Predictive factors of major adverse cardiac events in acute myocardial infarction patients complicated by cardiogenic shock undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess in-hospital mortality and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) during long-term clinical follow-up of patients who developed cardiogenic shock (CS) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS AND RESULTS: The data from 147 patients with CS after AMI (61.7 +/-10.4 years, M:F =156:99) who underwent primary PCI at Chonnam National University Hospital between January 1999 and December 2002 were analyzed: clinical characteristics, coronary angiographic findings and mortality during admission, and MACE during a 1-year clinical follow-up. Of the enrolled patients, 121 patients survived (group I, M:F =94:27) and 26 died (group II, M:F =14:12) during admission. By binary logistic regression analysis, in-hospital death was associated with low Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow after coronary revascularization (p=0.02, odds ratio (OR) =1.3). Eighty-nine patients (60.5%) survived without MACE during the 1-year clinical follow-up and MACE was associated with a C-reactive protein (CRP) of more than 1 mg/dl (p=0.002, OR =6.3) and low TIMI flow after coronary revascularization (p<0.001, OR =7.8). CONCLUSIONS: Primary PCI achieving TIMI 3 flow reduces in-hospital death in AMI with CS. High concentration of CRP and low TIMI flow are associated with MACE during long-term clinical follow-up.     

Cystatin C as prognostic biomarker in ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction

Cystatin C is a marker of renal dysfunction, and preliminary studies have suggested it might have a role as a prognostic marker in patients with coronary artery disease. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of cystatin C for risk stratification of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, regarding in-hospital and long-term outcomes. We included 153 consecutive patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated by primary angioplasty. The baseline cystatin C level was measured at coronary angiography. The in-hospital outcome was determined as progression to cardiogenic shock or in-hospital death, and the long-term outcome was assessed, considering the following end points: (1) death and (2) death or reinfarction. Of the 153 patients evaluated (age 61 ± 12 years; 75.6% men), 15 (14.4%) progressed to cardiogenic shock and 4 (2.7%) died during hospitalization. The patients who progressed to cardiogenic shock or died during hospitalization had significantly greater cystatin C levels (1.02 ± 0.44 vs 0.69 ± 0.24 mg/L; p = 0.001). Long-term follow-up was available for 130 patients (583 ± 163 days). Among them, 11 patients died and 7 had reinfarction. A high baseline cystatin C level was associated with an increased risk of death (hazard ratio 8.5; p = 0.009) and death or reinfarction (hazard ratio 3.89; p = 0.021). Furthermore, only high baseline cystatin C levels and left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40% were independent predictors of the long-term risk of death, with synergistic interaction between the 2. In conclusion, cystatin C is a new biomarker with significant added prognostic value for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention, predicting both short- and long-term outcomes.     

Pregnancy associated plasma protein A, a novel, quick, and sensitive marker in ST-elevation myocardial infarction

Traditional biomarkers in acute coronary syndromes reflect myocardial necrosis but not the underlying arteriosclerotic disease. Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) is a new biomarker in acute coronary syndromes that detects vulnerable plaques in arteriosclerotic disease and identifies acute coronary syndromes earlier than traditionally used biomarkers. Information regarding circulating PAPP-A levels in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarctions (STEMIs) is limited and contradictory. The aim of the present study was to describe the presence and time-related pattern of circulating PAPP-A levels in patients with STEMIs. Consecutive patients (n = 354) referred for primary percutaneous intervention because of STEMI were included in the study. Blood samples for the analysis of PAPP-A, creatine kinase-MB (CKMB), and troponin T were drawn at admission and every 6 to 8 hours until biomarkers of myocardial necrosis were consistently decreasing. PAPP-A was measured using a newly developed sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique based on 2 monoclonal antibodies. In total, 1,091 PAPP-A, 1,049 troponin T, and 1,016 CKMB samples were analyzed. Mean PAPP-A values at admission were significantly higher in patients with STEMIs than in those with non-ST elevation myocardial infarctions or unstable angina pectoris (27.6 vs 12.2 mIU/L, p <0.01). In samples drawn <2 hours after admission, the sensitivity of PAPP-A was superior (93%) to that of CKMB (60%) and troponin T (61%). In conclusion, PAPP-A levels are elevated in >90% of patients presenting with STEMIs if measured <6 hours after the onset of symptoms or <2 hours of primary percutaneous coronary intervention. In the early stages of STEMI, PAPP-A seems to be a more sensitive marker of myocardial infarction than CKMB and troponin T.     

Clinical correlation between myeloperoxidase and acute coronary syndrome

Objective To study whether myeloperoxidase (MPO) can provide prognostic information in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Methods The study population consisted of 274 consecutive patients with ACS. All patients underwent coronary angiography which showed significant coronary artery disease and blood samples were collected at admission. Follow-ups were scheduled at 1, 3, and 6 months.The end point included cardiac death, acute myocardial infarction (MI), percutaneous or surgical revascularization. Results Patients with elevated MPO serum levels (MPO ≥ 72.2 AUU/L) were more likely to have diabetics and had a history of coronary events. Kaplan-Meier event rate curves with accumulative incidence of end point at 6-month follow-up in the MPO ≥ 72.2 AUU/L group was significantly higher than in MPO<72.2 AUU/L group. Conclusions MPO may be a powerful predictor of adverse outcome in patients with ACS.(J Geriatr Cardiol 2007;4:209-212)     

Acute transmural myocardial infarction in elderly patients hospitalized in the coronary care unit versus the general medical ward

The hospital records of 126 patients over 75 years of age with transmural myocardial infarction initially treated in the coronary care unit were compared with a concurrent similar group of 94 patients admitted directly to the general medical wards. The in-hospital mortality rate for both groups together was 40%. The mortality rate within the coronary care unit was 24% as compared with 46% in the ward group (P less than 0.005). However, the mortality rate for the coronary care unit group as a whole (including those patients later transferred to the general ward) was 35 versus 46% in the ward group. Congestive heart failure and cardiogenic shock were the most frequent complications in both groups (47 and 30%, respectively), and they were the main cause of death. Patients with these complications were less likely to be successfully resuscitated, even in the coronary care unit. The overall incidence of serious ventricular arrhythmias and complete heart block was similar to that reported for younger patients. Eleven patients in the coronary care unit group were successfully resuscitated from these arrhythmias and eight survived to be discharged from hospital. In contrast, only two patients in the ward group were successfully resuscitated and eight (9%) patients died suddenly and the fatal event could not be diagnosed. We concluded that elderly patients with an acute myocardial infarction can benefit from early admission to a coronary care unit.     

Percutaneous coronary intervention-associated nephropathy foreshadows increased risk of late adverse events in patients with normal baseline serum creatinine.

In patients with chronic renal insufficiency, further decline in renal function (DRF) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is accompanied not only by adverse in-hospital events but also by increased risk of mortality and myocardial infarction at 1 year. This analysis was undertaken to determine if patients with normal renal function who develop DRF after PCI have a comparable increase in risk of death and myocardial infarction at 1 year, and whether this risk is independent of in-hospital complications (death, myocardial infarction, urgent coronary artery bypass grafting). We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients from a single center who underwent successful PCI with no major in-hospital complications who had pre-PCI serum creatinine (SCr) /= 50% of baseline). They were more likely to be older, female, non-Caucasian, diabetic and/or hypertensive. They reported more prior cerebral or peripheral vascular events. They had undergone more complex PCI and were exposed to more radiographic contrast than the 96.5% who did not develop DRF. After adjustment for baseline variables, DRF remained an independent predictor of 1-year mortality, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization. In patients without prior renal impairment, DRF post-PCI is rare but is associated with an increased risk of late adverse cardiac events similar to that in chronic renal insufficiency patients.     

Comparison of the prognostic effect of left versus right versus no bundle branch block on presenting electrocardiogram in acute myocardial infarction patients treated with primary angioplasty in the primary angioplasty in myocardial infarction trials

The presence of bundle branch block (BBB) has been associated with poor outcomes in patients who have acute myocardial infarction. Whether this is true in the angioplasty era is not known. We sought to evaluate the outcome of patients with acute myocardial infarction and BBB who were treated with primary angioplasty. We evaluated 3,053 patients who underwent emergency catheterization in the PAMI trials. Patients who had left BBB (n = 48, 1.6%) on presenting electrocardiogram were compared with patients who had right BBB (n = 95, 3.1%) or no BBB (n = 2,910, 95.3%). Patients who had BBB were older and more frequently had diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease, and previous coronary artery bypass grafting. They had lower ejection fraction and more multivessel disease. There were no significant differences in door-to-balloon time, final Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction flow grade or stent use. In-hospital major adverse cardiac events (death, ischemic target vessel revascularization, and reinfarction) were higher in patients who had BBB due primarily to increased in-hospital death (left BBB 14.6%, right BBB 7.4%, no BBB 2.8%, p < 0.0001). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, left BBB was an independent predictor of in-hospital death (odds ratio 5.53, 95% confidence interval 1.89 to 16.1, p = 0.002). In conclusion, patients who have acute myocardial infarction and BBB have increased co-morbidities and higher mortality rates despite treatment with primary angioplasty. Despite early identification of multivessel disease with triage to angioplasty or coronary artery bypass grafting, if necessary, similar treatment times, and final Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction grade 3 flow, the presence of left BBB on admission electrocardiogram in patients who have acute myocardial infarction is an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality. Because 85% of deaths in patients who have left BBB occur within the first week, these patients should be recognized early and receive prompt and aggressive treatment.     

Mortality in patients with left ventricular ejection fraction </=30% after primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction

Decreased left ventricular (LV) function is a strong predictor of mortality. Although current guidelines recommend prophylactic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation after ST-elevation myocardial infarction and a depressed LV ejection fraction for 1 month, the prognoses of these patients may be better than those observed in randomized trials of ICDs (1-year mortality 6.8% to 19%), particularly because reperfusion treatment has improved, and the use of life-saving drugs is higher. To assess 1-year mortality in patients with depressed LV ejection fractions after primary percutaneous coronary intervention, a prospective, observational study was performed. Data from all patients who survived >/=30 days after primary percutaneous coronary intervention and had LV ejection fractions 相似文献   

Prognostic value of interleukin-8 as a predictor of heart failure in patients with myocardial infarction and percutaneous intervention

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that pro-inflammatory cytokines play a significant contributory role in the pathogenesis of the acute heart failure. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the serum IL-8 concentration in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), who were undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was related to the subsequent presence or absence of heart failure. METHODS: The study included 50 patients who underwent successful PCI. During their subsequent stay in the coronary care unit, their maximum degree of heart failure was recorded. Patients were then divided into two groups: group A (Killip I) and group B (Killip class > I). The serum IL-8 concentration was measured during the 24 h following admission to the coronary care unit. RESULTS: Serum levels of IL-8 in the group B were significantly higher than those of group A (P < 0.001). By multivariante analysis a higher level of IL-8 was a significant predictor of heart failure after PCI. CONCLUSIONS: Serum levels of IL-8 after PCI appear to be a predictor for the development of heart failure in patients with AMI.     

Clinical characteristics, hospital morbidity and mortality, and up to 1-year follow-up events of acute myocardial infarction patients: the first report from Iran

BACKGROUND: Few data exist about the clinical epidemiology of acute myocardial infarction and its complications and mortality in Iran. To fill this knowledge gap, we studied clinical characteristics and the outcome for a group of Iranian patients with acute myocardial infarction, who were, for the first time in our country, followed after discharge from hospital for 1 year. METHODS: All patients (139 individuals) with confirmed acute myocardial infarction who were treated at the coronary care unit of Dr Shariati Hospital and followed up over a 1-year period (June 2002 to June 2003) were prospectively studied. Numerous relevant variables including epidemiologic data, treatments received, in-hospital course and complications were recorded. The survivors were followed at 1, 6 and 12 months after discharge. RESULTS: In all, there were 101 men and 38 women aged 58.6+/-11.8 years. Only 35.9% of patients received thrombolytic therapy, and primary percutaneous coronary intervention was performed in 6.4% of cases. In-hospital death occurred in 21 of 139 (15.1%), with an equal distribution between the two sexes. One-month, 6-month and 12-month cumulative mortality rates were 17.3, 20.1 and 21.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although our patients were younger than myocardial infarction patients in developed countries, they had a higher rate of in-hospital mortality than those of the international statistics. This may be due, in part, to the lower rate of administration of primary reperfusion strategies in our center, namely primary percutaneous coronary intervention and thrombolytic therapy, which have proved to be effective in reducing the mortality from myocardial infarction in the west. Wider application of primary percutaneous coronary intervention, in particular, is recommended.     

Predictors of in-hospital outcome after primary percutaneous coronary intervention for recurrent myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND: Recurrent acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a deteriorated condition with high in-hospital morbidity and mortality, but the predictors of in-hospital outcome after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for repeat AMI remain unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using the AMI-Kyoto Multi-Center Risk Study database, clinical background, angiographic findings, results of primary PCI, and in-hospital prognosis were retrospectively compared between primary PCI-treated AMI patients with previous myocardial infarction (MI) (repeat-MI patients, n=235) and those without previous MI (first-MI patients, n=1,550). The repeat-MI patients had higher prevalence of Killip class>or=3 at admission, larger number of diseased vessels, and a significantly higher in-hospital mortality rate than the first-MI patients. On multivariate analysis, number of diseased vessels>or=2 or diseased left main trunk (LMT) on initial coronary angiography was the independent positive predictor of in-hospital mortality in the repeat-MI patients, not in the first-MI patients, whereas acquisition of Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction 3 flow in the infarct-related artery immediately after primary PCI and elapsed time<24 h were the negative predictors in the first-MI patients, not in the repeat-MI patients. CONCLUSIONS: Number of diseased vessels>or=2 or diseased LMT on initial coronary angiography is an independent risk factor of in-hospital death in recurrent-AMI patients undergoing primary PCI.     

Effectiveness of primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction in patients on dialysis

We sought to characterize the outcome in patients who were on long-term dialysis and who underwent primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) for acute myocardial infarction. Of 2,831 consecutive patients who underwent primary PTCA for acute myocardial infarction from 1993 to 2001, 15 patients on long-term dialysis were identified. This small cohort had a 40% incidence of cardiogenic shock on admission. Despite the angiographic success rate for primary PTCA of 80%, in-hospital mortality was 53%.     

Risk of adverse outcome in patients admitted to the coronary care unit with suspected unstable angina pectoris

One hundred ninety-six consecutive patients admitted to the coronary care unit with suspected unstable angina were classified clinically as having either definite (113 patients) or suspected unstable angina (83 patients) within 24 hours of admission. Patients were followed prospectively to determine their outcome in the hospital and in the first 4 months after discharge. Three patients had a non-fatal myocardial infarction in the hospital and 2 died (1 fatal myocardial infarction, 1 death immediately after coronary bypass surgery). During follow-up (mean 4.2 +/- 2.3 months), 6 additional patients had a nonfatal myocardial infarction, 4 died and 22 were readmitted with definite unstable angina. The incidence of nonfatal infarction or death was significantly lower in patients with suspected unstable angina during both the primary hospital admission (0 of 83 vs 5 of 113, p less than 0.05) and after discharge from the hospital (1 of 83 vs 9 of 113, p less than 0.05), and fewer patients with suspected unstable angina were readmitted with a recurrence of definite unstable angina (1 of 83 vs 21 of 113, p less than 0.001). Thus, a simple clinical classification into definite or suspected unstable angina performed within 24 hours of admission to the coronary care unit identified a substantial group with a low short-term risk of adverse events.     

Acute renal failure requiring dialysis after percutaneous coronary interventions.

Acute renal failure requiring dialysis is a rare but serious complication after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), associated with high in-hospital mortality and poor long-term survival. We have analyzed the incidence, resource utilization, short- and long-term outcomes, and predictors of dialysis after percutaneous coronary interventions. We studied 51 consecutive patients who were not on dialysis on admission and developed acute renal failure that required in-hospital dialysis after PCI in comparison to the 7,690 patients who did not require dialysis after PCI. Patients who required dialysis were older, with a higher incidence of hypertension, diabetes, prior bypass surgery, chronic renal failure, and a significantly lower left ventricular ejection fraction. Despite similar angiographic success, these patients had a higher incidence of in-hospital mortality (27.5% vs. 1.0%, P < 0.0001), non-Q-wave myocardial infarction (45.7% vs. 14.6%, P < 0.0001), vascular and bleeding complications, and longer hospitalization. At 1-year follow-up, mortality (54.5% vs. 6.4%, P < 0.0001), myocardial infarction (4.5% vs. 1.6%, P = 0.006), and event-free survival (38.6% vs. 72.0%, P < 0.0001) were significantly worse in patients who required dialysis compared to patients who did not. Multivariate analysis revealed in-hospital dialysis and an increase in baseline serum creatinine levels as the most important predictors of in-hospital and long-term mortality. Thus, acute renal failure that requires dialysis after percutaneous coronary interventions is associated with very high in-hospital and 1-year mortality rates and a dramatic increase in hospital resource utilization.     

Diabetes Mellitus and Glucose as Predictors of Mortality in Primary Coronary Percutaneous Intervention

Background

Diabetes mellitus and admission blood glucose are important risk factors for mortality in ST segment elevation myocardial infarction patients, but their relative and individual role remains on debate.

Objective

To analyze the influence of diabetes mellitus and admission blood glucose on the mortality of ST segment elevation myocardial infarction patients submitted to primary coronary percutaneous intervention.

Methods

Prospective cohort study including every ST segment elevation myocardial infarction patient submitted to primary coronary percutaneous intervention in a tertiary cardiology center from December 2010 to May 2012. We collected clinical, angiographic and laboratory data during hospital stay, and performed a clinical follow-up 30 days after the ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. We adjusted the multivariate analysis of the studied risk factors using the variables from the GRACE score.

Results

Among the 740 patients included, reported diabetes mellitus prevalence was 18%. On the univariate analysis, both diabetes mellitus and admission blood glucose were predictors of death in 30 days. However, after adjusting for potential confounders in the multivariate analysis, the diabetes mellitus relative risk was no longer significant (relative risk: 2.41, 95% confidence interval: 0.76 - 7.59; p-value: 0.13), whereas admission blood glucose remained and independent predictor of death in 30 days (relative risk: 1.05, 95% confidence interval: 1.02 - 1.09; p-value ≤ 0.01).

Conclusion

In ST segment elevation myocardial infarction patients submitted to primary coronary percutaneous intervention, the admission blood glucose was a more accurate and robust independent predictor of death than the previous diagnosis of diabetes. This reinforces the important role of inflammation on the outcomes of this group of patients.     

Comparison of hemorheological variables in ST-elevation myocardial infarction versus those in non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction or unstable angina pectoris

The aim of this study was to evaluate hemorheologic variables in patients with acute coronary syndromes in relation to the occurrence of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). In 370 consecutive patients with acute coronary syndromes, 215 with STEMIs and 155 with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions or unstable angina pectoris, who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, hemorheologic studies were performed by assessing whole-blood viscosity (at shear rates of 0.512 and 94.5 s(-1)), plasma viscosity, and erythrocyte deformability index. A significant difference in hematocrit and in whole-blood viscosity at 0.512 s(-1) was found between the 2 groups of patients. Hematocrit at admission in the highest tertile compared with the lowest tertile remained independently associated with the occurrence of STEMI on multivariate analysis adjusted for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, previous coronary artery disease, multivessel disease, bleeding complications, and leukocyte count. In conclusion, erythrocyte concentration seems to play a role per se in the occurrence of STEMI and complete coronary artery occlusion and might be considered in stratifying high-risk cardiovascular patients and as a possible therapeutic target in patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes.     

Prognostic value of quantitative troponin T measurements in unstable angina/non-ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction treated early and predominantly with percutaneous coronary intervention

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of baseline cardiac troponin T measurements on in-hospital and long-term outcomes in patients with unstable angina/non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction who are treated with an early invasive strategy. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study involving 1024 consecutive patients with unstable angina/non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Patients were stratified according to quantitative troponin T measurements on admission, and underwent coronary angiography and subsequent coronary stenting of the culprit lesion as the primary revascularization strategy within 24 hours. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. RESULTS: The risk of in-hospital and long-term mortality increased with absolute levels of troponin T. In-hospital mortality was 0.7% (3/449) in patients with levels <0.010 microg/L, 2.0% (4/197) in those with levels from 0.010 to 0.035 microg/L, 3.2% (6/186) in those with levels from 0.035 to 0.229 microg/L, and 4.7% (9/192) in patients with levels >0.229 microg/L. Cumulative 2-year mortality rates were 2.8%, 8.0%, 10.5%, and 14.8% from the lowest to highest troponin T groups (P <0.001). In contrast, the risk of nonfatal myocardial infarction assumed an inverted U-shaped curve and was lower in the lowest and highest troponin T groups. CONCLUSION: Troponin T remains a strong predictor of mortality, even at low levels, in patients with unstable angina/non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction who are treated with early revascularization. The risk associated with elevated levels is linear for death but not for myocardial infarction.     

基础血肌酐正常的急性心肌梗死患者直接经皮冠状动脉介入术后肾功能减退的临床特点

目的 探讨基础血肌酐正常的急性心肌梗死(AMI)患者直接经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)术后肾功能减退的临床特点. 方法 根据直接PCI术后是否发生肾功能减退,将216例术前血肌酐正常(＜132.6 μmoL/L)的AMI患者分为肾功能减退组(32例)和非肾功能减退组(184例).比较两组的临床和冠状动脉造影资料,确定肾功能减退的发生率、预测因素及其对治疗和住院期间预后的影响.肾功能减退定义为术后72 h内血肌酐较术前升高≥25%. 结果 直接PCI术后肾功能减退的发生率为14.8%(32/216).肾功能减退组的年龄＞75岁(28.1%比14.1%,P=0.047)、并发心力衰竭(25.0%比9.2%,P=0.017)的患者比例显著高于非肾功能减退组;而低分子肝素(84.4%比95.1%,P=0.039)、β-受体阻滞剂(75.0%比95.6%,P=0.001)、血管紧张素转换酶抑制剂/血管紧张素受体拮抗剂(81.3%比93.5%,P=0.025)、他汀类药物(84.4%比97.3%,P=0.008)的使用率显著低于非肾功能减退组.肾功能减退组住院期间的死亡率显著高于非肾功能减退组(25.0%比2.2%,P＜0.001).多因素分析显示,并发心力衰竭是发生肾功能减退的惟一独立预测因素[比值比(OR)=3.275,95%可信区间1.275～8.408,P=0.014];而肾功能减退是住院期间死亡最强的独立预测因素(OR=10.313,95%可信区间2.569～41.402,P=0.001). 结论 基础血肌酐正常的AMI患者直接PCI术后也易发生肾功能减退.发生肾功能减退者多为AMI的高危患者,治疗不充分,住院期间预后差.     

Usefulness of serum endothelin levels in predicting death and myocardial infarction but not coronary progression in postmenopausal women with coronary disease (from the Women's Angiographic Vitamin and Estrogen [WAVE] study)

We performed a cohort study of 392 postmenopausal women who had coronary disease to assess whether baseline serum endothelin-1 level predicts angiographic disease progression, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or death. Angiographic progression was defined as the annualized change in minimal lumen diameter of all qualifying lesions for each patient. Twenty-nine patients died or had a myocardial infarction during follow-up. Each picogram per milliliter increase in endothelin-1 was associated with a 1.8-fold increased risk of death or myocardial infarction. After adjustment for potential confounders, endothelin-1 remained a predictor of clinical events but was not correlated with angiographic progression.     

Early identification of patients developing late in-hospital ventricular fibrillation after discharge from the coronary care unit. A 5 1/2 year retrospective and prospective study of 1,897 patients

In an initial retrospective study, covering 3 years, 30 (3 percent) of 966 patients consecutively discharged from the coronary care unit, were found to have sustained late in-hospital ventricular fibrillation 10 to 38 days after myocardial infarction. Of these 30 patients, 18 (60 percent) died in the hospital and 14 (47 percent) had anteroseptal infarction complicated by right or left bundle branch block. In a later prospective study, covering $\text{2}\text{1}\text{2}$ years, 47 consecutive coronary care unit survivors with anteroseptal infarction complicated by right or left bundle branch block were kept in the monitoring area for 6 weeks after infarction. Seventeen of these 47 (36 percent) sustained late in-hospital ventricular fibrillation. Neither the type nor the duration of bundle branch block affected the Incidence of late in-hospital ventricular fibrillation. Six (35 percent) of the 17 patients with ventricular fibrillation died in the hospital. Three died from ventricular fibrillation, and of six patients treated with infarctectomy, another three died postoperatively. Of 11 hospital survivors with late in-hospital ventricular fibrillation, followed up for 1 to 30 months, 1 died suddenly within 1 month. Of the remaining 884 patients who were not kept in the monitoring area after coronary care unit discharge, 8 (0.9 percent) sustained late ventricular fibrillation (with 3 in-hospital deaths) and 4 (0.5 percent) others died suddenly in hospital. The results indicate that coronary care unit survivors with anteroseptal infarction complicated by right or left bundle branch block should be kept in the monitoring area for 6 weeks.