[Carbon monoxide intoxication in a shisha lounge employee, a possible cause of cardiomyopathy]. / Koolmonoxide-intoxicatie bij medewerker shishalounge.

BACKGROUND: The use of waterpipe in shisha lounges is popular among young people, but it has a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and can lead to serious cardiac problems. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 26-year-old man presented to the emergency department with chest pain, dyspnea and syncope after working in a shisha lounge. Blood gas analysis showed carbon monoxide intoxication and an increased lactate level. Troponin-I measurement was normal. Ventricular arrhythmias on the monitor were the impetus for further cardiac analysis. Echocardiography showed a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (27%). The acute treatment consisted of high dose oxygen, followed by normalization of carboxyhemoglobin and lactate levels. The ventricular extrasystoles were reduced with beta-blockers. There was improvement of the left ventricular ejection fraction (42%) within a week, but PVC-induced cardiomyopathy remained a possible underlying condition. CONCLUSION: The use of waterpipe can cause carbon monoxide intoxication, which may be accompanied by arrhythmias and cardiomyopathy.

Additional diagnostic value of CMR to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) position statement criteria in a large clinical population of patients with suspected myocarditis.

Aims: To determine the diagnostic yield of tissue characterization by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in a large clinical population of patients with suspected acute myocarditis (AM) and to establish its diagnostic value within the 2013 European Society of Cardiology position statement criteria (ESC-PSC) for clinically suspected myocarditis. Methods and results: In this retrospective study, CMR examinations of 303 hospitalized patients referred for work-up of suspected AM in two tertiary referral centres were analysed. CMR was performed at median 7 days (interquartile range 4-20 days) after clinical presentation and included cine imaging, T2-weighted imaging, and late gadolinium enhancement. CMR images were evaluated to assign each patient to a diagnosis. By using non-CMR criteria only, the 2013 ESC-PSC were positive for suspected myocarditis in 151 patients and negative in 30. In the remaining 122 patients, there was insufficient information available for ESC-PSC assessment, mostly due to lack of coronary angiography (CAG) before the CMR examination (n = 116, 95%). There were no in-hospital deaths. CMR provided a diagnosis in 158 patients (52%), including myocarditis in 104 (34%), myocardial infarction in 44 (15%), and other pathology in 10 patients (3%). Non-urgent CAG (>24 h after presentation) was performed before the CMR examination in 85 patients, of which 20 (24%) were done in patients with subsequently confirmed AM, which could potentially have been avoided if CMR was performed first. ESC-PSC was correct in diagnosing AM before the CMR in 50 of the 151 patients (33%) and was correct in ruling out AM in all the 30 patients (100%). However, ESC-PSC provided an incorrect diagnosis of AM in 27 of the 151 patients (18%), which was corrected by CMR through the identification of new cardiac disease that could explain the clinical syndrome. Patients with insufficient ESC-PSC information had a relatively low pre-test probability of coronary artery disease. In this group, CMR confirmed the diagnosis of AM in a relatively high percentage (44%) but still revealed myocardial infarction in 8% of them. Conclusion: Tissue characterization by CMR provided a good diagnostic yield in this large clinical population of patients with suspected AM. CMR provided incremental diagnostic value to the ESC-PSC by ruling out the diagnosis of AM on one hand and by potentially sparing AM patients from CAG on the other.

Early Invasive Versus Selective Strategy for Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome: The ICTUS Trial.

BACKGROUND: The ICTUS (Invasive Versus Conservative Treatment in Unstable Coronary Syndromes) trial compared early invasive strategy with a selective invasive strategy in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) and an elevated cardiac troponin T. No long-term benefit of an early invasive strategy was found at 1 and 5 years. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the 10-year clinical outcomes of an early invasive strategy versus a selective invasive strategy in patients with NSTE-ACS and an elevated cardiac troponin T. METHODS: The ICTUS trial was a multicenter, randomized controlled clinical trial that included 1,200 patients with NSTE-ACS and an elevated cardiac troponin T. Enrollment was from July 2001 to August 2003. We collected 10-year follow-up of death, myocardial infarction (MI), and revascularization through the Dutch population registry, patient phone calls, general practitioners, and hospital records. The primary outcome was the 10-year composite of death or spontaneous MI. Additional outcomes included the composite of death or MI, death, MI (spontaneous and procedure-related), and revascularization. RESULTS: Ten-year death or spontaneous MI was not statistically different between the 2 groups (33.8% vs. 29.0%, hazard ratio [HR]: 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.97 to 1.46; p = 0.11). Revascularization occurred in 82.6% of the early invasive group and 60.5% in the selective invasive group. There were no differences in additional outcomes, except for a higher rate of death or MI in the early invasive group compared with the rates for the selective invasive group (37.6% vs. 30.5%; HR: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.07 to 1.58; p = 0.009), driven by a higher rate of procedure-related MI in the early invasive group (6.5% vs. 2.4%; HR: 2.82; 95% CI: 1.53 to 5.20; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with NSTE-ACS and elevated cardiac troponin T levels, an early invasive strategy has no benefit over a selective invasive strategy in reducing the 10-year composite outcome of death or spontaneous MI, and a selective invasive strategy may be a viable option in selected patients.

Growth-differentiation factor 15 for long-term prognostication in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome: an Invasive versus Conservative Treatment in Unstable coronary Syndromes (ICTUS) substudy.

BACKGROUND: No five-year long-term follow-up data is available regarding the prognostic value of GDF-15. Our aim is to evaluate the long-term prognostic value of admission growth-differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) regarding death or myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). METHODS: This is a subanalysis from the ICTUS (Invasive versus Conservative Treatment in Unstable coronary Syndromes) trial, including troponin positive NSTE-ACS patients. The main outcome for the current analysis was 5-year death or spontaneous MI. GDF-15 samples were available in 1151 patients. The prognostic value of GDF-15, categorized into <1200 ng/L, 1200-1800 ng/L and >1800 ng/L, was assessed in unadjusted and adjusted Cox regression models. Adjustments were made for identified univariable risk factors. The additional discriminative and reclassification value of GDF-15 beyond the independent risk factors was assessed by the category-free net reclassification improvement (1/2 NRI(>0)) and the integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) RESULTS: Compared to GDF-15<1200 ng/L, a GDF-15>1800 ng/L was associated with an increased hazard ratio for death or spontaneous MI, mainly driven by mortality. GDF-15 levels were predictive after adjustments for other identified predictors. Additional discriminative value was shown with the IDI, not with the NRI. CONCLUSION: In patients presenting with NSTE-ACS and elevated troponin T, GDF-15 provides prognostic information in addition to identified predictors for mortality and spontaneous MI and can be used to identify patients at high risk during long-term follow-up.

An invasive or conservative strategy in patients with diabetes mellitus and non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes: a collaborative meta-analysis of randomized trials.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis to examine an invasive or conservative strategy in diabetic versus nondiabetic patients. BACKGROUND: Diabetic patients are at increased risk of cardiovascular events after an acute coronary syndrome, yet it remains unknown whether they derive enhanced benefit from an invasive strategy. METHODS: Randomized trials comparing an invasive versus conservative treatment strategy were identified. The prevalence of cardiovascular events through 12 months was reported for each trial, stratified by diabetes mellitus status and randomized treatment strategy. Relative risk (RR) ratios and absolute risk reductions were combined using random-effects models. RESULTS: Data were combined across 9 trials comprising 9,904 subjects of whom 1,789 (18.1%) had diabetes mellitus. The RRs for death, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), or rehospitalization with an acute coronary syndrome for an invasive versus conservative strategy were similar between diabetic patients (RR: 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.73 to 1.03) and nondiabetic patients (RR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.70 to 1.06; p interaction = 0.83). An invasive strategy reduced nonfatal MI in diabetic patients (RR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.55 to 0.92), but not in nondiabetic patients (RR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.74 to 1.29; p interaction = 0.09). The absolute risk reduction in MI with an invasive strategy was greater in diabetic than nondiabetic patients (absolute risk reduction: 3.7% vs. 0.1%; p interaction = 0.02). There were no differences in death or stroke between groups (p interactions 0.68 and 0.20, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: An early invasive strategy yielded similar RR reductions in overall cardiovascular events in diabetic and nondiabetic patients. However, an invasive strategy appeared to reduce recurrent nonfatal MI to a greater extent in diabetic patients. These data support the updated guidelines that recommend an invasive strategy for patients with diabetes mellitus and non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes.

Timing of angiography with a routine invasive strategy and long-term outcomes in non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome: a collaborative analysis of individual patient data from the FRISC II (Fragmin and Fast Revascularization During Instability in Coronary Artery Disease), ICTUS (Invasive Versus Conservative Treatment in Unstable Coronary Syndromes), and RITA-3 (Intervention Versus Conservative Treatment Strategy in Patients With Unstable Angina or Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction) Trials.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to investigate long-term outcomes after early or delayed angiography in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (nSTE-ACS) undergoing a routine invasive management. BACKGROUND: The optimal timing of angiography in patients with nSTE-ACS is currently a topic for debate. METHODS: Long-term follow-up after early (within 2 days) angiography versus delayed (within 3 to 5 days) angiography was investigated in the FRISC-II (Fragmin and Fast Revascularization During Instability in Coronary Artery Disease), ICTUS (Invasive Versus Conservative Treatment in Unstable Coronary Syndromes), and RITA-3 (Intervention Versus Conservative Treatment Strategy in Patients With Unstable Angina or Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction) (FIR) nSTE-ACS patient-pooled database. The main outcome was cardiovascular death or myocardial infarction up to 5-year follow-up. Hazard ratios (HR) were calculated with Cox regression models. Adjustments were made for the FIR risk score, study, and the propensity of receiving early angiography using inverse probability weighting. RESULTS: Of 2,721 patients originally randomized to the routine invasive arm, consisting of routine angiography and subsequent revascularization if suitable, 975 underwent early angiography and 1,141 delayed angiography. No difference was observed in 5-year cardiovascular death or myocardial infarction in unadjusted (HR: 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.79 to 1.42, p=0.61) and adjusted (HR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.75 to 1.16, p=0.54) Cox regression models. CONCLUSIONS: In the FIR database of patients presenting with nSTE-ACS, the timing of angiography was not related to long-term cardiovascular mortality or myocardial infarction. (Invasive Versus Conservative Treatment in Unstable Coronary Syndromes [ICTUS]; ISRCTN82153174. Intervention Versus Conservative Treatment Strategy in Patients With Unstable Angina or Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction [the Third Randomised Intervention Treatment of Angina Trials (RITA-3)]; ISRCTN07752711).

Effects of age on long-term outcomes after a routine invasive or selective invasive strategy in patients presenting with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes: a collaborative analysis of individual data from the FRISC II - ICTUS - RITA-3 (FIR) trials.

OBJECTIVE: To perform a patient-pooled analysis of a routine invasive versus a selective invasive strategy in elderly patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome. METHODS: A meta-analysis was performed of patient-pooled data from the FRISC II-ICTUS-RITA-3 (FIR) studies. (Un)adjusted HRs were calculated by Cox regression, with adjustments for variables associated with age and outcomes. The main outcome was 5-year cardiovascular death or myocardial infarction (MI) following routine invasive versus selective invasive management. RESULTS: Regarding the 5-year composite of cardiovascular death or MI, the routine invasive strategy was associated with a lower hazard in patients aged 65-74 years (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.90) and those aged ≥75 years (HR 0.71, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.91), but not in those aged <65 years (HR 1.11, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.38), p=0.001 for interaction between treatment strategy and age. The interaction was driven by an excess of early MIs in patients <65 years of age; there was no heterogeneity between age groups concerning cardiovascular death. The benefits were smaller for women than for men (p=0.009 for interaction). After adjustment for other clinical risk factors the HRs remained similar. CONCLUSION: The current analysis of the FIR dataset shows that the long-term benefit of the routine invasive strategy over the selective invasive strategy is attenuated in younger patients aged <65 years and in women by the increased risk of early events which seem to have no consequences for long-term cardiovascular mortality. No other clinical risk factors were able to identify patients with differential responses to a routine invasive strategy. Trial registration http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN82153174 (ICTUS), http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN07752711 (RITA-3).

Usefulness of the admission electrocardiogram to predict long-term outcomes after non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (from the FRISC II, ICTUS, and RITA-3 [FIR] Trials).

The aim of this study was to evaluate the independent prognostic value of qualitative and quantitative admission electrocardiographic (ECG) analysis regarding long-term outcomes after non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS). From the Fragmin and Fast Revascularization During Instability in Coronary Artery Disease (FRISC II), Invasive Versus Conservative Treatment in Unstable Coronary Syndromes (ICTUS), and Randomized Intervention Trial of Unstable Angina 3 (RITA-3) patient-pooled database, 5,420 patients with NSTE-ACS with qualitative ECG data, of whom 2,901 had quantitative data, were included in this analysis. The main outcome was 5-year cardiovascular death or myocardial infarction. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated with Cox regression models, and adjustments were made for established outcome predictors. The additional discriminative value was assessed with the category-less net reclassification improvement and integrated discrimination improvement indexes. In the 5,420 patients, the presence of ST-segment depression (≥1 mm; adjusted HR 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.25 to 1.63) and left bundle branch block (adjusted HR 1.64, 95% CI 1.18 to 2.28) were independently associated with long-term cardiovascular death or myocardial infarction. Risk increases were short and long term. On quantitative ECG analysis, cumulative ST-segment depression (≥5 mm; adjusted HR 1.34, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.70), the presence of left bundle branch block (adjusted HR 2.15, 95% CI 1.36 to 3.40) or ≥6 leads with inverse T waves (adjusted HR 1.22, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.55) was independently associated with long-term outcomes. No interaction was observed with treatment strategy. No improvements in net reclassification improvement and integrated discrimination improvement were observed after the addition of quantitative characteristics to a model including qualitative characteristics. In conclusion, in the FRISC II, ICTUS, and RITA-3 NSTE-ACS patient-pooled data set, admission ECG characteristics provided long-term prognostic value for cardiovascular death or myocardial infarction. Quantitative ECG characteristics provided no incremental discrimination compared to qualitative data.

Long-term cardiovascular mortality after procedure-related or spontaneous myocardial infarction in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome: a collaborative analysis of individual patient data from the FRISC II, ICTUS, and RITA-3 trials (FIR).

BACKGROUND: The present study was designed to investigate the long-term prognostic impact of procedure-related and spontaneous myocardial infarction (MI) on cardiovascular mortality in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome. METHODS AND RESULTS: Five-year follow-up after procedure-related or spontaneous MI was investigated in the individual patient pooled data set of the FRISC-II (Fast Revascularization During Instability in Coronary Artery Disease), ICTUS (Invasive Versus Conservative Treatment in Unstable Coronary Syndromes), and RITA-3 (Randomized Intervention Trial of Unstable Angina 3) non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome trials. The principal outcome was cardiovascular death up to 5 years of follow-up. Cumulative event rates were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method; hazard ratios were calculated with time-dependent Cox proportional hazards models. Adjustments were made for the variables associated with long-term outcomes. Among the 5467 patients, 212 experienced a procedure-related MI within 6 months after enrollment. A spontaneous MI occurred in 236 patients within 6 months. The cumulative cardiovascular death rate was 5.2% in patients who had a procedure-related MI, comparable to that for patients without a procedure-related MI (hazard ratio 0.66; 95% confidence interval, 0.36-1.20, P=0.17). In patients who had a spontaneous MI within 6 months, the cumulative cardiovascular death rate was 22.2%, higher than for patients without a spontaneous MI (hazard ratio 4.52; 95% confidence interval, 3.37-6.06, P<0.001). These hazard ratios did not change materially after risk adjustments. CONCLUSIONS: Five-year follow-up of patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome from the 3 trials showed no association between a procedure-related MI and long-term cardiovascular mortality. In contrast, there was a substantial increase in long-term mortality after a spontaneous MI.

5-year clinical outcomes in the ICTUS (Invasive versus Conservative Treatment in Unstable coronary Syndromes) trial a randomized comparison of an early invasive versus selective invasive management in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: We present the 5-year clinical outcomes according to treatment strategy with additional risk stratification of the ICTUS (Invasive versus Conservative Treatment in Unstable coronary Syndromes) trial. BACKGROUND: Long-term outcomes may be relevant to decide treatment strategy for patients presenting with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS) and elevated troponin T. METHODS: We randomly assigned 1,200 patients to an early invasive or selective invasive strategy. The outcomes were the composite of death or myocardial infarction (MI) and its individual components. Risk stratification was performed with the FRISC (Fast Revascularization in InStability in Coronary artery disease) risk score. RESULTS: At 5-year follow-up, revascularization rates were 81% in the early invasive and 60% in the selective invasive group. Cumulative death or MI rates were 22.3% and 18.1%, respectively (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.29, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00 to 1.66, p = 0.053). No difference was observed in mortality (HR: 1.13, 95% CI: 0.80 to 1.60, p = 0.49) or MI (HR: 1.24, 95% CI: 0.90 to 1.70, p = 0.20). After risk stratification, no benefit of an early invasive strategy was observed in reducing death or spontaneous MI in any of the risk groups. CONCLUSIONS: In patients presenting with NSTE-ACS and elevated troponin T, we could not demonstrate a long-term benefit of an early invasive strategy in reducing death or MI. (Invasive versus Conservative Treatment in Unstable coronary Syndromes [ICTUS]; ISRCTN82153174).

Cystatin C for enhancement of risk stratification in non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome patients with an increased troponin T.

BACKGROUND: We assessed the value of cystatin C for improvement of risk stratification in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (nSTE-ACS) and increased cardiac troponin T (cTnT), and we compared the long-term effects of an early invasive treatment strategy (EIS) with a selective invasive treatment strategy (SIS) with regard to renal function. METHODS: Patients (n = 1128) randomized to an EIS or an SIS in the ICTUS trial were stratified according to the tertiles of the cystatin C concentration at baseline. The end points were death within 4 years and spontaneous myocardial infarction (MI) within 3 years. RESULTS: Mortality was 3.4%, 6.2%, and 13.5% in the first, second, and third tertiles, respectively, of cystatin C concentration (log-rank P < 0.001), and the respective rates of spontaneous MI were 5.5%, 7.5%, and 9.8% (log-rank P = 0.03). In a multivariate Cox regression analysis, the cystatin C concentration in the third quartile remained independently predictive of mortality [hazard ratio (HR), 2.04; 95% CI, 1.02-4.10; P = 0.04] and spontaneous MI (HR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.05-3.63; P = 0.04). The mortality rate in the second tertile was lower with the EIS than with the SIS (3.8% vs 8.7%). In the third tertile, the mortality rates with the EIS and the SIS were, respectively, 15.0% and 12.2% (P for interaction = 0.04). Rates of spontaneous MI were similar for the EIS and the SIS within cystatin C tertiles (P for interaction = 0.22). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with nSTE-ACS and an increased cTnT concentration, mild to moderate renal dysfunction is associated with a higher risk of death and spontaneous MI. Use of cystatin C as a serum marker of renal function may improve risk stratification.

Diverging associations of an intended early invasive strategy compared with actual revascularization, and outcome in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome: the problem of treatment selection bias.

AIMS: In several observational studies, revascularization is associated with substantial reduction in mortality in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (nSTE-ACS). This has strengthened the belief that routine early angiography would lead to a reduction in mortality. We investigated the association between actual in-hospital revascularization and long-term outcome in patients with nSTE-ACS included in the ICTUS trial. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study population of the present analysis consists of ICTUS participants who were discharged alive after initial hospitalization. The ICTUS trial was a randomized, controlled trial in which 1200 patients were randomized to an early invasive or selective invasive strategy. The endpoints were death from hospital discharge until 4 year follow-up and death or spontaneous myocardial infarction (MI) until 3 years. Among 1189 patients discharged alive, 691 (58%) underwent revascularization during initial hospitalization. In multivariable Cox regression analyses, in-hospital revascularization was independently associated with a reduction in 4 year mortality and 3 year event rate of death or spontaneous MI: hazard ratio (HR) 0.59 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.37-0.96] and 0.46 (95% CI 0.31-0.68). However, when intention-to-treat analysis was performed, no differences in cumulative event rates were observed between the early invasive and selective invasive strategies: HR 1.10 (95% CI 0.70-1.74) for death and 1.27 (95% CI 0.88-1.85) for death or spontaneous MI. CONCLUSION: The ICTUS trial did not show that an early invasive strategy resulted in a better outcome than a selective invasive strategy in patients with nSTE-ACS. However, similar to retrospective analyses from observational studies, actual revascularization was associated with lower mortality and fewer MI. Whether an early invasive strategy leads to a better outcome than a selective invasive strategy cannot be inferred from the observation that revascularized patients have a better prognosis in non-randomized studies.

Early invasive vs conservative treatment strategies in women and men with unstable angina and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: a meta-analysis.

CONTEXT: Although an invasive strategy is frequently used in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE ACS), data from some trials suggest that this strategy may not benefit women. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a meta-analysis of randomized trials to compare the effects of an invasive vs conservative strategy in women and men with NSTE ACS. DATA SOURCES: Trials were identified through a computerized literature search of the MEDLINE and Cochrane databases (1970-April 2008) using the search terms invasive strategy, conservative strategy, selective invasive strategy, acute coronary syndromes, non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, and unstable angina. STUDY SELECTION: Randomized clinical trials comparing an invasive vs conservative treatment strategy in patients with NSTE ACS. DATA EXTRACTION: The principal investigators for each trial provided the sex-specific incidences of death, myocardial infarction (MI), and rehospitalization with ACS through 12 months of follow-up. DATA SYNTHESIS: Data were combined across 8 trials (3075 women and 7075 men). The odds ratio (OR) for the composite of death, MI, or ACS for invasive vs conservative strategy in women was 0.81 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.65-1.01; 21.1% vs 25.0%) and in men was 0.73 (95% CI, 0.55-0.98; 21.2% vs 26.3%) without significant heterogeneity between sexes (P for interaction = .26). Among biomarker-positive women, an invasive strategy was associated with a 33% lower odds of death, MI, or ACS (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.50-0.88) and a nonsignificant 23% lower odds of death or MI (OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.47-1.25). In contrast, an invasive strategy was not associated with a significant reduction in the triple composite end point in biomarker-negative women (OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.61-1.44; P for interaction = .36) and was associated with a nonsignificant 35% higher odds of death or MI (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 0.78-2.35; P for interaction = .08). Among men, the OR for death, MI, or ACS was 0.56 (95% CI, 0.46-0.67) if biomarker-positive and 0.72 (95% CI, 0.51-1.01) if biomarker-negative (P for interaction = .09). CONCLUSIONS: In NSTE ACS, an invasive strategy has a comparable benefit in men and high-risk women for reducing the composite end point of death, MI, or rehospitalization with ACS. In contrast, our data provide evidence supporting the new guideline recommendation for a conservative strategy in low-risk women.

ST-segment deviation on the admission electrocardiogram, treatment strategy, and outcome in non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes A substudy of the Invasive versus Conservative Treatment in Unstable coronary Syndromes (ICTUS) Trial.

BACKGROUND: We assessed the prognostic significance of the presence of cumulative (Sigma) ST-segment deviation on the admission electrocardiogram (ECG) in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome and an elevated troponin T randomized to a selective invasive (SI) or an early invasive treatment strategy. METHODS: A 12-lead ECG obtained at admission was available for analysis from 1163 patients. The presence and magnitude of ST-segment deviation was measured in each lead, and absolute ST-segment deviation was summed. The effect of treatment strategy was assessed for patients with or without SigmaST-segment deviation of at least 1 mm. RESULTS: The incidence of death or myocardial infarction (MI) by 1 year in patients with SigmaST-segment deviation of at least 1 mm was 18.0% compared with 11.1% in patients with SigmaST-segment deviation of less than 1 mm (P = .001). Among patients with SigmaST-segment deviation of at least 1 mm, the incidence of death or MI was 21.9% in the early invasive group compared with 14.2% in SI group (P < .01). However, we observed a significantly higher rate of MI after hospital discharge among patients with SigmaST-segment deviation of at least 1 mm randomized to SI who did not undergo angiography compared with patients who underwent angiography before discharge (10.9% vs 2.4%, P = .003). In a forward logistic regression analysis, the presence of ST-segment deviation was an independent predictor for failure of medical therapy (coronary angiography within 30 days after randomization in the SI group) (odds ratio, 1.56; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-2.18; P = .009). CONCLUSION: Patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome and an elevated troponin T and SigmaST-segment deviation of at least 1 mm are at increased risk of death or MI, more often fail on medical therapy, and more often experience a spontaneous MI after discharge when angiography was not performed during initial hospitalization.

Long-term outcome after an early invasive versus selective invasive treatment strategy in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome and elevated cardiac troponin T (the ICTUS trial): a follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: The ICTUS trial was a study that compared an early invasive with a selective invasive treatment strategy in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (nSTE-ACS). The study reported no difference between the strategies for frequency of death, myocardial infarction, or rehospitalisation after 1 year. We did a follow-up study to assess the effects of these treatment strategies after 4 years. METHODS: 1200 patients with nSTE-ACS and an elevated cardiac troponin were enrolled from 42 hospitals in the Netherlands. Patients were randomly assigned either to an early invasive strategy, including early routine catheterisation and revascularisation where appropriate, or to a more selective invasive strategy, where catheterisation was done if the patient had refractory angina or recurrent ischaemia. The main endpoints for the current follow-up study were death, recurrent myocardial infarction, or rehospitalisation for anginal symptoms within 3 years after randomisation, and cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality within 4 years. Analysis was by intention-to-treat. This study is registered as an International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial, number ISRCTN82153174. FINDINGS: The in-hospital revascularisation rate was 76% in the early invasive group and 40% in the selective invasive group. After 3 years, the cumulative rate for the combined endpoint was 30.0% in the early invasive group compared with 26.0% in the selective invasive group (hazard ratio 1.21; 95% CI 0.97-1.50; p=0.09). Myocardial infarction was more frequent in the early invasive strategy group (106 [18.3%] vs 69 [12.3%]; HR 1.61; 1.19-2.18; p=0.002). Rates of death or spontaneous myocardial infarction were not different (76 [14.3%] patients in the early invasive and 63 [11.2%] patients in the selective invasive strategy [HR 1.19; 0.86-1.67; p=0.30]). No difference in all-cause mortality (7.9%vs 7.7%; p=0.62) or cardiovascular mortality (4.5%vs 5.0%; p=0.97) was seen within 4 years. INTERPRETATION: Long-term follow-up of the ICTUS trial suggests that an early invasive strategy might not be better than a more selective invasive strategy in patients with nSTE-ACS and an elevated cardiac troponin, and implementation of either strategy might be acceptable in these patients.

N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide for additional risk stratification in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome and an elevated troponin T: an Invasive versus Conservative Treatment in Unstable coronary Syndromes (ICTUS) substudy.

BACKGROUND: New evidence has emerged that the assessment of multiple biomarkers such as cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (nSTE-ACS) provides unique prognostic information. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between baseline NT-proBNP levels and outcome in patients who have nSTE-ACS with an elevated cTnT and to determine whether patients with elevated NT-proBNP levels benefit from an early invasive treatment strategy. METHODS: Baseline samples for NT-proBNP measurements were available in 1141 patients who have nSTE-ACS with an elevated cTnT randomized to an early or a selective invasive strategy. Patients were followed-up for the occurrence of death, myocardial infarction (MI), and rehospitalization for angina. RESULTS: We showed that increased levels of NT-proBNP were associated with several indicators of risk and severe coronary artery disease. Mortality by 1 year was 7.3% in the highest quartile (> or = 1170 ng/L for men, > or = 2150 ng/L for women) compared with 1.1% of patients in the lower 3 quartiles (P < .0001). N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (highest quartile vs lower 3 quartiles) was a strong independent predictor of mortality (hazard ratio 5.0, 95% CI 2.1-11.6, P = .0002). However, NT-proBNP levels were not associated with the incidence of recurrent MI by 1 year. Furthermore, we could not demonstrate a benefit of an early invasive strategy compared with a selective invasive strategy in patients with an elevated NT-proBNP level. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed that NT-proBNP is a strong independent predictor of mortality by 1 year but not of recurrent MI in patients who have nSTE-ACS with an elevated cTnT. We could not demonstrate a benefit of an early invasive strategy compared with a selective invasive strategy.

Early invasive versus selectively invasive management for acute coronary syndromes.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines recommend an early invasive strategy for patients who have acute coronary syndromes without ST-segment elevation and with an elevated cardiac troponin T level. However, randomized trials have not shown an overall reduction in mortality, and the reduction in the rate of myocardial infarction in previous trials has varied depending on the definition of myocardial infarction. METHODS: We randomly assigned 1200 patients with acute coronary syndrome without ST-segment elevation who had chest pain, an elevated cardiac troponin T level (> or =0.03 mug per liter), and either electrocardiographic evidence of ischemia at admission or a documented history of coronary disease to an early invasive strategy or to a more conservative (selectively invasive) strategy. Patients received aspirin daily, enoxaparin for 48 hours, and abciximab at the time of percutaneous coronary intervention. The use of clopidogrel and intensive lipid-lowering therapy was recommended. The primary end point was a composite of death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or rehospitalization for anginal symptoms within one year after randomization. RESULTS: The estimated cumulative rate of the primary end point was 22.7 percent in the group assigned to early invasive management and 21.2 percent in the group assigned to selectively invasive management (relative risk, 1.07; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.87 to 1.33; P=0.33). The mortality rate was the same in the two groups (2.5 percent). Myocardial infarction was significantly more frequent in the group assigned to early invasive management (15.0 percent vs. 10.0 percent, P=0.005), but rehospitalization was less frequent in that group (7.4 percent vs. 10.9 percent, P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: We could not demonstrate that, given optimized medical therapy, an early invasive strategy was superior to a selectively invasive strategy in patients with acute coronary syndromes without ST-segment elevation and with an elevated cardiac troponin T level.