骨髓相关蛋白对急性冠状动脉综合征的早期诊断价值

目的探讨骨髓相关蛋白对急性冠状动脉综合征的早期诊断价值。方法选取因胸痛发作3 h内就诊患者81例,行冠状动脉造影,根据临床最终诊断,将患者分为急性冠状动脉综合征组和非缺血性胸痛组。分别在胸痛0～3 h、3～6 h、6～12 h采血检测骨髓相关蛋白,比较不同时段、不同取样途径骨髓相关蛋白变化规律。结果胸痛0～3 h、3～6 h和6～12 h骨髓相关蛋白两组比较差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。冠状动脉血和同期外周静脉血骨髓相关蛋白比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。绘制0～6 h骨髓相关蛋白受试者作业特征曲线,最适cut-off值为8.5 mg/L,受试者作业特征曲线下面积为0.898(95%CI 0.815～0.981),灵敏度为60.7%,特异度为95.0%。结论骨髓相关蛋白对急性冠状动脉综合征诊断具有较高的灵敏度,可作为诊断急性冠状动脉综合征的早期生化标志物。     

缺血修饰白蛋白在老年急性冠状动脉综合征中的应用价值

目的探讨缺血修饰白蛋白(IMA)在老年急性冠状动脉综合征(ACS)早期诊断中的应用价值。方法收集急诊老年患者共153例作为病例组,年龄>65岁,入选患者均有胸痛、呼吸困难、或恶心呕吐上腹不适等典型(或不典型)症状的疑似ACS,所有患者在就诊即刻、12 h抽血检测IMA、肌酸激酶同工酶(CK-MB)和心肌肌钙蛋白T(cTnT),入院后常规查18导联心电图(ECG)、心脏彩色B超、胸部X线、腹部彩色B超和冠状动脉造影。随机选择同期在本院进行健康体检的健康者80例作为对照组,空腹抽血检测IMA水平。分别评价IMA、cTnI、ECG指标对老年ACS患者缺血早期诊断的敏感度和特异度以及三者联合应用对ACS患者缺血早期诊断的敏感度和特异度。评估IMA对老年急性冠状动脉综合征的危险分层的应用价值。结果 153例病例中,12 h cTnT阳性86例,最终诊断ACS 95例,95例包括急性ST抬高心肌梗死(STEMI)36例、急性非ST抬高急性心肌梗死(NSTEMI)48例、不稳定型心绞痛(UA)11例、非ACS 58例;来诊即刻IMA对12 h cTnT阳性及最终诊断ACS的敏感度[95.3%(82/86)、96.8%(92/95)]、阴性预测值[92.7%(51/55)、94.5%(52/55)]最高,cTnT即刻的敏感度[26.7%(23/86)、25.3%(24/95)]、阴性预测值[50.8%(65/128)、44.5%(57/128)]很低,ECG对12 h cTnT阳性及最终诊断ACS的敏感度[40.7%(35/86)、41.1%(56/67)]、阴性预测值[52.3%(56/107)、47.7%(51/107)],3个指标联合应用对12 h cTnT阳性及最终诊断ACS的敏感度[98.8%(85/86)、97.9%(93/95)]、阴性预测值[98.1%(50/51)、96.1%(49/51)],在4组中ACS组IMA明显高于非ACS组且有统计学意义,AMI组高于UA组且有统计学意义(均为P<0.05)。结论 IMA在急症患者中对ACS的早期诊断和鉴别诊断应用价值很高,对危险分层有应用价值。     

Role of “Ischemia Modified Albumin” (IMA) in acute coronary syndromes

Background

Diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is important, due to the associated very high mortality. Failure to diagnose ACS is a problem both for the patients and the clinicians. Ischemia modified albumin (IMA) has already been licensed by the US Food and Drug Administration for the diagnosis of suspected myocardial ischemia.

Methods

Patients attending the emergency department (ED) within 6 h after having features of ACS were selected. IMA was done on admission. Blinded to the IMA results patients were fully evaluated and a diagnosis of non-ischemic chest pain (NICP), unstable angina (UA) or myocardial infarction (MI) was made. Later IMA results were correlated in each group.

Results

Mean IMA value was 56.38 ± 23.89 u/ml in NICP group whereas in UA group it was 89.00 ± 7.76 u/ml and MI group was 87.50 ± 9.62 u/ml. This showed a sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 87%. The positive predictive value of the test was 88% and negative predictive value was 94%. In 16 patients an early diagnosis could be made when compared with Trop-T. Of the 89 patients 11 patients died in hospital. The IMA value was compared between this group and the patients who survived. Patients who died had a mean IMA value of 88.5 with a standard deviation of 5.33 whereas in patients who survived the mean value was 78.26 which was not statistically significant.

Conclusion

In conclusion the benefit of the test would be to rule out ACS in patients who present early to ED with inconclusive diagnosis.     

缺血修饰白蛋白对急性心肌缺血早期诊断价值的探讨

目的探讨缺血修饰白蛋白（IMA）测定对急性心肌缺血的早期诊断价值。方法采用白蛋白钴结合试验检测830例健康体检者（健康对照组）、492例急性冠状动脉综合征患者（ACS组）、74例单纯性高血压病患者（高血压组）、78例病毒性心肌炎患者（病毒性心肌炎组）、395例急性胸痛者（急性胸痛组,包括急诊ACS患者133例与随诊胸痛患者262例）和68例接受经皮冠状动脉介入治疗术患者（PCI组）血清或血浆IMA水平,并对其中急诊ACS患者进行IMA水平动态观察及血清肌钙蛋白I（cTnI）和心电图检测。结果根据ROC曲线,当临界值为0．45时综合评价最佳。ACS组和病毒性心肌炎组IMA水平分别为（0．55±0．11）吸光度单位（ABSU）和（0．38±0．11）ABSU,高于健康对照组[（0．34±0．08）ABSU,P〈0．05],且ACS组和病毒性心肌炎组之间IMA差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。急性胸痛组中急诊ACS患者IMA水平及阳性率分别为（0．54±0．12）ABSU和77．4％,高于随诊者的（0．44±0．12）ABSU和39．3％（P〈0．01）。在133例急诊ACS患者中,首诊1h内IMA阳性率为82．O％,高于同期cTnI阳性率40．6％（P〈0．01）,就诊后6—24hIMA与cTnI水平及阳性率较首诊1h内显著升高（P〈0．01）。在72例急性胸痛发作3h内入院且cTnI均为阴性的ACS患者中,首诊IMA阳性率为86．1％,心电图阳性率为72．2％,两者联合测定阳性率为93．1％。PCI术后即刻患者动脉血浆IMA水平较术前IMA明显升高（P〈0．05）。首诊ACS患者IMA水平高于临界值,于入院1天达峰值,且持续升高,后缓慢下降,入院14天IMA均值接近正常水平。结论IMA早期诊断急性心肌缺血具有临床应用价值。     

联合测定缺血修饰白蛋白等生化标志物对急性冠脉综合征早期诊断的价值（英文）

目的：探讨生化标志物联合检测对急性冠脉综合征（ACS）的早期诊断价值。方法：对156例因胸痛4 h就诊患者,以冠状动脉造影（CAG）为诊断依据,分为ACS组（112例）和非缺血性胸痛（NICP）组（44例）。在胸痛〈4 h和4~8 h分别抽血测定缺血修饰白蛋白（IMA）,乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）,肌酸激酶（CK）,肌酸激酶同工酶（CK-MB）及心脏肌钙蛋白I（cTnI）等心脏生化标志物,并结合CAG检查结果进行综合分析。结果：在发病4h内对ACS诊断敏感性最高的是IMA（87.50%）,特异性最高的是cTnI达95.45%,准确性最高的是IMA达80.77%;4~8h对ACS诊断敏感性最高的是IMA,达91.07%,特异性最高的是cTnI（97.73%）,准确性最高的是CK和IMA,二者分别为85.90%,85.25%,无显著差异,并列第一。综合判断,无论是〈4h,还是4~8h,敏感性和准确性最高的是IMA,特异性最高的是cTnI。4 h内IMA等5项指标联合检测可提高敏感性达89.28%,特异性达95.45%,准确性达91.02%,均为最高水平。结论：对于诊断急性冠脉综合征,IMA的敏感性和准确性最高,cTnI的特异性最高,IMA等5种指标联合检测可将其诊断提高到最高水平     

Ischemia-modified albumin predicts short-term outcome and 1-year mortality in patients attending the emergency department for acute ischemic chest pain

The primary study aim was to determine whether ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) predicts adverse outcome in patients attending the emergency department (ED) with acute chest pain. Ischemia-modified albumin is a sensitive marker of myocardial ischemia. However, little is known about its ability to predict outcome in patients presenting to the ED with acute chest pain. We prospectively studied 207 patients who presented to the ED with acute chest pain suggestive of acute coronary syndrome within 3 h of the onset of symptoms. Blood samples for IMA assessment were obtained on admission. We evaluated a 30-day combined end point (cardiac death, myocardial infarction, recurrent angina) and 1-year all-cause mortality. A total of 31 (15%) patients experienced the 30-day composite end point and 16 patients (7.7%) died during the 1-year follow-up. Short-term combined end point (9.6% vs 20.4%, P = 0.03) and 1-year mortality rate (11.7% vs 3.8%, log rank 3.978, P = 0.046) were significantly higher in patients with IMA levels >93.3 U/ml compared to patients with lower IMA. On multivariate analysis, IMA remained an independent predictor of both 30-day combined end point (odds ratio 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01–1.07, P = 0.01) and 1-year mortality (hazard ratio 1.038, 95% CI 1.006–1.070, P = 0.018). Ischemia-modified albumin is an independent predictor of short-and long-term adverse outcomes in patients presenting to the ED with typical acute chest pain. These authors contributed equally to this study.     

A comparative study of markers of inflammation for the assessment of cardiovascular risk in patients presenting to the emergency department with acute chest pain suggestive of acute coronary syndrome

BACKGROUND: The role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is established. Little is known however, regarding the use of inflammatory markers as predictors of future cardiovascular events in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with suspected ACS. HYPOTHESIS: To assess whether biomarkers that predict cardiovascular risk in apparently healthy individuals and coronary artery disease patients are useful predictors of future cardiovascular events in patients presenting to the ED with chest pain suggestive of ACS. METHODS: We compared the abilities of serum C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), albumin and leukocyte count to identify subjects with ACS and those who are at high risk of developing events during a 30-day follow-up. RESULTS: 144 patients (mean age 62+/-13 years, 45 female) presenting to the ED <3 h after the onset of symptoms suggestive of ACS were evaluated. Final hospital diagnoses were non-ischemic chest pain in 43 (30%) and ACS in 101 (70%) patients. Patients with ACS had significantly higher leukocyte count (p<0.0001) and hs-CRP levels (p<0.02) and lower albumin concentrations, compared to patients with NICP (p<0.0001). Lower albumin concentrations (p=0.03) and hs-CRP (p=0.049) were predictors of recurrent events at 30 days. On multivariate analysis, however, only leukocyte count was a predictor of ACS (OR 20.9; 95% CI: 3.7-19.5; p=0.01) and high hs-CRP levels were a predictor of clinical outcome (OR 2.8; 95% CI: 1.5-5.2; p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Leukocyte count is an independent predictor of ACS in patients presenting to the ED with chest pain suggestive of ACS and high hs-CRP levels are an independent predictor of clinical outcome in ACS patients.     

Comparison of the diagnostic accuracy of ischemia-modified albumin and echocardiography in patients with acute chest pain

BACKGROUND:

Several imaging tests and biomarkers have been proposed for the identification of patients with unstable angina among those presenting to the emergency department with acute chest pain. Preliminary data suggest that ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) may represent a potentially useful biomarker in these patients.

OBJECTIVE:

To compare IMA and echocardiography in excluding unstable angina in patients with acute chest pain.

METHODS:

Thirty-three patients (mean [± SD] age 59.8±10.8 years; 28 men) presenting to the emergency department with acute chest pain lasting <3 h suggestive of acute coronary syndrome, with normal or non-diagnostic electrocardiograms, and creatine kinase MB and troponin levels within the normal range, were included in the present study.

RESULTS:

After further diagnostic evaluation, five patients (15.2%) were diagnosed with unstable angina. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive (NPV) value of echocardiography for diagnosing unstable angina was 60.0%, 89.3%, 50.0% and 92.6%, respectively. The area under the ROC curve for diagnosing unstable angina based on the serum IMA levels was 0.193 (95% CI 0.047 to 0.339; P<0.05). Based on ROC curve analysis, serum IMA levels ≥31.95 IU/mL yielded the optimal combination of sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing unstable angina. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and NPV of serum IMA levels ≥31.95 IU/mL for diagnosing unstable angina was 40.0%, 28.6%, 9.1% and 72.7%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

Measurement of serum IMA levels appears to represent a useful tool for excluding unstable angina in patients presenting to the emergency department with acute chest pain. Moreover, IMA shows an NPV that is comparable with echocardiography.     

急性冠状动脉综合征血清缺血修饰白蛋白的动态变化

目的:探讨血清缺血修饰白蛋白(IMA)对急性冠状动脉综合征早期的诊断价值。方法:将56例急性冠状动脉综合征患者分为三组,不稳定性心绞痛组(n=25),ST抬高心肌梗死组(n=20),非ST抬高心肌梗死组(n=11),另选50例健康体检者为正常对照组。分别于胸痛发作2、4、6、12及24 h抽血检测56例急性冠状动脉综合征患者的血清缺血修饰白蛋白、肌钙蛋白Ⅰ(cTnI)、肌酸激酶MB同工酶(CK-MB),分析缺血修饰白蛋白对急性冠状动脉综合征的诊断价值。结果:在急性冠状动脉综合征患者中缺血修饰白蛋白水平于胸痛发作2小时已明显增高并达高峰,4小时仍持续增高,明显高于正常对照组(P<0．01),6小时降至正常。而CK-MB、cTnI水平在胸痛发作4小时开始增高,6小时明显增高,以后逐步递增并在24小时达高峰。不稳定型心绞痛、ST抬高的心肌梗死、非ST抬高的心肌梗死三组中,缺血修饰白蛋白水平升高以不稳定型心绞痛组最明显。结论:缺血修饰白蛋白是诊断急性冠状动脉综合征的早期敏感指标,是目前唯一的诊断心肌缺血的生化标志物。     

Use of ischemia-modified albumin in diagnosis of coronary artery disease

OBJECTIVE: The diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) is an important clinical problem. Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) has been demonstrated to be a helpful marker in detecting myocardial ischemia. In this study, we have investigated the diagnostic importance of IMA in CAD. METHOD AND RESULTS: Fifty patients with chest pain were enrolled in the study. IMA levels were measured on admission and within 30-60 min after exercise by albumin cobalt-binding test. Coronary angiography was performed in all patients after the exercise test. The mean preexercise IMA level was 83+/-27 U/ml in the patient group. IMA levels before the exercise test were similar in both patient and control groups (P>0.05). The mean IMA level in the patient group was, however, higher than in the control group after the exercise test (P=0.001). The sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values of the postexercise IMA levels >85 in diagnosis of CAD were 78, 73, 0.81 and 0.73%; respectively. Postexercise IMA levels were higher in patients with chest pain, ST depression and downsloping and horizontal ST depression of 2 mm or more. CONCLUSION: IMA levels after the exercise test increased in patients with CAD. Our study results indicate that postexercise IMA levels can be helpful markers in the diagnosis of stable CAD in clinical practice.     

A vector-based, 5-electrode, 12-lead monitoring ECG (EASI) is equivalent to conventional 12-lead ECG for diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes

AIMS: The conventional 12-lead electrocardiogram (cECG) derived from 10 electrodes using a cardiograph is the gold standard for diagnosing myocardial ischemia. This study tested the hypothesis that a new 5-electrode 12-lead vector-based ECG (EASI; Philips Medical Systems, formerly Hewlett Packard Co, Boeblingen, Germany) patient monitoring system is equivalent to cECG in diagnosing acute coronary syndromes (ACSs). METHODS: Electrocardiograms (EASI and cECG) were obtained in 203 patients with chest pain on admission and 4 to 8 hours later. Both types of ECGs were graded as ST-elevation myocardial infarction if at least 1 of the 2 consecutive recordings showed ST elevation more than 0.2 mV, as ACS if one or both showed ST elevation less than 0.2 mV, T-wave inversion, or ST depression. Otherwise, the ECG was graded negative. RESULTS: Final diagnosis was identical in 177 patients (87%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 82%-91%; kappa = 0.81; SE = 0.035). ST-elevation myocardial infarction was correctly identified or excluded by EASI with a specificity of 94% (95% CI, 89%-97%) and a sensitivity of 93% (95% CI, 86%-97%; using cECG as the gold standard). Of 118 patients with enzyme elevations, an almost identical number (72 [61% by EASI] and 73 [62% by cECG]) had ST elevations. Both techniques were equivalent in predicting subsequent enzyme elevation (identical, 108/143; 75% of ACS and ST-elevation myocardial infarction ECGs by EASI and cECG). Thus, both ECG methods had exactly the same specificity of 59% (95% CI, 48%-69%) and sensitivity of 91% (95% CI, 85%-96%) for detecting myocardial injury. CONCLUSION: EASI is equivalent to cECG for the diagnosis of myocardial ischemia.     

Evaluation of patients with chest pain and nondiagnostic ECG using thallium-201 myocardial planar imaging and technetium-99m first-pass radionuclide angiography in the emergency department.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine if thallium-201 myocardial planar imaging and technetium-99m first-pass radionuclide angiography, performed in the emergency department, could predict which patients with acute chest pain and nondiagnostic ECGs were more likely to have an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. SETTING: Urban, county ED. TYPE OF PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of 47 patients with acute chest pain suggestive of myocardial ischemia and nondiagnostic ECG. INTERVENTIONS: Thallium-201 myocardial imaging and technetium-99m first-pass radionuclide angiography in the ED. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Four patients had an AMI (ie, CK-MB greater than or equal to 6% total CK). The combined scans had a sensitivity of 75%, (95% confidence interval [Cl], 19-99%), a specificity of 42% (95% CI, 27-58%), an accuracy of 45% (95% CI, 19-99%), a positive predictive value of 11% (95% CI, 2-29%), and a negative predictive value of 95% (95% CI, 75-100%) in predicting AMI. CONCLUSION: Thallium-201 myocardial planar imaging and technetium-99m first-pass radionuclide angiography performed in the ED do not appear to be useful in determining which patients with acute chest pain and nondiagnostic ECG are likely to have an AMI.     

The diagnostic impact of prehospital 12-lead electrocardiography

STUDY HYPOTHESIS: It is feasible to apply prehospital 12-lead electrocardiography to most stable prehospital chest pain patients. Prehospital diagnostic accuracy is improved compared with single-lead telemetry. POPULATION: One-hundred sixty-six stable adult patients who sought paramedic evaluation for a chief complaint of nontraumatic chest pain. METHODS: One-hundred fifty-one prehospital 12-lead ECGs of diagnostic quality were obtained by paramedics on 166 adult patients presenting with nontraumatic chest pain. Paramedics and base station physicians were blinded to the information on acquired prehospital 12-lead ECGs and treated patients according to current standard of care-clinical diagnosis and single-lead telemetry. Final hospital diagnoses were classified into three groups: acute myocardial infarction (24); suspected angina or ischemia (61); and nonischemic chest pain (66). Paramedics and base station physicians' clinical diagnoses and prehospital and emergency department ECGs were similarly classified and compared. Prehospital and ED 12-lead ECGs were read retrospectively by two cardiologists. RESULTS: Paramedics achieved a high success rate (98.7%) in obtaining diagnostic quality prehospital 12-lead ECGs in 94.6% of eligible prehospital patients. For patients with acute myocardial infarction, prehospital ECG alone had significantly higher specificity than did the paramedic clinical diagnosis (99.2% vs 70.9%; P less than .001), and significantly higher positive predictive value (92.9% vs 32.7%; P less than .001). For patients with angina, combining the paramedic clinical diagnosis and the prehospital ECG significantly improved sensitivity (90.2% vs 62.3%; P less than .001) and increased negative predictive value (88.9% vs 71.3%; P less than .02) compared with paramedic clinical diagnosis alone. There was a high concordance between prehospital and ED ECG diagnosis (99.3% for acute myocardial infarction and 92.8% for angina). Furthermore, ten patients whose prehospital ECGs demonstrated ischemia and who had final hospital diagnoses of angina or acute myocardial infarction were mistriaged by paramedics and/or received no base station physician-directed therapy. CONCLUSION: It is feasible to apply prehospital 12-lead electrocardiography to most stable prehospital chest pain patients. Prehospital 12-lead ECGs have the potential to significantly increase the diagnostic accuracy in chest pain patients, approach congruity with ED 12-lead ECG diagnoses, and may allow for consideration of altering and improving prehospital and hospital-based management in this patient population.     

Chest pain units. Organization and protocol for the diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes

The two main goals of chest pain units are the early, accurate diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes and the rapid, efficient recognition of low-risk patients who do not need hospital admission. Many clinical, practical, and economic reasons support the establishment of such units. Patients with chest pain account for a substantial proportion of emergency room turnover and their care is still far from optimal: 8% of patients sent home are later diagnosed of acute coronary syndrome and 60% of admissions for chest pain eventually prove to have been unnecessary.We present a systematic approach to create and manage a chest pain unit employing specialists headed by a cardiologist. The unit may be functional or located in a separate area of the emergency room. Initial triage is based on the clinical characteristics, the ECG and biomarkers of myocardial infarct. Risk stratification in the second phase selects patients to be admitted to the chest pain unit for 6-12 h. Finally, we propose treadmill testing before discharge to rule out the presence of acute myocardial ischemia or damage in patients with negative biomarkers and non-diagnostic serial ECGs.     

Initial presenting electrocardiogram as determinant for hospital admission in patients presenting to the emergency department with chest pain: a pilot investigation

BACKGROUND: Evaluation of chest pain accounts for millions of costly Emergency Department (ED) visits and hospital admissions annually. Of these, approximately 10-20% are myocardial infarctions (MI). HYPOTHESIS: Patients with chest pain whose initial electrocardiogram (ECG) is normal do not require hospital admission for evaluation and management of a possible myocardial infarction. METHODS: The medical records of a consecutive cohort of 250 patients who presented to the ED with chest pain and were admitted by the ED physician to a cardiology inpatient service of an academic tertiary care medical center were reviewed. Reasons for admission to hospital was to rule out an acute coronary syndrome, specifically, myocardial infarction. The initial ECG of each patient was evaluated for abnormalities and compared with the final diagnosis. RESULTS: Of the 75 patients presenting with normal ECGs (normal, upright T waves and isoelectric ST segments), 1 (1.3%) was subsequently diagnosed with a myocardial infarction by Troponin I elevation alone. Of the 55 patients presenting with abnormal ECGs but no clear evidence of ischemia [i.e., left bundle branch block (LBBB), right bundle branch block (RBBB), left anterior hemiblock (LAH)], 2 (3.6%) were diagnosed with MI. Of the 48 patients presenting with abnormal ECGs questionable for ischemia (nonspecific ST and T wave changes that were not clearly ST segment elevation or depression), 7 (14.6%) were diagnosed with an MI. Of the 72 patients who presented with abnormal ECGs showing ischemia (acute ST segment elevation and/or depression), 39 (54.2%) were shown to have evidence for MI. SUMMARY: Patients who presented with normal ECGs (category 1) were extremely low risk for acute myocardial infarction. Patients with abnormal ECGs but no evidence of definite ischemia (category 2) had a relatively low incidence of MI. Patients with abnormal ECGs questionable for ischemia (category 3) had an intermediate risk of acute myocardial infarction. The majority of patients with abnormal ECGs demonstrating ischemia (category 4) were subsequently shown to evolve an acute myocardial infarction. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with chest pain and initial ECGs with ST segment abnormalities suggestive or diagnostic for ischemia, should be admitted to the hospital for further evaluation and management. Patients with ECGs that do not display acute ST segment changes are at a lower risk for acute myocardial infarction than those with acute ST segment changes and should be admitted on the basis of cardiac risk profile. (i.e., age, gender, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, known coronary artery disease, etc.) Patients with normal ECGs (category 1) are at extremely low risk, and it may be acceptable to consider further evaluation on an outpatient basis.     

Troponin T and quantitative ST-segment depression offer complementary prognostic information in the risk stratification of acute coronary syndrome patients

OBJECTIVES: Our primary objective was to examine the prognostic relationship between baseline quantitative ST-segment depression (ST) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) elevation. The secondary objectives were to: 1) examine whether ST provided additional insight into therapeutic efficacy of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa therapy similar to that demonstrated by cTnT; and 2) explore whether the time to evaluation impacted on each marker's relative prognostic utility. BACKGROUND: The relationship between the baseline electrocardiogram (ECG) and cTnT measurements in risk-stratifying patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) has not been evaluated comprehensively. METHODS: The study population consisted of 959 patients enrolled in the cTnT substudy of the Platelet IIb/IIIa Antagonism for the Reduction of Acute coronary syndrome events in a Global Organization Network (PARAGON)-B trial. Patients were classified as having no ST (n = 387), 1 mm ST (n = 433), and ST > or =2 mm (n = 139). Forty-percent (n = 381) were classified as cTnT-positive based on a definition of > or =0.1 ng/ml. RESULTS: Six-month death/(re)myocardial infarction rates were 8.4% among cTnT-negative patients with no ST and 26.8% among cTnT-positive patients with ST > or =2 mm. On ECGs done after 6 h of symptom onset, ST > or =2 mm was associated with higher risk compared to its presence on ECGs done earlier (odds ratio [OR] 7.3 vs. 2.1). In contrast, the presence of elevated cTnT within 6 h of symptom was associated with a higher risk of adverse events compared with elevations after 6 h (OR 2.4 vs. 1.5). CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative ST and cTnT status are complementary in assessing risk among ACS patients and both should be employed to determine prognosis and assist in medical decision making.     

Diagnostic evaluation of the MRP-8/14 for the emergency assessment of chest pain

Elevated levels of myeloid-related protein (MRP)-8/14 (S100A8/A9) are associated with first cardiovascular events in healthy individuals and worse prognosis in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The diagnostic utility of MRP-8/14 in patients presenting to the emergency room with symptoms concerning for ACS is uncertain. MRP-8/14 was measured in serial serum and plasma samples in a single center prospective cohort-study of patients presenting to the emergency room with non-traumatic chest pain concerning for ACS. Final diagnosis was adjudicated by an endpoint committee. Of patients with baseline MRP-8/14 results (n = 411), the median concentration in serum was 1.57 μg/ml (25th, 75th: 0.87, 2.68) and in plasma was 0.41 μg/ml (<0.4, 1.15) with only moderate correlation between serum and plasma (ρ = 0.40). A final diagnosis of MI was made in 106 (26%). Peak serum MRP-8/14 was higher in patients presenting with MI (p < 0.001). However, the overall diagnostic performance of MRP-8/14 was poor: sensitivity 28% (95% CI 20-38), specificity 82% (78-86), positive predictive value 36% (26-47), and negative predictive value 77% (72-81). The area under the ROC curve for diagnosis of MI with MRP-8/14 was 0.55 (95% CI 0.51-0.60) compared with 0.95 for cTnI. The diagnostic performance was not improved in early-presenters, patients with negative initial cTnI, or using later MRP-8/14 samples. Patients presenting with MI had elevated levels of serum MRP-8/14 compared to patients with non-cardiac chest pain. However, overall diagnostic performance of MRP-8/14 was poor and neither plasma nor serum MRP-8/14 offered diagnostic utility comparable to cardiac troponin.     

Ischemia modified albumin (IMA) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and left bundle branch block (LBBB). Does it make the difference?

Background

Management of patients with a suspected ACS and LBBB is a challenge to the clinician.

Efficacy of multislice computed tomography for the detection of acute coronary syndrome in the emergency department.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), especially non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction and unstable angina in the emergency department (ED) still remains a challenge. Multislice computed tomography (MSCT) allows assessment of not only coronary artery stenoses and occlusions, but also assessment of coronary artery plaques and myocardial perfusion status. METHODS AND RESULTS: MSCT was performed in 31 patients who were admitted to the ED because of chest pain persisting at least 30 min and non-diagnostic ECG changes and normal serum enzyme concentrations. Using MSCT, ACS was defined by coronary artery stenosis > or = 75% accompanied by computed tomography (CT)-low-density plaques, and/or by the presence of myocardial perfusion defects. ACS was confirmed by coronary stenosis > or = 75% by coronary angiography and/or subsequent elevation of troponin I concentration. In total, 22 patients were diagnosed as having ACS. MSCT detected stenoses with CT-low-density plaques in 21 and non-transmural myocardial perfusion defect in 3 patients. There was 1 false-positive and 1 false-negative result. The sensitivity and specificity of MSCT to identify ACS was 95.5% and 88.9%, respectively. CONCLUSION: MSCT provides diagnostic operating characteristics suitable for triage of patients with ACS in the ED.     

联合测定心型脂肪酸结合蛋白、肌钙蛋白T诊断早期急性心肌损伤

目的:联合测定心型脂肪酸结合蛋白(h-FABP)、肌钙蛋白T(cTnT)对早期诊断急性心肌损伤的意义.方法:对76例急性冠脉综合征(ACS)患者,自胸痛发生后1 h开始每小时连续监测心型脂肪酸结合蛋白、肌钙蛋白T至胸痛发生后6 h,共6次.结果:在早期急性心肌损伤中,h-FABP阳性结果出现的时间早于cTnT,二者对比有统计学意义(P＜0.05).在cTnT升高患者中,h-FABP升高率为98.7%,二者对比无统计学差异(P＞0.05).结论:在诊断早期急性心肌损伤时,h-FABP出现阳性结果时间早于cTnT,而联合测定h-FABP、cTnT对提高ACS患者早期确诊率,指导临床急救具有重要的价值.