Cardiac autonomic function in healthy young smokers.

The present study examined the heart rate turbulence (HRT) and heart rate variability (HRV) parameters in healthy young smokers (<40 years) to assess the effects of smoking on cardiac autonomic function. The study included 75 smokers with a history of habitual smoking for at least 1 year (41 males and 34 females; mean age, 29.3 ± 7.3 years) and 30 nonsmokers (hospital staff; 16 males and 14 females; mean age, 29.0 ± 6.1 years). Addiction to smoking was evaluated using the modified Fagerström test for nicotine-dependence index (NDI). HRT, HRV, basic clinical and echocardiographic, and Holter test parameters were compared between groups. No significant differences between the two groups were found in the basic clinical and echocardiographic variables. Turbulence onset (TO) was significantly higher in the smoking group than in the controls, and turbulence slope was significantly lower in the smokers, than in the controls (p < 0.05). Standard deviation of all normal-to-normal (NN) interval index (SDNNI) was the only HRV parameter that was significantly different between the smoking and control groups (p < 0.05). The NDI was positively correlated with the TO (p < 0.05). Smoking impairs the baroregulatory function in healthy young smokers, particularly the HRT parameters and SDNNI. Our findings highlight the importance of complete smoking cessation.

Heart Rate Acceleration and Recovery Indices are Not Related to the Development of Ventricular Premature Beats During Exercise Test.

BACKGROUND: Changes in heart rate (HR) during exercise and recovery from exercise are mediated by the balance between sympathetic and vagal activity. HR acceleration (HRA) and recovery (HRR) are important measures of cardiac autonomic dysfunction and directly correlated with sympathetic and parasympathetic activity. It is not known if the autonomic nervous system related to ventricular arrhythmias during exercise. The purpose was to evaluate the HRA and HRR in patients with and without premature ventricular complex (PVC) during exercise, and to examine the factors that might affect HRA and HRR. METHODS: The records of consecutive patients undergoing routine exercise test were reviewed. The characteristics and the HRA and HRR were compared between patients with and without PVC during exercise. RESULTS: A total of 232 patients (145 men) were recruited; 156 (103 men) developed PVCs during the exercise. Max HR was significantly lower in men with PVCs than in those without, which were not mirrored in women. There was no difference in HRA and HRR between the patients with and without exercise-induced PVCs in both genders. Compared to the men with PVCs, women had higher body mass index, shorter total exercise time, and higher HRA indices after the 3 and 6 minutes exercise. In patients with PVCs, the HRA and HRR indices were similar regardless of the presence of coronary artery disease and the phase of exercise test where PVC developed. CONCLUSIONS: Although exercise performance may be different between the genders, the HRA or HRR indices were not related to the development of PVC during exercise in both genders. KEY WORDS: Exercise-induced arrhythmias; Heart rate acceleration; Heart rate recovery.

Hematological parameters and coronary collateral circulation in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Although hematological parameters have been associated with prognosis in patients with various cardiovascular diseases, their relationship with coronary collateral (CC) circulation in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between hematological parameters and CC vessel development in patients with stable CAD. METHODS: A total of 96 patients who underwent coronary angiography were retrospectively enrolled. All study participants had at least one occluded major coronary artery. Development of CCs was classified using the method of Rentrop. Rentrop grades of 0 and 1 indicate poor CCs, whereas grades 2 and 3 indicate good CCs. Hematological parameters, including mean platelet volume (MPV) and neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratio, were measured. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent variables. RESULTS: The MPV and N/L ratio were significantly higher in the poor CC group compared with the good CC group. Negative correlations were found in the analyses comparing Rentrop score with MPV and N/L ratio (r=-0.274; P=0.012 and r=-0.339; P=0.001, respectively). In multivariate analysis, the N/L ratio was independently related to CC circulation (OR 0.762 [95% CI 0.587 to 0.988]; P=0.04). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that N/L ratio and MPV are associated with poor CCs, and a high N/L ratio is a significant predictor of poor CC development in patients with stable CAD.

Detection of left ventricular asynchrony and its relationship with the Tei index in patients with coronary artery ectasia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate left ventricular (LV) systolic asynchrony and its relationship with the Tei index using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI); and to evaluate the relationship of thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame count (TFC) and Tei index with LV asynchrony in patients with coronary artery ectasia (CAE). METHODS: A total of 50 CAE patients and 40 control subjects were evaluated. Diagnosis of CAE was made angiographically and TFC was calculated. LV systolic and diastolic function was assessed by conventional echocardiography and TDI. Evaluation of intra-LV systolic asynchrony was performed using tissue synchronization imaging (TSI). RESULTS: In patients with CAE, the Tei index was significantly higher than in controls (0.63±0.12 versus 0.52±0.12; P<0.001). LV systolic asynchrony parameters of TSI including SD of the peak tissue velocity (Ts) of the 12 LV segments (Ts-SD-12), maximal difference in Ts between any two of the 12 LV segments (Ts-12), SD of the Ts of the six basal LV segments (Ts-SD-6), maximal difference in Ts between any of the six basal LV segments (Ts-6) were significantly lengthened in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism compared with controls (P<0.001, P<0.001, P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). In addition, a positive correlation was found between Ts-SD-12 and the Tei index in patients with CAE (r=0.841; P<0.001) and mean TFC was positively correlated with Ts-SD-12 and the Tei index (r=0.345; P=0.013 and r=0.291; P=0.021, respectively). CONCLUSION: Patients with CAE exhibit evidence of LV systolic asynchrony according to TSI. LV systolic asynchrony is related to the Tei index and mean TFC. Furthermore, the Tei index is an independent risk factor for LV systolic asynchrony.

Recurrent pacemaker lead thrombosis in a patient with gene polymorphism: a rare case treated with thrombolytic therapy.

Pacemaker (PM)-related thrombosis is an infrequent complication of pacing. We present the case of a 58-year-old man with heart failure and atrial fibrillation who had recurrent episodes of PM lead thrombosis while undergoing anticoagulation therapy. The patient was admitted to the hospital with complaints of dyspnea and palpitation. Echocardiography revealed normal right ventricular dimensions and an enlarged left ventricle with poor contractility and an ejection fraction of 20%. Transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated a large, mobile thrombus in the right atrium that was attached to the PM lead. The patient was successfully treated with a thrombolytic agent. Genetic tests revealed that the patient was a heterozygous carrier of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene mutation.

[Relation of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio with the presence and severity of coronary artery ectasia]. / Nötrofil/lenfosit oraninin koroner ektazisi varligi ve yayginligi ile iliskisi.

OBJECTIVES: It has been shown that the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (N/L ratio) is associated with cardiovascular events and mortality. In this study, we investigated the N/L ratio in patients with coronary artery ectasia (CAE). STUDY DESIGN: Fifty patients diagnosed with CAE using coronary angiography were included in the study (29 male, 21 female; mean age, 51.1±7.1 years). The control group consisted of 28 patients who had normal coronary arteries as determined by coronary angiography (16 male, 12 female; mean age, 49.5±9.4 years). Basal characteristics were recorded. The number of ectatic segments was noted. Hematologic parameters were measured and the N/L ratio was calculated. RESULTS: The N/L ratio was significantly higher in the CAE group compared with control group (median [25-75% percentile] 2.2 [1.6-3.0] vs. 1.8 [1.4-2.0], p=0.014, respectively). The Spearman correlation analysis demonstrated that the N/L ratio positively correlated with number of ectatic segments (r=0.35; p<0.002). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed an independent relationship between CAE and the N/L ratio (odds ratio 2.674, 95% confidence interval 1.184-6.039, p=0.018). CONCLUSION: The N/L ratio is higher in patients with CAE. This ratio is related to presence and severity of CAE.

[Anxiety levels and quality of life assessment in patients that underwent an electrophysiologic study due to unexplained palpitations]. / Açiklanamayan çarpinti nedeniyle elektrofizyolojik çalisma yapilan hastalarda yasam kalitesi ve kaygi düzeylerinin degerlendirilmesi.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the quality of life and anxiety levels of patients with normal and abnormal results detected during an electrophysiological study (EPS) that was performed due to undocumented palpitations. STUDY DESIGN: Patients (n=128) who underwent EPS without documented arrhythmia of unexplained palpitations were included in the study. The quality of life and anxiety levels of patients with abnormal EPS results were compared with those with normal results by using the 26-item short form of the World Health Organization quality of life scale and state-trait anxiety inventory. RESULTS: SVT was found in 72 patients by diagnostic EPS. Quality of life scores were significantly poorer in the SVT group than of the normal EPS group (p=0.000-0.001). Likewise, the anxiety scores of the patients in the SVT group were higher than normal in the EPS group (p=0.000). Age, physical quality of life, psychological quality of life, state anxiety and trait anxiety were found to be independent predictors of SVT in multivariate regression analysis. CONCLUSION: The level of anxiety was found to be higher and quality of life was found to be lower in patients with palpitations due to SVT. In clinical practice it should be kept in mind that noticed psychiatric symptoms may be secondary to an underlying arrhythmia in the evaluation of patients with palpitations.

Assessment of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in young patients with acute coronary syndromes.

OBJECTIVES: It is well known that inflammation plays a key role in both initiation and propagation of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). White blood cell (WBC) and its subtypes are an indicator of inflammation in patients with ACS. We aimed to evaluate the WBC and its subtypes in patients aged <45 year with acute coronary syndromes. STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively analyzed WBC and its subtypes (including neutrophil and lymphocyte) in 84 patients (<45 year) who were admitted to the emergency department for chest pain suggestive of ACS (44 unstable angina pectoris, 40 non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction [NSTEMI]), and 40 healthy controls. RESULTS: Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, and family history were significantly higher in NSTE-ACS patients. Also, LDL levels was significantly higher and HDL levels was significantly lower in NSTE-ACS patients (p=0.041 and p=0.009). The difference in percent of lymphocytes between the groups was significant (p=0.048). N/L ratio was significantly different between all groups and between the NSTEMI and USAP (p<0.001 and p=0.041). Our results demonstrated that hypertension, percent of neutrophils, and N/L ratio was a significant independent predictor of NSTE-ACS (Beta=0.251, 95% CI=0.002-0.523, p=0.048; beta=0.561, 95% CI=0.008-0.137, p=0.028 and beta=0.260, 95% CI=0.042-0.438, p=0.018, respectively). CONCLUSION: N/L was found to be elevated in young patients with NSTE-ACS compared with control group. The inflammation assessed using WBC and its subtypes may be more important in young NSTE-ACS patients.

Serum levels of omentin in end-stage renal disease patients.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients. Therefore, evaluation and prevention of cardiovascular diseases in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients are very important. The plasma level of omentin was found to be associated with different conditions such as insulin resistance. It is one of the novel adipokines synthesized mainly in the visceral adipose tissue. In this study, we aimed to investigate the level of omentin in patients with ESRD receiving hemodialysis. METHODS: The study population consisted of 59 adult chronic hemodialysis patients (30 women and 29 men) and age-matched control subjects were selected from apparently healthy subjects (28 participants; 14 women and 14 men). Blood samples were obtained before the dialysis session. Omentin concentrations were determined by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Plasma levels of omentin were found to be markedly higher in ESRD patients (606.6 ± 313.0 ng/ml) than in the control group (357.5 ± 147.4 ng/ml; p < 0.0001). Also, serum omentin levels were found to be correlated with creatinine (r = 0.333, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Omentin levels were found to be elevated in patients with ESRD receiving hemodialysis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first clinical study that demonstrated the association between omentin and ESRD.

An intercoronary connection serving as a safety valve for the left ventricle.

Intercoronary connection is an infrequent finding during coronary angiography and may serve as a safety valve for compromised coronary circulation. A 60-year-old woman with hyperlipidemia was admitted with stable angina pectoris of one-year history. Physical examination including cardiac auscultation was normal. The electrocardiogram showed no ischemic changes. Transthoracic echocardiography showed no wall motion abnormality and she had normal ejection fraction. Coronary angiography showed total occlusion of the proximal portion of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery and severe occlusion of the circumflex artery. Selective right coronary angiography showed no stenosis, with anterograde filling of the right coronary artery (RCA) and retrograde filling of the LAD through the RCA. The totally occluded LAD was in communication with the distal RCA through a large lumen as a single conduit whose diameter was equal to that of the distal LAD. Left ventriculography showed no abnormality. Because of the retrograde filling of the LAD with TIMI III flow, grafting of the LAD was not considered. The patient underwent successful bare metal stent implantation in the circumflex artery and was discharged free of chest pain on medical treatment.

Increased mean platelet volume in patients with slow coronary flow.

Mean platelet volume (MPV) is an indicator of platelet activation, a central process in the pathophysiology of coronary heart disease (CAD). The importance of slow coronary flow (SCF) phenomenon results from its association with angina pectoris, acute myocardial infarction, hypertension and sudden cardiac death. The aim of this study is to evaluate the values of MPV in patients with SCF. MPV was measured in 84 consecutive patients with SCF and 88 patients with CAD and 84 control subjects. The association between thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count (TFC) and MPV level and other clinical and laboratory parameters were evaluated. There were no statistically significant differences in MPV between SCF group and CAD group. MPV was significantly higher in patients in the both SCF and CAD groups, compared with control group. The TFC for all the epicardial coronary arteries and the mean TFC were significantly higher in the SCF group than the both CAD group and control group. The mean TFC was positively and moderately correlated with MPV in the whole study population. To determine the independent predictors of mean TFC, a stepwise linear regression analysis was performed by including the parameters that were correlated with the mean TFC in the bivariate analysis. MPV level was the only independent predictor of the mean TFC (b = 0.312, p < 0.001). These findings have shown that MPV level is significantly associated with coronary blood flow and that elevated MPV level might be an independent predictor for the presence of SCF. We believe that further studies are needed to clarify the role of MPV in SCF complicated CAD, especially in relation to angiographic and clinical parameters, before we conclude that MPV to be used as a follow-up marker during the management of relevant patients.

[The significance of admission hs-CRP in patients undergoing primary percutaneous intervention for acute myocardial infarction]. / Akut miyokard infarktüsü nedeniyle primer perkütan girisim uygulanan hastalarda basvuru anindaki hs-CRP düzeyinin önemi.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the role of admission high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level in estimating myocardial perfusion and in-hospital adverse events in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). STUDY DESIGN: The study included 43 consecutive patients (34 males, 9 females; mean age 59+/-11 years) who underwent PCI for STEMI within six hours after the onset of symptoms. Coronary angiograms were evaluated with respect to TIMI flow grade, corrected TIMI frame count, and myocardial blush grade (MBG). Electrocardiograms obtained 90 min after PCI were analyzed for ST-segment resolution. In-hospital adverse events were recorded. hs-CRP level was measured by immunonephelometry in blood obtained immediately before PCI. RESULTS: The mean hs-CRP level was 1.35+/-1.17 mg/dl. Based on the median hs-CRP value (0.98 mg/dl), 22 patients with a low hs-CRP level had a lower frequency of hypertension (p=0.047), decreased TIMI frame counts of the left anterior descending (p=0.010) and circumflex (p=0.033) arteries, a higher rate of ST resolution (p=0.000), improved MBG (p=0.015), and shorter hospitalization (p=0.028). Adverse events occurred in six patients (14%), in five of whom (5/21) the hs-CRP level was above 0.98 mg/dl. hs-CRP was significantly correlated with corrected TIMI frame counts of the left anterior descending (r=0.388, p=0.01) and circumflex arteries (r=0.336, p=0.027), length of hospitalization (r=0.357, p=0.019), and inversely correlated with MBG (r=-0.415, p=0.006). In multivariate regression analysis, hs-CRP was found to be an independent predictor of ST resolution (p=0.008). ROC analysis showed that a higher level of hs-CRP than 0.88 mg/dl predicted poor MBG with 73% sensitivity and 31% specificity (95% CI 0.577-0.899, p=0.01). CONCLUSION: In STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI, high levels of admission hs-CRP are associated with poor myocardial perfusion and longer hospitalization.

Comparison of the electrocardiographic features of complete left bundle branch block in patients with ischemic and nonischemic left ventricular dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Differentiating ischemic (ILVD) from nonischemic left ventricular dysfunction (NILVD) is important prognostically and therapeutically but might be difficult clinically. The differentiating role of electrocardiographic (ECG) features in the presence of left bundle-branch block (LBBB) is debatable on differentiating ILVD from NILVD. OBJECTIVE: The present study assessed whether there is the role of certain ECG features in differentiating ILVD from NILVD in the presence of the complete LBBB. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients who had LBBB were divided into two groups based on the presence and type of left ventricular dysfunction; (1) ILVD group (49 patients; 20 female; age: 65 +/- 11 years) and (2) NILVD group (49 patients; 22 female; age: 59 +/- 12 years), and numerous ECG features were compared. Most of these ECG features did not show any difference between the groups except for following ECG findings; the voltage of R wave in V6 were statistically higher in NILVD group compared ILVD group (p: 0.03); the depression of the ST-J point by more than 0.2 mV in V6 were also frequently observed in NILVD group compared ILVD group (5/ 10% vs 19/ 39% , p: 0.001); and the notching in the ascending or descending limb of the S wave in V1-4 leads were more in ILVD group (18/ 36% vs 8/ 16% p: 0.03; 9/ 16% vs 2/ 4%, p: 0.03, respectively). CONCLUSION: In the current study, although some ECG findings were found to be useful, ECG features in the presence of complete LBBB had poor value in differentiating ILVD from NILVD.

Comparison of presence and extent of coronary narrowing in patients with left bundle branch block without diabetes mellitus to patients with and without left bundle branch block but with diabetes mellitus.

We prospectively analyzed the clinical, echocardiographic, and coronary arteriographic data of 51 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with left bundle branch block (LBBB), 51 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus without LBBB, and 51 patients with isolated LBBB matched for age and gender. Extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) was classified according to the standard method into 1-, 2-, or 3-vessel disease and was estimated by calculation of the Gensini score. The left ventricular ejection fraction was analyzed by echocardiography. Age, gender, and percentage of patients with a smoking habit or family history of CAD did not differ among the groups. The rates of hypertension and levels of serum creatinine, cholesterol, and triglycerides were statistically higher in group I compared with the other 2 groups. Patients with diabetes and LBBB (group I) had significantly higher scores for the severity (Gensini score) of CAD (p <0.001) and more 3-vessel disease (p <0.001). After adjustment for hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypercholesterolemia with covariance analysis, the presence of LBBB was also associated with a higher Gensini score in patients with diabetes compared with those with diabetes but without LBBB and those with isolated LBBB (p <0.001). The present study, for the first time, has shown that patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and concomitant LBBB have more severe and extensive CAD and advanced left ventricular dysfunction compared with those with diabetes but without LBBB and those with isolated LBBB.

Twenty-two years without anticoagulation with metallic heart valve.

Anticoagulation is essential and vital for mechanical heart valves to prevent lethal complications such as valve thrombosis and systemic embolism. Herein, we reported the third longest survived case with a metallic aortic valve without anticoagulation and reviewed the role of anticoagulation in mechanical heart valves.

Evaluation of Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A Levels in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Associations with Disease Severity.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents a systemic disorder characterized by chronic airflow limitation and an increased inflammatory response of the airways. Comorbidities are frequent in COPD and it is crucial to predict these in early stage for adequate management of COPD. Recent studies have reported that elevated levels of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), a zinc-binding metalloproteinase, detected in patients with asthma, lung cancer, and pulmonary embolism and independently associated with cardiovascular events. We aimed to assess serum PAPP-A levels in COPD and the associations between disease severity. The study population consisted of 75 COPD patients and 35 healthy subjects as a control group. PAPP-A levels were measured by using ultrasensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Elevated levels of PAPP-A were observed in patients with COPD on comparison with the controls (p = 0.000). The levels in stage 1 (34.73 ± 22.97) and stage 2 (48.29 ± 53.35) were significantly higher than stage 3 (20.58 ± 22.98) and stage 4 (27.36 ± 21.46) (p = 0.049). Increased PAPP-A levels may be a useful marker in management of COPD that seeks to prevent the development of comorbidities such as adverse cardiovascular diseases.

The importance of the mean platelet volume in the diagnosis of supraventricular tachycardia.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of palpitation can be difficult in the emergency department (ED) and the waiting time for a first appointment with an arrhythmia clinic can be very long. The inflammation is sufficient to facilitate the initiation of supraventricular tachyarrhythmia (SVT). The increased mean platelet volume (MPV) is closely correlated with inflammation and to reflect inflammatory burden in different condition. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to investigate the relation between MPV and SVT in patient with documented atrial tachyarrhythmia in ED. METHODS: Two study groups were compared; a SVT group with arrive at the ED with documented SVT (n=122) and 100 healthy adult without any palpitation symptom, arrhythmic disease, and with normal physical examination results that were brought for checkups to the cardiology polyclinic were classified as control group. Blood samples were obtained from all patients for determining the hematologic counts and MPV during first hour in ED period. RESULTS: In terms of the focus of the study, hemoglobin, neutrophil count, mean cell volume (MCV), red cell distribution width (RDW), platelet, white blood cell (WBC), and lymphocyte counts were similar in both group (p>0.05). MPV in the SVT group was signifi cantly higher than in the control group (9.12±1.22 fl vs 8.64±0.89 fl , p<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that just MPV was independent predictor of SVT in patients with palpitation in ED (odds ratio [OR] 8.497, 95% confidence interval (6.181 to 12.325), p=0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Our study described that MPV is helpful parameter for the diagnosis of SVT in emergency department, for the first time in the literature.

Predictive value of mean platelet volume in young patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes: a retrospective observational study.

OBJECTIVE: Platelets play an important role in both initiation and propagation of acute coronary syndromes. We sought to evaluate the predictive value of mean platelet volume (MPV) in young patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS). METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study; evaluating the MPV values of 79 NSTE-ACS patients aged under 45 years and 45 control subjects having normal coronary anatomy. NSTE-ACS group was composed of 41 non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and 38 unstable angina pectoris (USAP) patients. MPV was measured using an automated hematologic analyzer called Coulter counter. The predictive value of MPV was evaluated using logistic regression analysis and comparison of MPV between NSTE-ACS and control groups was performed by Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: The MPV was found to be significantly higher in the NSTE-ACS compared with control group (8.49±1.22 versus 7.78±0.65 fL, p=0.001). In logistic regression analysis, MPV was found to be an independent predictor of NSTE-ACS (OR=3.1, 95% CI 1.2-8.2, p=0.022). The MPV values of NSTEMI group were not significantly different from USAP group (8.78±1.38 versus 8.17±0.95 fL, p=0.66). Similarly, the MPV values of the 3 groups (Control, USAP and NSTEMI) were found to be significantly different (7.78±0.65, 8.18±0.95, 8.78±1.38 fL respectively, p=0.001). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, MPV was found to be elevated in NSTE-ACS patients compared with control subjects in young population. In addition, increased MPV was established to be an independent predictor of NSTE-ACS.

The diagnostic significance of NT-proBNP and troponin I in emergency department patients presenting with palpitations.

OBJECTIVE: This prospective study investigated the diagnostic significance of the N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic (NT-proBNP) and troponin I peptides in emergency department patients presenting with palpitations. METHODS: Two groups of patients with palpitations but without documented supraventricular tachycardia were compared: a group with supraventricular tachycardia (n = 49) and a control group (n = 47). Both groups were diagnosed using electrophysiological studies during the study period. Blood samples were obtained from all of the patients to determine the NT-proBNP and troponin I levels within the first hour following arrival in the emergency department. RESULT: The mean NT-proBNP levels were 207.74±197.11 in supraventricular tachyarrhythmia group and 39.99±32.83 pg/mL in control group (p<0.001). To predict supraventricular tachycardia, the optimum NT-proBNP threshold was 61.15 pg/mL, as defined by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, with a non-significant area under the ROC curve of 0.920 (95% CI, 0.86-0.97, p<0.001). The NT-proBNP cut-off for diagnosing supraventricular tachycardia had 81.6% sensitivity and 91.5% specificity. Supraventricular tachycardia was significantly more frequent in the patients with NT-proBNP levels ≥61.15 pg/mL (n = 44, 90.9%, p>0.001). The mean troponin I levels were 0.17±0.56 and 0.01±0.06 pg/mL for the patients with and without supraventricular tachycardia, respectively (p<0.05). Of the 96 patients, 21 (21.87%) had troponin I levels ≥0.01: 2 (4.25%) in the control group and 19 (38.77%) in the supraventricular tachycardia group (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Troponin I and, in particular, NT-proBNP peptide were helpful for differentiating supraventricular tachycardia from non- supraventricular tachycardia palpitations. Further randomized, large, multicenter trials are needed to define the benefit and diagnostic role of NT-proBNP and troponin I in the management algorithm of patients presenting with palpitations in emergency departments.