A repetição da valvuloplastia aórtica por balão é uma boa estratégia para alívio dos sintomas e seleção de pacientes para substituição percutânea da valva aórtica / Repeat balloon aortic valvuloplasty is a good strategy for symptom relief and patient selection for percutaneous aortic valve replacement

A valvuloplastia aórtica por balão voltou a ganhar interesse desde o início da era da substituição percutânea da valva aórtica, por ser um procedimento que pode ser repetido como ponte e também por ser boa estratégia para a seleção de pacientes para o novo procedimento. Método: De janeiro de 2001 a janeiro de 2009, 174 pacientes consecutivos com estenose aórtica sintomática grave e alto risco cirúrgico calculado pelo EuroSCORE/STS foram submetidos a valvuloplastia aórtica por balão na França e na Argentina, utilizando-se a mesma técnica. Desse total, 21 (12,1 por cento) precisaram repetir a valvuloplastia aórtica por balão em decorrência de reestenose e os resultados foram comparados aos dos 153 pacientes que realizaram somente o primeiro procedimento. A técnica mais utilizada foi o acesso retrógrado com abordagem femoral utilizando introdutores de 10 F, 12 F ou 14 F, com tamanhos de balão...

NT-probrain natriuretic peptide predicts complexity and severity of the coronary lesions in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes.

UNLABELLED: NT-probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) has been associated with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and adverse outcome in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTEACS). However, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for this association have not been well established. We sought to explore the relation between NT-proBNP levels and extension of coronary artery disease (CAD) and the presence of more complex and severe coronary lesions. METHODS: This prospective, multicenter angiographic substudy included 585 patients admitted with NSTEACS. Blinded measurements of NT-proBNP and troponin T were performed at a median time of 3 hours after admission and analyzed centrally. Angiograms were read at a core laboratory by 2 independent readers blinded to patient data. Complex coronary lesion was defined as the presence of at least one of the following: thrombus (+), TIMI flow < 2, or ulcerated plaque. RESULTS: NT-probrain natriuretic peptide levels increased proportionally as LV function decreased. The levels of NT-proBNP were directly related to the extent of the CAD. This association was maintained when we analyzed patients with normal LV function (n = 257). Patients with complex coronary lesions or those with at least one of its individual component had higher levels of NT-proBNP compared with those without complex coronary lesions. After adjusting for clinical and electrocardiographic variables and other biomarkers, positive troponin (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.50-3.22, P < .0001) and supramedian NT-proBNP levels (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.19-2.47, P = .003) independently contributed to the prediction of complex coronary lesions. CONCLUSION: In this study of patients with NSTEACS, NT-proBNP levels progressively increase with the severity of CAD and degree of LV dysfunction. Increased levels of NT-proBNP independently predict the presence of more complex coronary lesions.

El NT-proBNP predice mal pronóstico en pacientes con síndromes coronarios agudos sin elevación del segmento ST y función ventricular conservada / NT-proBNP predicts clinical outcomes in patients with NSTE-ACS and preserved left ventricular function

Antecedentes: El NT-proBNP se asocia con disfunción ventricular y mala evolución en síndromes coronarios agudos sin elevación del ST (SCA-SEST). La evidencia sobre su valor pronóstico en pacientes con SCA-SEST y función sistólica conservada es escasa. Objetivos: Explorar el valor pronóstico del NT-proBNP en pacientes con SCA-SEST sin disfunción ventricular. Material y métodos: De una cohorte de pacientes con SCA-SEST sometidos a angiografía se seleccionaron 393 con fracción de eyección del ventrículo izquierdo menor igual 40 por ciento. Laboratorios centrales independientes analizaron las angiografías y las determinaciones de NT-proBNP, troponina T, mioglobina y proteína C reactiva. Se empleó un punto de corte de NT-proBNP de 586 pg/ml. El punto final primario fue la incidencia de muerte o infarto a los 180 días. Resultados: Ochenta y tres pacientes (21 por ciento) tuvieron NT-proBNP mayor igual 586 pg/ml y 310 (79 por ciento) niveles < 586 pg/ml. Los pacientes con NT-proBNP elevado eran más añosos, con mayor frecuencia de sexo femenino; tuvieron una proporción mayor de marcadores séricos elevados y una proporción mayor de enfermedad coronaria extensa y de lesiones coronarias complejas. Estos pacientes, comparados con aquellos con NT-proBNP < 586 pg/ml, tuvieron una incidencia mayor de muerte (9,6 por ciento versus 2,3 por ciento; p = 0,002), infarto (9,6 por ciento versus 3,2 por ciento; p = 0,01) y muerte o infarto (16,9 por ciento versus 5,5 por ciento; p = 0,001) a los 180 días. Ajustando por variables clínicas, electrocardiográficas y angiográficas, el NT-proBNP resultó ser un predictor independiente del punto final combinado de muerte o infarto a los 6 meses y de muerte por cualquier causa. Conclusiones: El NT-proBNP es un predictor independiente de muerte e infarto y de muerte global a los 6 meses en pacientes con SCA-SEST sin disfunción ventricular.

A simple prediction rule for significant renal artery stenosis in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization.

BACKGROUND: Renal artery stenosis (RAS) is a potentially reversible cause of hypertension and renal insufficiency and is associated with poor prognosis. METHODS: We aimed to identify simple predictors of significant RAS among patients undergoing coronary angiography. Prospective data were collected on 843 consecutive patients who underwent cardiac catheterization and abdominal aortography. Stenoses > or = 75% were considered significant. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between baseline characteristics and coronary anatomy with significant RAS. A simple risk score was derived from the model. RESULTS: The prevalence of RAS > or = 75% was 11.7%. Independent predictors of significant RAS were older age, higher creatinine levels, peripheral vascular disease, number of cardiovascular drugs, hypertension, female sex, and 3-vessel coronary artery disease or previous coronary artery bypass graft. The concordance index of the model was 0.802. These variables were used to develop a simple predictive score of significant RAS for patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. The prevalence of RAS increased stepwise with increasing score values: 0.6% for a score < or = 5, 1.5% for 6 to 7, 6.1% for 8 to 9, 12.2% for 10 to 11, 18.7% for 12 to 14, 35.7% for 15 to 17, and 62.1% for > or = 18 (P < .001). Approximately one third of the patients had a score > or = 11, which yielded a sensitivity of 76% and a specificity of 71%. CONCLUSIONS: Renal artery stenosis is a relatively common finding among patients referred for coronary angiography. A simple score can predict the presence of significant RAS among patients referred for cardiac catheterization.

Relation of C-reactive protein to extent and complexity of coronary narrowing in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes. A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory markers have been associated with adverse clinical outcome in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). In addition, angiographic plaque morphology and extension of coronary artery disease has been related to worse prognosis in this group of patients. The aim of the present study was to determine if the clinical prognostic value of C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammatory marker, can by associated with the angiographic findings in patients with non-ST elevation ACS. METHODS: This prospective multicenter cohort study included 1253 patients with non-ST elevation ACS. CRP, which was considered positive (+) if >/=3 mg/l, was measured at a median of 9 h from symptoms onset and were kept blinded until the end of the study. Coronary angiography was performed in 633 patients (50%). The presence of complex coronary lesions (CCLs) was defined as the presence of any of the following: thrombus (+), Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow

La proteína C reactiva no predice hallazgos coronarios de alto riesgo en los síndromes coronarios agudos sin elevación del ST: un estudio de cohorte prospectivo. Subestudio angiográfico del Estudio PACS / C-reactive protein don't predict high risk coronary angiographic findings in patients with non-st elevation acute coronary syndromes a large prospective cohort study

Antecedentes: Los marcadores inflamatorios se han asociado con una evolución clínica adversa en pacientes con síndromes coronarios agudos (SCA). Además, la morfología de la placa en la angiografía se relacionó con mal pronóstico, observándose una relación estrecha entre los marcadores de injuria miocárdica, como es la troponina T, y la presencia de lesiones coronarias complejas (LCC). Habiéndose postulado la teoría inflamatoria como un factor importante en el proceso fisiopatológico del SCA, el papel de los marcadores de inflamación para predecir aspectos angiográficos no se ha establecido. El propósito de este estudio fue el de determinar si la próteína C reactiva (PCR), un marcador inflamatorio, puede predecir la presencia de LCC. Material y métodos: Este estudio de cohorte prospectivo, multicéntrico incluyó 1252 pacientes con SCA sin elevación del ST. La PCR se midió en una mediana de 9 horas desde el comienzo de los síntomas, resultados que se mantuvieron ciegos hasta la finalización del estudio. De los pacientes en quienes se realizó angiografía coronaria, ingresaron en el estudio 590 (47 por ciento) y fueron revisadas por dos angiografistas que desconocían los resultados del laboratorio así como la evolución clínica. Se definieron LCC cuando existían algunas de la siguientes carecterísticas: trombo (+), flujo TIMI menor igual 2 o placa ulcerada (PU). Resultados: Se observó PCR (+) en 354 pacientes y PCR (-) en 236, 105 pacientes tuvieron trombos, de ellos 64 (18 por ciento) con PCR (+), 135 tuvieron flujo TIMI menor igual 2 y 81 (23 por ciento) con PCR (+). Finalmente 144 pacientes tuvieron lesiones ulceradas con un 30 por ciento (90 pacientes) con PCR (+). En total, 266 pacientes presentaron LCC, y de ellos el 47 por ciento (166 pacientes) con PCR (+) y 42 por ciento (100) p= 0,31. Conclusiones: En esta cohorte consecutiva de pacientes con SCA sin elevación del segmento ST, la proteína C reactiva, un marcador inflamatorio, no predijo la presencia de ninguno de los componentes de lesión coronaria compleja. A pesar de que la PCR es un fuerte predictor de mala evolución clínica, esto no se atribuiría a la presencia de una anatomía coronaria más compleja.

Early reperfusion and late clinical outcomes in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction randomly assigned to primary percutaneous coronary intervention or streptokinase.

BACKGROUND: Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has become an alternative to thrombolytic therapy as a reperfusion strategy for ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: The main goal of this study was to determine whether PCI and thrombolytic therapy achieve comparable reperfusion rates, as evidenced by ST-segment resolution. Secondary end points included infarct vessel patency rates before hospital discharge and short- and long-term outcomes. Patients with ischemic chest pain with duration < or =12 hours and no contraindication for thrombolytic therapy were included. RESULTS: Between October 1993 and August 1995, 58 patients were randomly assigned to streptokinase (SK) and 54 patients to primary PCI. Baseline clinical characteristics and infarct location were well balanced in both groups. Median age (interquartile range) was 68 (58, 75) years, 29% were women, and 78% of the patients met at least one criterion for "not low risk" AMI (anterior location, age >70 years old, previous MI, systolic blood pressure <100 mm Hg, and/or heart rate >100 bpm). The median time from symptom onset to random assignment was 217 (139, 335) minutes in the PCI group and 210 (145, 334) minutes in the SK group. Median random assignment to balloon time was 82 (55, 100) minutes, and median random assignment to needle time was 15 (10, 26) minutes (P <.0001). TIMI grade 3 flow after primary PCI was obtained in 85% of patients. The proportion of patients with ST-segment resolution > or =50% at 120 minutes was 80% in the PCI group and 50% in the SK group (P =.001). The predischarge angiogram showed the presence of TIMI 3 flow in 96% of patients who received PCI and 65% of patients who received SK (P <.001). A composite of in-hospital death, reinfarction, severe heart failure, stroke, and major bleeding occurred in 15% of patients who received PCI and 21% of patients who received SK (P =.4). At 3 years, freedom from the composite end point of AMI, postdischarge revascularization, and death was 61% in the PCI group and 40% in the SK group (P =.025). CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that primary PCI, as compared with SK, is associated with more effective ST-segment resolution, higher patency rates in the infarct vessel at 7 days, and more favorable clinical outcomes at 3 years of follow-up.

[Gadodiamide and carbon dioxide as alternative contrast media in patients with chronic renal failure]. / Gadodiamida y anhídrido carbónico como contrastes angiográficos alternativos en pacientes con insuficiencia renal.

Twelve diagnostic and therapeutic angiograms were performed in 10 patients with chronic renal failure using gadodiamide and CO2 as vascular contrast. Renal function was evaluated with serum creatinine levels 24 hours before and 24 to 48 hours after the vascular procedure. Imaging quality and tolerance of these contrast agents were also studied. There was no significant increase in serum creatinine levels in the 12 procedures. In all cases but one, the combined use of gadodiamide and CO2 offered images of enough quality and definition for diagnosis and therapy. A good symptomatic tolerance was present in all procedures. Gadodiamide and CO2 seem to represent useful and safe contrast agents for angiography and endovascular intervention in patients with chronic renal failure. Further experience is needed to confirm these initial findings.