Progression From Patterns A to B in Wellens Syndrome: Electrocardiographic Progression in Wellens Syndrome.

We describe a clinical case series of 3 patients whose electrocardiogram evolved from type A Wellens syndrome to a type B. We emphasize that the diagnosis and treatment for both patterns is the same and that these findings suggest the evolution of the same disease.

Association of hemostasis and inflammation biomarkers with outcomes in acute coronary syndromes.

Plaque rupture triggers a prothrombotic response that is counterbalanced by a fibrinolytic response. d -dimer serves as a marker of both processes. Inflammatory mediators are also released, evidenced with the rise of high-sensitive C reactive protein (hsCRP). Current evidence with these biomarkers has shown conflicting results. Determine an association between d -dimer and hsCRP within hospital and 1-year mortality in patients with acute coronary syndromes. In total, 127 patients were included. In-hospital mortality was 5.7%, and 1-year all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were 14.6 and 9.7%, respectively. The median of admission d -dimer for patients who died during hospital stay was higher than those who survived [4.59 (interquartile ranges (IQR) 1.94-6.05 µg/ml fibrinogen equivalent units (FEU)) vs. 0.56 (IQR 0.31-1.12 µg/ml FEU), P  = 0.001]. At 1-year follow-up, the median of admission d -dimer for patients who died was significantly higher than those who survived: 1.55 (IQR 0.91-5.08 µg/ml FEU) vs. 0.53 (IQR 0.29-0.90 µg/ml FEU), P  < 0.001. Positive d -dimer vs. negative d -dimer at admission analysis evidenced that almost 25% of the positive patients were dead at 1-year follow-up (22.4 vs. 2.4% negative d -dimer, P  = 0.011). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that d -dimer has an independent association with 1-year mortality [odds ratio 1.06 (95% confidence interval 1.02-1.10), P  = 0.006]. Positive significative correlations between d -dimer and hsCRP levels ( R  = 0.56, P  < 0.001) were found. High levels of admission d -dimer were strongly associated with in-hospital and 1-year mortality. Significant correlations with hsCRP could explain the inflammatory nature that led to poorer outcomes. d -dimer could be useful in risk stratification in acute coronary syndromes; however, a specific threshold should be defined for this type of patient.

Analysis of The Left Atrial Function Using Two-Dimensional Strain in Patients with Recent Diagnosis of Hereditary Hemochromatosis.

Hereditary Hemochromatosis (HH) is a genetic condition associated with a systemic iron overload. Heart failure is an important cause of mortality. It has been demonstrated early stages of systolic and diastolic left ventricular dysfunction in previous studies. The aim of the study is to compare the left atrial (LA) function between asymptomatic HH patients and a control group using 2D speckle tracking. Prospective study. LA strain, LA strain rate and LA volumetric parameters during the reservoir, conduit and contraction phases were studied. The LA Stiffness Index was calculated by the ratio between E/e and LA reservoir strain. 30 patients with HH (90% males, 47 ± 18 years old) and 30 healthy controls (85% males, 45 ± 13 years old) were included. LA volume was similar in both groups. No differences were observed in LA ejection fraction (EF), LA passive EF and LA active ejection fraction between both groups. On the contrary, the HH group had lower LA strain during the reservoir (31.5 ± 6.5% vs 38.3 ± 7.9%; P=0.002), and conduit phases (-18 ± 7% vs -23.3 ± 6.4%; P=0.01) and lower LA conduit strain rate (-1.7 ± 0.7 seg-1 vs -2.1 ± 0.5 seg-1; P=0.02) than controls. The LA stiffness index was significantly higher in the HH group (0.25 ± 0.9 vs 0.19 ± 0.6; P=0.01) Early abnormalities in the LA function could be detected by using 2D speckle tracking study despite no evidence of changes in atrial size or volumetric parameters.

[MINOCA, infarction with normal coronaries. The fall of the paradigm ?] / MINOCA, infarto con coronarias normales ¿ la caída del paradigma ?

Myocardial infarction is the leading cause of death in the world, being the coronary atherosclerotic obstruction the main finding. Although 6% of all the patients had no significant coronary arteries disease on coronary angiography, defined by lumen vascular obstruction greater than 50%. This type of cases was defined by the term MINOCA (myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries). They are usually young women, with cardiovascular risk factors, high cardiac biomarkers with non-ST elevation in the electrocardiogram. The main etiologies are myocarditis, Takotsubo syndrome and subendocardial myocardial infarction. We present the case of a 65 years-old woman with history of hypertension and complete left bundle branch block, who was admitted to the emergency department with typical chest pain, complete left bundle branch block in the electrocardiogram, with negative Sgarbossa criteria and positive cardiac biomarkers. The echocardiography evidenced inferolateral regional wall motion abnormalities, and the coronary angiography a single non-significative lesion (40%) in the proximal segment of the circumflex artery. Cardiac magnetic resonance evidenced subendocardial late adolinium enhancement in inferolateral medial with latero-apical extension segments consistent with circumflex artery-related infarction. This case illustrates an example of MINOCA secondary to myocardial infarction with posterior spontaneous thrombolysis, in which the clinical presentation was typical, however the coronary angiography showed non obstructive lesions. Therefore, another complementary imaging methods were needed such as the cardiac magnetic resonance.

El infarto agudo de miocardio es la principal causa de muerte en el mundo, siendo la obstrucción coronaria aterosclerótica el hallazgo más frecuente. Sin embargo, el 6% de los pacientes no presenta lesiones angiográficamente significativas, definidas por obstrucción de la luz vascular mayor al 50%. Estos casos se han definido bajo el término MINOCA (myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries). Suelen ocurrir en mujeres jóvenes, con factores de riesgo cardiovascular, elevación de biomarcadores cardíacos e infradesnivel del segmento ST en el electrocardiograma. Las principales etiologías son la miocarditis, el síndrome de Takotsubo y el infarto subendocárdico. Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 65 años con antecedentes de hipertensión arterial y bloqueo completo de rama izquierda previo, que ingresó con ángor, imagen de bloqueo completo de rama izquierda en el electrocardiograma con criterios de Sgarbossa negativos y biomarcadores cardíacos positivos. En el ecocardiograma evidenció trastorno en la motilidad de la pared inferolateral y en la coronariografía solo una lesión no significativa (40%) en segmento proximal de la arteria circunfleja. La cardiorresonancia, en la secuencia de realce tardío de gadolinio, mostró retención de contraste subendocárdico a nivel de los segmentos inferolateral medial con extensión lateroapical compatible con infarto correspondiente a territorio de arteria circunfleja. Este caso ilustra un ejemplo de MINOCA secundario a infarto subendocárdico con trombólisis espontánea, en el que la presentación clínica fue típica, sin embargo en la coronariografía no se observaron lesiones significativas, por lo que fue necesario complementar con otro método de imágenes: la cardiorresonancia.

Minoca, infarto con coronarias normales ¿La caída del paradigma? / MINOCA, infarction with normal coronaries. The fall of the paradigm ?

El infarto agudo de miocardio es la principal causa de muerte en el mundo, siendo la obstrucción coronaria aterosclerótica el hallazgo más frecuente. Sin embargo, el 6% de los pacientes no presenta lesiones angiográficamente significativas, definidas por obstrucción de la luz vascular mayor al 50%. Estos casos se han definido bajo el término MINOCA (myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries). Suelen ocurrir en mujeres jóvenes, con factores de riesgo cardiovascular, elevación de biomarcadores cardíacos e infradesnivel del segmento ST en el electrocardiograma. Las principales etiologías son la miocarditis, el síndrome de Takotsubo y el infarto subendocárdico. Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 65 años con antecedentes de hipertensión arterial y bloqueo completo de rama izquierda previo, que ingresó con ángor, imagen de bloqueo completo de rama izquierda en el electrocardiograma con criterios de Sgarbossa negativos y biomarcadores cardíacos positivos. En el ecocardiograma evidenció trastorno en la motilidad de la pared inferolateral y en la coronariografía solo una lesión no significativa (40%) en segmento proximal de la arteria circunfleja. La cardiorresonancia, en la secuencia de realce tardío de gadolinio, mostró retención de contraste subendocárdico a nivel de los segmentos inferolateral medial con extensión lateroapical compatible con infarto correspondiente a territorio de arteria circunfleja. Este caso ilustra un ejemplo de MINOCA secundario a infarto subendocárdico con trombólisis espontánea, en el que la presentación clínica fue típica, sin embargo en la coronariografía no se observaron lesiones significativas, por lo que fue necesario complementar con otro método de imágenes: la cardiorresonancia.

Myocardial infarction is the leading cause of death in the world, being the coronary atherosclerotic obstruction the main finding. Although 6% of all the patients had no significant coronary arteries disease on coronary angiography, defined by lumen vascular obstruction greater than 50%. This type of cases was defined by the term MINOCA (myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries). They are usually young women, with cardiovascular risk factors, high cardiac biomarkers with non-ST elevation in the electrocardiogram. The main etiologies are myocarditis, Takotsubo syndrome and subendocardial myocardial infarction. We present the case of a 65 years-old woman with history of hypertension and complete left bundle branch block, who was admitted to the emergency department with typical chest pain, complete left bundle branch block in the electrocardiogram, with negative Sgarbossa criteria and positive cardiac biomarkers. The echocardiography evidenced inferolateral regional wall motion abnormalities, and the coronary angiography a single non-significative lesion (40%) in the proximal segment of the circumflex artery. Cardiac magnetic resonance evidenced subendocardial late gadolinium enhancement in inferolateral medial with latero-apical extension segments consistent with circumflex artery-related infarction. This case illustrates an example of MINOCA secondary to myocardial infarction with posterior spontaneous thrombolysis, in which the clinical presentation was typical, however the coronary angiography showed non obstructive lesions. Therefore, another complementary imaging methods were needed such as the cardiac magnetic resonance.