Cardiology journal最新文献

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a life-threatening disease. Despite advancements in diagnostic methods, the initial clinical presentation of IE remains a valuable asset. Therefore, the impact of clinical presentation on outcomes and its association with microorganisms and IE localization were assessed herein.

Methods: This retrospective study included 183 patients (age 68.9 ± 14.2 years old, 68.9% men) with definite IE at two tertiary care hospitals in Belgium. Demographic data, medical history, clinical presentation, blood cultures, imaging data and outcomes were recorded.

Results: In-hospital mortality rate was 22.4%. Sixty (32.8%) patients developed embolism, 42 (23%) shock, and 103 (56.3%) underwent surgery during hospitalization. Shock at admission predicted embolism during hospitalization (odds ratio [OR] 2.631, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.119-6.184, p = 0.027). A new cardiac murmur at admission predicted cardiac surgery (OR 1.949, 95% CI 1.007- -3.774, p = 0.048). Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus predicted in-hospital mortality and shock (p = 0.005, OR 6.945, 95% CI 1.774-27.192 and p = 0.015, OR 4.691, 95% CI 1.348-16.322, respectively). Mitral valve and aortic valve IE predicted in-hospital death (p = 0.039, OR 2.258, 95% CI 1.043-4.888) and embolism (p = 0.017, OR 2.328, 95% CI 1.163-4.659), respectively.

Conclusions: In this retrospective study, shock at admission independently predicted embolism during hospitalization in IE patients. Moreover, a new cardiac murmur at admission predicted the need for cardiac surgery. This emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive initial clinical evaluation in combination with imaging and microbiological data, in order to identify high-risk IE patients early.

Background: Current guidelines recommend a standard ticagrelor loading dose (LD) in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. However, antiplatelet therapy in STEMI patients at high risk of thrombotic events is suboptimal. The study was conducted to validate whether vasodilatorstimulated phosphoprotein (VASP)-guided ticagrelor dosing individual therapy may result in more effective platelet inhibition and better clinical outcomes.

Methods: This trial included 374 STEMI patients with a low platelet response after ticagrelor LD. The patients were randomized into a control group and a VASP-guided group, where the ticagrelor pretreatment was individually adjusted before and after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to obtain a VASP index < 50%. Up to 2 additional boluses of ticagrelor (every additional dosing was 90 mg) were prescribed after the first LD, and the VASP index was assessed 2 hours after each administration until a VASP index < 50% was obtained or up to 3 dosages (360 mg). The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) at 30 days. The secondary endpoints were thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) major and minor bleeding.

Results: The characteristics were similar in the two groups. After the ticagrelor doses increased, the platelet reactivity index (PRI) decreased, and 98.4% of patients reached PRI < 50% in the VASP-guided group. The adenosine concentration increased, and the rate of MACE was significantly lower in the VASP-guided group (10 [5.3%] vs. 20 [10.8%], hazard ratio 2.38, 95% confidence interval 1.21-3.28, p = 0.007). There were no major hemorrhagic complications (0 vs. 0, p = 1.0). The rate of minor bleeding in the VASP-guided group was higher than that in the control group, but the difference was not significant (24 [12.8%] vs. 16 [8.6%], p = 0.068).

Conclusions: The incremental ticagrelor dosing strategy decreases the rate of MACE after PCI without increasing major and minor bleeding.

Background: The selection of appropriate contrast media (CM) remains an important issue in terms of renal preservation in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and renal impairment scheduled for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We compared the clinical outcomes of patients with AMI and renal impairment, depending on the CM type (iso-osmolar CM [IOCM] vs. low-osmolar CM [LOCM]) that was used during PCI.

Methods: From the Convergent Registry of Catholic and Chonnam University for Acute Myocardial Infarction, 3174 post-PCI patients with AMI and renal impairment were subdivided into two groups (IOCM [n = 2101] and LOCM [n = 1073]).

Results: Regarding in-hospital clinical outcomes, the IOCM group had a higher peak creatinine (Cr) level and lower "Cr differential" than the LOCM group. A higher proportion of dialysis was noted in the IOCM group. In 30-day clinical outcomes, the IOCM group showed higher incidence of new-onset heart failure (HF) but lower incidence of revascularization than the LOCM group. The differences in in-hospital and 30-day clinical outcomes were attenuated after inverse probability of treatment weighting, except for new-onset HF. All other variables in 30-day clinical outcomes, including all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accidents, stent thrombosis, and any dialysis events, were similar between the two groups.

Conclusions: IOCM use did not prevent future incidence of dialysis compared to LOCM use in AMI patients with renal impairment.

Immature platelet fraction (IPF), circulating platelets still containing RNA, can be easily calculated by automated flow cytometry, this makes them an accessible biomarker. Higher IPF concentrations were reported in patients with thrombocytopenia, patients who were smokers, and also those who were diabetics. Several studies have reported their diagnostic and prognostic importance in patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes, especially ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, where increased IPF level is an independent predictor of cardiovascular death. In addition, higher IPF were reported in patients with inadequate response to either clopidogrel or prasugrel, suggesting their potential role in antiplatelet therapy monitoring. Their prognostic significance was also observed in both coronary artery disease and postcardiac surgery status, where their higher levels correlated with the risk of major adverse cardiac events. The current review aims to present the current evidence on diagnostic, prognostic and potentially therapeutic roles of IPF in cardiovascular medicine.

Background: To investigate the clinical characteristics, angiographic findings and clinical outcomes (in-hospital) of young adults with acute myocardium infarction in a Chinese population.

Methods: This was an observational study. Five hundred and forty-nine patients who suffered with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) firstly between January 2013 and December 2015 were enrolled consecutively. All patients were divided into two groups: "young group" patients were ≤ 50 years old; and "non-young group" patients were > 50 years old. Clinical features were compared, angiographic findings and clinical outcomes were observed between the two groups.

Results: There were 131 and 418 patients included in the young group and the non-young group, respectively. Twenty-eight patients suffered deaths during the hospital stay and only one death occurred in the young group. Compared with non-young group, the young group was associated with male, smoke, fewer chronic diseases, Killip class I on admission, lower level of N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), higher level of triglyceride and lower level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), single-vessel lesion and intracoronary thrombus (p < 0.005). The average length of hospital stay of non-young group was 1.5 days longer than the young group. Compared with the non-young group, the young group inclined not to use or use only one stent (p = 0.026). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that older age, shorter hospital stay, advanced Killip class III/IV, increased white blood cell and NT-proBNP were independent risk factors for survival in acute STEMI patients during hospitalization (p < 0.005).

Conclusions: Compared with non-young group, the young group was associated with male, smoke, higher level of triglyceride and lower level of HDL-C. The condition of patients in young group were relatively mild and the risk of death during hospitalization was lower than the other group.

Several mechanisms have been suggested to explain positive cardiovascular effects observed in studies with sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. The reduction in glucose reabsorption in proximal tubuli induced by SGLT2 inhibitors increases urinary glucose and sodium excretion resulting in increased osmotic diuresis and consequently in decreased plasma volume, followed by reduced preload. In addition, the hemodynamic effects of SGLT2 inhibition were observed in both hyper and euglycemic patients. Due to the complex and multidirectional effects induced by SGLT2 inhibitors, this originally antidiabetic group of drugs has been successfully used to treat patients with heart failure as well as for subjects with chronic kidney disease. Moreover, their therapeutic potential seems to be even broader than the indications studied to date.