The American journal of cardiology
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Protocols to minimize the time between 2 measurements of troponin or a combination with copeptin have been developed to rapidly rule-in or rule-out myocardial injury (MI) in patients with chest pain. These fast track protocols to rule-in and rule-out MI are not sufficiently validated for early chest pain presenters. The "early presenter" model was tested in 107 stable patients after a short period of myocardial ischemia, induced by stenting of a significant coronary artery stenosis. ⋯ For ruling out MI, a combined absence of any troponin more than the ULN and any significant increase in troponin level perform best with a negative predictive value of 75% (55, 89) and 75% (55, 89) for hsTnT and hsTnI, respectively. In conclusion, in early presenters, rapid biomarker protocols underestimate MI. A standard biomarker assessment after 3 hours is required to adequately rule-in or rule-out myonecrosis.
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Comparative Study
Effect of Gender on Patients With ST-Elevation and Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Without Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease.
The aim of this study was to compare the prognoses of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and those with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) without obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) and the risk associated with gender for future cardiovascular events. The study population was selected from 95,849 patients who underwent coronary angiography for myocardial infarction from 2005 to 2010 and registered in the Swedish Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty Registry (SCAAR). Outcome analyses, including all-cause death, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, stroke, and revascularization, were performed in 2,268 patients with STEMI and 10,904 with NSTEMI without obstructive CAD (<50% stenosis). ⋯ In conclusion, nonobstructive CAD was more common in patients with NSTEMI than those with STEMI, as well as in women compared with men. Long-term mortality in patients with nonobstructive CAD was higher after STEMI than NSTEMI. The gender differences in outcomes suggest gender differences in the underlying pathogenesis of myocardial infarction without obstructive CAD.
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Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is a novel form of acute heart failure, characterized by regional left ventricular dysfunction without coronary artery obstruction, and usually triggered by a stressful event. Excessive circulating catecholamines have been implicated in the pathophysiology of this condition. ⋯ Marked elevation of plasma catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine) was present in both subjects and were remarkably similar to those previously reported in female patients with TC triggered by emotional stress. These observations show a common link between TC occurrence and elevated catecholamine levels in both male and female patients and, therefore, support the hypothesis that excessive levels of catecholamines may be involved in the pathophysiology of TC independent of age or gender.
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Review Meta Analysis Comparative Study
Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Comparing Multivessel Versus Culprit-Only Revascularization for Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction and Multivessel Disease Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.
Current guidelines recommend against revascularization of the noninfarct artery during the index percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in hemodynamically stable patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This was based largely on observational studies with few data coming from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Recently, several small-to-moderate sized RCTs have provided data, suggesting that a multivessel revascularization approach may be appropriate. ⋯ During long-term follow-up (range 1 to 2.5 years), combined data indicated a significant reduction in all-cause mortality (relative risk [RR] 0.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.36 to 0.92, p = 0.02) and in cardiac death (RR 0.38, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.73, p = 0.004) with MV PCI. In addition, there was a significantly lower risk of recurrent myocardial infarction (RR 0.41, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.75; p = 0.004) and future revascularization (RR 0.37, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.52; p <0.00001). In conclusion, from the RCT data, MV PCI appears to improve outcomes in patients with STEMI and MVCD.