Failure of the balloon to pass through for a side branch in spite of wire crossing occasionally occurs due to a jailed stent during treatment of bifurcation lesions. In this report, we describe a novel 0.010-inch coronary guidewire compatible balloon (IKAZUCHI 10 ) that is effective for crossing a side branch through the jailed stent strut, while another standard 0.014-inch guidewire compatible small balloon was unable to cross the same lesion. This novel 0.010-inch guidewire compatible balloon may be useful for a side branch that is difficult to cross through the stent strut.
Background:
Long-term clinical implications of embryonic stem cell markers such as Oct4 and Nanog have not been investigated in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of early peripheral mobilization of stem cells with Oct4 and Nanog gene expression on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients with STEMI during a 4-year follow-up.
Methods:
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated on days 0, 1 and 7 from patients with STEMI (n = 40) and healthy controls (n=20). The numbers of CD34+, CD117+, CD133+ and c-met+ stem cells were measured by flow-cytometry. Oct4 and Nanog gene expressions were analyzed by real-time PCR. MACEs such as non-fatal MI, death, stroke, target lesion and revascularization were observed.
Results:
MACEs were significantly lower in patients with Oct4 gene expression ≥ 1.13 and Nanog gene expression ≥ 1.20 at admission. The numbers of CD34+, CD117+, CD133+ and c-met+ cells within 7 days after STEMI did not show significant differences in patients with or without MACE. Level of anti-inflammatory marker such as IL-10 was significantly higher within 7 days following STEMI in patients without MACE. Inflammatory and angiogenic markers such as CRP, IL-6, SCF, SDF-1α, and VEGF did not show significant differences in patients with or without MACE.
Conclusion:
mRNA levels of pluripotent embryonic stem cell markers such as Oct4 and Nanog were significantly higher in STEMI patients without MACEs during a 4-year follow-up. Baseline Oct4 and Nanog gene expression levels could be used as predictors of MACE in STEMI patients.
Most coronary artery fistulas were reported as congenital. Acquired coronary artery fistula occurring after cardiac surgery has rarely been reported.
From 1998 to 2003, 10 patients with coronary artery fistula detected by echocardiography after open heart surgery for congenital heart disease were included. Their ages ranged from 2 months to 41 years (median 4.2 years). The underlying heart disease was tetralogy of Fallot in five patients, ventricular septal defect in three, double chamber right ventricle in one, and transposition of the great arteries with ventricular septal defect in the remaining one.
Of these 10 patients, the coronary artery fistula originated from the left coronary artery in four, right coronary artery in two, and unknown origin in the remaining four. The coronary artery fistula drained into the right ventricle in nine and into the left ventricle in the remaining one. The incidence of acquired coronary artery fistula after open heart surgery for congenital heart disease was 0.44% (8/1832). The identified risk factors for acquired coronary artery fistula were reoperation and right ventricular muscle resection in ventricular septal defect. After follow-up for 0.5-12 years (mean 4.1+/-3.3 years), the coronary artery fistula persisted, but neither symptoms nor significant left-to-right shunt was noted.
Acquired coronary artery fistula is a rare complication after cardiac surgery. Reoperation and resection of right ventricular hypertrophic muscle increase the risk of this complication. Although shunt flow did not increase during follow-up, the significance of acquired coronary artery fistula needs further investigation.
We studied the effects of UK-118, 434-05, a permanently charged form of amlodipine, on recombinant smooth muscle and cardiac L-type calcium channels to determine the distinct modulatory properties of the ionized form of amlodipine. We found that the short distance between the permanent charge group and the active dihydropyridine (DHP) ring of UK-118, 434-05 reduces the potency of this compound as an inhibitor of smooth muscle (alpha(1c-b)) L-type channels, and is similar to the effects of other charged DHP derivatives on cardiac (alpha(1c-a)) L-type channels. However, we found surprisingly that the tonic block of cardiac (alpha(1c-a)) L-type channels was more pronounced than the tonic block of smooth muscle (alpha(1c-b)) L-type channels. This result contrasts with the previously reported subunit-specificity of neutral DHP compounds, and suggests that interactions between the amlodipine charge group and site(s) on the L-type channel alpha1 subunit distinguish the action of charged from neutral DHPs and may contribute to amlodipine's unique pharmacological profile.
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is among the most commonly performed heart surgical procedures. Saphenous vein graft failure due to stenosis impedes the longer-term success of CABG. A key cellular event in the process of vein graft stenosis is smooth muscle cell hyperplasia. In this study, we evaluated the effect of a DNAzyme (Dz13) targeting the transcription factor c-Jun in a rabbit model of vein graft stenosis in a cationic liposomal formulation containing 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium propane (DOTAP)/1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE). Dz13 in DOTAP/DOPE has undergone preclinical toxicological testing, and a Phase I clinical trial we recently conducted in basal cell carcinoma cancer patients demonstrates that it is safe and well tolerated after local administration.
Effects of Dz13 in a formulation containing DOTAP/DOPE on smooth muscle cell (SMC) growth and c-Jun expression were assessed. Dz13 transfection was determined by cellular uptake of carboxyfluorescein-labeled Dz13. Autologous jugular vein to carotid artery transplantation was performed in New Zealand White rabbits to investigate the effect of the Dz13 in DOTAP/DOPE formulation on intimal hyperplasia.
Dz13/DOTAP/DOPE reduced SMC proliferation and c-Jun protein expression in vitro compared with an impotent form of Dz13 bearing a point mutation in its catalytic domain (Dz13.G>C). The Dz13(500μg)/DOTAP/DOPE formed lipoplexes that were colloidally stable for up to 1h on ice (0°C) and 30min at 37°C, allowing sufficient uptake by the veins. Dz13 (500μg) inhibited neointima formation 28d after end-to-side transplantation.
This formulation applied to veins prior to transplantation may potentially be useful in efforts to reduce graft failure.
We studied the changes in myocardial second messengers and mitochondrial calcium levels during acute coronary occlusion-reperfusion in New Zealand white male rabbits fed a high cholesterol diet with or without fish oil supplementation. Group I, control rabbits, were fed a standard laboratory rabbit chow. In addition to the standard chow, Group II rabbits received a 1% cholesterol-enriched diet for 2 weeks, while Group III rabbits were fed a 1% cholesterol and 10% fish oil supplemented diet for 2 weeks. Acute coronary occlusion for 10 min or 1 h was induced by ligating the marginal branch of the left circumflex coronary artery. The vessel was then reperfused for 1 or 4 h in short- and long-term ischemia studies respectively. In the short-term ischemia study, myocardial samples taken from the cholesterol-fed rabbits had the highest cyclic adenosine monophosphate, inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate and mitochondrial calcium levels among the normal (nonischemic) and the ischemic areas of the three groups. The cholesterol and fish oil treated rabbits significantly suppressed the elevation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (P < 0.05 compared with the cholesterol-fed rabbits in normal and ischemic areas respectively), but did not significantly attenuate the elevation of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate and calcium levels. In the long-term ischemia study, the cholesterol-fed rabbits had the highest levels of these three messengers among the normal areas. However, only inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate level reached statistical significance (P < 0.05 compared with control). This group of rabbits had the lowest level of cyclic adenosine monophosphate, but the highest inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate and calcium levels among the ischemic areas.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Peak oxygen consumption derived from a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) is a standard prognostic indicator in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Tests with a peak respiratory exchange ratio (pRER)<1.0 are often taken to be submaximal, and data from such tests are treated as less helpful. The aim of the current study was to compare the prognostic value of CPETs with a peak respiratory exchange ratio (pRER)<1.0 versus a pRER>/=1.0 in a large, representative sample of patients with CHF.
445 patients underwent a symptom-limited, treadmill-based CPET using the modified Bruce protocol, [82% males; age 72 (65-79) years]. 255 patients completed the CPET with a pRER>/=1.0. 121 patients died, and in survivors, the median follow-up period was 42 months. 42% of patients could not perform a CPET with pRER>/=1.0 using a modified Bruce protocol. Independent predictors of mortality were peak oxygen uptake, and the VE/VCO(2) ratio. 190 patients completed the CPET with a pRER<1.0. Independent predictors of mortality were age, peak oxygen pulse, and history of angina. RER group (pRER<1.0 versus pRER>/=1.0) remained an independent predictor of mortality in all patients.
Independent predictors of mortality were different in patients with a pRER<1.0 compared to those with a pRER>/=1.0. In CHF patients with a pRER<1.0, traditional prognostic markers (VE/VCO(2) slope, peak oxygen uptake) were not independently predictive of mortality.
A male newborn weighing 2334 g was delivered at 37 weeks of gestation by caesarean section because of prenatal ultrasound findings of fetal hydrops with atrioventricualr block, ventriucular tachycardia (VT), and impaired ventricular function. In spite of the intravenous administration of lidocaine, VT continued. He developed poor perfusion and systemic hypotension. After the intravenous administration of amiodarone, VT was terminated. The electrocardiogram revealed an extremely prolonged corrected QT interval (860 ms) with 2:1 atrioventricular block. Unfortunately, he died 18 h after birth in spite of the administration of lidocaine, beta-blocker and magnesium. Mutational analysis identified a novel heterozygous de novo mutation (F1486del) in SCN5A. This mutation is associated with the IFM motif in the linker between III and IV domains of Na(v)1.5, which serves as an inactivation particle binding within the pore of sodium channels. This report demonstrates an interesting relationship between the clinical phenotype and the location of the mutation in long QT syndrome.
To determine whether serum B-type natriuretic peptide measured at rest and peak exercise and DeltaBNP contribute to the predictive value and diagnostic accuracy of exercise test in the diagnosis of myocardial ischemia.
Ventricular myocytes release BNP in response to increased wall stress that occurs in acute ischemia. During exercise testing, transient myocardial ischemia could also cause acute myocardial stress and changes in circulating BNP.
BNP was measured before and immediately after exercise testing with radionuclide imaging in 203 consecutive subjects referred for chest pain evaluation. Tested subjects were classified as ischemic and non-ischemic based on exercise results, and no ischemia, mild-moderate, and severe ischemia according to perfusion scan results. A logistic regression model, constructed of an ROC and an AUC (area under the curve), was used.
Ischemic ECG changes (> or =1 mm, horizontal S-T shift) were detected in the treadmill exercise test in 127 subjects (62.6%), and 76 (37.4%) had neither ST segment shift nor chest pain. Baseline BNP was higher in the ischemic group compared to the non-ischemic group (p=0.044); peak BNP was also higher in the ischemic group (p=0.025), as was DeltaBNP (p=0.0126). Of these 127 subjects, 106 (52% of all) had abnormal perfusion scan results. In the ischemic group, the median baseline, peak exercise BNP, and DeltaBNP values from baseline to peak were higher than in the non-ischemic group. In the severe ischemic group these variables were approximately three-fold higher than in the mild-moderate ischemic group (p<0.0001 for baseline; p<0.0001 for peak; and p<0.0001 for DeltaBNP). Rest, peak exercise, and DeltaBNP values were significantly higher in patients with previous myocardial infarction (p<0.001) and in patients treated with beta blockers; peak exercise BNP was higher in hypertensives and diabetics (p<0.05). The ROC convergence model showed that the AUC for peak-exercise BNP was best able to discriminate and predict severe ischemia and no ischemia, while DeltaBNP from rest to peak exercise discriminated best between mild-moderate and severe ischemia.
Peak exercise BNP and DeltaBNP improved the sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy of severe ischemia detection during an exercise test. The contribution of BNP determination during exercise was, however, less impressive than previously reported by others.
Aim of this study was to evaluate adjuvant magnesium orotate on mortality and clinical symptoms in patients with severe heart failure under optimal cardiovascular medication.
In a monocentric, controlled, double-blind study, 79 patients with severe congestive heart failure (NYHA IV) under optimal medical cardiovascular treatment were randomised to receive either magnesium orotate (6000 mg for 1 month, 3000 mg for about 11 months, n = 40) or placebo (n = 39). Both groups were comparable in demographic data, duration of heart failure and pre- and concomitant treatment.
After mean treatment duration of 1 year (magnesium orotate: 364.1 +/- 14.7 days, placebo: 361.2 +/- 12.7 days) the survival rate was 75.7% compared to 51.6% under placebo (p < 0.05). Clinical symptoms improved in 38.5% of patients under magnesium orotate, whereas they deteriorated in 56.3% of patients under placebo (p < 0.001).
Magnesium orotate may be used as adjuvant therapy in patients on optimal treatment for severe congestive heart failure, increasing survival rate and improving clinical symptoms and patient's quality of life.
The value of balloon valvuloplasty of the aortic valve in childhood is still under debate.
To evaluate the results of the procedure in a retrospective multicenter survey of a large cohort over a long time interval.
Retrospective analysis of 1004 patients with balloon valvuloplasty of the aortic valve performed between 9/1985 and 10/2006 at 20 centers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Amongst others, the following parameters were evaluated before and after the procedure as well as at the end of follow-up or before surgery: clinical status, left ventricular function, transaortic pressure gradient, degree of aortic regurgitation, freedom from re-intervention or surgery.
Patients from 1 day to 18 years of age with aortic valve stenosis were divided into four groups: 334 newborns (1-28 days); 249 infants (29-365 days); 211 children (1-10 years), and 210 adolescents (10-18 years).
Median follow-up was 32 months (0 days to 17.5 years). After dilatation the pressure gradient decreased from 65 (± 24)mm Hg to 26 (± 16)mm Hg and remained stable during follow-up. The newborns were the most affected patients. Approximately 60% of them had clinical symptoms and impaired left ventricular function before intervention. Complication rate was 15% in newborns, 11% in infants and 6% in older children. Independently of age, 50% of all patients were free from surgery 10 years after intervention.
In this retrospective multicenter study, balloon valvuloplasty of the aortic valve has effectively postponed the need for surgery in infants, children and adolescents up to 18 years of age.
Between 1973 and 1981 1000 successful studies involving ambulatory monitoring of intra-arterial blood pressure were performed using percutaneous cannulation of the brachial artery. We have reviewed the clinical effects of these studies and 35 other cases where attempted cannulation was unsuccessful. One major complication occurred, when an infected haematoma arising at the cannulation site led to the formation of a false aneurysm. In only one other case was distal pulsation diminished following the study. There were 157 reported "minor" complications in 122 studies, including haematoma, haemorrhage, transient paraesthesiae in median nerve territory, and evidence of micro-emboli. A limited study using pulsed wave Doppler ultrasound revealed no significant alteration in arterial lumen size or flow in 20 subjects. The procedure was therefore associated with a much smaller incidence of clinical problems than has been reported with other investigations involving cannulation of the brachial artery.
Background:
Paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) have been proved effective in randomized trials enrolling highly selected patients. Yet, given the uncertainty concerning results of PES implantation in very high-risk patients and lesions, we designed a prospective multicenter registry, the Taxus in Real-life Usage Evaluation (TRUE) Study. STUDY DESIGN, PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS AND IN-HOSPITAL OUTCOMES: Consecutive patients undergoing PES implantation were enrolled provided that the target lesion treated with PES was an unprotected left main (ULM), a true bifurcation, a chronic total occlusion (CTO), a long lesion (>28 mm), located in a small vessel (<2.75 mm), or the patient had diabetes mellitus. Clinical events will be adjudicated at 1, 7 and 12 months, with 4- to 8-month angiographic follow-up. The primary end-point will be the 7-month occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE, i.e. the composite of cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction [MI], coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG] and percutaneous target vessel revascularization [TVR]). To date, patient enrollment has been completed reaching the target of 1065 subjects. These included 322 (30.2%) diabetics, 115 (10.8%) subjects undergoing PES implantation for ULM, 229 (21.5%) in a bifurcation, 191 (17.9%) in a CTO, 430 (40.4%) in a small vessel, and 289 (27.1%) in a long lesion. An average of 1.5+/-0.6 vessels and 2.0+/-1.0 lesions were treated per patient, with 2.0+/-1.2 PES implanted per patient, and a 46+/-30 mm total PES length per patient. In-hospital MACE occurred in 39 (3.7%) patients, with 2 (0.2%) cardiac deaths, 32 (3.0%) MI, 5 (0.5%) TVR, no CABG, and 4 (0.4%) acute stent thromboses.
Implications:
Despite the availability of randomized trials, only carefully designed and prospective registries can provide timely and accurate assessment of the risk-benefit profile of PES in very high-risk patients. Indeed, the TRUE Study, including as much as 115 ULM and 229 bifurcation interventions, should give important insights into the outcome of PES in such an unprecedented and challenging context.
We performed HLA Class I and Class II typing in 16 patients (15 women, one man) with a confirmed diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis. We did not find any of the previously described associations with HLA-B52, and/or HLA-DRB1*1301 alleles. However, in our patients, HLA-DRB1*1602 and HLA-DRB1*1001 were significantly increased. The association of Takayasu arteritis with Amerindian and Asian HLA-DRB1 alleles (DRB1*1602 and DRB1*1001) in the Colombian mestizo patients reported here, and with HLA-B*3906 previously reported in Mexicans, suggest the possibility that some HLA and disease associations are markers for ethnicity of a population carrying a disease gene which is present in an admixed population with the disease.
The phosphodiesterase (PDE) III inhibitor, E-1020 (loprinone hydrochloride), has positive inotropic and vasodilating effects. This study evaluated the positive inotropic effect of intracoronary E-1020 in eight patients with coronary artery disease and hypertensive heart disease. A direct intracoronary infusion of the PDE III inhibitor minimizes its vasodilating effect. After baseline hemodynamic measurements and coronary arteriography, a micromanometer-tipped 8F conductance catheter was introduced into the left ventricle to determine the hemodynamic effects of E-1020. Saline and vehicle were infused into the left main coronary artery at a rate of 2 ml/min. The dose of intracoronary E-1020 increased from 2.5 to 5.0 and 7.5 micrograms/min. The inotropic effect of E-1020 was defined as the change in the slope of the end-systolic pressure-volume relationship (Emax), which was independent of afterload and preload. Emax significantly increased at infusion rates of 7.5 micrograms/min from control. Peak +dP/dt increased at an infusion rate of 5.0 micrograms/min or higher, while left-ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) decreased significantly at a rate of 5.0 and 7.5 micrograms/min. Intracoronary infusion of E-1020 at a rate of 2.5 micrograms/min produced a plasma concentration of 20 ng/ml, which was identical to the minimum effective plasma concentration seen in previous study by intra venous infusion. However, at a plasma concentration of 20 ng/ml, E-1020 has more vasodilating effects than inotropic effects. Clinically, E-1020 appears to have a positive inotropic effect that depends on the extent of myocardial perfusion.
We present a reconstruction of Avicenna's face from the only photograph of his skull available today. The photograph is more than 50years old, and was obtained during the exhumation of Avicenna's tomb in Hamadan for relocation. The reconstruction procedure was performed by the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification at the University of Dundee, UK. This is probably the first scholarly attempt to reconstruct Avicenna's face. Historians and clinicians who are interested in the history of medicine may find the current craniofacial analysis of Avicenna and the final output interesting and worth recording. The life, achievements and contributions of Avicenna to medical sciences and the influence of his "Canon" on Renaissance medicine are discussed.
To enhance diagnostic accuracy in coronary artery disease, cardiac cinefluoroscopy for the detection of coronary artery calcification was combined with exercise test and ambulatory ST-segment monitoring in 104 symptomatic patients before they underwent coronary angiography. In 44 patients with typical angina the combination of the three noninvasive tests and the exercise test alone both detected 92% of subjects with clinically important coronary artery disease. In 60 patients with atypical angina, the combination of the three noninvasive tests screened 77% of the subjects with clinically important coronary artery disease versus 43% after exercise test only (P less than 0.001). The exercise electrocardiogram was false negative in a substantial number of patients with atypical angina due to the presence of a good coronary reserve or to a daily circadian variation in the tone of the coronary arteries. Under these circumstances, cardiac cinefluoroscopy gave additional anatomic information to the physiological assessment of ischemia provided by the exercise test and ambulatory ST-segment monitoring. Our study suggests that the combination of cardiac cinefluoroscopy with other noninvasive tests may be particularly useful in screening atypically symptomatic populations.
The haemodynamic, cardiac metabolic and electrocardiographic effects of the intravenous inotropic agent DPI 201-106, in 20 and 40 milligram doses, were studied in patients after coronary arterial bypass grafting. The patients were randomly allocated to receive placebo or DPI 201-106. Those receiving the active drug received either the 20 or the 40 milligram dosages of DPI 201-106. Both the placebo and the active drug were infused over 20 minute periods. Two baseline readings confirmed haemodynamic stability, and readings were taken immediately following the infusions and then at 20 minutes and at 40 minutes afterwards. Comparison of all the haemodynamic and metabolic data did not reveal any significant intra or inter group differences. Comparison of the electrocardiographic data revealed some differences. Patients receiving DPI 201-106 showed prolongation of the QTc interval immediately following the infusions. Changes in ST segments and T waves were observed. Independent analysis of the affected electrocardiographs reported that the changes were suggestive of, but not pathognomonic of, myocardial ischaemia. The metabolic data showed that the electrocardiographic changes were not associated with any evidence of anaerobic metabolism. The indication for DPI 201-106 as a positive inotropic agent in patients following coronary revascularization surgery was not established.
Stress cardiomyopathy (SCM) is a newly described reversible cardiomyopathy of largely unclear etiology. We studied SCM in a large cohort to gain further insights.
We retrospectively identified 114 cases of SCM from among 12,150 consecutive North American patients diagnosed as Troponin-positive acute coronary syndrome, from January 2000 through December 2007, at two 24-h coronary angioplasty-capable centers. Left ventriculographic wall contractility was analyzed and scored in 107 patients on the right anterior oblique view.
In 107 patients (66+/-14 years, 99 females), variable regional contractility or "ballooning" was observed including: postero-basal, 1%; basal+mid-ventricular, 1%; diaphragmatic, 2%; localized apical, 2%; antero-lateral, 11%; complete mid-ventricular, 29%; and classical variant, 54%. The localized and complete mid-ventricular variants (n=45, 40 females) had a younger median age at presentation (64 vs. 71 years, p=0.008) and higher median LV ejection fraction (45% vs. 35%, p=0.006) than the classical or tako-tsubo variants (n=58, 55 females) with similar baseline exposure to stressors, risk factor and in-hospital complications. Frequency of involvement and mean contractile score (dysfunction) of the antero-lateral segment was significantly (p<0.05) greater in the order, antero-lateral>diaphragmatic>apical>basal.
From a single large cohort of SCM, evidence on significant individual variation in clinical and morphological pattern was confirmed. Frequency and vulnerability to transient dysfunction differs within segments with antero-lateral involvement significantly greater than diaphragmatic, apical, basal-anterior and basal-posterior LV segments. Further studies in phenotype should be undertaken for proper identification, classification and pathophysiological implications.
The incidence of subclinical cardiotoxicity following anthracycline treatment for childhood cancer varies according to the method used for its detection. The aim of the study was to document the prevalence of left ventricular myocardial mass (LVM) reduction and its possible association with plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels in asymptomatic children treated with anthracyclines.
Nineteen asymptomatic children who had received anthracyclines during their treatment for cancer were evaluated. They had received an equivalent of doxorubicin dose 240 mg/m2 (22-1200 mg/m2) on average 3.9 years (0.6-8.3) before (median age at diagnosis 3.8 years). The LVM was determined by M-Mode echocardiography and compared to the expected value, obtained from the regression equation of LVM on height of a group of 160 healthy children. Additionally the patients' plasma NT-pro BNP levels were determined.
A high prevalence of reduced LVM associated with increased NT-proBNP levels was found. The average LVM value was -14.4% (+/-4.9) lower than expected whereas fourteen patients (73%) had a lower LVM than predicted. The NT-pro BNP levels in patients with reduced LVM were significantly higher than those measured in patients without LVM reduction (0.316+/-0.02 versus 0.17+/-0.01 pmol/ml respectively, p=0.009). A cut off NT-pro BNP level of 0.2 pmol/ml could differentiate patients with LVM reduction from those with normal or greater than expected LVM.
The association of higher NT-proBNP levels with reduced LVM in asymptomatic children after anthracycline administration could be an early indication of subclinical cardiotoxicity.
Occult or overt but delayed cardiac disease after thoracic radiotherapy for Hodgkin's disease may be common. Detailed cardiac evaluation was performed in 108 patients, mean age 46 +/- 6.2 years, with Hodgkin's disease at 175 +/- 43 months after irradiation. The study protocol included clinical examination, graded treadmill exercise test and echocardiography. Some patients with angina pectoris, previous myocardial infarction and an abnormal ECG were studied by thallium-201 scintigraphy, cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography. Cardiac disease was found in 12 patients (11%). Three patients had angina pectoris, one patient had myocardial infarction, two complained of dyspnea on effort and two had congestive heart failure. At catheterization, constrictive pericarditis was diagnosed in four patients; in two additional patients an occult constrictive pericarditis was found. One patient had both mitral and tricuspidal regurgitation and one had mitral regurgitation alone. Eight patients (7.4%) had severe coronary artery disease; four of these had associated constrictive pericarditis. Four patients had a pericardiectomy and another four had undergone coronary artery by-pass graft. Two patients died after operation from persistent pericardial constriction. It is concluded that the incidence of delayed cardiac disease after radiotherapy is relatively high; chronic pericardial disorders and coronary artery disease are the most frequent manifestations of this disease. Standard surgical treatment may be beneficial because of the relative youth of these patients.
A growing number of patients > or = 80 years require cardiac catheterization. Since little is known about the overall safety of these procedures in this population, we assessed the procedure-related risks and determined predictors for complications.
We studied 1085 consecutive patients > or = 80 years (82.6+/-2.6 years; 526 males, 544 females), who underwent 1384 cardiac catheterizations in a tertiary specialist university hospital (3% of 43,517 procedures).
A total of 373 patients (35%) required percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), and 331 (31%) received coronary artery bypass surgery. Thirty-one patients died during hospital stay. Procedure-related complications including vascular injuries occurred in 2.1% after CATH and 11.6% after PCI.
Despite the widespread notion that cardiac catheterization exposes patients > or = 80 years to an unwarranted risk, these data demonstrate an acceptable complication rate. Patients #10878;80 years of age should thus not be refused to undergo cardiac catheterization merely based on their age.
Statins have been proven to reduce cardiac events and mortality. However, there are few studies dealing with the long-term efficacy of statin therapy following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
We collected data from 575 consecutive patients who underwent PCI between 1987 and 1992. The baseline data, mortality and incidence of cardiovascular events of patients given statins and those not given statins at the time of PCI were compared.
There were 243 patients in the statin group and 332 patients in the non-statin group. During follow-up (11.0+/-3.0 years), 68 patients died. At about 10 years, statin use was significantly associated with lower all-cause mortality (8.2% versus 14.5%, P=0.023) and cardiac death (2.5% versus 6.9%, P=0.017). After adjusting for variables, statin use was found to be an independent predictor of death from all causes (hazard ratio [HR] 0.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.29-0.99, P=0.048) and cardiac death (HR 0.24, 95% CI 0.07-0.80, P=0.02).
Statin use at the time of PCI was associated with a significantly reduced risk of death from all causes and cardiac death. Furthermore, this study provides evidence of a clinical benefit at about 10 years of statin use in patients who underwent PCI.
We conducted an analysis of the data from two epidemiological autopsy studies of atherosclerosis in men aged 20-59 years in 1963-66 (the first study, 7470 cases) and in 1985-88 (the second study, 9600 cases). The investigations were performed in accordance with a special program of the World Health Organization in 11 town populations: Ashkhabad (Turkmenistan), Bishkek (Kirgizstan), Irkutsk and Yakutsk (Russia), Malmo (Sweden), Prague (Czech Republic), Riga (Latvia), Tallinn and Tartu (Estonia), and Kharkov and Yalta (Ukraine). Native and non-native populations were studied separately in Ashkhabad, Bishkek, and Yakutsk. Atherosclerosis was studied by the visual morphometrical method in the descending thoracic aorta, abdominal aorta and three main coronary arteries. In each vessel the prevalence and extent (percent of intimal surface) of fatty streaks, fibrous plaques, complicated, calcified and also raised lesions (all lesions except fatty streaks) were determined. Coronary stenosis was estimated in arteries as narrowed by more than 50%. Accelerated development of coronary atherosclerosis, especially in the 40-59 year age group, was noted in the second study in the male populations of most towns except Prague and Malmo. In Prague the extent of raised lesions in coronary arteries was practically the same in both studies, in Malmo it decreased in the second study. Aortic atherosclerosis also accelerated the rate of progression in all towns except Prague, where significant differences were not observed between the studies. Accelerated development of atherosclerosis in male populations from towns of Asia was combined with an increase of fatty streaks in all vessels, while in European populations it was not so obvious. In the native populations of Ashkhabad, Bishkek and Yakutsk, atherosclerosis was much less than in non-natives in both studies. In natives of these towns, accelerated development of atherosclerosis begins only from 40 years, in non-natives from 30. For the second study, there was typically an increase of the prevalence and extent of calcified lesions that were combined with an increased prevalence of coronary stenosis in all towns. The average percentage of stenosis in the coronary left anterior descending artery for men of 40-59 years of age was 12% in the first study and 24.9% in the second; for the coronary right artery, 7.4 and 13.8%, respectively. In accordance with findings of more severe atherosclerosis in males in most towns in the second study, there was an increase in the frequency of death from coronary heart disease in the second study in these towns. The data of this study indicate that the development of atherosclerosis in human populations may change very much in the course of the life of one generation.
