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Fikret Er, Amir M Nia,
Henning Dopp,
Kristina M Dahlem,
Evren Caglayan,
Erland Erdmann,
Natig Gassanov,
Martin Hellmich,
Volker Burst,
Torsten Kubacki,
Thomas Benzing
Circulation 04/2013; 127(13):e536. · 14.74 Impact Factor
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CJEM: Canadian journal of emergency medical care = JCMU: journal canadien de soins medicaux d'urgence 01/2013; 15:1. · 1.18 Impact Factor
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Canadian Medical Association Journal 07/2012; · 8.22 Impact Factor
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Fikret Er, Amir M Nia,
Henning Dopp,
Martin Hellmich,
Kristina M Dahlem,
Evren Caglayan,
Torsten Kubacki,
Thomas Benzing,
Erland Erdmann,
Volker Burst,
Natig Gassanov
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ABSTRACT: Contrast medium-induced acute kidney injury is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. The underlying mechanism has been attributed in part to ischemic kidney injury. The aim of this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial was to assess the impact of remote ischemic preconditioning on contrast medium-induced acute kidney injury.
Patients with impaired renal function (serum creatinine >1.4 mg/dL or estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL · min(-1) · 1.73 m(-2)) undergoing elective coronary angiography were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to standard care with (n=50) or without ischemic preconditioning (n=50; intermittent arm ischemia through 4 cycles of 5-minute inflation and 5-minute deflation of a blood pressure cuff). Overall, both study groups were at high risk of developing contrast medium-induced acute kidney injury according to the Mehran risk score. The primary end point was the incidence of contrast medium-induced kidney injury, defined as an increase in serum creatinine ≥25% or ≥0.5 mg/dL above baseline at 48 hours after contrast medium exposure. Contrast medium-induced acute kidney injury occurred in 26 patients (26%), 20 (40%) in the control group and 6 (12%) in the remote ischemic preconditioning group (odds ratio, 0.21; 95% confidence interval, 0.07-0.57; P=0.002). No major adverse events were related to remote ischemic preconditioning.
Remote ischemic preconditioning before contrast medium use prevents contrast medium-induced acute kidney injury in high-risk patients. Our findings merit a larger trial to establish the effect of remote ischemic preconditioning on clinical outcomes.
URL: http://www.germanctr.de. Unique identifier: U1111-1118-8098.
Circulation 06/2012; 126(3):296-303. · 14.74 Impact Factor
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The American journal of medicine 07/2011; 124(7):602-4. · 4.47 Impact Factor
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European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 06/2011; 68(1):109-11. · 2.85 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: When heart failure and tachycardia occur simultaneously, a useful diagnostic tool for early discrimination of patients with benign tachycardia-mediated cardiomyopathy (TMC) versus major structural heart disease (MSHD) is not available. Such a tool is required to prevent unnecessary and wearing diagnostics in patients with reversible TMC. Moreover, it could lead to early additional diagnostics and therapeutic approaches in patients with MSHD.
A total of 387 consecutive patients with supraventricular arrhythmia underwent assessment at a single center. Of these patients, 40 fulfilled the inclusion criteria with a resting heart rate ≥100 bpm and an impaired left ventricular ejection fraction <40%. In all patients, successful electrical cardioversion was performed. At baseline, day 1 and weekly for 4 weeks, levels of NT-proBNP and echocardiographic parameters were evaluated. An NT-proBNP ratio (BNP-R) was calculated as a quotient of baseline NT-proBNP/follow-up NT-proBNP. After 4 weeks, cardiac catheterization was performed to identify patients with a final diagnosis of TMC versus MSHD.
Initial NT-proBNP concentrations were elevated and consecutively decreased after cardioversion in all patients. Multivariate regression and ROC analysis revealed that BNP-R discriminated between patients with TMC versus MSHD independent and superior to all other variables. The area under the ROC curve for BNP-R to detect TMC was 0.90 (95% CI 0.79-1.00; p < 0.001) after 1 week and 0.995 (95% CI 0.99-1.00; p < 0.0001) after 4 weeks. One week after cardioversion already, a BNP-R cutoff ≥2.3 was useful for TMC diagnosis indicated by an accuracy of 90%, sensitivity of 84% and specificity of 95%.
BNP-R was found to be highly accurate for the early diagnosis of TMC.
Clinical Research in Cardiology 05/2011; 100(10):887-96. · 2.95 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We report the case of a 42-year-old woman who was admitted due to alcohol induced dehydration leading to cardiac symptoms. On physical examination severe hypokalaemia and long QT syndrome were apparent. During potassium (K(+)) supplementation we simultaneously observed QT interval recovery. This is the first report of continuous documentation of the QTc duration during serum K(+) rise, highlighting the necessity of electrocardiogram documentation and serum potassium correction in appropriate patients.
Europace 04/2011; 13(9):1352-3. · 1.98 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Arginine vasopressin (AVP) is the major physiological regulator of renal water excretion and blood volume. The AVP pathways of V(1a)R-mediated vasoconstriction and V(2)R-induced water retention represent a potentially attractive target of therapy for edematous diseases. Experimental and clinical evidence suggests beneficial effects of AVP receptor antagonists by increasing free water excretion and serum sodium levels. This review provides an update on the therapeutic implication of newly developed AVP receptor antagonists in respective disorders, such as chronic heart failure, liver cirrhosis and syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion.
European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 02/2011; 67(4):333-46. · 2.85 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Isolated ST-segment elevation only in the aVR lead, reflecting an acute myocardial infarction due to a left main coronary artery occlusion, was ignored as part of physicians' training in emergency medicine for a long time. The recognition of aVR lead elevation is becoming more accepted as a mandatory diagnostic tool, in particular for physicians working at emergency departments. We report a typical myocardial infarction with total occlusion of the proximal part of the left anterior coronary artery, presenting with ST-segment elevation in the aVR lead, which was misinterpreted as diffuse ischemia. The lacking mandatory awareness of this entity endangered prompt and correct treatment.
TheScientificWorldJOURNAL 01/2011; 11:662-5. · 1.66 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Intracardiac myxomas are the most common benign cardiac tumors in adults. They are a rare source of cardiogenic embolisms and sudden death, especially in young patients. This report describes the case of a male adolescent who presented with right-sided paresis and aphasia. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed an ischemic stroke without evidence of acute bleeding. Intra-arterial local thrombolysis was immediately started. An echocardiographic screening after successful thrombolysis with a remarkable recovery of symptoms detected a thrombotic-like mass in the left atrium. The mass was excised surgically, confirmed as a benign atrial myxoma, and the patient was discharged with restitution ad integrum. Thus, contrary to some critical reports, thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic strokes due to atrial myxomas may be safe and highly effective.
TheScientificWorldJOURNAL 01/2011; 11:891-3. · 1.66 Impact Factor
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European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 11/2010; 66(11):1173-5. · 2.85 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Flecainide is used as a pill-in-the-pocket treatment for pharmacological cardioversion in patients without structural heart disease and atrial fibrillation (AF). In patients with structural heart disease and elevated cardiovascular risk, flecainide is believed to be harmful. Therefore, data about safety and effectiveness of single-dose flecainide for cardioversion in patients at elevated cardiovascular risk are lacking.
One-hundred and six consecutive patients with recent onset AF and known structural heart disease and/or elevated PROCAM-score did receive oral flecainide 300 mg for cardioversion.
The effectiveness, safety and influencing factors of flecainide for cardioversion in high-risk patients were prospectively assessed.
In 43 of 106 patients (40.6%), sinus rhythm could be restored within 192.4 +/- 10.7 min by flecainide. The PROCAM-score was 41.5 +/- 0.56 in patients with successful cardioversion compared to 45.7 +/- 0.74 in patients without successful cardioversion (P < 0.001). ACE-inhibitor co-medication was associated with a significantly lower rate of conversion by flecainide (HR 2.3, 95% CI, 1.12-4.26, P < 0.01). In 58 of 63 patients in whom cardioversion by flecainide was not effective, electrical cardioversion was performed which was successful in 47 patients. Life-threatening arrhythmias did not occur in any patient. The most common side effect was sinus-bradycardia and transient sinus arrest (2-4 s) immediately after conversion.
When monitored properly, flecainide is safe and useful for cardioversion in patients at elevated cardiovascular risk.
Clinical Research in Cardiology 02/2010; 99(6):369-73. · 2.95 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Right heart failure occurs daily in clinical settings, but an underlying cardiac malignant tumor is very uncommon. We report a case of a 48-year-old man presenting only with palpitations and decompensated heart failure. Echocardiographic imaging revealed a large tumor of the right ventricle. Shortly after a putatively successful surgical approach, the patient was admitted again with heart failure symptoms. On reassessment, a complete relapse with multiple metastases could be seen. Generally, cardiac malignant tumors are diagnosed at a time-point when therapeutic options are very limited or even postmortem. Broad echocardiographic screening in patients with unspecific symptoms might be helpful to detect cardiac malignant tumors at early stages.
TheScientificWorldJOURNAL 01/2010; 10:1996-8. · 1.66 Impact Factor
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TheScientificWorldJOURNAL 01/2010; 10:988-9. · 1.66 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The validity of Doppler echocardiographic (DE) measurement of systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) has been questioned. Recent studies suggest that mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) might reflect more accurately the invasive pressures.
241 patients were prospectively studied to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of mPAP for the diagnosis of PH. Right heart catheterization (RHC) and DE were performed in 164 patients mainly for preoperative evaluation of heart valve dysfunction. The correlation between DE and RHC was better when mPAP (r=0.93) and not sPAP (r=0.81) was assessed. Bland-Altman analysis revealed a smaller variation of mPAP than sPAP. The following ROC analysis identified that a mPAP≥25.5 mmHg is useful for the diagnosis of PH. This value was validated in an independent cohort of patients (n=50) with the suspicion of chronic-thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. The calculated diagnostic accuracy was 98%, based on excellent sensitivity of 98% and specificity of 100%. The corresponding positive and negative predictive values were 100%, respectively 88%.
mPAP has been found to be highly accurate for the initial diagnosis of PH. A cut-off value of 25.5 mmHg might be helpful to avoid unnecessary RHC and select patients in whom RHC might be beneficial.
PLoS ONE 01/2010; 5(12):e15670. · 4.09 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Antiarrhythmic action of flecainide is based on sodium channel blockade. Beta(1)-adrenoceptor (beta(1)AR) activation induces sodium channel inhibition, too. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of different beta(1)AR genotypes on antiarrhythmic action of flecainide in patients with structural heart disease and atrial fibrillation.
In 145 subjects, 87 with atrial fibrillation, genotyping was performed to identify the individual beta(1)AR Arg389Gly and Ser49Gly polymorphism. Resting heart rate during atrial fibrillation and success of flecainide-induced cardioversion were correlated with beta(1)AR genotype. The overall cardioversion rate with flecainide was 39%. The Arg389Arg genotype was associated with the highest cardioversion rate (55.5%; OR 3.30; 95% CI; 1.34-8.13; p = 0.003) compared to patients with Arg389Gly (29.5%; OR 0.44; 95% CI; 0.18-1.06; p = 0.066) and Gly389Gly (14%; OR 0.24; 95% CI 0.03-2.07; p = 0.17) variants. The single Ser49Gly polymorphism did not influence the conversion rate. In combination, patients with Arg389Gly-Ser49Gly genotype displayed the lowest conversion rate with 20.8% (OR 0.31; 95% CI; 0.10-0.93; p = 0.03). In patients with Arg389Arg variants the heart rate during atrial fibrillation was significantly higher (110+/-2.7 bpm; p = 0.03 vs. other variants) compared to Arg389Gly (104.8+/-2.4 bpm) and Gly389Gly (96.9+/-5.8 bpm) carriers. The Arg389Gly-Ser49Gly genotype was more common in patients with atrial fibrillation compared to patients without atrial fibrillation (27.6% vs. 5.2%; HR 6.98; 95% CI; 1.99-24.46; p<0.001).
The beta(1)AR Arg389Arg genotype is associated with increased flecainide potency and higher heart rate during atrial fibrillation. The Arg389Gly-Ser49Gly genotype might be of predictive value for atrial fibrillation.
PLoS ONE 01/2010; 5(7):e11421. · 4.09 Impact Factor
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DMW - Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift 11/2009; 134(45):2285-6. · 0.53 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Cardiac arrest in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Thrombolysis is expected to improve the outcome in these patients. However studies evaluating rescue-thrombolysis in patients with PE are missing, mainly due to the difficulties of clinical diagnosis of PE. We aimed to determine the success influencing factors of thrombolysis during resuscitation in patients with PE.
We analyzed retrospectively the outcome of 104 consecutive patients with confirmed (n = 63) or highly suspected (n = 41) PE and monitored cardiac arrest. In all patients rtPA was administrated for thrombolysis during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In 40 of the 104 patients (38.5%) a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) could be achieved successfully. Patients with ROSC received thrombolysis significantly earlier after CPR onset compared to patients without ROSC (13.6+/-1.2 min versus 24.6+/-0.8 min; p<0.001). 19 patients (47.5%) out of the 40 patients with initially successful resuscitation survived to hospital discharge. In patients with hospital discharge thrombolysis therapy was begun with a significantly shorter delay after cardiac arrest compared to all other patients (11.0+/-1.3 vs. 22.5+/-0.9 min; p<0.001).
Rescue-thrombolysis should be considered and started in patients with PE and cardiac arrest, as soon as possible after cardiac arrest onset.
PLoS ONE 01/2009; 4(12):e8323. · 4.09 Impact Factor
