Giant isolated intracardiac thrombus presenting as acute heart failure secondary to right ventricular outflow tract obstruction in a patient with renal carcinoma.

Right-sided intracardiac thrombi are potential causes of right ventricular (RV) failure, particularly when tricuspid or pulmonary obstruction occurs. In most cases, RV thrombus develops in patients with RV dysfunction and concomitant thrombosis in the systemic veins. However, RV thrombosis can rarely present as an isolated mass and despite preserved RV function, particularly in patients with thrombophilic states. In this report, we describe an unusual case of giant isolated RV thrombus presenting with acute RV failure secondary to dynamic RV outflow tract obstruction in a patient with renal carcinoma. Bedside echocardiography allowed a rapid assessment of the hemodynamic effects of the mass. The possibility of a thrombotic RV outflow obstruction should be considered in patients with acute RV failure, even in those with no evidence of thrombosis in the venous district. This may be particularly important in patients with prothrombotic states, where the effectiveness of routine thromboembolic prophylaxis could be reduced.

Decreased usage and increased effectiveness of percutaneous coronary intervention in complex older patients with acute coronary syndromes.

BACKGROUND: Application of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is suboptimal in older frail individuals. This study was conducted to verify if background risk is a risk factor for underuse and diminished effectiveness of PCI in older patients. METHODS: An observational cohort study was conducted using data from the Acute Myocardial Infarction in Florence 2 registry, including all ACS hospitalised in 1 year in the area of Florence, Italy. Patients aged 75+ years were selected, whose background risk was stratified with the Silver Code (SC), a validated tool predicting mortality based upon administrative data. Multivariable OR for PCI application and HR for 1-year mortality by PCI usage were calculated. RESULTS: In 698 patients (358 women, mean age 83 years), of whom 176 had ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), for each point increase in SC score the odds for application of PCI decreased by 11%, whereas the hazard of 1-year mortality increased by 10%, adjusting for positive and negative predictors. PCI reduced 1-year mortality progressively more with increasing SC, with HR (95% CI) of 0.8 (0.19 to 1.21), 0.41 (0.18 to 0.45), 0.41 (0.23 to 0.74) and 0.26 (0.14 to 0.48) for SC of 0-3, 4-6, 7-10 and 11+. CONCLUSIONS: Application of PCI in older ACS patients decreased with increasing background risk. This therapeutic attitude could not be justified by decreasing effectiveness of PCI in more compromised patients: conversely, application of PCI was associated with a long-term survival advantage that increased progressively with background risk, as expressed by SC.

Long-term prognosis after primary PCI in unselected patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

AIMS: Long-term prognosis of ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in the era of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) remains relatively poorly investigated in unselected patients. This study analyzed 8-year follow-up of STEMI patients enrolled in the Florence Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry, a population-based, observational study performed in Italy in 2000-2001. METHODS: The prognostic effect of pPCI adjusted for clinical and demographic characteristics on a composite end-point of new myocardial infraction, urgent revascularization or death, and on all-cause mortality separately, was assessed in multivariable Cox analysis, calculating hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals. This analysis is concerned with 875 STEMI patients (mean age 70.6 ±â€Š12.9 years), treated with pPCI (459) or conservatively (416). RESULTS: After 8 years, 59% of patients had experienced the composite end-point and 49% had died. The multivariable analysis showed a significantly better prognosis in patients receiving pPCI (hazard ratio 0.72, P = 0.001), evident also in the 645 patients who were event-free after the first year of follow-up (hazard ratio 0.72, P = 0.010). Other independent prognostic factors were advanced age, Killip class greater than 1, some cardiovascular or noncardiovascular comorbidities, in-hospital cardiogenic shock, ejection fraction less than 30%, and treatment with aspirin and statin during hospitalization. The beneficial effect of pPCI observed both in cases younger (adjusted hazard ratio 0.65, P = 0.013) and older than 75 years (adjusted hazard ratio 0.65, P = 0.001) was also confirmed considering as outcome all-cause mortality only. CONCLUSIONS: In unselected STEMI patients, survival advantage from pPCI extends for a long term (8 years). This survival advantage is maintained at advanced ages, thus enforcing the importance of improving delivery of appropriate care to older STEMI patients.

Acute heart failure in patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Scanty data exist about the relation between acute heart failure (HF) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI). AIM: To assess the impact of HF on outcome in AMI patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS AND RESULTS: Out of 2,089 AMI patients, 82% did not present HF, 17% presented HF on admission and 1% developed HF after hospitalisation. Predictors of HF on admission were age, diabetes, prior MI, time delay to admission, anterior location, and TIMI grade 0-1 in the culprit vessel. Predictors of HF during hospitalisation were age and peak creatine kinase. The 1- and 6-month mortalities were 1.1% and 2.2%, 8% and 12%, 26% and 33% in patients without HF, with HF on admission and after hospitalisation, respectively. The risk of death was higher in patients with HF than in patients without HF (HR 3.47), as well as in patients with HF after admission (HR 5.19) than in patients with HF on admission (HR 2.44). CONCLUSIONS: In a primary PCI setting, the incidence of HF on hospital admission remains high, but mortality is lower when compared with historical patient series. Primary PCI may prevent the development of HF during hospitalisation; however, when HF develops, the prognosis remains severe.

Anaphylaxis-induced acute ST-segment elevation myocardial ischemia treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention: report of two cases.

Acute coronary syndromes have been described as potential complications of any type of anaphylactic reaction. The real pathogenic mechanism inducing acute myocardial ischemia in the setting of anaphylaxis is not yet completely understood. Some pathogenic mechanisms, like coronary vasospasm, plaque activation and systemic hypotension, have been suggested. The hypothesis of a central role of mast cell and inflammatory cell activation and release of potent vasoactive mediators, inducing the mechanisms mentioned above, is the mainstay of so-called "cardiac anaphylaxis". We report two cases of anaphylaxis-induced acute ST-segment elevation myocardial ischemia which occurred during coronary angiography. The first one was probably related to contrast media contact, the second one to latex glove contact. Both of them were treated with percutaneous coronary intervention that immediately resolved the myocardial ischemia.

Clinical implications of early mitral regurgitation in patients with reperfused acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms by which mitral regurgitation (MR) may lead to an adverse prognosis after reperfused acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have not been fully investigated. We hypothesized that in the early phase of ST-elevation AMI, MR may lead to progressive left ventricular (LV) remodeling and subsequent heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: A series of 184 patients with AMI successfully treated with primary angioplasty underwent serial two-dimensional echocardiography at admission, at 1 and 6 months, and at 6-month angiography. The mean follow-up was 18 +/- 7 months. On the basis of color Doppler, MR was graded from 0 (none) to 4 (severe). Patients were divided into group 1 (n = 146) with an MR grade of < or = 1 and group 2 (n = 38) with an MR grade of > or = 2. The regurgitant volume and effective regurgitant orifice area of MR were significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1 (36.7 +/- 12.9 mL/beat vs 4.67 +/- 3.2 mL/beat, P < .0001; 22.5 +/- 7.6 mm(2) vs 5.8 +/- 5.7 mm(2), P < .0001, respectively). LV end-diastolic volume progressively increased in group 2 and was significantly higher than in group 1 at 6 months (113.8 +/- 31.8 mL vs 96.9 +/- 34.1 mL, P = .0002), with a higher prevalence of LV remodeling (66% vs 22%, P < .0001). At 2 years, the incidence of heart failure was higher in group 2 than in group 1 (39% vs 12%, P < .0002). A significant correlation was found between effective regurgitant orifice area of MR and baseline to 6-month change of LV end-diastolic volume (P = .001). By stepwise multivariate regression analysis effective regurgitant orifice area of early MR was an independent predictor of LV remodeling (P = .001) and late heart failure (hazard ratio: 1.069, 95% confidence interval 1.033-1.106, P < .0001, Cox analysis). CONCLUSION: In reperfused AMI, early high-degree MR is an important predictor of both LV dilation and subsequent heart failure.

Significance of additional ST segment elevation in patients with no reflow after angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate the incidence, timing, and clinical significance of additional increase in ST segment elevation (ST-SE) in patients showing no reflow after angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: We studied 26 patients with acute myocardial infarction showing myocardial contrast echocardiography no reflow after successful angioplasty. Baseline and 6-month 2-dimensional echocardiograms were obtained in 21 surviving patients. RESULTS: After angioplasty, 13 patients showed greater than 30% additional increase in ST-SE (group 1), whereas 13 did not (group 2). Baseline clinical, echographic, and angiographic characteristics, and 6-month patency and restenosis rate, were similar between the two groups. From baseline to 6 months, a similar global and regional systolic function was found between the two groups, whereas a higher increase in left ventricular end-diastolic volume occurred in group 1 (135 +/- 45 vs 168 +/- 42 mL, P = .033). The additional increase in ST-SE was not associated with more severe microvascular damage (myocardial contrast echocardiography score index: 0.14 +/- 0.26 vs 0.22 +/- 0.27), higher peak creatine kinase value (4888 +/- 2533 vs 3109 +/- 2055 U/L, P = .061), higher incidence of left ventricular remodeling (73% vs 60%, P = .537), or worse outcome (26 +/- 24 months) such as death (15% vs 23%, P = .619), hospitalization for heart failure (8% vs 23%, P = .277), or reinfarction (8% vs 0%, P = .308). CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that in patients showing no reflow after angioplasty a transient additional increase in ST-SE occurs in half of patients. The prognostic value of additional increase in ST-SE remains uncertain in the era of primary angioplasty.

Early discharge after acute myocardial infarction in the current clinical practice. Community data from the AMI-Florence Registry, Italy.

BACKGROUND: Clinical trials suggested feasibility and safety of early discharge after ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) for selected patients. Current United States and European guidelines recommend early discharge for uncomplicated AMI. The present study was aimed to assess early discharge in the current clinical practice for STEMI patients. METHODS: Patients enrolled in the AMI-Florence Registry (Italy), a prospective, observational, population-based study performed in the early 2000s, were analysed. The proportion of STEMI patients eligible for early discharge and of those actually discharged early, patient features influencing early discharge and outcomes (mortality, reinfarction or urgent revascularization during the first year of follow-up) were assessed. RESULTS: Of 751 STEMI patients, 59% were classified as eligible for early discharge, according to previously established criteria. Among patients considered eligible, those actually discharged early dropped from 33.1% in age <70 years to 15.9% in age 70-79 years and to 11.7% in age 80+ years. Of eligible patients, 26% were actually discharged within 4 days. Age 70+ years (reference: 69 years or younger; 70-79 years: OR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.22-0.73; 80+ years: OR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.14-0.76) and diabetes (OR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.24-0.98) were negative independent predictors; and coronary reperfusion (OR: 2.92, 95% CI: 1.54-5.53) or firstly admitted to teaching hospital (OR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.03-2.74) were positive predictors, of the multivariate probability of being early discharged. Among patients eligible for early discharge, 1-year and 3-year mortality did not differ significantly between patients actually, and not, early discharged. After 1 year of follow-up, no deaths were observed among patients early discharged. CONCLUSION: This study confirms, in a setting of current clinical practice, the reliability of criteria for identifying patients eligible for early discharge. Besides, the results confirmed the safety of this practice in selected patients. About 1/4 of eligible patients are actually early discharged, confirming the existence of important opportunities to improve the efficiency in STEMI management.

Heart failure and left ventricular remodeling after reperfused acute myocardial infarction in patients with hypertension.

In the thrombolytic era, hypertension has been shown to adversely affect the development of heart failure after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We sought to examine the relation between antecedent hypertension and heart failure after mechanical reperfusion and to test the impact of postinfarction left ventricular remodeling on heart failure in hypertensive patients. A series of 953 patients (324 hypertensives) with AMI treated with successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention underwent a 5-year follow-up. A subgroup of 325 subjects underwent 2D echocardiography at admission, 1 month, and 6 months. From day 1 to 6 months, despite similar improvement in regional and global left ventricular function and similar 6-month infarct artery patency rate, left ventricular end-diastolic volume increased in the normotensives (122+/-36 mL to 131+/-47 mL; P<0.001) but not in the hypertensives (127+/-41 mL to 128+/-31 mL; P=0.768). At 6 months, the incidence of left ventricular remodeling in hypertensive and normotensive patients was not different (22% versus 28%; P=0.210). However, at 5 years, the incidences of hospitalization for heart failure (7% versus 3%; P=0.014) and of New York Heart Association functional class > or =2 (53% versus 40%; P<0.001) were higher in hypertensive as compared with normotensive patients. Hypertension was found to be a predictor of heart failure (hazard ratio, 2.23; P=0.015). In conclusion, patients with antecedent hypertension are at higher risk to develop heart failure after AMI, even when successfully reperfused by primary percutaneous coronary intervention. However, the increased incidence of heart failure in hypertensive patients is not associated with a greater propensity to postinfarction left ventricular remodeling.

In-hospital management and outcome in women with acute myocardial infarction (data from the AMI-Florence Registry).

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention proved to be superior to thrombolysis in reducing ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEAMI) mortality. However, whether such benefit is similar in women and men remains unclear. The aim of the present analysis was to assess the independent effect of female gender on management and on early and 1-year mortality in Florence, Italy, where primary percutaneous coronary intervention is the preferred reperfusion strategy for STEAMI. The study included a cohort of 920 unselected patients with STEAMI (men = 627, women = 293) prospectively enrolled in the AMI-Florence, population-based registry over 12 months. Women were older (76 vs 68 years, p <0.001) and more frequently had Killip class >I heart failure than men. The median delay to hospital admission was marginally longer in women (160 vs 130 minutes, p = 0.09). Coronary reperfusion treatment was performed less often in women (49% vs 58%, p <0.013); primary percutaneous coronary intervention was performed more often in both genders (90% vs 91%) and with similar median door-to-balloon time (50 vs 45 minutes, p = 0.44). Both in-hospital (16% vs 8%, p <0.001) and 1-year mortality (25% vs 18%, p = 0.016) were higher in women. However, after adjusting for age and other baseline characteristics, reperfusion treatment (odds ratio 1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.78 to 2.08) and 1-year mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 0.91, 95% CI 0.67 to 1.24) were independent of female gender. Compared with conservative therapy, reperfusion treatment was associated with a similar reduction in 1-year mortality in women (HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.34 to 1.02) and men (HR 0.58, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.92). Our data suggest that older age and several age-related factors may largely account for the higher mortality of women after STEAMI. Even in the general population,improvement in prognosis associated with reperfusion treatment is independent of gender.

Left ventricular remodeling and heart failure in diabetic patients treated with primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus has been recognized as a strong predictor of heart failure (HF) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, considerable controversy exists regarding the pathogenetic mechanisms of HF after AMI in diabetic patients. We hypothesized that the increased incidence of HF in diabetic patients was associated with a greater propensity for left ventricular (LV) remodeling. METHODS AND RESULTS: A series of 325 patients (42 diabetics) with AMI successfully treated with primary angioplasty underwent serial 2D echocardiography from admission to 1 and 6 months and 6-month angiography. No significant difference was found between diabetics and nondiabetics regarding baseline clinical, angiographic, and echocardiographic characteristics, as well as 6-month restenosis and reocclusion rates. At 6 months, a similar incidence of LV remodeling was observed in diabetics and nondiabetics (33% versus 25%; P=0.234), with similar patterns of changes in LV volumes and LV global and regional systolic function. At 5 years, the incidence of HF was higher in the diabetics (43% versus 20%, P=0.001). Diabetes was found to be an independent predictor of HF at 5 years (hazard ratio, 1.8; P=0.0366). However, LV remodeling was predictive of HF in the nondiabetics (P=0.023) but not in the diabetics (P=0.123). In a subgroup of patients, higher LV chamber stiffness (as assessed by echocardiography) was detected in the diabetics with HF. CONCLUSIONS: The more frequent progression to HF in the diabetics after AMI is not explained by a greater propensity for LV remodeling. Other factors, such as diastolic dysfunction, may play a role.

Age-related changes in treatment strategies for acute myocardial infarction: a population-based study.

OBJECTIVES: To compare across four age groups (<65, 65-74, 75-84, > or =85) the determinants of coronary reperfusion therapy (CRT) use in ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STE-AMI). DESIGN: Population-based, observational study. SETTING: Performed in the health district of Florence, Italy, where percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the preferred CRT. PARTICIPANTS: Nine hundred thirty patients with STE-AMI prospectively enrolled in the Florence AMI registry. MEASUREMENTS: Use of CRT, clinical factors associated with CRT use. RESULTS: CRT use was reduced from 71% at younger than 65 to 31% at aged 85 and older (P<.001). After adjusting for chronic comorbidity, Killip class, admission hospital category, hospitalization delay, and AMI location, CRT use was 29% (P=.17) lower at age 75 to 84 and 63% (P<.001) lower at age 85 and older than at younger than 65. Within each age group, the probability of receiving CRT was three to five times greater in patients directly admitted to the hospital with PCI facilities. Acute cardiac failure and chronic comorbidity were associated with lower CRT use only in patients aged 65 and older. Patients aged less than 85 years who received reperfusive therapy had a significantly lower risk of death (-44%, P=.045) at 1 year, whereas it was less evident and nonsignificant (-27%, P=.27) in patients aged 85 and older. CONCLUSION: Results confirm that, although they might substantially benefit from CRT during STE-AMI, older patients are excluded from CRT even when eligible. This further indicates that clinicians are not yet completely prepared to manage most efficiently frail elderly with AMI, a task requiring a specific interdisciplinary training program in geriatric cardiology.

Impact of microvascular dysfunction on left ventricular remodeling and long-term clinical outcome after primary coronary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that preserved microvascular integrity in the area at risk would favorably influence left ventricular (LV) remodeling and long-term outcome after acute myocardial infarction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Before and after successful primary angioplasty (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty [PTCA]), 124 patients with acute myocardial infarction underwent intracoronary myocardial contrast echo (MCE). An MCE score index (MCESI) was derived by averaging the single-segment score (0=not visible, 1=patchy, 2=homogeneous contrast effect) within the area at risk. An MCESI > or =1 was considered adequate reperfusion. Mean follow-up was 46+/-32 months. After PTCA, 100 patients showed adequate reperfusion (no microvascular dysfunction, NoMD), whereas 24 did not (MD). MD patients had a higher mean creatine kinase (4153+/-2422 versus 2743+/-1774 U/L; P=0.002) and baseline wall-motion score index (2.61+/-0.31 versus 2.25+/-0.42; P<0.001) and a lower baseline ejection fraction (33+/-8% versus 40+/-7%; P<0.001). From day 1 on, LV volumes progressively increased in the MD patients (n=19) and were larger than those of NoMD patients (n=85) at 6 months (end-diastolic volume 170+/-55 versus 115+/-29 mL; P<0.001). MCESI was the most important independent predictor of LV dilation (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.71, P<0.000001). By Cox analysis, MD represented the only predictor of cardiac death (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.72, P=0.010) and combined events (cardiac death, reinfarction, and heart failure; OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.85, P=0.014). MD patients showed worse survival in terms of cardiac death (P<0.0001) and combined events (P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In reperfused acute myocardial infarction, MD within the risk area is an important predictor of both LV remodeling and unfavorable long-term outcome.

Does gender affect the clinical outcome of patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention?

This study sought to determine the impact of female gender on clinical outcome in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS) due to predominant ventricular failure undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We analyzed gender-related differences in procedural, angiographic, and clinical outcomes in 208 consecutive patients with AMI complicated by CS. Out of 208 patients with CS, 65 were women and 143 men. Women were older than men (74 +/- 10 years vs. 66 +/- 12 years; P < 0.001) and had a greater incidence of a history of hypertension (43% vs. 29%; P = 0.041). The 6-month mortality rate was 42% in women and 31% in men (P = 0.157). There were no differences between groups in reinfarction rate and target vessel revascularization rate. Multivariate analysis showed age as the only variable independently related to the 6-month mortality, while female gender was not related to the risk of death. The benefit of early PCI is similar in women and men, and any potential referral bias in the use of PCI based on gender differences should be avoided.

Determinants of treatment strategies and survival in acute myocardial infarction: a population-based study in the Florence district, Italy: results of the acute myocardial infarction Florence registry (AMI-Florence).

AIMS: The Florence Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry is a prospective, observational study aimed at identifying the determinants of use of primary PCI and of prognosis in patients with STE-AMI, in an unselected population-based setting. METHODS AND RESULTS: Nine hundred and thirty cases of STE-AMI (mean age: 70.5 years) were prospectively recorded. Factors associated with use of revascularization, or influencing survival were identified through multivariate analyses (respectively: logistic and Cox regression). Primary PCI was the preferred reperfusion therapy in the study district, with 50% of STE-AMI cases admitted within 24h, and 58% of those admitted within 12h from symptom onset treated; about 5% of patients undergone fibrinolysis (overall revascularization being 55% and 63%, respectively). Availability of PCI facilities at admission hospital was the strongest independent positive predictor of subsequent primary PCI. Advanced age, comorbidities, Killip class 3, delayed hospitalisation and other factors independently reduced the probability of receiving reperfusion. In the whole series, in-hospital mortality was 6.6% for revascularization and 15.6% for conservative therapy, 6-month mortality was 10.1% and 26.0% respectively. The independent, protective effect of primary PCI persisted at the multivariate analysis, being 44% the reduction in the risk of death at 6 months. CONCLUSION: In this unselected series of patients, primary PCI, routinely performed in high volume centres, achieved good results in terms of survival even outside the setting of a randomised clinical trial. However, the relatively high number of untreated subjects and the tendency to select less severe cases of AMI for reperfusion treatment confirm the need for an accurate reassessment of behavioural patterns in selecting patients for revascularization.

Left ventricular remodeling after primary coronary angioplasty: patterns of left ventricular dilation and long-term prognostic implications.

BACKGROUND: We prospectively evaluated the prevalence, pattern, and prognostic impact of left ventricular (LV) remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) successfully treated with primary PTCA. The prevalence, course, and prognostic value of LV remodeling after primary PTCA are still to be clarified. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 284 consecutive patients with AMI treated with primary PTCA, serial echocardiographic and angiographic studies, within 24 hours (T1), at 1 (T2) and 6 months (T3) after AMI were performed. Long-term (61+/-14 months) clinical follow-up data were collected for 98.6% patients enrolled in the study. Overall, 85 (30%) patients showed LV dilation (>20% end-diastolic volume increase) at T3 as compared with T1. Early (from T1 to T2), late (from T2 to T3), and progressive dilation patterns (from T1 to T2 to T3) were detected in 42 (15%), 41 (14%), and 36 (13%) patients, respectively. Cardiac death and combined events rate was significantly higher among patients with than among those without LV dilation (P=0.005 and P=0.025, respectively). The pattern of LV dilation during 6 months did not significantly affect survival. Cox survival analysis identified end-systolic volume at T1 and age as baseline predictors and end-systolic volume at T3 and age as 6-month predictors of cardiac death, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: LV remodeling after successful PTCA occurs despite sustained patency of the infarct-related artery and preservation of regional and global LV function. LV dilation at 6 months after AMI but not the specific pattern of LV dilation is clearly associated with worse long-term clinical outcome.

Abciximab therapy improves survival in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by early cardiogenic shock undergoing coronary artery stent implantation.

The impact of abciximab therapy on mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who are undergoing infarct-related artery (IRA) stent implantation, which is complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS) due to predominant ventricular failure has not been established, whereas concluded randomized trials comparing IRA stenting plus abciximab with IRA stenting alone in patients with AMI have produced conflicting results. Moreover, these trials have excluded patients with CS from randomization. This study sought to determine whether IRA stenting plus abciximab treatment has an impact on 1-month mortality compared with IRA stenting alone in consecutive patients with AMI complicated by CS due to predominant ventricular failure. Of 77 patients with CS and IRA stenting, 44 had abciximab therapy, whereas 33 underwent primary IRA stenting alone. There were no differences between groups in major baseline characteristics except for a higher incidence of women in the stent alone group compared with the abciximab group (36% vs 14%, p = 0.020). The 1-month overall mortality rate was 18% in the abciximab group and 42% in the stent alone group (p <0.020). There were no differences between groups in reinfarction and target vessel revascularization rates. Multivariate analysis showed that abciximab therapy was the only variable that was independently related to 1-month mortality (odds ratio 0.36; 95% confidence intervals 0.15 to 0.86, p = 0.021). The results of this study support the use of abciximab in patients with AMI complicated by CS who are undergoing IRA stent implantation. The mechanism of the clinical benefit of abciximab at 1 month was not related to the patency of the IRA.