An Intramyocardial Mass Mimicking ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarct at Presentation.

ST-segment elevation on the electrocardiogram typically indicates acute myocardial infarction but can mimic ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in various conditions. We present a case of a patient with an intramyocardial mass and anterior ST-segment elevation without significant myocardial biomarker elevation. Multimodality imaging was crucial in revealing cardiac metastasis as the attributable cause.

A dual-center analysis of conservative versus liberal glycoprotein IIb-IIIa antagonist strategies in the treatment of ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

While the efficacy of GpIIb-IIIa-inhibitors during primary PCI (pPCI) for ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) has previously been demonstrated, its ongoing role and safety in combination with newer P2Y12-inhibitors is unclear. We therefore sought to compare outcomes between two centers with divergent approaches to the use of GpIIbIIIa antagonists in pPCI. We performed a retrospective chart review of all-comer STEMI patients treated with pPCI at two high-volume Montreal academic tertiary care centers. One center tended to use GpIIb-IIIa-inhibitors up-front in a large proportion of patients (liberal strategy) and the other preferring a bail-out approach (conservative strategy). Baseline patient characteristics and procedural data were compared between the two groups. The main efficacy outcome was rate of no-reflow/slow-reflow and the main safety outcome was BARC ≥ 2 bleeding events. A total of 459 patients were included, of whom 167 (36.5%) were exposed to a GpIIb-IIIa-antagonist. There was a significant overall difference in use of GpIIb-IIIa-antagonist between the two centers (60.5% vs. 16.1%, p < 0.01). Rate of no-reflow/slow-reflow was similar between groups (2.6% vs. 1.4%, p = 0.22). In-hospital rates of unplanned revascularization, stroke and death were also not different between groups. Use of a liberal GpIIb--IIIa-antagonist strategy was however associated with a higher risk of bleeding (OR 3.16, 95% CI 1.57-6.37, p < 0.01), which persisted after adjustment for covariables (adjusted OR 2.85, 95% CI 1.40-5.81, p < 0.01). In this contemporary retrospective cohort, a conservative, bail-out only GpIIb--IIIa-antagonist strategy was associated with a lower incidence of clinically relevant bleeding without any signal for an increase in no-reflow/slow-reflow or ischemic clinical events.

Adaptability of prognostic prediction models for patients with acute coronary syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The detrimental repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of care and clinical outcomes for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) necessitate a rigorous re-evaluation of prognostic prediction models in the context of the pandemic environment. This study aimed to elucidate the adaptability of prediction models for 30-day mortality in patients with ACS during the pandemic periods. METHODS: A total of 2041 consecutive patients with ACS were included from 32 institutions between December 2020 and April 2023. The dataset comprised patients who were admitted for ACS and underwent coronary angiography for the diagnosis during hospitalisation. The prediction accuracy of the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) and a machine learning model, KOTOMI, was evaluated for 30-day mortality in patients with ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). RESULTS: The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC) was 0.85 (95% CI 0.81 to 0.89) in the GRACE and 0.87 (95% CI 0.82 to 0.91) in the KOTOMI for STEMI. The difference of 0.020 (95% CI -0.098-0.13) was not significant. For NSTE-ACS, the respective AUROCs were 0.82 (95% CI 0.73 to 0.91) in the GRACE and 0.83 (95% CI 0.74 to 0.91) in the KOTOMI, also demonstrating insignificant difference of 0.010 (95% CI -0.023 to 0.25). The prediction accuracy of both models had consistency in patients with STEMI and insignificant variation in patients with NSTE-ACS between the pandemic periods. CONCLUSIONS: The prediction models maintained high accuracy for 30-day mortality of patients with ACS even in the pandemic periods, despite marginal variation observed.

Combined Intracoronary Prourokinase Thrombolysis on Myocardial Perfusion and Vascular Endothelial Function in STEMI.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the effects of intracoronary prourokinase thrombolysis combined with emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on myocardial perfusion and vascular endothelial function in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: A total of 104 patients with STEMI were collected from August 2020 to August 2022, and were divided into control group and observation group in a random manner. The control group received PCI directly, and the observation group received intracoronary prourokinase thrombolytic therapy before PCI. The treatment effects were evaluated by measuring the cardiac function indexes, including left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), the TIMI myocardial perfusion grade, the vascular endothelial indexes, including soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), the von Willebrand factor (vWF), the myocardial injury indexes, including cardiac troponin I (cTnI), creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CK-MB), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and the inflammatory factors, including myeloperoxidase (MPO), C-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Furthermore, the treatment safety was assessed by recording the incidence of major MACE events, 6 months after the operation. RESULTS: After treatment, LVEDD and LVESD were lower in the observation group than in the control group, and LVEF was higher (p < 0.05). The TIMI myocardial perfusion grade in the observation group was higher than in the control group, after treatment (p < 0.05). The levels of sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, and vWF were higher in the observation group than in the control group (p < 0.05). The levels of cTnI, CK-MB, and LDH in the observation group were lower than those in the control group, 24 hours after surgery. At 3 days after surgery, MPO was lower in the observation group than in the control group, and CRP and IL-6 were higher (p < 0.05). The incidence of major MACE events in the observation group was lower than that in the control group, 6 months after surgery (p < 0.05). There was 1 case of puncture site bleeding in the observation group, 1 case of puncture site bleeding and 1 case of subcutaneous ecchymosis in the control group, but no serious bleeding events, such as internal bleeding or cerebral hemorrhage, in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Intracoronary prourokinase thrombolytic therapy combined with emergency PCI can promote the recovery of cardiac function, improve myocardial perfusion and vascular endothelial function, and reduce inflammation and the incidence of major postoperative MACE events in acute STEMI patients.

Temporal trends and prognostic impact of reperfusion modalities in Tunisian patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction: A 20-year analysis.

INTRODUCTION: With the advent of reperfusion therapies, management of patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has witnessed significant changes during the last decades. AIM: We sought to analyze temporal trends in reperfusion modalities and their prognostic impact over a 20-year period in patients presenting with STEMI the Monastir region (Tunisia). METHODS: Patients from Monastir region presenting for STEMI were included in a 20-year (1998-2017) single center registry. Reperfusion modalities, early and long-term outcomes were studied according to five four-year periods. RESULTS: Out of 1734 patients with STEMI, 1370 (79%) were male and mean age was 60.3 ± 12.7 years. From 1998 to 2017, primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) use significantly increased from 12.5% to 48.3% while fibrinolysis use significantly decreased from 47.6% to 31.7% (p<0.001 for both). Reperfusion delays for either fibrinolysis or primary PCI significantly decreased during the study period. In-hospital mortality significantly decreased from 13.7% during Period 1 (1998-2001) to 5.4% during Period 5 (2014-2017), (p=0.03). Long-term mortality rate (mean follow-up 49.4 ± 30.7 months) significantly decreased from 25.3% to 13% (p<0.001). In multivariate analysis, age, female gender, anemia on-presentation, akinesia/dyskinesia of the infarcted area and use of plain old balloon angioplasty were independent predictors of death at long-term follow-up whereas primary PCI use and preinfaction angina were predictors of long-term survival. CONCLUSIONS: In this long-term follow-up study of Tunisian patients presenting for STEMI, reperfusion delays decreased concomitantly to an increase in primary PCI use. In-hospital and long-term mortality rates significantly decreased from 1998 to 2017.

Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on acute coronary syndrome patients admitted to an urban academic hospital in Soweto, South Africa.

Introduction: recent worldwide data has shown a concerning decline in the number of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) related admissions and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We suspected a similar trend at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital (CHBAH). Methods: a retrospective descriptive study was conducted to evaluate and compare all ACS-related admissions to the cardiac care unit (CCU) at CHBAH in the pre-COVID-19 (November 2019 to March 2020) and during COVID-19 periods (April 2020 to August 2020). Results: the study comprised 182 patients with a mean age of 57.9 ±10.9 years (22.5% females). Of these, 108 (59.32%) patients were admitted in the pre-COVID-19 period and 74 (40.66%) during COVID-19 (p=0.0109). During the pre-COVID-19 period, 42.9% of patients had ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), 39.2% with non-ST-segment -elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and unstable angina (UA) was noted in 18.52%. In contrast, STEMI was noted in 50%, NSTEMI in 43.24% and UA in 6.76% of patients during the COVID-19 period. A statistically significant difference in STEMI and NSTEMI-related admissions was not noted, however, there was a greater number of admissions for UA during the pre-COVID-19 period (18.52% vs 6.76%, P =0.013). Only a third of the patients with STEMI received thrombolysis during the pre-and COVID-19 periods (30.4% vs 37.8%, P=0.47). No difference in the number of PCI procedures was noted between the pre-and during the COVID-19 periods (78.7% vs 72.9%, P=0.37). Conclusion: there was a difference in overall ACS admissions to the CCU between pre-and during COVID-19 periods, however no difference between STEMI and NSTEMI in both periods. A higher number of UA admissions was noted during the pre-COVID-19 period. During both periods, the use of thrombolysis was low for STEMI and no difference in PCI was noted.

Excessive accumulation of epicardial adipose tissue promotes microvascular obstruction formation after myocardial ischemia/reperfusion through modulating macrophages polarization.

BACKGROUND: Owing to its unique location and multifaceted metabolic functions, epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is gradually emerging as a new metabolic target for coronary artery disease risk stratification. Microvascular obstruction (MVO) has been recognized as an independent risk factor for unfavorable prognosis in acute myocardial infarction patients. However, the concrete role of EAT in the pathogenesis of MVO formation in individuals with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains unclear. The objective of the study is to evaluate the correlation between EAT accumulation and MVO formation measured by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in STEMI patients and clarify the underlying mechanisms involved in this relationship. METHODS: Firstly, we utilized CMR technique to explore the association of EAT distribution and quantity with MVO formation in patients with STEMI. Then we utilized a mouse model with EAT depletion to explore how EAT affected MVO formation under the circumstances of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. We further investigated the immunomodulatory effect of EAT on macrophages through co-culture experiments. Finally, we searched for new therapeutic strategies targeting EAT to prevent MVO formation. RESULTS: The increase of left atrioventricular EAT mass index was independently associated with MVO formation. We also found that increased circulating levels of DPP4 and high DPP4 activity seemed to be associated with EAT increase. EAT accumulation acted as a pro-inflammatory mediator boosting the transition of macrophages towards inflammatory phenotype in myocardial I/R injury through secreting inflammatory EVs. Furthermore, our study declared the potential therapeutic effects of GLP-1 receptor agonist and GLP-1/GLP-2 receptor dual agonist for MVO prevention were at least partially ascribed to its impact on EAT modulation. CONCLUSIONS: Our work for the first time demonstrated that excessive accumulation of EAT promoted MVO formation by promoting the polarization state of cardiac macrophages towards an inflammatory phenotype. Furthermore, this study identified a very promising therapeutic strategy, GLP-1/GLP-2 receptor dual agonist, targeting EAT for MVO prevention following myocardial I/R injury.

Prognostic Value of Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction Assessed by Coronary Angiography-Derived Index of Microcirculatory Resistance in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: CaIMR is proposed as a novel angiographic index designed to assess microcirculation without the need for pressure wires or hyperemic agents. We aimed to investigate the impact of caIMR on predicting clinical outcomes in STEMI patients. METHODS: One hundred and forty patients with STEMI who received PCI in Putuo Hospital of Shanghai from October 2021 to September 2022 were categorized into CMD and non-CMD groups according to the caIMR value. The baseline information, patient-related examinations, and the occurrence of MACE at the 12-month follow-up were collected to investigate risk factors in patients with STEMI. RESULTS: We divided 140 patients with STEMI enrolled into two groups according to caIMR results, including 61 patients diagnosed with CMD and 79 patients diagnosed with non-CMD. A total of 21 MACE occurred during the 1 year of follow-up. Compared with non-CMD group, patients with CMD showed a significantly higher risk of MACE. A multivariate Cox regression model was conducted for the patients, and it was found thatcaIMR was a significant predictor of prognosis in STEMI patients (HR: 8.921). Patients with CMD were divided into culprit vascular CMD and non-culprit vascular CMD, and the result found that culprit vascular CMD was associated with the incidence of MACE (OR: 4.75) and heart failure (OR: 7.50). CONCLUSION: CaIMR is a strong predictor of clinical outcomes and can provide an objective risk stratification for patients with STEMI. There is a strong correlation among leukocyte index, the use of furosemide, Killips classification, and clinical outcomes.

AI-enabled ECG index for predicting left ventricular dysfunction in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Electrocardiogram (ECG) changes after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients are associated with prognosis. This study investigated the feasibility of predicting left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in STEMI patients using an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled ECG algorithm developed to diagnose STEMI. Serial ECGs from 637 STEMI patients were analyzed with the AI algorithm, which quantified the probability of STEMI at various time points. The time points included pre-PCI, immediately post-PCI, 6 h post-PCI, 24 h post-PCI, at discharge, and one-month post-PCI. The prevalence of LV dysfunction was significantly associated with the AI-derived probability index. A high probability index was an independent predictor of LV dysfunction, with higher cardiac death and heart failure hospitalization rates observed in patients with higher indices. The study demonstrates that the AI-enabled ECG index effectively quantifies ECG changes post-PCI and serves as a digital biomarker capable of predicting post-STEMI LV dysfunction, heart failure, and mortality. These findings suggest that AI-enabled ECG analysis can be a valuable tool in the early identification of high-risk patients, enabling timely and targeted interventions to improve clinical outcomes in STEMI patients.

Prevalence and prognostic implications of the no-reflux phenomenon in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention at a university center in a middle-income country.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the prevalence of no-reflow and the 30-day mortality in a university center in a middle-income country. METHOD: We analyzed 2463 patients who underwent primary PCI from January 2006 to December 2021. The outcome measure was 30-day mortality. RESULTS: Of a total of 2463 patients, no-reflow phenomenon was found in 413 (16.8%) patients, 30-day mortality was 16.7 vs. 4.29% (p < 0.001). Patients with no-reflow were older 60 (53-69.5) vs. 59 (51-66) (p = 0.001), with a higher delay in onset of symptom to emergency department arrival 270 vs. 247 min (p = 0.001). No-reflow patients also had had fewer previous myocardial infarction, 11.6 vs. 18.4 (p = 0.001) and a Killip class > 1, 37 vs. 26% (p < 0.001). No-reflow patients were more likely to have an anterior myocardial infarction (55.4 vs. 47.8%; p = 0.005) and initial TIMI flow 0 (76 vs. 68%; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: No-reflow occurred in 16.8% of STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI and was more likely with older age, delayed presentation, anterior myocardial infarction and Killip class > 1. No-reflow was associated with a higher mortality at 30-day follow-up.

OBJETIVOS: Analizar la prevalencia de no reflujo y la mortalidad a 30 días en un centro universitario de un país de ingresos medios. MÉTODO: Analizamos 2,463 pacientes que se sometieron a ICP primaria desde enero de 2006 hasta diciembre de 2021. La medida de resultado fue la mortalidad a los 30 días. RESULTADOS: Del total de 2,463 pacientes, se encontró fenómeno de no reflujo en 413 (16.8%), la mortalidad a los 30 días fue del 16.7 vs. 4.29% (p < 0.001). Los pacientes sin reflujo tenían mayor edad 60 (53-69.5) vs. 59 (51-66) (p = 0.001), con mayor retraso del inicio de los síntomas a la llegada a urgencias, 270 vs. 247 min (p = 0.001). Los pacientes sin reflujo también tenían menos infarto de miocardio previo, 11.6 vs. 18.4 (p = 0.001), y una clase Killip > 1, 37 vs. 26% (p < 0.001). Los pacientes sin reflujo tenían más probabilidades de tener un infarto de miocardio anterior (55.4 vs. 47.8%; p = 0.005) y flujo TIMI inicial 0 (76 vs. 68%; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIÓN: Ocurrió ausencia de reflujo en el 16.8% de los pacientes con IAMCEST sometidos a ICP primaria y fue más probable con la edad avanzada, presentación tardía, infarto de miocardio anterior y clase Killip > 1. El no reflujo se asoció con una mayor mortalidad a los 30 días de seguimiento.

Deceptive Anteroseptal ST-segment Elevation and Brugada Pattern Caused by Isolated Conus Artery Occlusion. / Elevação Enganosa do Segmento ST Ântero-Septal e Padrão de Brugada Causado por Oclusão Isolada da Artéria do Cone.

The conus artery (CA) supplies the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT). ST-segment elevation in leads V1-3, which can resemble Brugada electrocardiogram (EKG) patterns, has been reported due to occlusion of the CA. A 68-year-old male was admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction. A coronary angiogram revealed a dissection in the conus artery, most likely caused by the catheter. Due to the small caliber of the CA, medical therapy was chosen as the course of action. However, after the procedure, an EKG showed changes consistent with features of both type-1 and type-2 Brugada patterns, with ST-segment elevations in leads V1-4. Subsequent coronary imaging revealed that the CA had progressed to total occlusion. Despite multiple attempts to gain reentry into the true lumen, they were unsuccessful. Based on the risk-benefit ratio, the decision was made to continue with medical therapy. This is the first reported case of CA occlusion induced by catheter dissection, which manifested as anteroseptal ST-segment elevation. The patient did not report any anginal symptoms or arrhythmic events, which contrasts with conventional knowledge. Not all CA obstructions or RVOT infarcts cause Brugada-like patterns. When they do, ST elevations tend to be less than those in true Brugada syndrome.

A artéria do cone (AC) irriga a via de saída do ventrículo direito (VSVD). A elevação do segmento ST nas derivações V1-3, que pode assemelhar-se aos padrões de eletrocardiograma (ECG) de Brugada, foi relatada devido à oclusão da AC. Um paciente do sexo masculino, 68 anos de idade, foi internado no hospital com diagnóstico de infarto do miocárdio sem supradesnivelamento do segmento ST. Uma angiografia coronária revelou uma dissecção na AC, provavelmente causada pelo cateter. Devido ao pequeno calibre da AC, a terapia medicamentosa foi escolhida como curso de ação. No entanto, após o procedimento, um ECG mostrou alterações consistentes com características dos padrões de Brugada tipo 1 e tipo 2, com elevações do segmento ST nas derivações V1-4. A imagem coronariana subsequente revelou que a AC havia progredido para oclusão total. Apesar das diversas tentativas de obter a reentrada no lúmen verdadeiro, não houve êxito. Com base na relação risco-benefício, foi tomada a decisão de continuar com a terapia medicamentosa. Este é o primeiro caso relatado de oclusão da AC induzida por dissecção por cateter, que se manifesta como elevação ântero-septal do segmento ST. O paciente não relatou sintomas anginosos ou eventos arrítmicos, o que contrasta com o conhecimento convencional. Nem todas as obstruções da AC ou infartos da VSVD causam padrões semelhantes aos de Brugada. Quando isso ocorre, as elevações de ST tendem a ser menores do que as da verdadeira síndrome de Brugada.

Aortic Aneurysm Mimicking Inferior ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Case Report.

Here, we report a rare case of a 22-year-old female presenting with recurrent chest pain mimicking inferior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) but ultimately attributed to an aortic aneurysm. Despite facing initial challenges in diagnosis, such as normal troponin levels and temporary electrocardiogram (ECG) changes, advanced imaging showed a large mass in the chest pressing on the right coronary artery. Prompt multidisciplinary intervention, including surgical resection of the aneurysm, led to successful management and improved outcomes. This case highlights the importance of considering unusual etiologies in atypical presentations of myocardial infarction, necessitating comprehensive evaluation and collaboration among various specialties for optimal patient care.

Exploratory analysis of predictors of ventricular aneurysm in a cohort of 291 patients with acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we explored the determinants of ventricular aneurysm development following acute myocardial infarction (AMI), thereby prompting timely interventions to enhance patient prognosis. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort analysis, we evaluated 297 AMI patients admitted to the First People's Hospital of Changzhou. The study was structured as follows. Comprehensive baseline data collection included hematological evaluations, ECG, echocardiography, and coronary angiography upon admission. Within 3 months post-AMI, cardiac ultrasounds were administered to detect ventricular aneurysm development. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were employed to pinpoint the determinants of ventricular aneurysm formation. Subsequently, a predictive model was formulated for ventricular aneurysm post-AMI. Moreover, the diagnostic efficacy of this model was appraised using the ROC curves. RESULTS: In our analysis of 291 AMI patients, spanning an age range of 32-91 years, 247 were male (84.9%). At the conclusion of a 3-month observational period, the cohort bifurcated into two subsets: 278 patients without ventricular aneurysm and 13 with evident ventricular aneurysm. Distinguishing features of the ventricular aneurysm subgroup were markedly higher values for age, B-type natriuretic peptide(BNP), Left atrium(LA), Left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LEVDD), left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVEWD), E-wave velocity (E), Left atrial volume (LAV), E/A ratio (E/A), E/e ratio (E/e), ECG with elevated adjacent four leads(4 ST-Elevation), and anterior wall myocardial infarction(AWMI) compared to their counterparts (p < 0.05). Among the singular predictive factors, total cholesterol (TC) emerged as the most significant predictor for ventricular aneurysm development, exhibiting an AUC of 0.704. However, upon crafting a multifactorial model that incorporated gender, TC, an elevated ST-segment in adjacent four leads, and anterior wall infarction, its diagnostic capability: notably surpassed that of the standalone TC, yielding an AUC of 0.883 (z = -9.405, p = 0.000) as opposed to 0.704. Multivariate predictive model included gender, total cholesterol, ST elevation in 4 adjacent leads, anterior myocardial infarction, the multivariate predictive model showed better diagnostic efficacy than single factor index TC (AUC: 0. 883 vs. 0.704,z =-9.405, p = 0.000), it also improved predictive power for correctly reclassifying ventricular aneurysm occurrence in patients with AMI, NRI = 28.42% (95% CI: 6.29-50.55%; p = 0.012). Decision curve analysis showed that the use of combination model had a positive net benefit. CONCLUSION: Lipid combined with ECG model after myocardial infarction could be used to predict the formation of ventricular aneurysm and aimed to optimize and adjust treatment strategies.

The feasibility of delivering cardiac brief intervention to patients following ST-elevation myocardial infarction: Protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Patients experience emotional distress and hold cardiac misconceptions following ST-elevation myocardial infarction. These issues informed the co-production of Cardiac Brief Intervention with patients and clinicians. The current study will establish a knowledge base for the feasibility of delivering this intervention to patients following ST-elevation myocardial infarction, with a preliminary exploration of impact on associated outcomes (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05848674). METHODS: A pilot randomised controlled trial incorporating a mixed-methods design will be conducted. Patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (number = 40) will be recruited from coronary care units at two hospital centres in Northern Ireland, with participants randomised (1:1) to the intervention or control group. Cardiac Brief Intervention constitutes a nurse-led, short (20 minutes) emotional and educational support discussion with a patient, with a leaflet that serves as a memory-aid. It will be delivered to the intervention group prior to discharge from a coronary care unit. The control group will receive standard care information. Data will be collected at baseline, post-intervention, 4 weeks from diagnosis, and 14 weeks from diagnosis. Feasibility measurements and process evaluation (quantitative and qualitative) will assess the viability of the research design and intervention delivery. Cardiac rehabilitation attendance data will be collected, and participants will complete questionnaires related to associated outcomes. Quantitative data will be reported with descriptive statistics and qualitative data will be analysed using framework analysis, with data integrated to achieve triangulation of findings. DISCUSSION: Educational and emotional difficulties following ST-elevation myocardial infarction may impede patient outcomes and cardiac rehabilitation participation. These issues informed the co-production of Cardiac Brief Intervention with patients and clinicians. This study will evaluate the feasibility of delivering Cardiac Brief Intervention to patients. These results will inform large-scale definitive testing of the intervention, which may lead to adoption in clinical practice to improve cardiac rehabilitation uptake and patient outcomes.

Culprit-Only Revascularization, Single-Setting Complete Revascularization, and Staged Complete Revascularization in Acute Myocardial Infarction: Insights From a Mixed Treatment Comparison Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials.

BACKGROUND: Complete revascularization improves cardiovascular outcomes compared with culprit-only revascularization in patients with acute myocardial infarction ([MI]; ST-segment-elevation MI or non-ST-segment-elevation MI) and multivessel coronary artery disease. However, the timing of complete revascularization (single-setting versus staged revascularization) is uncertain. The aim was to compare the outcomes of single-setting complete, staged complete, and culprit vessel-only revascularization in patients with acute MI and multivessel disease. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, and clinicaltrials.gov databases were searched for randomized controlled trials that compared 3 revascularization strategies. RESULTS: From 16 randomized controlled trials that randomized 11 876 patients with acute MI and multivessel disease, both single-setting complete and staged complete revascularization reduced primary outcome (cardiovascular mortality/MI; odds ratio [OR], 0.52 [95% CI, 0.41-0.65]; OR, 0.74 [95% CI, 0.62-0.88]), composite of all-cause mortality/MI (OR, 0.52 [95% CI, 0.40-0.67]; OR, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.67-0.91]), major adverse cardiovascular event (OR, 0.42 [95% CI, 0.32-0.56]; OR, 0.62 [95% CI, 0.47-0.82]), MI (OR, 0.39 [95% CI, 0.26-0.57]; OR, 0.73 [95% CI, 0.59-0.90]), and repeat revascularization (OR, 0.30 [95% CI, 0.18-0.47]; OR, 0.46 [95% CI, 0.30-0.71]) compared with culprit-only revascularization. Single-setting complete revascularization reduced cardiovascular mortality/MI (OR, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.55-0.91]), major adverse cardiovascular event (OR, 0.67 [95% CI, 0.50-0.91]), and all-cause mortality/MI driven by a lower risk of MI (OR, 0.53 [95% CI, 0.36-0.77]) compared with staged complete revascularization. Single-setting complete revascularization ranked number 1, followed by staged complete revascularization (number 2) and culprit-only revascularization (number 3) for all outcomes. The results were largely consistent in subgroup analysis comparing ST-segment-elevation MI versus non-ST-segment-elevation MI cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Single-setting complete revascularization may offer the greatest reductions in cardiovascular events in patients with acute MI and multivessel disease. A large-scale randomized trial of single-setting complete versus staged complete revascularization is warranted to evaluate the optimal timing of complete revascularization.

Immediate versus staged complete revascularisation in patients presenting with STEMI and multivessel disease.

BACKGROUND: Complete revascularisation is supported by recent trials in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and multivessel disease (MVD) without cardiogenic shock. However, the optimal timing of non-culprit lesion revascularisation is currently debated. AIMS: This prespecified analysis of the BioVasc trial aims to determine the effect of immediate complete revascularisation (ICR) compared to staged complete revascularisation (SCR) on clinical outcomes in patients with STEMI. METHODS: Patients presenting with STEMI and MVD were randomly assigned to ICR or SCR. The primary endpoint was the composite of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, any unplanned ischaemia-driven revascularisation, or cerebrovascular events at 1-year post-index procedure. RESULTS: Between June 2018 and October 2021, 608 (ICR: 305, SCR: 303) STEMI patients were enrolled. No significant differences between ICR and SCR were observed at 1-year follow-up in terms of the primary endpoint (7.0% vs 8.3%, hazard ratio [HR] 0.84, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.47-1.50; p=0.55): all-cause mortality (2.3% vs 1.3%, HR 1.77, 95% CI: 0.52-6.04; p=0.36), myocardial infarction (1.7% vs 3.3%, HR 0.50, 95% CI: 0.17-1.47; p=0.21), unplanned ischaemia-driven revascularisation (4.1% vs 5.0%, HR 0.80, 95% CI: 0.38-1.71; p=0.57) and cerebrovascular events (1.4% vs 1.3%, HR 1.01, 95% CI: 0.25-4.03; p=0.99). At 30-day follow-up, a trend towards a reduction of the primary endpoint in the ICR group was observed (ICR: 3.0% vs SCR: 6.0%, HR 0.50, 95% CI: 0.22-1.11; p=0.09). ICR was associated with a reduction in overall hospital stay (ICR: median 3 [interquartile range {IQR} 2-5] days vs SCR: median 4 [IQR 3-6] days; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical outcomes at 1 year were similar for STEMI patients who had undergone ICR and those who had undergone SCR.

[Predictive value of global longitudinal strain measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging for left ventricular remodeling after acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: a multi-centered prospective study].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictive value of global longitudinal strain (GLS) measured by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) feature-tracking technique for left ventricular remodeling (LVR) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: A total of 403 patients undergoing PCI for acute STEMI were prospectively recruited from multiple centers in China.CMR examinations were performed one week (7±2 days) and 6 months after myocardial infarction to obtain GLS, global radial strain (GRS), global circumferential strain (GCS), ejection fraction (LVEF) and infarct size (IS).The primary endpoint was LVR, defined as an increase of left ventricle end-diastolic volume by ≥20% or an increase of left ventricle end-systolic volume by ≥15% from the baseline determined by CMR at 6 months.Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the predictive value of CMR parameters for LVR. RESULTS: LVR occurred in 101 of the patients at 6 months after myocardial infarction.Compared with those without LVR (n=302), the patients in LVR group exhibited significantly higher GLS and GCS (P < 0.001) and lower GRS and LVEF (P < 0.001).Logistic regression analysis indicated that both GLS (OR=1.387, 95%CI: 1.223-1.573;P < 0.001) and LVEF (OR=0.951, 95%CI: 0.914-0.990;P=0.015) were independent predictors of LVR.ROC curve analysis showed that at the optimal cutoff value of-10.6%, GLS had a sensitivity of 74.3% and a specificity of 71.9% for predicting LVR.The AUC of GLS was similar to that of LVEF for predicting LVR (P=0.146), but was significantly greater than those of other parameters such as GCS, GRS and IS (P < 0.05);the AUC of LVEF did not differ significantly from those of the other parameters (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: In patients receiving PCI for STEMI, GLS measured by CMR is a significant predictor of LVR occurrence with better performance than GRS, GCS, IS and LVEF.

Prognostic significance of refractory thrombus in STEMI patients and the role of red cell distribution width: A case-control study.

The high thrombus burden of the infarct-related artery (IRA) is associated with the adverse prognosis in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. Our objectives were to investigate the predictors and evaluate the prognosis of refractory thrombus in STEMI patients. A total of 1305 consecutive patients with STEMI who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) were screened. The refractory thrombus group (n = 15) was defined as IRA thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow < grade 2 after multiple thrombus aspiration (TA). The control group (n = 45) was age- and sex-matched and was selected from the same batch of patients. Baseline hematologic indices were measured before the pPCI. The major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were recorded during follow-up. The refractory thrombus group had significantly higher red cell distribution width (RDW) at baseline compared with the control group (13.1 [12.4-13.7] vs 12.6 [12.3-12.8], P = .008). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, RDW was an independent predictor of refractory thrombus (odds ratio: 8.799, 95% CI: 1.240-62.454, P = .030). The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of the RDW was 0.730 (95%CI: 0.548-0.912, P = .008). During a mean period of 26 months follow-up, patients in the refractory thrombus group tended to have higher percent MACEs compared with patients in the control group (53.3% vs 6.7%, P < .001). In the present study, we found that the refractory thrombus in STEMI patients was associated with the worse prognosis and the increased RDW might be a potential independent predictor.

Association of random glucose to albumin ratio with post-contrast acute kidney injury and clinical outcomes in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Purpose: Both glucose and albumin are associated with chronic inflammation, which plays a vital role in post-contrast acute kidney injury (PC-AKI). To explore the relationship between random glucose to albumin ratio (RAR) and the incidence of PC-AKI after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Patients and methods: STEMI patients who underwent PCI were consecutively enrolled from January, 01, 2010 to February, 28, 2020. All patients were categorized into T1, T2, and T3 groups, respectively, based on RAR value (RAR < 3.377; 3.377 ≤ RAR ≤ 4.579; RAR > 4.579). The primary outcome was the incidence of PC-AKI, and the incidence of major adverse clinical events (MACE) was the second endpoint. The association between RAR and PC-AKI was assessed by multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 2,924 patients with STEMI undergoing PCI were finally included. The incidence of PC-AKI increased with the increasing tertile of RAR (3.2% vs 4.8% vs 10.6%, P<0.001). Multivariable regression analysis demonstrated that RAR (as a continuous variable) was associated with the incidence of PC-AKI (adjusted odds ratio (OR) =1.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) =1.04 - 1.16, P<0.001) and in-hospital MACE (OR=1.07, 95% CI=1.02 - 1.14, P=0.012); RAR, as a categorical variable, was significantly associated with PC-AKI (T3 vs. T1, OR=1.70, 95% CI=1.08 - 2.67, P=0.021) and in-hospital MACE (T3 vs. T1, OR=1.63, 95% CI=1.02 - 2.60, P=0.041) in multivariable regression analyses. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that RAR exhibited a predictive value for PC-AKI (area under the curve (AUC)=0.666, 95% CI=0.625 - 0.708), and in-hospital MACE (AUC= 0.662, 95% CI =0.619 - 0.706). Conclusions: The high value of RAR was significantly associated with the increasing risk of PC-AKI and in-hospital MACE after PCI in STEMI patients, and RAR offers a good predictive value for those outcomes.