Background: To provide a comprehensive analysis of the current literature comparing the outcomes of surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in patients with bicuspid aortic stenosis (BAS), with particular attention to BAV morphology in patients undergoing TAVR. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, all relevant articles with no design restrictions from PubMed, CCTR (Cochrane Controlled Trials Register), and Google Scholar were screened for inclusion. Studies were included if they reported clinical endpoints for SAVR and TAVR or, in BAS treated with TAVR, for type 1 and non-type 1 morphology. Odds ratio and Cohen’s D were considered as effect size measurements for qualitative and quantitative variables, respectively. Results: A total of eight studies comparing short-term outcomes between SAVR and TAVR and nine studies with outcomes data between type 1 and non-type 1 BAS treated with TAVR were considered for the final analysis. No statistically significant difference was found for what concerns the rates of death, stroke, and acute kidney injury between SAVR and TAVR. In comparison to patients undergoing SAVR, the incidence of PPI (permanent pacemaker implantation) was greater in the TAVR group (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.15–0.79, p = 0.01), and the frequency of bleeding events was found to be higher among patients undergoing SAVR (OR 4.3, 95% CI 2.9–6.4, p < 0.001). The probabilities of 30-day mortality, stroke, and any bleeding were not significantly affected by bicuspid valve morphology in TAVR patients. PPI or development of new conduction anomalies was found to be more frequent in type 1 anatomies (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.30–0.70, p <0.001). Mildly lower post-procedural transprothesic gradients were found in patients with type 1 morphology. Conclusions: In BAS patients, TAVR has comparable short-term outcomes rates with SAVR, but higher PPI rates and lower incidence of bleeding events. In patients undergoing TAVR, type 1 BAS is associated with lower postoperative transvalvular gradients but higher PPI rates and conduction abnormalities

Background: Intravascular imaging modalities such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and near-infrared spectroscopy allow the detection of vulnerable coronary plaques, which may predict the risk of future major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). However, the prognostic relevance of specific plaque characteristics remains incompletely defined. Objectives: This updated meta-analysis aimed to identify the most reliable intracoronary imaging-derived parameters for predicting MACE in untreated coronary lesions. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar was performed according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐analyses) guidelines to identify adjusted observational studies reporting the prognostic impact of plaque vulnerability features assessed by OCT or IVUS. The primary outcome was study-defined MACE. HRs were pooled using random-effects or fixed-effects models depending on heterogeneity. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were conducted to explore the impact of imaging modality and plaque feature definitions. Results: 12 studies including 8453 patients and 22 319 lesions were analysed. All investigated plaque features were significantly associated with an increased risk of MACE. Among predictors, thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) demonstrated the lower positive association (HR 3.06, 95% CI 1.97 to 4.77), while plaque burden showed the highest (HR 3.92, 95% CI 1.45 to 10.59). IVUS-derived parameters (minimum lumen area and high-risk plaque definition) were superior to their OCT counterparts, whereas OCT better discriminated prognostic TCFA. The combination of minimum lumen area, TCFA and lipid arc yielded the strongest predictive performance for MACE risk. Conclusions: Intracoronary imaging-derived plaque features are significantly associated with future cardiovascular events. Multiparametric models integrating compositional and morphological features apparently enhance risk stratification compared with single parameters. PROSPERO registration number: CRD420251047286.

Background: Celiac disease (CD) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) events, especially inflammatory heart diseases. We aimed to gather evidence on the association between CD and inflammatory CV diseases, including pericarditis and myocarditis, and the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Methods: The PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases were searched for studies assessing the prevalence and the long-term outcomes of patients with CD and inflammatory CV diseases. Result: Ten studies (nine case series/reports and one prospective observational study) covering a total of 22 patients, including 9 women (41%) and 13 men (59%), were evaluated. The median age was 23 (IQR, 12–41) years. A total of 6 patients had recurrent pericarditis, while 16 patients had celiac-related myocarditis (11 patients presented with heart failure and 5 with arrhythmia). A strict gluten-free diet (GFD) alone was effective in 87.5% of cases (4/6 for pericarditis and 10/16 for myocarditis). All patients with pericarditis achieved complete resolution of symptoms. Conversely, heart function was restored in 81% of patients with myocarditis. Only one patient died. Conclusions: Myocarditis and/or pericarditis, especially if recurrent, may complicate CD in pediatric and adult subjects due to an autoimmune reaction involving the pericardium/myocardium and the small intestine.

Significant paravalvular leak is a rare but serious complication of heart valve replacement, leading to symptomatic heart failure and hemolysis. Due to the paucity of comparative data between surgical and transcatheter paravalvular leak correction, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of available studies. Studies comparing transcatheter and surgical treatment of paravalvular leak were systematically identified. Short-term all-cause mortality was the primary outcome. Technical and procedural success, 30-day persistence of significant paravalvular leak, length of hospital stay and long-term mortality, persistence of symptoms and paravalvular leak were the main secondary endpoints. Thirteen studies with 2003 patients were included, treating in most of the cases a mitral prothesis. Transcatheter closure was associated with lower short-term mortality rate (30 days OR 0.28, 95 % CI 0.18-0.42, p < 0.001) compared to surgical treatment. Technical and procedural success did not differ among the two groups. 30-day and long-term rates of persistence of moderate or severe paravalvular leak were higher in the transcatheter group (OR 3.56, 95 % CI 1.49-8.49, p = 0.004 and OR 2.20, 95 % CI 1.27-3.81, p = 0.005 respectively). Long-term death and re-hospitalization events did not differ among the two treatment modalities. The mean difference in days of length of stay was significantly lower in the transcatheter group (mean difference -9.66, 95 % CI -12.37 to -6.94, p < 0.001). Transcatheter closure of paravalvular leaks is associated with lower short-term mortality rates but higher persistence of moderate-severe paravalvular leak and heart failure symptoms at short and long-term follow-up compared to surgical treatment.

Objectives: We aimed to address an evidence gap by investigating the clinical impact of sex differences on long-term outcomes after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Data sources: Medline, Scopus and EMBASE were searched through August 2024. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies. We included adjusted observational studies reporting HRs, comparing long-term clinical outcomes (beyond 1 year) between women and men undergoing pPCI for ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Data extraction and synthesis: Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed risk of bias using the ROBINS I (Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies - of Interventions) tool. Data were pooled using generic inverse-variance weighting, computing risk estimates with 95% CIs. Heterogeneity was assessed (Cochran Q statistic) and quantified (I ² statistic). Results: 22 observational studies globally encompassing 358 140 patients (169 659 women vs 188 490 men) were included in the quantitative analysis. After a median follow-up of 3.3 years, no significant differences in terms of all-cause mortality were reported after multivariable adjustments (adjusted HR, adjHR 1.06, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.14, p=0.10). Women had a higher rate of cardiac death compared with men after multivariable adjustments (adjHR 1.86, 95% CI 1.25 to 2.77, p=0.002). No other significant differences in terms of recurrent MI, stent thrombosis and target vessel revascularisation persisted between women and men after multivariable adjustments. Conclusions: Women undergoing pPCI for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction experience an increased risk of cardiac death compared with men after a long-term follow-up. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024580932.