American heart journal
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American heart journal · Oct 2009
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyPrevalence and prognostic significance of incidental cardiac troponin T elevation in ambulatory patients with stable coronary artery disease: data from the Heart and Soul study.
The significance of troponin elevation and clinical utility of troponin testing in ambulatory patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) have not been examined. We sought to investigate the prevalence and prognostic value of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) elevation in a population with stable CAD. ⋯ In ambulatory patients with stable CAD, the prevalence of cTnT elevation was 6.2%. Cardiac troponin T elevation detected using the conventional troponin assay was associated with increased risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, but its prognostic value was not incremental over N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and echocardiographic evidence of cardiac abnormalities.
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American heart journal · Oct 2009
Comparative StudyCardiac amyloidosis in African Americans: comparison of clinical and laboratory features of transthyretin V122I amyloidosis and immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis.
Transthyretin (TTR) mutations known to cause cardiac amyloidosis include V122I, found almost exclusively in African Americans at a prevalence of 3-3.9%. This retrospective study describes TTR V122I-associated cardiac amyloid disease (ATTR) in a major amyloid referral clinic population. ⋯ ATTR V122I and AL are equally prevalent as the cause of cardiomyopathy in African Americans referred for a diagnosis of amyloidosis. Available therapy for AL underscores the need for early and accurate determination of amyloid type.
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American heart journal · Oct 2009
Comparative StudyDifferential effects of afterload on left ventricular long- and short-axis function: insights from a clinical model of patients with aortic valve stenosis undergoing aortic valve replacement.
The effects of left ventricular (LV) afterload on longitudinal versus circumferential ventricular mechanics are largely unknown. Our objective was to examine changes in LV deformation before and early after aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis (AS). ⋯ Aortic valve stenosis causes differential changes in longitudinal and circumferential mechanics that partially normalize after AVR. These findings provide new insights into the mechanical adaptation of the LV to chronic afterload elevation and its response to unloading.
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American heart journal · Oct 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudySPIRIT IV trial design: a large-scale randomized comparison of everolimus-eluting stents and paclitaxel-eluting stents in patients with coronary artery disease.
In the 300-patient SPIRIT II and 1002-patient SPIRIT III randomized trials, the everolimus-eluting stent (EES) compared to the paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES) resulted in reduced angiographic late loss (a primary end point in both trials), noninferior rates of 9-month target vessel failure (a primary end point in SPIRIT III), and reduced rates of target lesion revascularization and major adverse cardiac events (secondary end points). However, neither trial was powered for superiority for clinical end points, and the routine performance of angiographic follow-up may have artificially exaggerated the absolute benefits of EES. The relative efficacy of these 2 stents in patients with diabetes mellitus also remains controversial. We therefore designed a large-scale randomized trial without angiographic follow-up to further assess the differences between these 2 stent platforms. ⋯ SPIRIT IV is the largest randomized comparison of 2 DES with completed enrollment. The absence of routine angiographic follow-up will allow an accurate assessment of the absolute differences in the clinical safety and efficacy profile between these devices. The magnitude of the study will also permit significant insights to be gained into the relative performance of the 2 stents in important subgroups, including patients with diabetes mellitus.
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American heart journal · Oct 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyEarly abciximab administration before transfer for primary percutaneous coronary interventions for ST-elevation myocardial infarction reduces 1-year mortality in patients with high-risk profile. Results from EUROTRANSFER registry.
There are conflicting data on the clinical benefit from early administration of abciximab from a large randomized trial and a registry. However, both sources suggest that a benefit may depend on the baseline risk profile of the patients. We evaluated the role of early abciximab administration in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) referred for primary percutaneous coronary intervention stratified by the STEMI Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) risk score. ⋯ Early abciximab administration before transfer for percutaneous coronary intervention in STEMI shows lower mortality at 1-year follow-up. This effect is confined to patients with higher risk profile as defined by TIMI risk score >or=3.