Admission Glucose Level Predicts In-hospital Mortality in Patients with Acute Pulmonary Embolism Who Were Treated with Thrombolytic Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Elevated admission serum glucose level is associated with unfavourable clinical outcomes in various clinical conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between admission glucose levels and in-hospital and long-term adverse clinical outcomes in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) treated with thrombolytic therapy. METHODS: A total of 183 consecutive confirmed acute PE patients (98 female and 85 male; mean age 61.9 ± 15.7 years) who were treated with thrombolytic therapy enrolled in this study. The study population was categorised into four quartiles according to admission serum glucose levels (group I: glucose ≤115 mg/dl; group II: glucose >115-141 mg/dl; group III: glucose >141-195 mg/dl; and group IV: glucose ≥196 mg/dl). RESULTS: In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in group IV (28.8 %) compared to group III (15.2 %), group II (6.6 %), and group I (2.1 %) (p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, admission glucose level (OR 1.013, 95 % CI 1.004-1.021, p = 0.004) and admission anaemia (OR 0.602, 95 % CI 0.380-0.955, p = 0.03) were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. The mean follow-up period was 34 months. During long-term follow-up, all-cause mortality, recurrent PE, major and minor bleeding were similar among the four groups. CONCLUSION: Admission glucose level is a simple, inexpensive, easily available, and effective laboratory parameter for predicting in-hospital mortality in patients with PE.

Adropin levels and target organ damage secondary to high blood pressure in the ED.

BACKGROUND: High blood pressure is still a challenge for emergency physicians to discern the patients that require further analysis to establish the existence of acute hypertensive target organ damage (TOD). The present study aimed to reveal that adropin levels are useful for detecting TOD in patients presenting with high blood pressure. METHODS: Patients presenting with a blood pressure of more than 180/110 mm Hg were enrolled into the study. After a resting period of 15 minutes, patients' blood pressures were measured thrice at 5-minute intervals while the patients were sitting on a chair, and the average of these measurements was accepted as the baseline value. Blood samples were obtained for either adropin levels or possible TOD during the emergency department admission. RESULTS: A total of 119 patients were included in the study. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures of study patients were 204.8±23.2 and 108.3 ± 10.3, respectively, and 42% (n = 50) of the patients had TOD. Although the adropin levels were similar between the patients with or without TOD (TOD group = 195 pg/mL, interquartile range [IQR]: 178-201; no-TOD group = 196 pg/mL, IQR: 176-204 [P = .982]), it is significantly higher in normotensive patients (normotensive group = 289 pg/mL, IQR: 193-403) compared with the hypertensive ones (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the significantly higher levels of adropin in normotensive patients compared with hypertensive ones, adropin could not be used as a decision tool for detecting TOD in patients presenting with high blood pressure to the emergency department.

Predictive value of a fragmented QRS complex in patients undergoing primary angioplasty for ST elevation myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of fragmented QRS (fQRS) on electrocardiography (ECG) patients with acute ST-segment elevation in myocardial infarction (STEMI), who are undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 414 consecutive STEMI patients (mean age of 55.2 ± 12.2 years old, range of 26-91-years old) undergoing primary PCI. The study patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of fQRS as shown by ECG in the first 48 hours. The presence of fQRS group was defined as fQRS(+) (n = 91), and the absence of fQRS group was defined as the fQRS(-) (n = 323) group. Clinical characteristics and the one-year outcome of the primary PCI were analyzed. RESULTS: The patients in the fQRS(+) group were older (mean age 60.7 ± 12.5 vs. 53.6 ± 11.6 years old, P < 0.001). Higher one-year all-cause mortality rates were observed in the fQRS group upon ECG (23.1% vs. 2.5%, P < 0.001, respectively). When using the Cox multivariate analysis, the presence of fQRS on the ECG was found to be a powerful independent predictor of one-year all-cause mortality (hazard ratio: 5.24, 95% confidence interval: 1.43-19.2, P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the presence of fQRS on ECG was associated with an increased in-hospital cardiovascular mortality, and one-year all-cause mortality in patients with STEMI who are under primary PCI.

ST-segment elevation of right precordial lead (V4 R) is associated with multivessel disease and increased in-hospital mortality in acute anterior myocardial infarction patients.

BACKGROUND: ST segment elevation of chest lead V4 R is associated with worse prognosis in acute inferior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This study tried to determine the relationship between ST elevation in the right precordial lead V4 R and acute anterior STEMI. METHODS: Prospective study of 144 consecutive anterior STEMI patients: all had 15-lead ECG recordings (12 conventional leads and V3 R-V5 R) obtained. Patients were classified into two groups on the basis of presence (Group I, 50 patients) or absence (Group II, 94 patients) of ST-segment elevation ≥0.5 mm in lead V4 R. RESULTS: Multivessel involvement was significantly higher in Group I compared with Group II (54% and 23% respectively, P < 0.001). Major adverse cardiac events and in-hospital mortality was also significantly higher for those in Group I (P < 0.02 for both). A significant correlation was found between in-hospital mortality and those in Group I (P = 0.03, OR: 6.27, CI: 1.22-32.3). There was an independent relationship between in-hospital mortality and V4 R-ST elevation (P = 0.03, OR: 11.64, CI: 1.3-27.4). CONCLUSION: ST segment elevation in chest lead V4 R is associated with multivessel disease and increased in-hospital mortality in patients with anterior STEMI that had undergone primary percutaneous coronary intervention to the left anterior descending artery.

Circadian blood pressure pattern in sarcoidosis patients.

OBJECTIVES: Autonomic dysfunction (AD) is frequent in sarcoidosis and considered a result of small fiber neuropathy. A non-dipper blood pressure (BP) pattern, which is also linked to AD, is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular and renal diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the non-dipping BP pattern in normotensive patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis (PS). METHODS: Sixty-three normotensive patients with PS (group 1) and 49 healthy subjects (group 2) were prospectively enrolled. Ambulatory BP monitoring was performed in all participants over a 24-h period. RESULTS: The non-dipping BP pattern was significantly more frequent in patients with PS compared with the control group (80% vs 53%, respectively, p = 0.002). More advanced PS (grade 2) was an independent predictor of non-dipper BP pattern (odds ratio = 10.4, 95% confidence interval 1.1-95.4, p = 0.03). Masked hypertension and body mass index were also found to be other predictors of non-dipping BP pattern. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that non-dipping BP pattern is frequently observed in normotensive patients with PS. The probable mechanism underlying the non-dipping BP in PS is autonomic nervous system dysfunction. PS represents an independent risk factor for non-dipping BP and these patients have increased cardiovascular risk.

Role of cathepsin D activation in major adverse cardiovascular events and new-onset heart failure after STEMI.

AIM: Increased serum levels of the activated aspartic lysosomal endopeptidase cathepsin D (CatD) have been found in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, to date there have been no analyses of clinical follow-up data measuring the enzyme course and its role in the development of post-MI heart failure. This study aimed to evaluate the role of serum CatD activity in the development of heart failure in patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty-eight consecutive patients (79.5 % men, mean age 57.4 ± 10.2 years) with STEMI were included in this study. Serum CatD activity was measured directly after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), before discharge, and at the 6-month follow-up. Patients were monitored for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as hospitalization due to cardiovascular causes, recurrent nonfatal myocardial infarction, unplanned PCI, new-onset heart failure, and cardiovascular mortality. RESULTS: Serum CatD activity was significantly higher in patients with AMI after PCI and during follow-up (FU) than that in age-matched controls (16.2 ± 7.5 and 29.8 ± 8.9 vs. 8.5 ± 4.2 RFU; p < 0.001 for each time point). At the 6-month follow-up, serum CatD activity in these patients was inversely related to new-onset cardiac dysfunction compared with patients with preserved and improved LVEF after treatment (23.1 ± 3.2 vs. 28.8 ± 7.0 and 29.7 ± 5.0 RFU respectively, p < 0.01). Patients suffering from MACE during a follow-up period of 6 months had lower serum levels of activated CatD than those without any MACE (23.8 ± 4.6 vs 29.6 ± 6.9 RFU; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Serum CatD activity as a marker of healthy endogenous phagocytosis and remodeling was impaired in patients with new-onset cardiac dysfunction, and lower levels of serum CatD were associated with MACE at the 6-month post-MI follow-up.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic marker in infective endocarditis: in-hospital and long-term clinical results.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an independent predictor of poor prognosis in different clinical conditions such as infectious and cardiovascular diseases. It was hypothesized that a patient's admission NLR would be predictive of an adverse clinical outcome in cases of infective endocarditis (IE). METHODS: A total of 171 patients with IE was enrolled retrospectively, and allocated to two tertiles based on admission NLR values. The high-NLR group (n = 76) was defined as having an NLR value in the third tertile (> 5.46), and the low-NLR group (n = 95) as having a value in the lower two tertiles (≤ 5.46). RESULTS: Patients in the high-NLR group had a significantly higher incidence of in-hospital mortality than the low-NLR group (39.4% versus 18.9%, p = 0.003). A high NLR was found to be an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio 2.53, 95% confidence interval 1.19-5.3; p = 0.01). The mean follow up was 25.5 months, and long-term follow up mortality was similar in both groups (12.9% versus 19.5%; p = 0.33). CONCLUSION: A high NLR at admission is associated with increased in-hospital mortality in patients with IE. During the long-term follow up, NLR showed no predictive indication of mortality.

Combination of hemoglobin and left ventricular ejection fraction as a new predictor of contrast induced nephropathy in patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Hemoglobin concentration (Hb) and left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) are known predictors of contrast induced nephropathy (CIN). We hypothesized that combination of Hb concentration and left ventricular EF is superior to either variable alone in predicting contrast induced nephropathy in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Consecutive patients with ACS were prospectively enrolled. Patients considered for invasive strategy were included. Baseline creatinine levels were detected on admission and 24, 48 and 72 hours after coronary intervention. 25% or 0,5 umol/L increase in creatinine level was considered as CIN. RESULTS: 268 patients with ACS (mean age 58±11 years, 77% male) were enrolled. Contrast induced nephropathy was observed in 26 (9.7%) of patients. Baseline creatinine concentration, left ventricular EF, and Hemoglobin was significantly different between two groups. Contrast volume to estimated glomerular filtration rate ratio (OR: 1.310, 95% CI: 1.077-1.593, p=0.007) and the combination of Hb and left ventricular EF (OR: 0.996, 95% CI: 0.994-0.998, p=0.001) were found to be independent predictors for CIN. Hb × LVEF ≤690 had 85% sensitivity and 57% specificity to predict CIN (area under curve: 0.724, 95% CI: 0.625-0.824, p<0.001). In addition, Hb × LVEF ≤690 had a negative predictive value of 97% in our analysis CONCLUSIONS: The combination of Hb and left ventricular EF is better than either variable alone at predicting CIN in patients with ACS that undergone percutaneous coronary intervention. The prediction was independent of baseline renal function and volume of contrast agent.

Diagnostic value of strain echocardiography, galectin-3, and tenascin-C levels for the identification of patients with pulmonary and cardiac sarcoidosis.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac involvement in sarcoidosis has been associated with poor prognosis. We evaluated myocardial contractility quantitatively in a cohort of pulmonary sarcoidosis (PS) patients with and without cardiac involvement. We also studied markers of fibrosis (tenascin-C [Tn-C] and galectin-3 [Gl-3]) as diagnostic tools for PS and cardiac sarcoidosis (CS). METHODS: Forty ambulatory patients with PS of grades 1-2 and 26 healthy subjects were prospectively enrolled. All patients with PS underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) to explore the presence of CS. The study population was divided into three groups: controls (n = 26), non-CS patients (n = 34), and CS patients (n = 6). Speckle-tracking strain echocardiography (STE) was performed on all patients, and Gl-3 and Tn-C values were measured in all patients and controls. RESULTS: PS patients had higher levels of Gl-3 and Tn-C than did controls, and the STE parameters of PS patients, including global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global circumferential strain (GCS), were lower than those of controls (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). GLS values were lower in CS patients than in the other groups (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PS patients demonstrate reduced cardiac contractility, independent of CMR-proven structural cardiac lesions, while patients with structural lesions have a more pronounced drop in strain parameters. Tn-C and Gl-3 are promising markers for the diagnosis of PS, but they are not specific for cardiac involvement.

Predictive Value of Elevated Uric Acid in Turkish Patients Undergoing Primary Angioplasty for ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Uric acid (UA) is an independent risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease. Serum UA levels have been correlated with all major forms of death from cardiovascular disease, including acute, subacute, and chronic forms of coronary artery disease (CAD), heart failure, and stroke. However, its value in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of UA in patients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 434 consecutive Turkish STEMI patients (mean age 55.4 ± 12.4 years, 341 male, 93 female) undergoing primary PCI. The study population was divided into tertiles based on admission UA values. The high UA group (n = 143) was defined as a value in the third tertile (> 5.7 mg/dl), and the low UA group (n = 291) included those patients with a value in the lower two tertiles (≤ 5.7 mg/dl). Clinical characteristics, in-hospital and six-month outcomes of primary PCI were analyzed. RESULTS: Compared to the low UA group, only Killip class > 1 at admission was more prevalent in the high UA group (3.4% vs. 17.5%, p < 0.001, respectively). Higher in-hospital cardiovascular mortality and six-month all-cause mortality rates were observed in the high UA group than in the lower group (12.6% vs. 1.7%, respectively, p < 0.001) and (19.6% vs. 4.1%, respectively, p < 0.001). In Cox multivariate analysis; a high admission UA value (> 5.7 mg/dl) was found to be a powerful independent predictor of six-month all-cause mortality (hazard ratio: 5.57, 95% confidence interval: 1.903-16.3, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that a high level of UA on admission was associated with increased in-hospital cardiovascular mortality, and six-month all-cause mortality in Turkish patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI. KEY WORDS: Primary angioplasty; ST elevation myocardial infarction; Uric acid.

Red cell distribution width predicts new-onset atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting.

INTRODUCTION: Red cell distribution width (RDW) has been associated with poor outcomes in patients with cardiovascular diseases. However, little is known about the role of RDW in prediction of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We aimed to investigate the relation between the RDW and postoperative AF in patients undergoing CABG. METHODS: A total of 132 patients undergoing nonemergency CABG were included in the study. Patients with previous atrial arrhythmia or requiring concomitant valve surgery were excluded. We retrospectively analyzed 132 consecutive patients (mean age, 60.55 ± 9.5 years; 99 male and 33 female). The RDW level was determined preoperatively and on postoperative Day 1. RESULTS: Preoperative RDW levels were significantly higher in patients who developed AF than in those who did not (13.9 ± 1.4 vs. 13.3 ± 1.2, p = 0.03). There was not any correlation between postoperative RDW levels and AF. Using a cutpoint of 13.45, the preoperative level correlated with the incidence of AF with a sensitivity of 61% and specificity of 60%. CONCLUSION: Preoperative RDW level predicts new-onset AF after CABG in patients without histories of AF.

Prognostic significance of T-wave amplitude in lead aVR on the admission electrocardiography in patients with anterior wall ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated by primary percutaneous intervention.

BACKGROUND: T-wave positivity in aVR lead patients with heart failure and anterior wall old ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are shown to have a higher frequency of cardiovascular mortality, although the effects on patients with STEMI treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not been investigated. In this study, we sought to determine the prognostic value of T wave in lead aVR on admission electrocardiography (ECG) for in-hospital mortality in patients with anterior wall STEMI treated with primary PCI. METHODS: After exclusion, 169 consecutive patients with anterior wall STEMI (mean age: 55 ± 12.9 years; 145 men) undergoing primary PCI were prospectively enrolled in this study. Patients were classified as a T-wave positive (n = 53, group 1) or T-wave negative (n = 116, group 2) in aVR based upon the admission ECG. All patients were evaluated with respect to clinical features, primary PCI findings, and in-hospital clinical results. RESULTS: T-wave positive patients who received primary PCI were older, multivessel disease was significantly more frequent and the duration of the patient's hospital stay was longer than T-wave negative patients. In-hospital mortality tended to be higher in the group 1 when compared with group 2 (7.5% vs 1.7% respectively, P = 0.05). After adjusting the baseline characteristics, positive T wave remained an independent predictor of in hospital mortality (odds ratio: 4.41; 95% confidence interval 1.2-22.1, P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: T-wave positivity in lead aVR among patients with an anterior wall STEMI treated with primary PCI is associated with an increase in hospital cardiovascular mortality.

Prognostic value of elevated mean platelet volume in patients undergoing primary angioplasty for ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of mean platelet volume (MPV) in patients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 495 consecutive STEMI patients.The study population was divided into tertiles based on admission MPV values. The high MPV group (n= 148) was defined as a value in the third tertile (> 8.9), and the low MPV group (n = 347) included those patients with a value in the lower two tertiles (< or = 8.9). Clinical characteristics, in-hospital and six-month outcomes of primary PCI were analysed. RESULTS: Higher six-month all-cause mortality rates were observed in the high MPV group In Cox multivariate analysis; a high admission MPV value (> 8.9) was found to be a powerful independent predictor of six-month all-cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that a high admission MPV level was associated with increased six-month all-cause mortality in patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI.

[Nephrotoxicity of iodixanol versus iopamidol in patients with acute coronary syndrome]. / Akut koroner sendromlu hastalarda iyodiksanol ile iyopamidolün nefrotoksik etkilerinin karsilastirmasi

OBJECTIVES: The iso-osmolar contrast agent iodixanol may be associated with fewer contrast-induced acute kidney injuries when compared with low-osmolar contrast agents. The aim of this study is to compare iodixanol and iopamidol in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who are currently undergoing coronary angiography. STUDY DESIGN: Two hundred and seventy five consecutive patients who presented to a tertiary cardiovascular center with acute non-ST elevation myocardial infarction and underwent coronary angiography as a part of an early invasive strategy were included in the study (mean age 58±11 years, 79% male). Study participants were administered either iodixanol (n=45) or iopamidol (n=230) and the groups were compared for the highest creatinine levels, the absolute and percent change in creatinine levels, and for the development of contrast induced nephropathy within 72 hours of the procedure. RESULTS: Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were similar between the two groups. There were no differences in the preprocedural serum creatinine (iopamidol 1.10±0.54 mg/dl, iodixanol 1.09±0.24 mg/dl, p=0.680), glomerular filtration rate (iopamidol 89±35 ml/dk/1.73 m(2), iodixanol 89±26 ml/dk/1.73 m(2), p=0.934), or contrast volume used during the procedure (iopamidol 180±80 ml vs. iodixanol 166±73 ml, p=0.226) between the groups. The absolute change in serum creatinine after the procedure (iopamidol 0.136±0.346 mg/dl, iodixanol 0.072±0.070 mg/dl, p=0.118) and the percent change in serum creatinine after the procedure (iopamidol 12.1±29.6%, iodixanol 6.8±6.9%, p=0.075) were not statistically significant between the two groups. Contrast induced nephropathy developed 10% (95% confidence interval [CI] 6-14%) in iopamidol group whereas it was 2.2% (95% CI -2-7%) in iodixanol group (p=0.144). CONCLUSION: Iodixanol was not superior to iopamidol regarding contrast induced acute kidney injury after coronary angiography in an unselected general patient population with ACS.

Association of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio with presence of isolated coronary artery ectasia.

OBJECTIVES: Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) has been defined as a dilated artery luminal diameter that is at least 50% greater than the diameter of the normal portion of the artery. Isolated CAE is defined as CAE without significant coronary artery stenosis and isolated CAE has more pronounced inflammatory symptoms. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is widely used as a marker of inflammation and an indicator of cardiovascular outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease. We examined a possible association between NLR and the presence of isolated CAE. STUDY DESIGN: In this study, 2345 patients who underwent coronary angiography for suspected or known ischemic heart disease were evaluated retrospectively. Following the application of exclusion criteria, our study population consisted of 81 CAE patients and 85 age- and gender-matched subjects who proved to have normal coronary angiograms. Baseline neutrophil, lymphocyte and other hematologic indices were measured routinely prior to the coronary angiography. RESULTS: Patients with angiographic isolated CAE had significantly elevated NLR when compared to the patients with normal coronary artery pathology (3.39 ± 1.36 vs. 2.25 ± 0.58, p<0.001). A NLR level >= 2.37 measured on admission had a 77% sensitivity and 63% specificity in predicting isolated CAE at ROC curve analysis. In the multivariate analysis, hypercholesterolemia (OR=2.63, 95% CI 1.22-5.65, p=0.01), obesity (OR=3.76, 95% CI 1.43-9.87, p=0.007) and increased NLR (OR=6.03, 95% CI 2.61-13.94, p<0.001) were independent predictors for the presence of isolated CAE. CONCLUSION: Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio is a readily available clinical laboratory value that is associated with the presence of isolated CAE.

Patients with tombstoning pattern on the admission electrocardiography who have undergone primary percutaneous coronary intervention for anterior wall ST-elevation myocardial infarction: in-hospital and midterm clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND: A tombstoning pattern (T-pattern) is associated with in-hospital poor outcomes patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), but no data are available for midterm follow-up. We sought to determine the prognostic value of a T-pattern on admission electrocardiography (ECG) for in-hospital and midterm mortality in patients with anterior wall STEMI treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: After exclusion, 169 consecutive patients with anterior wall STEMI (mean age: 55 ± 12.9 years; 145 men) undergoing primary PCI were prospectively enrolled in this study. Patients were classified as a T-pattern (n = 32) or non-T-pattern (n = 137) based upon the admission ECG. Follow-up to 6 months was performed. RESULTS: In-hospital mortality tended to be higher in the T-pattern group compared with non-T-pattern group (9.3% vs 2.1% respectively, P = 0.05). All-cause mortality was higher in the T-pattern group than non-T-pattern group for 6 month (P = 0.004). After adjusting the baseline characteristics, the T-pattern remained an independent predictor of 6-month all-cause mortality (odds ratio: 5.18; 95% confidence interval: 1.25-21.47, P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: A T-pattern is a strong independent predictor of 6-month all-cause mortality in anterior STEMI treated with primary PCI. Therefore, it may be an indicator of high risk among patients with anterior wall STEMI.

Clinical outcomes of primary angioplasty in ST elevation myocardial infarction patients with antecedent hypertension during hospital stay and follow-up.

Hypertension is a known risk factor for coronary artery disease. However, the number of studies focusing on the events following ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in patients with an antecedent hypertension is limited. Our aim is to evaluate the clinical outcomes of primary angioplasty in STEMI patients with antecedent hypertension during hospital stay and follow-up. A total of 373 patients (177 of whom had antecedent hypertension) who were treated by primary angioplasty because of STEMI were included in this study. All parameters were compared between the groups with and without hypertension. Hypertensive patients who received primary angioplasty were older (59.9 ± 12.6 vs. 52 ± 12.3, P < .001) and had higher rates of in-hospital mortality and major adverse cardiac events than patients without hypertension. Among STEMI patients, only history of hypertension for more than 10 years was a predictor of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio: 4.374, 95% CI 1.017-18.822, P = .04). Patients with an antecedent hypertension have higher initial risk profiles and show more negative outcomes during a 6-month follow-up period.

Relation of the metabolic syndrome with proarrhythmogenic electrocardiographic parameters in patients without overt diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to observe the relationship of the metabolic syndrome and proarrythmogenic ECG parameters and to evaluate a possible correlation of these parameters to the metabolic syndrome score in patients without overt diabetes mellitus. METHODS: The study population consisted of 142 patients with the metabolic syndrome and 170 age- and gender-matched control subjects. In the ECG recordings, resting heart rate, QRS duration, corrected QT duration and corrected QT dispersion were measured. Patients were classified into three groups based on number of fulfilled metabolic syndrome criteria: group 1 (three metabolic syndrome criteria), group 2 (four metabolic syndrome criteria) and group 3 (five metabolic syndrome criteria). RESULTS: Patients with the metabolic syndrome had a higher increased resting heart rate, QTcd, prolonged QRS and QTc duration. Resting heart rate increases significantly parallel to the increase in the metabolic syndrome score across the groups, whilst QRS duration remained unchanged. QTc duration and QTc dispersion were significantly higher in groups 2 and 3 when compared to group 1. However, no significant differences were observed between groups 2 and 3. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that the metabolic syndrome and its score related with increased resting heart rate and prolonged repolarization durations in patiens without overt diabetes mellitus. These pro arrhythmogenic parameters could be used in the development of risk stratification schemes for sudden cardiac death in patients with the metabolic syndrome.

Late stent thrombosis after wasp sting.

Myocardial infarction (MI) following a bee sting is a highly unusual reaction. A 65-year-old man allergic to honeybee venom was admitted to the emergency department suffering from a wasp sting with urticaria. The patient had a history of bare metal stent (BMS) 9 months previously with regular drug use. He experienced chest pain after the sting and electrocardiography revealed ST-segment elevation in the chest leads. Subsequently, the patient developed ventricular tachycardia disrupting hemodynamics. Sinus rhythm was obtained by cardioversion. Coronary angiogram revealed total stent thrombosis (ST) in the midportion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Primary coronary intervention was successfully performed. Presence of shared pathways in allergic reaction and MI pathogenesis may be responsible for de novo or ST. To our knowledge, this is the first case of total occlusive late ST in BMS following a wasp sting.