Journal of the American College of Cardiology
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jul 2004
B-type natriuretic peptide at presentation and prognosis in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: an ENTIRE-TIMI-23 substudy.
We sought to evaluate B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), alone and in comparison to cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), for risk assessment at initial presentation with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). ⋯ Increased concentrations of BNP at initial presentation of patients with STEMI are associated with impaired reperfusion after fibrinolysis and higher short-term risk of mortality. These data support the value of combining markers of hemodynamic stress with traditional approaches to risk assessment in acute myocardial infarction.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jul 2004
Comparative StudyCardiac events in patients with negative maximal versus negative submaximal dobutamine echocardiograms undergoing noncardiac surgery: importance of resting wall motion abnormalities.
This study sought to evaluate the negative predictive value (NPV) of preoperative dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) in patients who fail to achieve target heart rate (HR) and assess the influence of resting wall motion abnormalities (WMAs) without demonstrable ischemia on perioperative events. ⋯ In patients undergoing preoperative DSE, failure to achieve target HR is not uncommon despite an aggressive DSE regimen. A negative DSE without resting WMAs has excellent NPV regardless of the HR achieved. Patients with resting WMAs appear to be at increased risk for perioperative events even without provokable ischemia.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jul 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical TrialSafety and efficacy of intravenously administered tedisamil for rapid conversion of recent-onset atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter.
The goal of the present study was to assess the efficacy and safety of intravenous tedisamil, a new antiarrhythmic compound, for conversion of recent-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter (AFL) to normal sinus rhythm (NSR). ⋯ Tedisamil at dosages of 0.4 and 0.6 mg/kg was superior to placebo in converting AF or AFL. Tedisamil has a rapid onset of action leading to conversion within 30 to 40 min in the majority of responders.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jul 2004
Comparative StudyCardiac resynchronization therapy improves central sleep apnea and Cheyne-Stokes respiration in patients with chronic heart failure.
We studied the effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) on heart failure (HF) patients with central sleep apnea (CSA). ⋯ Cardiac resynchronization therapy leads to a reduction of CSA and to increased sleep quality in patients with HF and sleep-related breathing disorders. This may have prognostic implications in patients receiving CRT.