The American journal of cardiology
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A low response to clopidogrel has been associated with an increased risk of stent thrombosis. However, the definition of a nonresponse to clopidogrel remains controversial, and different tests have been used to assess the clopidogrel response. The present study was designed to assess the predictive value of adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation (ADP-Ag) and the Platelet Reactivity Index of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein for the occurrence of stent thrombosis in patients admitted for non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. ⋯ The construction of receiver operating characteristic curves to examine the most predictive value of ADP-Ag for stent thrombosis gave a threshold of ADP-Ag of >67% to identify low responders. These patients were at a greater risk of stent thrombosis than the clopidogrel responders (4.3% vs 0.8%, odds ratio 5.8, 95% confidence interval 1.9 to 24.6, p = 0.003). In conclusion, in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, ADP-Ag is a good parameter to identify clopidogrel nonresponders who are at increased risk of stent thrombosis, with a cutoff value of ADP-Ag of >67%.
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Cardiac patients with systemic light-chain amyloidosis have a high incidence of arrhythmias and arrhythmia-related death. We aimed to describe the arrhythmias, determine patient characteristics associated with the development of ventricular arrhythmias, and the utility of telemetric monitoring in patients with cardiac involvement due to AL amyloidosis undergoing stem cell transplantation (SCT). Arrhythmia events of 24 consecutive cardiac patients with AL who underwent SCT with continuous telemetric monitoring were retrospectively reviewed. ⋯ There was also a relation between VT/VF and brain natriuretic peptide before SCT (r = 0.47, p = 0.019) and average brain natriuretic peptide levels during admission for SCT (r = 0.62, p = 0.0012), troponin I levels at diagnosis (r = 0.47, p = 0.022), and serum creatinine levels before SCT (r = 0.62, p = 0.001). In conclusion, patients with cardiac amyloidosis undergoing SCT have a high incidence of ventricular and atrial arrhythmias; decreased cardiac output was strongly associated with significant ventricular arrhythmias. Continuous telemetric monitoring contributed to patient safety during SCT.
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Comparative Study
Impact of systemic hypertension on the diagnostic performance of B-type natriuretic peptide in patients with acute dyspnea.
Hypertension may affect the diagnostic performance of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP). The objective of the present study was to assess the impact of a history of hypertension or blood pressure elevation on admission on the diagnostic performance of BNP in the diagnosis of heart failure (HF) in patients with acute dyspnea. BNP levels were measured using a rapid point-of-care device in 1,586 patients with acute dyspnea. ⋯ Blood pressure elevation on admission did not affect the diagnostic accuracy of BNP (areas under the curve 0.90 in the 2 groups). In conclusion, although a history of hypertension is associated with higher BNP levels in patients with acute dyspnea without HF, the impact on the overall diagnostic performance of BNP is modest. Accordingly, BNP performs well as an indicator of HF in patients presenting in emergency departments regardless of a history of hypertension or elevated blood pressure on admission.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Efficacy of single-bolus administration of sodium bicarbonate to prevent contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with mild renal insufficiency undergoing an elective coronary procedure.
We sought to clarify whether a single-bolus intravenous administration of sodium bicarbonate in addition to hydration with sodium chloride prevents contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). One hundred forty-four patients with mild renal insufficiency (serum creatinine >1.1 to <2.0 mg/dl) undergoing an elective coronary procedure were randomly assigned to the following 2 groups: standard hydration with sodium chloride plus single-bolus intravenous administration of sodium bicarbonate (20 mEq) immediately before contrast exposure (group A, n = 72) and standard hydration alone (group B, n = 72). ⋯ Incidence of adverse clinical events (acute pulmonary edema, acute renal failure requiring dialysis, and death within 7 days of procedure) did not differ between the 2 groups (0% vs 1.4%). In conclusion, single-bolus intravenous administration of sodium bicarbonate in addition to standard hydration can more effectively prevent CIN than standard hydration alone in patients with mild renal insufficiency undergoing an elective coronary procedure.