Myocardial injury during standard treatment of an adult with status asthmaticus.

Asthma affects 5%-10% of adults in the United States. Older adults (> 65 years) with asthma have higher rates of fatal asthma than younger adults. The occurrence of a respiratory emergency, such as status asthmaticus, would seem likely to create a situation of cardiopulmonary dysfunction conducive to myocardial ischemia. However, multiple studies of fatal or near-fatal asthma have failed to incriminate myocardial infarction as a contributing factor. We report a patient without underlying coronary artery disease who sustained myocardial injury consistent with myocardial ischemia and infarction during status asthmaticus while receiving recommended treatment without intravenous sympathomimetics or theophylline.     

Alterations in plasma amino acid levels in children with asthma: a preliminary investigation

Concentrations of plasma amino acids and cortisol were measured in 27 children with status asthmaticus, moderate, or mild asthma and in 7 controls without lung disease. Individuals with conditions potentially altering amino acid levels were excluded. Measurements were made at 8 A.M. and 4 P.M. on the same day. Of the 24 amino acids analyzed, threonine, serine, citrulline, tyrosine, proline, alanine, cystine, isoleucine, ornithine, lysine, and arginine were decreased at 8 A.M. or 4 P.M. and plasma cortisol was elevated at 4 P.M. in patients with status asthmaticus when compared with the other groups (p less than 0.05). Normal diurnal variations of amino acids and cortisol were preserved in all groups. Sequential daily determinations in eight patients with status asthmaticus showed progressive increases in total and many individual amino acids as symptoms subsided. These studies demonstrate a decrease of certain gluconeogenic amino acids in the plasma in status asthmaticus. This diminution could reflect the need for maintenance of normal glucose concentrations in status asthmaticus. The decrease in gluconeogenic amino acid levels may play a role in the severity of asthma.     

Gender differences in recurrent coronary events; the FINMONICA MI register.

BACKGROUND: Male gender is an established risk factor for first myocardial infarction, but some studies have suggested that among myocardial infarction survivors, women fare worse than men. Therefore, we examined the long-term prognosis of incident myocardial infarction survivors in a large, population-based MI register, addressing gender differences in mortality as well as the number of events and time intervals between recurrent events. METHODS AND RESULTS: Study subjects included 4900 men and women, aged 25-64 years, with definite or probable first myocardial infarctions who were alive 28 days after the onset of symptoms. At first myocardial infarction, women were older and more likely to be hypertensive or diabetic than men, and had a greater proportion of probable vs definite events. After adjustment for age and geographic region, men had 1.74 times the risk of fatal coronary heart disease relative to women (hazard ratio=1.63 and 1.55 for cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality, respectively) over an average of 5.9 years of follow-up. Number and time intervals between any recurrent event--fatal and non-fatal--did not differ by gender. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that men are far more likely to have a fatal recurrent event than women despite comparable numbers of events.     

Is diabetes a coronary risk equivalent? Systematic review and meta‐analysis

Aims To determine whether patients with diabetes without prior myocardial infarction (MI) have the same risk of total coronary heart disease (CHD) events as non‐diabetic patients with previous myocardial infarction. Methods Using medline , embase , Cochrane and MeSH in this systematic review and meta‐analysis, extensive searching was carried out by cross‐referencing from original articles and reviews. The study consisted of cohort or observational studies with hard clinical endpoints, including total CHD events (fatal or non‐fatal myocardial infarction), stratified for patients with diabetes but no previous myocardial infarction, and patients without diabetes but with previous myocardial infarction. Studies with less than 100 subjects, follow‐up of less than 4 years and/or without provisions for calculating CHD event rates were excluded. The review of articles and data extraction was performed by two independent authors, with any disagreements resolved by consensus. Results Thirteen studies were included involving 45 108 patients. The duration of follow‐up was 5–25 years (mean 13.4 years) and the age range was 25–84 years. Patients with diabetes without prior myocardial infarction have a 43% lower risk of developing total CHD events compared with patients without diabetes with previous myocardial infarction (summary odds ratio 0.56, 95% confidence interval 0.53–0.60). Conclusion This meta‐analysis did not support the hypothesis that diabetes is a ‘coronary heart disease equivalent’. Public health decisions to initiate cardio‐protective drugs in patients with diabetes for primary CHD prevention should therefore be based on appropriate patients’ CHD risk estimates rather than a ‘blanket’ approach of treatment.     

A case of fatal asthma induced by timolol eye-drop

A 74 year-old man, a known asthmatic since 1972, was treated by timolol eye-drop for acute glaucoma. Several hours later the patient developed a severe attack of asthma, and died subsequently. The autopsy findings were consistent with those of typical status asthmaticus. Our patient is, to our knowledge, the first case of fatal asthma induced by timolol eye-drop in Japan.     

A nationwide survey in Germany on fatal asthma and near-fatal asthma in children: different entities?

In adults fatal and near-fatal asthma have similar clinical characteristics. Therefore, near-fatal asthma in adults can be used as a model for fatal asthma. A nationwide study on fatal and near-fatal asthma in children <16 yrs was performed in order to assess whether, as in adults, near-fatal asthma can be used as a model for fatal asthma. From 1996 to 1998, all paediatric hospitals and paediatric pulmonologists in Germany were asked to report cases of fatal asthma and near-fatal asthma to a central survey unit (Erhebungseinheit für seltene p?diatrische Erkrankungen in Deutschland (ESPED)) on a monthly basis. All reports were followed by detailed questionnaires. Sixteen fatal and 45 near-fatal asthma cases were analysed. Fatal asthma patients were older than near-fatal asthma patients. Respiratory tract infections were frequently reported only in near-fatal asthma (47 versus 0%). The proportion of cases with rapid-type onset (duration of symptoms < or =1 h) was higher in fatal asthma (53 versus 14%). Long-term regular treatment with short acting beta2-agonists was common in both groups, but the use of concomitant inhaled corticosteroids was significantly lower in fatal asthma cases. A high proportion of poor compliance was observed in both groups. As fatal and near-fatal asthma differ significantly in important clinical aspects, analysis of near-fatal asthma might be of limited value in elucidating the causes of fatal asthma in children.     

Type 1 and 2 Myocardial Infarction and Myocardial Injury: Clinical Transition to High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin I

Background

Studies addressing patients with type 2 myocardial infarction and myocardial injury, including the impact of using high-sensitivity (hs) cardiac troponin (cTn) assays on their incidence are needed.

Efficacy and safety of APSAC in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction.

A prospective, open, multicentre post-marketing surveillance on the efficacy and safety of intravenous APSAC in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction was performed in 2436 patients. Reperfusion suggested by non-invasive parameters was achieved in 77.3% of patients. In-hospital mortality was low (7.1%). After exclusion from analysis of patients greater than 70 years of age and those reported to be in cardiogenic shock, mortality rate was 2.9%. More importantly, non-invasive evidence for successful thrombolysis resulted in a significantly lower mortality (3.3%) compared with patients without evidence of successful reperfusion (17.2%). The incidence of serious adverse events was low (132 in 2436 patients, 8/2436 = 0.3% fatal). The data from this post-marketing surveillance conducted under every-day clinical conditions confirm the efficacy and safety of APSAC as a thrombolytic agent in acute myocardial infarction, as demonstrated previously in controlled clinical trials.     

Neutrophiles et asthme aigu grave

Severe asthma attacks can be triggered by number of factors, including allergens, irritants, viruses responsible for severe bronchoconstriction, and bronchial inflammation involving activated eosinophils and neutrophils. The key role of eosinophils in asthma, and in attacks of asthma, is well known, whereas the role of neutrophils has not been studied extensively. Neutrophils are present in the sputum and bronchial lavage fluid of children and adults during acute asthma attacks and during status asthmaticus. In these situations, viruses, but also allergens and endotoxin are able to recruit neutrophils via IL-8 production by activated epithelial cells or macrophages. The role of corticosteroids also needs to be considered: it decreases eosinophil counts, but activates neutrophil progenitors and inhibits neutrophil apoptosis. In severe asthma attacks, various mediators secreted by neutrophils can enhance bronchial inflammation, hyperresponsiveness, the “plugs” phenomenon and bronchial permeability. The contribution of metalloproteinase-9, (secreted mainly by neutrophils) in bronchial inflammation has been recently demonstrated in patients with severe asthma attacks and in those with status asthmaticus.     

Chronic inhaled corticosteroids do not affect the course of acute severe asthma exacerbations in children

Chronic therapy with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) suppresses airway inflammation and increases airway responsiveness to beta(2)-adrenergic receptor agonists. We hypothesized that the chronic use of ICS would be associated with shorter duration of hospitalization in severely ill children with status asthmaticus. An 8-year retrospective chart review was conducted of all children admitted to the ICU with status asthmaticus. During the study period, 241 children were admitted, and 44% reported the use of chronic ICS. ICS use was associated with increased baseline asthma severity, previous hospitalization for asthma, and public insurance status. However, ICS use had no effect on hospital or ICU length of stay, type, and duration of treatments received, or the rate of recovery determined by a standard severity of illness scoring system. In the subsets of patients including children with persistent asthma and those who received intravenous terbutaline, there was also no improvement in outcomes with the use of chronic ICS showing that the chronic use of ICS did not improve response to beta(2)-adrenergic receptor agonists in severely ill children with status asthmaticus. Although useful as a preventive therapy, the chronic use of ICS does not appear to affect the course of severe acute asthma exacerbations in pediatric patients once hospitalized.     

Extracorporeal and advanced therapies for progressive refractory near‐fatal acute severe asthma in children

Asthma is the most common chronic illness and is one of the most common medical emergencies in children. Progressive refractory near‐fatal asthma requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation can lead to death. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can provide adequate gas exchange during acute respiratory failure although data on outcomes in children requiring ECMO support for status asthmaticus is sparse with one study reporting survival rates of nearly 85% with asthma being one of the best outcome subsets for patients with refractory respiratory failure requiring ECMO support. We describe the current literature on the use of ECMO and other advanced extracorporeal therapies available for children with acute severe asthma. We also review other advanced invasive and noninvasive therapies in acute severe asthma both before and while on ECMO support.     

Presentation,Treatment, and Outcomes of the Oldest-Old Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: The SILVER-AMI Study

BackgroundOldest-old patients (≥85 years) constitute half the acute myocardial infarction hospitalizations among older adults and more commonly have atypical presentation, under-treatment, and functional impairments. Yet this group has not been well characterized. We characterized differences in presentation, functional impairments, treatments, health status, and mortality among middle-old (75–84 years) and oldest-old patients with myocardial infarction.MethodsWe analyzed data from the ComprehenSIVe Evaluation of Risk Factors in Older Patients with AMI (SILVER-AMI) study that enrolled 3041 patients ≥75 years of age from 94 hospitals across the US between 2013 and 2016. We performed Cox proportional hazards regression to examine the association between the oldest-old (n = 831) and middle-old (n = 2210) age categories with postdischarge 6-month case fatality rate adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical variables, and mobility impairment.ResultsThe oldest-old were less likely to present with chest pain (52.7% vs 57.7%) as their primary symptom or to receive coronary revascularization (58.1% vs 71.8) (P < .01 for both). The oldest-old were more likely to have functional impairments and had higher 6-month mortality compared with the middle-old patients (hazard ratio 1.78, 95% confidence interval, 1.39-2.28). This association was substantially attenuated after adjusting for mobility impairment (hazard ratio 1.29, confidence interval, 0.99-1.68).ConclusionsThere is considerable heterogeneity in presentation, treatment, and outcomes among older patients with myocardial infarction. Mobility impairment, a marker for frailty, modifies the association between advanced age and treatments as well as outcomes.     

缺血性卒中对急性心肌梗死患者入院后死亡的影响

目的探讨缺血性卒中病史对急性心肌梗死患者入院后死亡的影响作用。方法回顾性分析2004年2月—2009年8月以心电图初发急性sT段抬高型心肌梗死入院的患者共918例,以入院期间是否死亡将患者分为存活组（811例）及死亡组（107例）。比较两组患者的一般资料、发病特点和治疗情况,采用多元Logistic回归分析探讨缺血性卒中病史是否为急性心肌梗死患者近期死亡的独立危险因素。结果①死亡组缺血性卒中患者比例（22例,20．6％）高于存活组（101例,12．5％）,差异有统计学意义（,=5．354,P〈0．05）。②存活组和死亡组患者的年龄、糖尿病史及高血压病史比例、血压、空腹血糖、白细胞计数、血肌酐、严重心律失常并发症比例、左心室射血分数、治疗方式比较后,差异均具有统计学意义,P〈0．05。③多元Logistic回归分析表明,缺血性卒中病史并不是急性心肌梗死患者死亡预后的独立危险因素（P〉0．05,OR=1．027,95％CI．O．263～4．004）。结论合并缺血性卒中的患者在急性心肌梗死入院死亡的人群中具有更集中的现象,但是经过校正后,其对急性心肌梗死入院死亡预后的独立影响作用尚不明确。     

Bedside ultrasound diagnosis of aortic dissection in a cocaine abuser

Aortic dissection and myocardial infarction are two well-known and well-reported complications of cocaine abuse. This case report describes a patient with cocaine-induced myocardial infarction who was also found to have a type A aortic dissection. Interestingly, this potentially fatal complication was detected by a bedside 2D echocardiogram.     

Identifying Patients with Low Risk of Acute Coronary Syndrome Without Troponin Testing: Validation of the HEAR Score

BackgroundCurrent guidelines for patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction are mainly based on troponin testing, commonly requiring an emergency department visit. HEAR score (History, Electrocardiogram, Age, and Risk factors) is a risk stratification tool validated in Europe, deduced from the HEART score (History, Electrocardiogram, Age, Risk factors, and Troponin), already implemented in clinical practice. We aimed to validate the HEAR score to rule out an acute myocardial infarction without needing biomarker testing.MethodsRetrospective cohort study at 15 emergency departments between May 2016 and December 2017. All adult encounters evaluated for possible acute myocardial infarction with a physician-documented HEART score for health plan members of Kaiser Permanente Southern California were included. Patients with an ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, those under hospice care, or with a “do not resuscitate” status were excluded. HEAR scores from 0-8 were calculated for each encounter and used to report 30-day acute myocardial infarction or all-cause mortality for each score.ResultsThere were 22,109 patient encounters included in the study. Overall, 30-day acute myocardial infarction or death occurred in 1.1% of patients. Among the 4106 patients (19%) with a HEAR score <2, 3 died and 2 experienced an acute myocardial infarction within 30 days (0.1%; 95% confidence interval, 0.1-0.3). Sensitivity and specificity were 97.9% and 18.8%, respectively.ConclusionsA low HEAR score may accurately identify patients with a very low risk of 30-day acute myocardial infarction or death, representing a cohort of patients who might appropriately forego biomarker testing. Future research is warranted to assess the impact of implementing the HEAR score into routine clinical practice.     

Association of Marijuana Use and Cardiovascular Disease: A Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Data Analysis of 133,706 US Adults

BackgroundMarijuana is the most commonly used psychoactive drug, while its effects on cardiovascular health are not well known and remain a subject of interest.MethodsWe used the pooled 2016-2018 data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to perform a cross-sectional analysis evaluating the association of marijuana and cardiovascular disease among US adults who never smoked cigarettes.ResultsAmong US adults ages 18-74 years, when compared with nonusers, frequent marijuana use was associated with 88% higher odds of myocardial infarction or coronary artery disease (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-3.08), and 81% higher odds of stroke (aOR 1.81; 95% CI, 1.14-2.89). Among the premature cardiovascular disease group, frequent marijuana users had 2.3 times higher odds of myocardial infarction or coronary artery disease (aOR 2.27; 95% CI, 1.20-4.30), and 1.9 times higher odds of stroke (aOR 1.92; 95% CI, 1.07-3.43). In terms of the modality of marijuana use, frequent marijuana smoking had 2.1 times higher odds of myocardial infarction or coronary artery disease (aOR 2.07; 95% CI, 1.21-3.56), and 1.8 times higher odds of stroke (aOR 1.84; 95% CI, 1.09-3.10). A similar association was observed in the premature cardiovascular disease group who smoked marijuana (aOR [for myocardial infarction or coronary artery disease] 2.64; 95% CI, 1.37-5.09; aOR [for stroke] 2.00; 95% CI, 1.05-3.79). No association was observed between marijuana use in any form other than smoking and cardiovascular disease, across all age groups.ConclusionFrequent marijuana smoking is associated with significantly higher odds of stroke and myocardial infarction or coronary artery disease, with a possible role in premature cardiovascular disease.     

急性右心室心肌梗死的临床特点及预后分析

目的 对急性下壁心肌梗死住院患者的临床资料进行分析,观察合并右心室梗死对病情和转归的影响,并探讨早期再灌注治疗对预后的作用.方法 急性下壁心肌梗死患者304例,其中单纯下壁心肌梗死232例,合并右心室梗死72例,记录一般资料、并发症、实验室检查和治疗情况.结果 右心室梗死组心源性休克、机械并发症、完全性房室传导阻滞、心室颤动、持续性室速和再梗死均明显增高.单纯下壁心肌梗死组病死率为8.6%,右心室梗死组病死率为34.7%.右心室梗死组进行再灌注治疗者病死率为27.8%,保守治疗者病死率为55.6%.结论 右心室梗死作为急性心肌梗死的高危亚组,其严重并发症和病死率显著增加.通过早期再灌注治疗能显著降低右心室梗死的住院期病死率,改善预后.     

Depression and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality: cause or consequence?

BACKGROUND: Depression after myocardial infarction has been associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. This study assessed whether depressive symptoms were associated with adverse outcomes in people with a history of an acute coronary syndrome, and evaluated possible explanations for such an association. METHODS AND RESULTS: Depressive symptoms were assessed using the General Health Questionnaire at least 5 months after hospital admission for acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina in 1130 participants of the Long-Term Intervention with Pravastatin in Ischaemic Disease (LIPID) Study, a multicentre, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of cholesterol-lowering treatment. Cardiovascular symptoms, self-rated general health, cardiovascular risk factors, employment status, social support and life events were also assessed at the baseline visit. Cardiovascular death (n=114), non-fatal myocardial infarction (n=108), non-fatal stroke (n=53) and unstable angina (n=274) were documented during a median follow-up period of 8.1 years. Individuals with depressive symptoms (General Health Questionnaire score >/=5; 22% of participants) were more likely to report angina, dyspnoea, claudication, poorer general health, not being in paid employment, few social contacts and/or adverse life events (P<0.05 for all). There was a modest association between depressive symptoms and cardiovascular events (hazard ratio [HR] 1.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13-1.77), but not cardiovascular death (HR 1.12. 95% CI 0.71-1.77). After adjustment for symptoms related to cardiovascular disease, the HR for cardiovascular events was 1.22 (95% CI 0.97-1.53). After further adjustment for employment status, social support and life events, the HR was 1.13 (95% confidence interval 0.87-1.47). CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant association between depressive symptoms and fatal or non-fatal cardiovascular events after adjustment for cardiovascular symptoms associated with poorer prognosis. Previously observed associations between depression and cardiovascular mortality may not be causal.     

A winter to remember! Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for life‐threatening asthma in children: A case series and review of literature

Progressive refractory near‐fatal asthma requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation can lead to death. Data on outcomes in children requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support for status asthmaticus is sparse. We describe our experience of three patients in the winter of 2018 to 2019 successfully rescued with ECMO. We also report our novel use of extubation while still being on ECMO support. Awareness and use of ECMO in refractory asthma can help lower the mortality for this very common disease in children. We also review the current literature on the use of ECMO and other extracorporeal therapies in asthma.     

Long-term use of Swedish moist snuff and the risk of myocardial infarction amongst men

BACKGROUND: The scientific evidence on cardiovascular risks associated with long-term use of snuff is limited and inconclusive. The use of this smokeless tobacco has increased in recent decades, and adverse health effects associated with snuff use could be of great public health concern. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to study whether long-term use of snuff affects the risk of myocardial infarction. DESIGN: Between 1978 and 1993 all construction workers in Sweden were offered repeated health check-ups by the Swedish Construction Industry's Organization for Working Environment Safety and Health. A cohort was created with information on tobacco use and other risk factors, collected through questionnaires. SETTING: In total, 118,395 nonsmoking men without a history of myocardial infarction were followed through 2004. Information on myocardial infarction morbidity and mortality was obtained from national registers. Relative risk estimates were derived from Cox proportional hazards regression model, with adjustment for age, body mass index and region of residence. RESULTS: Almost 30% of the men had used snuff. In total, 118 395 nonsmoking men without a history of myocardial infarction were followed through 2004. The multivariable-adjusted relative risks for ever snuff users were 0.91 (95% confidence interval, 0.81-1.02) for nonfatal cases and 1.28 (95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.55) for fatal cases. Heavy users (>or=50 g day(-1)) had a relative risk of fatal myocardial infarction of 1.96 (95% confidence interval, 1.08-3.58). Snuff use increased the probability of mortality from cardiovascular disease amongst nonfatal myocardial infarction patients. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that snuff use is associated with an increased risk of fatal myocardial infarction.