心脏内栓子与动脉栓塞49例尸检分析

目的　探讨心脏内栓子的性质、部位以及与栓塞动脉的关系。方法　对 1981年 12月至 1997年 7月间死亡病人尸检资料作回顾性分析。结果　在心脏发现血栓样赘生物 49例中 ,2 3例 (4 6 9%)并发动脉栓塞 ,包括脑、肺、肾、脾、肠系膜和肢体动脉。结论　栓子形成的可能原因有风心病瓣膜病变、心房纤颤、心肌梗死、感染性心内膜炎以及恶性肿瘤等。对上述可能形成心脏栓子疾病的病人要加强心脏超声检查 ,积极防治心脏栓子的形成及各种栓塞并发症。     

经食道超声心支描记诊断短暂性脑缺血发作及缺血性卒中

缺血性卒中１５－２０％系心源性栓塞和非瓣膜性房颤导致的血流模式改变、心房血栓、左房扩大、二尖瓣结构等因素引起。经食道超声心动描主（ＴＥＥ）是一项检查以及和主动脉的新超声窗，特别适合探查栓塞时是否来源于心脏或主动脉，总阳性率４３％。它对诊断２心房内血栓、左室血栓、心内肿瘤、瓣膜赘生物、主动脉弓动脉瓣瘤、房间隔动脉、卵圆孔未闭等有独特的优越性。     

心脏黏液瘤致脑栓塞1例

正脑栓塞是指各种栓子随血液流动进入颅内动脉,使血管急性闭塞从而导致相应神经功能缺损的一组临床综合征~([1]),心源性脑栓塞占脑栓塞的60%～75%~([2]),是脑栓塞最常见的类型,栓子常来源于心房、心室壁血栓及心脏瓣膜赘生物,少数来源于心脏黏液瘤~([1])。心脏黏液瘤因瘤体组织脆弱易脱落,形成的栓子随血液流动可致视网膜、上下肢动脉、脑血管及肠系膜动脉栓塞,其中最严重的是脑血管栓塞~([3])。本文报告1例左心房黏液瘤合并多发脑栓塞的病例。1病例患者男性,52岁,主因"头晕、走路不稳8h"于2018-10-16入院。患者于入院前8 h上楼后出现头晕、呈持     

血栓栓塞导致急性心肌梗死的临床研究

目的探讨血栓栓塞导致急性心肌梗死的临床特点及预后。方法回顾性分析8例血栓脱落至冠状动脉致急性心肌梗死患者的临床资料,并进行随访。随访内容包括死亡、再次心肌梗死、严重出血、其余部位栓塞事件及国际标准化比值（INR）达标情况。结果患者年龄（63±15）岁。5例为风湿性心脏病换瓣术后患者,1例为肥厚型心肌病患者,2例为扩张型心肌病患者。患者心电图均表现为急性ST段抬高性心肌梗死,其中前壁心肌梗死6例,下壁心肌梗死2例。7例合并心房颤动（87.5%,7/8）。所有患者行急诊冠状动脉造影可见冠状动脉栓塞,其中5例行血栓抽吸术,3例行血栓抽吸及球囊扩张术。院内随访期间,发生大面积脑栓塞死亡1例,国际标准化比值达标率87.5%（6/7）,其余患者未再出现栓塞及严重出血事件。结论血栓栓塞导致心肌梗死发生于血栓形成高危人群,均表现为急性ST段抬高性心肌梗死,急性期使用血栓抽吸术尽早开通冠状动脉,术后予以规范的抗栓治疗,患者预后良好。     

经食道超声心动描记诊断短暂性脑缺血发作及缺血性卒中

缺血性卒中15％～20％系心源性栓塞和非瓣膜性房颤导致的血流模式改变、心房血栓、左房扩大、二尖瓣结构异常等因素引起。经食道超声心动描记(TEE)是一项检查心脏和主动脉的新超声窗,特别适合探查栓塞时栓子是否来源于心脏或主动脉,总阳性率43％。它对诊断心房内血栓、左室血栓、心内肿瘤、瓣膜赘生物、主动脉弓动脉瘤、房间隔动脉瘤、卵圆孔未闭等有独特的优越性。     

急性肺血栓栓塞症患者心电图动态浅析

目的探讨急性肺血栓栓塞症患者发病前后心电图动脉变化情况,以进一步提升心电图在急性肺血栓栓塞症中的诊断价值。方法选取我院2012年3月~2016年3月收治的急性肺血栓栓塞症患者52例为研究对象,所有患者均经胸部X线、螺旋CT和肺动脉造影确诊,对患者发病前后心电图动态变化情况进行对比分析。结果 52例急性肺血栓栓塞症患者中,出现心电图动态变化患者49例(94.23%)。窦性心动过速、房性心律失常、S1QmTm、QmTm、Tv1-v3发生情况与治疗前相比,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论急性肺血栓栓塞症患者的心电图动态变化情况多样复杂,通过对比患者治疗前后的心电图动态变化情况,并结合临床症状,可提高临床诊断准确率,值得推广。     

左前降支近端急性病变对致命性心肌梗塞的重要性:临床病理研究

本文旨在研究冠状动脉某些节段的急性栓塞性病变是否较其他部位更易引起致命性心肌梗塞。以Johns Hopkins 医院从1970年到1980年尸检病人77例作为研究对象。此77例均符合下列条件:(1)死后的心脏进行造影研究证实冠状动脉有急性血栓栓塞;(2)在死亡前21天内曾有急性心肌梗塞的临床诊断;(3)病理学显示有心肌梗塞;(4)大体标本及死后血管造影可供研究者。冠状动脉病变的程度和分段系按照美国心脏病协会推荐的标准,凡冠状动脉狭窄超过管腔直径70%时,则认为有明显的冠状动脉阻塞。本文中致     

碎裂QRS波与急性心肌梗死患者住院期间心脏事件的关系

目的 研究急性心肌梗死(AMI)后,心电图出现碎裂QRS波(fQRS)与住院期间严重心脏并发症及心源性死亡的相关性.方法 回顾分析了住院治疗且资料完整的急性心肌梗死患者156例临床资料.在入院72 h内心电图fQRS的发生情况,依据心电图是否出现fQRS分成fQRS组和无fQRS组.观察两组患者住院期间严重心脏事件发生情况.结果 急性心肌梗死后碎裂QRS波的发生率为52.6％(82/156),其中下壁70.7％(58/82),前壁42.3％(35/82),侧壁15.8％(13/82),下壁明显高于前壁及侧壁.fQRS组出现高度以上房室传导阻滞、室速/室颤、心源性死亡事件明显高于无fQRS波组(P＜0.05).结论 急性心肌梗死后出现fQRS患者易并发严重心律失常,且病死率高,预后差.fQRS在检出和预警高危患者方面有一定的临床应用价值.     

冠状动脉左主干急性完全闭塞所致急性心肌梗死病人死亡的危险因素分析

目的分析冠状动脉左主干急性完全闭塞所致急性心肌梗死病人死亡的危险因素。方法对2011年1月—2015年1月北京垂杨柳医院收治的120例因心肌梗死行急诊冠状动脉造影证实为左主干急性完全闭塞的病人进行回顾性研究,分析此类病人的临床特点及治疗方法;将病人分为死亡组(住院期间死亡)和生存组(住院期间未死亡),比较两组病人临床特点、治疗方法是否存在差异;通过Logistic回归分析病人死亡的相关因素。结果在入选的120例病人中,术后使用他汀类药物的病人104例;死亡组病人收缩压、舒张压均低于生存组(P0.001),KillipⅣ级、心源性休克、急性肺水肿、新发室性心律失常、经皮冠状动脉介入术中心肺复苏、术后心力衰竭、再发心肌梗死发生率均高于生存组(P0.05或P0.001);经Logistic回归分析发现,心源性休克、术中心肺复苏、术后心力衰竭是病人近期死亡的相关因素,心源性休克是独立危险因素(OR=12.491,P0.05)。结论冠状动脉左主干急性完全闭塞导致急性心肌梗死病人入院时常合并心源性休克和急性肺水肿;可选择经皮冠状动脉介入术治疗;心源性休克、术中心肺复苏、术后心力衰竭、再发生肌梗死是病人近期死亡的相关因素,其中心源性休克是独立危险因素。     

急性肺栓塞合并矛盾性栓塞12例临床分析

目的 提高对急性肺栓塞合并矛盾性栓塞的临床特点及疗效的认识,减少误诊和漏诊,为制定正确的诊治策略提供依据.方法 回顾性分析我院1963年至2011年临床诊断或经尸体解剖诊断的急性肺栓塞合并矛盾性栓塞病例.结果 急性肺栓塞合并矛盾性栓塞患者12例,男10例,女2例,平均年龄(73±12)岁.伴休克11例,伴晕厥7例,呼吸骤停1例;肺动脉血栓栓塞部位均位于肺动脉主干、骑跨于主肺动脉分叉处或左、右肺动脉干,伴有双侧、多叶段肺动脉栓塞;均有右室增大,卵圆孔开放5例,右心房、右心室血栓3例,左心房血栓3例,卵圆孔骑跨栓3例.体循环动脉栓塞最多见的是脑动脉栓塞(5例),其他有下肢动脉、肾动脉、肝脾动脉及冠状动脉栓塞.临床诊断5例,溶栓治疗3例,均治愈;血栓清除术1例,治愈;单纯抗凝治疗1例,死亡.7例在发病2～6 h死亡,经尸体解剖诊断.结论 急性肺栓塞合并矛盾性栓塞临床并非罕见,血流动力学不稳定,病死率高,应加强诊断意识.临床诊断后及时给予溶栓治疗,可有效改善血流动力学,提高生存率,有溶栓禁忌证及血流动力学持续不稳定可考虑手术清除血栓.     

Kardiologische Diagnostik nach Schlaganfall

Patients with a stroke often exhibit similar risk factors compared to patients with coronary artery disease. The morbidity and mortality of patients surviving a stroke are strongly determined by cardiac co-morbidities. Moreover, ischemic stroke frequently results from cardiac embolism. Thus, for risk assessment and prevention of cardiovascular events patients should undergo cardiac evaluation after a stroke. Laboratory testing should include blood glucose, coagulation parameters, blood cell count and in the case of suspected acute coronary syndrome cardiac ischemic markers. Assessment of the lipid profile is useful to determine the overall cardiovascular risk. In all patients with a stroke an ECG should be recorded. In those with normal ECG and suspected thromboembolic stroke additional Holter is helpful to detect possible atrial fibrillation. Echocardiography should be performed in all patients with suspected cardioembolic stroke. Moreover, echocardiography may establish the diagnosis of structural heart disease, which has a major impact on prognosis in patients with a stroke.     

Assessment of "silent" restenosis and long-term follow-up after successful angioplasty in single vessel coronary artery disease: the value of quantitative exercise electrocardiography and quantitative coronary angiography

Exercise electrocardiographic (ECG) testing during follow-up after coronary angioplasty is widely applied to evaluate the efficacy of angioplasty, even in asymptomatic patients. One hundred forty-one asymptomatic patients without previous myocardial infarction underwent quantitative exercise ECG testing and quantitative coronary angiography 1 to 6 months after successful angioplasty in single vessel coronary artery disease to 1) determine the value of exercise ECG testing to detect "silent" restenosis, and 2) assess the long-term prognostic value of exercise ECG testing and coronary angiography. The prevalence of restenosis (defined as greater than or equal to 50% luminal narrowing at the dilation site) was 12% in this selected study group. Of 26 patients with an abnormal exercise ECG (ST segment depression greater than or equal to 0.1 mV), only 4 (15%) showed recurrence of stenosis. Sensitivity and specificity for detection of restenosis were 24% and 82%, respectively. One hundred thirty-four patients (95%) were followed up 1 to 64 months (mean 35) after exercise ECG testing and coronary angiography. Thirty-two patients (24%) experienced a cardiac event: in 25 patients (78%) the initial event was recurrent angina pectoris (New York Heart Association class III or IV) and in 7 patients (22%) it was myocardial infarction, although cardiac death did not occur. The mean interval between exercise ECG testing and the initial cardiac events was 14 months (range 1 to 55), whereas 47% of the initial events took place less than or equal to 6 months after exercise ECG testing.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Cardiovascular Complications and Their Association With Mortality in Patients With Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

BackgroundDespite widespread availability of plasmapheresis, the mortality in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura remains high. Cardiovascular complications have been reported as an important cause of morbidity in these patients. The burden and prognostic implications of these complications have not been well studied. We analyzed the rates of cardiovascular complications in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, temporal trends, and studied its impact on in-hospital mortality.MethodsWe analyzed the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) from January 2005 to September 2015 to identify adult patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. This group was further refined by excluding patients who did not receive therapeutic plasmapheresis, and other conditions that can mimic thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. We identified the age- and sex-stratified rates of cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac conduction system disorders, heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, myocarditis, pericarditis, takotsubo cardiomyopathy, cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest, and stroke. We also compared in-hospital mortality with and without cardiovascular complications.ResultsAmong 15,054 thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura hospitalizations (mean age 46.4 years, 69% in the 18- to 54-age group, 66.2% women, and 42.9% white), a cardiovascular complication was observed in 3802 (25.3%) hospitalizations. The following cardiovascular complications were identified: stroke (10.4%), heart failure (8.3%), acute coronary syndrome (6.4%), atrial tachyarrhythmia (5.9%), ventricular tachyarrhythmia (2.0%), cardiogenic shock (0.5%), takotsubo cardiomyopathy (0.1%), atrioventricular block (0.2%), myocarditis or pericarditis (0.3), and cardiac arrest (1.9%). Rates of several cardiovascular complications were significantly higher in patients 55 years or older compared to a younger age group, whereas males had higher rates of acute coronary syndrome and tachyarrhythmias compared to females. Overall, the cardiovascular complication rate was stable during the study period. The presence of a major cardiovascular complication was associated with a significantly higher in-hospital mortality (19.7%) as compared with no major cardiovascular complication (4.1%) (adjusted odds ratio 2.09, 95% confidence interval 1.41-3.09, P <0.001). Results were generally consistent in age and sex subgroups.ConclusionCardiovascular complications were frequently observed at a rate of 1 in 4 in patients hospitalized for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and were associated with substantially higher in-hospital mortality. These findings underscore the need to promptly identify and treat these complications to improve outcomes.     

Thrombotic and cardiovascular complications related to nonionic contrast media during cardiac catheterization: analysis of 8,517 patients

The incidence of major complications associated with nonionic contrast media has not been defined in a large study. Accordingly, cardiovascular complications, especially thrombotic events, were prospectively evaluated in 8,517 consecutive patients undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization with either iopamidol (n = 6,293) or iohexol (n = 2,224). Thrombotic events were defined as coronary embolus, coronary occlusion, transient ischemic attack or stroke occurring at the time of catheterization. Thrombotic events occurred in 15 patients (0.18%). Coronary thrombus or embolus occurred in 7 patients, a thromboembolus from the ventricular catheter occurred in 1 patients and transient ischemic attack or stroke occurred in 7 patients. Six of 15 patients with thrombotic events were premedicated with heparin. Thrombotic events were unusual in that they tended to occur in clusters within short time intervals. On 1 occasion, a thrombus was observed in the catheter tip before embolization. Other cardiovascular complications were similarly low with an incidence of ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation of 0.1%, profound bradycardia of 0.2% and prolonged angina of 0.3%. There were 2 deaths unrelated to thrombotic events. Although the clinical thrombotic events associated with nonionic contrast have an unusual temporal clustering and may result in major complications, the overall incidence (0.18%) of these thrombotic complications with nonionic contrast agents is quite similar to that reported with ionic contrast media.     

Short- and long-term prognostic significance of ST-segment elevation in lead aVR in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome

We sought to evaluate the prognostic significance of ST-segment elevation (STE) in lead aVR in unselected patients with non-STE acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). We enrolled 1,042 consecutive patients with NSTE-ACS. Patients were divided into 5 groups according to the following electrocardiographic (ECG) patterns on admission: (1) normal electrocardiogram or no significant ST-T changes, (2) inverted T waves, (3) isolated ST deviation (ST depression [STD] without STE in lead aVR or transient STE), (4) STD plus STE in lead aVR, and (5) ECG confounders (pacing, right or left bundle branch block). The main angiographic end point was left main coronary artery (LM) disease as the culprit artery. Clinical end points were in-hospital and 1-year cardiovascular death defined as the composite of cardiac death, fatal stroke, and fatal bleeding. Prevalence of STD plus STE in lead aVR was 13.4%. Rates of culprit LM disease and in-hospital cardiovascular death were 8.1% and 3.8%, respectively. On multivariable analysis, patients with STD plus STE in lead aVR (group 4) showed an increased risk of culprit LM disease (odds ratio 4.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.31 to 9.64, p <0.001) and in-hospital cardiovascular mortality (odds ratio 5.58, 95% CI 2.35 to 13.24, p <0.001) compared to patients without any ST deviation (pooled groups 1, 2, and 5), whereas patients with isolated ST deviation (group 3) did not. At 1-year follow-up 127 patients (12.2%) died from cardiovascular causes. On multivariable analysis, STD plus STE in lead aVR was a stronger independent predictor of cardiovascular death (hazard ratio 2.29, 95% CI 1.44 to 3.64, p <0.001) than isolated ST deviation (hazard ratio 1.52, 95% CI 0.98 to 2.36, p = 0.06). In conclusion, STD plus STE in lead aVR is associated with high-risk coronary lesions and predicts in-hospital and 1-year cardiovascular deaths in patients with NSTE-ACS. Therefore, this promptly available ECG pattern could be useful to improve risk stratification and management of patients with NSTE-ACS.     

Evidenzbasierter Einsatz von Kardio-MR und Kardio-CT in der Primärdiagnostik der stabilen koronaren Herzkrankheit unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Disease-Management-Programms (DMP) KHK und der Nationalen Versorgungsleitlinie

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Despite all the progress made in diagnosis and treatment, cardiovascular diseases remain the no. 1 cause of death worldwide. In 2005, 27.9% of males and 24.1% of females (eight times more than for mammary carcinoma) in Germany died of coronary artery disease (CAD). Although mortality rates following acute myocardial infarction have considerably dropped, morbidity has increased--people are getting older, but they are getting older sick. The resulting need for reduction of CAD morbidity can only be achieved by truly early detection of patients at high coronary risk before occurrence of a coronary event. Modern imaging techniques like cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) and cardiac computed tomography (CT) are being increasingly utilized. The goal of this review is the practical application of evidence-based recommendations by relevantly and cost-effectively implementing cardiac MR and cardiac CT with special attention to current national and international guidelines and recommendations. THE PATIENT WITH STABLE CHEST PAIN: The primary objective here is to ascertain if the described symptoms can be attributed to a stenosing CAD with inducible myocardial ischemia or if they are effected by extracardial sources. As always, patients' history, examination findings and the stress ECG play the major roles. The conventional approach prescribes that an abnormal resting ECG compromising the interpretation of a stress ECG, should immediately be followed by an imaging ischemia diagnosis technique, like stress echocardiography, myocardial scintigraphy or cardiac MR (recommendation I B). This also holds true when a stress ECG is assessable and the probability of a stenosing CAD is between 10% and 90% (recommendation I B or "appropriate"). Alternatively, "modern" procedures allow imaging ischemia diagnosis to be replaced by noninvasive coronary angiography using a CTA (recommendation IIa B). If the image quality by CTA is assessable (free of artifacts and no disruptive calcified plaques) and no coronary stenosis can be found, the coronary diagnosis process may at this point be terminated, avoiding superfluous cardiac catheterizations. If the CTA shows the possibility of a higher-grade coronary stenosis, a cardiac catheterization examination with stand-by PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention) can be performed. THE ASYMPTOMATIC PREVENTION PATIENT: The prim ary objective in cardiovascular primary prevention is the avoidance of a first myocardial infarction and/or a first stroke. Current guidelines for prevention of cardiovascular diseases recommend administration of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and a statin when risk>20%/10 years (recommendation I A). The coronary calcium score has a strong predictive power which is independent of conventional risk factors and thus offers the most relevant information in addition to Framingham, PROCAM or ESC scores regarding coronary risk. For patients initially showing "intermediate" coronary risk (10-20%), guidelines suggest the determination of the coronary calcium score, which leads to better risk assessment and to identification of patients needing more aggressive lipid lowering (recommendation IIb B). Thus, the cardiac CT, on the one hand, aims the intense risk reduction needed in primary prevention to the high-risk patients, on the other hand, it avoids "superfluous" cardiac catheterizations, unnecessary statin therapies and potentially harmful ASA administrations. However, the proof of coronary calcium must not be confused with the presence of coronary artery stenoses: a positive calcium score in an asymptomatic person does not by itself indicate the need for a cardiac catheterization.     

Prognostic value of routine preoperative electrocardiography in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery

Electrocardiography is commonly performed as part of preoperative cardiovascular risk assessment in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. However, the prognostic value of such electrocardiography is still not clear. This study retrospectively studied 23,036 patients who underwent 28,457 surgical procedures at Erasmus Medical Center from 1991 to 2000. Patients were screened before surgery by type of surgery, cardiovascular risk factors (history of coronary heart disease, heart failure, diabetes mellitus, renal dysfunction, and stroke), and preoperative electrocardiography. Electrocardiographic (ECG) results showing atrial fibrillation, left or right bundle branch block, left ventricular hypertrophy, premature ventricular complexes, pacemaker rhythm, or Q-wave or ST-segment changes were classified as abnormal. Multivariate logistic regression was applied to evaluate the relation between ECG abnormalities and cardiovascular death. In-hospital cardiovascular death was observed in 199 of 28,457 patients (0.7%). Patients with abnormal ECG findings had a greater incidence of cardiovascular death than those with normal ECG results (1.8% vs 0.3%; adjusted odds ratio 4.5, 95% confidence interval 3.3 to 6.0). Adding ECG data to clinical risk factors and the type of surgery resulted in an improved C index for the prediction of cardiovascular death (0.79 vs 0.72). However, in patients who underwent low-risk or low- to intermediate-risk surgery, the absolute difference in the incidence of cardiovascular death between those with and without ECG abnormalities was only 0.5%. In conclusion, preoperative electrocardiography provides prognostic information in addition to clinical characteristics and the type of surgery. However, the usefulness of its routine use in lower risk surgery is questionable.     

Angiographic characteristics of coronary disease and postresuscitation electrocardiograms in patients with aborted cardiac arrest outside a hospital

Postresuscitation electrocardiogram (ECG) in patients with aborted cardiac death may demonstrate ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), ST-T changes, intraventricular conduction delay, or other nonspecific findings. In the present study, we compared ECG to urgent coronary angiogram in 158 consecutive patients with STEMI and 54 patients not fulfilling criteria for STEMI admitted to our hospital from January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2008. At least 1 obstructive lesion was present in 97% of patients with STEMI and in 59% of patients without STEMI with ≥1 occlusion in 82% and 39%, respectively (p <0.001). Obstructive lesion was considered acute in 89% of patients with STEMI and in 24% of patients without STEMI (p <0.001). An acute lesion in STEMI had a higher thrombus score (2.6 vs 1.3, p = 0.05) and more often presented with Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction grade 0 to 1 flow (75% vs 36%, p <0.01). Percutaneous coronary intervention, which was attempted in 148 lesions in patients with STEMI and in 17 lesions in patients without STEMI, resulted in final Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction grade 3 flow in 87% and 71%, respectively (p = 0.34). In conclusion, STEMI on postresuscitation ECG is usually associated with the presence of an acute culprit lesion. However, in the absence of STEMI, an acute culprit lesion is still present in 1/4 of patients. An acute lesion in STEMI is more thrombotic and more often leads to complete occlusion. Urgent percutaneous coronary intervention is feasible and successful regardless of postresuscitation ECG.     

Clinical course of isolated stable angina due to coronary heart disease.

AIMS: To describe the clinical course of patients with stable angina due to coronary heart disease without a history of cardiovascular (CV) events or revascularization (isolated angina). METHODS AND RESULTS: Of 7,665 patients in a trial comparing long-acting nifedipine with placebo, 2170 (28%) had isolated angina. During a mean follow-up of 4.9 years, 147 of these died (1.4/100 patient-years), while 761 (8.7/100 patient-years) either died, or had a cardiac event or procedure. The first event was death in 82, myocardial infarction or heart failure in 112, coronary revascularization in 171, and chest pain requiring hospitalization in 396. Six hundred and twelve patients (6.8/100 patient-years) underwent coronary angiography (CAG), followed by revascularization in 371. Sixty-eight of 262 deaths or major cardiac events were preceded by chest pain requiring hospitalization or revascularization. Event-rates after CAG were higher than before. The stroke rate was 0.7/100 patient-years (75 patients). CONCLUSION: Patients with stable isolated angina have low rates of death and major cardiac events, but relatively high rates of chest pain requiring hospitalization despite contemporary management. Since the majority of deaths and major CV clinical events are not preceded by clear warning symptoms, the main clinical implication is that measures to prevent such events must target all patients.     

Detecting silent coronary stenoses and stratifying cardiac risk in patients with diabetes: ECG stress test or exercise myocardial scintigraphy?

AIMS: To determine whether performing a myocardial scintigraphy immediately after a maximal electrocardiogram (ECG) stress test is effective in detecting silent coronary stenoses and predicting cardiovascular events. METHODS: Asymptomatic patients (n = 262) aged 57.6 +/- 8.8 years, with diabetes for 12.0 years (5-39) [median (range)] and no history of a cardiac event, underwent a maximal ECG stress test followed by a myocardial scintigraphy. The patients with an abnormal ECG stress test or abnormal imaging underwent a coronary angiography. Cardiac events were assessed in 250 (95.4%) patients followed for 37.8 months (3-101). RESULTS: The ECG stress test was abnormal in 54 patients. Among them, 18 had coronary stenoses and seven had a cardiac event. Despite a normal ECG stress test, the myocardial scintigraphy was abnormal in 42 additional patients, including 16 patients with coronary stenoses. Four of these 42 patients experienced a cardiac event. Follow-up showed a poor prognosis in subjects who were abnormal on the two tests. Univariate predictors of the 15 cardiac events were the ECG stress test [odds ratio (OR) 3.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3, 11.4, P = 0.008], myocardial scintigraphy (OR 3.8, 95% CI 1.3, 11.0, P = 0.009), coronary stenoses (OR 26.6, 95% CI 7.6, 90.7, P < 0.001), and peripheral or carotid occlusive arterial disease (OR 9.5, 95% CI 2.1, 42.5, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In the asymptomatic patients with diabetes, combining a myocardial scintigraphy with a maximal ECG stress test is effective in detecting more patients with coronary stenoses and predicting cardiovascular events. However, the ECG stress test has a good negative predictive value for cardiac events (97%), is cheaper, and should therefore be proposed first.