Prospective deep learning-based quantitative assessment of coronary plaque by computed tomography angiography compared with intravascular ultrasound: the REVEALPLAQUE study.

AIMS: Coronary computed tomography angiography provides non-invasive assessment of coronary stenosis severity and flow impairment. Automated artificial intelligence (AI) analysis may assist in precise quantification and characterization of coronary atherosclerosis, enabling patient-specific risk determination and management strategies. This multicentre international study compared an automated deep learning-based method for segmenting coronary atherosclerosis in coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) against the reference standard of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). METHODS AND RESULTS: The study included clinically stable patients with known coronary artery disease from 15 centres in the USA and Japan. An AI-enabled plaque analysis was utilized to quantify and characterize total plaque (TPV), vessel, lumen, calcified plaque (CP), non-calcified plaque (NCP), and low-attenuation plaque (LAP) volumes derived from CCTA and compared with IVUS measurements in a blinded, core laboratory-adjudicated fashion. In 237 patients, 432 lesions were assessed; mean lesion length was 24.5 mm, and mean IVUS-TPV was 186.0 mm3. AI-enabled plaque analysis on CCTA showed strong correlation and high accuracy when compared with IVUS; correlation coefficient, slope, and Y intercept for TPV were 0.91, 0.99, and 1.87, respectively; for CP volume 0.91, 1.05, and 5.32, respectively; and for NCP volume 0.87, 0.98, and 15.24, respectively. Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated strong agreement with little bias for these measurements. CONCLUSION: AI-enabled CCTA quantification and characterization of atherosclerosis demonstrated strong agreement with IVUS reference standard measurements. This tool may prove effective for accurate evaluation of coronary atherosclerotic burden and cardiovascular risk assessment.

Inferior Wall ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Left Ventricular Pseudoaneurysm, Cardiac Tamponade, and Partial Papillary Muscle Rupture.

Papillary muscle rupture (PMR) is a rare complication of myocardial infarction. Its incidence has been decreasing nowadays because of improved early revascularization techniques. When it occurs, surgical treatment is the only therapeutic lifesaving approach. We report a case of an 85-year-old female patient who presented to the emergency room with chest pain. An electrocardiogram showed inferior wall ST-elevation myocardial infarction. The patient was revascularized emergently with a drug-eluting stent to the obtuse marginal artery. An intra-aortic balloon pump was inserted for hemodynamic support. Six hours later, the patient developed shortness of breath with persistent hypotension. A transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) showed a large pericardial effusion with a pseudoaneurysm in the infero-septal apex. Immediate drainage of pericardial fluid was performed. Seventy-two hours later, the patient had flash pulmonary edema. A new severe eccentric mitral regurgitation was discovered on transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Findings revealed a partial posteromedial papillary muscle tear and prolapse of the A2 scallop. The patient was not a candidate for surgical replacement or percutaneous repair due to the high surgical risk and poor functional status, and she passed away on day fifteen of her hospital stay. Limited case series have shown promising benefits of percutaneous edge-to-edge mitral valve repair in selected high surgical risk patients and as a bridge to definitive mitral valve replacement. A diagnosis of PMR should be in the differential diagnosis, especially when evaluating hemodynamically unstable patients who present with prolonged symptoms.

Diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis: an era of paradigm shift.

Cardiac sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disease that may affect any organ, including the heart. Diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis is challenging, given the varied and non-specific clinical presentation and limited sensitivity and specificity of available diagnostic tests. With the growing interest and developments in imaging techniques, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and positron emission tomography (PET) have emerged as important tools in the diagnostic evaluation of patients with suspected cardiac sarcoidosis. These modalities have been given increasing emphasis in successive published diagnostic guidelines for CS. This review will provide an update on the recent paradigm shift in diagnostic guidelines for cardiac sarcoidosis, with a focus on the advanced cardiac imaging modalities and their developed role in clinical practice.

Prothrombin complex concentrate and fatal thrombotic adverse events: A complication to keep in mind.

Thromboembolic events such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are well-known complications that can occur after prothrombin complex concentrate therapy. However, acute myocardial infarction is a very rare but potentially life-threatening complication that was exclusively described in patients with bleeding disorders who received chronic and recurrent concentrate infusions. We report the case of a 70 year-old male patient with cholangiocarcinoma who was admitted to our hospital with worsening fatigue and weakness. His stay was complicated by uncontrolled bleeding secondary to rivaroxaban use and advanced liver disease. By the end of the prothrombin complex concentrate infusion used to reverse his coagulopathy, patient developed ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock and passed away. This is the first reported case of acute myocardial infarction that occurs in a patient without hemophilia and after the first prothrombin complex concentrate infusion.

Thyrotoxicosis Mimicking ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Hyperthyroidism is well known to be associated with cardiac disease. Delay in making the diagnosis and occurrence of complications are common and are associated with a worse outcome. A 54-year-old male, non-smoker, with no past medical history and no significant family history presented to our hospital with severe left sided chest pain, "crushing" in nature. Electrocardiogram showed ST-segment elevations in the inferior leads. Troponin I level was 0.32 ng/mL (normal range 0-0.05 ng/mL) on presentation. The patient underwent an emergent coronary angiography which showed no evidence of occlusive coronary artery disease. The patient's symptoms and signs prompted a high suspicion of thyrotoxicosis which was subsequently confirmed by a low thyroid stimulating hormone and high free thyroxine levels. The patient was given Methimazole and atenolol and his symptoms resolved. Awareness of coronary vasospasm due to thyrotoxicosis should be raised in patients presenting with typical angina pectoris with subsequent normal coronary angiographic results. History and physical examination may suggest underlying hyperthyroidism, but the absence of typical findings does not rule out the diagnosis.

Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Internal Medicine Residents: Are Future Physicians Becoming Deconditioned?

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown a falloff in physicians' physical activity from medical school to residency. Poor fitness may result in stress, increase resident burnout, and contribute to mortality from cardiovascular disease and other causes. Physicians with poor exercise habits are also less likely to counsel patients about exercise. Prior studies have reported resident physical activity but not cardiorespiratory fitness age. OBJECTIVE: The study was conducted in 2 residency programs (3 hospitals) to assess internal medicine residents' exercise habits as well as their cardiorespiratory fitness age. METHODS: Data regarding physical fitness levels and exercise habits were collected in an anonymous cross-sectional survey. Cardiopulmonary fitness age was determined using fitness calculator based on the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT). RESULTS: Of 199 eligible physicians, 125 (63%) responded to the survey. Of respondents, 11 (9%) reported never having exercised prior to residency and 45 (36%) reported not exercising during residency (P < .001). In addition, 42 (34%) reported exercising every day prior to residency, while only 5 (4%) reported exercising daily during residency (P < .001), with 99 (79%) participants indicating residency obligations as their main barrier to exercise. We found residents' calculated mean fitness age to be 5.6 years higher than their mean chronological age (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Internal medicine residents reported significant decreases in physical activity and fitness. Residents attributed time constraints due to training as a key barrier to physical activity.

Acute kidney injury adjusted to volume status in critically ill patients: recognition of delayed diagnosis, restaging, and associated outcomes.

Critically ill patients receive a significant amount of fluids leading to a positive fluid balance; this dilutes serum creatinine resulting in an overestimated glomerular filtration rate. The goal of our study is to identify undiagnosed or underestimated acute kidney injury (AKI) in the intensive care unit (ICU). It will also identify the morbidity and mortality associated with an underestimated AKI. We reviewed records of patients admitted to our institution (Staten Island University Hospital) between 2012 and 2013 for more than 2 days. Patients with end stage renal disease were excluded. AKI was defined using the Acute Kidney Injury Network criteria. The following formula was used to identify and restage patients with AKI: adjusted creatinine = serum creatinine × [(hospital admission weight (kg) 0.6 + Σ (daily cumulative fluid balance (L))/hospital admission weight × 0.6]. The primary outcome identified newly diagnosed AKI and those who were restaged. The secondary outcome identified associated morbidities. Seven-hundred and thirty-three out of 1,982 ICU records reviewed, were used. Two-hundred and fifty-seven (mean age 69.8±14.9) had AKI, out of which 15.9% were restaged using the equation. Comparison of mean by Student's t-test showed no difference between patients who were restaged. Similarly, chi-square revealed no differences between both arms, except mean admission weight (lower in patients who were restaged), fluid balance on days 1, 2, and 3 (higher in the restaged arm), and the presence of congestive heart failure (more prevalent in the restaged arm). Of note, the mean cost of stay was US$150,562.82 vs $197,174.63 for same stage vs restaged, respectively, however, without statistical significance (P=0.74). Applying the adjustment equation showed a modest (15.9%) increase in the AKI staging slightly impacting outcomes (mortality, length, and cost of stay) without statistical significance.

Is kidney function affecting the management of myocardial infarction? A retrospective cohort study in patients with normal kidney function, chronic kidney disease stage III-V, and ESRD.

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are three times more likely to have myocardial infarction (MI) and suffer from increased morbidity and higher mortality. Traditional and unique risk factors are prevalent and constitute challenges for the standard of care. However, CKD patients have been largely excluded from clinical trials and little evidence is available to guide evidence-based treatment of coronary artery disease in patients with CKD. Our objective was to assess whether a difference exists in the management of MI (ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction) among patients with normal kidney function, CKD stage III-V, and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. We conducted a retrospective cohort study on patients admitted to Staten Island University Hospital for the diagnosis of MI between January 2005 and December 2012. Patients were assigned to one of three groups according to their kidney function: Data collected on the medical management and the use of statins, platelet inhibitors, beta-blockers, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers were compared among the three cohorts, as well as medical interventions including: catheterization and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) when indicated. Chi-square test was used to compare the proportions between nominal variables. Binary logistic analysis was used in order to determine associations between treatment modalities and comorbidities, and to account for possible confounding factors. Three hundred and thirty-four patients (mean age 67.2±13.9 years) were included. In terms of management, medical treatment was not different among the three groups. However, cardiac catheterization was performed less in ESRD when compared with no CKD and CKD stage III-V (45.6% vs 74% and 93.9%) (P<0.001). CABG was performed in comparable proportions in the three groups and CABG was not associated with the degree of CKD (P=0.078) in binary logistics regression. Cardiac catheterization on the other hand carried the strongest association among all studied variables (P<0.001). This association was maintained after adjusting for other comorbidities. The length of stay for the three cohorts (non-CKD, CKD stage III-V, and ESRD on hemodialysis) was 16, 17, and 15 days, respectively and was not statistically different. Many observations have reported discrimination of care for patients with CKD considered suboptimal candidates for aggressive management of their cardiac disease. In our study, medical therapy was achieved at high percentage and was comparable among groups of different kidney function. However, kidney disease seems to affect the management of patients with acute MI; percutaneous coronary angiography is not uniformly performed in patients with CKD and ESRD when compared with patients with normal kidney function.

Two cases and review of the literature: primary percutaneous angiography and antiplatelet management in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

We report two cases of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) associated with acute coronary artery syndrome highlighting the interventions done in every case along with the medications used during intervention and as outpatient. The first case is that of a woman with ITP exacerbation while on dual antiplatelet therapy and the second case is that of a male presenting with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) while in a thrombocytopenic crisis. In both cases antiplatelet therapy was held and thrombopoietic therapy was initiated before resuming full anticoagulation and coronary intervention. Given the paucity of data on ITP and antiplatelets treatment in the setting of acute coronary syndrome, no strict recommendations can be proposed, but antiplatelets appear to be safe acutely and in the long term in this category of patients as long as few measures are undertaken to minimize the risks of bleeding and thrombosis.