Sun exposure influences the prognostic power of components of mineral metabolism in patients with coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Calcidiol (vitamin D metabolite) plasma levels vary with sun exposure (SE). However, it is not known if SE influences its prognostic ability. We have studied the effect of SE on plasma levels of the components of mineral metabolism (calcidiol, fibroblast growth factor-23 [FGF-23], parathormone [PTH], and phosphate [P]) and on their prognostic value in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied prospectively 704 patients with stable CAD. Clinical variables and baseline calcidiol, FGF-23, PTH, and P plasma levels were assessed. We divided the population in two subgroups, according to the period of plasma extraction: High SE (HSE) (April-September) and low SE (LSE) (October-March). The outcome was the development of acute ischemic events (acute coronary syndrome, stroke, or transient ischemic attack), heart failure, or death. Mean follow-up was 2.15 ± 0.99 years. Calcidiol and P levels were higher in HSE group. In the whole population, calcidiol (HR = 0.84 for each 5 ng/ml increase, 95% CI = 0.71-0.99; p = 0.038) and FGF-23 (HR = 1.14 for each 100 RU/ml increase, 95% CI = 1.05-1.23; p = 0.009) were predictors of the outcome, along with age, hypertension, body-mass index, peripheral artery disease, and P levels. In the LSE subgroup, calcidiol (HR = 0.75; 95% CI = 0.57-0.99; p = 0.034) and FGF-23 (HR = 1.34; 95% CI = 1.13-1.58; p = 0.003) remained as predictors of the outcome. In the HSE group calcidiol and FGF-23 had not independent prognostic value. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with stable CAD, low calcidiol and high FGF-23 plasma levels predict an adverse prognosis only when the sample is obtained during the months with LSE. SE should be taken into account in the clinical practice.

Occult vascular lesions in patients with atherothrombotic events: the AIRVAG cohort.

OBJECTIVES: To determine clinical parameters that could predict occult vascular lesions (OVL) in patients with symptomatic atherosclerosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective evaluation of 269 consecutive patients with symptomatic atherosclerosis (cerebral 32%, peripheral vascular 15%, and coronary 53%): complete laboratory, ultrasound exams (carotids, aorta, heart), ankle-brachial index. OVL were defined as: abdominal aortic aneurysm, carotid artery stenosis > 50%, or left ventricular segmental contraction abnormalities when affecting a different vascular bed from the symptomatic. Clinical predictors of OVL were evaluated by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: OVL were found in 35 patients (13%): 12 abdominal aortic aneurysms, 21 carotid artery stenosis and 15 segmental left ventricular contraction abnormalities. OVL were associated with peripheral vascular disease (intermittent claudication or reduced ankle-brachial index), cigarette smoking, increased pulse pressure, microalbuminuria and hyperhomocysteinemia. By multivariate analysis, intermittent claudication (odds ratio 5.8; 95% CI 2.6-12.8) and microalbuminuria (OR 4.2; 95% CI 1.7-10.5) were strong independent predictors of OVL. Similar results were obtained when peripheral vascular disease was defined as reduced ankle-brachial index (OR 5.3; 95% CI 2.4-11.7). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical and subclinical peripheral vascular disease, as well as microalbuminuria are strong independent predictors of OVL in atherosclerotic patients. A screening study of OVL may be warranted in these patients.

Aplicaciones clínicas de la determinación plasmática del péptido natriurético auricular / Clinical applications of auricular natriuretic peptide plasma level quantification

El péptido natriurético auricular tipo B (BNP) es una neurohormona sintetizada en los ventrículos. En el momento actual, la medida del BNP se puede realizar mediante una rápida prueba que está disponible tanto en el ámbito ambulatorio como en el hospitalario. Se ha probado su utilidad en el Servicio de Urgencias para el diagnóstico de la insuficiencia cardíaca congestiva en pacientes con causa no clara de disnea. Se ha estudiado la utilidad de la determinación del nivel de BNP como criterio de ingreso hospitalario, así como en la toma de decisiones respecto a la adecuación del tratamiento durante la hospitalización y el momento del alta. En pacientes ambulatorios, usar el BNP como guía para intensificar la terapéutica farmacológica muestra un prometedor futuro en la disminución de la tasa de eventos adversos asociados con este diagnóstico. La medida del BNP parece también proporcionar información pronóstica en pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca, así como ser útil en la detección de la disfunción ventricular izquierda asintomática. Además, se intuye su utilidad en otros campos como en el síndrome coronario agudo y el corazón trasplantado, sin olvidar el uso reciente del BNP recombinante humano, nesiritide, en el tratamiento de la insuficiencia cardíaca descompensada (AU)

Factores asociados al uso de la reperfusión en pacientes con infarto agudo de miocardio y elevación del segmento ST en España: Proyecto de Registro del Infarto Agudo de Miocardio en Hospitales (PRIAMHO II) / Factors associated with the use of reperfusion therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction and st segment elevation in spain: the register of acute myocardial infarction in hospitals project (priamho ii)

Objetivo. Un porcentaje cercano al 30 por ciento de los pacientes con síndrome coronario agudo, elevación del segmento ST en el electrocardiograma (ECG) y menos de 12 h de evolución, no recibe tratamiento de reperfusión. En este estudio, se investigan los factores asociados a ese comportamiento y su influencia en la evolución hasta un año. Material y método. El registro PRIAMHO II fue diseñado como un estudio de cohorte, con seguimiento a un año, de pacientes ingresados por infarto agudo de miocardio (IAM) en un período de 6 meses, en el año 2000, en las unidades de cuidados intensivos cardiológicos (UCIC) de 58 hospitales españoles seleccionados de manera aleatoria. Se analizaron las características demográficas y clínicas, la evolución y la mortalidad, a los 28 días y al año, de los pacientes tratados con y sin reperfusión. Resultados. Se incluyeron 6.221 pacientes entre el 15 de mayo y el 15 de diciembre de 2000, ingresados en 58 hospitales. De ellos, 3.735 cumplían las indicaciones para reperfusión primaria, pero sólo se realizó en 2.675 (71,6 por ciento). En el 89,3 por ciento de los casos se hizo fibrinólisis y en el resto intervención percutánea. El análisis univariante mostró que las variables asociadas a no recibir tratamiento de reperfusión son: la edad avanzada, el sexo femenino, los antecedentes de diabetes mellitus, de hipertensión arterial o de infarto de miocardio, el retraso en la llegada al hospital, el no poder precisar la localización del IAM por el ECG y la clase IV en la clasificación de Killip. La mortalidad fue superior en los pacientes no reperfundidos, tanto la mortalidad hospitalaria (17,4 frente a 10,3 por ciento), como al año (23,8 frente a 12,9 por ciento). En el 1,2 por ciento de los pacientes que recibieron fibrinolíticos apareció un accidente cerebrovascular. Conclusiones. Los resultados muestran que sólo un 72 por ciento de los pacientes con IAM y ST elevado o bloqueo completo de la rama izquierda del haz de His (BCRIHH) que acuden al hospital con menos de 12 h de evolución, reciben tratamiento de reperfusión. De ellos, un 11 por ciento lo reciben mediante intervencionismo percutáneo. Los pacientes que no son tratados con métodos de reperfusión tienen un perfil de riesgo peor, y la mortalidad es superior a corto y, especialmente, a largo plazo (AU)

[Management of myocardial infarction in Spain (1995-99). Data from the registry of the Ischaemic Heart Disease Working Group (RISCI) of the Spanish Society of Cardiology]. / Manejo del infarto de miiocardio en España (1995-99). Datos del registro de infartos de la sección de cardiopatía Isquémica y unidades coronarias (RISCI) de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Limited information is available on how patients with myocardial infarction are treated in Spain. In order to make up for this deficiency, in October 1994, the Ischaemic Heart Disease Working Group of the Spanish Society of Cardiology initiated a myocardial infarction registry, which is currently active. METHODS: Patients are recruited from hospitals with intensive coronary care facilities. Demographic characteristics coronary risk factors and previous conditions are collected, as well as clinical events, and diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed during the stay in the coronary care unit. RESULTS: From 1995 to 1999, 28,357 patients were registered. During this period the mean age increased slightly (from 64.4 +/- 12.2 to 65.2 +/- 12.7; p < 0.001), although the male proportion remained stable (from 76.7% to 77.1%). The median "onset of symptoms-hospital arrival for 1st emergency" time fell from 135 min to 120 min, and the median "onset of symptoms-needle" time from 180 to 175 (NS). The use of thrombolytic therapy did not change (from 42.4 to 43.9%), but the use of aspirin (from 87.4 to 91.7%), beta-blockers (from 32.7 to 39.6%) and angiotensin-converting inhibitors (from 27.9 to 34.8%) increased significantly (p < 0.001). The Swan-Ganz catheter and the intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation were rarely placed during the five years (4.2% and 1.2% respectively in 1999). Both early mortality (11.4 to 9.3%) and the median duration of intensive coronary care stay declined, in these 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: In Spain, during the 1995-1999 period, the use of aspirin, beta-blockers, and angiotensin-converting inhibitors increased significantly during the acute phase of infarction in the coronary care unit. However, both the usage of thrombolytic therapy and the delay between the onset of symptoms and therapy initiation remained unchanged. At the same time, the length of stay in the coronary care unit and early mortality declined, although the clinical profile of the patients did not improve.

[Thrombolysis in the elderly with acute myocardial infarction. The PRIAMHO study]. / Trombólisis en el anciano con infarto agudo de miocardio. El estudio PRIAMHO.

INTRODUCTION: In the elderly with acute myocardial infarction the risks and benefits of thrombolytic therapy are not well defined due mainly to the lack of randomized trials. In the present study we examined the clinical profile of the aged treated with thrombolytic agents and the effects of that therapy on 28 day and 1 year mortality. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 733 patients aged > 75 years (mean: 79.9) admitted to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of 24 Spanish hospitals with a confirmed diagnosis of Q-Wave myocardial infarction (MI). On admission, 293 patients were treated with thrombolytics and 440 patients received standard therapy. The difference between the two groups in the clinical profile of MI, treatments administered in CCU, evolutive course and 28 day and 1 year mortality were assessed. RESULTS: The independent predictors related to the use of thrombolytic therapy were age (OR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.89-0.97), history of arterial hypertension (OR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.71-1.01), delay time to admission (OR: 0.998; 95% CI: 0.997-0.999), anterior location of infarct (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.01-1.24) and Killip Class III-IV (OR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.64-0.97). During the evolution thrombolysis therapy was associated with lower rates of Killip III-IV (p < 0.00001), complete AV block (p = 0.037), intraventricular conduction defects (p = 0.046) and a higher incidence of stroke (p < 0.01). The 28-day mortality was also significantly lower in the group receiving thrombolytics (27 vs 31. 3%; p = 0.035). However, this difference disappeared when the analysis was adjusted with other variables such as age, administration of aspirin and Killip Class III-IV (OR: 1.29; 95% IC: 0.87-1.92). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this trial suggest that in the elderly with acute myocardial infarction thrombolysis is associated with a less complicated evolutive course and a lower 28-day mortality. However, these findings could be mediated by other covariables such as age, more frequent use of aspirin and a higher number of patients with Killip Class III-IV excluded from the thrombolytic therapy.

[Clinical practice guidelines of the Spanish Society of Cardiology on unstable angina/infarction without ST elevation]. / Guías de práctica clínica de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología en la angina inestable/infarto sin elevación ST.

This paper up-dates the Clinical Guidelines for Unstable Angina/Non Q wave Myocardial Infarction of the Spanish Society of Cardiology. Due to the increased efficacy of adequate management in the early phases, it has been considered necessary to include recommendations for the pre Hospital and Emergency department phase. Prehospital management. Patients with thoracic pain compatible with myocardial ischemia should be transferred to Hospital as quickly as possible and an ECG tracing performed. Initial management includes rest, sublingual nitroglycerin and aspirin. In the Emergency department. Immediate clinical attention and accessibility to a defibrillator should be available. If ECG tracing discloses ST elevation reperfusion strategy is to be implemented immediately. If no ST elevation is present, the probability of myocardial ischemia and risk factor evaluation is essential for adequate management. A simplified risk stratification classification is presented, that also determines the most adequate site for admission: Coronary Care Unit if high risk factors are present, Cardiology ward for the intermediate risk patient and ambulatory treatment if low risk. Management in Coronary Care Unit. Includes routine ECG monitoring and analgesia. Antithrombotic and anti ischemic treatment include new indication for GP IIb-IIIa and Low molecular weight heparins. Coronary arteriography and revascularisation are recommended, if refractory or recurrent angina, left ventricles dysfunction or other complications are present. Management in the ward is based on adequate chronic medical treatment, risk stratification, and secondary prevention strategy. Coronary arteriography before discharge must be considered in the light of the result of non-invasive tests.

[Use of thrombolytic treatment in patients with acute myocardial infarction in Spain. Observations from the PRIAMHO study]. / Utilización de la trombólisis en los pacientes con infarto agudo de miocardio en España: observaciones del estudio PRIAMHO.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Scarce information is actually available in our country regarding the use of thrombolytic treatment in patients with acute myocardial infarction and how consistently the recommendations of the clinical guidelines are being implemented. METHODS: Cohort study with one year follow-up of patients with acute myocardial infarction admitted in 24 Spanish hospitals in 1995. Differences in clinical characteristics and prognosis from patients treated with or without thrombolysis were compared. RESULTS: 2,191 of the 5,242 patients (42%) admitted with an acute myocardial infarction received thrombolytic therapy (range: 23%-63%). Reasons for exclusion in the rest were the absence of ST segment elevation (35%), contraindications (16%), prehospital delay >12 h (35%), and other causes (15%). Thrombolysis treated patients were at lower risk in general because they had shorter prehospital delays and were younger, more likely to be male, less frequently diabetic, with less prior history of angina or infarction. The average delay in administering therapy was of 3 hours while the average in-hospital delay was 50 minutes and depended only on the hospital where patients where admitted, as it was shorter in small centers. t-PA was administered in 49% of patients, streptoquinase in 46% and other drugs in 5%. Although t-PA was given more often to younger patients, smokers, anterior and Q-wave infarctions, and to patients with shorter prehospital delays, the determinant factor was the admission hospital with a frequency ranging from 9% to 96%. Patients not treated with thrombolytics had more complications during the acute phase, and required more invasive procedures. They also had a higher mortality at 28 days (17% vs. 10%, p < 0.0001) and at one-year follow-up (27% vs. 15%, p < 0.0001). Furthermore, a correlation was observed between mortality and delay of treatment application. In multivariate analysis, thrombolytic treatment was an independent predictor of survival at one year, with an odds ratio for mortality of 0.8 (95% CI: 0.66-0.96). CONCLUSIONS: Thrombolytic therapy in Spain does not yet conform to the recommendations of the actual guidelines for the treatment of patients with acute myocardial infarction because it is underused, especially in high-risk patients, the prehospital and in-hospital delays are too long, and a huge variability exists between hospitals in the frequency and delays of administration and selection of the drug that are not sufficiently explained by the characteristics of the patients. In spite of this, mortality of treated patients was 20% lower in comparison to the non-treated patients, after adjusting for the other clinical factors with demonstrated prognostic value.

Randomized comparative trial of triflusal and aspirin following acute myocardial infarction.

AIMS: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of the antiplatelet agent triflusal with aspirin in the prevention of cardiovascular events following acute myocardial infarction. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this double-blind, multicentre, sequential design study, patients were randomized within 24 h of acute myocardial infarction symptom onset to receive triflusal 600 mg or aspirin 300 mg once daily for 35 days. The primary end-point was death, non-fatal myocardial reinfarction or a non-fatal cerebrovascular event. The incidences of these individual outcomes and urgent revascularization were secondary end-points. The null hypothesis of no difference between treatments in the primary combined end-point was accepted with 80% power after recruiting 2124 validated patients (odds ratio (OR) for failure [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 0.882 [0.634-1.227]). Non-fatal cerebrovascular events were significantly less frequent with triflusal (OR [95% CI]: 0.364 [0.146-0.908]; P = 0.030). There was no significant difference between treatments for death (OR [95% CI]: 0.816 [0.564-1.179]; P = 0.278), non-fatal reinfarction (OR [95% CI]: 1.577 [0.873-2.848]; P = 0.131) or revascularization (OR [95% CI]: 0.864 [0.644-1.161]; P = 0.334). Overall, both drugs were well tolerated, although there was a trend towards fewer bleeding episodes with triflusal; significantly fewer central nervous system bleeding episodes were observed in triflusal-treated patients (0.27% vs. 0.97%; P = 0.033). CONCLUSION: Triflusal and aspirin have similar efficacy in preventing further cardiovascular events after acute myocardial infarction, but triflusal showed a more favourable safety profile. Triflusal significantly reduced the incidence of non-fatal cerebrovascular events compared with aspirin.

[Variability in the management and prognosis at short- and medium-term of myocardial infarct in Spain: the PRIAMHO study. Registration Project of Hospital Acute Myocardial Infarct]. / Variabilidad en el manejo y pronóstico a corto y medio plazo del infarto de miocardio en España: el estudio PRIAMHO. Proyecto de Registro de Infarto Agudo de Miocardio Hospitalario.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The paucity of data on myocardial infarction management and results in Spain lead to the design of the PRIAMHO study (Proyecto de Registro de Infarto Agudo de Miocardio Hospitalario [Acute Myocardial Infarction Hospital Registration Project]) which developed standard methods to collect information on the management of patients with such a condition and their characteristics. The variability results among hospitals in myocardial infarction management and in one-year mortality are presented. METHODS: A cohort study with a one-year follow-up was designed to register all patients diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction discharged from 24 Spanish hospitals that completed all the requisites to participate. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, their management during the coronary care unit stage, and the outcome and complications were prospectively registered. Standard definitions for diagnosis were used. Confidentiality regarding patient identity and participating centers was guaranteed. RESULTS: 5,242 (77.6%) of the 6,756 patients with myocardial infarction admitted in the 24 participating hospitals were registered in the coronary care units. Half of the centers had an on-site hemodynamic laboratory and in seven coronary surgery. The delay between symptom-onset and emergency room admission was 2 hours. Acute pulmonary edema or cardiogenic shock was developed by 16.6% of patients and 41.8% received thrombolysis. Mean time delay between symptom-onset and thrombolysis was 3 hours. A large variability in the use of beta-blockers, thrombolysis, echocardiography, coronary catheterization angiography and invasive revascularization was observed among hospitals. Mortality in the coronary care unit was 10.9% and increased to 14.0% at 28 days and to 18.5% at one year with considerable variation among hospitals. Four hospitals showed higher mortality among their patients, independently from the proportion of diabetes, hypertension, women, anterior location of myocardial infarction, non-Q-wave infarction, age and severity. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that early and mid-term mortality from myocardial infarction is still high in Spain in the reperfusion era, and that a considerable variability in management and outcome exists among Spanish hospitals, which is not explained by the different case-mix among them.

Prevalence of angina pectoris in Spain. PANES Study group.

The frequency of coronary heart disease in a community is usually measured by myocardial infarction incidence and mortality rates. The measurement of the prevalence of angina pectoris may, however, become a convenient way of assessing coronary heart disease morbidity in the future. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of angina and validity of the Rose questionnaire in the Spanish population aged from 45 to 74 years. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 10,248 subjects (45-74 years), representative of the Spanish population. The WHO Rose questionnaire was used and a construct validation against regional mortality rates and cardiovascular risk factor prevalence was devised. The overall angina prevalence increased with age both in men and women, but was higher in the latter (7.3% and 7.7%, respectively). Angina prevalence also increased with the number of cardiovascular risk factors present and correlated with regional CHD mortality rates (r = 0.66). Sensitivity and specificity results of the Rose questionnaire were low when tested against exercise test (52.9% and 52.1%, respectively). As conclusions, Rose questionnaire is a reliable tool for assessing angina prevalence in the Spanish population which is similar to that of other industrialized countries with higher myocardial infarction morbidity and mortality.

[Platelet activation and inhibition. Old and new platelet antiaggregants]. / Activación e inhibición plaquetaria en la angina inestable. Papel de los viejos y nuevos antiagregantes plaquetarios.

Aggregates of activated platelets, at the level of a plaque fissure, seem to have a pivotal role in acute coronary syndromes. The glycoprotein IIb-IIIa receptors of the platelet surface are thought to be the final common pathway of platelet aggregation. The possibility of using a basic treatment to control platelet aggregation, in the whole clinical spectrum of acute coronary syndromes is attractive. The results of different clinical studies show evidence that glycoprotein IIb-IIIa antagonists, given intravenously, are effective in the management of acute coronary intervention with high thrombogenic risk, and also help to control the early phase of acute coronary syndromes. In patients who have responded to the acute i.v. infusion, the chronic oral administration of those agents might contribute to their clinical stabilization and reduce the risk of further coronary events.

[The performance of coronary angioplasties at centers without cardiac surgery. The recommendations of the Sociedad Española de Cardiología]. / Realización de angioplastias coronarias en centros sin cirugía cardíaca. Recomendaciones de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología.

During the early years of coronary interventions a rigorous on-site surgical stand-by was mandatory. The increased experience in coronary angioplasty both on total number of procedures and the experience gained by each operator, together with the technical improvements, namely since the introduction of stents has induced an evolution in the stand-by strategy, with new concepts such as "next available operating room" or coronary interventions "without on site" surgical facilities, are gaining widespread acceptance. With the aim of defining the requirements to perform coronary interventions at hospitals without coronary surgery, the following aspects are reviewed: a) complications following coronary angioplasty that require coronary surgery; b) the current status of coronary angioplasty without surgical stand-by in different countries. All this information allows us to advance some recommendations concerning the performance of coronary interventions at hospitals without on-site cardiac surgery. Different issues including hospital characteristics, operator and cardiac catheterization laboratory requirements, as well as lesion characteristics and the type of informed consent, should be taken into account.

[The prevalence of angina and cardiovascular risk factors in the different autonomous communities of Spain: the PANES Study. Prevalencia de Angina en España]. / Prevalencia de angina y factores de riesgo cardiovascular en las diferentes comunidades autónomas de España: estudio PANES.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The study of angina prevalence has received little attention in the analysis of the dimension of coronary heart disease. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of angina and cardiovascular risk factors in the 45- to 74-year-old population of the different autonomous regions of Spain. METHODS: A sample of 10,248 subjects was recruited. Sampling was stratified by gender and age groups (45-54, 55-64 and 65 to 74 years), and proportional to the population distribution of the different autonomous regions. A multistage sampling was performed, firstly 200 villages were randomly selected, secondly three different socio-economic household were chosen. Sample unit was neighbouring households. Rose questionnaire of angina and a structured questionnaire to collect socio-demographic and risk factor variables were administered. RESULTS: Angina prevalence in the 45- to 74-year-old Spanish population was 7.5%. The autonomous regions with the higher and lower prevalence were Baleares (11.4%) and Basque Country (3.1%), respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficient between angina prevalence and ischemic heart disease or cardiovascular disease mortality in men and women was 0.52 and 0.55, and 0.31 and 0.44, respectively. The self reported prevalence of hypertension, dyslipemia, diabetes and smoking was 31.1%, 24.2%, 14.3% and 34.6% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Angina prevalence in Spain is similar to that of developed countries although significant differences were observed among the autonomous regions of Spain. These differences correlate with those observed in ischemic heart disease or cardiovascular mortality among them and are associated with the cardiovascular risk factors prevalence which also varies among communities.

[Role of noninvasive examinations in the management of ischemic cardiopathy. V. Noninvasive examinations in the management of patients with chronic ischemic cardiopathy]. / Papel de las exploraciones no invasivas en el manejo de la cardiopatía isquémica. V. Las exploraciones no invasivas en el manejo de los pacientes con cardiopatía isquémica crónica. Recomendaciones para su utilización.

In the last few years the has been an enormous development in noninvasive testing in the field of clinical cardiology. In fact, excellent monographs on each one of these techniques have been published elsewhere, but fewer publications exist that treat the topic of their indications and use in an integrated way, except for in the most common clinical situations. In this paper, the treatment of patients who present chest pain, stable and unstable angina is discussed, including the study of postinfarction patients. Furthermore, the role of noninvasive tests in the detection of coronary heart disease in women and in patients with left bundle branch block is thoroughly analyzed; as well as their usefulness after surgical or percutaneous coronary revascularization and in patients with peripheral vascular disease.

[Basis for a hospital registry of acute myocardial infarction in Spain. The PRIAMO study. Project of a Hospital Registry of Acute Myocardial Infarction]. / Bases para un registro hospitalario de infartos agudos de miocardio en España. El estudio PRIAMHO. Proyecto de Registro de Infarto Agudo de Miocardio Hospitalario.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Information on the management of myocardial infarction in Spain in scarce. PRIAMHO (Proyecto de Registro de Infarto Agudo de Miocardio Hospitalario) study is aimed at developing standardized methods to allow the registration of characteristics and management of patients discharged with a diagnosis of myocardial infarction. Methods and results of the pilot study are presented. METHODS: In the present collaborative study with one-year follow-up, all patients diagnosed with myocardial infarction discharged from 33 Spanish hospitals are registered for one year including their demographic, clinical and outcome characteristics, as well as details on their management when admitted to a coronary care unit. Standardized definitions of diagnosis and measurements are used. Confidentiality of patients' identity and anonymous participation of each center are also warranted. RESULTS: The 33 participant coronary care units, covering some 10,000,000 people, admitted on average 83.9% of myocardial infarction patients of their hospital. In 16 participating centers there is a laboratory of hemodynamics and in 11 coronary surgery. During the pilot study, 606 patients were discharged from the participating coronary care units where the case-fatality, rate was 10.3%. While 19.8% of patients developed left heart failure, 44.1% received thrombolytic therapy. The delay between onset of symptoms and first monitoring was approximately 6 hours, and thereafter admission to the coronary unit about 3 hours. CONCLUSION: PRIAMHO study will allow to establish of the fundamentals for developing a nation-wide myocardial infarction register and will provide an accurate perspective of the characteristics and management of this disease in Spain.

[Electrocardiographic diagnosis and acute treatment of atrial fibrillation and flutter episodes]. / Diagnóstico electrocardiográfico y tratamiento agudo de los episodios de fibrilación y flutter auricular.

Both atrial flutter and fibrillation are common arrhythmias in the clinical setting. Although we have been aware of them for decades, little has been known until recently about their triggering or maintenance mechanisms. The diagnosis of these arrhythmias lies largely in the electrocardiogram, which shows characteristic features of atrial electrical activity, leading to a correct diagnosis. Usually, some maneuvers such as adenosine infusion, carotidus sinus massage, etc., are required, in order to unmask the atrial activity, that are often obscured by the QRS complex or T wave. Several therapeutic options can be attempted for the acute termination of both atrial flutter and fibrillation episodes. The choice of one or another depends on some extent, on the clinical status of the patient during the arrhythmia, the presence of structural heart disease and the preceding arrhythmic history. Antiarrhythmic drugs are quite efficacious in the acute conversion of atrial fibrillation, but such an effect is not expected in atrial flutter. Drugs that depress AV nodal conduction can be used in both instances, as a therapeutic end-point or as a previous measure to the arrhythmia conversion. Direct current cardioversion is a good and efficacious option for both arrhythmias, however sedation is mandatory which, may be a contraindication in some patients. Rapid atrial pacing is an elegant and reliable method for the acute termination of atrial flutter of the common type, although a transvenous catheter insertion is needed.

[Recurrent pericarditis: our experience with colchicine]. / Pericarditis recurrente: nuestra experiencia con colchicina.

To prove the efficacy of colchicine in the prevention of recurrences of acute pericarditis, 5 patients, age 24 to 64 years (mean 36), were treated during 18 months with 1 milligram daily. Previous treatment with steroids and/or non steroid antiinflammatory agents did not prevent 2-3 recurrences per patient, and was discontinued after entry into the study. There where no further recurrences of acute pericardial episodes during the 24 months of follow-up, and no side effects related to the treatment with colchicine were reported. We conclude that colchicine is effective in preventing the recurrences of acute idiopathic pericarditis.

[Drug treatment of angina pectoris. Study Group on Angina Pectoris of the Ischemic Cardiopathy and Coronary Units Section of the Spanish Society of Cardiology]. / Tratamiento médico de la angina de pecho. Grupo de Estudio de Angina de Pecho de la Sección de Cardiopatía Isquémica y Unidades Coronarias de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología.

Medical treatment in angina pectoris is supported by: 1) slowing in coronary artery disease progression; 2) control of the angina episodes and the enhanced of the functional status, and, 3) prognosis improvement. The authors describe in this review, inside the own experience and the large body of evidence, the general measures and pharmacological treatment of both stable and unstable angina. There are included some therapeutic options in associated clinical conditions.