Association of Admission Glucose Level and Improvement in Pulmonary Artery Pressure in Patients with Submassive-type Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

Objective The admission glucose level is a predictor of mortality even in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE). However, whether or not the admission glucose level is associated with the severity of APE itself or the underlying disease of APE is unclear. Methods This study was a retrospective observational study. A pulmonary artery (PA) catheter was used to accurately evaluate the severity of APE. The percentage changes in the mean PA pressure (PAPm) upon placement and removal of the inferior vena cava filter (IVCF) were evaluated. We hypothesized that the admission glucose level was associated with the improvement in the PA pressure in patients with APE. Patients A total of consecutive 22 patients with submassive APE who underwent temporary or retrievable IVCF insertion on admission and repetitive PA catheter measurements upon placement and removal of IVCFs were enrolled. Results There was a significant positive correlation between the admission glucose levels and the percentage changes in the PAPm (r=0.543, p=0.009). A univariate linear regression analysis showed that the admission glucose level was the predictor of the percentage change in PAPm (ß coefficient=0.169 per 1 mg/dL; 95% confidence interval, 0.047-0.291; p=0.009). A multivariate linear regression analysis with the forced inclusion model showed that the admission glucose level was the predictor of the percentage change in PAPm independent of diabetes mellitus, PAPm on admission, troponin positivity, and brain natriuretic peptide level (all p<0.05). Conclusion The admission glucose level was associated with the improvement in the PAPm in patients with submassive-type APE.

Association Between Acidosis Soon After Reperfusion and Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in Patients With a First-Time ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is associated with poor outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction. However, the predictors of CIN have yet to be fully elucidated. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study included 273 consecutive patients with a first-time ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction who underwent reperfusion within 12 hours of symptom onset. The exclusion criteria were hemodialysis, mechanical ventilation, or previous coronary artery bypass grafting. All patients underwent arterial blood gas analysis soon after reperfusion. CIN was defined as an increase of 0.5 mg/dL in serum creatinine or a 25% increase from baseline between 48 and 72 hours after contrast medium exposure. Acidosis was defined as an arterial blood pH <7.35. CIN was observed in 35 patients (12.8%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis with forward stepwise algorithm revealed a significant association between CIN and the following: reperfusion time, the prevalence of hypertension, peak creatine kinase-MB, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein on admission, and the incidence of acidosis (P<0.05). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that the incidence of acidosis was associated with CIN when adjusted for age, male sex, body mass index, amount of contrast medium used, estimated glomerular filtration rate on admission, glucose level on admission, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein on admission, and left ventricular ejection fraction (P<0.05). Moreover, the incidence of acidosis was associated with CIN when adjusted for the Mehran CIN risk score (odds ratio: 2.229, P=0.049). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of acidosis soon after reperfusion was associated with CIN in patients with a first-time ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Correlation of Pre- and In-Hospital Systolic Blood Pressure in Acute Heart Failure Patients and the Prognostic Implications　- Report From the Tokyo Cardiac Care Unit Network Emergency Medical Service Database.

BACKGROUND: Systolic blood pressure (SBP) is an important prognostic indicator for patients with acute heart failure (AHF). However, its changes and the effects in the different phases of the acute management process are not well known.Methods and Results:The Tokyo CCU Network prospectively collects on-site information about AHF from emergency medical services (EMS) and the emergency room (ER). The association between in-hospital death and SBP at 2 different time points (on-site SBP [measured by EMS] and in-hospital SBP [measured at the ER; ER-SBP]) was analyzed. From 2010 to 2012, a total of 5,669 patients were registered and stratified into groups according to both their on-site SBP and ER-SBP: >160 mmHg; 100-160 mmHg; and <100 mmHg. In-hospital mortality rates increased when both on-site SBP and ER-SBP were low. After multivariate adjustment, both SBPs were inversely associated with in-hospital death. Notably, the risk for patients with ER-SBP of 100-160 mmHg (intermediate risk) differed according to their on-site SBP; those with on-site SBP <100 or 100-160 mmHg were at higher risk (OR, 7.39; 95% CI, 4.00-13.6 and OR, 2.73; 95% CI, 1.83-4.08, respectively [P<0.001 for both]) than patients with on-site SBP >160 mmHg. CONCLUSIONS: Monitoring changes in SBP assisted risk stratification of AHF patients, particularly patients with intermediate ER-SBP measurements. (Circ J 2016; 80: 2473-2481).

Endovascular treatment of renal artery stenosis improves contralateral renal hypertrophy with nephrotic syndrome.

Nephrotic syndrome due to renovascular hypertension is uncommon. We herein report a case of nephrotic syndrome associated with unilateral atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis. A 76-year-old woman who had been taking antihypertensive medication for more than 15 years was referred to our hospital for treatment of uncontrolled hypertension and massive proteinuria in the nephrotic range. An abdominal bruit was heard, and laboratory findings showed high plasma renin activity and hypokalemia. Renal computed tomography angiography showed severe stenosis of the ostium of the right renal artery and an atrophic right kidney. The left renal artery was normal and the left kidney was compensatorily enlarged. After admission, we started treatment with an angiotensin II receptor blocker and subsequently performed percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty with renal artery stent placement. As a result, her blood pressure became well controlled and the massive proteinuria disappeared. In addition, her stenotic-side renal atrophy was resolved, concomitant with an improvement in her renal function. The contralateral renal hypertrophy was also resolved.