TCTMD’s Top 10 Most Popular Stories for September 2018

The biggest stories this month hailed from TCT, but some ESC leftovers—MITRA-FR, SCOTHEART, ASCEND, and GLOBAL LEADERS—also made the cut.

TCTMD’s Top 10 Most Popular Stories for September 2018

Two trials testing percutaneous leaflet coaptation in patients with mitral regurgitation secondary to severe heart failure—yielding different results—topped our most popular stories this month. Four different stent trials also made the list, along with a news coverage of trials testing CT angiography for chest pain work-up, aspirin for CV prevention in diabetes, and ticagrelor monotherapy following PCI. An analysis of debris captured in embolic protection devices during TAVR according to valve type rounded out the top 10 for September 2018.

1. COAPT: MitraClip Reduces Repeat Hospitalizations, Mortality in Functional MR Patients With Severe HF

Physicians responded with shock and excitement to findings but struggled to reconcile the results with the MITRA-FR trial.

2. MITRA-FR: No Benefit of MitraClip in Functional MR

Presenting the results, Jean-François Obadia expressed hope that other trials will help identify patients who might benefit from the device.

3. TALENT: Indian-Made Supraflex DES Stands Up Well Against Xience in All-Comers

The positive results for the less-expensive stent could have cost implications for all DES in India and beyond.

4. SCOT-HEART: A Win for CT Angiography in Chest Pain Workup Prompts Cacophony of Reactions

In the week after the randomized trial results were aired, experts reacted with both jubilation and incredulity at the reduction in hard events seen with CTA.

5. IMPERIAL: Eluvia Tops Zilver PTX in Battle of DES in Femoropopliteal Disease

Assuming FDA approval, one commentator predicted that Eluvia would displace Zilver PTX, but another expert advised caution.

6. Resolute Onyx Fares Well Against Thin-Strut Orsiro Stent in BIONYX All-Comers Study

The low rate of stent thrombosis with Resolute Onyx—just one case in more than 1,200 patients—exceeds expectations and warrants further study, say researchers.

7. ASCEND: Aspirin Doesn’t Look Good for Primary CV Prevention in Diabetic Patients

Given the bleeding seen in the study, US guidelines that have been open to using aspirin in this setting need to be revisited, one expert says.

8. GLOBAL LEADERS: Ticagrelor Monotherapy Fails to Beat Conventional DAPT After PCI

Although explanations abound as to why the study failed to show a benefit, the consensus at ESC was that conventional use of DAPT should not change.

9. TAVR Debris Captured by Sentinel Embolic Protection Differs by Valve Type

The main message is that filters captured debris in nearly all patients, one expert says, though it’s not yet clear who needs protection the most.

10. The End of BMS? LEADERS FREE II Shows Superiority of Polymer-Free, Drug-Coated Stent

For patients at high bleeding risk, the BioFreedom device looks like a better option than BMS, according to several experts.

Shelley Wood is Managing Editor of TCTMD and the Editorial Director at CRF. She did her undergraduate degree at McGill…

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