Background and Objectives: The outcome benefits of β-blockers in chronic coronary artery disease (CAD) have not been fully assessed. We evaluated the prognostic impact of β-blockers on patients with chronic CAD after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: A total of 3,075 patients with chronic CAD were included from the Grand DrugEluting Stent registry. We analyzed β-blocker prescriptions, including doses and types, in each patient at 3-month intervals from discharge. After propensity score matching, 1,170 pairs of patients (β-blockers vs. no β-blockers) were derived. Primary outcome was defined as a composite endpoint of all-cause death and myocardial infarction (MI). We further analyzed the outcome benefits of different doses (low-, medium-, and high-dose) and types (conventional or vasodilating) of β-blockers. Results: During a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 3.1 (3.0–3.1) years, 134 (5.7%) patients experienced primary outcome. Overall, β-blockers demonstrated no significant benefit in primary outcome (hazard ratio [HR], 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63–1.24), all-cause death (HR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.60–1.25), and MI (HR, 1.25; 95% CI, 0.49–3.15). In subgroup analysis, β-blockers were associated with a lower risk of all-cause death in patients with previous MI and/ or revascularization (HR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.14–0.99) (p for interaction=0.045). No significant associations were found for the clinical outcomes with different doses and types of β-blockers. Conclusions Overall, β-blocker therapy was not associated with better clinical outcomes in patients with chronic CAD undergoing PCI. Limited mortality benefit of β-blockers may exist for patients with previous MI and/or revascularization.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Diffuse long coronary artery disease (DLCAD) still has unfavorable clinical outcomes after successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Resolute™ zotarolimus-eluting stent (R-ZES; Resolute™ Integrity) for patients with DLCAD. METHODS: From December 2011 to December 2014, 1,011 patients who underwent PCI using R-ZES for CAD with longer than 25 mm lesion were prospectively enrolled from 21 hospitals in Korea. We assessed the clinical outcome of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) defined as the composite of cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), and clinically-driven target vessel revascularization at 12 months. RESULTS: Mean age was 63.8±10.8 years, 701 (69.3%) patients were male, 572 (87.0%) patients had hypertension, 339 (33.8%) patients had diabetes, 549 (54.3%) patients diagnosed with acute MI and 545 (53.9%) patients had multi-vessel disease (MVD). A total of 1,697 stents were implanted into a total of 1,472 lesions. The mean diameter was 3.07±0.38 mm and the length was 28.27±6.97 mm. Multiple overlapping stents were performed in 205 (13.8%) lesions. A 12-month clinical follow-up was available in 1,004 patients (99.3%). The incidences of MACE and definite stent thrombosis at 12-month were 3.0% and 0.3% respectively. On multivariate Cox-regression analysis, multiple overlapping stents implantation, previous congestive heart failure, MVD, and age ≥75 years were independent predictors of one-year MACE. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that R-ZES has an excellent 1-year clinical outcome in Korean patients with DLCAD.
Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Death ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Prospective Studies ; Stents ; Thrombosis ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Diffuse long coronary artery disease (DLCAD) still has unfavorable clinical outcomes after successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Resolute™ zotarolimus-eluting stent (R-ZES; Resolute™ Integrity) for patients with DLCAD. METHODS: From December 2011 to December 2014, 1,011 patients who underwent PCI using R-ZES for CAD with longer than 25 mm lesion were prospectively enrolled from 21 hospitals in Korea. We assessed the clinical outcome of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) defined as the composite of cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), and clinically-driven target vessel revascularization at 12 months. RESULTS: Mean age was 63.8±10.8 years, 701 (69.3%) patients were male, 572 (87.0%) patients had hypertension, 339 (33.8%) patients had diabetes, 549 (54.3%) patients diagnosed with acute MI and 545 (53.9%) patients had multi-vessel disease (MVD). A total of 1,697 stents were implanted into a total of 1,472 lesions. The mean diameter was 3.07±0.38 mm and the length was 28.27±6.97 mm. Multiple overlapping stents were performed in 205 (13.8%) lesions. A 12-month clinical follow-up was available in 1,004 patients (99.3%). The incidences of MACE and definite stent thrombosis at 12-month were 3.0% and 0.3% respectively. On multivariate Cox-regression analysis, multiple overlapping stents implantation, previous congestive heart failure, MVD, and age ≥75 years were independent predictors of one-year MACE. CONCLUSIONS Our study shows that R-ZES has an excellent 1-year clinical outcome in Korean patients with DLCAD.

PURPOSE: This study sought to determine the 1-year clinical effectiveness and safety of a biodegradable, polymer-containing Biolimus A9™-eluting stent (BES) in Korean patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1000 ACS patients with 1251 lesions who underwent implantation of BESs at 22 centers in Korea were enrolled between May 2011 and July 2013. We assessed major adverse cardiac events (MACE) defined as the composite of cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), and clinical-driven target vessel revascularization at 12 months. RESULTS: Patient mean age was 62.6±11.4 years. 72.8% of the patients were male, 28.5% had diabetes, 32.8% had multi-vessel disease (MVD), and 47.9% presented with acute MI (AMI). The mean global registry of acute coronary events risk score of all patients was 103.0±27.6. The number of stents per patient was 1.3±0.6. The incidences of MACE and definite stent thrombosis at 12 months were 3.9% and 0.2%, respectively. On multivariate Cox-regression analysis, age ≥65 years was identified as an independent predictors of 1-year MACE (hazard ratio=2.474; 95% confidence interval=1.202−5.091). Subgroup analyses revealed no significant differences in the incidence of MACE between patients with and without diabetes (4.3% vs. 3.7%, p=0.667), between those who presented with and without AMI (4.4% vs. 3.4%, p=0.403), and between those with and without MVD (4.6% vs. 3.5%, p=0.387). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated excellent 1-year clinical outcomes of BES implantation in patients at low-risk for ACS.
Acute Coronary Syndrome/drug therapy ; Aged ; Drug-Eluting Stents/adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Republic of Korea ; Sirolimus/adverse effects ; Sirolimus/analogs & derivatives ; Sirolimus/therapeutic use ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: To compare the parameters measured with the ocular response analyzer (ORA; Reichert Inc., Depew, NY, USA) between normal control subjects and patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG) and to investigate clinical usefulness of ORA. METHODS: Intraocular pressure (IOP) and central corneal thickness (CCT) were measured using the Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT) in 100 eyes of 100 normal subjects and 100 eyes of 100 NTG patients. Four types of ORA parameters, corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), Goldmann-correlated IOP (IOPg), and corneal-compensated IOP (IOPcc) were also measured. RESULTS: The mean CH values were 11.2 mm Hg and 10.3 mm Hg and the mean CRF values were 10.8 mm Hg and 9.9 mm Hg in the normal subjects group and the NTG group, respectively. Mean CH and CRF were significantly lower in NTG patients (p < 0.001) and the IOPcc were higher than normal subjects (p = 0.004). IOPg was in agreement with the GAT IOP (ICC = 0.811) and IOPcc was not correlated with CCT. The cut-off value of 'IOPcc - IOPg' as the diagnostic standard parameter was -0.05 mm Hg (sensitivity; 76%, specificity; 55%). CONCLUSIONS: IOPg measurements were similar to GAT IOP, and other ORA parameters (CH, CRF, IOPcc) were significantly different between normal subjects and NTG patients. Consequently, the difference of IOPcc and IOPg could be a useful parameter in NTG diagnosis.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Low Tension Glaucoma* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: In this study, we examined the changes in corneal biomechanical parameters in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: Fifty patients with DM were divided into 2 subgroups, 25 diabetic patients with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c < or = 7% and 25 diabetic patients with HbA1c > 7%) and compared with the eyes of 80 healthy subjects. Corneal biomechanical parameters were measured using ocular response analyzer (ORA). Differences in corneal biomechanical properties between healthy subjects and diabetic patients were compared. Additionally, differences in corneal biomechanical properties between diabetic patients with HbA1c < or = 7% and diabetic patients with HbA1c > 7% were compared. RESULTS: Corneal hysteresis, corneal resistance factor and central corneal thickness (CCT) were statistically significantly higher in patients with diabetes compared to healthy subjects. Goldmann tonometer, non-contact tonometer and Goldmann-correlated intraocular pressure (IOPg) were statistically significantly higher in patients with DM compared to healthy subjects, but corneal compensated IOP (IOPcc) was not statistically significantly different between healthy subjects and diabetic patients. However, corneal biomechanical parameters, which were statistically significantly different between healthy subjects and DM patients, were not statistically significantly different between diabetic patients with HbA1c < or = 7% and diabetic patients with HbA1c > 7%. CONCLUSIONS: Considering that corneal properties are different between diabetic patients and healthy subject, IOPcc measured with ORA is considered clinically useful for measuring IOP as it reflects CCT and biomechanical properties that should be revised. In diabetes, changes in corneal biomechanical properties depend on long-term glucose control rather than short-term glucose control.
Diabetes Mellitus* ; Glucose ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure

PURPOSE: To evaluate the choroidal thickness in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and normal tension glaucoma (NTG) using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and to explore the relationship between the choroidal thickness and glaucoma. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on patients who had been diagnosed with POAG or NTG at Ewha Womans University, Mokdong Hospital. SD-OCT scans were obtained to estimate retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, macular thickness, and subfoveal and peripapillary choroidal thickness in groups of POAG patients, NTG patients, and normal controls. RESULTS: A total of 21 patients with POAG, 53 patients with NTG, and 42 normal subjects were enrolled in this study. RNFL thickness and macular thickness were significantly thinner in the POAG and NTG groups compared to the normal subjects. In contrast, there were no significant differences in subfoveal and peripapillary choroidal thickness among the 3 groups. There was no significant correlations between the peripapillary choroidal thickness and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness. CONCLUSIONS: Choroidal thickness does not seem to differ between glaucoma patients and normal subjects, and there were no significant correlations between the choroidal thickness and glaucomatous optic neuropathy.
Choroid* ; Female ; Glaucoma ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle* ; Humans ; Low Tension Glaucoma ; Nerve Fibers ; Optic Nerve Diseases ; Retinaldehyde ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence*

We compared clinical characteristics, management, and clinical outcomes of nonagenarian acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients (n=270, 92.3+/-2.3 yr old) with octogenarian AMI patients (n=2,145, 83.5+/-2.7 yr old) enrolled in Korean AMI Registry (KAMIR). Nonagenarians were less likely to have hypertension, diabetes and less likely to be prescribed with beta-blockers, statins, and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors compared with octogenarians. Although percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was preferred in octogenarians than nonagenarians, the success rate of PCI between the two groups was comparable. In-hospital mortality, the composite of in-hospital adverse outcomes and one year mortality were higher in nonagenarians than in octogenarians. However, the composite of the one year major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) was comparable between the two groups without differences in MI or re-PCI rate. PCI improved 1-yr mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.36-0.69, P<0.001) and MACEs (adjusted HR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.37-0.61, P<0.001) without significant complications both in nonagenarians and octogenarians. In conclusion, nonagenarians had similar 1-yr MACEs rates despite of higher in-hospital and 1-yr mortality compared with octogenarian AMI patients. PCI in nonagenarian AMI patients was associated to better 1-yr clinical outcomes.
Acute Disease ; Age Factors ; Aged, 80 and over ; *Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction/*diagnosis/mortality/therapy ; *Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Registries ; Treatment Outcome

An aneurysm of the subclavian artery is rare. Recently, we experienced a case of a ruptured subclavian artery aneurysm presenting as hemoptysis. The patient had experienced atypical chest discomfort, and computed tomography (CT) revealed a small aneurysm of the left subclavian artery (SCA). Hemoptysis occurred 2 weeks later. Follow-up CT showed a ruptured aneurysm at the proximal left SCA. Endovascular treatment with a graft stent was performed by bilateral arterial access with a 12-Fr introducer sheath placed via cutdown of the left axillary artery and an 8-Fr sheath in the right femoral artery. A self-expandable Viabahn covered stent measuring 13x5 mm was introduced retrogradely via the left axillary sheath and was positioned under contrast guidance with an 8-Fr JR4 guide through the femoral sheath. After the procedure, hemoptysis was not found, and the 3-month follow-up CT showed luminal patency of the left proximal SCA and considerable reduction of the hematoma.
Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; Axillary Artery ; Femoral Artery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Phenobarbital ; Stents ; Subclavian Artery ; Thorax ; Transplants

PURPOSE: To evaluate the corneal biomechanical properties and clinical characteristic of normal tension glaucoma (NTG) in young patients. METHODS: We compared corneal biomechanical properties using an Ocular response analyzer (ORA) of under age 40 of 37 eyes of patients with NTG and 42 eyes of normal group. RESULTS: The mean corneal resistance factor (CRF) and mean corneal hysteresis (CH) were significantly lower in NTG eyes (CRF, 9.2 +/- 2.1 mm Hg; CH, 9.8 +/- 1.8 mm Hg) than in normal eyes (CRF, 10.7 +/- 2.3 mm Hg; CH, 10.9 +/- 2.0 mm Hg; p = 0.01, p < 0.01). CH and CRF were associated with central corneal thickness (CCT) (CH; beta = 0.354, p < 0.01, CRF; beta = 0.348, p < 0.01) and glaucoma status (p < 0.01, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The CRF and CH were significantly lower in NTG group while IOP cc was not significantly different between the group. In diagnosing the NTG in young patients, ORA maybe useful for distinguishing between the glaucoma eyes and normal eyes.
Eye ; Glaucoma ; Humans ; Low Tension Glaucoma