Acute gastritis‐induced Takotsubo's cardiomyopathy

A 50‐year‐old lady presented with epigastralgia, electrocardiogram (ECG) showed T‐wave inversions and the echocardiogram low ejection fraction (EF) with apical ballooning. An esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) revealed gastritis. She recovered with proton pump inhibitors treatment. This is the first case that describes gastritis‐induced stress cardiomyopathy. Clinicians should be aware of Takotsubo's cardiomyopathy (TCM) as a possible complication of gastritis.     

Drug-induced immune haemolytic anaemia caused by levofloxacin

Drug-induced immune haemolytic anaemia (DIIHA) is extremely rare. We herein report a case of life-threatening DIIHA due to levofloxacin. This is the second case reported in the literature. A 51-year-old woman presented with complaints of fatigue after 4–5 days of levofloxacin therapy for a lung infection. At presentation, she was found to have haemolysis with a positive Coombs test and IgG autoantibodies. Levofloxacin was identified as the probable culprit, using the Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale. Upon discontinuation of the drug and initiation of steroids, the patient’s haematological parameters stabilised. Diagnosis of DIIHA is made through a history of intake of levofloxacin, clinical and laboratory features of haemolysis and a positive Coombs test. An autoantibody screen is most commonly positive for warm antibodies (IgG type). It is essential for clinicians to recognise this rare complication caused by a commonly prescribed medication, discontinue the offending drug and initiate treatment.     

Clinical characteristics of fast and slow progressors of infarct growth in anterior circulation large vessel occlusion stroke

Fast and slow progressor phenotypes of infarct growth due to anterior circulation large vessel occlusion (ACLVO) remain poorly understood. We aimed to define clinical predictors of fast and slow progressors in a retrospective study of patients with ACLVO who underwent baseline advanced imaging within 24 hours of stroke onset. Fast progressors (ischemic core > 70 ml, < 6 hours after onset) and slow progressors (ischemic core ≤ 30 ml, 6 to 24 hours after onset) were identified amongst 185 patients. Clinical and laboratory variables were tested for association with fast or slow progressor status. In the early epoch, no significant differences were found between fast progressors and controls. In the delayed epoch, slow progressors had a median NIHSS of 14 versus 20 (p < 0.01) and MCA occlusion in 80% versus 63% (p < 0.05) relative to controls. In multivariate analyses, NIHSS (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.73-0.95), hyperlipidemia (OR 4.24, 95% CI 1.01 – 19.3) and hemoglobin concentration (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.57 – 0.99) were independently associated with slow progressor status. This study indicates that lower initial stroke symptom severity, a history of hyperlipidemia and mild anemia are associated with individual tolerance to ACLVO stroke.     

Delays in thrombolysis during COVID-19 are associated with worse neurological outcomes: the Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology Multicenter Collaboration

Introduction

We have demonstrated in a multicenter cohort that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a delay in intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) among stroke patients. Whether this delay contributes to meaningful short-term outcome differences in these patients warranted further exploration.

Methods

We conducted a nested observational cohort study of adult acute ischemic stroke patients receiving IVT from 9 comprehensive stroke centers across 7 U.S states. Patients admitted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (1/1/2019–02/29/2020) were compared to patients admitted during the early pandemic (3/1/2020–7/31/2020). Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the effect of IVT delay on discharge to hospice or death, with treatment delay on admission during COVID-19 included as an interaction term.

Results

Of the 676 thrombolysed patients, the median age was 70 (IQR 58–81) years, 313 were female (46.3%), and the median NIHSS was 8 (IQR 4–16). Longer treatment delays were observed during COVID-19 (median 46 vs 38 min, p = 0.01) and were associated with higher in-hospital death/hospice discharge irrespective of admission period (OR per hour 1.08, 95% CI 1.01–1.17, p = 0.03). This effect was strengthened after multivariable adjustment (aOR 1.15, 95% CI 1.07–1.24, p < 0.001). There was no interaction of treatment delay on admission during COVID-19 (p_interaction = 0.65). Every one-hour delay in IVT was also associated with 7% lower odds of being discharged to home or acute inpatient rehabilitation facility (aOR 0.93, 95% CI 0.89–0.97, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Treatment delays observed during the COVID-19 pandemic led to greater early mortality and hospice care, with a lower probability of discharge to home/rehabilitation facility. There was no effect modification of treatment delay on admission during the pandemic, indicating that treatment delay at any time contributes similarly to these short-term outcomes.

     

Investigational drugs for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction: focus on antiplatelet and anticoagulant agents

Background: Advances in our understanding of the complex pathophysiologic mechanisms responsible for high-risk atherosclerotic plaque rupture resulting in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have led to the development of numerous antiplatelet and anticoagulant agents for treatment of AMI.

Areas covered: We review various antithrombotic drugs which were recently investigated for the treatment of AMI. A MEDLINE search for relevant articles on newer antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants drugs for the treatment of AMI was performed, and important original investigations were reviewed. We also briefly discuss agents that completed evaluation and were recently recommended by expert guidelines.

Expert opinion: The antiplatelet agents cangrelor and vorapaxar and the anticoagulant rivaroxaban, have shown promise for the reduction of ischemic events when administered during, and in the acute phase following AMI. However, these agents have not been compared with more potent P2Y₁₂ inhibitors, prasugrel, and ticagrelor. Finding an optimum combination of these agents to achieve an appropriate risk (bleeding) – benefit (reduction in ischemic events) balance is challenging. Further evaluation of agents that show promise is important for enhancing our armamentarium of pharmacologic agents for the successful treatment of AMI.     

Aorto-right atrial fistula: Late complication of tricuspid valve infective endocarditis

Abnormal connections between the ascending aortaand the cardiac chambers are rare, especially in thecontext of right-sided infective endocarditis(IE). Trans-thoracic echocardiography(TTE) with color-flow Dop-pler, transesophageal echocardiography(TEE), or bothmay be required for diagnosis. We present the case ofa woman admitted with right-sided heart failure(HF)symptoms. She had a previous history of tricuspid valveIE 30 years ago. TTE and TEE revealed an aorto-rightatrium fistula located just under the non-coronary cuspinto the right atrium at the level of the previously af-fected tricuspid valve. The Patient refused surgery andwas discharged home on HF medications. She has beenstable for the last 3 years. The peculiarity of this caseis the late symptomatic presentation of the aorto-atrialfistula and the unusual association to tricuspid valve IE.     

Laterality is an Independent Predictor of Endovascular Thrombectomy in Patients With Low National Institute of Health Stroke Scale

Objective

Endovascular thrombectomy (ET) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to large-vessel occlusion (LVO) is offered to select patients meeting strict criteria. One of the criteria is stroke severity as indicated by the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Inherently, NIHSS is biased towards left hemisphere strokes (LHS) with median NIHSS score 4 points higher than right hemisphere strokes (RHS). This may potentially affect clinical decision making and thrombectomy eligibility. We sought to test this hypothesis.