The American journal of cardiology
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Our aim was to determine whether N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels are valuable for predicting prognosis in patients with infective endocarditis (IE). We analyzed measured plasma NT-pro-BNP levels at admission in 45 patients with definite IE. The primary end point was early surgery or in-hospital death. ⋯ Patients with NT-pro-BNP level > or =1,500 pg/ml had significantly lower event-free survival than others. In conclusion, admission NT-pro-BNP is of prognostic value in patients with IE. The combination of admission NT-pro-BNP and cTnI levels appears to have even greater value for risk stratification in this patient group.
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Comparative Study
Relation of C-reactive protein to long-term risk of recurrence of atrial fibrillation after electrical cardioversion.
The aim of this study is to assess the role of C-reactive protein (CRP) in predicting long-term risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after electrical cardioversion. CRP levels are associated with the presence of AF and failure of electrical or pharmacologic cardioversion, but no previous study has assessed their predictive role in long-term follow-up after successful electrical cardioversion. One hundred two consecutive patients (age 67 +/- 11 years; 58 men) with nonvalvular persistent AF who underwent successful biphasic electrical cardioversion were studied. ⋯ Survival analysis confirmed that patients in the lowest CRP quartile had a lower recurrence rate (p = 0.02). Cox regression analyses using age, gender, hypertension, diabetes, ejection fraction, left atrial diameter, use of antiarrhythmic drugs, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II antagonists, and statins, and CRP quartiles as covariates showed that only CRP was independently associated with AF recurrence during follow-up (hazard ratio 4.98, 95% confidence interval 1.75 to 14.26, p = 0.003). In conclusion, low CRP is associated with long-term maintenance of sinus rhythm after cardioversion for nonvalvular AF.
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The 2-dimensional (2D) color Doppler (2D-CD) proximal isovelocity surface area (PISA) method assumes a hemispheric flow convergence zone to estimate transvalvular flow. Recently developed 3-dimensional (3D)-CD can directly visualize PISA shape and surface area without geometric assumptions. To validate a novel method to directly measure PISA using real-time 3D-CD echocardiography, a circulatory loop with an ultrasound imaging chamber was created to model mitral regurgitation (MR). ⋯ The 3D-PISA method showed less regurgitant volume underestimation for all orifice shapes and regurgitant volumes tested. In conclusion, in an in vitro model of MR, 3D-CD was used to directly measure PISA without geometric assumption. Compared with conventional 2D-PISA, regurgitant volume was more accurate when derived from 3D-PISA across symmetric and asymmetric orifices within a broad range of hemodynamic flow conditions.
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We developed a regional strategy to decrease the time to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Protocols were created for paramedics and referring hospitals to identify and directly triage all patients with STEMI to a single PCI center. Time to PCI reperfusion and in-hospital mortality were assessed in 233 consecutive patients with STEMI. ⋯ Paramedic diagnosis of STEMI and direct triage to a prealerted interventional hospital for primary PCI was associated with a high percentage of patients achieving <90-minute infarct artery patency. Substantial delays remained for those who presented initially to a non-PCI hospital ED despite the expedited protocol. In conclusion, this observational study suggests that wider use of paramedic electrocardiographic STEMI diagnosis and direct triage to a prealerted PCI hospital catheterization team may help improve outcomes of patients with STEMI.
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Even in the era of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS), mortality remains high. Whether admission hemoglobin (Hb) concentration is a predictor of mortality in patients with CS treated with primary PCI is unexplored. We assessed the relation between admission Hb concentration and 1-year mortality in patients with STEMI and CS who were treated with PCI at admission. ⋯ All-cause mortality at 1 year was 64%, 46%, and 35% for groups I, II, and III, respectively (p = 0.007). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the odds for mortality increased 17% for every 1.0 g/dl decrease in plasma Hb (odds ratio 1.17, 95% confidence interval 1.01 to 1.35, p = 0.042). In conclusion, admission Hb concentration is an independent predictor for 1-year mortality in patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI.