Browsing by Author "Alexander, John H"
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Item Open Access Association between CK-MB Area Under the Curve and Tranexamic Acid Utilization in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery.(J Thromb Thrombolysis, 2017-02-14) van Diepen, Sean; Merrill, Peter D; Carrier, Michel; Tardif, Jean-Claude; Podgoreanu, Mihai; Alexander, John H; Lopes, Renato DMyonecrosis after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is associated with excess mortality. Tranexamic acid (TA), an anti-fibrinolytic agent, has been shown to reduce peri-operative blood loss without increasing the risk of myocardial infarction (MI); however, no large study has examined the association between TA treatment and post-CABG myonecrosis. In the MC-1 to Eliminate Necrosis and Damage in Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery II trial, inverse probability weighting of the propensity to receive TA was used to test for differences among the 656 patients receiving and 770 patients not receiving TA. The primary outcome was creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) area under the curve (AUC) through 24 h. The secondary outcome was 30-day cardiovascular death or MI. Patients who received TA were more frequently female, had a previous MI, heart failure, low molecular weight heparin therapy, on-pump CABG, valvular surgery, and saphenous vein or radial grafts. The median 24-h CK-MB AUC was higher in TA-treated patients [301.9 (IQR 196.7-495.6) vs 253.5 (153.4-432.5) ng h/mL, p < 0.001]. No differences in the 30-day incidence of cardiovascular death or MI were observed (8.7 vs 8.3%, adjusted OR 0.99; 95% CI 0.67-1.45, p = 0.948). In patients undergoing CABG, TA use was associated with a higher risk of myonecrosis; however, no differences were observed in death or MI. Future larger studies should be directed at examining the pathophysiology of TA myonecrosis, and its association with subsequent clinical outcomes.Item Open Access Association of Different Estimates of Renal Function With Cardiovascular Mortality and Bleeding in Atrial Fibrillation.(Journal of the American Heart Association, 2020-09) Hijazi, Ziad; Granger, Christopher B; Hohnloser, Stefan H; Westerbergh, Johan; Lindbäck, Johan; Alexander, John H; Keltai, Matyas; Parkhomenko, Alexander; López-Sendón, José L; Lopes, Renato D; Siegbahn, Agneta; Wallentin, LarsBackground We compared different methods of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and their association with cardiovascular death and major bleeding in 14 980 patients with atrial fibrillation in the ARISTOTLE (Apixaban for Reduction in Stroke and Other Thromboembolic Events in Atrial Fibrillation) trial. Methods and Results eGFR was calculated using equations based on creatinine (Cockcroft-Gault, Modification of Diet in Renal Disease, and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration [CKD-EPI]) and/or cystatin C (CKD-EPICysC and CKD-EPICysC+Creatinine). These 5 eGFR equations, as well as the individual variables that are used in these equations, were assessed for correlation and discriminatory ability for cardiovascular death and major bleeding. The median age was 70.0 years, and 35.6% were women. The median eGFR was highest with Cockcroft-Gault (74.1 mL/min) and CKD-EPICysC (74.2 mL/min), and lowest with Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (66.5 mL/min). Correlation between methods ranged from 0.49 (Cockroft-Gault and CKD-EPICysC) to 0.99 (Modification of Diet in Renal Disease and CKD-EPI). Among the eGFR equations, those based on cystatin C yielded the highest C indices for cardiovascular death and major bleeding: 0.628 (CKD-EPICysC) and 0.612 (CKD-EPICysC+Creatinine), respectively. A model based on the variables within the different eGFR equations (age, sex, weight, creatinine, and cystatin C) yielded the highest discriminatory value for both outcomes, with a C index of 0.673 and 0.656, respectively. Conclusions In patients with atrial fibrillation on anticoagulation, correlation between eGFR calculated using different methods varied substantially. Cystatin C-based eGFRs seem to provide the most robust information for predicting death and bleeding. A model based on the individual variables within the eGFR equations, however, provided the highest discriminatory value. Our findings may help refine risk stratification in patients with atrial fibrillation and define how renal function should be determined in future atrial fibrillation studies. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT00412984.Item Open Access Bone morphogenetic protein 10: a novel risk marker of ischaemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.(European heart journal, 2023-01) Hijazi, Ziad; Benz, Alexander P; Lindbäck, Johan; Alexander, John H; Connolly, Stuart J; Eikelboom, John W; Granger, Christopher B; Kastner, Peter; Lopes, Renato D; Ziegler, André; Oldgren, Jonas; Siegbahn, Agneta; Wallentin, LarsAims
Biomarkers specifically related to atrial tissue may increase the understanding of the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation (AF) and further improve risk prediction in this setting. Bone morphogenetic protein 10 (BMP10) is a protein expressed in the atrial myocardium. We evaluated the association between BMP10 and the risk of ischaemic stroke and other cardiovascular events in large cohorts of patients with AF, treated with and without oral anticoagulation (OAC).Methods and results
BMP10 was measured in plasma samples collected at randomisation in patients with AF without OAC in the ACTIVE A and AVERROES trials (n = 2974), and with OAC in the ARISTOTLE trial (n = 13 079). BMP10 was analysed with a prototype Elecsys immunoassay. Associations with outcomes were evaluated by Cox-regression models adjusted for clinical characteristics, kidney function, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). Median concentrations of BMP10 were 2.47 and 2.44 ng/mL, in the non-OAC and OAC cohort, respectively. Increasing BMP10 was associated with lower body mass index, older age, female sex, kidney dysfunction, and AF rhythm. BMP10 was consistently associated with ischaemic stroke. In the non-OAC cohort, BMP10 increased the concordance index of the multivariable model from 0.713 to 0.733 (P = 0.004) and in the OAC cohort from 0.673 to 0.694 (P < 0.001). Additionally, BMP10 maintained a significant prognostic value after additionally adjusting for NT-proBNP. BMP10 was not independently associated with bleeding or with death.Conclusion
The novel atrial biomarker BMP10 was independently associated with ischaemic stroke in patients with AF irrespective of OAC treatment. BMP10 seems to be more specifically related to the risk of ischaemic stroke in AF.One-sentence summary
In this study, BMP10 may be a novel specific biomarker of ischaemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation, irrespective of oral anticoagulation.Item Open Access Clopidogrel use After Myocardial Revascularization: Prevalence, Predictors, and One-Year Survival Rate.(Braz J Cardiovasc Surg, 2016-04) Prates, Paulo Roberto L; Williams, Judson B; Mehta, Rajendra H; Stevens, Susanna R; Thomas, Laine; Smith, Peter K; Newby, L Kristin; Kalil, Renato AK; Alexander, John H; Lopes, Renato DINTRODUCTION: Antiplatelet therapy after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) has been used. Little is known about the predictors and efficacy of clopidogrel in this scenario. OBJECTIVE: Identify predictors of clopidogrel following CABG. METHODS: We evaluated 5404 patients who underwent CABG between 2000 and 2009 at Duke University Medical Center. We excluded patients undergoing concomitant valve surgery, those who had postoperative bleeding or death before discharge. Postoperative clopidogrel was left to the discretion of the attending physician. Adjusted risk for 1-year mortality was compared between patients receiving and not receiving clopidogrel during hospitalization after undergoing CABG. RESULTS: At hospital discharge, 931 (17.2%) patients were receiving clopidogrel. Comparing patients not receiving clopidogrel at discharge, users had more comorbidities, including hyperlipidemia, hypertension, heart failure, peripheral arterial disease and cerebrovascular disease. Patients who received aspirin during hospitalization were less likely to receive clopidogrel at discharge (P≤0.0001). Clopidogrel was associated with similar 1-year mortality compared with those who did not use clopidogrel (4.4% vs. 4.5%, P=0.72). There was, however, an interaction between the use of cardiopulmonary bypass and clopidogrel, with lower 1-year mortality in patients undergoing off-pump CABG who received clopidogrel, but not those undergoing conventional CABG (2.6% vs 5.6%, P Interaction = 0.032). CONCLUSION: Clopidogrel was used in nearly one-fifth of patients after CABG. Its use was not associated with lower mortality after 1 year in general, but lower mortality rate in those undergoing off-pump CABG. Randomized clinical trials are needed to determine the benefit of routine use of clopidogrel in CABG.Item Open Access Continuing versus suspending angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers: Impact on adverse outcomes in hospitalized patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)--The BRACE CORONA Trial.(American heart journal, 2020-08) Lopes, Renato D; Macedo, Ariane Vieira Scarlatelli; de Barros E Silva, Pedro Gabriel Melo; Moll-Bernardes, Renata Junqueira; Feldman, Andre; D'Andréa Saba Arruda, Guilherme; de Souza, Andrea Silvestre; de Albuquerque, Denilson Campos; Mazza, Lilian; Santos, Mayara Fraga; Salvador, Natalia Zerbinatti; Gibson, C Michael; Granger, Christopher B; Alexander, John H; de Souza, Olga Ferreira; BRACE CORONA investigatorsAngiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) expression may increase due to upregulation in patients using angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). Because renin-angiotensin system blockers increase levels of ACE2, a protein that facilitates coronavirus entry into cells, there is concern that these drugs could increase the risk of developing a severe and fatal form of COVID-19. The impact of discontinuing ACEI and ARBs in patients with COVID-19 remains uncertain. DESIGN: BRACE CORONA is a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized, phase IV, clinical trial that aims to enroll around 500 participants at 34 sites in Brazil. Participants will be identified from an ongoing national registry of suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19. Eligible patients using renin-angiotensin system blockers (ACEI/ARBs) with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 will be randomized to a strategy of continued ACEI/ARB treatment versus temporary discontinuation for 30 days. The primary outcome is the median days alive and out of the hospital at 30 days. Secondary outcomes include progression of COVID-19 disease, all-cause mortality, death from cardiovascular causes, myocardial infarction, stroke, transient ischemic attack, new or worsening heart failure, myocarditis, pericarditis, arrhythmias, thromboembolic events, hypertensive crisis, respiratory failure, hemodynamic decompensation, sepsis, renal failure, and troponin, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), N-terminal-proBNP, and D-dimer levels. SUMMARY: BRACE CORONA will evaluate whether the strategy of continued ACEI/ARB therapy compared with temporary discontinuation of these drugs impacts clinical outcomes among patients with COVID-19.Item Open Access Continuing versus suspending angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers: Impact on adverse outcomes in hospitalized patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).(American heart journal, 2020-05-13) Lopes, Renato D; Macedo, Ariane Vieira Scarlatelli; de Barros E Silva, Pedro Gabriel Melo; Moll-Bernardes, Renata Junqueira; Feldman, Andre; D'Andréa Saba Arruda, Guilherme; de Souza, Andrea Silvestre; de Albuquerque, Denilson Campos; Mazza, Lilian; Santos, Mayara Fraga; Salvador, Natalia Zerbinatti; Gibson, C Michael; Granger, Christopher B; Alexander, John H; de Souza, Olga FerreiraBackground:Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) may increase due to upregulation in patients using angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB). Because renin-angiotensin system blockers increase levels of ACE2, a protein that facilitates coronavirus entry into cells, there is concern that these drugs could increase the risk of developing a severe and fatal form of COVID-19. The impact of discontinuing ACEI and ARBs in patients with COVID-19 remains uncertain.DESIGNBRACE CORONA is a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized, phase IV, clinical trial that aims to enroll around 500 participants at 32 sites in Brazil. Participants will be identified from an ongoing national registry of suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19. Eligible patients using renin-angiotensin system blockers (ACEI/ARBs) with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 will be randomized to a strategy of continued ACEI/ARB treatment versus temporary discontinuation for 30 days. The primary outcome is the median days alive and out of the hospital at 30 days. Secondary outcomes include progression of COVID-19 disease, all-cause mortality, death from vascular causes, myocardial infarction, stroke, transient ischemic attack, new or worsening heart failure, myocarditis, pericarditis, arrhythmias, thromboembolic events, hypertensive crisis, respiratory failure, hemodynamic decompensation, sepsis, renal failure, troponin, B-type natriuretic peptide, N-terminal-pro hormone and D-dimer levels. Summary:BRACE CORONA will evaluate whether the strategy of continued ACEI/ARB therapy compared with temporary discontinuation of these drugs impacts clinical outcomes among patients with COVID-19.Item Open Access Effect of apixaban compared with warfarin on coagulation markers in atrial fibrillation.(Heart (British Cardiac Society), 2019-02) Christersson, Christina; Wallentin, Lars; Andersson, Ulrika; Alexander, John H; Alings, Marco; De Caterina, Raffaele; Gersh, Bernard J; Granger, Christopher B; Halvorsen, Sigrun; Hanna, Michael; Huber, Kurt; Hylek, Elaine M; Lopes, Renato D; Oh, Byung-Hee; Siegbahn, AgnetaObjectives
Compare the effect of apixaban and warfarin on coagulation and primary haemostasis biomarkers in atrial fibrillation (AF).Methods
The biomarker substudy from the Apixaban for Reduction in Stroke and Other Thromboembolic Events in Atrial Fibrillation trial included 4850 patients with AF randomised to treatment with apixaban or warfarin. Sixty per cent of patients used vitamin K antagonist (VKA) within 7 days before randomisation. Prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2), D-dimer, soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) and von Willebrand factor (vWF) antigen were analysed at randomisation and after 2 months of study treatment.Results
In patients not on VKA treatment at randomisation, F1+2 and D-dimer levels were decreased by 25% and 23%, respectively, with apixaban, and by 59% and 38%, respectively, with warfarin (p<0.0001 for treatment differences for both). In patients on VKA at randomisation, F1+2 and D-dimer levels increased by 41% and 10%, respectively, with apixaban and decreased by 37% and 11%, respectively, with warfarin (p<0.0001 for treatment differences for both). sCD40L levels were slightly increased at 2 months, regardless of VKA or randomised treatment. Apixaban and warfarin also both reduced vWF antigen regardless of VKA treatment. The efficacy (stroke) and safety (bleeding) of apixaban compared with warfarin was similar irrespectively of biomarker levels at 2 months.Conclusions
Treatment with apixaban compared with warfarin for stroke prevention in patients with AF was associated with less reduction in thrombin generation and fibrin turnover. This effect of apixaban could contribute to the clinical results where apixaban was superior to warfarin both in stroke prevention and in reducing bleeding risk.Trial registration number
NCT00412984.Item Open Access Effect of linagliptin versus placebo on cardiovascular and kidney outcomes in nephrotic-range proteinuria and type 2 diabetes: the CARMELINA randomized controlled trial.(Clinical kidney journal, 2021-01-17) Wanner, Christoph; Cooper, Mark E; Johansen, Odd Erik; Toto, Robert; Rosenstock, Julio; McGuire, Darren K; Kahn, Steven E; Pfarr, Egon; Schnaidt, Sven; von Eynatten, Maximilian; George, Jyothis T; Gollop, Nicholas D; Marx, Nikolaus; Alexander, John H; Zinman, Bernard; Perkovic, Vlado; CARMELINA investigatorsBackground
Nephrotic-range proteinuria (NRP) is associated with rapid kidney function loss and increased cardiovascular (CV) disease risk. We assessed the effects of linagliptin (LINA) on CV and kidney outcomes in people with Type 2 diabetes (T2D) with or without NRP.Methods
Cardiovascular and renal microvascular outcome study with LINA randomized participants with T2D and CV disease and/or kidney disease to LINA 5 mg or placebo (PBO). The primary endpoint [time to first occurrence of 3-point major adverse cardiac events (3P-MACE)], and kidney outcomes, were evaluated by NRP status [urinary albumin:creatinine ratio (UACR) ≥2200 mg/g] at baseline (BL) in participants treated with one or more dose of study medication.Results
NRP was present in 646/6979 [9.3% (LINA/PBO n = 317/n = 329); median UACR 3486 (Q1: 2746/Q3: 4941) mg/g] participants, who compared with no-NRP were younger (62.3/66.1 years) and had lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (39.9/56.1 mL/min/1.73 m2). Over a median of 2.2 years, 3P-MACE occurred with a 2.0-fold higher rate in NRP versus no-NRP (PBO group), with a neutral LINA effect, regardless of NRP. The composite of time to renal death, end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) or decrease of ≥40 or ≥50% in eGFR, occurred with 12.3- and 13.6-fold higher rate with NRP (PBO group); evidence of heterogeneity of effects with LINA was observed for the former [NRP yes/no: hazard ratio 0.80 (0.63-1.01)/1.25 (1.02-1.54); P-interaction 0.005], but not the latter [0.83 (0.64-1.09)/1.17 (0.91-1.51), P-interaction 0.07]. No heterogeneity was observed for renal death or ESKD [0.88 (0.64-1.21)/0.94 (0.67-1.31), P-interaction 0.79]. Glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was significantly reduced regardless of NRP, without increasing hypoglycaemia risk. Regression to normoalbuminuria [1.20 (1.07-1.34)] and reduction of UACR ≥50% [1.15 (1.07-1.25)] from BL, occurred more frequently with LINA, regardless of NRP status (P-interactions >0.05).Conclusions
Individuals with T2D and NRP have a high disease burden. LINA reduces their albuminuria burden and HbA1c, without affecting CV or kidney risk.Item Open Access Effects of Linagliptin on Cardiovascular and Kidney Outcomes in People With Normal and Reduced Kidney Function: Secondary Analysis of the CARMELINA Randomized Trial.(Diabetes care, 2020-08) Perkovic, Vlado; Toto, Robert; Cooper, Mark E; Mann, Johannes FE; Rosenstock, Julio; McGuire, Darren K; Kahn, Steven E; Marx, Nikolaus; Alexander, John H; Zinman, Bernard; Pfarr, Egon; Schnaidt, Sven; Meinicke, Thomas; von Eynatten, Maximillian; George, Jyothis T; Johansen, Odd Erik; Wanner, Christoph; CARMELINA investigatorsObjective
Type 2 diabetes is a leading cause of kidney failure, but few outcome trials proactively enrolled individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We performed secondary analyses of cardiovascular (CV) and kidney outcomes across baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) categories (≥60, 45 to <60, 30 to <45, and <30 mL/min/1.73 m2) in Cardiovascular and Renal Microvascular Outcome Study With Linagliptin (CARMELINA), a cardiorenal placebo-controlled outcome trial of the dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor linagliptin (NCT01897532).Research design and methods
Participants with CV disease and/or CKD were included. The primary outcome was time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke (three-point major adverse CV event [3P-MACE]), with a secondary outcome of renal death, end-stage kidney disease, or sustained ≥40% decrease in eGFR from baseline. Other end points included progression of albuminuria, change in HbA1c, and adverse events (AEs) including hypoglycemia.Results
A total of 6,979 subjects (mean age 65.9 years; eGFR 54.6 mL/min/1.73 m2; 80.1% albuminuria) were followed for 2.2 years. Across eGFR categories, linagliptin as compared with placebo did not affect the risk for 3P-MACE (hazard ratio 1.02 [95% CI 0.89, 1.17]) or the secondary kidney outcome (1.04 [0.89, 1.22]) (interaction P values >0.05). Regardless of eGFR, albuminuria progression was reduced with linagliptin, as was HbA1c, without increasing risk for hypoglycemia. AEs were balanced among groups overall and across eGFR categories.Conclusions
Across all GFR categories, in participants with type 2 diabetes and CKD and/or CV disease, there was no difference in risk for linagliptin versus placebo on CV and kidney events. Significant reductions in risk for albuminuria progression and HbA1c and no difference in AEs were observed.Item Open Access Evaluation of the prognostic value of GDF-15, ABC-AF-bleeding score and ABC-AF-death score in patients with atrial fibrillation across different geographical areas.(Open heart, 2021-03) Pol, Tymon; Hijazi, Ziad; Lindbäck, Johan; Alexander, John H; Bahit, M Cecilia; De Caterina, Raffaele; Eikelboom, JW; Ezekowitz, Michael D; Gersh, Bernard J; Granger, Christopher B; Hylek, Elaine M; Lopes, Renato; Siegbahn, Agneta; Wallentin, LarsObjectives
Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) is a biomarker independently associated with bleeding and death in anticoagulated patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). GDF-15 is also used as one component in the more precise biomarker-based ABC (age, biomarkers, clinical history)-AF-bleeding and ABC-AF-death risk scores. Data from large trials indicate a geographic variability in regard to overall outcomes, including bleeding and mortality risk. Our aim was to assess the consistency of the association between GDF-15, ABC-AF-bleeding score and ABC-AF-death score, with major bleeding and death, across world geographic regions.Methods
Data were available from 14 767 patients with AF from the Apixaban for Reduction in Stroke and Other Thromboembolic Events in Atrial Fibrillation (ARISTOTLE) trial and 8651 patients with AF from the Randomized Evaluation of Long-Term Anticoagulation Therapy (RE-LY) trial in this cohort study. GDF-15 was analysed from plasma samples obtained at randomisation. The geographical consistency of the associations between outcomes and GDF-15, ABC-AF-bleeding score and ABC-AF-death scores were assessed by Cox-regression models including interactions with predefined geographical region.Results
GDF-15 and the ABC-AF-bleeding score were associated with major bleeding in both trials across regions (p<0.0001). Similarly, GDF-15 and the ABC-AF-death score were associated with all-cause mortality in both trials across regions (p<0.0001). Overall, the association between GDF-15, the ABC-AF-bleeding score and ABC-AF-death risk score with major bleeding and death was consistent across regions in both ARISTOTLE and the RE-LY trial cohorts. The ABC-AF-bleeding and ABC-AF-death risk scores were consistent regarding discriminative ability when comparing geographic regions in both trial cohorts. The C-indices ranged from 0.649 to 0.760 for the ABC-AF-bleeding and from 0.677 to 0.806 for the ABC-AF-death score by different geographic regions.Conclusions
In patients with AF on anticoagulation, GDF-15 and the biomarker-based ABC-AF-bleeding and ABC-AF-death risk scores are consistently associated with respectively increased risk of major bleeding and death and have similar prognostic value across world geographic regions.Trial registration number
ClinicalTrials.gov Registry NCT00412984 and NCT00262600.Item Open Access Infusion of Reconstituted High-Density Lipoprotein, CSL112, in Patients With Atherosclerosis: Safety and Pharmacokinetic Results From a Phase 2a Randomized Clinical Trial.(Journal of the American Heart Association, 2015-08-25) Tricoci, Pierluigi; D'Andrea, Denise M; Gurbel, Paul A; Yao, Zhenling; Cuchel, Marina; Winston, Brion; Schott, Robert; Weiss, Robert; Blazing, Michael A; Cannon, Louis; Bailey, Alison; Angiolillo, Dominick J; Gille, Andreas; Shear, Charles L; Wright, Samuel D; Alexander, John HBackground
CSL112 is a new formulation of human apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) being developed to reduce cardiovascular events following acute coronary syndrome. This phase 2a, randomized, double-blind, multicenter, dose-ranging trial represents the first clinical investigation to assess the safety and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of a CSL112 infusion among patients with stable atherosclerotic disease.Methods and results
Patients were randomized to single ascending doses of CSL112 (1.7, 3.4, or 6.8 g) or placebo, administered over a 2-hour period. Primary safety assessments consisted of alanine aminotransferase or aspartate aminotransferase elevations >3× upper limits of normal and study drug-related adverse events. Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic assessments included apoA-I plasma concentration and measures of the ability of serum to promote cholesterol efflux from cells ex vivo. Of 45 patients randomized, 7, 12, and 14 received 1.7-, 3.4-, and 6.8-g CSL112, respectively, and 11 received placebo. There were no clinically significant elevations (>3× upper limit of normal) in alanine aminotransferase or aspartate aminotransferase. Adverse events were nonserious and mild and occurred in 5 (71%), 5 (41%), and 6 (43%) patients in the CSL112 1.7-, 3.4-, and 6.8-g groups, respectively, compared with 3 (27%) placebo patients. The imbalance in adverse events was attributable to vessel puncture/infusion-site bruising. CSL112 resulted in rapid (T(max)≈2 hours) and dose-dependent increases in apoA-I (145% increase in the 6.8-g group) and total cholesterol efflux (up to 3.1-fold higher than placebo) (P<0.001).Conclusions
CSL112 infusion was well tolerated in patients with stable atherosclerotic disease. CSL112 immediately raised apoA-I levels and caused a rapid and marked increase in the capacity of serum to efflux cholesterol. This potential novel approach for the treatment of atherosclerosis warrants further investigation.Clinical trial registration
URL: http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01499420.Item Open Access Longitudinal Changes in Regional Cerebral Perfusion and Cognition Following Cardiac Surgery.(The Annals of thoracic surgery, 2018-09-22) Smith, Patrick J; Browndyke, Jeffrey N; Monge, Zachary A; Harshbarger, Todd B; James, Michael L; Gaca, Jeffrey G; Alexander, John H; Berger, Miles M; Newman, Mark F; Milano, Carmelo A; Mathew, Joseph P; Neurologic Outcomes Research Group (NORG)Cardiac surgery has been associated with increased risk of postoperative cognitive decline, as well as dementia risk in the general population. Few studies, however, have examined the impact of coronary revascularization or valve replacement / repair surgery on longitudinal cerebral perfusion changes or their association with cognitive function.We examined longitudinal changes in cerebral perfusion among 54 individuals with cardiac disease; 27 undergoing cardiac surgery and 27 matched controls. Arterial spin labeling (ASL) magnetic resonance perfusion imaging was used to quantify cerebral blood flow within the anterior communicating artery (ACA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), and posterior communicating artery (PCA) vascular territories prior to surgery and postoperatively at 6-weeks and 1-year. Cognitive performance was examined during the same intervals using a battery of tests tapping memory, executive, information processing and upper extremity motor functions. Repeated measures, mixed models were used to examine for perfusion changes and the association between perfusion changes and cognition.Significant postoperative increases in perfusion were observed at 6-weeks within the MCA vascular territory following cardiac surgery (P = .035 for interaction). Perfusion changes were most notable in distal territories of the MCA and PCA at 6-weeks, with no additional changes at 1-year. Postoperative increases in MCA perfusion at 6-weeks were associated with improved psychomotor speed (β = 0.35, P = .016); whereas, no significant differences were found between groups in vascular territory perfusion and cognition at 1-year.Cardiac surgery is associated with significant short-term increases in MCA perfusion with associated improvements in psychomotor speed.Item Open Access Management of Atrial Fibrillation in Older Patients by Morbidity Burden: Insights From Get With The Guidelines-Atrial Fibrillation.(Journal of the American Heart Association, 2020-12) Dalgaard, Frederik; Xu, Haolin; Matsouaka, Roland A; Russo, Andrea M; Curtis, Anne B; Rasmussen, Peter Vibe; Ruwald, Martin H; Fonarow, Gregg C; Lowenstern, Angela; Hansen, Morten L; Pallisgaard, Jannik L; Alexander, Karen P; Alexander, John H; Lopes, Renato D; Granger, Christopher B; Lewis, William R; Piccini, Jonathan P; Al-Khatib, Sana MBackground Knowledge is scarce regarding how multimorbidity is associated with therapeutic decisions regarding oral anticoagulants (OACs) in patients with atrial fibrillation. Methods and Results We conducted a cross-sectional study of hospitalized patients with atrial fibrillation using the Get With The Guidelines-Atrial Fibrillation registry from 2013 to 2019. We identified patients ≥65 years and eligible for OAC therapy. Using 16 available comorbidity categories, patients were stratified by morbidity burden. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to determine the odds of receiving OAC prescription at discharge by morbidity burden. We included 34 174 patients with a median (interquartile range) age of 76 (71-83) years, 56.6% women, and 41.9% were not anticoagulated at admission. Of these patients, 38.6% had 0 to 2 comorbidities, 50.7% had 3 to 5 comorbidities, and 10.7% had ≥6 comorbidities. The overall discharge OAC prescription was high (85.6%). The prevalence of patients with multimorbidity increased from 59.7% in 2014 to 64.3% in 2019 (P trend=0.002). Using 0 to 2 comorbidities as the reference, the adjusted odds ratio (95% CI) of OAC prescription were 0.93 (0.82, 1.05) for patients with 3 to 5 comorbidities and 0.72 (0.60, 0.86) for patients with ≥6 comorbidities. In those with ≥6 comorbidities, the most common reason for nonprescription of OACs were frequent falls/frailty (31.0%). Conclusions In a contemporary quality-of-care database of hospitalized patients with atrial fibrillation eligible for OAC therapy, multimorbidity was common. A higher morbidity burden was associated with a lower odds of OAC prescription. This highlights the need for interventions to improve adherence to guideline-recommended anticoagulation in multimorbid patients with atrial fibrillation.Item Open Access Randomized Clinical Trial to Evaluate a Routine Full Anticoagulation Strategy in Patients with Coronavirus Infection (SARS-CoV2) Admitted to Hospital: Rationale and Design of the ACTION (AntiCoagulaTlon cOroNavirus)-Coalition IV Trial.(American heart journal, 2021-04-20) Lopes, Renato D; de Barros E Silva, Pedro Gabriel Melo; Furtado, Remo HM; Macedo, Ariane Vieira Scarlatelli; Ramacciotti, Eduardo; Damini, Lucas Petri; Bronhara, Bruna; Cavalcanti, Alexandre B; Rosa, Regis G; Azevedo, Luciano CP; Veiga, Viviane C; Machado, Flávia R; Ritt, Luiz Eduardo; Martins, Priscilla de Aquino; Alexander, John H; Avezum, Alvaro; Berwanger, Otavio; Coalition COVID-19 Brazil IV InvestigatorsBackground
Observational studies have suggested a higher risk of thrombotic events in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Moreover, elevated D-dimer levels have been identified as an important prognostic marker in COVID-19 directly associated with disease severity and progression. Prophylactic anticoagulation for hospitalized COVID-19 patients might not be enough to prevent thrombotic events; therefore, therapeutic anticoagulation regimens deserve clinical investigation.Design
ACTION is an academic-led, pragmatic, multicenter, open-label, randomized, phase IV clinical trial that aims to enroll around 600 patients at 40 sites participating in the Coalition COVID-19 Brazil initiative. Eligible patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 with symptoms up to 14 days and elevated D-dimer levels will be randomized to a strategy of full-dose anticoagulation for 30 days with rivaroxaban 20 mg once daily (or full-dose heparin if oral administration is not feasible) versus standard of care with any approved venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis regimen during hospitalization. A confirmation of COVID-19 was mandatory for study entry, based on specific tests used in clinical practice (RT-PCR, antigen test, IgM test) collected before randomization, regardless of in the outpatient setting or not. Randomization will be stratified by clinical stability at presentation. The primary outcome is a hierarchical analysis of mortality, length of hospital stay, or duration of oxygen therapy at the end of 30 days. Secondary outcomes include the World Health Organization's 8-point ordinal scale at 30 days and the following individual efficacy outcomes: incidence of VTE, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, systemic embolism, major adverse limb events, duration of oxygen therapy, disease progression, and biomarkers. The primary safety outcomes are major or clinically relevant non-major bleeding according to the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis criteria.Summary
The ACTION trial will evaluate whether in-hospital therapeutic anticoagulation with rivaroxaban for stable patients, or enoxaparin for unstable patients, followed by rivaroxaban through 30 days compared with standard prophylactic anticoagulation improves clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and elevated D-dimer levels. CLINICALTRIALS.GOV: : NCT04394377.Item Open Access Randomized Trials Versus Common Sense and Clinical Observation: JACC Review Topic of the Week.(Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2020-08) Fanaroff, Alexander C; Califf, Robert M; Harrington, Robert A; Granger, Christopher B; McMurray, John JV; Patel, Manesh R; Bhatt, Deepak L; Windecker, Stephan; Hernandez, Adrian F; Gibson, C Michael; Alexander, John H; Lopes, Renato DConcerns about the external validity of traditional randomized clinical trials (RCTs), together with the widespread availability of real-world data and advanced data analytic tools, have led to claims that common sense and clinical observation, rather than RCTs, should be the preferred method to generate evidence to support clinical decision-making. However, over the past 4 decades, results from well-done RCTs have repeatedly contradicted practices supported by common sense and clinical observation. Common sense and clinical observation fail for several reasons: incomplete understanding of pathophysiology, biases and unmeasured confounding in observational research, and failure to understand risks and benefits of treatments within complex systems. Concerns about traditional RCT models are legitimate, but randomization remains a critical tool to understand the causal relationship between treatments and outcomes. Instead, development and promulgation of tools to apply randomization to real-world data are needed to build the best evidence base in cardiovascular medicine.Item Open Access Rationale, design, and baseline characteristics of the CArdiovascular safety and Renal Microvascular outcomE study with LINAgliptin (CARMELINA®): a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in patients with type 2 diabetes and high cardio-renal risk.(Cardiovascular diabetology, 2018-03-14) Rosenstock, Julio; Perkovic, Vlado; Alexander, John H; Cooper, Mark E; Marx, Nikolaus; Pencina, Michael J; Toto, Robert D; Wanner, Christoph; Zinman, Bernard; Baanstra, David; Pfarr, Egon; Mattheus, Michaela; Broedl, Uli C; Woerle, Hans-Juergen; George, Jyothis T; von Eynatten, Maximilian; McGuire, Darren K; CARMELINA® investigatorsBACKGROUND:Cardiovascular (CV) outcome trials in type 2 diabetes (T2D) have underrepresented patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), leading to uncertainty regarding their kidney efficacy and safety. The CARMELINA® trial aims to evaluate the effects of linagliptin, a DPP-4 inhibitor, on both CV and kidney outcomes in a study population enriched for cardio-renal risk. METHODS:CARMELINA® is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted in 27 countries in T2D patients at high risk of CV and/or kidney events. Participants with evidence of CKD with or without CV disease and HbA1c 6.5-10.0% (48-86 mmol/mol) were randomized 1:1 to receive linagliptin once daily or matching placebo, added to standard of care adjusted according to local guidelines. The primary outcome is time to first occurrence of CV death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or non-fatal stroke. The key secondary outcome is a composite of time to first sustained occurrence of end-stage kidney disease, ≥ 40% decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) from baseline, or renal death. CV and kidney events are prospectively adjudicated by independent, blinded clinical event committees. CARMELINA® was designed to continue until at least 611 participants had confirmed primary outcome events. Assuming a hazard ratio of 1.0, this provides 90% power to demonstrate non-inferiority of linagliptin versus placebo within the pre-specified non-inferiority margin of 1.3 at a one-sided α-level of 2.5%. If non-inferiority of linagliptin for the primary outcome is demonstrated, then its superiority for both the primary outcome and the key secondary outcome will be investigated with a sequentially rejective multiple test procedure. RESULTS:Between July 2013 and August 2016, 6980 patients were randomized and took ≥ 1 dose of study drug (40.6, 33.1, 16.9, and 9.4% from Europe, South America, North America, and Asia, respectively). At baseline, mean ± SD age was 65.8 ± 9.1 years, HbA1c 7.9 ± 1.0%, BMI 31.3 ± 5.3 kg/m2, and eGFR 55 ± 25 mL/min/1.73 m2. A total of 5148 patients (73.8%) had prevalent kidney disease (defined as eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 or macroalbuminuria [albumin-to-creatinine ratio > 300 mg/g]) and 3990 patients (57.2%) had established CV disease with increased albuminuria; these characteristics were not mutually exclusive. Microalbuminuria (n = 2896 [41.5%]) and macroalbuminuria (n = 2691 [38.6%]) were common. CONCLUSIONS:CARMELINA® will add important information regarding the CV and kidney disease clinical profile of linagliptin by including an understudied, vulnerable cohort of patients with T2D at highest cardio-renal risk. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier-NCT01897532; registered July 9, 2013.Item Open Access Resting-State Functional Connectivity and Cognition After Major Cardiac Surgery in Older Adults without Preoperative Cognitive Impairment: Preliminary Findings.(J Am Geriatr Soc, 2017-01) Browndyke, Jeffrey N; Berger, Miles; Harshbarger, Todd B; Smith, Patrick J; White, William; Bisanar, Tiffany L; Alexander, John H; Gaca, Jeffrey G; Welsh-Bohmer, Kathleen; Newman, Mark F; Mathew, Joseph POBJECTIVES: To look for changes in intrinsic functional brain connectivity associated with postoperative changes in cognition, a common complication in seniors undergoing major surgery, using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. DESIGN: Objective cognitive testing and functional brain imaging were prospectively performed at preoperative baseline and 6 weeks after surgery and at the same time intervals in nonsurgical controls. SETTING: Academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Older adults undergoing cardiac surgery (n = 12) and nonsurgical older adult controls with a history of coronary artery disease (n = 12); no participants had cognitive impairment at preoperative baseline (Mini-Mental State Examination score >27). MEASUREMENTS: Differences in resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) and global cognitive change relationships were assessed using a voxel-wise intrinsic connectivity method, controlling for demographic factors and pre- and perioperative cerebral white matter disease volume. Analyses were corrected for multiple comparisons (false discovery rate P < .01). RESULTS: Global cognitive change after cardiac surgery was significantly associated with intrinsic RSFC changes in regions of the posterior cingulate cortex and right superior frontal gyrus-anatomical and functional locations of the brain's default mode network (DMN). No statistically significant relationships were found between global cognitive change and RSFC change in nonsurgical controls. CONCLUSION: Clinicians have long known that some older adults develop postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) after anesthesia and surgery, yet the neurobiological correlates of POCD are not well defined. The current results suggest that altered RSFC in specific DMN regions is positively correlated with global cognitive change 6 weeks after cardiac surgery, suggesting that DMN activity and connectivity could be important diagnostic markers of POCD or intervention targets for potential POCD treatment efforts.Item Open Access Safety and Tolerability of CSL112, a Reconstituted, Infusible, Plasma-Derived Apolipoprotein A-I, After Acute Myocardial Infarction: The AEGIS-I Trial (ApoA-I Event Reducing in Ischemic Syndromes I).(Circulation, 2016-12) Michael Gibson, C; Korjian, Serge; Tricoci, Pierluigi; Daaboul, Yazan; Yee, Megan; Jain, Purva; Alexander, John H; Steg, P Gabriel; Lincoff, A Michael; Kastelein, John JP; Mehran, Roxana; D'Andrea, Denise M; Deckelbaum, Lawrence I; Merkely, Bela; Zarebinski, Maciej; Ophuis, Ton Oude; Harrington, Robert ABackground
Human or recombinant apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) has been shown to increase high-density lipoprotein-mediated cholesterol efflux capacity and to regress atherosclerotic disease in animal and clinical studies. CSL112 is an infusible, plasma-derived apoA-I that has been studied in normal subjects or those with stable coronary artery disease. This study aimed to characterize the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of CSL112 in patients with a recent acute myocardial infarction.Methods
The AEGIS-I trial (Apo-I Event Reducing in Ischemic Syndromes I) was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging phase 2b trial. Patients with myocardial infarction were stratified by renal function and randomized 1:1:1 to CSL112 (2 g apoA-I per dose) and high-dose CSL112 (6 g apoA-I per dose), or placebo for 4 consecutive weekly infusions. Coprimary safety end points were occurrence of either a hepatic safety event (an increase in alanine transaminase >3 times the upper limit of normal or an increase in total bilirubin >2 times the upper limit of normal) or a renal safety event (an increase in serum creatinine >1.5 times the baseline value or a new requirement for renal replacement therapy).Results
A total of 1258 patients were randomized, and 91.2% received all 4 infusions. The difference in incidence rates for an increase in alanine transaminase or total bilirubin between both CSL112 arms and placebo was within the protocol-defined noninferiority margin of 4%. Similarly, the difference in incidence rates for an increase in serum creatinine or a new requirement for renal replacement therapy was within the protocol-defined noninferiority margin of 5%. CSL112 was associated with increases in apoA-I and ex vivo cholesterol efflux similar to that achieved in patients with stable coronary artery disease. In regard to the secondary efficacy end point, the risk for the composite of major adverse cardiovascular events among the groups was similar.Conclusions
Among patients with acute myocardial infarction, 4 weekly infusions of CSL112 are feasible, well tolerated, and not associated with any significant alterations in liver or kidney function or other safety concern. The ability of CSL112 to acutely enhance cholesterol efflux was confirmed. The potential benefit of CSL112 to reduce major adverse cardiovascular events needs to be assessed in an adequately powered phase 3 trial.Clinical trial registration
URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02108262.Item Open Access Screening of Multiple Biomarkers Associated With Ischemic Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation.(Journal of the American Heart Association, 2020-12-09) Hijazi, Ziad; Wallentin, Lars; Lindbäck, Johan; Alexander, John H; Connolly, Stuart J; Eikelboom, John W; Ezekowitz, Michael D; Granger, Christopher B; Lopes, Renato D; Pol, Tymon; Yusuf, Salim; Oldgren, Jonas; Siegbahn, AgnetaBackground To explore the pathophysiological features of ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), we evaluated the association between 268 plasma proteins and subsequent ischemic stroke in 2 large AF cohorts receiving oral anticoagulation. Methods and Results A case-cohort sample of patients with AF from the ARISTOTLE (Apixaban for Reduction in Stroke and Other Thromboembolic Events in Atrial Fibrillation) trial, including 282 cases with ischemic stroke or systemic embolism and a random sample of 4124 without these events, during 1.9 years of follow-up was used for identification. Validation was provided by a similar case-cohort sample of patients with AF from the RE-LY (Randomized Evaluation of Long-Term Anticoagulation Therapy) trial, including 149 cases with ischemic stroke/systemic embolism and a random sample of 1062 without these events. In plasma obtained before randomization, 268 unique biomarkers were measured with OLINK proximity extension assay panels (CVD II, CVD III, and Inflammation) and conventional immunoassays. The association between biomarkers and outcomes was evaluated by random survival forest and adjusted Cox regression. According to random survival forest or Cox regression analyses, the biomarkers most strongly and consistently associated with ischemic stroke/systemic embolism were matrix metalloproteinase-9, NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide), osteopontin, sortilin, soluble suppression of tumorigenesis 2, and trefoil factor-3. The corresponding hazard ratios (95% CIs) for an interquartile difference were as follows: 1.18 (1.00-1.38), 1.55 (1.28-1.88), 1.28 (1.07-1.53), 1.19 (1.02-1.39), 1.23 (1.05-1.45), and 1.19 (0.97-1.45), respectively. Conclusions In patients with AF, of 268 unique biomarkers, the 6 biomarkers most strongly associated with subsequent ischemic stroke/systemic embolism represent fibrosis/remodeling (matrix metalloproteinase-9 and soluble suppression of tumorigenesis 2), cardiac dysfunction (NT-proBNP), vascular calcification (osteopontin), metabolism (sortilin), and mucosal integrity/ischemia (trefoil factor-3). Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique Identifiers: NCT00412984 and NCT00262600.Item Open Access Task-related changes in degree centrality and local coherence of the posterior cingulate cortex after major cardiac surgery in older adults.(Hum Brain Mapp, 2017-11-21) Browndyke, Jeffrey N; Berger, Miles; Smith, Patrick J; Harshbarger, Todd B; Monge, Zachary A; Panchal, Viral; Bisanar, Tiffany L; Glower, Donald D; Alexander, John H; Cabeza, Roberto; Welsh-Bohmer, Kathleen; Newman, Mark F; Mathew, Joseph P; Duke Neurologic Outcomes Research Group (NORG)OBJECTIVES: Older adults often display postoperative cognitive decline (POCD) after surgery, yet it is unclear to what extent functional connectivity (FC) alterations may underlie these deficits. We examined for postoperative voxel-wise FC changes in response to increased working memory load demands in cardiac surgery patients and nonsurgical controls. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Older cardiac surgery patients (n = 25) completed a verbal N-back working memory task during MRI scanning and cognitive testing before and 6 weeks after surgery; nonsurgical controls with cardiac disease (n = 26) underwent these assessments at identical time intervals. We measured postoperative changes in degree centrality, the number of edges attached to a brain node, and local coherence, the temporal homogeneity of regional functional correlations, using voxel-wise graph theory-based FC metrics. Group × time differences were evaluated in these FC metrics associated with increased N-back working memory load (2-back > 1-back), using a two-stage partitioned variance, mixed ANCOVA. PRINCIPAL OBSERVATIONS: Cardiac surgery patients demonstrated postoperative working memory load-related degree centrality increases in the left dorsal posterior cingulate cortex (dPCC; p < .001, cluster p-FWE < .05). The dPCC also showed a postoperative increase in working memory load-associated local coherence (p < .001, cluster p-FWE < .05). dPCC degree centrality and local coherence increases were inversely associated with global cognitive change in surgery patients (p < .01), but not in controls. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac surgery patients showed postoperative increases in working memory load-associated degree centrality and local coherence of the dPCC that were inversely associated with postoperative global cognitive outcomes and independent of perioperative cerebrovascular damage.