Journal of the American College of Cardiology
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Sep 2004
Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical TrialPrimary results of the Rapid Emergency Department Heart Failure Outpatient Trial (REDHOT). A multicenter study of B-type natriuretic peptide levels, emergency department decision making, and outcomes in patients presenting with shortness of breath.
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels within the diagnostic range, perceived congestive heart failure (CHF) severity, clinical decision making, and outcomes of the CHF patients presenting to emergency department (ED). ⋯ In patients presenting to the ED with heart failure, there is a disconnect between the perceived severity of CHF by ED physicians and severity as determined by BNP levels. The BNP levels can predict future outcomes and thus may aid physicians in making triage decisions about whether to admit or discharge patients. Emerging clinical data will help further refine biomarker-guided outpatient therapeutic and monitoring strategies involving BNP.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Sep 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialLack of clopidogrel pretreatment effect on the relative efficacy of bivalirudin with provisional glycoprotein IIb/IIIa blockade compared to heparin with routine glycoprotein IIb/IIIa blockade: a REPLACE-2 substudy.
The purpose of this study was to assess if clopidogrel pretreatment affects the relative efficacy of bivalirudin versus heparin with glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa blockade for percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). ⋯ Clopidogrel pretreatment at the doses and time administered in this trial did not influence the relative efficacy of bivalirudin versus heparin plus GP IIb/IIIa blockade for PCI. However, pretreatment was associated with a trend towards lower clinical events after PCI.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Sep 2004
Comparative StudyClinical prediction rule for atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting.
This study was designed to devise and validate a practical prediction rule for atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter (AF) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using easily available clinical and standard electrocardiographic (ECG) criteria. ⋯ These data show that post-CABG AF can be predicted with moderate accuracy using easily available patient characteristics and may prove useful in prognostic and risk stratification of patients after CABG. The presence of intraatrial conduction delay on ECG contributed least to the prediction model.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Sep 2004
Atherosclerosis of the aorta: risk factor, risk marker, or innocent bystander? A prospective population-based transesophageal echocardiography study.
The goal of this study was to investigate whether complex aortic atherosclerosis is associated with increased risk of vascular events in a non-selected population. ⋯ Aortic atherosclerotic plaques are not associated with future cardiac or cerebrovascular events. Aortic atherosclerosis may not be an independent risk factor for vascular events in the general population.