Sensitive Troponin I Assay in Patients with Chest Pain - Association with Significant Coronary Lesions with or Without Renal Failure / Troponinas I Sensíveis em Pacientes com Dor Torácica - Associação com Lesões Coronarianas Significativas e Variação em Insuficiência Renal Crônica

Abstract Introduction: Despite having higher sensitivity as compared to conventional troponins, sensitive troponins have lower specificity, mainly in patients with renal failure. Objective: Study aimed at assessing the sensitive troponin I levels in patients with chest pain, and relating them to the existence of significant coronary lesions. Methods: Retrospective, single-center, observational. This study included 991 patients divided into two groups: with (N = 681) and without (N = 310) significant coronary lesion. For posterior analysis, the patients were divided into two other groups: with (N = 184) and without (N = 807) chronic renal failure. The commercial ADVIA Centaur® TnI-Ultra assay (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics) was used. The ROC curve analysis was performed to identify the sensitivity and specificity of the best cutoff point of troponin as a discriminator of the probability of significant coronary lesion. The associations were considered significant when p < 0.05. Results: The median age was 63 years, and 52% of the patients were of the male sex. The area under the ROC curve between the troponin levels and significant coronary lesions was 0.685 (95% CI: 0.65 - 0.72). In patients with or without renal failure, the areas under the ROC curve were 0.703 (95% CI: 0.66 - 0.74) and 0.608 (95% CI: 0.52 - 0.70), respectively. The best cutoff points to discriminate the presence of significant coronary lesion were: in the general population, 0.605 ng/dL (sensitivity, 63.4%; specificity, 67%); in patients without renal failure, 0.605 ng/dL (sensitivity, 62.7%; specificity, 71%); and in patients with chronic renal failure, 0.515 ng/dL (sensitivity, 80.6%; specificity, 42%). Conclusion: In patients with chest pain, sensitive troponin I showed a good correlation with significant coronary lesions when its level was greater than 0.605 ng/dL. In patients with chronic renal failure, a significant decrease in specificity was observed in the correlation of troponin levels and severe coronary lesions.

Resumo Fundamento: Apesar de apresentar maior sensibilidade em comparação às troponinas convencionais, as troponinas sensíveis apresentam menor especificidade, principalmente em pacientes com insuficiência renal. Objetivo: Avaliar os valores de troponina I sensível em pacientes com dor torácica, relacionando-os à presença de lesões coronarianas significativas. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo, unicêntrico e observacional. Foram incluídos 991 pacientes, divididos em dois grupos: com (N = 681) ou sem lesão coronariana (N = 310). Para análise posterior, os pacientes foram separados em outros dois grupos: com (N = 184) ou sem insuficiência renal (N = 807). A troponina utilizada pertence ao kit comercial ADVIA Centaur® TnI-Ultra (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics). A análise foi feita por curva ROC para identificar a sensibilidade e a especificidade do melhor ponto de corte da troponina como discriminador de probabilidade de lesão coronariana. As associações foram consideradas significativas quando p < 0,05. Resultados: Cerca de 52% dos pacientes eram do sexo masculino e a idade mediana da amostra foi de 63 anos. A área sob a curva ROC entre os valores de troponina e lesões coronarianas significativas foi de 0,685 (IC 95%: 0,65 - 0,72). Em pacientes sem e com insuficiência renal, as áreas sob a curva foram 0,703 (IC 95%: 0,66 - 0,74) e 0,608 (IC 95%: 0,52 - 0,70), respectivamente. Os melhores pontos de corte para discriminar a presença de lesão coronária significativa foram: 0,605 ng/dL (sensibilidade de 63,4%, especificidade de 67%) no grupo geral, 0,605 ng/dL (sensibilidade de 62,7% e especificidade de 71%) em pacientes sem insuficiência renal e 0,515 ng/dL (sensibilidade de 80,6% e especificidade de 42%) no grupo com insuficiência renal crônica. Conclusão: Na população avaliada de pacientes com dor torácica, a troponina I sensível apresentou boa correlação com lesões coronarianas significativas quando acima de 0,605 ng/dL. Em pacientes com insuficiência renal crônica, observamos uma queda importante de especificidade na correlação dos valores com lesões coronarianas graves.

Complete Treatment Versus Residual Lesion - Long-Term Evolution After Acute Coronary Syndrome / Tratamento Completo Versus Lesão Residual - Evolução a Longo Prazo Após Síndrome Coronariana Aguda

Abstract Introduction: A recently published study raised doubts about the need for percutaneous treatment of nonculprit lesions in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Methods: Retrospective, unicentric, observational study. Objective: To analyze the long-term outcomes in patients undergoing treatment of the culprit artery, comparing those who remained with significant residual lesions in nonculprit arteries (group I) versus those without residual lesions in other coronary artery beds (group II). The study included 580 patients (284 in group I and 296 in group II) between May 2010 and May 2013. We obtained demographic and clinical data, as well as information regarding the coronary treatment administered to the patients. In the statistical analysis, the primary outcome included combined events (reinfarction/angina, death, heart failure, and need for reintervention). The comparison between groups was performed using the chi-square test and ANOVA. The long-term analysis was conducted with the Kaplan-Meier method, with a mean follow-up of 9.86 months. Results: The mean ages were 63 years in group I and 62 years in group II. On long-term follow-up, there was no significant difference in combined events in groups I and II (31.9% versus 35.6%, respectively, p = 0.76). Conclusion: The strategy of treating the culprit artery alone seems safe. In this study, no long-term differences in combined endpoints were observed between patients who remained with significant lesions compared with those without other obstructions.

Resumo Fundamento: Um estudo publicado recentemente levantou dúvidas sobre a necessidade de abordagem percutânea de lesões não culpadas em pacientes com síndromes coronarianas agudas (SCA). Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo, unicêntrico e observacional. Objetivo: Comparar desfechos a longo prazo entre pacientes submetidos à abordagem da artéria culpada, comparando os que permaneceram com lesões residuais significativas em artérias não culpadas (grupo I) versus aqueles sem lesões residuais em outros leitos coronarianos (grupo II). Foram incluídos 580 pacientes (284 no grupo I e 296 no grupo II) entre maio de 2010 e maio de 2013. Foram obtidos dados demográficos e clínicos, além de informações sobre o tratamento coronariano administrado aos pacientes. Na análise estatística, o desfecho primário incluiu eventos combinados (reinfarto/angina, morte, insuficiência cardíaca e necessidade de reintervenção). A comparação entre grupos foi realizada através do teste do qui-quadrado e ANOVA. A análise a longo prazo foi realizada pelo método de Kaplan-Meier, com seguimento médio de 9,86 meses. Resultados: As médias das idades foram de 63 anos no grupo I e 62 anos no grupo II. O seguimento a longo prazo não mostrou diferença significativa em eventos combinados nos grupos I e II (31,9% versus 35,6%, respectivamente, p = 0,76). Conclusão: A estratégia de tratar somente a artéria considerada culpada parece segura. Neste estudo, não houve diferenças a longo prazo em desfechos combinados entre pacientes que permaneceram com lesões significativas comparativamente àqueles sem outras obstruções.

Mortality reduction with use of oral beta-blockers in patients with acute coronary syndrome

OBJECTIVES: Recent studies have revealed a relationship between beta-blocker use and worse prognosis in acute coronary syndrome, mainly due to a higher incidence of cardiogenic shock. However, the relevance of this relationship in the reperfusion era is unknown. The aim of this study was to analyze the outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndrome that started oral beta-blockers within the first 24 hours of hospital admission (group I) compared to patients who did not use oral beta-blockers in this timeframe (group II). METHODS: This was an observational, retrospective and multicentric study with 2,553 patients (2,212 in group I and 341 in group II). Data regarding demographic characteristics, coronary treatment and medication use in the hospital were obtained. The primary endpoint was in-hospital all-cause mortality. The groups were compared by ANOVA and the chi-square test. Multivariate analysis was conducted by logistic regression and results were considered significant when p<0.05. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between the groups in the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, enoxaparin, and statins; creatinine levels; ejection fraction; tabagism; age; and previous coronary artery bypass graft. Significant differences were also observed between the groups in mortality (2.67% vs 9.09%, OR=0.35, p=0.02) and major adverse cardiovascular events (11% vs 29.5%, OR=4.55, p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with acute coronary syndrome who underwent early intervention with oral beta-blockers during the first 24 hours of hospital admission had a lower in-hospital death rate and experienced fewer major adverse cardiovascular events with no increase in cardiogenic shock or sustained ventricular arrhythmias compared to patients who did not receive oral beta-blockers within this timeframe.