Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) and its associated restrictions could affect ischemic times in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of the COVID-19 outbreak on ischemic times in consecutive all-comer STEMI patients. We included consecutive STEMI patients (n = 163, median age: 61 years, 27% women) who were referred to seven tertiary care hospitals across Austria for primary percutaneous coronary intervention between 24 February 2020 (calendar week 9) and 5 April 2020 (calendar week 14). The number of patients, total ischemic times and door-to-balloon times in temporal relation to COVID-19-related restrictions and infection rates were analyzed. While rates of STEMI admissions decreased (calendar week 9/10 (n = 69, 42%); calendar week 11/12 (n = 51, 31%); calendar week 13/14 (n = 43, 26%)), total ischemic times increased from 164 (interquartile range (IQR): 107–281) min (calendar week 9/10) to 237 (IQR: 141–560) min (calendar week 11/12) and to 275 (IQR: 170–590) min (calendar week 13/14) (p = 0.006). Door-to-balloon times were constant (p = 0.60). There was a significant difference in post-interventional Thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade 3 in patients treated during calendar week 9/10 (97%), 11/12 (84%) and 13/14 (81%; p = 0.02). Rates of in-hospital death and re-infarction were similar between groups (p = 0.48). Results were comparable when dichotomizing data on 10 March and 16 March 2020, when official restrictions were executed. In this cohort of all-comer STEMI patients, we observed a 1.7-fold increase in ischemic time during the outbreak of COVID-19 in Austria. Patient-related factors likely explain most of this increase. Counteractive steps are needed to prevent further cardiac collateral damage during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography (CT) is recommended for guiding transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). However, a sizable proportion of TAVR candidates have chronic kidney disease, in whom the use of iodinated contrast media is a limitation. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is a promising alternative, but randomized data comparing the effectiveness of CMR-guided versus CT-guided TAVR are lacking. METHODS: An investigator-initiated, prospective, randomized, open-label, noninferiority trial was conducted at 2 Austrian heart centers. Patients evaluated for TAVR according to the inclusion criteria (severe symptomatic aortic stenosis) and exclusion criteria (contraindication to CMR, CT, or TAVR, a life expectancy <1 year, or chronic kidney disease level 4 or 5) were randomized (1:1) to undergo CMR or CT guiding. The primary outcome was defined according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium–2 definition of implantation success at discharge, including absence of procedural mortality, correct positioning of a single prosthetic valve, and proper prosthetic valve performance. Noninferiority was assessed using a hybrid modified intention-to-treat/per-protocol approach on the basis of an absolute risk difference margin of 9%. RESULTS: Between September 11, 2017, and December 16, 2022, 380 candidates for TAVR were randomized to CMR-guided (191 patients) or CT-guided (189 patients) TAVR planning. Of these, 138 patients (72.3%) in the CMR-guided group and 129 patients (68.3%) in the CT-guided group eventually underwent TAVR (modified intention-to-treat cohort). Of these 267, 19 patients had protocol deviations, resulting in a per-protocol cohort of 248 patients (121 CMR-guided, 127 CT-guided). In the modified intention-to-treat cohort, implantation success was achieved in 129 patients (93.5%) in the CMR group and in 117 patients (90.7%) in the CT group (between-group difference, 2.8% [90% CI, −2.7% to 8.2%]; P <0.01 for noninferiority). In the per-protocol cohort (n=248), the between-group difference was 2.0% (90% CI, −3.8% to 7.8%; P <0.01 for noninferiority). CONCLUSIONS: CMR-guided TAVR was noninferior to CT-guided TAVR in terms of device implantation success. CMR can therefore be considered as an alternative for TAVR planning. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT03831087.

Little is known about the clinical relevance of interleukin (IL)-6 in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This study examined the possible associations of plasma IL-6 concentrations with infarct size (IS), reperfusion injury and adverse left ventricular remodelling (LVR), in STEMI patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We prospectively included 170 consecutive STEMI patients (median age 57 years, 14% women) treated with primary PCI between 2017 and 2019. Blood samples for biomarker analyses including IL-6 were collected on Day 2. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), IS, and reperfusion injury [microvascular obstruction (MVO) and intramyocardial haemorrhage (IMH)] were determined using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging on Day 4. Left ventricular remodelling was defined as ≥10% increase in left ventricular end-diastolic volume from baseline to 4 months CMR follow-up. Patients with IL-6 concentrations ≥median (17 ng/L) showed a significantly lower LVEF (43% vs. 52%, P < 0.001), larger IS (22% vs. 13%, P < 0.001), larger MVO (1.9% vs. 0.0%, P < 0.001), and more frequent IMH (52% vs. 18%, P < 0.001). Left ventricular remodelling was more common in patients with IL-6 ≥ median (24% vs. 9%, P = 0.005). In both linear and binary multivariable regression analyses, IL-6 remained independently associated with lower LVEF [odds ratio (OR): 0.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.02–0.42, P = 0.002], larger IS (OR: 5.29, 95% CI 1.52–18.40, P = 0.009), larger MVO (OR: 5.20, 95% CI 1.30–20.85, P = 0.020), with presence of IMH (OR: 3.73, 95% CI 1.27–10.99, P = 0.017), and adverse LVR (OR: 2.72, 95% 1.06–6.98, P = 0.038). High concentrations of circulating plasma IL-6 on Day 2 after STEMI were independently associated with worse myocardial function, larger infarct extent, more severe reperfusion injury, and a higher likelihood for LVR, suggesting IL-6 as a useful biomarker of more serious outcome and potential therapeutic target. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04113356;NCT04113356.

Background: Severity of myocardial tissue injury is a main determinant of morbidity and death related to ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Temporal trends of infarct characteristics at the myocardial tissue level have not been described. This study sought to assess temporal trends in infarct characteristics through a comprehensive assessment by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging at a standardized time point early after STEMI. Methods and Results: We analyzed patients with STEMI treated with percutaneous coronary intervention at the University Hospital of Innsbruck who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging between 2005 and 2021. The study period was divided into terciles. Myocardial damage characteristics were assessed using a multiparametric cardiac magnetic resonance imaging protocol within the first week after STEMI and compared between groups. A total of 843 patients with STEMI (17% women) with a median age of 57 (interquartile range, 51–66) years were analyzed. While age, sex, and the clinical risk profile expressed as thrombolysis in myocardial infarction risk score were comparable across the study period, there were differences in guideline‐recommended therapies. At the same time, there was no significant change in infarct size ( P =0.25), microvascular obstruction ( P =0.50), and intramyocardial hemorrhage ( P =0.34). Left ventricular remodeling indices and left ventricular ejection fraction remained virtually unchanged (all P >0.05). Major adverse cardiovascular events at 4 (interquartile range, 4–5) months were similar between groups ( P =0.36). Conclusions: In this magnetic resonance imaging study investigating patients with STEMI treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention over the past 15 years, no change in infarct severity at the myocardial level has been observed. Clinical research on novel therapeutic approaches to reduce myocardial tissue injury should be a priority.

BACKGROUND: Microvascular injury in the course of acute ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has been identified as determinant of adverse outcomes and manifests as microvascular obstruction (MVO). MVO has long been regarded as a transient finding, vanishing within a few weeks after infarction. However, recent studies have shown that it may persist beyond the early phase, resulting in adverse remodeling. However, its clinical implications remain unclear. This study aims to evaluate the association of MVO persistence and major adverse cardiac events after STEMI. METHODS: In total, 609 patients with revascularized first-time STEMI underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) at 4 days, 4 months, and 12 months after STEMI to assess MVO, infarct size, and left ventricular function. Major adverse cardiac events were defined as composite of death, reinfarction, and new congestive heart failure within a median interval of 3.2 years. RESULTS: Baseline MVO was present in 365 (60%) patients and persisted in 35 (10%) patients at 4-month CMR and in 20 (5%) patients at 12-month CMR. Compared with transient MVO not present at follow-up, patients with MVO persistence ≥4 months were more likely to experience major adverse cardiac events during follow-up (29% versus 13%; P =0.016). Within patients with MVO, those with MVO persistence had lower left ventricular ejection fraction ( P =0.002), larger infarcts ( P =0.00001), and more frequent intramyocardial hemorrhage ( P =0.001) at baseline CMR. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent MVO after STEMI occurs in up to 10% of patients with baseline MVO and is linked to major adverse cardiac events. Patients with MVO persistence had larger infarcts, lower left ventricular function, and more frequent intramyocardial hemorrhage at baseline CMR. All patients with MVO persisting ≥12 months initially showed intramyocardial hemorrhage.