Thapa, Prabin

Abstract Aims Degenerative mitral stenosis (DMS) is due to degenerative mitral annular calcification (MAC) and valvular calcification. However, DMS impacts on the outcome, and therefore, potential treatment needs are poorly known. We aimed at evaluating survival after DMS diagnosis by Doppler echocardiography in routine practice. Methods and results A cohort of 2937 (75 ± 12 years, 67% women) consecutive patients were diagnosed between 2003 and 2014 with DMS (diastolic mean gradient ≥ 5 mmHg), with analysis of short- and long-term survival. All patients had overt mitral annular/valvular degenerative calcification without rheumatic involvement. Mean gradient was 6.5 ± 2.4 mmHg, and DMS was considered mild in 50%, moderate in 44%, and severe in 6%. DMS was associated with left atrial enlargement (52 ± 23 mL/m2) and elevated pulmonary pressure (49 ± 16 mmHg) despite generally normal ejection fraction (61 ± 13%). DMS was associated with frequent comorbid conditions (74% hypertension, 58% coronary disease, and 52% heart failure) and humoural alterations (haemoglobin 11.3 ± 1.8 g/dL and creatinine 1.5 ± 1.4 mg/dL). One-year mortality was 22%, most strongly related to older age, higher comorbidity, and abnormal haemoglobin/creatinine but only weakly to DMS severity (with anaemia 42% irrespective of DMS severity, P = 0.99; without anaemia 18, 23, and 28% with mild, moderate, and severe DMS, respectively, P < 0.0004). Long-term mortality was high (56% at 5 years) also mostly linked to aging and weakly to DMS severity [with anaemia P = 0.90; without anaemia: adjusted-hazard ratio: 1.30 (1.19–1.42), P < 0.0001, for moderate vs. mild DMS and 1.63 (1.34–1.98), P < 0.0001, for severe vs. mild DMS]. Conclusion DMS is a condition of the elderly potentially resulting in severe mitral obstruction and haemodynamic alterations. However, DMS is frequently associated with severe comorbidities imparting considerable mortality following diagnosis, whereas DMS severity is a weak (albeit independent) determinant of mortality. Hence, patients with DMS should be carefully evaluated and interventional/surgical treatment prudently considered in those with limited comorbidity burden, particularly without anaemia. Keywords: Degenerative Mitral Stenosis; Outcome; Natural history; Ecocardiography; Mitral Stenosis.

AbstractBackgroundNeoadjuvant platinum‐based chemotherapy offers a modest survival advantage in muscle‐invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) for patients with pathologic response. B7‐H3 (CD276), an immune checkpoint overexpressed in various cancers, including urothelial‐cell carcinoma (UCC), has been associated with chemoresistance and poor oncologic outcomes. We aimed to explore if B7H3 expression on bladder biopsy samples was a predictive biomarker for pathologic response to neoadjuvant platinum‐based chemotherapy.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study among MIBC patients receiving neoadjuvant platinum‐based chemotherapy followed by radical cystectomy. All patients underwent routine preoperative biopsy of their tumour. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate B7‐H3 expression from pre‐operative specimens. The primary outcome of interest was pathologic complete response (pCR). Statistical analysis included Mann–Whitney U test, Fisher's exact test, Kaplan–Meier method, and Cox regression for survival analysis.ResultsAmong 87 patients analysed, high B7‐H3 expression was found in 44.8% (n = 39) of patients. The median follow‐up periods were similar between the high and low B7‐H3 groups (high expression; 4.29 years [SD 3.04], low expression 3.94 years [SD 3.04], p = 0.60). Only 20.5% of patients with high B7‐H3 expression achieved pCR, compared to 41.7% in the low expression group (p = 0.04). Cox regression showed no significant differences in recurrence‐free or cancer‐specific survival between the high and low B7‐H3 expression groups (p > 0.05).ConclusionHigh B7‐H3 expression is associated with a reduced likelihood of achieving pCR in MIBC patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. This suggests B7‐H3's potential as a predictive biomarker for chemotherapy response. Further research is needed to explore the role of B7‐H3 on platinum‐based chemotherapy response in urothelial cancer.

642 Background: Perioperative blood transfusion has been reported in up to 60% of patients undergoing RC. Unfortunately, perioperative blood transfusion in patient undergoing RC has been associated with poor oncological outcomes. Tranexamic acid (TXA) use has been proposed to decrease the need for perioperative blood transfusion. Here we seek to investigate the impact of intraoperative TXA on survival outcomes in patients undergoing radical cystectomy (RC) for bladder cancer. Methods: We queried the prospectively maintained Mayo Clinic Radical Cystectomy registry and identified all RC performed for bladder cancer between 1990-2021. Primary outcomes were patient’s overall survival and cancer specific survival among patients who received TXA versus patients who did not receive TXA. Results: Among 2929 patients who underwent RC in our institution between 1990-2021, 468 received TXA (IV) intraoperatively (Group A) and were propensity score matched 1:1 for age, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, adjuvant chemotherapy, pT stage, pN stage, and preoperative hemoglobin with a group who did not receive TXA (Group B, n= 468). At 8 years followup, 61% of patients who received TXA were alive versus 46% of patients who did not receive TXA. In univariable and multivariable analyses of factors associated with CSS (Table1), node positive disease, pT2-T4, peri-operative blood transfusion were associated with poor survival outcomes. While use of TXA was associated with improved CSS outcomes. Conclusions: In our study, TXA use in patients undergoing radical cystectomy was associated with decreased risk or peri-operative transfusion, improved patient’s overall survival, and cancer specific survival. We can’t explain the biological rational for improved survival however these findings warrant further prospective investigation. [Table: see text]

641 Background: Perioperative blood transfusion is associated with an increased risk of adverse events and tranexamic acid (TXA) use has been proposed to decrease the need for perioperative blood transfusion. Herein, we seek to investigate the impact of intraoperative TXA on perioperative risk of VTE in a subset of patients who underwent robotic-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) for bladder cancer. Methods: We queried the prospectively maintained Mayo Clinic Radical Cystectomy registry and identified patients who underwent RARC between 2004-2021 and received TXA intraoperatively. In univariable and multivariable analyses, we investigated factors associated with bleeding and VTE within 30 days post-operatively. Results: Of 2862 patients, we identified 94 patients who received TXA (IV) intraoperatively (Group A) and were propensity score matched 1:1 for age, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, pT stage, pN stage, and preoperative hemoglobin with a group who did not receive TXA; 38 patients (Group B). In univariable and multivariable models, use of TXA has no statistically significant impact on patient’s risk of bleeding or VTE. In a univariable model, number of positive lymph nodes and extent of lymph node dissection were associated with increased risk of VTE (Table 1). Conclusions: In our study, use of TXA in patient’s undergoing RARC was safe and was not associated with increased risk of VTE. [Table: see text]

Abstract Background and Aims Severe aortic stenosis (AS) is the guideline-based indication for aortic valve replacement (AVR), which has markedly increased with transcatheter approaches, suggesting possible increasing AS incidence. However, reported secular trends of AS incidence remain contradictory and lack quantitative Doppler echocardiographic ascertainment. Methods All adults residents in Olmsted County (MN, USA) diagnosed over 20 years (1997–2016) with incident severe AS (first diagnosis) based on quantitatively defined measures (aortic valve area ≤ 1 cm2, aortic valve area index ≤ 0.6 cm2/m2, mean gradient ≥ 40 mmHg, peak velocity ≥ 4 m/s, Doppler velocity index ≤ 0.25) were counted to define trends in incidence, presentation, treatment, and outcome. Results Incident severe AS was diagnosed in 1069 community residents. The incidence rate was 52.5 [49.4–55.8] per 100 000 patient-year, slightly higher in males vs. females and was almost unchanged after age and sex adjustment for the US population 53.8 [50.6–57.0] per 100 000 residents/year. Over 20 years, severe AS incidence remained stable (P = .2) but absolute burden of incident cases markedly increased (P = .0004) due to population growth. Incidence trend differed by sex, stable in men (incidence rate ratio 0.99, P = .7) but declining in women (incidence rate ratio 0.93, P = .02). Over the study, AS clinical characteristics remained remarkably stable and AVR performance grew and was more prompt (from 1.3 [0.1–3.3] years in 1997–2000 to 0.5 [0.2–2.1] years in 2013–16, P = .001) but undertreatment remained prominent (>40%). Early AVR was associated with survival benefit (adjusted hazard ratio 0.55 [0.42–0.71], P < .0001). Despite these improvements, overall mortality (3-month 8% and 3-year 36%), was swift, considerable and unabated (all P ≥ .4) throughout the study. Conclusions Over 20 years, the population incidence of severe AS remained stable with increased absolute case burden related to population growth. Despite stable severe AS presentation, AVR performance grew notably, but while declining, undertreatment remained substantial and disease lethality did not yet decline. These population-based findings have important implications for improving AS management pathways.