The association between metabolic syndrome and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) poses an additional risk for the development of coronary artery disease and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). In this study, we investigated the association between MetS and its components and MACCE after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The presence of MetS was calculated at baseline using the NCEP-ATP III criteria. The primary outcome was MACCE and its components were secondary outcomes. Unadjusted and adjusted Cox Regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the association between MetS or its components and MACCE and its components. A total of 13,459 ACS patients who underwent PCI (MetS: 7939 and non-MetS: 5520) with a mean age of 62.7 ± 11.0 years (male: 72.5%) were included and median follow-up time was 378 days. Patients with MetS had significantly higher MACCE risk (adjusted HR [aHR] 1.22, 95% CI 1.08-1.39). The only component of MACCE that exhibited a significantly higher incidence in MetS patients was myocardial infarction (aHR 1.43, 95% CI 1.15-1.76). MetS components that were significantly associated with a higher incidence of MACCE were hypertension and impaired fasting glucose. Having three MetS components did not increase MACCE (aHR 1.12, 95% CI 0.96-1.30) while having four (aHR 1.32, 95% CI 1.13-1.55) or five (aHR 1.42, 95% CI 1.15-1.75) MetS components was associated with a higher incidence of MACCE. MetS was associated with a higher risk of MACCE in ACS patients undergoing PCI. Among MACCE components, myocardial infarction was significantly higher in patients with MetS. Impaired fasting glucose and hypertension were associated with a higher risk of MACCE. Identifying these patterns can guide clinicians in choosing appropriate preventive measures.

NT-proBNP level as a substitute for myocardial perfusion scan in preoperative cardiovascular risk assessment in noncardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative cardiovascular risk assessment is one of the main principles before noncardiac surgeries. Cardiac stress imaging, such as myocardial perfusion scan (MPS), is a proposed cardiovascular risk evaluation method according to the latest guidelines. Yet, its efficacy, along with the cost-effectiveness of the method, has been questioned in previous studies. Our study aims to evaluate the utility of N-terminal pro-b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level measurement in predicting postoperative cardiovascular complications in candidates who have undergone an MPS before surgery and compare the results. METHODS: A cohort of 80 patients with a revised cardiac risk index score of one or more who were scheduled for moderate to high-risk noncardiac surgeries and met the criteria to undergo an MPS for risk assessment were included in the study. All of them underwent an MPS one week before surgery. Their preoperative NT-proBNP, troponin levels, and electrocardiograms were obtained one day before surgery and again on day three postoperative. The predictive efficacy of NT-proBNP levels and MPS were compared. RESULTS: Seventy-eight patients underwent surgery, three of which exhibited a rise in troponin level, six showed changes on electrocardiogram, and pulmonary edema was detected in one, three days after surgery. There was no mortality in our patients. The sensitivity and specificity of the MPS for predicting postoperative cardiovascular complications were 100% and 66%, respectively. MPS also had a positive predictive value of 20% and a negative predictive value of 100% in our study. A 332.5 pg/ml cut-off value for NT-proBNP level yielded a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 79.2%, positive predictive value of 40%, and negative predictive value of 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals the incremental specificity and positive predictive value of NT-proBNP level measurement in preoperative cardiovascular risk evaluation compared to MPS. Given the low feasibility, high costs, and disappointing predictive value of MPS, preoperative NT-proBNP level assessment can be substituted. This method can assist anesthesiologists and surgeons with precisely detecting at-risk patients resulting in taking proper measures to reduce the morbidity and mortality of the proposed patients before and during surgeries.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children and Kawasaki disease; comparison of their clinical findings and one-year follow-up-a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Studies on Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) and Kawasaki Disease (KD) have yielded inconsistent results and are lacking in Asian and African countries. This study aimed to compare the laboratory and clinical features, short-term outcomes, and one-year follow-ups of a large cohort of MIS-C and KD patients. METHODS: Data from 176 MIS-C and 56 KD patients admitted to Tehran Children's Medical Center between January 2021 and January 2022 were collected. Patients were followed up until January 2023. RESULTS: While lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia were more prevalent in MIS-C (73.2% vs. 20% in KD, p < 0.001), KD patients exhibited a higher median white blood cell count and prevalence of anemia, along with higher fibrinogen and erythrocyte sedimentation rate levels (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.005, p < 0.001, respectively). MIS-C patients also exhibited lower ejection fraction, a greater occurrence of pericardial effusion, and a higher incidence of coronary aneurysms and ectasia, and ascites. Echocardiography after seven days of treatment showed a reduction in pathologies for both groups, but it was significant only for MIS-C. After one year, coronary artery abnormalities remained in only six cases. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this study highlights differences between MIS-C and KD, including laboratory indices as well as echocardiographic and abdominal ultrasound findings. These findings contribute valuable data on Iranian patients to the existing literature on this topic and have significant implications for accurate diagnosis and improved management of pediatric patients presenting with these conditions.

Transient constrictive pericarditis: A complication of COVID-19 infection or first presentation of systemic lupus erythematous? A case report.

Cardiovascular disorders are significantly associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Herein, we describe a case of myopericarditis and subsequent transient constrictive pericarditis after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Three weeks following a mild SARS-CoV-2 illness, a 53-year-old woman was referred to the hospital with acute pleuritic chest pain, which was not attributable to any known cause and was only temporarily relieved. The pain persisted for the next few weeks until her second COVID-19 infection, which occurred 5 months after her first affliction. This time, Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed mild pericardial effusion, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) confirmed myopericarditis, leading to the administration of anti-inflammatory therapy for the patient. Despite a relative resolution of symptoms, her second CMR performed 8 months later revealed active perimyocarditis with transient constrictive pericarditis (CP). Additionally, fluorescent antinuclear antibody (FANA) and antimitochondrial Ab M2 (AMA) were tested positive for the first time. Thereafter, the patient was started on concurrent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant therapies, which were effective after 3 months. The transient CP was resolved, and there was no sign of active pericarditis on her last echocardiography. Acute pericarditis and its subsequent constrictive pericarditis are infrequent adverse outcomes of COVID-19. The unique feature of this case is the uncertainty regarding the underlying reason for cardiac complications, whether it is the first presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or viral-induced myopericarditis followed by a consequent transient CP.