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Multiple studies have shown a correlation between high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HPR) and ischemic complications after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI); however, the role of platelet reactivity testing in order to adjust clopidogrel dose is debated. We sought to determine whether a strategy incorporating platelet reactivity testing with the Multiplate analyzer to tailor the dose of clopidogrel is superior to standard clopidogrel treatment after PCI. Between May 2008 and June 2009, 192 consecutive patients undergoing PCI were randomized to a tailored treatment strategy using the Multiplate analyzer or to uniform administration of 75 mg clopidogrel. In the tailored group, platelet function was assessed 24 h after clopidogrel loading, and patients with HPR (>46 U) received an additional 600 mg loading dose and 150 mg clopidogrel thereafter for one month. The primary endpoint was the composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke or definite/probable stent thrombosis during six months. In the tailored group, a repeated loading dose of 600 mg clopidogrel significantly decreased platelet reactivity in patients with HPR (61.0 U [IQR: 52.5-71.5] vs. 21.5 U [15.8-30.5]; P < 0.0001) that remained unchanged during the maintenance phase on 150 mg clopidogrel (25.0 U [IQR: 19.8-27.0]; P = 0.20). The incidence of the primary endpoint was significantly higher in the standard clopidogrel group as compared to the Multiplate-tailored arm (5.3% vs. 0%, P = 0.03). In parallel, MACCE-free survival significantly improved in patients with Multiplate-tailored therapy (Kaplan-Meier log-rank: P = 0.02). Increasing the dose of clopidogrel according to the Multiplate assay may reduce ischemic complications in patients on clopidogrel after PCI.

Anomalous coronary arteries occur in less than 2% of the general population. The left circumflex (LCx) artery's origin from the pulmonary artery as a cause of classic angina in adults is extremely uncommon. We report a case of ischemic heart disease due to an origin of the LCx artery from the right main pulmonary artery in a 33-year-old man. Successful surgical correction of this defect was performed with total cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegic arrest.

Treatment of symptom recurrence after initially successful alcohol septal ablation (ASA) in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) when accompanied by relapse of intracavitary left ventricular pressure gradient (LVG) is guided by the underlying mechanism. We describe our experience with permanent pacing in three patients with relapse of both LVG and symptoms 7 to 12 months after successful ASA. Even though pressure gradient recurrence was observed at midventricular level, we were able to achieve symptomatic improvement and LVG reduction after right ventricular apex pacing in all three cases. The effect on symptoms was long lasting—the 6-month followup echo-stress tests confirmed good exercise capacity and lack of provocable LVG. We found pacing to be a safe and effective treatment option in this clinical scenario. Based on our overall observations, we propose pacing as a niche treatment for patients with recurrence of LVG at midventricular level after ASA.

Background Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious infection with high morbidity and mortality that involves the endocardial lining of the heart. Most cases of IE are due to bacteria although other atypical microorganisms can also be involved. Procalcitonin (PCT) is a biomarker that is used in the diagnosis of bacterial infections. Case summary We present the case of a 54-year-old patient with bacterial endocarditis who has been regularly visiting his cardiologist for follow-up on a mitral valve prolapse and moderate mitral regurgitation (MR) for the last 11 years. During his last visit transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) showed a previously non-existent structure on the posterior mitral valve leaflet (PMVL) with severe MR. Blood cultures were positive for Streptococcus viridans. On admission he had elevated levels of PCT and C-reactive protein (CRP) which returned to normal values after 4 weeks of intravenous antibiotic therapy. His follow-up blood cultures, taken after normalization of PCT, did not show bacterial growth; however, on TTE he had severe mitral regurgitation and a persistent vegetation which had slightly increased in size after completion of the full antibiotic course. He was referred for mitral valve replacement (MVR) surgery. Discussion Normalization of procalcitonin levels may correlate with negative blood cultures in cases of IE with residual vegetations. The optimal time for surgery in such patients is difficult to define but even in circumstances with less infective organisms such as S. viridans and late in the course of the disease residual vegetations remain a serious risk factor for embolic events. Randomized controlled clinical trials are needed in order to have better recommendations with solid evidence regarding prophylaxis and treatment in IE.

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as shown in the table. Multivariate logistic regression analysis, DM was independent predictor of intra-stent thrombi on OCT (OR 14.031, 95% CI 2.556-77.033, pϭ0.002), adjusting ARU, PRU and major risk factors, but ARU, PRU and aspirin / clopidogrel resistance were not related to intra-stent thrombi on OCT.Conclusions: This OCT study demonstrated that ARU, PRU and aspirin / clopidogrel resistance were not related to intra-stent thrombi on OCT.