Procalcitonin as a prognostic factor in severe acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background and objective:   Little is known about the value of procalcitonin in predicting mortality in patients with an exacerbation of COPD. This study evaluated the clinical and biological predictors of intensive care unit (ICU) mortality in patients with a severe acute exacerbation of COPD.
Methods:   A prospective observational cohort study was conducted of consecutive patients with severe acute exacerbation of COPD requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation. At ICU admission, data were collected on the patients' clinical condition, blood leukocyte count, C-reactive protein and procalcitonin. Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the risk factors for ICU mortality.
Results:   One hundred and sixteen patients were included in this study. Mean age was 67 years. The mean simplified acute physiology score was 43. Sixty-five per cent of study patients had chronic respiratory insufficiency. Bacteria were cultured at levels considered significant in 36% of study patients. Logistic organ dysfunction score (hazard ratio (95% CI) = 1.19 (1.03–1.37), P  = 0.013), rapidly fatal underlying disease (3.33 (1.40–7.87), P  = 0.003) and procalcitonin level (1.01 (1–1.03), P  = 0.018) were independently associated with increased risk for ICU mortality. Non-invasive mechanical ventilation use before intubation was independently associated with reduced risk for ICU mortality (0.34 (0.14–0.84), P  = 0.020).
Conclusions:   In patients with severe acute exacerbation of COPD requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation, logistic organ dysfunction score, rapidly fatal underlying disease and procalcitonin are independently associated with increased risk for ICU mortality. Non-invasive mechanical ventilation use before intubation was independently associated with reduced risk for ICU mortality.     

急性高原肺水肿患者动态血压的临床研究

目的：探讨急性高原肺水肿患者动态血压的特点。方法：应用美国Spqcelabs 90207型动态血压记录仪，测定37例急性高原肺水肿患者24h动态血压与正常参照值比较，结果：急性高原肺水肿患者24h动态血压整体水平较正常参照值无明显差异（P＞0．05），收缩压夜间较白昼下降4．3％，有非常显著性差异（P＜0．01），舒张压夜间较白昼下降4．4％，有显著性差异（P＜0．05），有30例患者的动态血压曲线呈非杓型改变。结论：急性高原肺水肿患者24h动态血压整体水平较正常人无明显改变，但血压昼夜节律消失。     

Epiglottitis presenting as acute pulmonary edema

Presented is the case of a 2 1/2-year-old with acute pulmonary edema associated with epiglottitis prior to intubation. The patient complained only of odynophagia and had one brief episode of apnea and flaccid posturing. Chest radiograph demonstrated pulmonary edema. A soft tissue radiograph of the neck confirmed the diagnosis of epiglottitis. The patient was managed successfully with prompt intubation, PEEP, and antibiotics. Pulmonary edema associated with epiglottitis may be more common than previously recognized. It may occur prior to or after intubation. When pulmonary edema is clinically evident, PEEP should be administered early.     

Hyperuricemia as a prognostic factor in pulmonary arterial hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a malignant disease with a median survival of 3 years. Uric acid levels are elevated in severe heart failure and in states of hypoxemia. Early data suggest a correlation between hyperuricemia and severe pulmonary arterial hypertension. We studied 29 patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension diagnosed and treated between 1998 and 2001. Clinical characteristics (6 min walk test and New York Heart Association class) and hemodynamic parameters (pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance and cardiac output) were evaluated and correlated to uric acid level in a retrospective study. Uric acid levels correlated positively with New York Heart Association class (r=0.66, P<0.001) and negatively with 6 min walk test (r=-0.35, P=0.03). Uric acid levels were higher in patients who died than in patients who survived at the end ofthe follow-up period (8.8 vs. 5.7 mg/dl, P=0.001). This study shows that uric acid levels are elevated in severe pulmonary arterial hypertension and can be used as a prognostic marker of disease severity.     

Systolic blood pressure variability as a risk factor for stroke and cardiovascular mortality in the elderly hypertensive population

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether baseline systolic blood pressure variability was a risk factor for stroke, cardiovascular mortality or cardiac events during the Syst-Eur trial. DESIGN: The Syst-Eur study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, powered to detect differences in stroke rate between participants on active antihypertensive treatment and placebo. Systolic blood pressure variability measurements were made on 744 participants at the start of the trial. Systolic blood pressure variability was calculated over three time frames: 24 h, daytime and night-time. The placebo and active treatment subgroups were analysed separately using an intention-to-treat principle, adjusting for confounding factors using a multiple Cox regression model. PARTICIPANTS: An elderly hypertensive European population. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Stroke, cardiac events (fatal and non-fatal heart failure, fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarction and sudden death) and cardiovascular mortality (death attributed to stroke, heart failure, myocardial infarction, sudden death, pulmonary embolus, peripheral vascular disease and aortic dissection). RESULTS: The risk of stroke increased by 80% (95% confidence interval: 17-176%) for every 5 mmHg increase in night-time systolic blood pressure variability in the placebo group. Risk of cardiovascular mortality and cardiac events was not significantly altered. Daytime variability readings did not predict outcome. Antihypertensive treatment did not affect systolic blood pressure variability over the median 4.4-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: In the placebo group, but not the active treatment group, increased night-time systolic blood pressure variability on admission to the Syst-Eur trial was an independent risk factor for stroke during the trial.     

The prognostic value of troponin T and echocardiography in acute pulmonary edema

OBJECTIVE: Several studies documented the relevance of autonomic activity in the pathophysiology of heart failure. In our study we evaluated the adjustment of this activity under different stimuli, by means of heart rate variability (HRV), and correlated these findings with long-term mortality and sustained VT occurrence. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Fifty-three patients (mean age 54+/-9 years) with heart failure were submitted to time and frequency domain HRV analysis. This latter analysis was performed at rest, during paced breathing and during passive tilt. RESULTS: Lower standard deviation of RR intervals (76.76+/-24 versus 107.70+/-43, p=0.02), mean of the 5-min standard deviations of RR intervals (35.14+/-15 versus 62.39, p<0.01), standard deviation of the 5-min average RR intervals (69.42+/-19 versus 91.79+/-30, p=0.02), and baseline Low-Frequency (LF) power (15.15+/-12 versus 40.39+/-24 nu, p=0.001) characterized patients who died. Paced breathing induced a significant reduction of LF (40.39+/-24 to 20.12+/-18 nu, p<0.0001) and increase of High Frequency power (HF) (47.31+/-23 to 70.63+/-16 nu, p<0.0001) in survivors, while tilting induced a reduction of HF (47.31+/-23 to 29.80+/-16 nu, p<0.0001). Patients who died did not show significant variation of HRV neither during paced breathing nor during tilt. Reduced time domain indexes were significantly correlated to sustained VT occurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with heart failure with a better prognosis are characterized by a responsiveness of autonomic modulation. Simple maneuvers, such as tilting and paced breathing, seem to provide more useful information, than the baseline evaluation of autonomic status, in identifying patients with a higher mortality. Time domain analysis was more helpful to estimate arrhythmic risk.     

无创正压通气治疗重症急性心源性肺水肿临床研究

目的评价无创通气模式持续气道正压（cPAP）和双水平气道正压（BiPAP）通气在急性心源性肺水肿治疗中的作用。方法我院急诊科收治的60例严重急性心源性肺水肿，均合并酸中毒（pH〈7．35），随机分为3组，即常规吸氧组，CPAP组（10cmH2O）和BiPAP组（IPAP=15cmH2O，EPAP=5H2O）。后两者采用伟康医疗公司的S／T30型呼吸机通气。以院内2小时抢救成功率和幸存出院率评价治疗效果。结果抢救成功率（2小时治疗结束时呼吸频率〈23次／min，SaO2〉90％，动脉血pH〉7．35，酸中毒恢复）：对照组3例（15％），CPAP组7例（35％），BiPAP组9例（45％），P=0．116；幸存出院：对照组14例（70％），CPAP组20例（100％），BiPAP组15例（75％），P=0．029（采用Fisher＇s检验）。结论研究结果显示：急性心源性肺水肿合并酸中毒者，采用CPAP治疗幸存出院率更高，而不是BiPAP和常规吸氧组。院内生存率与早期生理变化间无相关。早期实施无创通气，使插管率降低。     

无创正压通气治疗重症急性心源性肺水肿临床研究

目的评价无创通气模式持续气道正压(CPAP)和双水平气道正压(BiPAP)通气在急性心源性肺水肿治疗中的作用。方法我院急诊科收治的60例严重急性心源性肺水肿,均合并酸中毒(pH<7.35),随机分为3组,即常规吸氧组,CPAP组(10cmH2O)和BiPAP组(IPAP=15cmH2O,EPAP=5H2O)。后两者采用伟康医疗公司的S/T30型呼吸机通气。以院内2小时抢救成功率和幸存出院率评价治疗效果。结果抢救成功率(2小时治疗结束时呼吸频率<23次/min,SaO2>90%,动脉血pH>7.35,酸中毒恢复):对照组3例(15%),CPAP组7例(35%),BiPAP组9例(45%),P=0.116;幸存出院:对照组14例(70%),CPAP组20例(100%),BiPAP组15例(75%),P=0.029(采用Fisher's检验)。结论研究结果显示:急性心源性肺水肿合并酸中毒者,采用CPAP治疗幸存出院率更高,而不是BiPAP和常规吸氧组。院内生存率与早期生理变化间无相关。早期实施无创通气,使插管率降低。     

Asymmetric pulmonary perfusion causing unilateral pulmonary edema as a complication of acute myocardial infarction

Acute unilateral pulmonary edema is an unusual clinical condition occasionally associated with severe mitral valve insufficiency. We describe a patient diagnosed as having unilateral pulmonary edema after an acute anterior myocardial infarction. Echocardiograms performed in the acute phase ruled out mitral insufficiency. A perfusion lung scan showed left-sided pulmonary hypoperfusion. The diagnosis of acquired hypoplasia of the left pulmonary artery tree was made by chest computed tomography. The pathogenesis and differential diagnosis are discussed.     

Continuous positive airway pressure by face mask in acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema

The therapeutic efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) administered by face mask was studied in 40 patients with acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema and respiratory failure. Arterial blood gas values and pH, systemic arterial pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate were measured during administration of 30% oxygen with a high-flow face mask apparatus at ambient airway pressure. Twenty patients were then randomly chosen to continue ambient airway pressure breathing and 20 received 10 cm H2O of CPAP. The measurements were repeated 10, 60 and 180 minutes after therapy was initiated. During the first 10 minutes of CPAP treatment, arterial blood oxygen partial pressure increased 8 +/- 9 mm Hg (mean +/- 1 standard deviation), (p less than 0.01) and respiratory rate decreased 5 +/- 5 breaths/min (p less than 0.001). Systolic arterial pressure decreased 12 +/- 21 mm Hg (p less than 0.05), and heart rate by 10 +/- 11 beats/min (p less than 0.001). A decrease in respiratory rate by 2 +/- 5 breaths/min (p less than 0.05) was the only change that occurred in the control group. The improvement in arterial blood oxygenation persisted throughout the investigation period (p less than 0.05). Thirteen patients (65%) in the control group and 7 patients (35%) in the CPAP group met our criteria for treatment failure during the study (p = 0.068). Thus, CPAP administered by face mask improves gas exchange, decreases respiratory work, unloads circulatory stress, and may reduce the need for ventilator treatment in acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema.