Fotini Iatridi, Eleni Karkamani, Marieta P Theodorakopoulou, Pantelis Sarafidis
{"title":"Understanding endothelial dysfunction in kidney transplantation: assessment techniques, existing evidence, and research needs.","authors":"Fotini Iatridi, Eleni Karkamani, Marieta P Theodorakopoulou, Pantelis Sarafidis","doi":"10.1080/14779072.2025.2520832","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14779072.2025.2520832","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) have substantially lower risk for cardiovascular events compared to dialysis, but it remains significantly higher than in the general population due to the synergistic action of traditional and nontraditional factors. Among them, endothelial dysfunction is suggested to be involved pathogenetically in cardiovascular and renal disease progression, with its improvement being another potential benefit of transplantation.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>VOP was the first technique to be used, followed by several functional methods, most commonly FMD. Over the years, several biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction have been used to assess microvascular function. The totality of evidence in KTRs suggests the improvement of endothelial dysfunction after transplantation, but with several gaps in knowledge, including rarity of studies using novel, more accurate techniques. This review presents the current functional methods and biomarkers used to evaluate microvascular and endothelial function in KTRs, discussing the existing evidence on their changes after transplantation and their associations with comorbidities and outcomes in this population. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed and Scopus for articles published until December 2024.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Novel methods assessing endothelial function offer a comprehensive, real-time evaluation of microvascular function and should be more widely used to enhance our understanding in this area.</p>","PeriodicalId":12098,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"225-242"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144293595","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Pre-hospital delay and mortality in different age groups with acute coronary syndrome: do we have enough evidence?","authors":"Dávid Bauer, Viktor Kočka","doi":"10.1080/14779072.2025.2505434","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14779072.2025.2505434","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Pre-hospital delay (p-HD) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) influences the ability to perform percutaneous coronary intervention in a timely manner. Many factors, including age, have been identified to affect p-HD. An association between different age groups and p-HD in various ACS types is unclear. Moreover, data regarding the relationship between p-HD, age, and mortality are inconsistent.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>In this review, we present current evidence of how p-HD influences mortality in various age groups and subtypes of ACS. Specific subgroups with knowledge gaps and future perspectives are identified.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>We identify specific subgroups of ACS where p-HD affects mortality in different age groups. First, p-HD may significantly affect the long-term prognosis of younger STEMI patients. Second, NSTEMI with known or presumed complex coronary lesions, often related to older age groups, might significantly benefit from p-HD reduction. Third, NSTEMI with ongoing myocardial infarction suffer from considerable p-HD, irrespective of age. These patients might benefit from reduced p-HD by improved education, public awareness, and increased medical service vigilance. Finally, incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) in pre-hospital care may provide further p-HD reduction.</p>","PeriodicalId":12098,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"179-185"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143988200","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Balaj Rai, Mehmet Yildiz, Jarrod Frizzell, Odayme Quesada, Timothy D Henry
{"title":"Patient-centric no-option refractory angina management: establishing comprehensive angina relief (CARE) clinics.","authors":"Balaj Rai, Mehmet Yildiz, Jarrod Frizzell, Odayme Quesada, Timothy D Henry","doi":"10.1080/14779072.2025.2488859","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14779072.2025.2488859","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Refractory angina (RA) is a debilitating condition characterized by persistent angina despite optimized medical therapy and limited options for further revascularization, leading to diminished quality of life and increased healthcare utilization. The RA patient population is rapidly expanding with significant unmet needs. Specialty clinics should be developed to focus on the long-term efficacy and safety of clinically available and novel treatment strategies, emphasizing quality of life.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>Patient-focused Comprehensive Angina Relief (CARE) clinics can enhance care and outcomes by providing individualized management for complex RA. This review summarizes peer-reviewed articles from PubMed and trial data from ClinicalTrials.gov. We discuss the epidemiology and pathophysiology of RA, introduce standardized tools for evaluating angina and psychosocial factors, and address symptom management. We also review treatment options such as risk factor modification, medication, and complex revascularization. Additionally, we explore emerging therapies, including coronary sinus occlusion, regenerative therapy, and neuromodulation for 'no-option' RA.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>In the next five years, patients with refractory chest pain with or without coronary artery disease will increasingly be referred to specialty clinics for follow-up. Conducting more randomized control clinical trials with larger population subsets will bring novel therapies to the forefront.</p>","PeriodicalId":12098,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"113-129"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143802862","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Coronary atherosclerotic plaque modification: the present and the future.","authors":"Panagiotis Theofilis, Aggelos Papanikolaou, Paschalis Karakasis, Kyriakos Dimitriadis, Panayotis K Vlachakis, Evangelos Oikonomou, Konstantinos Tsioufis, Dimitris Tousoulis","doi":"10.1080/14779072.2025.2476132","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14779072.2025.2476132","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Coronary atherosclerosis, marked by lipid deposition and inflammation, drives cardiovascular morbidity. Traditional treatments focus on lipid reduction, yet newer therapies target plaque composition, aiming to enhance stability and prevent coronary events.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, and Scopus till January 2025 to identify studies on coronary plaque modification. This review highlights current and emerging therapies for coronary plaque modification. Key pharmacologic agents include Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors for lipid management, colchicine for inflammation control, and Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, and Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors for metabolic benefits. Clinical trials indicate these agents' roles in reducing plaque volume and vulnerability. Advances in imaging and biomarkers, such as lipoprotein(a) and inflammatory markers, enable refined monitoring of plaque changes over time.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Future management of atherosclerosis may involve personalized strategies, integrating AI-driven predictive tools and biomarkers to assess individual plaque characteristics and optimize therapy. Continued exploration of targeted anti-inflammatory therapies and novel biomarkers like Lp(a) could enhance outcomes, offering a more precise approach to reducing cardiovascular risk and stabilizing high-risk plaques.</p>","PeriodicalId":12098,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"65-71"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143556396","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impella effects on reverse myocardial remodeling in anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction: insights from a comprehensive analysis of acute and chronic MRI findings.","authors":"Daisuke Fukamachi, Akimasa Yamada, Kurara Takahashi, Ran Sumida, Yudai Tanaka, Shohei Migita, Saki Mizobuchi, Masatsugu Miyagawa, Hidesato Fujito, Yutaka Koyama, Akihito Oogaku, Katsunori Fukumoto, Riku Arai, Yasunari Ebuchi, Masaki Monden, Tomoyuki Morikawa, Takashi Mineki, Keisuke Kojima, Nobuhiro Murata, Mitsumasa Sudo, Daisuke Kitano, Naoya Matsumoto, Yasuo Okumura","doi":"10.1080/14779072.2025.2476129","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14779072.2025.2476129","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Late adverse myocardial remodeling after ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is strongly associated with cardiac death. Global Longitudinal strain (GLS) and circumferential diastolic strain rate (CDSR) derived cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) is a powerful predictor of late myocardial remodeling. However, the Impella's effects on CMRI after STEMI are not fully understood.</p><p><strong>Research design and methods: </strong>We retrospectively compared the CMRI in the acute (18 [14-22] vs. 14 [6-22] days, <i>p</i> = 0.43) and chronic phases (118 [102-242] vs. 117 [101-202] days, <i>p</i> = 1.0) after anterior STEMI.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Five patients received Impella before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and seven underwent intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP). There were no significant differences in the peak creatine kinase levels (2595 [2069 -12,932] vs. 4372 [2941-5601] IU/L, <i>p</i> = 0.76) and LVEF upon admission (51 ± 11 vs. 50 ± 9%, <i>p</i> = 1.0). The Impella group had significantly better acute CMRI-derived LVEF (49 ± 10 vs. 35 ± 7%, <i>p</i> = 0.02) and CDSR (0.9 ± 0.2 vs. 0.5 ± 0.3 s<sup>- 1</sup>, <i>p</i> = 0.018). In the chronic phase, the CMRI-derived LVEF and GLS were significantly higher in the Impella group (54 ± 9 vs. 39 ± 5%, <i>p</i> = 0.01; -9.9 ± 1.3 vs. -6.5 ± 2.2%, <i>p</i> = 0.01).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The Impella implantation led to better LVEF and CDSR in the acute phase than IABP and better maintenance of both the LVEF and GLS through the chronic phase.</p>","PeriodicalId":12098,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"97-105"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143585274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Manuel Anguita, Francisco Marín, Javier Soto, Susana Fernández de Cabo, Darío Rubio-Rodríguez, Carlos Rubio-Terrés
{"title":"Cost-effectiveness of apixaban in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) based on effectiveness data from a Spanish study in clinical practice (real-world evidence).","authors":"Manuel Anguita, Francisco Marín, Javier Soto, Susana Fernández de Cabo, Darío Rubio-Rodríguez, Carlos Rubio-Terrés","doi":"10.1080/14779072.2025.2464180","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14779072.2025.2464180","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To analyze the cost-effectiveness of apixaban in the prevention of stroke in adult patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), compared to other direct-acting oral anticoagulants (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, edoxaban) and the vitamin K antagonist acenocoumarol, based on data on effectiveness in clinical practice in Spain obtained in the FANTASIIA study.</p><p><strong>Research design and methods: </strong>A probabilistic Markov economic model (second-order Monte Carlo simulation) was performed to analyze the costs and utilities (quality-adjusted life years, QALYs) associated with the compared treatments, according to the different probabilities of stroke, major bleeding and death observed in FANTASIIA.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The cost per QALY gained in the patient treated with apixaban versus comparators ranged from €2,919 to €7,462. The probability of apixaban being cost-effective ranges from 91.1% (vs dabigatran 150 mg), 97.8% (vs dabigatran 110 mg), and 100% (vs. rivaroxaban, edoxaban, and acenocoumarol).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Based on the results of the FANTASIIA study, apixaban is a cost-effective treatment (below a willingness to pay of €25,000 per QALY gained) compared to dabigatran, rivaroxaban, edoxaban, and acenocoumarol in treating patients with NVAF.</p>","PeriodicalId":12098,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"45-51"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143364139","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"What role could clinical staging standardization play in Fabry disease?","authors":"Elisabete Martins, Janete Santos, Inês Fortuna","doi":"10.1080/14779072.2025.2476128","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14779072.2025.2476128","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12098,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"53-55"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143540652","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The fitter the better? The relationship between high cardiorespiratory fitness and the risk of atrial fibrillation and stroke.","authors":"Marius Myrstad, Adrian Elliott","doi":"10.1080/14779072.2025.2476123","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14779072.2025.2476123","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12098,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"57-60"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143556397","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Risk scoring systems for early prediction of short-term mortality in resuscitated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients.","authors":"Tharusan Thevathasan, Ulf Landmesser, Anne Freund, Janine Pöss, Carsten Skurk, Holger Thiele, Steffen Desch","doi":"10.1080/14779072.2025.2449899","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14779072.2025.2449899","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a critical condition associated with high mortality rates and neurological impairment among survivors. In comatose OHCA patients who achieve return of spontaneous circulation, early risk stratification is important to inform treatment pathways and potentially improve outcomes. A range of prognostic tools have been developed to predict survival and neurological recovery. Each tool incorporates a unique combination of clinical, biochemical and physiological markers.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>This review article evaluates the required clinical data, predictive performances and practical applicability of major risk scores. A literature review was conducted in PubMed and Embase for studies published between January 2000 and October 2024. The review emphasizes the variability in discriminative power among the selected scores, with some models offering high sensitivity and specificity in outcome prediction, while others prioritize simplicity and accessibility.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Despite the advancements of these tools, limitations persist in data dependency and the clinical adaptability, highlighting areas for future improvement. Integrating artificial intelligence and real-time analytics could enhance predictive accuracy, offering dynamic prognostic capabilities that adapt to individual patient trajectories. This evolution must be grounded in ethical considerations to ensure predictive technologies complement rather than replace clinical judgment, balancing technology's potential with the complexities of individualized patient care.</p>","PeriodicalId":12098,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"5-13"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142921120","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anouk Achten, Steven A Muller, Peter-Paul Zwetsloot, Michelle Michels, Peter van der Meer, Hans L A Nienhuis, Manon G van der Meer, Vanessa P M van Empel, Marish I F J Oerlemans, Christian Knackstedt
{"title":"Is transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy heading towards losing its rare disease classification?","authors":"Anouk Achten, Steven A Muller, Peter-Paul Zwetsloot, Michelle Michels, Peter van der Meer, Hans L A Nienhuis, Manon G van der Meer, Vanessa P M van Empel, Marish I F J Oerlemans, Christian Knackstedt","doi":"10.1080/14779072.2025.2463333","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14779072.2025.2463333","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12098,"journal":{"name":"Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy","volume":" ","pages":"1-4"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143381871","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}