The use of hormone replacement therapy in women with acute myocardial infarction: an audit of current practice

We undertook criterion-based audit of the current practice of prescribing hormone replacement therapy for women with acute myocardial infarction; the audit included 181 consecutive women admitted to one hospital with this diagnosis in one calendar year. The set standard was that, barring any contraindication, all postmenopausal women with acute myocardial infarction should be prescribed hormone replacement therapy before discharge from hospital. The evidence base of this standard derives from more than 30 epidemiological and clinical studies and a large body of biological data. Only 4.7% of the women were current users of hormone replacement therapy and the set standard was met in only 3% of eligible nonusers. Professionals caring for women who have had a myocardial infarction need to consider hormone replacement therapy as a secondary prophylaxis of myocardial infarction. Gynaecologists should liaise with colleagues in other specialties and general practice to ensure that information on the nongynaecological benefits of hormone replacement therapy is widely disseminated.     

Chronic diffuse intravascular coagulation (DIC) in nonmetastatic ovarian cancer: Report of a case and review of the literature

A patient with a dramatic clinical picture of cerebral artery occlusion, peripheral artery occlusion, and pulmonary embolism was diagnosed as suffering from disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) according to the typical laboratory findings of hypofibrinogenemia, hypoprothrombinemia, relative thrombocytopenia, and reduction of other clotting factors. Increased fibrinogen split products (FSP) were found on several occasions later in the disease. Heparin was effective in controlling the syndrome which recurred when treatment was stopped. The cause of the syndrome was an ovarian tumor. The patient died of acute myocardial infarction. The postmortem examination confirmed the diagnosis of DIC, the primary disease being a mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the right ovary, and revealed that the terminal myocardial infarction was also the result of DIC. The surprise was that the tumor was solitary and without metastases. The literature dealing with chronic DIC in cancer is reviewed, and its diagnosis, frequency, and association with metastases is assessed.     

Pregnancy-associated spontaneous coronary artery dissection

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare cause of acute myocardial infarction that occurs particularly in women during the pregnancy and in the postpartum period. We describe a dramatic case of pregnancy-related spontaneous left main coronary artery dissection that resulted in acute myocardial infarction with severe left ventricular dysfunction and was complicated by acute heart failure and cardiogenic shock. Urgent revascularization and restoration of myocardial perfusion that were performed in this case resulted in marked left ventricular function recovery and clinical improvement.     

Acute myocardial infarction in a young woman taking oral contraceptives. A case report

Acute myocardial infarction occurred in a 25-year-old woman. Coronary angiography performed one month after the acute illness was normal. An ergonovine test was negative. The patient's acute myocardial infarction most probably was induced by the use of oral contraceptives in combination with heavy smoking. Oral contraceptives, with their known influence on the blood coagulation system, must be considered a risk factor in precipitating coronary artery disease.     

HELLP syndrome, multifactorial thrombophilia and postpartum myocardial infarction

A case of postpartum acute myocardial infarction with intraventricular thrombus occurred in a woman with HELLP syndrome. Since coronary artery disease was ruled out angiographically, the assumed pathophysiological mechanism for myocardial malperfusion was intermittend coronary vasospasm and thrombosis. There were several thrombophilic risk factors detectable (heterozygous factor V Leiden, low levels of antithrombin III, protein S deficiency), whose possible impact in this rare but severe clinical condition is discussed.     

Pneumomediastinum as a cause of acute chest pain postpartum.

Pneumomediastinum can easily be mistaken for a pulmonary embolus or myocardial infarction. We describe herein a case of pneumomediastinum postpartum. A primigravida complained five-hours postpartum of acute chest pain and mild dyspnea. The initial (working) diagnosis was pulmonary embolus and the patient was treated with antithrombotic therapy. A CT scan revealed the real cause of the chest pain: pneumomediastinum. The patient was given adequate analgesia and two days later was able to leave the hospital in good clinical condition. We suggest that in the case of acute chest pain during or shortly following labor, pneumomediastinum should be considered.     

Postpartum acute myocardial infarction

We report a postpartum acute myocardial infarction that occurred during the first week after cesarean section delivery. We also calculated the rate of postpartum myocardial infarction as related to all women with myocardial infarctions seen in our hospital.(Am J Obstet Gynecol 1997;177:1553-5.)     

Fetal volume measurements with three dimensional ultrasound in the first trimester of pregnancy, related to pregnancy outcome, a prospective cohort study

Background

Spontaneous coronary and vertebral artery dissections are rare events occurring most commonly in otherwise healthy women during pregnancy or the post-partum period.

Case presentation

This report describes a 35-year-old female who presented with an acute inferior ST elevation myocardial infarction 7 months post-partum secondary to spontaneous dissection of the left obtuse marginal coronary artery. Despite appropriate medical therapy with dual anti-platelet therapy, the patient presented four weeks later with a spontaneous dissection of the right vertebral artery.

Conclusion

We review the presentation, diagnosis, and management of spontaneous dissections of the vasculature in the peri-partum period.     

Menstrual and reproductive factors and the risk of myocardial infarction in women under fifty-five years of age

The relationship between menstrual and reproductive factors and subsequent risk of coronary heart disease was investigated in a hospital-based case-control study of 202 women with acute myocardial infarction and 374 control subjects admitted for a wide spectrum of acute conditions unrelated to any of the established risk factors for ischemic heart disease. No consistent association was observed with age at menarche or menopausal status, but women with a lifelong irregular menstrual cycle pattern were at significantly elevated risk of myocardial infarction (relative risk = 1.8, 95% confidence interval = 1.1 to 2.9). No clear trend in risk was evident with the number of livebirths, miscarriages, or induced abortions. However, women whose first pregnancy or livebirth occurred before age 20 years showed elevated risks of subsequent myocardial infarction compared with nulliparous ones (relative risks = 2.3; 95% confidence interval = 1.1 to 4.9), and there was a significant trend of increasing risk with earlier first birth. These associations were evident in both younger and middle-age women and were not explained by allowance for several identified potential confounding factors.     

Myocardial infarction in the 34th week of gestation: case report

Acute myocardial infarction during pregnancy is a rare event that is often associated with a very high maternal mortality, estimated to be from 19 to 37%. During the last decades the incidence of myocardial infarction during pregnancy has increased . The main contributing factor could be a higher prevalence of the metabolic syndrome. The strongest predictors correlated with a myocardial infarction are hypertension, diabetes mellitus and advanced maternal age. In addition, improved diagnostic tools could explain the elevated incidence of myocardial infarction during pregnancy. In general gestation is not considered a risk factor for myocardial infarction but gravidity is accompanied by an increase in oestrogen and progesterone levels. It is generally accepted that oral contraceptives increase the risk of coronary heart disease. We present a case where a 37-year-old gravida was admitted to hospital with diffuse thoracic pain. In the patient's history, we found several putative reasons for the thoracic pain that pointed to a musculoskeletal cause. Based on an elevation of ischaemic heart markers and continuous non-specific thoracic pain we performed a primary Cesarean section. In the coronary angiography procedure that followed, a thrombotic occlusion of the ramus diagonalis was diagnosed. We here describe the differential diagnosis as well as the problems associated with diagnosing myocardial infarction in the third trimester of pregnancy.     

急性心梗患者行静脉溶栓治疗的临床护理分析

探讨整体护理干预对急性心肌梗死患者静脉溶栓治疗效果的影响。方法:选择90例急性心肌梗死患者,采用静脉溶栓治疗方法,随机分为两组,护理干预组采用整体护理方法,对照组采用常规护理方法,比较两组患者静脉溶栓治疗过程中并发症情况、溶栓过程中出现恐惧、焦虑等症状情况、出院满意度。结果:护理干预组45例,出现静脉溶栓并发症的5例,占9.26%,对照组45例,出现静脉溶栓并发症的9例,占20.00%,两组比较P>0.05,差异无统计学意义;护理干预组溶栓过程中出现恐惧、焦虑的6例,占17.78%,对照组出现恐惧、焦虑的16例,占35.56%,两组比较,P<0.05,差异有统计学意义;护理干预组满意39例,出院满意度86.67%,对照组满意32例,占71.11%,两组比较,P<0.05,差异有统计学意义。结论:采用护理干预,能有效地减轻了患者静脉溶栓治疗过程中恐惧和焦虑的心理状态,提高患者对静脉溶栓治疗的满意度。     

A myocardial infarction during pregnancy treated by percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and stent implantation. Case report

Acute myocardial infarction is an un-frequent event during pregnancy. It clearly causes an increase in both maternal and fetal mortality. We describe a case of pregnancy complicated during the second trimester by an acute myocardial infarction witch was treated by percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty combined with stenting. The challenge involved in managing this condition during pregnancy is briefly discussed.     

Infarto agudo de miocardio y gestación

Acute myocardial infarction is rare in women of reproductive age and consequently is uncommon during pregnancy. However, when this event does occur, the risk of maternal-fetal mortality is greatly increased, since, in addition to the risk posed by the myocardial infarction, pregnancy hinders diagnosis and treatment.     

Human mesenchymal stem cells improve myocardial performance in a splenectomized rat model of chronic myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Cellular therapy has been applied to animal studies and clinical trials for acute or subacute myocardial infarction. Little is known about the effect of cell therapy on chronic myocardial infarction. The goal of this study was to investigate myocardial performance after human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hMSCs) transplantation in rats with chronic myocardial infarction. METHODS: The hMSCs were obtained from adult human bone marrow and expanded in vitro. The purity and characteristics of hMSCs were identified by flow cytometry and immunophenotyping. Splenectomy in male rats was performed to prevent immune reaction. One week after splenectomy, ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery was performed to induce myocardial infarction. Four weeks after ligation of the coronary artery, culture-expanded hMSCs were injected intramyocardially at the left anterior free wall. Left ventricular function measured by echocardiography, infarct size and immunohistochemical stain were performed to evaluate the effect of the therapy. RESULTS: The engrafted hMSCs were positive for the cardiac marker troponin T. Infarct size (35.4 +/- 3.4% vs. 53.3 +/- 3.0%, p < 0.001) and fibrotic area (2.6 +/- 0.1% vs. 5.9 +/- 0.2%, p < 0.001) were significantly smaller in the hMSC-treated group than in the control group at 28 days after therapy. hMSC transplantation resulted in smaller left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (6.5 +/- 0.1 mm vs. 7.9 +/- 0.7 mm, p < 0.001) and better left ventricular ejection fraction (88.7 +/- 1.2% vs. 65.8 +/- 2.5%, p < 0.001) than in the control group. Capillary density was markedly increased after hMSC transplantation compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that intramyocardial transplantation of hMSCs improves cardiac function after chronic myocardial infarction through enhancement of angiogenesis and myogenesis in the ischemic myocardium. Transplantation of hMSCs for myocardial regeneration may become the future therapy for chronic myocardial infarction.     

Acute myocardial infarction in pregnancy and the puerperium: a population-based study

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the population-based incidence and pregnancy outcomes of acute myocardial infarction (MI) in pregnancy. METHODS: Maternal and newborn hospital discharge records were linked to birth/death certificates for the 10-year period January 1, 1991, to December 30, 2000, for the majority (98%) of deliveries in California. This database was searched for the diagnosis of acute MI, demographic characteristics, and pregnancy outcomes. Patients were divided into 4 groups: antenatal diagnosis, intrapartum diagnosis, up to 6-week postpartum diagnosis, and those without the diagnosis of acute MI. All groups were compared by Student t test or chi(2) or both, where appropriate. RESULTS: A total of 151 women had an acute MI during the antepartum (38%), intrapartum (21%), or 6-week postpartum (41%) period, giving an incidence rate of 1 in 35,700 deliveries. The incidence rate increased over the study period. The maternal mortality rate was 7.3%, and maternal death only occurred in women with an acute MI before or at delivery (P < .01). Compared with women who did not have an acute MI, those with one were more likely to be older (30% were older than 35 years compared with 10%), multiparous (78% compared with 61%), non-Hispanic white (40% compared with 35%) or African Americans (15% compared with 7%). All measures of maternal and neonatal morbidity were increased in the acute MI group compared with those without an acute MI. Multivariate analysis identified chronic hypertension, diabetes, advancing maternal age, eclampsia, and severe preeclampsia as independent risk factors for acute MI. CONCLUSION: Acute MI during pregnancy remains a rare event, with significant maternal, fetal, and neonatal morbidity and mortality and maternal mortality limited to the antepartum and intrapartum period.     

Polycystic ovary syndrome and risk for myocardial infarction. Evaluated from a risk factor model based on a prospective population study of women.

In order to estimate whether women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have an increased risk of developing myocardial infarction, a risk factor model was applied on 33 women with PCOS and 132 age matched referents. The risk factor model was established from independent risk factors for myocardial infarction in a prospective population study of 1462 women in G?teborg, Sweden. The independent risk factors were age, manifest hypertension, manifest diabetes mellitus, central obesity measured as increased waist to hip circumference ratio and serum triglyceride concentration. A considerably increased risk (relative risk of 7.4) of developing myocardial infarction was observed for women with PCOS compared to age-matched referents. Since the risk factors include variables correlated to obesity, the results indicate that advice on dietary restriction is an important part of the treatment once the diagnosis is established.     

The value of body surface potential maps in assessment of experimental myocardial infarction

Body surface potential maps (BSPMs) and the pathology of 32 dogs with coronary artery ligations were analyzed to research the application of BSPMs to acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The group consisted of 18 dogs with left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) ligations, 8 with right coronary artery (RCA) ligations and 6 with left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) ligations. The abnormal distribution of negative potential and minimal potential were observed in all of the dogs. In dogs with RCA ligations, the abnormal negative potential displayed on the right-superior, right-inferior or right portion of the anterior thorax. In those with LAD ligations, the abnormal potential appeared on the left-superior, left-inferior, middle-superior or middle portion of the anterior thorax. In those with LCX ligations, the abnormal potential showed on the left-superior or left-middle portion of the thorax. A good correlation was observed between the area of myocardial lesion and the extent of abnormal negative potential distribution (r = 0.82, p less than 0.001). A close correlation was also found between the area of myocardial lesion and the duration of abnormal negative potential (r = 0.61, p less than 0.05). This study suggests that BSPMs are useful in the assessment of AMI in terms of diagnosis, location and extent of myocardial infarct.     

Risk of myocardial infarction, angina and stroke in users of oral contraceptives: an updated analysis of a cohort study

Objectives To investigate risk of myocardial infarction, angina and stroke in users of contraceptive pills compared with users of other methods of contraception.
Design Prospective cohort study, with recruitment between 1968 and 1974 and annual follow up until the age of 45 years. After this age, only women who had never used oral contraception or those who had used it for eight or more years continued to be followed up annually until July 1994.
Setting Seventeen family planning clinics in England and Scotland.
Population 17,032 women aged between 25 and 39 years at entry to the study.
Main outcome measures Occurrence of angina, myocardial infarction or stroke that was associated with either hospital admission or outpatient referral to hospital or death.
Results Increased risk of myocardial infarction in oral contraceptive users was observed only in women who were heavy smokers at entry to the study. In this subgroup the relative risk of a myocardial infarction was 4.2 (95% CI 1.4–16.6) in ever users of oral contraception compared with non-users, 4–9 (1.2–23.6) in current users, and 4–0 (1.3–16.2) in ex-users. In all current users the relative risk of angina was 0.5 (0.1–1.4), and the relative risk of ischaemic stroke was 2.9 (1.3–6.7). The increased risk of ischaemic stroke did not persist in ex-users.
Conclusions Use of oral contraception is associated with increased risk of ischaemic stroke and increased risk of myocardial infarction (only in heavy smokers), but no increased risk of angina. These increased risks need to be considered within the context of the very low absolute risks of cardiovascular disease in this population. 5880 women need to take oral contraception for one year to cause one extra stroke, and 1060 women who are heavy smokers need to take it for one year to cause one extra myocardial infarction.