or = 50%) was also evaluated at 6 months. sICAM-1 significantly decreased at 1 month in group R vs group C (371 +/- 181 vs 573 +/- 273 ng/ml, p = 0.005). This decrease was more evident in patients with a positive serology for CP (CP+) (group R 373 +/- 131 vs group C 597 +/- 255 ng/ml, p = 0.014). Antibiotic treatment had no effects on circulating E-selectin levels at 1 month (56.7 +/- 97 vs 49.8 +/- 62 ng/ml, p = 0.54). The restenosis rate (9/50, 18%) was similar in the two groups (group R 5/25 [20%], group C 4/25 [16%]). The restenosis rate was similar in the CP+ vs CP- group (6/35 [17%] vs 3/15 [20%]). A short course of treatment with roxithromycin at the time of coronary stenting induces a significant reduction in the sICAM-1 levels at 1 month but apparently does not influence the restenosis rate.
Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2015
Giornale italiano di cardiologia, 1992
The aim of the study was to compare the results of 2D-Echocardiographic (ECHO) vs 12-lead Electro... more The aim of the study was to compare the results of 2D-Echocardiographic (ECHO) vs 12-lead Electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring during Dobutamine (DOB) infusion performed as a stress test in patients referred for the evaluation of chest pain of suspected ischemic origin. Fourty-seven consecutive patients, 40 m and 7 f, mean age 52 +/- 9 years, were studied after interruption of any antianginal therapy. DOB was infused in 5-minute stages with incremental doses of 5 mcg/kg/min up to a maximal dose of 40 mcg/kg/min. 2D-ECHO monitoring could not be performed in 3 out of 47 patients because of a poor acoustic window. Thus, the overall feasibility was 94% for 2D-ECHO DOB test vs 100% for ECG DOB test (p = ns). The ECG and 2D-ECHO findings were compared in the remaining 44 patients. Criteria for positivity were: transient regional dyssynergy absent or of lesser degree in the baseline examination for 2D-ECHO; ST-segment shift > 0.1 mV from baseline for ECG. The test was stopped when a re...
Giornale italiano di cardiologia, 1996
Patients with non-Q wave myocardial infarction (NQ AMI) are usually considered to have an increas... more Patients with non-Q wave myocardial infarction (NQ AMI) are usually considered to have an increased risk of recurrent ischemic events and reinfarction. We wished to assess whether dobutamine stress echocardiography with the addition of atropine (DOB-E + ATRO) can detect jeopardized myocardium after a recent NQ AMI and to assess the prognostic significance of this test in a group of patients with a first uncomplicated NQ AMI: Fourty-one consecutive patients (38 men, mean age 52 +/- 9 years, 31 anterior, 68% treated with thrombolysis) underwent low and high-dose DOB-E (from 5 to 40 mcg/kg/min); ATRO was added in 14/41 (34%) patients. A significant deterioration of wall motion in the infarcted region (IR) indicative of residual myocardial ischemia was present in 36/41 patients (88%). Significant electrocardiographic changes and angina developed in 61% and 32% of patients, respectively. Coronary angiography was performed in 30/41 patients (73%) and showed 1-vessel coronary artery diseas...
Thrombosis and haemostasis, 2001
EPCR is a type I transmembrane protein, highly expressed on the endothelium of large vessels, tha... more EPCR is a type I transmembrane protein, highly expressed on the endothelium of large vessels, that binds protein C and augments its activation. In this study, a 23bp insertion in the EPCR gene was found in 4/198 survivors of myocardial infarction and 3/194 patients with deep vein thrombosis. The EPCR gene with the insertion predicts a protein that lacks part of the extracellular domain, the transmembrane domain and the cytoplasmic tail. Expression studies showed that the truncated protein is not localized on the cell surface, cannot be secreted in the culture medium, and does not bind activated protein C. Since protein C activation depends on the concentration of EPCR, patients with the EPCR insertion could have a diminished protein C activation capacity. Further clinical studies of adequate samples size are necessary to establish whether or not the EPCR insertion predisposes to the development of thrombotic events.
Blood, 1999
It has long been thought that an individual thrombotic tendency increases the risk of myocardial ... more It has long been thought that an individual thrombotic tendency increases the risk of myocardial infarction, especially in young adults. Several "prothrombotic" genetic factors that may influence the individual thrombotic risk have been identified. To investigate the association between the risk of myocardial infarction at a young age and genetic factors thought to be associated with an increased tendency to thrombosis (the polymorphisms 4G/5G of the PAI-1 gene, PIA1/PIA2 of the platelet glycoprotein IIIa, C3550T of the platelet glycoprotein Ib gene, G10976A of the factor VII gene, C677T of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene, G1691A of the factor V gene, and G20210A of the prothrombin gene), we performed a case-control study evaluating 200 survivors (185 men, 15 women) of myocardial infarction who had experienced the event before the age of 45 years and 200 healthy subjects with a negative exercise test, individually matched for sex, age, and geographic origin wi...
Giornale italiano di cardiologia, 1994
Coronary angioplasty is commonly performed as a means of coronary revascularization, but at prese... more Coronary angioplasty is commonly performed as a means of coronary revascularization, but at present no method has proven to be of definite value in assessing the functional result of a given angiographic procedure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether dobutamine stress echocardiography can detect a reversal of ischemia-induced left ventricular regional wall motion abnormalities 15 days after an angiographically successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). 25 patients underwent dobutamine stress echocardiography 24-48 hours before and 15 days after an elective angiographically successful PTCA. Twelve out of 25 patients (48%) suffered from a previous myocardial infarction. Symptomatic myocardial ischemia was documented before PTCA in 18/25 patients (72%) and asymptomatic ischemia in 7/25 (28%). Dobutamine was infused utilizing incremental steps of 5 mcg/kg/min over 3 minutes, up to a maximal dose of 40 mcg/kg/min. Echocardiographic images were stored ...
Cardiologia (Rome, Italy), 1994
The aim of the study was to compare the ability of dobutamine and dipyridamole echocardiography t... more The aim of the study was to compare the ability of dobutamine and dipyridamole echocardiography to detect stunned but viable myocardium early after acute myocardial infarction, to predict spontaneous functional recovery of the reperfused myocardium at 2 months and to detect myocardial ischemia in the infarcted area. Within 10 days from acute myocardial infarction, 47 patients, 29 anterior and 18 inferior, 41 Q-wave and 6 non Q-wave infarctions, underwent dobutamine echocardiography test at low-dose (5-10 mcg/kg/min over 5 min) and high-dose (20-40 mgc/kg/min over 3 min) and to dipyridamole echocardiography test (0.56 mg/kg over 4 min + 0.28 mg/kg over 2 min) in different days and in random order, after interruption of any vasoactive drug. Resting echocardiography was repeated at 2 months in 38/47 patients. Regional wall motion analysis was performed in a qualitative manner on a 14-segment model; viability was defined as improvement of 1 grade or more of at least 2 basally asynergic ...
Giornale italiano di cardiologia, 1994
The clinical experience with dipyridamole stress echocardiography for the diagnosis of coronary a... more The clinical experience with dipyridamole stress echocardiography for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) revealed that patients with less severe extent of CAD and limited impairment of coronary reserve are frequently not recognized by the test. Increasing myocardial oxygen consumption adding atropine to dipyridamole may improve the diagnostic accuracy of dipyridamole for the detection of CAD. Fifty-two patients (48 men, aged 53 +/- 7 years) underwent a high-dose dipyridamole-echo stress test (0.84 mg/kg over 10 minutes) and coronary arteriography within 15 days from the test. Eighteen out of 52 patients were referred for chest pain; 11 suffered from a previous myocardial infarction (MI) and 23 were studied in the early phase after a first acute MI. Starting after 4 minutes from the end of dipyridamole infusion, atropine was added, in 2 doses of 0.5 mg each, at 1-minute interval in those patients with no echocardiographic evidence of myocardial ischemia after dipyridamole...
Early achievement of TIMI 3 (normal) flow in the infarct-related artery is the goal of therapy of... more Early achievement of TIMI 3 (normal) flow in the infarct-related artery is the goal of therapy of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in order to reduce infarct size and improve clinical outcome. By the mid 1990s mechanical treatment (primary angioplasty) has been recognized as the best method to gain this goal but fibrinolysis still remains the standard of care because of
Giornale italiano di cardiologia, 1995
A potential limitation to the clinical utilization of dobutamine stress echocardiography is the h... more A potential limitation to the clinical utilization of dobutamine stress echocardiography is the higher incidence of side effects in respect to other noninvasive tests for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease reported by some authors. Due to the increased utilization of this test for the evaluation of chest pain and for prognostic stratification in patients with a recent myocardial infarction, we analyzed the results of 373 consecutive tests to evaluate the incidence and clinical significance of side effects induced by dobutamine. Dobutamine stress echocardiography was performed in 256 patients (69%) for the evaluation of chest pain; 85 out of 256 (33%) suffered from a previous myocardial infarction. 117 patients (31%) were studied in the early phase after an acute myocardial infarction for prognostic purposes. Dobutamine was infused starting with the dose of 5 gamma/kg/min over 3 minutes with incremental steps of 10-20-30-40 gamma/kg/min over 3 minutes under 2D-echocardiographic...
Italian heart journal. Supplement : official journal of the Italian Federation of Cardiology, 2002
Early risk stratification and an invasive approach (coronary angiography and reperfusion if indic... more Early risk stratification and an invasive approach (coronary angiography and reperfusion if indicated) have recently emerged as the treatment of choice in non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes. An aggressive pharmacologic therapy, i.e. glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists, is also more effective in case of risk assessment at the time of the admission of the patient in the coronary care unit. Recent data have assessed the advantages of abciximab over tirofiban in unstable patients submitted to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), whereas non-anticorpal molecules (tirofiban, integrilin) are indicated for the medical treatment of high-risk patients in order to reduce myocardial necrosis during the acute phase. A good platelet inhibition with the oral tienopiridine derivative clopidogrel, resulted in a lower incidence of major cardiovascular events at follow-up both in patients treated conservatively as well as in patients submitted to PCI (CURE and PCI-CURE trials). The early ris...
Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine, 2008
In patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary pe... more In patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs), we sought to correlate circulating CD34+ and CD34+ CD133+ cell levels with clinical and laboratory findings that are known to affect prognosis in such patients. Although recent studies have focused on circulating adult peripheral blood stem cells in those patients, the possible relations between their circulating number and the various factors that may influence STEMI outcome have never been reported. In 74 patients with STEMI presenting within 12 h from symptoms onset and treated with successful primary PCI, blood samples were collected before PCI (baseline) and 5-8 days thereafter (post-PCI). Myocardial blush was used as an index of effective myocardial reperfusion. Left ventricular functional recovery was assessed with echocardiography at 4-6 months. In STEMI patients, baseline CD34+ cell as well as CD34+ CD133+ cell numbers were lower than that of age-matched participants without history of ischemic heart disease. Both cell populations however increased post-PCI (P < 0.0001). A significant inverse relation was found between both CD34+, CD34+ CD133+ cell numbers and age, whereas both cell populations were directly related to myocardial blush grade (CD34+ r = 0.39, P = 0.002; CD34+ CD133+ r = 0.37, P = 0.003). By multiple regression analysis, a significant myocardial blush (grade 2-3) was the only predictor of left ventricular functional recovery (OR 10.77, 95% CI 3.1-22.8). CD34+ and CD34+ CD133+ cell number rises 5-8 days after STEMI, such increase being hampered by old age and favoured by effective myocardial reperfusion after primary PCI.
European Heart Journal, 2006
Aims The aim of this study was to correlate total and differential leucocyte (WBC) count with myo... more Aims The aim of this study was to correlate total and differential leucocyte (WBC) count with myocardial blush, peak CK levels, and left ventricular (LV) functional recovery at 6 months in 238 consecutive acute myocardial infarction (MI) patients treated with successful primary coronary angioplasty (PCI). Methods and results Total and differential WBC counts were measured on admission and every 24 h for at least 4 days after PCI. ST-segment resolution and myocardial blush were evaluated immediately after successful primary PCI. LV functional recovery (defined as improvement involving at least two segments, or at least one segment, when only two were asynergic on the basal examination) was obtained through echocardiographic evaluation of LV wall motion at the baseline and at 6 months. Basal CK (P , 0.001) and increased neutrophil levels (P , 0.001) were the only independent factors related to peak CK, whereas neutrophils and monocytes peaks were related to ST-segment resolution as well as to myocardial blush grade (MBG) 2-3. MBG 2-3 and monocytes number (both as continuous values as well as percentile values) were the only variables independently associated with 6-month LV functional recovery. Conclusion The present study shows that neutrophils and monocytes counts on the first days after acute MI treated with primary PCI are related to markers of effective myocardial reperfusion such as MBG 2-3 and ST-segment resolution. However, only monocytes and MBG are significantly and independently associated with contractile recovery of the infarcted area at 6 months.
Circulation, 2002
Background — ST-segment elevation (ΣSTe) recovery and the angiographic myocardial blush (MB) grad... more Background — ST-segment elevation (ΣSTe) recovery and the angiographic myocardial blush (MB) grade are useful markers of microvascular reperfusion after recanalization of the infarct-related artery. We investigated the ability of a combined analysis of MB grade and ΣSTe changes to identify different patterns of myocardial reperfusion shortly after primary percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and to predict 7-day and 6-month left ventricular (LV) functional recovery. Methods and Results — MB grade and ΣSTe recovery were evaluated shortly after successful primary PTCA (restoration of TIMI grade 3 flow) in 114 consecutive patients with ΣSTe acute myocardial infarction. LV function was assessed by 2D echocardiograms before PTCA and at 7 days and 6 months thereafter. By combining MB and ΣSTe changes, 3 main groups of patients were identified. Group 1 patients (n=60) had both significant MB (grade 2 to 3) and ΣSTe recovery (>50% versus basal ΣSTe) and a high rate of 7-day (65%) and...
The American Journal of Cardiology, 1994
Cardiovascular Revascularization Medicine
AIM To compare the long-term outcomes of patients implanted with Absorb bioresorbable scaffold (B... more AIM To compare the long-term outcomes of patients implanted with Absorb bioresorbable scaffold (BRS) with optimal versus suboptimal technique. METHODS AND RESULTS All patients who received an Absorb between March 2012 and January 2016 were selected from 19 Italian centers databases to assess the impact of an optimal implantation technique (CIAO criteria) on long-term device-oriented composite end-point (DOCE) - including cardiac death (CD), target-vessel myocardial infarction (TV-MI) and ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization (ID-TLR) - on its single components and on scaffold thrombosis (ScT). CIAO criteria consist of predilation (balloon/vessel ratio 1:1), correct sizing (BRS/proximal reference vessel diameter -RVD- ratio 0.8-1.2) and high-pressure postdilation with non-compliant (NC) balloon (≥20 atm for balloon/BRS ratio 1:1 or ≥16 atm for a 0.25-0.5 mm oversized balloon). Among the 1.434 patients analyzed, 464 (32.4%) fulfilled all CIAO criteria for every BRS implanted (CIAO 3 group), while 970 (67.6%) did not in at least one of the received BRS (CIAO 0-1-2 group). At 31.0 (interquartile range -IQR- 24.8-38.5) months follow-up, CIAO criteria did not impact on DOCE (8.2% vs. 8.0%, p = 0.92), ID-TLR (6.9% vs. 7.1%, p = 0.72) or ScT (1.9% vs. 1.8%, p = 0.80) in the overall population. At multivariate analysis overall BRS length (p = 0.001), severely calcified lesions (p = 0.03) and absence of CIAO criteria (CIAO 0, p = 0.005) were independent predictors of DOCE in long-term follow-up. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that strict application of an optimal Absorb implantation technique doesn't improve long-term DOCE or ScT but may mitigate the worse outcome of patients with calcific lesions.
Italian heart journal : official journal of the Italian Federation of Cardiology, 2004
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to assess the effect of periprocedural antibiotic treatment ... more BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to assess the effect of periprocedural antibiotic treatment with roxithromycin on circulating cell adhesion molecules and restenosis after coronary stent implantation. METHODS Case-control study enrolling 25 consecutive patients submitted to coronary stenting for stable, single-vessel coronary artery disease, treated with 300 mg roxithromycin once daily for 5 days, starting 2 days before the procedure (group R). Twenty-five patients, matched for lesion site, length and diameter, as control group (group C). The serological status for Chlamydia pneumoniae (CP) infection (IgG, ELISA) was assessed in all patients. The plasma concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), E-selectin and C-reactive protein at 1 month after coronary stenting were compared with baseline values. Binary restenosis (> or = 50%) was also evaluated at 6 months. RESULTS sICAM-1 significantly decreased at 1 month in group R vs group C (371 +/- 181 vs ...
Journal of cardiovascular medicine (Hagerstown, Md.), Jan 9, 2018
Drug-coated balloons (DCBs) are a recognized alternative to stents for the treatment of in-stent ... more Drug-coated balloons (DCBs) are a recognized alternative to stents for the treatment of in-stent restenosis (ISR), and there is some initial clinical evidence about their efficacy for the treatment of small coronary vessels. Newer-generation DCBs were developed to overcome the reduced deliverability of the previous generation, also warranting a more effective drug delivery to vessel wall. However, the vast majority of new-generation DCBs still lack of reliability due to paucity of clinical data. Between 2012 and 2015, all patients treated with Elutax SV DCB (Aachen Resonance, Germany) at nine Italian centers were enrolled in this retrospective registry. Primary outcome was the occurrence of target-lesion revascularization (TLR) at the longest available follow-up. Secondary endpoints were procedural success and occurrence of device-oriented adverse cardiovascular events including cardiac death, target-vessel myocardial infarction, stroke, and TLR. A minimum 6-month clinical follow-up...
Italian Heart Journal Official Journal of the Italian Federation of Cardiology, Sep 1, 2004
The aim of this study was to assess the effect of periprocedural antibiotic treatment with roxith... more The aim of this study was to assess the effect of periprocedural antibiotic treatment with roxithromycin on circulating cell adhesion molecules and restenosis after coronary stent implantation. Case-control study enrolling 25 consecutive patients submitted to coronary stenting for stable, single-vessel coronary artery disease, treated with 300 mg roxithromycin once daily for 5 days, starting 2 days before the procedure (group R). Twenty-five patients, matched for lesion site, length and diameter, as control group (group C). The serological status for Chlamydia pneumoniae (CP) infection (IgG, ELISA) was assessed in all patients. The plasma concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), E-selectin and C-reactive protein at 1 month after coronary stenting were compared with baseline values. Binary restenosis (> or = 50%) was also evaluated at 6 months. sICAM-1 significantly decreased at 1 month in group R vs group C (371 +/- 181 vs 573 +/- 273 ng/ml, p = 0.005). This decrease was more evident in patients with a positive serology for CP (CP+) (group R 373 +/- 131 vs group C 597 +/- 255 ng/ml, p = 0.014). Antibiotic treatment had no effects on circulating E-selectin levels at 1 month (56.7 +/- 97 vs 49.8 +/- 62 ng/ml, p = 0.54). The restenosis rate (9/50, 18%) was similar in the two groups (group R 5/25 [20%], group C 4/25 [16%]). The restenosis rate was similar in the CP+ vs CP- group (6/35 [17%] vs 3/15 [20%]). A short course of treatment with roxithromycin at the time of coronary stenting induces a significant reduction in the sICAM-1 levels at 1 month but apparently does not influence the restenosis rate.
Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2015
Giornale italiano di cardiologia, 1992
The aim of the study was to compare the results of 2D-Echocardiographic (ECHO) vs 12-lead Electro... more The aim of the study was to compare the results of 2D-Echocardiographic (ECHO) vs 12-lead Electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring during Dobutamine (DOB) infusion performed as a stress test in patients referred for the evaluation of chest pain of suspected ischemic origin. Fourty-seven consecutive patients, 40 m and 7 f, mean age 52 +/- 9 years, were studied after interruption of any antianginal therapy. DOB was infused in 5-minute stages with incremental doses of 5 mcg/kg/min up to a maximal dose of 40 mcg/kg/min. 2D-ECHO monitoring could not be performed in 3 out of 47 patients because of a poor acoustic window. Thus, the overall feasibility was 94% for 2D-ECHO DOB test vs 100% for ECG DOB test (p = ns). The ECG and 2D-ECHO findings were compared in the remaining 44 patients. Criteria for positivity were: transient regional dyssynergy absent or of lesser degree in the baseline examination for 2D-ECHO; ST-segment shift > 0.1 mV from baseline for ECG. The test was stopped when a re...
Giornale italiano di cardiologia, 1996
Patients with non-Q wave myocardial infarction (NQ AMI) are usually considered to have an increas... more Patients with non-Q wave myocardial infarction (NQ AMI) are usually considered to have an increased risk of recurrent ischemic events and reinfarction. We wished to assess whether dobutamine stress echocardiography with the addition of atropine (DOB-E + ATRO) can detect jeopardized myocardium after a recent NQ AMI and to assess the prognostic significance of this test in a group of patients with a first uncomplicated NQ AMI: Fourty-one consecutive patients (38 men, mean age 52 +/- 9 years, 31 anterior, 68% treated with thrombolysis) underwent low and high-dose DOB-E (from 5 to 40 mcg/kg/min); ATRO was added in 14/41 (34%) patients. A significant deterioration of wall motion in the infarcted region (IR) indicative of residual myocardial ischemia was present in 36/41 patients (88%). Significant electrocardiographic changes and angina developed in 61% and 32% of patients, respectively. Coronary angiography was performed in 30/41 patients (73%) and showed 1-vessel coronary artery diseas...
Thrombosis and haemostasis, 2001
EPCR is a type I transmembrane protein, highly expressed on the endothelium of large vessels, tha... more EPCR is a type I transmembrane protein, highly expressed on the endothelium of large vessels, that binds protein C and augments its activation. In this study, a 23bp insertion in the EPCR gene was found in 4/198 survivors of myocardial infarction and 3/194 patients with deep vein thrombosis. The EPCR gene with the insertion predicts a protein that lacks part of the extracellular domain, the transmembrane domain and the cytoplasmic tail. Expression studies showed that the truncated protein is not localized on the cell surface, cannot be secreted in the culture medium, and does not bind activated protein C. Since protein C activation depends on the concentration of EPCR, patients with the EPCR insertion could have a diminished protein C activation capacity. Further clinical studies of adequate samples size are necessary to establish whether or not the EPCR insertion predisposes to the development of thrombotic events.
Blood, 1999
It has long been thought that an individual thrombotic tendency increases the risk of myocardial ... more It has long been thought that an individual thrombotic tendency increases the risk of myocardial infarction, especially in young adults. Several "prothrombotic" genetic factors that may influence the individual thrombotic risk have been identified. To investigate the association between the risk of myocardial infarction at a young age and genetic factors thought to be associated with an increased tendency to thrombosis (the polymorphisms 4G/5G of the PAI-1 gene, PIA1/PIA2 of the platelet glycoprotein IIIa, C3550T of the platelet glycoprotein Ib gene, G10976A of the factor VII gene, C677T of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene, G1691A of the factor V gene, and G20210A of the prothrombin gene), we performed a case-control study evaluating 200 survivors (185 men, 15 women) of myocardial infarction who had experienced the event before the age of 45 years and 200 healthy subjects with a negative exercise test, individually matched for sex, age, and geographic origin wi...
Giornale italiano di cardiologia, 1994
Coronary angioplasty is commonly performed as a means of coronary revascularization, but at prese... more Coronary angioplasty is commonly performed as a means of coronary revascularization, but at present no method has proven to be of definite value in assessing the functional result of a given angiographic procedure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether dobutamine stress echocardiography can detect a reversal of ischemia-induced left ventricular regional wall motion abnormalities 15 days after an angiographically successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). 25 patients underwent dobutamine stress echocardiography 24-48 hours before and 15 days after an elective angiographically successful PTCA. Twelve out of 25 patients (48%) suffered from a previous myocardial infarction. Symptomatic myocardial ischemia was documented before PTCA in 18/25 patients (72%) and asymptomatic ischemia in 7/25 (28%). Dobutamine was infused utilizing incremental steps of 5 mcg/kg/min over 3 minutes, up to a maximal dose of 40 mcg/kg/min. Echocardiographic images were stored ...
Cardiologia (Rome, Italy), 1994
The aim of the study was to compare the ability of dobutamine and dipyridamole echocardiography t... more The aim of the study was to compare the ability of dobutamine and dipyridamole echocardiography to detect stunned but viable myocardium early after acute myocardial infarction, to predict spontaneous functional recovery of the reperfused myocardium at 2 months and to detect myocardial ischemia in the infarcted area. Within 10 days from acute myocardial infarction, 47 patients, 29 anterior and 18 inferior, 41 Q-wave and 6 non Q-wave infarctions, underwent dobutamine echocardiography test at low-dose (5-10 mcg/kg/min over 5 min) and high-dose (20-40 mgc/kg/min over 3 min) and to dipyridamole echocardiography test (0.56 mg/kg over 4 min + 0.28 mg/kg over 2 min) in different days and in random order, after interruption of any vasoactive drug. Resting echocardiography was repeated at 2 months in 38/47 patients. Regional wall motion analysis was performed in a qualitative manner on a 14-segment model; viability was defined as improvement of 1 grade or more of at least 2 basally asynergic ...
Giornale italiano di cardiologia, 1994
The clinical experience with dipyridamole stress echocardiography for the diagnosis of coronary a... more The clinical experience with dipyridamole stress echocardiography for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) revealed that patients with less severe extent of CAD and limited impairment of coronary reserve are frequently not recognized by the test. Increasing myocardial oxygen consumption adding atropine to dipyridamole may improve the diagnostic accuracy of dipyridamole for the detection of CAD. Fifty-two patients (48 men, aged 53 +/- 7 years) underwent a high-dose dipyridamole-echo stress test (0.84 mg/kg over 10 minutes) and coronary arteriography within 15 days from the test. Eighteen out of 52 patients were referred for chest pain; 11 suffered from a previous myocardial infarction (MI) and 23 were studied in the early phase after a first acute MI. Starting after 4 minutes from the end of dipyridamole infusion, atropine was added, in 2 doses of 0.5 mg each, at 1-minute interval in those patients with no echocardiographic evidence of myocardial ischemia after dipyridamole...
Early achievement of TIMI 3 (normal) flow in the infarct-related artery is the goal of therapy of... more Early achievement of TIMI 3 (normal) flow in the infarct-related artery is the goal of therapy of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in order to reduce infarct size and improve clinical outcome. By the mid 1990s mechanical treatment (primary angioplasty) has been recognized as the best method to gain this goal but fibrinolysis still remains the standard of care because of