Potential performance of a 0 h/1 h algorithm and a single cut-off measure of high-sensitivity troponin T in a diverse population: main results of the IN-HOPE study.

AIMS: Chest pain is a major cause of medical evaluation at emergency department (ED) and demands observation to exclude the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). High-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays used as isolated measure and by 0- and 1-h algorithms are accepted as a rule-in/rule-out strategy, but there is a lack of validation in specific populations. METHODS AND RESULTS: The IN-HOspital Program to systematizE Chest Pain Protocol (IN-HOPE study) is a multicentre study that prospectively included patients admitted to the ED due to suspected symptoms of AMI at 16 sites in Brazil. Medical decisions of all patients followed the standard approach of 0 h/3 h protocol, but, in addition, blood samples were also collected at 0 and 1 h and sent to a central laboratory (core lab) to measure high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT). To assess the theoretical performance of 0 h/1 h algorithm, troponin < 12 ng/L with a delta < 3 was considered rule-out while a value ≥ 52 or a delta ≥ 5 was considered a rule-in criterion (the remaining were considered as observation group). The main objective of the study was to assess, in a population managed by the 0 h/3 h protocol, the accuracy of 0 h/1 h algorithm overall and in groups with a higher probability of AMI. All patients were followed up for 30 days, and potential events were adjudicated. In addition to the prospective cohort, a retrospective analysis was performed assessing all patients with hs-cTnT measured during the year of 2021 but not included in the prospective cohort, regardless of the indication of the test. A total of 5.497 patients were included (583 in the prospective and 4.914 in the retrospective analysis). The prospective cohort had a mean age of 57.3 (± 14.8) and 45.6% of females with a mean HEART score of 4.0 ± 2.2. By the core lab analysis, 74.4% would be eligible for a rule-out approach (45.3% of them with a HEART score > 3) while 7.3% would fit the rule-in criteria. In this rule-out group, the negative predictive value for index AMI was 100% (99.1-100) overall and regardless of clinical scores. At 30 days, no death or AMI occurred in the rule-out group of both 0/1 and 0/3 h algorithms while 52.4% of the patients in the rule-in group (0 h/1 h) were considered as AMI by adjudication. In the observation group (grey zone) of 0 h/1 h algorithm, GRACE discriminated the risk of these patients better than HEART score. In the retrospective analysis, 1.091 patients had a troponin value of <5 ng/L and there were no cardiovascular deaths at 30 days in this group. Among all 4.914 patients, the 30-day risk of AMI or cardiovascular death increased according to the level of troponin: 0% in the group < 5 ng/L, 0.6% between 5 and 14 ng/L, 2.2% between 14 and 42 ng/L, 6.3% between 42 and 90 ng/L, and 7.7% in the level ≥ 90 ng/L. CONCLUSION: In this large multicentre study, a 0 h/1 h algorithm had the potential to classify as rule-in or rule-out in almost 80% of the patients. The rule-out protocol had high negative predictive value regardless of clinical risk scores. Categories of levels of hs-cTn T also showed good accuracy in discriminating risk of the patients with a very favourable prognosis for cardiovascular death in the group with value < 5 ng/L. CLINICALTRIALS.GOV: NCT04756362.

A Coronary Artery Anomaly Presenting as Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Coronary artery anomalies (CAAs) are rare congenital malformations with different clinical presentations and pathophysiological mechanisms. These anomalies are frequently the cause of sudden death in young patients. Most CAAs are incidental findings owing to the lack of symptoms; however, they may be associated with acute coronary syndrome in rare cases. CASE REPORT We describe the case of a 47-year-old man who presented with a 1-day history of progressive typical chest pain and elevated troponin levels. The patient underwent a coronary angiography, which unveiled the anomalous origin of the left main coronary artery arising from the right coronary artery, with an interarterial course between the ascending aorta and the pulmonary artery, without coronary artery disease. Coronary computed tomography angiography confirmed the CAA and its relationship with the symptoms. An uneventful coronary artery bypass graft was undertaken, and at the 1-year follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic, with a normal stress test. CONCLUSIONS This case depicts the presentation of atypical acute coronary syndrome in a young patient with a rare CAA. In such patients, coronary angiography and coronary computed tomography angiography are essential tools to confirm the diagnosis and to determine treatment. Although controversial, in young individuals presenting CAA with an interarterial course, such as the left main coronary artery arising from the right coronary artery, coronary artery bypass graft may be an important treatment option to avoid sudden death in the future.

Acute Coronary Syndrome After Ondansetron Administration in a Pregnant Woman: Kounis Syndrome?

We report on a pregnant woman with acute coronary syndrome probably caused by an allergic reaction to ondansetron. It also discusses the pathophysiology, main allergic triggers, clinical presentation, and management of Kounis syndrome. (Level of Difficulty: Beginner.).

Clinical outcomes and need for intensive care after non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The decision on whether non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients should be admitted to intensive care units (ICU) takes into account several factors including hospital routines. The Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network (ACTION) ICU score was developed to predict complications requiring ICU care post-NSTEMI. METHODS: We described patient characteristics and clinical outcomes of 1263 NSTEMI patients admitted to a private hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil, from 2014 to 2018. We also aimed to retrospectively identify NSTEMI patients who might not have needed to be admitted to the ICU based on the ACTION ICU risk score. We defined complications requiring ICU care post-NSTEMI as cardiac arrest, cardiogenic shock, stroke, re-infarction, death, heart block requiring pacemaker placement, respiratory failure, or sepsis. RESULTS: Mean age was 62.3 years and 35.8% were female. A total of 94.6% of NSTEMI patients were admitted to the ICU. Most NSTEMI patients (91.9%) underwent coronary angiography. Percutaneous coronary intervention was performed in 47.1% and coronary artery bypass graft surgery in 10.3%. Complications requiring ICU care occurred in 62 patients (4.9%). In-hospital mortality rate was 1.3%. Overall, 70.4% had an ACTION ICU score ≤ 5. The C-statistics for the ACTION risk score to predict complications was 0.55 (95% confidence interval 0.47-0.63). CONCLUSIONS: Complications requiring ICU care were infrequent in a cohort of NSTEMI patients who were routinely admitted to the ICU over a 4-year period. The ACTION risk score had low accuracy in the prediction of complications requiring ICU care in our population.

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Patients with Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator: A Retrospective Study

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing is widely used in the evaluation of patients with left ventricular dysfunction, and some of these patients have an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). However, this test presents specific challenges because of the susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmias during maximal levels of exercise. Objective: To evaluate the safety of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in patients with ICD. Methods: The study included patients with ICD who underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing between 2007 and 2015. The tests were completed once the electronic devices were programmed. The maximum allowed heart rate reached during exercise was 10 beats below the first therapy zone programmed. Results: The study included 69 patients with mean age 53.7 ± 10.8 years, including 68% men. Exercise time was 8.7±2.3 minutes, with peak oxygen consumption of 13.3 ± 4.3 ml.kg-1.min-1. Peak heart rate was 62.9 ± 13.4% of the maximum rate predicted, with all patients taking specific medication. Ventricular arrhythmia was observed in 29% of the patients, and paired ventricular extrasystoles, ventricular bigeminism or non-sustained ventricular tachycardia were observed in only 14.5% of the patients. There was no sustained ventricular arrhythmia resulting in ICD therapy or other complications, such as inappropriate therapies. The frequency of severe events was 0%, 95% CI (0 - 5.2%). Conclusion: In the sample of patients evaluated, the cardiopulmonary exercise testing was shown to be safe during its performance in a hospital setting, following the safety standards