| 1. |
- Aljassim, Obaid, et al.
(författare)
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Doppler-catheter discrepancies in patients with bileaflet mechanical prostheses or bioprostheses in the aortic valve position.
- 2008
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Ingår i: The American journal of cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1879-1913 .- 0002-9149. ; 102:10, s. 1383-9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aims of the present study were to investigate in vivo Doppler-catheter discrepancies in aortic bileaflet mechanical and stented biologic valves and evaluate whether these can be predicted using Doppler echocardiography. Results of in vitro studies of bileaflet mechanical valves suggested overestimation using Doppler gradients. Findings in stented biologic valves were conflicting. Patients who underwent valve replacement with a St. Jude Medical mechanical (n = 14, size 19 to 29) or a St. Jude Medical Biocor (Biocor, n = 13, size 21 to 25) valve were included. Simultaneous continuous Doppler recordings (transesophageal transducer) and left ventricular and aortic pressure measurements were performed using high-fidelity catheters. Gradients after pressure recovery were predicted from Doppler using a validated equation. Doppler overestimated catheter gradients in both the mechanical and Biocor. Mean Doppler catheter differences for the mechanical/Biocor were for mean gradients of 4 +/- 3 (SD; p = 0.002)/6 +/- 4 mm Hg (p = 0.002). There was a strong relation between catheter and Doppler gradients (r = 0.85 to 0.92). Doppler catheter discrepancy as a percentage of the Doppler mean gradient for the mechanical was median 41% (range -30% to 76%) and for the Biocor was median 35% (range -7% to 75%). The catheter-Doppler discrepancy was not significant using the predicted net gradient from Doppler. In conclusion, this was the first in vivo investigation of prosthetic valves using simultaneous Doppler and high-fidelity catheters. Doppler overestimated catheter gradients in both mechanical and stented biologic valves. However, the discrepancy can be predicted considering pressure recovery in the aorta.
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| 2. |
- Chinali, M., et al.
(författare)
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Mitral E wave deceleration time to peak E velocity ratio and cardiovascular outcome in hypertensive patients during antihypertensive treatment (from the LIFE echo-substudy)
- 2009
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Ingår i: The American Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1879-1913 .- 0002-9149. ; 104:8, s. 1098-104
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The early mitral flow deceleration time (DTE) is a prognostically validated marker of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. It has been reported that the DTE is influenced by the loading conditions, which can vary during antihypertensive treatment. We hypothesized that normalization of the DTE for mitral peak E-velocity (mitral deceleration index [MDI]) might better predict incident cardiovascular (CV) events in hypertensive patients during treatment compared to DTE alone or other traditional indexes of diastolic function, such as the mitral E/A ratio. We evaluated 770 hypertensive patients with electrocardiogram findings of left ventricular hypertrophy (age 66 +/- 7 years; 42% women) enrolled in the Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension (LIFE) echocardiographic substudy. Echocardiographic examinations were performed annually for 5 years during intensive antihypertensive treatment. We examined the utility of the MDI at baseline and as a time-varying predictor of incident CV events. Of the 770 patients, 70 (9%) had CV events. The baseline MDI was positively associated with age and relative wall thickness and negatively associated with gender and heart rate (all p <0.01). Unadjusted Cox regression analysis showed a positive association between the baseline MDI and CV events (hazard ratio 1.21, 95% confidence interval 1.07 to 1.37, p = 0.002). In the time-varied Cox models, a greater in-treatment MDI was associated with a greater rate of CV events (hazard ratio 1.43, 95% confidence interval 1.05 to 1.93, p = 0.022), independently of the covariates. No significant association was found for in-treatment DTE or any of the prognostically validated indexes of diastolic function. In conclusion, in our population of patients with treated hypertension with electrocardiographic findings of left ventricular hypertrophy, the MDI independently predicted future CV events. Normalization of DTE for E velocity might be preferred to other traditional diastolic function indexes in evaluating diastolic function during antihypertensive treatment.
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| 3. |
- Christiansen, M, et al.
(författare)
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Mutations in the HERG K+-Ion channel: A novel link between long QT syndrome and sudden infant death syndrome
- 2005
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Ingår i: American Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1879-1913 .- 0002-9149. ; 95:3, s. 433-434
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In a 7-week-old infant who experienced sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), a novel missense mutation was identified in KCNH2, causing a lysine-to-glutamic acid amino acid substitution at position 101 (K101E). KCNH2 codes for the HERG ion channel and mutations in the gene are associated with congenital long-QT syndrome (LQTS), and in the family of this case of SIDS, the mutation was associated with Torsades de pointes tachycardia, making SIDS the most likely outcome of congenital LQTS.
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| 4. |
- Eggers, Kai M., 1962-, et al.
(författare)
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B-type natriuretic peptides and their relation to cardiovascular structure and function in a population-based sample of subjects aged 70 years
- 2009
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Ingår i: American Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-9149 .- 1879-1913. ; 103:7, s. 1032-1038
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether B-type natriuretic peptides (BNPs) could serve as screening markers for the detection of preclinical vascular disease in the community. BNP and N-terminal-pro-BNP were analyzed in 1,000 subjects aged 70 years participating in the Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS) study and were related to different measures of endothelial function and activation, arterial compliance, carotid atherosclerosis, and echocardiographic findings. The median levels were 42.0 ng/L for BNP and 110.7 ng/L for N-terminal-pro-BNP. On adjusted multivariate analysis, the 2 BNPs were related to increased left ventricular mass and impaired left ventricular systolic and diastolic function but not to any of the other assessed entities reflecting preclinical vascular disease. In conclusion, BNPs are strong markers of increased left ventricular mass and impaired cardiac performance but cannot be regarded as useful screening markers for the detection of preclinical states of vascular disease in elderly subjects.
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| 5. |
- Eggers, Kai M., 1962-, et al.
(författare)
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Will the universal definition of myocardial infarction criteria result in an overdiagnosis of myocardial infarction?
- 2009
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Ingår i: American Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier. - 0002-9149 .- 1879-1913. ; 103:5, s. 588-591
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction (acute myocardial infarction [AMI]) requires detection of increasing or decreasing cardiac biomarkers (preferably cardiac troponin) with >or=1 value >99(th) percentile, together with either clinical symptoms, new ischemic electrocardiographic changes, or typical imaging findings indicative of myocardial necrosis as diagnostic criteria for AMI. However, a small cardiac troponin elevation together with ST-T segment abnormalities may also occur in clinically stable populations. Accordingly, 0.6% of elderly subjects from a community sample (PIVUS Study) and 6.7% of patients stabilized after an acute coronary syndrome (FRISC II Study) would have been labeled AMI following the Universal Definition of AMI when diagnostic classification had been based on a single cardiac troponin I result. In conclusion, our results emphasized the importance of a significant change in cardiac troponin to avoid misdiagnosis of AMI.
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| 6. |
- Ezekowitz, Michael D., et al.
(författare)
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Dabigatran with or without concomitant aspirin compared with warfarin alone in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (PETRO Study)
- 2007
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Ingår i: American Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-9149 .- 1879-1913. ; 100:9, s. 1419-1426
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This is the first evaluation of dabigatran, an oral direct thrombin inhibitor, in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Patients (n = 502) were randomized to receive blinded doses of 50-, 150-, or 300-mg dabigatran twice daily alone or combined with 81- or 325-mg aspirin or open-label warfarin administered to achieve an international normalized ratio of 2 to 3 for 12 weeks. Dabigatran plasma concentrations, activated partial thromboplastin time, D-dimer, urinary 11-dehydrothromboxane B(2) (DTB2), and liver function were measured at baseline and at 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Clinical end points were assessed according to the treatment received at the time of the event. Overall, 92% of patients completed the study. Major hemorrhages were limited to the group treated with 300-mg dabigatran plus aspirin (4 of 64), and the incidence was significant versus 300-mg dabigatran alone (0 of 105, p <0.02). Total bleeding events were more frequent in the 300-mg (39 of 169, 23%) and 150-mg (30 of 169, 18%) dabigatran groups compared with the 50-mg groups (7 of 107, 7%; p = 0.0002 and p = 0.01, respectively). Thromboembolic events were limited to the 50-mg dabigatran dose groups (2 of 107, 2%). The mean trough d-dimer measurements were suppressed for the 2 highest doses of dabigatran and warfarin (international normalized ratio of 2 to 3). Aminotransferase levels >3 times the upper limit of normal were observed in 0.9% of the dabigatran recipients and in none of the warfarin recipients. Two dabigatran recipients had aminotransferase levels >5 times the upper limit of normal as a result of gallstones, which resolved. Trough activated partial thromboplastin time values were 1.2, 1.5, and 1.8 times the baseline level for the 50-, 150-, and 300-mg dabigatran groups, respectively. DTB2 concentrations after 12 weeks of 50-, 150-, and 300-mg dabigatran treatment were increased by 31%, 17%, and 23%, respectively, versus baseline (p = 0.02, p = 0.03, and p = 0.0004). In conclusion, major bleeding events were limited to patients treated with dabigatran 300 mg plus aspirin and thromboembolic episodes were limited to the 50-mg dabigatran groups. The 2 highest doses of dabigatran suppress D-dimer concentrations. Serious liver toxicity was not seen. The significance of the increase of DTB2 concentrations in dabigatran-treated patients needs resolution.
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| 7. |
- Husser, D, et al.
(författare)
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Time-frequency analysis of the surface electrocardiogram for monitoring antiarrhythmic drug effects in atrial fibrillation
- 2005
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Ingår i: American Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1879-1913 .- 0002-9149. ; 95:4, s. 526-528
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study explored time-frequency analysis of surface electrocardiograms in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation for monitoring atrial drug action. Drug loading over 3 days with oral flecainide (n = 13) or amiodarone (n = 17) organized the fibrillatory process expressed by decreased atrial fibrillatory rate, increased rate stability, and decreased exponential decay. Effects were more pronounced with flecainide than with amiodarone.
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| 8. |
- James, Stefan K., 1964-, et al.
(författare)
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Usefulness of biomarkers for predicting long-term mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus and non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes (A GUSTO IV substudy)
- 2006
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Ingår i: American Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-9149 .- 1879-1913. ; 97:2, s. 167-172
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The present study evaluated whether biomarkers of ischemia, inflammation, myocardial damage, and dysfunction are equally useful in patients who have diabetes mellitus (DM) for prediction of cardiac events in non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (ACS). DM was present in 1,677 of 7,800 patients (21.5%) who had non-ST-elevation ACS and were included in the Fourth Global Utilization of Strategies To Open Occluded Arteries (GUSTO IV) trial. Creatinine, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP), troponin T, C-reactive protein, and interleukin-6 were analyzed in serum samples that were obtained at a median of 9.5 hours from symptom onset. One-year mortality rates were 13.5% among patients who had DM (n = 227) and 6.9% among those who did not (n = 418, p < 0.001). The median level of NT-pro-BNP was 2 times as high in patients who had DM, whereas troponin T levels did not differ by DM status. Mortality increased with ascending quartiles of NT-pro-BNP, with 1-year mortality rates of 3.9% (n = 11) in the bottom quartile and 29% (n = 103) in the top quartile. In multivariable analyses, factors that were predictive of 1-year mortality in patients who did not have DM were also significant for those who did. Presence of ST depression > 0.5 mm had the highest odds ratio of 2.3 (95% confidence interval 1.2 to 4.6). NT-pro-BNP levels > 669 ng/L (odds ratio 2.0, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 3.6) and interleukin-6 levels > 10 ng/L (odds ratio 1.9, 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 3.0) were significant biomarker predictors. In conclusion, DM confers a high long-term mortality in non-ST-elevation ACS. Despite a larger proportion of ST depression and increased levels of NT-pro-BNP and interleukin-6 at admission, these factors provide independent prognostic information that may improve risk stratification and guidance of treatment.
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| 9. |
- Johanson, Per, 1963, et al.
(författare)
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ST resolution 1 hour after fibrinolysis for prediction of myocardial infarct size: insights from ASSENT 3.
- 2009
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Ingår i: The American journal of cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1879-1913 .- 0002-9149. ; 103:2, s. 154-8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction requires prompt restoration of myocardial perfusion to salvage myocardium at risk of ischemic necrosis and improve clinical outcome. Early resolution of ST-segment elevation during the time after reperfusion has been associated with both these end points. From the ASsessment of the Safety and Efficacy of a New Thrombolytic regimen (ASSENT) 3 trial, 3,425 patients were analyzed to investigate whether the amount of ST-segment resolution, divided into 3 groups (complete, >70%; partial, 30% to 70%; and no resolution, <30%), in the first hour after initiation of therapy was a predictor of final infarct size, estimated by peak creatine kinase and Selvester QRS score on the discharge electrocardiogram. Complete compared with partial and no ST resolution resulted in significantly (p<0.001) smaller infarct sizes of 10.5%, 13.2%, and 15.0% of the left ventricle and significantly (p=0.001) fewer patients with peak creatine >5 times the upper reference level at 50.3%, 71.8%, and 76.3%, respectively. In conclusion, our findings supported previous smaller studies suggesting that early resolution of ST elevation, as a sign of early myocardial reperfusion, resulted in less myocardial damage and preservation of left ventricular function.
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| 10. |
- Johnston, Nina, et al.
(författare)
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Improved identification of patients with coronary artery disease by the use of new lipid and lipoprotein biomarkers
- 2006
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Ingår i: American Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-9149 .- 1879-1913. ; 97:5, s. 640-5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Increasing attention is being directed toward new lipid and lipoprotein biomarkers as risk factors for coronary artery disease, although limited information is available on the diagnostic accuracy of these new biomarkers for the identification of patients with coronary artery disease. In the present study, levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), and oxidized LDL/HDL cholesterol were determined in 431 apparently healthy men and women without clinical evidence of coronary artery disease who were matched for age and gender with 490 men and women with coronary artery disease who participated in the Second Fragmin and Fast Revascularization During Instability in Coronary Artery Disease (FRISC-II) trial. Diagnostic accuracy was determined by receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis by measuring the area under the curve. The diagnostic accuracies of each lipid or lipoprotein biomarker (in descending order of area under the curve) were 0.867 for oxidized LDL/HDL cholesterol (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.844 to 0.890), 0.826 for oxidized LDL (95% CI 0.800 to 0.852), 0.775 for 1/HDL cholesterol (95% CI 0.745 to 0.805), 0.764 for total/HDL cholesterol (95% CI 0.733 to 0.795), 0.631 for triglycerides (95% CI 0.594 to 0.667), 0.597 for Lp-PLA2 (95% CI 0.558 to 0.615), 0.577 for LDL cholesterol (95% CI 0.539 to 0.615), and 0.520 for total cholesterol (95% CI 0.482 to 0.537). In conclusion, these findings indicate that the ratio of oxidized LDL to HDL cholesterol was a more potent biomarker for discriminating between subjects with and without coronary artery disease than traditionally measured lipids and lipoproteins and Lp-PLA2.
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