Endocarditis-TR: Diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of the infective endocarditis patients admitting tertiary centres of Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Infective endocarditis (IE) is still a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among cardiovascular diseases. ENDOCARDITIS-TR study aims to evaluate the compliance of the diagnostic and therapeutic methods being used in Turkey with current guidelines. METHODS: The ENDOCARDITIS-TR trial is a multicentre, prospective, observational study consisting of patients admitted to tertiary centres with a definite diagnose of IE. In addition to the demographic, clinical, microbiological, and echocardiographic findings of the patients, adverse events, indications for surgery, and in-hospital mortality were recorded during a 2-year time interval. RESULTS: A total of 208 IE patients from 7 tertiary centres in Turkey were enrolled in the study. The study population included 125 (60.1%) native valve IE (NVE), 65 (31.3%) prosthetic IE (PVIE), and 18 (8.7%) intracardiac device-related IE (CDRIE). One hundred thirty-five patients (64.9%) were culture positive, and the most frequent pathogenic agent was methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) (18.3%). Among 155 (74.5%) patients with an indication for surgery, only 87 (56.1%) patients underwent surgery. The all-cause mortality rate was 29.3% in-hospital follow-up. Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that absence of surgery when indicated (HR: 3.29 95% CI: 0.93-11.64 p = 0.05), albumin level at admission (HR: 0.46 95% CI: 0.29-0.73 P < 0.01), abscess formation (HR: 2.11 95% CI: 1.01-4.38 p = 0.04) and systemic embolism (HR: 1.78 95% CI: 1.05-3.02 p = 0.03) were ascertained independent predictors of in-hospital all-cause mortality. DISCUSSION: The short-term results of the ENDOCARDITIS-TR trial showed the high frequency of staphylococcal IE, relatively high in-hospital mortality rates, shortage of surgical treatment despite guideline-based surgical indications and low usage of novel imaging techniques. The results of this study will provide a better insight to physicians in respect to their adherence to clinical practice guidelines.

Modified SAMe-TT2R2 score for predicting the therapeutic range of digoxin.

BACKGROUND: Digoxin treatment has come under scrutiny in recent years after reports from several studies that it is associated with increased mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The clinical effects of digoxin on mortality were closely related to serum digoxin concentrations (SDC) in these studies. In the present work, we evaluated the role of the SAMe-TT2R2 and modified SAMe-TT2R2 scores in predicting the therapeutic range of digoxin therapy. METHODS: Medical records from our institution were screened for patients who were under digoxin treatment between 2008 and 2018. A total of 2418 patients for whom SDC were recorded were included in the study. An SDC of <0.5 or >1.2 ng/ml was defined as being out of the therapeutic range (oTR). RESULTS: In multivariable regression analyses, abnormal body mass index (odds ratio [OR]: 1.59, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29-1.95, p < 0.01), white blood cell count (OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.01-1.27, p < 0.01), and the modified SAMe-TT2R2 score (OR: 4.19 95% CI: 3.71-4.72, p < 0.01) were determined to be independent predictors of oTR. A modified SAMe-TT2R2 score greater than 3 predicted oTR with a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 65% (AUC: 0.825, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Digoxin is still widely used in the treatment of heart failure and AF despite concerns about the increased risk of mortality when levels are oTR. In the present study, the modified SAMe-TT2R2 score was found to be an independent predictor of oTR. This score may aid clinicians in identifying patients who are more likely to benefit from digoxin therapy.

Prognostic value of serum uric acid levels in patients with non-STEMI undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Because myocardial infarction in young adults is rare, there has been limited research on the condition in this patient group. Very few data are available regarding the long-term outcomes of patients under 40 years of age with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) undergoing invasive treatments. The prognostic value of uric acid (UA) in young patients with NSTEMI who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has also not been studied. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term clinical outcomes of this specific subset of young patients. In addition, we aimed to identify the role of serum UA in predicting the long-term prognosis of young patients with NSTEMI who have undergone PCI. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 213 young adult patients (≤40 years old) with NSTEMI who underwent PCI during their hospitalization at our tertiary referral center. RESULTS: The mean age of the 213 patients was 36.8 ± 3.3 years (range, 21-40 years). The median follow-up was 930 days. Our patients were predominantly male (88.3%) and the most frequent traditional cardiovascular risk factors were smoking and dyslipidemia. Baseline TIMI flow 0-1, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and UA were found to be independently correlated with long-term major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in multivariate Cox regression analysis. CONCLUSION: In the present study, baseline TIMI flow 0-1, admission eGFR, and UA levels were correlated with MACEs during long-term follow-up in young patients with NSTEMI.

The relation between international normalized ratio and mortality in acute pulmonary embolism: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a serious clinical disease characterized by a high mortality rate. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of international normalized ratio (INR) in acute PE patients not on anticoagulant therapy. METHODS: The study included 244 hospitalized acute PE patients who were not receiving previous anticoagulant therapy. Based on their 30-day mortality, patients were categorized as survivors or non-survivors. INR was measured during the patients' admission, on the same day as the diagnosis of PE but before anticoagulation started. RESULTS: Thirty-day mortality occurred in 39 patients (16%). INR was higher in non-survivors than in survivors (1.3±0.4 vs 1.1±0.3, P=.003). In multivariate analysis, INR (HR: 3.303, 95% CI: 1.210-9.016, P=.020) was independently associated with 30-day mortality from PE. Inclusion of INR in a model with simplified pulmonary embolism severity index (sPESI) score improved the area under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve from 0.736 (95% CI: 0.659-0.814) to 0.775 (95% CI: 0.701-0.849) (P=.028). Also, the addition of INR to sPESI score enhanced the net reclassification improvement (NRI=8.8%, P<.001) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI=0.043, P=.027). CONCLUSION: Elevated INR may have prognostic value for 30-day mortality in acute PE patients not on anticoagulation. Combining INR with sPESI score improved the predictive value for all-cause mortality. However, further large-scale studies are needed to confirm it's prognostic role.

Congenital coronary artery anomalies in adults: review of 111 cases from a single-centre experience.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery anomalies are a heterogeneous group of congenital disorders presenting with a wide spectrum of symptoms, ranging from vague chest pain to sudden cardiac death. Despite available data, there is no consensus about the classification, nomenclature, and outcomes of coronary anomalies in the normally connected heart. In this study, we aimed to investigate clinical and angiographic characteristics of coronary arterial anomalies, as well as the frequency of atherosclerotic involvement in anomalous coronaries, diagnosed at a tertiary referral centre. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed coronary angiograms performed between 2011 and 2015 for the presence of a coronary anomaly. A total of 111 patients with a final diagnosis of coronary anomaly were included in the study group. We also recruited 110 age- and sex-matched patients who underwent coronary angiography because of symptomatic coronary artery disease as controls. RESULTS: Among 36,893 coronary angiograms, 111 (0.30%) major coronary anomalies were found. Compared with controls, the prevalence of significant atherosclerotic coronary disease was lower in patients with coronary anomalies and stable symptoms (p=0.02); however, the prevalence of significant coronary atherosclerosis was similar among patients admitted with unstable angina or myocardial infarction (p>0.05). Compared with controls, patients with an anomalous left anterior descending coronary artery had significantly less atherosclerotic involvement than those in whom the left anterior descending artery was not anomalous (p=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Although coronary artery anomalies are cited as a cause for myocardial ischaemia, atherosclerotic coronary artery disease is also frequent and may offer an alternative explanation to ischaemic symptoms. No predisposition to accelerated atherosclerosis was found, however, and atherosclerotic involvement was less frequent in some anomalous vessels.

Monocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio as a new prognostic marker in patients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Monocyte count to high-density lipoprotein ratio (MHR) has recently emerged as an indicator of inflammation and oxidative stress in the literature. We aimed to investigate the prognostic value of MHR in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: A total of 513 patients who were hospitalized with diagnosis of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and treated with primary PCI were retrospectively enrolled in the study. Demographic and clinical data, admission laboratory parameters, and MHR values were recorded. Inhospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and mortality were reported as the clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients (5%) died, and MACE was observed in 86 patients (17%) during hospital follow-up. Patients were categorized in 3 groups according to tertiles of admission MHR. The rates of inhospital mortality and MACE were significantly higher in tertile 3 group compared to tertile 1 group (10% vs 1%, 27% vs 11%; P < .01 and P < .01). In multivariate regression analysis, age, sex, presence of Killip 3 or 4, left ventricular ejection fraction, troponin I, C-reactive protein, and increased MHR levels (odds ratio, 1.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.05; P < .01) independently predicted inhospital mortality; age, presence of Killip 3 or 4, troponin I, and increased MHR levels (odds ratio, 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.04; P < .01) independently predicted MACE. CONCLUSION: Admission MHR values were found to be independently correlated with inhospital MACE and mortality after primary PCI.

Association of contrast-induced nephropathy with bare metal stent restenosis in STEMI patients treated with primary PCI.

BACKGROUND: Contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) has been proven as a clinical condition related to adverse cardiovascular outcomes. However, relationship between CIN and stent restenosis (SR) remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association of CIN with SR rates after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and bare metal stent (BMS) implantation. METHODS: A total number of 3225 patients who had undergone primary PCI for STEMI were retrospectively recruited. The medical reports of subjects were searched to find whether the patients had a control coronary angiogram (CAG) and 587 patients with control CAG were included in the study. The laboratory parameters of 587 patients were recorded and patients who developed CIN after primary PCI were defined. Contrast induced nephropathy was defined as either a 25% increase in serum creatinine from baseline or 0.5 mg/dL increase in absolute value, within 72 h of intravenous contrast administration. RESULTS: The duration between primary PCI and control CAG was median 12 months [8-24 months]. The rate of SR was significantly higher in CIN (+) group compared to CIN (-) group (64% vs. 46%, p < 0.01). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, male gender, stent length, admission WBC levels and presence of CIN (HR 1.39, 95% CI 1.06-1.82, p < 0.01) remained as the independent predictors of SR in the study population. CONCLUSION: Gender, stent length, higher serum WBC levels and presence of CIN are independently correlated with SR in STEMI patients treated with BMS implantation.

Association of Serum Cholesterol Levels with Short-term Mortality in Patients with Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

BACKGROUND: Serum cholesterols play an important role in pathophysiology and prognosis of acute thrombotic diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic value of serum lipid parameters in acute pulmonary embolism (APE). METHODS: From January 2008 to January 2014 a total of 275 patients who were hospitalised with a diagnosis of APE were retrospectively screened. Clinical data, laboratory parameters, serum cholesterol levels were recorded and pulmonary embolism severity index (PESI) scores were calculated. Mortality rate at 30 days was investigated as the clinical outcome. RESULTS: In our study population, 24 patients (8.7%) died within 30 days. Serum total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C and triglyceride levels were significantly lower in deceased patients when compared to the survived patients (3.1 ± 0.6 vs. 4.7 ± 1.2 mmol/L, p < 0.01; 1.8 ± 0.9 vs. 2.9 ± 0.9 mmol/L, p < 0.01; 0.9 ± 0.3 vs. 1.2 ± 0.3 mmol/L, p < 0.01; 1.4 ± 0.7 vs. 1.7 ± 0.6 mmol/L, p = 0.04, respectively). In multivariate regression analysis; PESI scores (OR: 1.06 95% CI: 1.01-1.11, p < 0.01), right ventricular diameter (OR: 11.31 95% CI: 3.25-52.64, p < 0.01), total cholesterol (OR: 1.09 95% CI: 1.02-1.17, p < 0.01), LDL-C (OR: 1.06 95% CI: 1.01-1.12, p = 0.02), HDL-C (OR: 1.21 95% CI: 1.04-1.41, p < 0.01) and triglyceride (OR: 1.03 95% CI: 1.01-1.05, p < 0.01) levels were independently correlated with mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Serum total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C and triglyceride levels, obtained within the first 24hours of hospital admission, may have prognostic value in patients with APE.

Assessment of Prognostic Value of Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio in Patients with Pulmonary Embolism.

BACKGROUND: Acute pulmonary embolism is a serious medical condition that has a substantial global impact. Inflammation plays a role in the pathophysiology and prognosis of acute pulmonary embolism (APE). The aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic value of admission parameters for complete blood count (CBC) in APE. METHODS: A total of 203 patients who were hospitalized with diagnosed APE were retrospectively enrolled in the study. Clinical data, PESI scores, admission CBC parameters, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were all recorded. The clinical outcomes of study subjects were determined by the reported patient 30-day mortality and long-term mortality. RESULTS: During a median follow-up period of 20 months [interquantile range 17], 34 subjects in the study population (17%) died. NLR and PLR levels were significantly higher in patients who died within the 30 days (n = 14) [9.9 (5.5) vs. 4.5 (4.1), p = 0.01 and 280 (74) vs. 135 (75), p = 0.01, respectively] and during the long-term follow-up (n = 20) [8.4 (2.9) vs. 4.1 (3.8), p = 0.01 and 153 (117) vs. 133 (73), p = 0.03, respectively] when compared to the patients that survived. In Cox regression analysis, age, systolic blood pressure, systolic pulmonary arterial pressure, PESI scores (HR 1.02 95%CI 1.01-1.04, p = 0.01), elevated levels of NLR (HR 1.13 95%CI 1.04-1.23, p = 0.01) and PLR (HR 1.002 95%CI 1.001-1.004, p = 0.01) were independently correlated with total mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Admission NLR and PLR may have prognostic value in patients with APE.

Assessment of electrocardiographic parameters in patients with electrocution injury.

BACKGROUND: Electrocution injury (EI) is a major problem in developing countries. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of EI on electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters. METHODS: A total of 43 patients hospitalized with diagnosis of EI were prospectively enrolled. Admission ECGs were compared with follow-up ECGs obtained one month after the event. RESULTS: Maximum P wave duration (Pmax), minimum P wave duration (Pmin), P wave dispersion (PWD), PR interval, QRS complex duration, corrected QT duration (QTc), QT dispersion (QTD), T peak to T end (Tp-e) interval were longer and Tp-e interval/QT and Tp-e interval/QTc ratios were higher on admission ECGs compared to follow-up ECGs. Frontal QRS-T angle and frequency of patients with fragmented QRS were also higher on admission ECGs. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that EI causes significant deterioration of admission ECG parameters. The clinical use of these parameters in prediction of arrhythmias after EI warrants further studies.

Multimodality imaging of cor triatriatum sinister in an octagenerian.

Cor triatriatum sinister (CTS) is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly in which a fibromuscular membrane divides the atrium into two chambers. As CTS can occur as an isolated anomaly, it is frequently associated with other cardiac anomalies. Although symptoms are usually encountered in infancy, CTS may rarely present in adulthood when the membrane contains large fenestration or other escape drainage exists. We herein, present an 82-year-old patient with a typical late diagnosis of asymptomatic CTS.

Mitral valve with a single leaflet.

Congenital anomalies of the mitral valve apparatus are rare. Of such cases, congenital mitral stenosis, atresia, accessory valvular tissue, and cleft mitral valve are more common. Descriptions of unileaflet mitral valves (either partial or complete leaflet agenesis/hypoplasia) are extremely rare and largely limited to a few case reports. We report herein a 45-year-old nulliparous woman presenting to our outpatient clinic with chest discomfort and dyspnea on minimal exertion. Mitral valve with a single leaflet leading to a significant obstruction in left ventricular outflow was seen on transthoracic echocardiography and confirmed with transesophageal two- (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography. Metoprolol was prescribed to relieve obstruction and symptoms.

Prevalence of mitral valve prolapse in residents living at moderately high altitude.

OBJECTIVE: Prolapse of mitral valve leaflets is a frequent disorder and the most common cause of severe mitral regurgitation in western countries. However, little is known about the effects of altitude on mitral valve prolapse. We studied the prevalence and echocardiographic characteristics of mitral valve prolapse at moderately high altitude and sea level. METHODS: A total of 936 consecutive subjects who were admitted to 2 study institutions at Kars, Turkey (1750 m) and Istanbul, Turkey (7 m) were enrolled in this study to determine prevalence of mitral valve prolapse. Demographic and 2-dimensional echocardiographic characteristics of participants were recorded. RESULTS: Prevalence of mitral valve prolapse was found to be significantly higher in people living at moderate altitude compared with those living at sea level (6.2% vs 2.0%; P = .007). Overall echocardiographic features regarding valve thickness (4.1 ± 0.80 mm vs 3.6 ± 0.66 mm; P = 0.169), maximal valve prolapse (4.6 ± 2.08 mm vs 3.9 ± 0.91 mm; P = .093), and frequency of mitral regurgitation (89% vs 73%; P = .65) were similar between groups, although anterior valve prolapse was seen more frequently at moderate altitude (50% vs 11%; P = .056) and posterior leaflet prolapse was significantly more frequent at sea level (66% vs 10%; P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: Mitral valve prolapse is more frequently observed at moderately high altitudes. Further studies are needed to determine clinical importance of our findings.

Thrombolytic Therapy in Octogenarians with Acute Pulmonary Embolism. / Terapia Trombolítica em Octogenários com Embolia Pulmonar Aguda.

BACKGROUND: Despite the high proportion of octogenarians with acute pulmonary embolism, there is little information indicating the optimal management strategy, mainly therapeutic measures, such as lytic therapy. OBJECTIVES: The number of elderly patients diagnosed with acute pulmonary embolism increases constantly. However, the role of thrombolytic treatment is not clearly defined among octogenarians. Our objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of lytic therapy in octogenarian patients diagnosed with pulmonary embolism. METHODS: One hundred and forty eight subjects (70.3% women, n=104) aged more than eighty years were included in the study. The patients were divided in two groups: thrombolytic versus non-thrombolytic treatment. In-hospital mortality rates and bleeding events were defined as study outcomes. P-value <0.05 was considered as statistical significance. RESULTS: In-hospital mortality decreased significantly in the thrombolytic group compared to the non-thrombolytic group (10.5% vs. 24.2% p=0.03). Minor bleeding events were more common in the arm that received thrombolytic treatment, but major hemorrhage did not differ between the groups (35.1% vs. 13.2%, p<0.01; 7% vs. 5.5% p=0.71, respectively). High PESI score (OR: 1.03 95%CI; 1.01-1.04 p<0.01), thrombolytic therapy (OR: 0.15 95%CI; 0.01-0.25, p< 0.01) and high troponin levels (OR: 1.20 95%CI; 1.01-1.43, p=0.03) were independently associated with in-hospital mortality rates in the multivariate regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Thrombolytic therapy was associated with reduced in-hospital mortality at the expense of increased overall bleeding complications in octogenarians.

FUNDAMENTO: Apesar da grande proporção de octogenários com embolia pulmonar aguda, há pouca informação indicando a estratégia de manejo ideal, especialmente medidas terapêuticas, como a terapia lítica. OBJETIVOS: O número de pacientes idosos diagnosticados com embolia pulmonar aguda aumenta constantemente. Porém, o papel do tratamento trombolítico não está claramente definido entre os octogenários. Nosso objetivo é avaliar a efetividade da terapia lítica em pacientes octogenários diagnosticados com embolia pulmonar. MÉTODOS: Cento e quarenta e oito indivíduos (70,3% de mulheres, n=104) com mais de 80 anos foram incluídos no estudo. Os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos: tratamento trombolítico versus não-trombolítico. As taxas de mortalidade hospitalar e episódios de sangramento foram definidos como desfechos do estudo. Valor de p <0,05 foi considerado como estatisticamente significativo. RESULTADOS: A mortalidade hospitalar reduziu significativamente no grupo trombolítico em comparação ao não-trombolítico (10,5% vs. 24,2%; p=0,03). Episódios de sangramento menores foram mais comuns no braço que recebeu o tratamento trombolítico, mas grandes hemorragias não diferiram entre os grupos (35,1% vs. 13,2%, p<0,01; 7% vs. 5,5% p=0,71, respectivamente). O escore de PESI alto (OR: 1,03 IC95%; 1,01-1,04 p<0,01), a terapia trombolítica (OR: 0,15 IC95%; 0,01-0,25, p< 0,01) e níveis altos de troponina (OR: 1,20 IC95%; 1,01-1,43, p=0,03) estiveram independentemente associados a taxas de mortalidade hospitalar na análise de regressão multivariada. CONCLUSÃO: A terapia trombolítica esteve associada à mortalidade hospitalar reduzida em detrimento do aumento geral das complicações de sangramento em octogenários.

Prognostic performance of Controlling Nutritional Status score in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

OBJECTIVE: The effect of malnutrition in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is not fully understood. In this study, we tried to investigate the prognostic consequence of the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score in patients with STEMI. METHODS: In this study, we evaluated the CONUT scores of 1,028 patients with STEMI and examined its relationship with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (all-cause mortality, myocardial reinfarction, and vessel revascularization) during a period of 19.9±10.3 months. Patients with CONUT score ≥5 were defined as severely malnourished. Predictors of MACE were assessed by Cox regression analysis, and p<0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. RESULTS: MACE was observed in a total of 147 (14.3%) patients. MACE was more frequent in the group with a higher CONUT score (33.3% vs. 10.9%, p<0.001). CONUT score ≥5 was an independent predictor of MACE in the Cox regression analysis (hazard ratio=2.50, 95% confidence interval: 1.61-3.90, p<0.001). Low ejection fraction, Killip class ≥3 at presentation, thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow grade <3 after intervention, left main artery involvement, and low hemoglobin levels were other independent predictors of MACE in the long-term follow-up. Kaplan-Meier curves showed decreased MACE free survival rates in the high CONUT score group at a mean 19.9±10.3 months' follow-up duration (log-rank p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Malnutrition was strongly associated with poor outcomes in patients with STEMI treated using primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

A novel electrocardiographic parameter for the prediction of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery "P wave peak time".

OBJECTIVES: Patients with postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) have increased risk of both short- and long-term mortality and morbidity; therefore, prediction of POAF is crucial in the preoperative period of the patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Electrocardiography (ECG) is the simplest and cost-effective tool in the preoperative workup of the patients for the prediction of POAF. A newly defined ECG parameter P wave peak time (PWPT) has been shown as a marker of atrial fibrillation development in non-surgical patients and we investigated its role in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. METHOD: A total of 327 patients undergoing isolated or combined cardiac surgery were involved and the primary endpoint was defined as the development of POAF. The study population was divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of POAF. Groups were compared for both standard P wave parameters and for PWPT on surface ECG. The predictors of POAF were assessed by multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: The frequency of POAF was 20.4% (n = 67). P wave peak time in leads D2 (65.1 ± 11.8 vs 57.2 ± 10, p < 0.01) and V1 (57.8 ± 18 vs 44.8 ± 12.3, p < 0.01) were longer in patients with POAF. In multivariate regression analysis, PWPT in leads DII and V1 were independent predictors of POAF (OR: 1.11, 95%CI: 1.02-1.21, p = 0.01, OR: 1.06, 95%CI: 1.00-1.13, p = 0.03 respectively). CONCLUSION: PWPT in leads DII and V1 can predict the development of POAF in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Incidentally diagnosed unusual ascending aorta mass.

A 44-year-old female, with no medical history, was admitted to the cardiology department because of mild exertional dyspnea. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography showed highly mobile, mass-like lesion in the aortic root. The patient was operated in the same week and a 1 cm × 6 cm soft tissue was excised from the ascending aorta. Pathological examination revealed a fibrin clot surrounded by a fibrous cap.

A hidden cause of hemoptysis: coronary artery-to-pulmonary parenchyma fistula.

A 60-year-old man presented with complaints of chronic hemoptysis present for many years and a six-month history of chest pain. Physical examination showed a grade II/VI continuous murmur at the left sternal border. Electrocardiography showed normal sinus rhythm and nonspecific ST-T changes in lateral leads. Echocardiography showed mild left ventricular hypertrophy. Exercise test was discontinued because of anginal symptoms and occurrence of lateral ST depression. Hemoptysis was observed a few times during hospitalization. Computed tomography of the thorax showed no abnormality to explain hemoptysis. Coronary angiography revealed a critical lesion in the left anterior descending artery and a large, tortuous right coronary artery with a fistulization tract originating from its proximal region and draining into the left lung parenchyma. The lesion in the left anterior descending artery was stented and percutaneous coil embolization of the fistula was performed in another session. Coronary angiography showed complete occlusion of the fistula and no residual shunting. In the six-month period after the procedure, the patient was free of symptoms of angina and hemoptysis.

Association of digoxin therapy with case fatality rate in acute pulmonary embolism.

OBJECTIVE: Despite wide usage of digoxin for various diseases in cardiology practice, its benefit is controversial and moreover it had been associated with unfavorable outcomes in some previous studies. The aim of this present study was to demonstrate whether digoxin usage was related with worse outcomes or not in patients with acute pulmonary embolisms. METHODS: A total number of 1215 patients retrospectively enrolled for the study. Basic demographic features, pulmonary embolism severity index (PESI) scores, laboratory parameters and medications of patients who had been diagnosed with acute pulmonary embolism were recorded. Short (30 days) and long-term mortality were reported as the clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Total mortality was 15.4% in the study population and 78 of these subjects died within the first 30 days. The frequency of digoxin treatment was 8% and most of these patients were prior users. According to the binary logistic regression analyses the PESI score, right ventricle (RV) diastolic diameter, systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (sPAP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), troponin and digoxin therapy (odds ratio, OR: 2.82 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.39-8.31, P = 0.03) were found as independent predictors of short-term mortality. Beside these findings; sPAP, PESI score, RV diastolic diameter and digoxin therapy (hazard ratio, HR: 2.11 95%CI: 1.22-7.31, P = 0.03) were determined as independent predictors of long-term mortality in Cox regression analyses. In subgroup analysis, we determined significantly greater increase in short-term mortality with use of digoxin among patients who had chronic renal disease, among patients under thrombolytic therapy and under high dosage of digoxin therapy and among female patients. CONCLUSION: Digoxin has been used extensively for decades in the treatment of heart failure and arrhythmias despite some controversies over its benefit. For the first time in the literature, we have demonstrated independent association of digoxin therapy with short-term and long-term mortality in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Performance of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio for the prediction of long-term morbidity and mortality in coronary slow flow phenomenon patients presented with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome.

Introduction: In this study, we aimed to determine if neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio could predict long term morbidity and mortality in patients who hospitalized for non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) and had coronary slow flow on coronary angiography. Methods: In this observational study, 111 patients who presented with NSTE-ACS and diagnosed with coronary slow flow phenomenon on angiographic examination were included. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) calculated as the ratio of the number of neutrophils to the number of lymphocytes. Patients classified into three groups according to NLR values. The term coronary slow flow phenomenon was depicted by calculating Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction frame count.Patients were followed up and the occurrence of recurrent angina, recurrent myocardial infarction, and long-term mortality was determined using medical records, phone calls, or face-to-face interviews. P values <0.05 considered to indicate statistical significance. Results: Recurrent angina and myocardial infarction occurred more frequently in the highest NLR tertile compared with middle and lowest NLR tertiles. High NLR group (NLR≥ 3.88 n=38) was significantly associated with younger age and smoking status. WBC, troponin I and CRP levels increased as the NLR tertile increased. Recurrent myocardial infarction and angina showed strong relationship with increasing NLR values. In multivariate regression analyses smoking and high NLR levels were independent predictors of recurrent myocardial infarction (HR:4.64 95%CI 0.95-22.52 P=0.04, HR: 1.48 95%CI 1.16-1.90 P<0.01 respectively) in the long term follow up. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that high NLR values can be a valuable prognostic tool in the long term follow up of patients who presented with NSTE-ACS and diagnosed with slow flow phenomenon on coronary angiography.