Comparison of coronary atherosclerotic disease burden between ST‐elevation myocardial infarction and non‐ST‐elevation myocardial infarction: Non‐culprit Gensini score and non‐culprit SYNTAX score

BackgroundPatients with non‐ST‐elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) have worse long‐term prognoses than those with ST‐elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).HypothesisIt may be attributable to more extended coronary atherosclerotic disease burden in patients with NSTEMI.MethodsThis study consisted of consecutive 231 patients who underwent coronary intervention for myocardial infarction (MI). To assess the extent and severity of atherosclerotic disease burden of non‐culprit coronary arteries, two scoring systems (Gensini score and synergy between percutaneous coronary intervention with Taxus and cardiac surgery [SYNTAX] score) were modified by subtracting the score of the culprit lesion: the non‐culprit Gensini score and the non‐culprit SYNTAX score.ResultsPatients with NSTEMI had more multi‐vessel disease, initial thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade 2/3, and final TIMI flow grade 3 than those with STEMI. As compared to STEMI, patients with NSTEMI had significantly higher non‐culprit Gensini score (16.3 ± 19.8 vs. 31.2 ± 25.4, p < 0.001) and non‐culprit SYNTAX score (5.8 ± 7.0 vs. 11.1 ± 9.7, p < 0.001).ConclusionsPatients with NSTEMI had more advanced coronary atherosclerotic disease burden including non‐obstruction lesions, which may at least in part explain higher incidence of cardiovascular events in these patients.     

A contemporary re-evaluation of culprit lesion severity in patients presenting with STEMI

Background: Historical data report fatal myocardial infarction occurring when mildly-stenotic coronary plaques rupture; however, recent data suggest haemodynamically-significant coronary stenoses with fractional flow reserve (FFR) ≤ 0.8 and vessels with high plaque burden and minimum luminal area (MLA) < 4 mm² by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) may be prognostically important. Therefore, we sought to re-evaluate culprit stenosis severity in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods: Patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) for STEMI with adjunctive thrombectomy between October 2008 and February 2010 (n = 336/572; 59%) underwent quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) after thrombus aspiration to determine vessel reference area (RA), MLA and percentage area stenosis (AS). To validate findings, QCA and FFR were measured in 50 patients with stable angina and an angiographically-intermediate lesion.

Results: STEMI patients had anatomically-severe underlying culprit disease similar to that of the stable cohort (AS: 91.6 ± 9.5% versus 90.1 ± 8.1%; P = 0.11). Additionally, anatomically-severe lesions defined by QCA were more likely to be functionally-significant by FFR and vice-versa (P = 0.02 and 0.002 respectively).

Conclusion: These contemporary data suggest that STEMI culprit lesions, defined by luminal stenosis after thrombus aspiration, are angiographically significant, with similar stenosis severity to stable, ischaemia-inducing lesions.     

Noninvasive quantification of jeopardized myocardial mass in dogs using 2-dimensional echocardiography and thallium-201 tomography

The evaluation of jeopardized myocardial mass is important in defining the effect of interventions during myocardial infarction. To quantitate the in vivo mass at risk, 2-dimensional echocardiography (2-D echo) and thallium-201 single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was performed in 10 closed-chest dogs after circumflex coronary artery occlusion. The 2-D images were manually digitized to compute left ventricular (LV) mass using a modified Simpson's rule algorithm. This measure of LV mass correlated well with the actual LV mass (r = 0.97). Perfused myocardial mass was estimated from thallium SPECT images 4 hours after occlusion using a region-growing algorithm. After the dogs were killed, the jeopardized mass was outlined using a dual perfusion staining technique using triphenyltetrazolium chloride and Evans blue dye. The actual perfused mass was well estimated by the thallium images (r = 0.96). The noninvasively determined mass at risk was calculated as: 2-D mass — thallium SPECT mass, and correlated well with the pathologically determined mass at risk (r = 0.91). Thus, the jeopardized mass may be determined noninvasively by using 2-D echo and thallium-201 tomography. This approach may provide further information regarding the effect of intervention therapy on jeopardized myocardium.     

Importance of early and complete reperfusion to achieve myocardial salvage after thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarction.

The importance of the timing and completeness of coronary artery reperfusion for limitation of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) size after intravenous thrombolytic therapy was studied in 39 patients. All had electrocardiographic epicardial injury and acute coronary angiography performed < 8 hours after symptom onset. Acutely jeopardized myocardium was estimated at baseline, and before and after angiography by quantitative ST-segment analysis. The AMI size was estimated on the final electrocardiogram by the Selvester QRS score. Left ventricular ejection fraction was measured at the time of acute angiography and before discharge in 31 of these patients. In the 21 patients with normal flow (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction [TIMI] trial grade 3) in the infarct-related artery, the amount of jeopardized myocardium decreased from baseline to that before and after angiography (17 to 11 and 11%, respectively; p < 0.00005), and the median final AMI size was reduced (17 to 9%; p = 0.0004). In 6 patients with suboptimal flow (TIMI grade 2), the median amount of jeopardized myocardium decreased slightly from baseline to that before to after angiography (15 to 12%); however, the median final AMI size was not reduced (17%). In 12 patients with no reperfusion (TIMI 0 to 1) flow, the median amount of jeopardized myocardium remained unchanged from baseline to that before angiography (21%), and the final AMI size was not significantly reduced. There was a significant inverse correlation between the change in global left ventricular function and the difference between electrocardiographic estimated jeopardized and final AMI size (rs = -0.53; p = 0.008).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Relationship between lesion vessel area and myocardial salvage assessed by myocardial single photon emission computed tomography in acute myocardial infarction with stenting after thrombectomy

OBJECTIVES: To study the relationship between lesion vessel area and myocardial salvage assessed by myocardial single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in acute myocardial infarction with stenting after thrombectomy. METHODS: This study included 71 patients who underwent stenting after thrombectomy for acute myocardial infarction. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was performed after thrombectomy. Patients were classified into two groups: the High group with external elastic membrane cross-sectional area (EEM-CSA) of the lesion > or = 18 mm2 (34 patients) and the Low group with EEM-CSA < 18 mm2 (37 patients). Dual isotope myocardial SPECT imaging was undertaken by perfusion SPECT (201Tl or 99mTc-MIBI) and 123I-15-(p-iodophenyl)-3-(R,-S)-methylpentadecanoic acid (BMIPP). The image of the left ventricular myocardium was divided into 17 segments to calculate total defect score using a 5-grade assessment (0: normal-4: defect). Differences in total defect score of perfusion SPECT and 123I-BMIPP was defined as mismatch. RESULTS: Culprit lesion morphology was assessed by IVUS. A higher incidence of lipid pool-like images (47% vs 5%, p < 0.01) was observed in the High group. The results of myocardial SPECT study revealed no difference in the total defect score of 123I-BMIPP (18.3 +/- 5.5 vs 17.3 +/- 6.3 points) but the mismatch in total defect score of perfusion SPECT and 123I-BMIPP was significantly lower in the High group (3.8 +/- 3.9 vs 7.7 +/- 4.2 points, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a high culprit lesion vessel area show fewer beneficial effects in myocardial salvage compared with those with low vessel area as assessed by myocardial SPECT in acute myocardial infarction with stenting after thrombectomy.     

血清氨基末端脑利钠肽前体与非ST段抬高型急性冠状动脉综合征患者冠状动脉病变程度及近期预后的关系

目的探讨氨基末端脑钠肽前体(NT-proBNP)与非ST段抬高型急性冠状动脉综合征(NSTEACS)患者冠状动脉病变程度的关系及血清NT-proBNP水平对NSTEACS患者近期预后的影响。方法使用酶联免疫吸附法检测53例NSTEAMI患者、70例不稳定型心绞痛(UAP)患者和25例对照者的血清NT-proBNP水平,计算冠状动脉病变Gensini积分,随访6个月,记录随访期间心源性死亡、再发心肌梗死和因心力衰竭再入院的情况。结果 NSTEAMI组、UAP组和对照组患者血清lgNT-proBNP分别为3.35±0.36、2.37±0.25和1.67±0.20,组间比较差异均有统计学意义(均为P<0.001)。血清NT-proBNP水平与冠状动脉病变Gensini积分之间呈显著正相关(r=0.617,P<0.01)。多元逐步回归分析显示,NT-proBNP水平与冠状动脉病变Gensini积分独立相关(r=0.004,P<0.001)。多因素Logistic回归分析表明,NT-proBNP>468.1μg/L,与NSTEACS 6个月随访期间再发心肌梗死(P=0.030)、心力衰竭(P=0.029)独立相关。结论血清NT-proBNP水平与NSTEACS患者冠状动脉病变程度及近期预后相关。     

血浆致动脉硬化指数与冠状动脉Gensini评分的相关性

目的 探讨血浆致动脉硬化指数（atherogenic index of plasma,AIP）与冠状动脉Gensini评分的相关性。 方法 选取经冠状动脉造影检查确诊的冠心病患者301例,根据冠状动脉造影结果进行Gensini评分评价冠脉病变程度。 结果 AIP值在冠状动脉Gensini评分各亚组的比较差异均具有统计学意义（P<0.05）,并随Gensini评分的升高而逐渐升高。对可能影响冠状动脉Gensini评分的变量做Logstic回归分析,结果显示血浆LDL-C、AIP值是冠状动脉狭窄病变的独立危险因素,HDL-C是独立保护因素。AIP与Gensini评分线性相关分析显示AIP与Gensini评分呈正相关（r=0.303,P<0.01）。 结论 AIP与冠状动脉Gensini评分密切相关,AIP水平愈高,冠状动脉狭窄愈严重。     

Comparison between dobutamine echocardiography and thallium-201 scintigraphy in detecting residual stenosis,ischemia, and necrosis in patients with prior myocardial infarction

Background: Following the first attempts to detect myocardial ischemia with two-dimensional echocardiography stress testing, pharmacologic stress using dobutamine infusion has become an alternative to echocardiography exercise testing for evaluation of coronary artery disease. It has been shown that stress echocardiography has a diagnostic accuracy similar to that of an exercise thallium test. Other studies, however, indicated that radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging was more sensitive than exercise or pharmacologic stress echocardiography for detection of ischemia or jeopardized myocardium. Hypothesis: The aim of the present study was to determine the ability of dobutamine stress echocardiography in comparison with thallium-201 scintigraphy to identify multivessel disease and the presence of myocardial scar and ischemia in 60 consecutive patients who suffered a first myocardial infarction (MI). Methods: Patients were evaluated by coronary angiography and ventriculography, thallium-201 (²⁰¹Tl) tomographic scintigraphy, and dobutamine echocardiography within 3 months of a first MI. Forty-seven had Q-wave MI and 13 had non-Q-wave MI. Eleven patients were excluded from final analysis—7 because of failure to achieve target heart rate in spite of the use of atropine, and 4 because of high blood pressure following the infusion of dobutamine. Results: Dobutamine echocardiography showed an overall sensitivity of 43% for detection of coronary artery lesions of 50–74% diameter stenosis and ²⁰¹Tl scintigraphy showed a sensitivity of 71%. For detection of lesions of ≥75% diameter stenosis, dobutamine echocardiography showed a sensitivity of 52% and ²⁰¹Tl a sensitivity of 70%. Overall agreement between wall motion and myocardial perfusion for detection of necrosis and/or ischemia in the infarct area was 40.4% with a kappa coefficient of 0.09 (p = 0.13). For detection of ischemic myocardium outside the infarct zone, overall agreement was 78.6% with a kappa coefficient of 0.49 (p<0.0001). Conclusion: Dobutamine echocardiography results showed a lower sensitivity than myocardial perfusion images in predicting multivessel coronary artery disease, and there was poor agreement between both methods in identifying necrosis or ischemia.     

非高密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平与冠心病病情的相关性分析

目的探讨非高密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平与冠心病患者病情的相关性。方法对522例行冠状动脉造影检查的患者进行回顾性分析,根据冠状动脉造影结果结合临床特点、心电图表现、心肌标志物结果分为非冠心病组、心绞痛组、心肌梗死组,平均年龄60.00±10.02岁。采用Gensini评分评估冠心病患者冠状动脉病变程度,收集所有患者临床资料,采集静脉血检测血脂指标并计算非高密度脂蛋白胆固醇值,分析非高密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平与冠心病病情的相关性。结果三组间的非高密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平、Gensini积分差异有统计学意义(P0.05);心绞痛组非高密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平与Gensini积分正相关(r=0.130,P=0.022),心肌梗死组非高密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平与Gensini积分正相关(r=0.213,P=0.048);多元无序Logistic回归分析显示,年龄、性别、非高密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平是影响冠心病病情的危险因素(P0.05)。结论非高密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平是影响冠心病患者病情的一项重要指标。     

非糖尿病冠心病患者糖化血红蛋白与冠脉病变相关性分析

目的探讨非糖尿病冠心病患者糖化血红蛋白（HbA1C）水平与冠状动脉病变的相关性。方法选择经冠脉造影明确诊断冠心病的非糖尿病患者290例,按照HbA1C水平以三分位法分为低水平组（115例,HbA1C≤5.6mmol/L）,中水平组（91例,HbA1C：5.7-5.9mmol/L）,高水平组（84例,HbA1C≥6.0mmol/L）。冠状动脉造影结果使用Gensini评分。结果 HbA1C高水平组Gensini评分大于中水平组,中水平组Gensini评分大于低水平组,但无统计学意义。经Spearman偏等级相关分析,校正年龄、性别、吸烟状况、饮酒状况、心梗史、病变支数、空腹血糖、尿酸、甘油三酯、总胆固醇、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇、高敏C反应蛋白、BMI（体重指数）等因素后,HbA1C水平与Gensini评分无显著关系。结论在非糖尿病的冠心病人群中,HbA1C水平与冠脉狭窄程度无明显相关性。     

Relation of perfusion defects observed with myocardial contrast echocardiography to the severity of coronary stenosis: correlation with thallium-201 single-photon emission tomography.

It has been previously shown that myocardial contrast echocardiography is a valuable technique for delineating regions of myocardial underperfusion secondary to coronary occlusion and to critical coronary stenoses in the presence of hyperemic stimulation. The aim of this study was to determine whether myocardial contrast echocardiography performed with a stable solution of sonicated albumin could detect regions of myocardial underperfusion resulting from various degrees of coronary stenosis. The perfusion defect produced in 16 open chest dogs was compared with the anatomic area at risk measured by the postmortem dual-perfusion technique and with thallium-201 single-photon emission tomography (SPECT). During a transient (20-s) coronary occlusion, a perfusion defect was observed with contrast echocardiography in 14 of the 15 dogs in which the occlusion was produced. The perfusion defect correlated significantly with the anatomic area at risk (r = 0.74; p less than 0.002). During dipyridamole-induced hyperemia, 12 of the 16 dogs with a partial coronary stenosis had a visible area of hypoperfusion by contrast echocardiography. The four dogs without a perfusion defect had a stenosis that resulted in a mild (0% to 50%) reduction in dipyridamole-induced hyperemia. The size of the perfusion defect during stenosis correlated significantly with the anatomic area at risk (r = 0.61; p = 0.02). Thallium-201 SPECT demonstrated a perfusion defect in all 14 dogs analyzed during dipyridamole-induced hyperemia; the size of the perfusion defect correlated with the anatomic area at risk (r = 0.58; p less than 0.03) and with the perfusion defect by contrast echocardiography (r = 0.58; p less than 0.03). Thus, myocardial contrast echocardiography can be used to visualize and quantitate the amount of jeopardized myocardium during moderate to severe degrees of coronary stenosis. The results obtained show a correlation with the anatomic area at risk similar to that obtained with thallium-201 SPECT.     

冠心病患者血清Chemerin、hs-CRP水平变化及临床意义

摘要：目的：探讨冠心病（CHD）患者血清中脂肪因子Chemerin与超敏C反应蛋白（hs-CRP）的水平变化及临床意义。方法：选取于2016年12月至2018年5月期间我院心内科确诊为CHD且行冠状动脉造影术的患者143例作为研究组,选取同期进行入院进行冠脉造影检查单支轻度狭窄,冠状动脉阻塞程度＜30%的109例患者为对照组,采集受试者入院次日清晨空腹静脉血检测血清Chemerin、hs-CRP水平,并采用Gensini积分法评估患者冠状动脉病变程度。比较不同病变支数、Gensini积分CHD患者血清Chemerin、hs-CRP水平差异,并分析相关性。结果：研究组血清Chemerin、hs-CRP水平和Gensini积分均高于对照组（P均<0.05）。随着CHD患者的病变支数增加,血清Chemerin、hs-CRP水平、Gensini积分均显著增高;随着Genisini积分增高,血清Chemerin、hs-CRP水平均显著增高,组间差异均有统计学意义（P均<0.05）。经Pearson相关性分析,CHD患者血清Chemerin水平与hs-CRP水平呈正相关（r=0.702,P<0.05）,血清Chemerin水平、hs-CRP水平均与Genisini积分成正相关（r=0.643、0.593,P均<0.05）。结论：血清Chemerin、hs-CRP升高可以反应CHD患者病变累积及病变程度,可以作为反映冠状动脉病变程度的有效指标。     

Differential progression of complex culprit stenoses in patients with stable and unstable angina pectoris

Objectives. This study sought to compare the evolution of complex culprit stenoses in patients with stable and those with unstable angina pectoris.Background. Complex coronary stenoses are associated with adverse clinical and angiographic outcomes. However, it is not known whether the evolution of complex stenoses differs in unstable angina versus stable angina pectoris.Methods. We prospectively assessed stenosis progression in 95 patients with unstable angina whose angina stabilized with medical therapy (Group 1) and 200 patients presenting with stable angina (Group 2). After diagnostic angiography, all patients were placed on a waiting list for coronary angioplasty and restudied at 8 ± 4 (mean ± SD) months later. In each patient the presumed culprit stenosis was identified and classified as complex (irregular borders, overhanging edges or thrombus) or smooth (absence of complex features). Stenosis progression, as assessed by computerized angiography, was defined as ⩾20% diameter reduction or new total occlusion.Results. At the first angiogram, 364 stenoses ⩾50% and 383 stenoses <50% were identified. At restudy, 36 (15%) of 236 stenoses progressed in 29 Group 1 patients and 36 (7%) of 502 stenoses in 31 Group 2 patients (p = 0.001). Forty-five (88%) of 51 stenoses ⩾50% and 6 (29%) of 21 stenoses <50% that nitrogeressed developed to total coronary occlusion (p = 0.001). More culprit stenoses progressed in Group 1 than in Group 2 (p = 0.006), whereas progression of nonculprit stenoses was not significantly different in both groups. Culprit complex stenoses progressed more frequently in Group 1 than in Group 2 (p = 0.01). During follow-up, 3 patients died (myocardial infarction), and 51 had a nonfatal coronary event. Culprit steenoses progressed in 15 (54%) of the 28 patients with a nonfatal coronary event in Group 1 and in 9 (39%) of 23 patients in Group 2 (p = NS). Complex morphology (p < 0.001) and unstable angina at initial presentation (p < 0.01) were predictive factors for progression of culprit stenoses.Conclusions. A larges proportion of culprit complex stenoses progress in unstable angina than stable angina, and this is frequently associated with recurrence of coronary events.     

Diagnostic value of 18F-FDG PET in the assessment of myocardial viability in coronary artery disease: A comparative study with 99mTc SPECT and echocardiography

ObjectiveTo investigate the diagnostic value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography （18F-FDG PET） in the as-sessment of myocardial viability in patients with known coronary artery disease （CAD） when compared to99mTc single photon emission computed tomography （SPECT） and echocardiography, with invasive coronary angiography as the gold standard.MethodsThirty patients with diagnosed CAD met the selection criteria, with 10 of them （9 men, mean age 59.5 ± 10.5 years） undergoing all of these imaging proce-dures consisting of SPECT and PET, echocardiography and invasive angiography. Diagnostic sensitivity of these less invasive modalities for detection of myocardial viability was compared to invasive coronary angiography. Inter- and intra-observer agreement was assessed for di-agnostic performance of SPECT and PET.ResultsOf all patients with proven CAD, 50% had triple vessel disease. Diagnostic sensitivity of SPECT, PET and echocardiography was 90%, 100% and 80% at patient-based assessment, respectively. Excellent agreement was achieved between inter-observer and intra-observer agreement of the diagnostic value of SPECT and PET in myocardial viability （k= 0.9）. Conclusion18F-FDG PET has high diagnostic value in the assessment of myocardial viability in patients with known CAD when com-pared to SPECT and echocardiography. Further studies based on a large cohort with incorporation of18F-FDG PET into patient management are warranted.     

BNP与冠状动脉病变及心脏变时性相关性研究

目的探讨冠心病患者血浆脑钠肽（BNP）与冠状动脉病变严重程度及心脏变时性的相关性。方法记录冠心病患者血浆BNP水平及心脏变时性指标,包括r HR和HRR,并记录冠状动脉造影（CAG）结果,计算Gensini评分,对比分析无症状性心肌缺血、稳定型心绞痛及不稳定型心绞痛3组患者血浆BNP水平及心脏变时性指标差异。评价血浆BNP水平与冠状动脉病变严重程度及心脏变时性指标相关性。结果本研究共纳入462例冠心病患者,单因素方差分析结果显示各组间BNP水平差异均有统计学意义（均P〈0.05）;无症状性心肌缺血与不稳定型心绞痛心脏变时性指标r HR比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。Person相关分析显示,冠心病患者血浆BNP水平与冠状动脉病变Gensini评分呈正相关（r=0.43,P〈0.05）,与心脏变时性指标r HR及HRR均呈负相关（r=-0.34,-0.40,均P〈0.05）。结论冠心病患者血浆BNP与冠状动脉病变程度及心脏变时性指标r HR和HRR密切相关,对于评价冠心病心脏功能的改变有重要的临床价值。     

Culprit Lesion Detection in Patients Presenting With Non-ST Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome and Multivessel Disease

Background/purposeIdentification of the culprit lesion in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) allows appropriate coronary revascularization but may be unclear in patients with multivessel coronary disease (MVD). Therefore, we investigated the rate of culprit lesion identification during coronary angiography in NSTE-ACS and multivessel disease.Methods/materialsConsecutive patients presenting with NSTE-ACS and MVD, between January 2012 and December 2016 were evaluated. Coronary angiograms, intravascular imaging, and ECGs were analyzed for culprit lesion identification. Long-term clinical outcomes in terms of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and mortality were reported in patients with or without culprit identification.ResultsA total of 1107 patients with NSTE-ACS and MVD were included in the analysis, 310 (28.0%) with unstable angina and 797 (72.0%) with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction. The culprit lesion was angiographically identified in 952 (86.0%) patients, while no clear culprit lesion was found in 155 (14.0%) patients. ECG analysis allowed to predict the location of the culprit vessel with low sensitivity (range 28.4%–36.7%) and high specificity (range 90.6%–96.5%). Higher lesion complexity was associated with inability to identify the culprit. Intravascular imaging was applied in 55 patients and helped to identify the culprit lesion in 53 patients (96.4%). There was no difference in all-cause mortality (21.4% vs. 25.8%, p = 0.24) and MACE (39.2% vs. 47.6%, p = 0.07) between the cohorts with or without culprit lesion identification by angiography.ConclusionsThe culprit lesion appeared unclear by coronary angiography in >10% of patients with NSTE-ACS and MVD. Complementary invasive imaging substantially enhanced the diagnostic accuracy of culprit lesion detection.     

Location of myocardium at risk in patients with first-time ST-elevation infarction: comparison among single photon emission computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and electrocardiography

Background

The amount of myocardium at risk (MaR) during acute coronary occlusion and the duration of occlusion are important determinants of final infarct size. The main goal of early reperfusion therapy is to salvage ischemic myocardium, thereby preserving left ventricular function. The aims of the present study were to test the feasibility of developing polar plot representations of MaR, for perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), regional wall thickening by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and distribution of ST-segment changes. A second aim was to test the hypothesis that these different modalities display similar localization of the MaR in patients with reperfused first-time myocardial infarction.

Methods

Eleven patients with first-time myocardial infarction with ST-elevation received ^99mTc tetrofosmin before primary percutaneous coronary intervention, SPECT imaging within 3 hours, and cardiac MRI of the left ventricle within 24 hours. The results for SPECT, MRI, and electrocardiogram (ECG) were developed into polar plots, and two expert observers designated the culprit coronary artery as assessed by angiography.

Results

The perfusion SPECT, MRI wall thickening, and ST changes are presented in side-by-side polar plots. In total, the culprit artery, based on the location of the MaR, was correctly designated in 91%, 82%, and 91% of cases by SPECT, MRI, and ECG, respectively.

Conclusions

Polar representation for localization of the MaR by SPECT perfusion, MRI wall thickening, and ECG ST-segment deviation is feasible. All 3 modalities have the potential to be used for indirect visual designation of the culprit artery in patients with first-time acute coronary occlusion.     

NT-ProBNP serum levels reflect severity and extent of ischemia in patients admitted with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between NT-proBNP elevation and prognosis in patients with NSTEACS. BACKGROUND: High NT-proBNP levels are related to a worse prognosis in patients with ACS. The precise mechanism by which is not clear. METHODS: Serial sampling of NT-proBNP, Troponin T and CK-MB was performed in 23 patients admitted with NSTEACS. Using coronary angiography in each patient a culprit lesion was identified. Proximal lesions were located before or at the first major branch of the parent artery. All other lesions localizations were considered distal. To evaluate the influence of left ventricular systolic function on NT-proBNP levels WMSI was measured by echocardiography. RESULTS: Proximal culprit lesion localization was associated with significant higher baseline (mean 506 ng/l, SD 440 ng/l) and peak NT-proBNP levels (mean 1055 ng/l; SD 236 ng/l), as compared to patients with a distal lesion localization. (Baseline: 139 ng/l, SD 140 ng/l, peak: 381 ng/l; SD 64 ng/l). (P = 0.01) NT-proBNP levels were highly correlated to Troponin T and CK-MB peak serum levels. Adjustments for left ventricular dysfunction did not alter these associations. CONCLUSIONS: High peak NT-proBNP levels are independently associated with both proximal culprit localization and elevated biochemical markers of myocardial damage. These findings suggest that NT-proBNP levels reflect the amount of jeopardized myocardium and could signify the integral of the extent and severity of an ischemic event.     

首发AMI患者急诊PCI术后BNP水平与Tei指数的相关性研究

目的：探讨首发急性心肌梗死（AMI）急诊经皮冠状动脉介入（PCI）术后脑利钠肽（BNP）水平与Tei指数相关性。方法：80例首发AMI急诊PCI术后患者,根据Gensini积分分为轻度冠脉病变组（20例）、中度冠脉病变组（30例）和重度冠脉病变组（30例）,同期入选30例冠脉造影正常者为正常对照组,比较各组的Tei指数与BNP。结果：AMI患者Tei指数明显高于正常对照组（0．38±0．08）;在AMI患者,重度冠脉病变组InBNP水平明显高于中度冠脉病变组[（5．42±0．33）ug／L比（5．09±0．24）pg／L],重度冠脉病变组Tei指数明显高于轻、中度冠脉病变组[（0．54±0．07）比（0．39±0．05）、（0．43±0．05）],P均〈0．01;直线相关分析显示,Tei指数与InBNP水平、Gensini积分呈正相关（r=0．612,0．862,P均〈0．01）,与LVEF呈负相关（r=-0．601,P〈0．000）;InBNP与Gensini积分相关性分析,r=0．437,P〈0．05。结论：Tei指数结合BNP检测用于评估急性心肌梗死的心功能及预后可能更为准确。     

血清骨保护素和脑利钠肽水平与非ST段抬高型急性冠状动脉综合征患者冠状动脉病变程度的相关性

目的 探讨血清骨保护素和脑利钠肽水平与非ST段抬高急性冠状动脉综合征患者冠状动脉病变程度之间的关系.方法 192例受试者分为三组:稳定型心绞痛患者58例,不稳定型心绞痛/非ST段抬高心肌梗死患者99例,对照者35例,入院时检测血清骨保护素和脑利钠肽水平,并进行冠状动脉造影.根据造影结果对冠状动脉病变进行Gensini评分,分析两种标志物与冠状动脉狭窄数及冠状动脉病变Gensini评分的相关性.结果所有冠心病患者骨保护素水平高于对照组(P<0.01),稳定型心绞痛组骨保护素水平低于不稳定型心绞痛/非ST段抬高心肌梗死组(P<0.01);稳定型心绞痛组脑利钠肽水平略高于对照组(P>0.05),不稳定型心绞痛/非ST段抬高心肌梗死组脑利钠肽水平明显高于稳定型心绞痛组(P<0.01);多支血管病变患者脑利钠肽水平显著高于单支血管病变患者(P<0.01),脑利钠肽与冠状动脉病变Gensini评分轻微相关(r=0.45,P<0.01),骨保护素与冠状动脉病变Gensini评分显著相关 (r=0.64,P<0.001),多元回归分析发现骨保护素和脑利钠肽与冠心病独立相关(P<0.01).结论血清骨保护素与不稳定型心绞痛/非ST段抬高心肌梗死患者冠状动脉狭窄程度及病变进展有关,提示骨保护素可能参与了冠状动脉疾病的进程.不稳定型心绞痛/非ST段抬高心肌梗死患者脑利钠肽水平也增高,表明脑利钠肽水平与缺血范围以及严重程度有较大的关联.