Ten-Year Experience in the Treatment of Coarctation of the Aorta through Endovascular Stenting in Patients of Different Age Groups

The aim. To analyze the 10-year experience in aortic coarctation endovascular stenting in patients of different age groups. Materials and methods. Examination and endovascular treatment of 194 patients aged 3 days to 60 years with coarctation of the aorta (CoA) with different anatomical and morphological variants was performed. According to the age criterion, the examined patients were divided into 4 study groups. The first group consisted of 84 patients (43.3%) over 25 years of age, group 2 included 33 patients (17.0%) aged 19 to 25 years, group 3 included 71 patients (36.6%) aged 5 to 18 years, and group 4 included 6 patients (3.1%) under 1 year of age. Results and discussion. We presented the clinical features of different anatomical and morphological variants of CoA. Endovascular treatment of CoA with stenting is considered the best method for adolescents and adults, due to the lower risk of aneurysm formation compared to balloon angioplasty. We were able to successfully reduce the invasive pressure gradient in patients of different ages and to establish the dependence of complication rate on the stent type used. The most common complications were aneurysm formation (2.1%) and stent migration (2.1%). Complications occurred more often in cases of uncovered stents compared to stent grafts (5.3% and 2.1%, respectively, p <0.05). No cases of hospital mortality were recorded in patients older than 5 years. Seven endovascular procedures were performed in 5 patients aged 3 days to 11 months (mean age 3.5 ± 1.6 months) with combined heart defects. Complications were documented in 1 child (20.0%). Endovascular intervention in pregnant women is indicated in refractory hypertension. We performed endovascular CoA stenting in 4 pregnant women at 15–23 weeks of gestation (average, 19.8 ± 3.1 weeks), and in 6 women with well-controlled hypertension stenting was performed within 48 hours to 5 years after delivery. In all the presented cases, successful revascularization was achieved. During follow-up (from 2 months to 10 years), all 10 women are alive, did not develop recoarctation or complications. Conclusions. The results of the analysis of CoA endovascular treatment showed that the chosen method and technique of intervention is appropriate and safe for patients of all ages, including pregnant women. Based on the results obtained, we have developed an algorithm for the management of patients who, according to clinical examination and echocardiography, were diagnosed with CoA during pregnancy.

232 A multidisciplinary case of multiple myeloma with cardiac and renal involvement: a look beyond amyloidosis

Aims Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant neoplasm with a frequent cardiac involvement characterized by restrictive cardiomyopathy. Kidney and thromboembolic complications are also described. Methods and results A 52-year-old woman with a history of kidney disease was admitted to nephrology department due to worsening of renal function and refractory hypertension. A bone marrow biopsy revealed the diagnosis of MM. A renal and fat pad biopsy with Congo red staining was performed but amyloid deposition was not observed. Increased cardiac enzymes suggested a cardiac involvement. Indeed, two intracardiac right-sided masses and massive pulmonary embolism were detected. Surgical cardiac intervention was promptly performed and a chemotherapy regimen was started. Meantime, a kidney biopsy revealed a light-chain deposition disease. Conclusions This case highlights that multiple organ involvement in patients with MM may result from a combination of paraprotein-dependent and -independent factors. Moreover, in patients with not acute massive pulmonary embolism and intracardiac right masses, surgical pulmonary embolectomy should be promptly performed to preserve RV function and to avoid prevent pulmonary hypertension development.

Refractory hypertension secondary to renal artery stenosis with a honeycomb-like structure

Background A honeycomb-like structure (HLS) is a rare abnormality characterized by a braid-like appearance. Angiograph and intravascular examination, including coherence tomography and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), can further confirm the multiple intraluminal channels or honeycomb structure, which can also be described as looking like ‘swiss cheese’, a ‘spider web’ or a ‘lotus root’. Previous studies have mostly reported this abnormality in coronary arteries, with a few cases in renal arteries. More information about the characteristics and development of HLS is needed. Case presentation A 69-year-old Han man with resistant hypertension received abdominal enhanced computerised tomography and was revealed to have left renal artery stenosis with the possibility of left renal infarction. Renal artery angiography confirmed a 95% stenosis located in the proximal segment of the left renal artery, and the middle segment was blurred with multi-channel-like blood flow. Further IVUS was performed and identified multiple channels surrounded by fibrous tissue. It was a rare case of HLS in the renal artery secondary to the thrombus, with organisation and recanalisation. Balloon dilatation and stent implantation at the proximal segment of the left renal artery were performed successfully. Blood pressure was well controlled after the procedure. Conclusions The IVUS findings are helpful for forming interventional therapeutic strategies for HLS lesions in the renal artery.

Clinical features and course of arterial hypertension in patients with its various forms

Aim. To study the main risk factors, clinical, laboratory and instrumental data, concomitant cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and associated clinical conditions in patients with controlled and uncontrolled hypertension, controlled resistant and uncontrolled resistant hypertension, refractory hypertension, and probably resistant and probably refractory hypertension based on retrospective analysis. Materials and methods. The study included 455 patients with hypertension. All patients were divided into 7 groups. The group of controlled hypertension included 240 patients (52.75%), controlled resistant hypertension 61 (13.4%), uncontrolled hypertension 10 (2.2%), uncontrolled resistant hypertension 53 (11.65%), refractory hypertension 63 (13.8%), probably resistant hypertension 15 (3.3%), probably refractory hypertension 13 (2.9%). Anamnesis (assessment of the duration and age of the onset of arterial hypertension, assessment of the presence of CVD), risk factors for the development of hypertension (obesity, dyslipidemia, impaired glucose tolerance and fasting glycemia, hyperuricemia, family history of CVD, early menopause in women; heart rate 80 beats/min, smoking), laboratory parameters (creatinine, glucose, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid) and instrumental methods of examination (ECG, echocardiography, clinic mean 24h BP, Holter monitoring, duplex BCA scanning) were assessed in all groups of patients based on the analysis of the medical history. Results. In this article we presented the results of a comparative analysis of patients with controlled hypertension, uncontrolled resistant hypertension, refractory and probably refractory hypertension. Patients with refractory hypertension were significantly more young, non-smokers and females compared with patients with uncontrolled resistant hypertension and controlled hypertension. Patients with refractory hypertension had greater prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy according to ECG and echocardiography (p0.05). Fundus lesions were found exclusively in patients with uncontrolled hypertension, 55% of cases were found in the group of refractory hypertension (p0.05). There were no significant differences in the presence of BCA atherosclerosis between the groups. Patients with refractory hypertension were significantly more likely to have heart failure, a history of stroke and transient ischemic attack compared with patients from the group of controlled hypertension (p0.05). There was no significant difference in the presence of chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, atrial fibrillation between the groups. Conclusion. Patients with refractory hypertension are significantly more likely to have target organ damage and concomitant cardiovascular, cerebrovascular diseases than patients with controlled hypertension.

Efficacy of angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor in Asian patients with refractory hypertension

Background Angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor, concomitantly inhibits neprilysin and angiotensin type 1 receptor shown an effect of reducing blood pressure. We aimed to study whether it can be used as an antihypertensive agent in patients with resistant hypertension who has already been treated. Methods This is a multiple center prospective study. Thirty-five Chinese patients with refractory hypertension were enrolled. Resistant hypertension was defined as on the basis of improved lifestyle when the application of the three reasonable and tolerable dose of antihypertensive drugs including thiazide diuretics at least four weeks after treatment, the inadequate control of BP is confirmed by ambulatory BP monitoring, or at least four drugs are needed to achieve the BP standard. Refractory hypertensive patient received sacubitil/valsartan 200 mg instead of their angiotensin type 1 receptor blocker while other agents were continued. If blood pressure was uncontrolled, the sacubitil/valsartan dose was increased to 400 mg after 4 weeks. ABPM were evaluated at 8 weeks follow up. Results Reductions in office SBP/DBP at week 8 were 37/17 mmHg. the average baseline ABPM were 154/90 mmHg of 24-h, and daytime BP and nighttime BP were 157/92 mmHg and 145/83 mmHg respectively. he average endpoint ABPM were 134/80 mmHg of 24-h, and daytime BP and nighttime BP were 136/82 mmHg and 125/73 mmHg respectively. Reductions in 24-h ABPM at week 8 were 20/9 mmHg while 20/10 mmHg in daytime and 20/9 mmHg in nighttime. Conclusion The sacubitil/valsartan provided a strategy therapy for refractory hypertension in Chinese patients in reducing SBP and DBP. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

The clinical case of successful combined treatment of refractory arterial hypertension. Case report

In recent years, there has been an increase of patients with arterial hypertension, one of the variants of which is refractory arterial hypertension. This unfavorable clinical variant of the course of hypertension worries clinicians, due to the higher risk of developing cardiovascular complications, realizing the need for a better control of blood pressure. The presented clinical case demonstrates the successful combined treatment of refractory hypertension using antihypertensive therapy and renal denervation.

Abstract P257: Refractory Hypertension Partially Improved With Anxiolytics

Background: Resistant hypertension is a BP that is not controlled by three or more anti-hypertensive medications of different classes, including diuretics. Refractory hypertension is an evolving term reflecting a BP that is not controlled with five agents or more of different anti-hypertensive classes, including diuretics. Patient with refractory HTn has to have secondary hypertension workup. Case: A 45-year-old lady with a known past medical history of obesity, HTN, and DM-II. She was admitted as she had generalized fatiguability and vague chest pain. The ECG, and the TTE showed hypertensive heart disease. She had normal cardiac enzymes. Initial BP was recorded to be 185/127 mmHg. Consequently, she was commenced on anti-HTN medications. Her BP was difficult to control with the maximum doses of six anti-HTH medications (amlodipine, valsartan, hydralazine, indapamide, labetalol, spironolactone)(Fig 1). Decision-making: All the secondary causes of HTN were excluded; normal renin-aldosterone ratio, normal US doppler for the renal arteries, normal sleep study, normal CT chest and abdomen looking for masses, normal dotatate scan, and negative pheochromocytoma work-up. Because she had social stress, she was commenced on anxiolytics (alprazolam). Subsequently, the BP reading improved by around 10-20 SBP; however, her average reading continued to be around 160/90 mmHg. Conclusion: Refractory hypertension is a management dilemma, especially when the causes of secondary hypertension are excluded. Benzodiazepines can be a reasonable option in certain situations where the refractory hypertension is believed to be stress-induced.