Ayesha Singh

Background: The frequency of residual angina and its impact on health status and death following anatomic complete revascularization in symptomatic patients with chronic coronary disease are unknown. Methods: Data were analyzed from ISCHEMIA (International Study of Comparative Health Effectiveness With Medical and Invasive Approaches) trial participants randomized to invasive management with baseline angina (Seattle Angina Questionnaire Angina Frequency score P =0.03). At 6 months, residual angina participants reported lower quality of life (Seattle Angina Questionnaire Quality of Life: 70±20 versus 83±20, P P P P =0.006). Five‐year all‐cause and cardiovascular death did not differ significantly between groups. Conclusions: Residual angina is common (>40%) following anatomic complete revascularization for chronic coronary disease and is associated with reduced quality of life and greater antianginal medication use but no increase in death. Registration: Unique Identifier: NCT01471522.

Background: Patients with chronic coronary disease experience less angina with revascularization plus optimal medical therapy compared with optimal medical therapy alone. However, patients may prefer to better understand their individual likelihood of complete angina relief associated with each treatment approach before selecting a strategy. We therefore sought to determine the incidence, predictors, and outcomes of complete angina relief in symptomatic patients treated with invasive management using revascularization plus optimal medical therapy or conservative therapy with optimal medical therapy alone in the ISCHEMIA (International Study of Comparative Health Effectiveness With Medical and Invasive Approaches) trial. Methods: Angina was assessed using the Seattle Angina Questionnaire Angina Frequency (AF) score. We analyzed patients in the invasive management treatment arm with angina at baseline (Seattle Angina Questionnaire Angina Frequency <100) who underwent revascularization and all patients in the conservative therapy arm with angina at baseline. The primary outcome was angina status at 12 months defined as a Seattle Angina Questionnaire Angina Frequency=100 (complete angina relief) or Seattle Angina Questionnaire Angina Frequency <100 (persistent angina). The association of angina status with the composite of cardiovascular death/myocardial infarction was assessed at 5 years. Results: Among 1376 patients in the conservative therapy arm with angina at baseline, 50% experienced complete angina relief at 12 months. Independent predictors included older age, male sex, recent angina onset, and less baseline angina. Among 1158 patients who underwent revascularization, 70% achieved complete angina relief. Predictors included younger age, nonsmoking, coronary artery bypass graft, and less baseline angina. Cardiovascular death/myocardial infarction rates at 5 years did not differ between patients with or without complete angina relief. Conclusions: Complete angina relief at 12 months in symptomatic patients with chronic coronary disease was achieved in 70% of patients undergoing revascularization and 50% of patients treated ith conservative therapy and did not influence cardiovascular death/myocardial infarction outcomes. Registration: https://ischemiatrial.org/ ; ISCHEMIA Trial. Accession Number HLB02742323a.

Platelet activation and subsequent aggregation is a vital component of atherothrombosis resulting in acute myocardial infarction. Therefore, quantifying platelet aggregation is a valuable measure for elucidating the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Circulating platelet-monocyte conjugates (PMC) as determined by flow cytometry (FCM) are an important measure of in vivo platelet aggregation. However, the influence of sample handling on FCM measurement of PMC is not well-studied. The changes in FCM measurement of PMC with variation in sample handling techniques were evaluated. The stability of PMC concentrations over time with changes in fixation and immunolabeling intervals was assessed. The effect of Time-to-Fix and Time-to-Stain on FCM PMC measurements was investigated in five healthy volunteers. Time-to-Fix (i.e., interval between phlebotomy and sample fixation) was performed at 3, 30, and 60 min. Time-to-Stain (i.e., time of fixed sample storage to staining) was performed at 1, 24, and 48 h. Increasing Time-to-Stain from 1 to 24 or 48 h resulted in lower PMC measures (p < 0.0001). A statistically significant difference in PMC measurement with increasing Time-to-Fix was not observed (p < 0.41). Postponement of sample staining has deleterious effects on the measurement of PMC via FCM. Delays in immunolabeling of fixed samples compromised measurement of PMC by 30% over the first 24 h. Staining/FCM should be completed within an hour of collection.