Clinical Significance of Platelet Volume and Other Platelet Parameters in Acute Myocardial Infarction and Stable Coronary Artery Disease / Significado Clínico do Volume Plaquetário e Outros Parâmetros Plaquetários no Infarto Agudo do Miocárdio e Doença Arterial Coronariana Estável

Abstract Background: Platelets are important in the initiation of thrombosis, and their morphological and functional changes are closely related with the occurrence and development of coronary artery thrombosis. Platelet parameters might be valuable in distinguishing between acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stable coronary artery disease (SCAD). Objective: This study was designed to detect and compare changes in platelet parameters, such as mean platelet volume (MPV) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) and to investigate their roles in these diseases. Methods: Specimen collection: Between January 2011 and December 2013, 2 mL of elbow vein blood was drawn from each of 31 patients primarily diagnosed with AMI, 34 SCAD patients and 50 healthy subjects; and placed in EDTA-K2 anticoagulant tubes. Platelet count (PLT), MPV, plateletcrit (PCT), platelet distribution width (PDW), white blood cell (WBC) and neutrophil (NEU) counts were determined using an STKS automated hematology analyzer (Beckman Courter). Results: Compared with the control group, MPV levels were significantly higher in the AMI and SCAD groups (p < 0.05), while PLT was significantly lower (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that MPV and other related parameters have a certain value in the diagnosis of SCAD and AMI.

Resumo Fundamento: As plaquetas são importantes no início da trombose e suas alterações morfológicas e funcionais estão intimamente relacionadas com a ocorrência e o desenvolvimento de trombose da artéria coronária. Os parâmetros plaquetários podem ser valiosos na distinção entre infarto agudo do miocárdio (IAM) e doença arterial coronariana estável (DACE). Objetivo: O objetivo desse estudo foi detectar e comparar alterações nos parâmetros plaquetários, como o volume plaquetário médio (VPM) em pacientes com infarto agudo do miocárdio (IAM) e doença arterial coronariana estável (DACE) e investigar seu papel nessas doenças. Métodos: Coleta de amostras: Entre janeiro de 2011 e dezembro de 2013, foram retirados 2 mL de sangue da veia do antebraço de cada um dos 31 pacientes diagnosticados principalmente com IAM, 34 pacientes com DACE e 50 indivíduos saudáveis; e colocado em tubos com anticoagulante EDTA-K2. As contagens de plaquetas (PQT), VPM, massa total de plaquetas (MTP), Amplitude de Distribuição de Plaquetas (PDW, do inglês platelet distribution width), contagem de glóbulos brancos (WBC, do inglês white blood cells) e neutrófilos (NEU) foram determinadas utilizando-se um analisador de hematologia automatizado STKS (Beckman Courter). Resultados: Comparado com o grupo controle, os níveis de VPM foram significativamente maiores nos grupos IAM e DACE (p < 0,05), enquanto os níveis de PQT foram significativamente menores (p < 0,05). Conclusão: Esses resultados sugerem que o VPM e outros parâmetros associados têm um certo valor no diagnóstico de DACE e IAM.

Clinical Significance of Platelet Volume and Other Platelet Parameters in Acute Myocardial Infarction and Stable Coronary Artery Disease.

BACKGROUND: Platelets are important in the initiation of thrombosis, and their morphological and functional changes are closely related with the occurrence and development of coronary artery thrombosis. Platelet parameters might be valuable in distinguishing between acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stable coronary artery disease (SCAD). OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to detect and compare changes in platelet parameters, such as mean platelet volume (MPV) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) and to investigate their roles in these diseases. METHODS: Specimen collection: Between January 2011 and December 2013, 2 mL of elbow vein blood was drawn from each of 31 patients primarily diagnosed with AMI, 34 SCAD patients and 50 healthy subjects; and placed in EDTA-K2 anticoagulant tubes. Platelet count (PLT), MPV, plateletcrit (PCT), platelet distribution width (PDW), white blood cell (WBC) and neutrophil (NEU) counts were determined using an STKS automated hematology analyzer (Beckman Courter). RESULTS: Compared with the control group, MPV levels were significantly higher in the AMI and SCAD groups (p < 0.05), while PLT was significantly lower (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that MPV and other related parameters have a certain value in the diagnosis of SCAD and AMI.

Early Assessment of Right Ventricular Function in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients using Strain and Strain Rate Imaging / Avaliação Precoce da Função Ventricular Direita em Pacientes com Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico pelo Strain e Strain Rate

Abstract Background: Right ventricular function is a crucial factor of the prognosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Objectives: To evaluate the right ventricular function in SLE patients with different degrees of pulmonary hypertension (PH) by strain and strain rate imaging. Methods: A total of 102 SLE patients and 30 healthy volunteers were studied between October 2015 and May 2016. Patients were divided into three groups according to pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) estimated by echocardiography: group control (A); PASP ≤ 30 mmHg (group B, n = 37); PASP 30-50 mmHg (mild PH; group C, n = 34); and PASP ≥ 50 mmHg (moderate-to-severe PH; group D, n = 31). Longitudinal peak systolic strain (ε) and strain rate (SR), including systolic strain rate (SRs), early diastolic strain rate (SRe) and late diastolic strain rate (SRa) were measured in the basal, middle and apical segments of the right ventricular free wall in participants by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) from the apical four-chamber view. A p < 0.05 was set for statistical significance. Results: The parameters of ε, SRs, SRe, and SRa were significantly decreased in groups C and D compared with groups A and B. The ε of each segments was significantly lower in group D than in group C, while there were no differences in SRs, SRe and SRa between groups C and D. Conclusions: Strain and strain rate imaging could early detect the right ventricular dysfunction in SLE patients with PH, and provide important value for clinical therapy and prognosis of these patients. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2018; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0)

Resumo Fundamento: A função ventricular direita é fator crucial do prognóstico do lúpus eritematoso sistêmico (LES). Objetivos: Avaliar a função ventricular direita em pacientes com LES e diferentes graus de hipertensão pulmonar (HP) por avaliação do strain e do strain rate. Métodos: Um total de 102 pacientes com LES e 30 voluntários sadios foram estudados entre outubro de 2015 e maio de 2016. Os pacientes foram divididos em três grupos de acordo com a pressão sistólica da artéria pulmonar (PSAP) estimada por ecocardiografia: grupo controle (A); PSAP ≤ 30 mmHg (grupo B, n = 37); PSAP 30-50 mmHg (HP leve; grupo C, n = 34); e PSAP ≥ 50 mmHg (HP moderada a grave; grupo D, n = 31). Foram medidos, nos segmentos basal, medial e apical da parede livre do ventrículo direito, o pico sistólico longitudinal (ε) e o strain rate (SR), incluindo o SR sistólico (SRs), o SR diastólico precoce (SRp) e o SR diastólico tardio (SRt) pela técnica de ecocardiografia bidimensional com rastreamento de "pontos" (two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography, 2D-STE) pela visualização apical de quatro câmaras. Um p < 0,05 foi adotado como estatisticamente significativo. Resultados: Os parâmetros ε, SRs, SRp e SRt foram significativamente menores nos grupos C e D em comparação aos grupos A e B. O ε de cada segmento foi significativamente menor no grupo D que no grupo C, ao passo que não houve diferença no SRs, SRp ou SRt entre os grupos C e D. Conclusões: O strain e o SR obtidos por 2D-STE puderam detectar precocemente disfunção ventricular direita em pacientes com LES e HP, contribuindo para o tratamento clínico e prognóstico desses pacientes. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2018; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0)

Early Assessment of Right Ventricular Function in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients using Strain and Strain Rate Imaging.

BACKGROUND: Right ventricular function is a crucial factor of the prognosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the right ventricular function in SLE patients with different degrees of pulmonary hypertension (PH) by strain and strain rate imaging. METHODS: A total of 102 SLE patients and 30 healthy volunteers were studied between October 2015 and May 2016. Patients were divided into three groups according to pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) estimated by echocardiography: group control (A); PASP ≤ 30 mmHg (group B, n = 37); PASP 30-50 mmHg (mild PH; group C, n = 34); and PASP ≥ 50 mmHg (moderate-to-severe PH; group D, n = 31). Longitudinal peak systolic strain (ε) and strain rate (SR), including systolic strain rate (SRs), early diastolic strain rate (SRe) and late diastolic strain rate (SRa) were measured in the basal, middle and apical segments of the right ventricular free wall in participants by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) from the apical four-chamber view. A p < 0.05 was set for statistical significance. RESULTS: The parameters of ε, SRs, SRe, and SRa were significantly decreased in groups C and D compared with groups A and B. The ε of each segments was significantly lower in group D than in group C, while there were no differences in SRs, SRe and SRa between groups C and D. CONCLUSIONS: Strain and strain rate imaging could early detect the right ventricular dysfunction in SLE patients with PH, and provide important value for clinical therapy and prognosis of these patients. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2018; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0).