Tricuspid Regurgitation Peak Gradient (TRPG)/Tricuspid Annulus Plane Systolic Excursion (TAPSE)　- A Novel Parameter for Stepwise Echocardiographic Risk Stratification in Normotensive Patients With Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

BACKGROUND: Patients with intermediate-risk acute pulmonary embolism (APE) are a heterogeneous group with an early mortality rate of 2-15%. The tricuspid annulus plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and tricuspid regurgitation peak gradient (TRPG) can be used for risk stratification, so we analyzed the prognostic value of a new echo parameter (TRPG/TAPSE) for prediction of APE-related 30-day death or need for rescue thrombolysis in initially normotensive APE patients.Methods and Results:The study group consists of 400 non-high-risk APE patients (191 men, age: 63.1±18.9 years) who had undergone echocardiography within the first 24 h of admission. The TRPG/TAPSE parameter was calculated. The clinical endpoint (CE) was a combination of 30-day APE-related death and/or rescue thrombolysis. The CE occurred in 8 (2%) patients. All patients with TAPSE ≥20 mm (n=193, 48.2%) had a good prognosis. Among 206 patients with TAPSE <20 mm, 8 cases of the CE occurred (3.9%). NPV and PPV for TRPG/TAPSE >4.5 were 0.2 and 0.98, respectively. The CE was significantly more frequent in 19 (9.2%) patients with TRPG/TAPSE >4.5 than in 188 (90.8%) with TRPG/TAPSE ≤4.5 (4 (21.1%) vs. 4 (2.1%), P=0.0005). Among normotensive APE patients with TAPSE <20 mm, TRPG/TAPSE >4.5 was associated with 21.1% risk of APE-related death or rescue thrombolysis. CONCLUSIONS: TRPG/TAPSE, a novel echocardiographic parameter, may be useful for stepwise echocardiographic risk stratification in normotensive patients with APE, and it identifies patients with a poor prognosis.

Prognostic role of different findings at echocardiography in acute pulmonary embolism: a critical review and meta-analysis.

Background: Right ventricle dysfunction (RVD) at echocardiography predicts mortality in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE), but heterogeneous definitions of RVD have been used. We performed a meta-analysis to assess the role of different definitions of RVD and of individual parameters of RVD as predictors of death. Methods: A systematic search for studies including patients with confirmed PE reporting on right ventricle (RV) assessment at echocardiography and death in the acute phase was performed. The primary study outcome was death in-hospital or at 30 days. Results: RVD at echocardiography, regardless of its definition, was associated with increased risk of death (risk ratio 1.49, 95% CI 1.24-1.79, I2=64%) and PE-related death (risk ratio 3.77, 95% CI 1.61-8.80, I2=0%) in all-comers with PE, and with death in haemodynamically stable patients (risk ratio 1.52, 95% CI 1.15-2.00, I2=73%). The association with death was confirmed for RVD defined as the presence of at least one criterion or at least two criteria for RV overload. In all-comers with PE, increased RV/left ventricle (LV) ratio (risk ratio 1.61, 95% CI 1.90-2.39) and abnormal tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) (risk ratio 2.29 CI 1.45-3.59) but not increased RV diameter were associated with death; in haemodynamically stable patients, neither RV/LV ratio (risk ratio 1.11, 95% CI 0.91-1.35) nor TAPSE (risk ratio 2.29, 95% CI 0.97-5.44) were significantly associated with death. Conclusion: Echocardiography showing RVD is a useful tool for risk stratification in all-comers with acute PE and in haemodynamically stable patients. The prognostic value of individual parameters of RVD in haemodynamically stable patients remains controversial.

Plasma Troponins Identify Patients with Very Low-Risk Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

INTRODUCTION: Although in the non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOAC) era majority of low-risk acute pulmonary embolism (APE) patients can be treated at home, identifying those at very low risk of clinical deterioration may be challenging. We aimed to propose the risk stratification algorithm in sPESI 0 point APE patients, allowing them to select candidates for safe outpatient treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Post hoc analysis of a prospective study of 1151 normotensive patients with at least segmental APE. In the final analysis, we included 409 sPESI 0 point patients. Cardiac troponin assessment and echocardiographic examination were performed immediately after admission. Right ventricular dysfunction was defined as the right ventricle/left ventricle ratio (RV/LV) > 1.0. The clinical endpoint (CE) included APE-related mortality and/or rescue thrombolysis and/or immediate surgical embolectomy in patients with clinical deterioration. RESULTS: CE occurred in four patients who had higher serum troponin levels than subjects with a favorable clinical course (troponin/ULN: 7.8 (6.4-9.4) vs. 0.2 (0-1.36) p = 0.000). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that the area under the curve for troponin in the prediction of CE was 0.908 (95% CI 0.831-0.984; p < 0.001). We defined the cut-off value of troponin at >1.7 ULN with 100% PPV for CE. In univariate and multivariate analysis, elevated serum troponin level was associated with an increased risk of CE, whereas RV/LV > 1.0 was not. CONCLUSIONS: Solely clinical risk assessment in APE is insufficient, and patients with sPESI 0 points require further assessment based on myocardial damage biomarkers. Patients with troponin levels not exceeding 1.7 ULN constitute the group of "very low risk" with a good prognosis.

Does kidney function matter in pulmonary thromboembolism management?

Cardiovascular circulation and kidney function are closely interrelated. The impairment of renal function is a well-known hazard of increased mortality and morbidity of patients with heart failure or coronary artery disease. Acute pulmonary embolism (APE) impacts pulmonary and systemic circulation, and can severely impair functions of other organs, including kidneys, as a result of hypoxemia and increased venous pressure. Previous studies indicate that renal dysfunction predicts short- and long-term outcomes and can improve the risk assessment in APE. However, renal function should also be cautiously considered during the diagnostic workup because the contrast-induced nephropathy after computed tomography pulmonary angiography is noticed more frequently in APE. Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a rare but imminent complication of APE. This condition promotes renal impairment by increasing venous pressure and decreasing glomerular filtration. The renal function improvement and serum creatinine concentration reduction were noted in CTEPH subgroup with glomerular filtration rate ≤ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 after successful treatment. In this review, we present the essential research results on the kidney function in thromboembolism disease.

A Comparison of GFR Calculated by Cockcroft-Gault vs. MDRD Formula in the Prognostic Assessment of Patients with Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

INTRODUCTION: Risk stratification is mandatory for optimal management of patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE). Previous studies indicated that renal dysfunction predicts outcome and can improve risk assessment in APE. AIM: The aim of the study was a comparison of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) formulas, MDRD, and Cockcroft-Gault (CG), in the prognostic assessment of patients with APE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 2274 (1147 M/1127 F, median 71 years) hospitalised patients with APE prospectively included in a multicenter, observational, cohort study were analysed. A serum creatinine measurement as a routine laboratory parameter at the cooperating centers and eGFR calculation were performed on admission. Patients were followed for 180 days. The primary outcome was death from any cause within 30 days. RESULTS: The eGFR levels assessed by both, MDRD (eGFRMDRD) and CG formula (eGFRCG), were highest in patients with low-risk APE and lowest in high-risk APE. The eGFR (using both methods) was significantly lower in nonsurvivors compared to survivors. Using a threshold of <60 ml/min/1.73 m2, eGFRMDRD revealed the primary outcome with sensitivity 67%, specificity 52%, PPV 8%, and NPV 97%, while eGFRCG had a sensitivity 62%, specificity 62%, PPV 8.6%, and NPV 96%. The area under the ROC curve for eGFRCG tended to be higher than that for eGFRMDRD: 0.658 (95% CI: 0.608-0.709) vs. 0.631 (95% CI: 0.578-0.683), p = 0.12. A subanalysis of ROC curves in a population above 65 yrs showed a higher AUC for eGFRCG than based on MDRD. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a worse long-term outcome in patients with impaired renal function. CONCLUSION: eGFRMDRD and eGFRCG assessed on admission significant short- and long-term mortality predictors in patients with APE. The eGFRCG seems to be a slightly better 30-day mortality predictor than eGFRMDRD in the elderly.

The Prognostic Value of Renal Function in Acute Pulmonary Embolism-A Multi-Centre Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Haemodynamic alterations caused by acute pulmonary embolism (PE) may affect multi-organ function including kidneys. This multi-centre, multinational cohort study aimed to validate the prognostic significance of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and its potential additive value to the current PE risk assessment algorithms. METHODS: The post hoc analysis of pooled prospective cohort studies: 2,845 consecutive patients (1,424 M/1,421 F, 66 ± 17 years) with confirmed acute PE and followed up for 180 days. We tested prognostic value of pre-specified eGFR level ≤60 mL/min/1.73 m2 calculated on admission according to the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease study equation. The primary outcome was all-cause 30-day mortality; the secondary outcomes were PE-related mortality, 180-day all-cause mortality, bleeding and composite outcome (PE-related death, thrombolysis or embolectomy). RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-three patients (8%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 7-9%) died within the first 30 days after the diagnosis. The eGFR on admission was significantly lower in non-survivors than in survivors (64 ± 34 vs. 75 ± 3 mL/min/1.73 m2, p < 0.0001). Independent predictors for a fatal outcome included: cancer, systolic blood pressure, older age, hypoxia, eGFR, heart rate and coronary artery disease. The eGFR of ≤60 mL/min/1.73 m2 independently predicted all-cause mortality (hazard ratio: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.7-3.0, p < 0.0001), PE-related outcome and clinically relevant bleedings (odds ratio: 0.90 per 10 mL/min/1.73 m2, 95% CI: 0.85-0.95, p = 0.0002). The eGFR assessment significantly improved prognostic models proposed by European guidelines with net re-classification improvement of 0.42 (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The eGFR of ≤60 mL/min/1.73 m2 not only independently predicted higher 30- and 180-day all-cause mortality and bleeding events, but when added to the current European Society of Cardiology risk stratification algorithm improved identification of both low- and high-risk patients. Therefore, eGFR calculation should be implemented in the risk assessment of acute PE.

d-Dimer Assessment Improves the Simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index for In-Hospital Risk Stratification in Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

d-dimer (DD) levels are used in the diagnostic workup of suspected acute pulmonary embolism (APE), but data on DD for early risk stratification in APE are limited. In this post hoc analysis of a prospective observational study of 270 consecutive patients, we aimed to optimize the discriminant capacity of the simplified pulmonary embolism severity index (sPESI), an APE risk assessment score currently used, by combining it with DD for in-hospital adverse event prediction. We found that DD levels were higher in patients with complicated versus benign clinical course 7.2 mg/L (25th-75th percentile: 4.5-27.7 mg/L) versus 5.1 mg/L (25th-75th percentile: 2.1-11.2 mg/L), P = .004. The area under the curve of DD for serious adverse event (SAE) was 0.672, P = .003. d-dimer =1.35 mg/L showed 100% negative predictive value for SAE and identified 11 sPESI ≥1 patients with a benign clinical course, detecting the 1 patient with SAE from sPESI = 0. d-dimer >15 mg/L showed heart rate for SAE 3.04 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1-9). A stratification model which with sPESI + DD >1.35 mg/L demonstrated improved prognostic value when compared to sPESI alone (net reclassification improvement: 0.085, P = .04). d-dimer have prognostic value, values <1.35 mg/L identify patients with a favorable outcome, improving the prognostic potential of sPESI, while DD >15 mg/L is an independent predictor of SAE.

Age­adjusted plasma D­dimer levels in suspected acute pulmonary embolism: a retrospective, single­center study.

INTRODUCTION The conventional D­dimer threshold (CDD) is characterized by high sensitivity and low specificity in diagnosing acute pulmonary embolism (PE) in older patients. A higher cut­off level for D­dimer has been proposed, aiming at increasing the specificity while maintaining high sensitivity. It is calculated by multiplying the patient's age in years by a coefficient of 10 (YADD10). OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to validate the clinical value of YADD10 in patients with suspected acute PE and to optimize this threshold to achieve increased specificity paired with high sensitivity. PATIENTS AND METHODS The medical records of 1022 patients with suspected acute PE, hospitalized between the years 2014 and 2016, were retrospectively analyzed. Patients older than 50 years, with complete medical records and good quality of multislice computed tomography (CT) scans were enrolled. The sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, positive predictive value, and accuracy of the proposed thresholds were calculated and compared with those of the CCD. The number of computed tomography scans that could have been avoided with higher thresholds was determined. RESULTS The final analysis included 321 patients (176 women; mean age, 74.2 years; range, 51-101 years). Acute PE was confirmed in 135 patients. The sensitivity of CDD was 100%, and specificity-5.4%. The use of the YADD10 and YADD11 thresholds (obtained by multiplying by the coefficients of 10 and 11, respectively) resulted in maintaining high sensitivity, with increased specificity of 8.6% (YADD10) and 12.4% (YADD11). The number of unnecessary CT scans was reduced by 7%. CONCLUSIONS The YADD thresholds are characterized by high sensitivity and increased specificity when compared with CDD, thus allowing for a safe reduction of the number of CT scans. A prospective study should be conducted to validate these results.

Acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with delayed angioplasty in a patient with anomalous origin of the right coronary artery in the early phase after kidney transplantation.

This case demonstrates a rare anomalous of origin of right coronary artery from the left sinus of Valsalva in patients who underwent kidney transplantation complicated by an acute ST elevation myocardial infarction treated with delay angioplasty.