American heart journal
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American heart journal · Feb 2012
Comparative StudyDetection of periodontal bacteria in thrombi of patients with acute myocardial infarction by polymerase chain reaction.
Numerous reports have demonstrated that periodontal bacteria are present in plaques from atherosclerotic arteries. Although periodontitis has recently been recognized as a risk factor for coronary artery disease, the direct relationship between periodontal bacteria and coronary artery disease has not yet been clarified. It has been suggested that these bacteria might contribute to inflammation and plaque instability. We assumed that if periodontal bacteria induce inflammation of plaque, the bacteria would be released into the bloodstream when vulnerable plaque ruptures. To determine whether periodontal bacteria are present in thrombi at the site of acute myocardial infarction, we tried to detect periodontal bacteria in thrombi of patients with acute myocardial infarction by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). ⋯ Three species of periodontal bacteria were detected in the thrombi of patients with acute myocardial infarction. This raises the possibility that such bacteria are latently present in plaque and also suggests that these bacteria might have a role in plaque inflammation and instability.
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American heart journal · Feb 2012
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyReduced immediate ischemic events with cangrelor in PCI: a pooled analysis of the CHAMPION trials using the universal definition of myocardial infarction.
There is a clinical need for an intravenous P2Y(12) inhibitor in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) for patients who are unable to take oral medications or might benefit from a rapidly reversible compound. As the time from admission to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) shortens, establishing the benefit of novel therapies impacting ischemic events is increasingly challenging. Cangrelor, an intravenous potent rapidly acting P2Y(12) inhibitor, bolus 30 μg/Kg plus infusion of 4 μg/Kg/min, was compared to a 600-mg loading dose of clopidogrel either before or early after PCI in patients with ACS undergoing PCI in The CHAMPION (Cangrelor versus standard tHerapy to Achieve optimal Management of Platelet InhibitiON) PLATFORM and PCI studies. ⋯ With the use of the universal definition of myocardial infarction, cangrelor was associated with a significant reduction in early ischemic events when compared with clopidogrel in patients with non-ST-elevation ACS undergoing PCI.