Experience of primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction at a referral healthcare centre in India.

Background. India has the highest burden of coronary artery disease in the world. It also has a higher rate of STsegment elevation myocardial infarction than that in developed countries. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention is an effective treatment, yet little is known about its feasibility and outcome in India. We studied the outcomes of primary percutaneous coronary intervention at an Indian tertiary care centre. Methods. We did a prospective observational study of 1000 consecutive patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, who were treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention from December 2010 to May 2014 at Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupati, India. Patient characteristics, procedural details, inhospital and 3-month adverse events were assessed. Results. The mean (SD) age of our patients was 54.5 (11.3) years. Among the study population, 82.9% were men, 32.8% had diabetes mellitus, and 36.3% had hypertension. Only 18.2% of the patients came to hospital in an ambulance, and 6% were in cardiogenic shock. Most frequently, the left anterior descending artery was the infarctrelated artery (57.9%). The mean (SD) time from onset of symptoms to arrival at hospital was 369.6 (204.6) minutes and the mean door-to-balloon time was 58.6 (17.1) minutes. The in-hospital adverse event rate was 5.7% (mortality 3.6%, non-fatal reinfarction 0.9%, stroke 0.3%, major bleeding 0.9%). Patients without cardiogenic shock had an in-hospital survival rate of 99.1%. During 3 months of follow-up, 0.9% of patients died and 0.8% had non-fatal reinfarction. The 3-month survival rate was 95.5%. Conclusion. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention is feasible in India with an acceptable door-to-balloon time and low rates of adverse events despite longer time to presentation. Natl Med J India 2015;28:276–9

Study of the Relationship between Metabolic Syndrome Score and Angiographic Severity of Coronary Artery Disease According to the Presence of Diabetes.

Background: The relationship between metabolic syndrome score and coronary artery disease severity is unclear in the presence of diabetes. Hypothesis: The hypothesis of this study is to assess whether there is a relationship between metabolic syndrome score and coronary artery disease angiographic severity and whether or not the severity of the relationship differs in the presence of diabetes. Methods: We consecutively enrolled 132 metabolic syndrome patients who underwent their first coronary angiography. We used four angiographic scores and compared the relationship between metabolic syndrome score and angiographic coronary artery disease severity or clinical presentation between diabetic and non-diabetic subjects. Results: Individuals with both metabolic syndrome and diabetes (n=64) had significantly higher metabolic syndrome scores, acute coronary syndromes, double and triple vessel disease, higher coronary score, extent score, severity score, and atherosclerotic score than metabolic syndrome patients without diabetes (n=68). A significant correlation was apparent between metabolic syndrome and coronary atherosclerotic scores in patients without diabetes. In contrast, we did not observe any significant correlation between metabolic syndrome score and coronary atherosclerotic scores in patients with diabetes. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that metabolic syndrome score is an independent predictor of atherosclerotic score in non-diabetics. Conclusion: While the relationship between metabolic syndrome score and angiographic coronary artery disease severity was disguised by the presence of diabetes, the metabolic syndrome score was related to the extent of coronary atherosclerosis in Indian patients without diabetes. Calculating the metabolic syndrome score might provide additional information for predicting the extent of coronary artery disease in patients with angina without diabetes.

Comparison of N-terminal Pro-B type Natriuretic Peptide and Tissue Doppler in Diagnosing Diagstoic Heart Failure.

Background: Heart failure (HF) has become a main cardiac problem. Doppler echocardiography has been used to examine left ventricular (LV) diastolic filling dynamics. Limitations of this modality suggest the need for other objective measures of diastolic HF. Aim of the Study: The hypothesis of this study is to assess the utility of N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) in the diagnostic evaluation of diastolic HF in comparison with tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) recordings. Methods: A prospective study was carried out between May 2010 and December 2011. Patients with signs and symptoms of HF with normal LV systolic function by 2D-echocardiography were recruited. M-mode and 2-dimensional images, left atrial volume index (LAVI), spectral and TDI of the mitral annulus were obtained for all the patients. NTproBNP levels were measured with a bedside immunoassay. Results: We found linear correlation between NTproBNP levels and grade of diastolic dysfunction (DD), LAVI, ratio of mitral velocity to early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus (E/E’) [r=0.72, p<0.001]. Patients with elevated left ventricular end diastolic pressure, defined as E/E’>15 (n =18), had the highest NTproBNP levels (3028±2674pg/mL). NTproBNP levels (4146±2887.43 pg/mL) were highest in patients with grade III DD. A receiver operator characteristic curve showed NTproBNP value, 286 pg/mL, the best cut-off for diagnosing diastolic HF with a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 100%. Conclusions: Plasma NTproBNP levels can reliably estimate LV filling pressures in patients with HF and normal systolic function which might help to reinforce the diagnosis of “diastolic HF”.

Subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis by utilizing carotid intima-media thickness as a surrogate marker.

Background & objectives: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are more prone for accelerated atherosclerosis and Asian Indians as an ethnic group are predisposed to a high risk of premature atherosclerosis. However, sparse data are available regarding the burden of atherosclerosis among asymptomatic adult patients with RA in south India. We studied the burden of asymptomatic atherosclerosis in adult south Indian patients with RA at Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India, utilizing carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) as a surrogate marker. Methods: Ultrasound examination of the carotids and CIMT measurement (mm) were carried out in 32  patients with RA, 32 age- and gender-matched normal controls, and 32  patients with atherosclerosis and angiographically proven coronary artery disease. The CIMT values in patients with CAD and normal controls were used to derive the appropriate cut-off value of CIMT for defining atherosclerosis that would be applicable for the ethnic population studied. Results: Patients with RA had a higher mean CIMT (mm) compared with normal control subjects (0.598 ± 0.131 vs 0.501 ± 0.081; p = 0.001). Carotid plaque was found more frequently among the cases compared with normal controls [5/32 (15.6%) vs 0/32 (0%), p=0.020]. Using this cut-off value derived by the receiver operator characteristic curve method (≥ 0.57 mm; sensitivity 84.4; specificity 90.6%) and the 75th percentile value among normal controls (≥ 0.55 mm) as surrogate markers, the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis was significantly more among asymptomatic patients with RA compared with normal controls [(59.3 vs 12.5%; p<0.001) and (62.5 vs 25%; Pp<0.001) respectively]. Interpretation & conclusions: Based on the present findings CIMT appears to be a useful surrogate marker for detecting subclinical atherosclerosis in adult Indian patients with RA.

Clinical and echocardiographic findings in patients with myocardial toxicity due to scorpion sting.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial toxicity following a sting by the Indian red scorpion (Mesobuthus tamulus) is a life-threatening medical emergency. A perusal of the published literature suggests that this problem has seldom been studied systematically. METHODS: We retrospectively studied the clinical presentation and echocardiographic findings in 24 patients (mean [SD] age 23.2 [11.7] years; 19 males) with myocardial toxicity caused by the sting of an Indian red scorpion (Mesobuthus tamulus). They were treated with inotropic support and diuretics depending on the requirement. At admission, oral L-carnitine was administered in a dose of 1980 mg/day in three divided doses till the left ventricular (LV) function normalized. None of the patients received digitalis, prazosin, hydrocortisone or antivenin. RESULTS: Extreme anxiety and severe pain at the site of sting were present in all the patients. Hypotension (n = 19), pulmonary oedema (n= 15) and acute renal failure (n=8) were the other presenting features. Chest X-ray revealed cardiomegaly in 8 and pulmonary oedema in 13 patients. Serum creatinine phosphokinase levels were elevated more than two times the upper limit of normal (200 IU/L) in 22 patients (92%). The mean duration of hospitalization was 5 days (range 3- 11 days). L-carnitine treatment resulted in significant reduction in the LV diameter (mm) in diastole (47.6 [6.2] v. 42 [6.1], p < 0.01) and systole (42 [7.1] v. 28.2 [4], p<0.001); end-diastolic volume (ml) (108.7 [31.9] v. 81 [26.7], p <0.01) and end-systolic volume (ml) (81.3 [30.9] v. 31.1 [10.7], p < 0.001); and significant improvement in the stroke volume (ml) 27.8 [13.2] v. 61.7 [6.2], p<0.001) and ejection fraction (%) (25.5 [12.8] v. 61.2 [6.5], p<0.001). All the patients responded well to treatment and none died. CONCLUSION: Our initial observations suggest a potential benefit with additional oral L-carnitine treatment in patients with myocardial toxicity caused by scorpion sting presenting with hypotension and severe LV dysfunction. These findings merit further study.

Association of serum antioxidants and risk of coronary heart disease in South Indian population.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Higher prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) has been reported in south Indian population, which cannot be accounted for by the traditional risk factors like hyperlipidemia. Identification of new risk factors may help in treatment and prevention of CHD in this part of the world. In an attempt to investigate the causes of increased incidence of CHD in this part of the world, we intended to look for oxidative stress in our patients as a possible risk factor. As an initial step in this perspective, a case- control study was conducted to find out the serum antioxidant levels and their association with CHD in south Indian population. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A tertiary care hospital; Case--control study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred thirty nine angiographically proven CHD patients (aged 29-75 years) were studied against 59 population based healthy controls (aged 29-72 years) free of CHD. Fasting serum cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, erythrocyte and plasma glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase were estimated on automated clinical chemistry analyzer. LDL cholesterol and VLDL cholesterol were calculated. Vitamins A and E were estimated using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Unpaired t test was used to compare means. Binary logistic regression was done to find out the association between dependent and independent variables. RESULTS: Significantly higher levels of Total Cholesterol/HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio and lower HDL cholesterol levels were observed in patients when compared to controls. No significant difference of plasma and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity was observed between patients and controls. Significantly lower levels of vitamin E in patients than in controls was observed (P<0.001). Serum vitamin E was inversely associated with coronary heart disease even after controlling for age and other coronary risk factors (Odds ratio 0.898, 95% CI 0.826-0.976 P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The results of present study suggest that deficiency of vitamin E may be an independent risk factor of CHD. This study brings out the need for long- term monitoring of vitamin E supplementation as a preventive measure for CHD in the population studied.

Seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae and Helicobacter pylori among coronary heart disease patients and normal individuals in South Indian population.

In recent years, the role of infectious agents in the aetiology of atherosclerotic disease has come to the forefront. In the present study, seroprevalence (IgG) of chlamydia pneumoniae and helicobacter pylori in patients with atherosclerotic coronary heart disease was compared to normal healthy adults. Out of a total of 117 patients 101 had unstable angina (UA) and 16 had chronic stable angina (CSA). C. pneumoniae seropositivity was found in 66% of patients with UA and 94% of CSA patients. The corresponding figures for H. pylori were 58% and 56% respectively. In comparison, 81% of healthy adults were seropositive for C. pneumoniae and 53% for H.pylori. No significant association was found between CHD and the infectious agents. However, this study has revealed a high infection by C. pneumoniae as well as H.pylori in this part of India.

Infectious aetiology in acute coronary syndromes.

PURPOSE: To ascertain the relationship between seropositivity to chronic infections with Helicobacter pylori, Chlamydia pneumoniae and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and acute coronary syndromes and association of each of these infective agent with biochemical parameters and cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: The present study was a case-control study involving 117 patients [unstable angina (UA) n=101 and chronic stable angina (CSA) n = 16] attending cardiology clinic. The cases were aged 35-79 years and they were compared with age, sex and socio-economic status matched controls without evidence of coronary artery disease (CAD). RESULTS: Fifty seven (58%) patients with UA and 9(56%) patients with CSA were seropositive for H. pylori. Sixty seven (66%) subjects with UA and 15(94%) patients with CSA subjects were seropositive for C.pneumoniae. Two (2%) patients with USA were seropositive for Cytomegalovirus (CMV). Seropositivity in normal subjects for H. pylori, C. pneumoniae and CMV was 7(43.25%), 10(62.5%) and 1(6.25%) respectively. In linear regression analysis seropositivity of CMV showed positive association with HDL-C (P< 0.05). No significant association of infective agents and coronary syndromes was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of lipids, lipoproteins, C-reactive protein and higher percentage of coronary risk factors in patients seropositive for H. pylori in UA suggests the role of infective agents in pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Primary pulmonary hypertension: natural history and prognostic factors.

A retrospective cohort study was carried out in 61 patients (30 males, 31 females, age 24.6 +/- 11.8 years) with primary pulmonary hypertension diagnosed by strict clinical and hemodynamic criteria, to obtain an understanding of the natural history and prognostic markers. While 15 patients were alive, 46 patients (76%) had expired during the follow up period. Two, five and ten years survivals were 48%, 32% and 12% respectively. Median survival duration from time of diagnosis was 22 months. The survivors had significantly higher age of onset, cardiac index and significantly lower right atrial mean pressure, right ventricular end diastolic pressure, cardiothoracic ratio from chest rontgenogram and calculated pulmonary vascular resistance as compared to non survivors. While pulmonary artery systolic pressure was not significantly different, pulmonary artery diastolic and pulmonary artery mean pressures were significantly lower in survivors than in non-survivors. Lower New York Heart Association class, right atrial mean pressure < or = 7 mm Hg, right ventricular end diastolic pressure < or = 10 mmHg, cardiac index > 2.5 L/min/m2, pulmonary arterial oxygen saturation > 60%, were associated with significantly longer survival. The degree of pulmonary arterial hypertension had an indirect prognostic effect through the above parameters. Vasodilator therapy did not significantly alter the outcome of patients with primary pulmonary hypertension.

Thrombolytic therapy for prosthetic cardiac valve thrombosis.

During 1992-93 12 patients (5 males, 7 females) with thrombosed prosthetic cardiac valves were treated with streptokinase on 13 occasions (one patient with prosthetic tricuspid valve had two thrombotic episodes). Their age ranged from 14 to 52 years (median 39). Two valves were in aortic position, six in mitral and four in tricuspid position. Eight were Bjork-Shiley prosthesis, three were Medtronic Hall valves and one was a St. Jude Valve. Timing of prosthetic valve thrombosis ranged from 3 months to 12 years after valve replacement surgery. Duration of symptoms due to valve thrombosis ranged from 1-4 months with tricuspid valve thrombosis and 1-14 days with left sided valve thrombosis. Five were in functional class II and four each were in functional class III and class IV. All patients were evaluated by echo Doppler and cine fluoroscopy. Loading dose of streptokinase was 2.5 lakh units in 4 patients and 1 lakh units in 9 patients. Maintenance infusion was at 1000 units/Kg/hour in 11 patients and 1 lakh units/hour in 2 patients. Duration of streptokinase infusion ranged from 3 hr to 38 hr. Thrombolytic therapy was successful (clinical, echo Doppler and fluoroscopy) in 12 out of 13 cases (92%). It was unsuccessful in a patient with valve at tricuspid position in whom infusion had to be stopped after 24 hour due to bleeding gums. One patient developed intracerebral bleed and expired. In conclusion streptokinase therapy is useful for prosthetic cardiac valve thrombosis.