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- Befekadu, Rahel, 1968-, et al.
(author)
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Increased plasma cathepsin S and trombospondin-1 in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction
- 2019
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In: Cardiology Journal. - : Via Medica. - 1897-5593 .- 1898-018X. ; 26:4, s. 385-393
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The role of cathepsins in the pathological progression of atherosclerotic lesions in ischemic heart disease have been defined in detail more than numerous times. This investigation examined the platelet-specific biomarker trombospondin-1 (TSP-1) and platelet function ex vivo, and compared this with cathepsin S (Cat-S; a biomarker unrelated to platelet activation but also associated this with increased mortality risk) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).Methods: The STEMI patients were divided into two groups depending on the degree of coronary vessel occlusion: those with closed (n = 90) and open culprit vessel (n = 40). Cat-S and TSP-1 were analyzed before, 1-3 days after and 3 months after percutanous coronary intervention (PCI).Results: During acute STEMI, plasma TSP-1 was significantly elevated in patients with closed culprit lesions, but rapidly declined after PCI. In fact, TSP-1 after PCI was significantly lower inpatient samples compared to healthy individuals. In comparison, plasma Cat-S was significantly elevated both before and after PCI. In patients with closed culprit lesions, Cat-S was significantly higher compared to patients with open culprit lesions 3 months after PCI. Although troponin-I were higher (p < 0.01) in patients with closed culprit lesion, there was no correlation with Cat-S and TSP-1.Conclusions: Cat-S but not TSP-1 may be a useful risk biomarker in relation to the severity of STEMI. However, the causality of Cat-S as a predictor for long-term mortality in STEMI remains to be ascertained in future studies.
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- Bjurman, Christian, 1983, et al.
(author)
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Decreased admissions and hospital costs with a neutral effect on mortality following lowering of the troponin T cutoff point to the 99th percentile
- 2017
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In: Cardiology journal. - 1897-5593 .- 1898-018X. ; 24:6, s. 612-622
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The implementation of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) assays and a cutoff based on the 99th cTnT percentile in the evaluation of patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome has not been uniform due to uncertain effects on health benefits and utilization of limited resources.Methods:Clinical and laboratory data from patients with chest pain or dyspnea at the emergency department (ED) were evaluated before (n = 20516) and after (n = 18485) the lowering of the hs-cTnT cutoff point from 40 ng/L to the 99th hs-cTnT percentile of 14 ng/L in February 2012. Myocardial infarction (MI) was diagnosed at the discretion of the attending clinicians responsible for the patient.Results:Following lowering of the hs-cTnT cutoff point fewer ED patients with chest pain or dyspnea as the principal complaint were analyzed with an hs-cTnT sample (81% vs. 72%, p < 0.001). Overall 30-day mortality was unaffected but increased among patients not analyzed with an hs-cTnT sample (5.3% vs. 7.6%, p < 0.001). The MI frequency was unchanged (4.0% vs. 3.9%, p = 0.72) whereas admission rates decreased (51% vs. 45%, p < 0.001) as well as hospital costs. Coronary angiographies were used more frequently (2.8% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.004) but with no corresponding change in coronary interventions.Conclusions:At the participating hospital, lowering of the hs-cTnT cutoff point to the 99th percentile decreased admissions and hospital costs but did not result in any apparent prognostic or treatment benefits for the patients.
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- Khazen, Cesar, et al.
(author)
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The subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator : A tertiary center experience
- 2019
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In: CARDIOLOGY JOURNAL. - 1897-5593 .- 1898-018X. ; 26:5, s. 543-549
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background:The aim of the study was to evaluate subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) patients with regard to underlying etiology, peri-procedural outcome, appropriate/inappropriate shocks, and complications during follow-up.Methods: All patients who underwent S-ICD implantation from February 2013 to March 2017 at an academic hospital in Vienna were included. Medical records were examined and follow-up interrogations of devices were conducted.Results: A total of 79 S-ICD patients (582% males) with a mean age of 44.5 +/- 17.2 years were followed for a mean duration of 12.8 +/- 13.7 months. A majority of patients (582%) had S-ICD for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. The most common of the 16 underlying etiologies were ischemic cardiomyopathy, non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, and idiopathic ventricular fibrillation. The lead was implanted to the left sternal border in 96.2% of cases, between muscular layers in 72.2%. Mean implant time was 45 min, 3 patients were induced, and all patients except one were programmed to two zones. Six (7.6%) patients experienced at least one appropriate therapy for ventricular arrhythmias and the time to first event ranged from 1 to 52 months. Seven patients experienced inappropriate shocks due to T-wave oversensing, atrial tachycardia with rapid atrioventricular conduction, external electromagnetic interference, and/or baseline oversensing due to lead movement. Four patients underwent revision for lead repositioning (n = 1), loose device suture (n = 1), and infection (n = 2).Conclusions:While S-ICDs are a feasible and effective treatment, issues remain with inappropriate shock and infection.
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- Kubica, Jacek, et al.
(author)
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Prolonged antithrombotic therapy in patients after acute coronary syndrome : A critical appraisal of current European Society of Cardiology guidelines
- 2020
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In: CARDIOLOGY JOURNAL. - : VM Media SP. zo.o VM Group SK. - 1897-5593 .- 1898-018X. ; 27:6, s. 661-676
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The increased risk of non-cardiovascular death in patients receiving clopidogrel or prasugrel in comparison with the placebo group in the Dual Antiplatelet Therapy (DAPT) trial in contrast to the decreased risk of cardiovascular death and all-cause death seen in patients treated with low-dose ticagrelor in the EU label population of the PEGASUS-TIMI 54 trial, resulted in inclusion in the 2020 ESC NSTE-ACS guidelines the recommendation for use of clopidogrel or prasugrel only if the patient is not eligible for treatment with ticagrelor. The prevalence of the primary outcome composed of cardiovascular death, stroke, or myocardial infarction was lower in the low-dose rivaroxaban and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) group than in the ASA-alone group in the COMPASS trial. Moreover, all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality rates were lower in the rivaroxaban-plus-ASA group. Comparison of the PEGASUS-TIMI 54 and COMPASS trial patient characteristics clearly shows that each of these treatment strategies should be addressed at different groups of patients. A greater benefit in post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with a high risk of ischemic events and without high bleeding risk may be expected with ASA and ticagrelor 60 mg b.i.d. when the therapy is continued without interruption or with short interruption only after ACS. On the other hand, ASA and rivaroxaban 2.5 mg b.i.d. seems to be a better option when indications for dual antithrombotic therapy (DATT) appear after a longer time from ACS (more than 2 years) and/or from cessation of DAPT (more than 1 year) and in patients with multiple vascular bed atherosclerosis. Thus, both options of DATTs complement each other rather than compete, as can be presumed from the recommendations. However, a direct comparison between these strategies should be tested in future clinical trials.
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6. |
- Magnusson, Peter, et al.
(author)
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Outcome of implantable loop recorder evaluation
- 2018
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In: CARDIOLOGY JOURNAL. - : VIA MEDICA. - 1897-5593 .- 1898-018X. ; 25:3, s. 363-370
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate implantable loop recorders (ILRs) in an unselected cohort in order to determine diagnostic yield, time to pacemaker/implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation, predictors thereof safety issues, and syncope management including usage of preceding diagnostic tools. Methods: Patients who underwent ILR evaluation in any of three centers in Region Gavleborg, Sweden, between April 2007 and April 2013 were included and their medical records retrieved. Logistic regression was used to evaluate predictors of pacemaker/ICD outcome expressed as odds ratios (ORs) and Kaplan-Meier estimates for time-dependent analysis. Results: A total of 173 patients (52.6% females) with a mean age of 56.2 years received an ILR during a mean follow-up of 605 days. In the 146 patients evaluated for syncope/presyncope, 28.1% received a pacemaker (n = 39) or ICD (n = 2). The cumulative incidence at 6, 12, and 18 months were 8.8%, 21.3%, and 26.7%, respectively. Age > 75 years was the only significant predictor for outcome (p = 0.010) and the following variables showed a tendency toward significance: abnormal elevation of the biontarker B-type natriuretic peptide (OR 2.05, p = 0.100), a history of trauma (OR 1.71, p = 0.179), and pathologic electrocardiogram (OR 1.68, p = 0.231). A computerized tomography of the skull was performed in 52.1% of the syncope cases. Conclusions: In syncope evaluation in an unselected cohort, 28.1% were diagnosed with an arrhythmia necessitating a pacemaker/ICD. The only significant predictor was advanced age. Time to diagnosis is unpredictable and prolonged ILR monitoring is warranted in addition to optimal use of other diagnostic tools.
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8. |
- Bakos, Zoltan, et al.
(author)
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Cardiovascular drug utilization post-implant is related to clinical outcome in heart failure patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy
- 2017
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In: Cardiology Journal. - 1898-018X. ; 24:4, s. 374-384
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: In select patients with heart failure, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is the most common complementary treatment besides medical treatment. We aimed to assess the association between post CRT-implant changes in cardiovascular medication and cardiovascular mortality and heart failure hospitalization.METHODS: 211 patients on optimal medical therapy eligible for CRT were retrospectively included in this study (72 ± 7 years, 80% male, 66% left bundle branch block [LBBB], 48% dilated cardiomyopathy [DCMP]) and investigated at baseline and after 6 months . Follow-up with medication, biochemical markers and echocardiography was performed and 3-year mortality data was collected.RESULTS: At 6 months post-implant the cohort was divided into two groups; 157 patients had low dosage furosemide treatment (up to 40 mg) and 54 patients were treated with high dosage (> 40 mg). A composite endpoint of heart failure hospitalization and all-cause mortality was evaluated at 30 months (881 ± 267 days) after the 6-month visit. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, patients in the high dose diuretics group had a higher risk of the primary endpoint (HR 1.9 [1.1-3.4], p = 0.033), but treatment with high dose diuretics was not associated with improved clinical symptoms (r = 0.031, p = 0.64).CONCLUSIONS: High dosage of loop-diuretics was associated with worse medium-term clinical outcome in CRT treated patients. It is unclear whether there is a direct causality between these associations, or if higher prescribed dosage of loop-diuretics is just a marker of more severe disease. Higher dose loop diuretics do not necessarily improve the symptoms and may be harmful to the patient. Prospective trials are warranted to further elucidate these findings.
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10. |
- Bjurman, Christian, 1983, et al.
(author)
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Assessment of a multi-marker risk score for predicting cause-specific mortality at three years in older patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction.
- 2015
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In: Cardiology journal. - 1897-5593. ; 22:1, s. 31-6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Due to increasing co-morbidity associated with aging, heart failure (HF) has become more prevalent and heterogeneous in older individuals, and non-cardiovascular (CV) mortality has increased. Previously, we defined a multi-marker modality that included cystatin C (CysC), troponin T (TnT), and age. Here, we validated this multi-marker risk score by evaluating its predictions of all-cause mortality and CV mortality in an independent population of older individuals with HF and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).
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