American heart journal
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American heart journal · Apr 2008
Prognostic importance of creatine kinase and creatine kinase-MB after primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction.
Although the prognostic significance of creatine kinase (CK) and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) after myocardial infarction has been established after thrombolysis or no reperfusion therapy, there is limited evidence of the prognostic importance after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). ⋯ According to this large-scale study, peak CK and peak CK-MB are comparable independent predictors of LV function and 1-year mortality in patients after primary PCI.
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American heart journal · Apr 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialEffects of darbepoetin alpha on right and left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in anemic patients with chronic heart failure secondary to ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.
Anemia is a frequent condition in chronic heart failure (CHF) that affects adversely long-term cardiac outcomes. We sought to investigate the effects of recombinant human erythropoietin analogue darbepoetin alpha on left (LV) and right ventricular (RV) function and neurohormonal activation in patients with CHF and anemia. ⋯ Darbepoetin alpha improves both LV and RV performance and exercise capacity and counteracts neurohormonal activation in CHF patients with anemia. The drug effects on LV diastolic function, RV function, and LV end-systolic wall stress, in particular, are novel findings, with a potential important contribution to patients' symptomatic improvement.
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American heart journal · Apr 2008
Review Meta Analysis Comparative StudyThe effect of drug-eluting stents on intermediate angiographic and clinical outcomes in diabetic patients: insights from randomized clinical trials.
Implantation of drug-eluting stents has emerged as the predominant percutaneous revascularization strategy in diabetic patients, despite limited outcomes data. Accordingly, our aim was to conduct a meta-analysis to assess the benefit and safety profile of drug-eluting stents in diabetic patients. ⋯ In conclusion, diabetic patients who receive drug-eluting stents have a significantly lower incidence of target lesion revascularization, in-segment restenosis and myocardial infarction at 6 to 12 months, compared with bare-metal stents. The rates of mortality and stent thrombosis are similar.
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American heart journal · Apr 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyA randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study to evaluate the cardioprotective effects of MC-1 in patients undergoing high-risk coronary artery bypass graft surgery: MC-1 to Eliminate Necrosis and Damage in Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery Trial (MEND-CABG) II--study design and rationale.
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is effective in relieving angina and improving survival and quality of life in patients with obstructive coronary artery disease; however, recurrent angina, myocardial infarction, neurological injury, and death can occur in the perioperative and postoperative period. MC-1 (pyridoxal 5'-phosphate) is a novel agent that has shown promise in reducing myocardial necrosis by reducing cellular calcium overload after percutaneous coronary intervention and CABG surgery in high-risk patients undergoing these procedures. ⋯ The data from the MEND-CABG II trial will establish whether peri- and postoperative treatment with MC-1 can decrease the short- and intermediate-term morbidity and mortality of high-risk patients undergoing CABG surgery.