Rationale and design of the pragmatic clinical trial tREatment with Beta-blockers after myOcardial infarction withOut reduced ejection fracTion (REBOOT).

AIMS: There is a lack of evidence regarding the benefits of ß-blocker treatment after invasively managed acute myocardial infarction (MI) without reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). METHODS AND RESULTS: The tREatment with Beta-blockers after myOcardial infarction withOut reduced ejection fracTion (REBOOT) trial is a pragmatic, controlled, prospective, randomized, open-label blinded endpoint (PROBE design) clinical trial testing the benefits of ß-blocker maintenance therapy in patients discharged after MI with or without ST-segment elevation. Patients eligible for participation are those managed invasively during index hospitalization (coronary angiography), with LVEF >40%, and no history of heart failure (HF). At discharge, patients will be randomized 1:1 to ß-blocker therapy (agent and dose according to treating physician) or no ß-blocker therapy. The primary endpoint is a composite of all-cause death, non-fatal reinfarction, or HF hospitalization over a median follow-up period of 2.75 years (minimum 2 years, maximum 3 years). Key secondary endpoints include the incidence of the individual components of the primary composite endpoint, the incidence of cardiac death, and incidence of malignant ventricular arrhythmias or resuscitated cardiac arrest. The primary endpoint will be analysed according to the intention-to-treat principle. CONCLUSION: The REBOOT trial will provide robust evidence to guide the prescription of ß-blockers to patients discharged after MI without reduced LVEF.

Antiplatelet Therapy for Non-ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Complex "Real" Clinical Scenarios: A Consensus Document of the "Campania NSTEMI Study Group".

The incidence of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has significantly decreased. Conversely, the rate of non-STEMI (NSTEMI) has increased. Patients with NSTEMI have lower short-term mortality compared to patients with STEMI, whereas at long-term follow-up, the mortality becomes comparable. This might be due to the differences in baseline characteristics, including older age and a greater prevalence of comorbidities in the NSTEMI population. Although antithrombotic strategies used in patients with NSTEMI have been well studied in clinical trials and updated guidelines are available, patterns of use and outcomes in clinical practice are less well described. Thus, a panel of Italian cardiology experts assembled under the auspices of the "Campania NSTEMI Study Group" for comprehensive discussion and consensus development to provide practical recommendations, for both clinical and interventional cardiologists, regarding optimal management of antithrombotic therapy in patients with NSTEMI. This position article presents and discusses various clinical scenarios in patients with NSTEMI or unstable angina, including special subsets (eg, patients aged ≥85 years, patients with chronic renal disease or previous cerebrovascular events, and patients requiring triple therapy or long-term antithrombotic therapy), with the panel recommendations being provided for each scenario.

[Acute myocardial infarction in the elderly. A case-control study with a younger population and review of literature]. / L'infarto miocardico acuto nell'ultrasettantacinquenne. Studio caso-controllo con una popolazione più giovane e rassegna della letteratura.

BACKGROUND: ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in old and old-old patients presents several peculiarities in natural history, delay of hospitalization and response to treatment. Aim of this retrospective case control study was to determine presentation, complications and management of elderly patients with STEMI compared to a younger population. METHODS: 462 patients (205 M and 257 F) aged > or =75 years, hospitalized in CCU between 1999 and 2003 for STEMI, were evaluated. The control group consisted of 490 consecutive patients (268 M and 222 F) aged 50-70 years. Attention was focused on clinical presentation, complications, management and outcome in elderly compared with younger patients. RESULTS: The mean interval between the onset of symptoms and the arrive in CCU was of 9 hour in the elderly compared to 4,5 hour in the control. Chest pain was less frequent (50% vs 90%) in the elderly; the prevalence of dyspnoea and neurological symptoms was higher in patients >75 years (30% vs. 15% and 25% vs. 10%). In the elderly, previous angina and AMI, cerebral and peripheral vascular diseases, peripheral and renal failure were frequent. Early severe complications prevailed in the elderly. Thrombolysis was performed only in 39% of the elderly compared to 65% of the control. Significantly higher was cerebral haemorrhage after thrombolysis (4.9% vs. 1.8%). Comparable were the mayor extra cranial bleedings. Primary or facilitated PTCA was performed in few patients in the last year. Two weeks mortality was 20%, compared to 6.5% in the control group. CONCLUSION: The patients >75 years with STEMI were hospitalized later, had atypical presentation with less chest pain and more cardiac failure, were less likely to receive thrombolysis, had more complications and more cerebral bleedings. Elderly had more associated diseases and in-hospital mortality was higher.

[Pharmacologic therapy in failed thrombolysis: sequential infusion of tirofiban. Pilot study with 47 patients]. / La terapia farmacologica nella trombolisi fallita: infusione sequenziale di tirofiban. Studio pilota in 47 pazienti.

Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors have been recently proposed as a bridge to rescue transluminal coronary angioplasty in ST elevation myocardial infarction patients in whom thrombolysis fails; but data in its feasibility, safety and efficacy are still limited. In 47 consecutive acute myocardial infarction patients in whom thrombolysis failed to achieve 90 minute reperfusion, tirofiban was given at full regimen. Our results have been compared with those obtained in a control group of 48 consecutive acute myocardial infarction patients admitted two years before, period in which tirofiban and rescue angioplasty were not available in our hospital. Our preliminary data suggest this approach is feasible and safe, with possible clinical benefit in this high-risk subgroup of patients.

Effectiveness of tirofiban for failed thrombolysis during acute myocardial infarction.

The clinical outcome of 48 consective patients with myocardial infarction who received tirofiban for unsuccessful thrombolysis was compared with that of 48 patients matched for age, gender, and infarct location who did not receive rescue treatment. Those who received tirofiban had more successful reperfusions, and there were few bleeding complications.

[Spontaneous dissection of 2 coronary branches in a young man. Report of a clinical case]. / Dissezione spontanea di due rami coronarici in un giovane maschio. Descrizione di un caso clinico.

Spontaneous coronary dissection is responsible for acute coronary syndromes particularly in females during and in the peri-partum period. It rarely occurs in patients without atherosclerotic coronary plaques. We report a particular clinical course of a 39-year-old patient with spontaneous dissection of two coronary arteries. His clinical course suggested only medical treatment, with aspirin, beta-blockers and ACE-inhibitors. At 3 months of follow-up the patient is free of symptoms.

Effect of Abciximab on prothrombin activation and thrombin generation in acute coronary syndromes without ST-segment elevation: Global Utilization of Strategies to Open Occluded Coronary Arteries Trial IV in Acute Coronary Syndromes (GUSTO IV ACS) Italian Hematologic Substudy.

BACKGROUND: Abciximab is very effective in reducing major cardiac events in patients undergoing interventional procedures. Its antithrombotic effect is primarily attributable to the blocking of platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptors, but recent evidence suggests that it may have a direct antithrombin effect. No data are available concerning the effect of abciximab on the in vivo markers of prothrombin activation and thrombin generation in patients with acute coronary syndromes without ST elevation. METHODS AND RESULTS: We measured the plasma levels of prothrombin fragment 1+2 (a marker of prothrombin activation) and the thrombin/antithrombin complex (a marker of thrombin generation) in 167 patients with acute coronary syndromes without ST elevation enrolled in the GUSTO IV ACS trial who were randomized to receive abciximab for 24 hours (52 patients), abciximab for 48 hours (59 patients), or placebo (56 patients) in addition to heparin. Blood samples were obtained at baseline (before any treatment), after 24 and 48 hours (before study drug discontinuation), and 1 month later. There was a significant increase in the plasma levels of prothrombin fragment 1+2 after 48 hours and after 1 month in all 3 groups, placebo (P=0.0001), 24-hour abciximab (P=0.0002), and 48-hour abciximab (P=0.0001). The plasma thrombin/antithrombin complex levels were similar in the 3 groups at all time points and did not change during the study drug infusions. CONCLUSIONS: Abciximab does not decrease prothrombin activation and thrombin generation in patients with acute coronary syndromes without ST elevation not undergoing interventional procedures.