The American journal of cardiology
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Long-term prognosis of first myocardial infarction according to the electrocardiographic pattern (ST elevation myocardial infarction, non-ST elevation myocardial infarction and non-classified myocardial infarction) and revascularization procedures.
The aim of this study was to describe differences in the characteristics and short- and long-term prognoses of patients with first acute myocardial infarction (MI) according to the presence of ST-segment elevation or non-ST-segment elevation. From 2001 and 2003, 2,048 patients with first MI were consecutively admitted to 6 participating Spanish hospitals and categorized as having ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI), non-ST-segment elevation MI (NSTEMI), or unclassified MI (pacemaker or left bundle branch block) according to electrocardiographic results at admission. The proportions of female gender, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and diabetes were higher among NSTEMI patients than in the STEMI group. ⋯ NSTEMI patients had lower 28-day case fatality but a worse 7-year mortality rate than STEMI patients. Unclassified MI presented the worst short- and long-term prognosis. These results support the invasive management of patients with acute coronary syndromes to reduce short-term case fatality.
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Review Meta Analysis
Meta-analysis of monotherapy versus combination therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Previous studies comparing combination therapy (CT) of pulmonary vasodilators to monotherapy (MT) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) report conflicting results as to whether CT is more efficacious than MT. We systematically searched the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and MEDLINE databases for randomized controlled trials comparing CT to MT for patients with PAH. Data were pooled using the DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model. ⋯ CT did not decrease the combined end point of mortality, admission for worsening PAH, lung transplantation, or escalation of PAH therapy (RR 0.42, 95% CI 0.17 to 1.04). In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggests that in PAH CT does not offer an advantage over MT apart from modestly increasing exercise capacity. However, given the paucity of good-quality data, more studies are required to define the efficacy of CT in this population before establishing final guidelines.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Conservative versus liberal red cell transfusion in acute myocardial infarction (the CRIT Randomized Pilot Study).
Red blood cell transfusion is common in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, observational data suggest that this practice may be associated with worse clinical outcomes and data from clinical trials are lacking in this population. We conducted a prospective multicenter randomized pilot trial in which 45 patients with AMI and a hematocrit level ≤30% were randomized to a liberal (transfuse when hematocrit <30% to maintain 30% to 33%) or a conservative (transfuse when hematocrit <24% to maintain 24% to 27%) transfusion strategy. ⋯ In conclusion, compared to a conservative transfusion strategy, treating anemic patients with AMI according to a liberal transfusion strategy results in more patients receiving transfusions and higher hematocrit levels. However, this may be associated with worse clinical outcomes. A large-scale definitive trial addressing this issue is urgently required.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Contemporary features, risk factors, and prognosis of the post-pericardiotomy syndrome.
Contemporary series of postpericardiotomy syndrome (PPS) are lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence, time course, features at presentation, risk factors, and prognosis of PPS. The study population consisted of 360 consecutive candidates to cardiac surgery enrolled in a prospective cohort study. ⋯ In conclusion, despite advances in cardiac surgery techniques, PPS is a common postoperative complication, generally occurring in the first 3 months after surgery. Severe complications are rare, but the syndrome is responsible for hospital stay prolongation and readmissions. Female gender and pleura incision are risk factors for PPS.
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Comparative Study
Usefulness of pre-operative copeptin concentrations to predict post-operative outcome after major vascular surgery.
The aim of this study was to investigate whether preoperative determination of plasma copeptin levels in addition to plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) could help improve risk stratification in patients who undergo major vascular surgery. One hundred ninety-eight consecutive patients who underwent major vascular surgery (58.6% infrainguinal aortic reconstruction, 23.7% abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery, 17.7% carotid endarterectomy) were included in this study. Patients were monitored for in-hospital and long-term (2-years) major adverse cardiac events, consisting of cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and emergent coronary revascularization. ⋯ Subgroup analyses revealed that especially patients at low estimated risk according to plasma NT-pro-BNP levels were at significantly higher risk for worse outcomes with higher copeptin levels (HR 5.983, p = 0.002). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, copeptin concentrations >14 pmol/L were significant independent predictors of outcome (HR 2.842, p = 0.002) in addition to type of surgery, history of myocardial infarction, elevated levels of cardiac troponin T, and NT-pro-BNP levels. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that preoperative determination of this new biomarker could substantially improve prediction of perioperative and postoperative outcomes in vascular surgery patients.