Estado actual de la terapia con células madre en el tratamiento de las cardiopatías / Stem cells for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. An update

Available medical therapy is unable to completely prevent or revert the pathological cardiac remodeling secondary to ischemia or other injuries, which is responsible for the development of heart failure. Regenerative medicine through stem cells had an explosive development in the cardiovascular area during the past decade. Stem cells possess the capacity to regenerate, repair or substitute damaged tissue, allowing the reestablishment of its function. Stem cells can also modulate apoptosis, angiogenesis, fibrosis and inflammation, favoring the endogenous regenerative process initiated by the damaged tissue. These capacities have been corroborated in several animal models of cardiovascular diseases with positive results. In humans, therapies with bone marrow mononuclear stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells and cardiac stem cells are safe. Most randomized clinical trials in patients with myocardial infarction or cardiomyopathies of different etiologies have reported benefits on ventricular function, quality of life and even over mortality of treated patients. This article reviews the state of art of stem cell therapy in cardiovascular diseases, focusing on the most common cellular types used in patients with acute myocardial infarction and chronic cardiomyopathies of different etiologies.

Resultados Chilenos del registro internacional de factores de riesgo y tratamiento de angina inestable e infarto al miocardio sin supradesnivel del segmento ST: ACCORD (ACute CORonary syndrome Descriptive study) / Chilean results of the international registry of risk factors and treatment of unstable angina and non ST elevation myocardial infarction: ACCORD (ACute CORonary syndrome Descriptive study)

Background: Guidelines for the management of unstable angina (UA) and non ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) have been issued, however cu-rrent practices are unknown in Chile. Aitn: To evalúate in a prospective cohort of NSTEMI patients the current practices, treatments and risk factors. Material and Methods: Oneyear prospective International non interventional registry, conducted in Chile between January 2005 and November 2006. Results: Two hundred thirty three Chilean NSTEMI patients were enrolled. Mortality was 5.5 percent at the end ofthe follow-up. Mean age was 61.6 years, and 30.6 percent were female. Most of the patients had at least one risk factor (98 percent): hypertension (84 percent), previous myocardial infarction (33 percent), dyslipidemia (54 percent), diabetes (33 percent), current smoking (30 percent). Main procedures duringthe hospitalization were coronary angiogram (67 percent), angioplasty (33 percent; 88 percent with stent) and coronary bypass surgery (7 percent). Duringprocedures, 31 percent of patients received clopidogrel, and 4.2 percent glycoprotein Ilb/IIIa antagonists. Medical management was selected for 60 percent of patients. In comparison to men, women received less interventional procedures despite havingmore risk factors. Treatments prescribed at discharge were aspirin (97 percent), clopidogrel (49 percent), beta blockers (78 percent), diuretics (21 percent), lipid lowering agents (78 percent), oral hypoglycemic agents (13 percent) and insulin (9 percent). At the end ofthe 1-year follow-up, treatments were aspirin (84 percent), beta blockers (72 percent), diuretics (19 percent), and dual antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel (16 percent). Conclusions: A high prevalence of múltiple risk factors for cardiovascular disease in Chilean patients with NSTEMI was observed. More aggressive primary and secondary preventive measures are urgently needed. Use of therapies proposed in the guidelines is high, but dual antiplatelet therapy is less than 50 percent at discharge and decreases during the one year-follow-up.

Implicancias de la glicemia de ingreso en la mortalidad intrahospitalaria y alejada según el método de reperfusión en pacientes con infarto agudo del miocardio y supradesnivel del segmento ST / Admission hyperglycemia and mortality of ST segment elevation myocardial infarction

Background: Hyperglycemia at admission has been associated to an adverse prognosis in patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STE-MI). However, its impact over the results of reperfusion therapies in patients with STEMI is still a matter of controversy. Aim: To determine the impact of admission hyperglycemia on hospital and long term mortality, according to the method of reper-fusion utilized in patients with STEMI. Material and Methods: Prospective registry of 1,634 consecutive patients aged 60 ± 12 years (77 percent male), from 3 participating hospitals in the Chilean Registry of Myocardial Infarction (GEMI). We evaluated demographic, clinical and laboratory variables, reperfusion method used, hospital and long term mortality. The impact of hyperglycemia on hospital and long term mortality was evaluated by a logistic regression analysis and Cox risk, respectively, adjusted by Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) risk score. Results: Twenty four percent of patients were diabetics and in 45 percent, the infarct was located on the anterior wall. The mean TIMI risk score was 3.2 ± 2.4. Hyperglycemia at entry was associated to a greater hospital and long term mortality, independently of the reperfusion strategy utilized. Primary angioplasty was associated to a greater benefit, compared to thrombolysis among hyperglycemic patients with an odds ratio: 2.9, 95 percent confi dence intervals: 1.0-8.0 and a hazard ratio of 2.9, 95 percent confi dence intervals: 1.44-5.88, independently of a previous history of diabetes mellitus and TIMI risk score. Conclusions: In patients with STEMI, admission hyperglycemia is associated with a worse prognosis which was significantly improved with primary angioplasty compared to thrombolysis, independently of the admission TIMI risk score.

Intervencionismo en oclusiones crónicas: evaluación de la efectividad cruce de distintas guías y balones según complejidad / Percutaneous coronary interventions in chronic coronary occlusions: effectiveness of different guides and balloons according to complexity of total coronary artery occlusion

Antecedentes: El intervencionismo en las oclusiones totales crónicas (OTC) requiere técnicas complejas y el éxito es poco predecible. Es útil identificar la efectividad de las guías de cruce y del balón para el intervencionismo en distintos niveles de complejidad de OTC. Objetivos: Evaluar la efectividad de cruce de distintas guías y balones en el tratamiento de OTC. Métodos: Se revisa en forma retrospectiva la efectividad de distintos tipos de guías y balones de cruce utilizados en intervencionismo de OTC efectuados entre agosto de 2007 y agosto de 2009. Se define "efectividad" como la capacidad de avanzar y cruzar la oclusión crónica con la guía y el balón, ambas necesarias para efectuar la angioplastia de la OTC. Se agrupan los resultados según el nivel de complejidad de la OTC de acuerdo a score propio, distinguiendo entre OTC simples, complejas y de alta complejidad. Resultado: En el período estudiado se revisan 90 OTC. Se utilizan 148 guías (1,6 guía/proc.) y se utilizan 92 balones en 76 procedimiento que logran paso efectivo de guía. (1,2 bal/proc). Se realiza una tabla con la tasa de efectividad de distintas guías y balones de cruce. Destaca la utilidad de guía PT2 en lesiones simples y complejas, como la utilidad de la guía Miracle 6 en OTC de alta complejidad. Conclusiones: En OTC se obtiene un éxito de 67 por ciento en nuestro medio, con mayor efectividad de la guía PT2 en lesiones simples y complejas y de Miracle 6 en lesiones de alta complejidad. En cuanto a balones se obtiene mayor efectividad en los tipo Maverick, Mercury y Voyaguer de 1,5 mm en lesiones simples y complejas, como del Balón Maverick de 1,5 mm en lesiones de alta complejidad. Es de gran utilidad un registro de la efectividad de balones y guías en el tratamiento de OTC, lo que permite al intervencionista una adecuada elección del material con el consecuente ahorro de tiempo y mayor efectividad del procedimiento.

Background.: PCI in chronic coronary occlusions requires complex techniques and is associated to less predictable results. It is important to evaluate the effectiveness of different guides and balloons in PCI for total coronary occlusion (TCO). Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of different guides and balloons in the treatment of TCO. Methods: A retrospective review of the effectiveness of different guides and balloons in the treatment of TCO performed from 2007 to 2009 was carried out Effectiveness was defined as the ability to traverse the occlusion with the guide and the balloon. The analysis was performed according to groups defined by the complexity of the TCO as assessed by a locally developed score. Occlusions were classified as simple, complex or highly complex. Results: 90 procedures were analyzed 148 guides were utilized (mean of 1.6 per procedure) and 92 balloons were used in 76 cases were the guide successfully crossed the occlusion. The PT2 guide was effective for simple and complex lesions, whereas de Miracle 6 guide was effective in the treatment of highly complex lesions. Regarding balloons, the Maverick, Mercury and Voyageur 1.5 mm were satisfactory in simple and complex lesions, while the Maverick 1.5mm was more effective in highly complex lesions Conclusion: TCO was successfully treated by PCI in 67 percent of cases. PT2 guides and all types of balloons were effective for treatment of simple and complex lesions. In contrast, the Miracle 6 guide and the Maverick 1.5 balloon were more effective in highly complex lesions. These findings may be useful to help de proper selection of angioplasty materials when treating.