International journal of cardiology
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Controlled Clinical Trial
Diagnostic performance and cost effectiveness of measurements of plasma N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide in patients presenting with acute dyspnea or peripheral edema.
The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic power of a newly available assay for amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) to identify patients with acute heart failure. In addition, the influence of initial NT-proBNP measurements on economic consequences, diagnostic procedures and staff involvement was evaluated. ⋯ Measurement of NT-proBNP leads to multiple saving amounts and optimizes diagnostic pathways and resource allocation.
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Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) can itself contribute to increased rates of cardiovascular events. We sought to determine the impact of LVH on in-hospital and long-term mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). ⋯ Patients with LVH showed similar in-hospital mortality when compared with patients without LVH. However, LVH was a detrimental risk factor for late mortality, especially after the third postoperative year. These data suggest the need for a more frequent long-term follow-up among patients with LVH undergoing CABG.
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Multicenter Study
The association between pre-infarction angina and care-seeking behaviors and its effects on early reperfusion rates for acute myocardial infarction.
To examine the association between pre-infarction angina (PA) and care-seeking behaviors and its effects on early reperfusion rates for patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). ⋯ Presence of PA was associated with longer pre-hospital delay, significantly decreased use of ambulance, and lower early reperfusion rates among patients with STEMI.
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Letter Case Reports
Transient mid-ventricular ballooning syndrome complicated by syncope: a variant of tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy.
Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy, also called transient left ventricular apical ballooning, is a clinical entity first described in Japan. This syndrome is triggered by emotional or physical stress and mimics an acute coronary syndrome, although the coronary arteries are essentially normal. ⋯ We describe a case herein of an 87-year-old woman who presented a variant form of tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy complicated by syncope. Our findings may contribute to an elucidation of the mechanism underlying tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy.
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Letter Case Reports
Paroxysmal Mobitz type-I atrioventricular block Luciani-Wenckebach conduction, acute myocardial infarction and severe three vessels coronary artery disease.
Paroxysmal atrioventricular block has been reported in patients without acute coronary syndrome and without significant coronary artery stenosis, in patients with acute coronary syndrome and without significant coronary artery stenosis, in patients without acute coronary syndrome and with significant coronary artery stenosis and in patients with acute coronary syndrome and significant coronary artery stenosis. Conflicting roles for alternating periods of second degree atrioventricular block (also known as Mobitz I or Luciani-Wenckebach periodicity) have been reported. Both hypotheses have been reported, that paroxysmal Wenckebach periods are compatible with a benign prognosis and that paroxysmal Wenckebach periods are associated with hemodynamic deterioration. We present a case of paroxysmal Mobitz Type-I atrioventricular block Luciani-Wenckebach conduction in a 75-year-old Italian man with acute myocardial infarction and severe three vessels coronary artery disease.