Case Report: Transient Stress Hyperglycemia in the Patient With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Transient stress hyperglycemia in the setting of acute myocardial infarction is a frequent phenomenon. Its transient nature should not dissuade the clinician from management of elevated blood glucose in a patient after an ST-elevation myocardial infarction. This case presents an adult patient after an ST-elevation myocardial infarction with transient stress hyperglycemia and the evidence used to identify optimal pharmacologic management and secondary prevention.     

Acute Myocardial Infarction From Embolized Left Ventricular Thrombus in Coronavirus Disease 2019

A 44-year-old man with a late presentation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia developed a left ventricular apical thrombus resulting in an asymptomatic anterior myocardial infarction due to extensive thrombosis of the left anterior descending artery. There are increasing reports of thrombotic complications in patients infected with COVID-19. This case highlights the risk of thrombotic events caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-related corona virus-2 and the associated challenges in management. The objective of this case report is to generate primary literature and raise awareness and appreciation for cardiac manifestations of COVID-19.     

Sonothrombolysis in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Treated With Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

BackgroundPreclinical studies have demonstrated that high mechanical index (MI) impulses from a diagnostic ultrasound transducer during an intravenous microbubble infusion (sonothrombolysis) can restore epicardial and microvascular flow in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).ObjectivesThis study tested the clinical effectiveness of sonothrombolysis in patients with STEMI.MethodsPatients with their first STEMI were prospectively randomized to either diagnostic ultrasound–guided high MI impulses during an intravenous Definity (Lantheus Medical Imaging, North Billerica, Massachusetts) infusion before, and following, emergent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), or to a control group that received PCI only (n = 50 in each group). A reference first STEMI group (n = 203) who arrived outside the randomization window was also analyzed. Angiographic recanalization before PCI, ST-segment resolution, infarct size by magnetic resonance imaging, and systolic function (LVEF) at 6 months were compared.ResultsST-segment resolution occurred in 16 (32%) high MI PCI versus 2 (4%) PCI-only patients before PCI, and angiographic recanalization was 48% in high MI/PCI versus 20% in PCI only and 21% in the reference group (p < 0.001). Infarct size was reduced (29 ± 22 g high MI/PCI vs. 40 ± 20 g PCI only; p = 0.026). LVEF was not different between groups before treatment (44 ± 11% vs. 43 ± 10%), but increased immediately after PCI in the high MI/PCI group (p = 0.03), and remained higher at 6 months (p = 0.015). Need for implantable defibrillator (LVEF ≤30%) was reduced in the high MI/PCI group (5% vs. 18% PCI only; p = 0.045).ConclusionsSonothrombolysis added to PCI improves recanalization rates and reduces infarct size, resulting in sustained improvements in systolic function after STEMI. (Therapeutic Use of Ultrasound in Acute Coronary Artery Disease; NCT02410330).     

Ticagrelor Versus Clopidogrel in Patients With STEMI Treated With Fibrinolysis: TREAT Trial

BackgroundThe efficacy of ticagrelor in the long-term post–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with fibrinolytic therapy remains uncertain.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of ticagrelor when compared with clopidogrel in STEMI patients treated with fibrinolytic therapy.MethodsThis international, multicenter, randomized, open-label with blinded endpoint adjudication trial enrolled 3,799 patients (age <75 years) with STEMI receiving fibrinolytic therapy. Patients were randomized to ticagrelor (180-mg loading dose, 90 mg twice daily thereafter) or clopidogrel (300- to 600-mg loading dose, 75 mg daily thereafter). The key outcomes were cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, or stroke, and the same composite outcome with the addition of severe recurrent ischemia, transient ischemic attack, or other arterial thrombotic events at 12 months.ResultsThe combined outcome of cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, or stroke occurred in 129 of 1,913 patients (6.7%) receiving ticagrelor and in 137 of 1,886 patients (7.3%) receiving clopidogrel (hazard ratio: 0.93; 95% confidence interval: 0.73 to 1.18; p = 0.53). The composite of cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, severe recurrent ischemia, transient ischemic attack, or other arterial thrombotic events occurred in 153 of 1,913 patients (8.0%) treated with ticagrelor and in 171 of 1,886 patients (9.1%) receiving clopidogrel (hazard ratio: 0.88; 95% confidence interval: 0.71 to 1.09; p = 0.25). The rates of major, fatal, and intracranial bleeding were similar between the ticagrelor and clopidogrel groups.ConclusionAmong patients age <75 years with STEMI, administration of ticagrelor after fibrinolytic therapy did not significantly reduce the frequency of cardiovascular events when compared with clopidogrel. (Ticagrelor in Patients With ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Treated With Pharmacological Thrombolysis [TREAT]; NCT02298088)     

MHR与急性ST段抬高型心肌梗死短期预后的相关性分析

目的 分析单核细胞与高密度脂蛋白胆固醇比值(MHR)与急性ST段抬高型心肌梗死(STEMI)患者短期预后的关系。方法 筛选2018年6月～2019年6月于景德镇市第一人民医院就诊的60例STEMI患者为研究对象,以MHR值0.46为分组线,≤0.46的为低水平组,0.46为高水平组,各30例。比较两组的临床资料、实验室检查指标、心功能指标等,随访6个月,统计并比较两组的心血管不良事件(MACE)发生率,并应用Logistic进行单因素分析。结果 两组患者的性别、年龄、体质量指数(BMI)比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05);两组血脂相关指标甘油三酯(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、低密度脂蛋白C(LDL-C)、高密度脂蛋白C(HDL-C)比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05);低水平组肌钙蛋白(c TnT)、左室舒张末期内径(LVEDD)、左室收缩末期内径(LVESD)低于高水平组,而低水平组左心室射血分数(LVEF)高于高水平组,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05);高水平组Gensini评分及MACE发生率高于低水平组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。采用Pearson相关分析进行相关性分析,MHR与MACE呈正关系(r=0.215,P=0.011)。结论 MHR值与MACE、心功能、Gensini评分密切相关,对STEMI患者短期预后具有一定的预判作用。     

Therapeutic experience of ticagrelor in Indian patients with acute coronary syndrome: A non-interventional,prospective, and observational study

ObjectiveThis observational study was designed to understand the usage pattern of ticagrelor in real-life clinical practice among a large number of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), or medical management (MM). The study also recorded clinical events, i.e., bleeding, dyspnea, and cardiovascular (CV) events, reported by the investigator during the follow-up period.MethodsThe ACS patients aged ≥18 years hospitalized for ACS and were prescribed ticagrelor upon discharge or ≤1 month and patients who underwent PCI, CABG, or MM for ACS were enrolled. The subjects were followed up for a period of up to 12 months. The data were collected on a case report form.ResultThe study recruited 2997 subjects from 49 sites in India. Approximately half of the ACS subjects had ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (48.9%), and PCI was used as management in 92.4% subjects. The mean (±SD) duration of use of ticagrelor was 314 (±110.2) days over a period of 12 months. Of 136 subjects (4.5%) who experienced any clinical events, CV deaths were reported in 20 (0.7%), myocardial infraction in 19 (0.6) subjects and ischemic stroke in 23 (0.8%) subjects, and severe dyspnea was reported in 68 (2.2%) subjects. Out of 33 bleeding cases, 25 (0.8%) subjects had thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) minimal, seven (0.2%) had TIMI minor, and one TIMI major. Platelet inhibition and patient outcomes (PLATO) major was reported in two subjects and CABG bleed in one subject. The incidence of PLATO defined major and minimal bleeding were lower in subjects undergoing fibrinolysis than overall population.ConclusionTicagrelor has been used across ACS types and in different management strategies in real world settings in India. The incidence of clinical events was lower as compared with data in literature. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02408224     

Predictors of Peak Troponin Level in Acute Coronary Syndromes: Prior Aspirin Use and SYNTAX Score

The peak troponin level has been associated with cardiovascular (CV) mortality and adverse CV events. The association of peak troponin with CV risk factors and severity and complexity of coronary artery disease remains unknown. We assessed the predictors of peak troponin in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This study aims to determine the predictors of peak troponin in ACS. Cardiac catheterization (CC) reports and electronic medical records from 2010 to 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 219 patients were eligible for the study. All major CV risk factors, comorbidities, laboratory data, CC indications, and coronary lesion characteristics were included. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were done. On multivariate linear regression analysis, ST-elevation myocardial infarction (p = 0.001, β = 65.16) and increasing synergy between percutaneous coronary intervention with Taxus and cardiac surgery (SYNTAX) score (p = 0.002, β = 1.15) were associated with higher peak troponin. The Pearson correlation between SYNTAX score and peak troponin was r = 0.257, p = 0.001. History of daily aspirin use was associated with lower peak troponin (p = 0.002, β = −24.32). Prior statin use (p = 0.321, β = −8.98) and the presence of CV risk factors were not associated with peak troponin. Coronary artery disease severity and complexity, urgency of CC, and prior aspirin use are associated with peak troponin levels in ACS. Our findings may help predict patient population with ACS who would be at a greater risk for short- and long-term CV morbidity and mortality due to elevated peak troponin.