Akihiro Shirakabe

Acute kidney injury and outcomes in acute decompensated heart failure: evaluation of the RIFLE criteria in an acutely ill heart failure population

The clinical course including the outcome of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) correlates with renal dysfunction, but the evaluation of renal function has not yet been standardized. We therefore investigated the relationship between the prognosis of ADHF and acute kidney injury (AKI) evaluated using the risk, injury, failure, loss, end stage (RIFLE) criteria.

Impact of Prediabetic Status on Coronary Atherosclerosis A multivessel angioscopic study

OBJECTIVE To determine if prediabetes is associated with atherosclerosis of coronary arteries, we evaluated the degree of coronary atherosclerosis in nondiabetic, prediabetic, and diabetic patients by using coronary angioscopy to identify plaque vulnerability based on yellow color intensity. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Sixty-seven patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) underwent angioscopic observation of multiple main-trunk coronary arteries. According to the American Diabetes Association guidelines, patients were divided into nondiabetic (n = 16), prediabetic (n = 28), and diabetic (n = 23) groups. Plaque color grade was defined as 1 (light yellow), 2 (yellow), or 3 (intense yellow) based on angioscopic findings. The number of yellow plaques (NYPs) per vessel and maximum yellow grade (MYG) were compared among the groups. RESULTS Mean NYP and MYG differed significantly between the groups (P = 0.01 and P = 0.047, respectively). These indexes were higher in prediabetic than in nondiabetic patients (P = 0.02 and P = 0.04, respectively), but similar in prediabetic and diabetic patients (P = 0.44 and P = 0.21, respectively). Diabetes and prediabetes were independent predictors of multiple yellow plaques (NYPs ≥2) in multivariate logistic regression analysis (odds ratio [OR] 10.8 [95% CI 2.09–55.6], P = 0.005; and OR 4.13 [95% CI 1.01–17.0], P = 0.049, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Coronary atherosclerosis and plaque vulnerability were more advanced in prediabetic than in nondiabetic patients and comparable between prediabetic and diabetic patients. Slight or mild disorders in glucose metabolism, such as prediabetes, could be a risk factor for CAD, as is diabetes itself.

The prognostic impact of uric acid in patients with severely decompensated acute heart failure

BACKGROUND The serum level of uric acid (UA) is a well-known prognostic factor for heart failure (HF) patients. However, the prognostic impact of hyperuricemia and the factors that induce hyperuricemia in acute HF (AHF) patients are not well understood. METHODS AND RESULTS Eight hundred eighty-nine AHF patients were enrolled in this study. The patients were assigned into a low UA group (UA≤7.0mg/dl, n=495) or a high UA group (UA>7.0mg/dl, n=394) according to their UA level on admission. A Kaplan-Meier curve showed that the survival rate of the low UA group was significantly higher than that of the high UA group. A multivariate Cox regression model identified that a high UA level (HR: 1.192, 95%CI 1.112-1.277) was an independent predictor of 180-day mortality. A multivariate logistic regression model for a high serum UA level on admission indicated that chronic kidney disease (CKD) (OR: 2.030, 95%CI: 1.298-3.176, p=0.002) and the administration of loop diuretics before admission (OR: 1.556, 95%CI: 1.010-2.397, p=0.045) were independent factors. The prognosis, including all-cause death and HF events, was significantly poorer among patients who had a high UA level who had previously used loop diuretics and among CKD patients with a high UA level than among other patients. CONCLUSIONS The serum UA level was an independent predictor in patients who were hospitalized during an emergent situation for AHF. An elevated serum UA level on admission was associated with the presence of CKD and the use of loop diuretics. These factors were also associated with adverse outcomes in hyperuricemic patients with AHF.

Soluble lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 (sLOX-1) as a valuable diagnostic marker for rupture of thin-cap fibroatheroma: verification by optical coherence tomography.

BACKGROUND Relationships between plaque morphology on optical coherence tomography (OCT) and biomarker levels in the patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have not been fully investigated. METHODS ACS patients (n=128) were prospectively enrolled and their plasma levels of soluble lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 (sLOX-1), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and high-sensitivity troponin T (hs-TnT) were measured. Another set of 20 patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP) without plaque rupture or erosion served as controls. Among 128 ACS patients, 75 patients underwent OCT procedure to evaluate culprit plaque morphology, and were categorized into two groups; ACS with plaque rupture (ruptured ACS; R-ACS, n=54) and ACS without plaque rupture (non-ruptured ACS; N-ACS, n=21). RESULTS Levels of sLOX-1 (p<0.001), hs-CRP (p=0.048) and hs-TnT (p<0.001) were significantly higher in R-ACS than SAP. Levels of sLOX-1 were also significantly higher in R-ACS than in N-ACS (p<0.001); whereas levels of hs-CRP (p=0.675), as well as those of hs-TnT (p=0.055), were comparable between R-ACS and N-ACS. Comparison of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves among sLOX-1, hs-CRP and hs-TnT to differentiate R-ACS from N-ACS revealed that the area under the curve (AUC) values of sLOX-1, hs-CRP and hs-TnT were 0.782, 0.531 and 0.643, respectively. ROC curves, generated for these biomarkers, to differentiate ACS with thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) from those without demonstrated that the AUC values of sLOX-1, hs-CRP and hs-TnT were 0.718, 0.506 and 0.524, respectively. CONCLUSION sLOX-1, but not hs-CRP or hs-TnT, can differentiate ACS with plaque rupture from those without, and ACS with TCFA from those without.

New scoring system (APACHE-HF) for predicting adverse outcomes in patients with acute heart failure: Evaluation of the APACHE II and Modified APACHE II scoring systems

BACKGROUND No scoring system for assessing acute heart failure (AHF) has been reported. METHODS AND RESULTS Data for 824 AHF patients were analyzed. The subjects were divided into an alive (n=750) and a dead group (n=74). We constructed a predictive scoring system based on eight significant APACHE II factors in the alive group [mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse, sodium, potassium, hematocrit, creatinine, age, and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS); giving each one point], defined as the APACHE-HF score. The patients were assigned to five groups by the APACHE-HF score [Group 1: point 0 (n=70), Group 2: points 1 and 2 (n=343), Group 3: points 3 and 4 (n=294), Group 4: points 5 and 6 (n=106), and Group 5: points 7 and 8 (n=11)]. A higher optimal balance was observed in the APACHE-HF between sensitivity and specificity [87.8%, 63.9%; area under the curve (AUC)=0.779] at 2.5 points than in the APACHE II (47.3%, 67.3%; AUC=0.558) at 17.5 points. The multivariate Cox regression model identified belonging to Group 5 [hazard ratio (HR): 7.764, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.586-38.009], Group 4 (HR: 6.903, 95%CI 1.940-24.568) or Group 3 (HR: 5.335, 95%CI 1.582-17.994) to be an independent predictor of 3-year mortality. The Kaplan-Meier curves revealed a poorer prognosis, including all-cause death and HF events (death, readmission-HF), in Group 5 and Group 4 than in the other groups, in Group 3 than in Group 2 or Group 1, and in Group 2 than in Group 1. CONCLUSIONS The new scoring system including MAP, pulse, sodium, potassium, hematocrit, creatinine, age, and GCS (APACHE-HF) can be used to predict adverse outcomes of AHF.

Predicting the success of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in emergency room for patients with acute heart failure

BACKGROUND Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) for acute heart failure (AHF) is increasingly used to avoid endotracheal intubation (ETI). We therefore reviewed our experience using respirator management in the emergency room for AHF, and evaluated the predictive factors in the success of NPPV in the emergency room. METHODS AND RESULTS Three-hundred forty-three patients with AHF were analyzed. The AHF patients were assigned to either BiPAP-Synchrony (B-S; Respironics, Merrysville, PA, USA) period (2005-2007, n = 176) or BiPAP-Vision (B-V; Respironics) period (2008-2010, n = 167). The rate of carperitide use was significantly increased and dopamine use was significantly decreased in the B-V period. The total length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the B-V period. AHF patients were also assigned to a failed trial of NPPV followed by ETI (NPPV failure group) or an NPPV success group in the emergency room for each period. NPPV was successfully used in 48 cases in the B-S period, and in 111 cases in the B-V period. Fifty-seven ETI patients included 45 direct ETI and 11 NPPV failure cases in the B-S period, and 16 ETI patients included 10 direct ETI and 6 NPPV failure cases in the B-V period. The pH values were significantly lower in the NPPV failure than in the NPPV success for both periods (7.19 ± 0.10 vs. 7.28 ± 0.11, B-S period, p < 0.05; 7.05 ± 0.08 vs. 7.27 ± 0.14, B-V period, p < 0.001). A pH value of 7.20 produced the optimal balance in the B-S period, while that of 7.03 produced the optimal balance in B-V periods by the ROC curve analysis. The cutoff value of pH was lower in the B-V period than in the B-S period. CONCLUSIONS This predictive value provides successful estimates of NPPV with a high sensitivity and specificity, and the aortic blood gas level was above 7.03 pH when using the B-V system.

Clinical significance of acid-base balance in an emergency setting in patients with acute heart failure.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The role of an arterial blood gas analysis in acute heart failure (AHF) remains unclear. The acid-base balance could help to treat AHF, and it might help to distinguish different types of AHF, while it might be associated with the AHF prognosis. The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between the arterial blood gas sample at the time of hospital admission and clinical findings on admission, outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS Six hundred twenty-one patients with AHF admitted to the intensive care unit were analyzed. Patients were assigned to an alkalosis group (n=99, pH>7.45), normal group (n=178, 7.35≤ pH≤ 7.45), and acidosis group (n=344, pH<7.35). The clinical findings on admission and outcomes (in-hospital mortality and any-cause death within 2 years) were compared between the three groups. The white blood cell counts (WBC), serum levels of total protein, albumin, and glucose were significantly lower, and the serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and total bilirubin were significantly higher in the alkalosis group. Patients with orthopnea were significantly fewer, and the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) were significantly lower in the alkalosis group. The results of a multivariate logistic regression model for in-hospital mortality found that alkalosis was an independent risk factor (p=0.017, odds ratio: 2.589; 95% confidence interval: 1.186-5.648). The Kaplan-Meier curves showed the prognosis for any-cause death to be significantly poorer in the alkalosis group than in the normal group (p=0.026). CONCLUSIONS The factors associated with alkalosis AHF were high CRP, bilirubin, and low WBC, glucose, total protein, and albumin. The patients with alkalosis AHF were less likely to have orthopnea with low SBP and HR. They suggested that the patients with alkalosis AHF might have experienced AHF for a few days and were associated with high mortality.

Detection of acute aortic dissection by extremely high soluble lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 (sLOX-1) and low troponin T levels in blood

Detection of acute aortic dissection by extremely high soluble lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 (sLOX-1) and low troponin T levels in blood Nobuaki Kobayashi ⁎, Noritake Hata , Noriaki Kume , Shinya Yokoyama , Masamichi Takano , Takuro Shinada , Kazunori Tomita , Akihiro Shirakabe , Toru Inami , Yoshihiko Seino , Kyoichi Mizuno d a Division of Intensive Care Unit, Chiba-Hokusoh Hospital, Nippon Medical School, Chiba, Japan b Division of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, Kobe, Japan c Cardiovascular Center, Chiba-Hokusoh Hospital, Nippon Medical School, Chiba, Japan d Division of Cardiology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan

Immediate administration of atorvastatin decreased the serum MMP-2 level and improved the prognosis for acute heart failure

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE We have reported that matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) increased in acute heart failure (AHF) and better prognosis was found in patients with greater reduction in MMP-2. We assessed whether a statin decreased MMP-2 in AHF. METHODS AND RESULTS The serum MMP-2 levels were measured on admission (Day 1), Day 3, Day 7, and Day 14 in 50 AHF patients. The patients were randomized to either atorvastatin (n=25) or control group (n=25). Atorvastatin (10-20mg/day) was started within 12h after their admission and then was continued for two weeks. There were no differences in the serum levels of MMP-2 on Day 1 between atorvastatin group (1400.4±318.6ng/ml) and control group (1292.7±384.7ng/ml). MMP-2 significantly decreased in both groups on Day 3, 7, and 14. However, the MMP-2 value on Day 3 compared to Day 1 was observed to have decreased significantly in atorvastatin group (561.8±235.1ng/ml) compared to control group (272.6±270.6ng/ml; p=0.001). HF events which were defined as death from HF, readmission to hospital for HF, or prolonged hospital stay because of uncontrollable HF, occurred more in control group than in atorvastatin group. Kaplan-Meier curves showed that the prognosis of HF was significantly better in atorvastatin group as compared with control group (log-rank test, p=0.037). CONCLUSION In addition to conventional HF therapy, an early start of atorvastatin caused a great decrease in MMP-2 and also improved HF events in AHF.

Impact of small thrombus formation in restenotic bare-metal stent lesions associated with acute coronary syndrome: Identification by optical coherence tomography

BACKGROUND Although in-stent restenosis (ISR) after bare-metal stent (BMS) implantation is considered to be clinically benign, ISR is often associated with adverse complications, such as acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The frequency, type, and location of thrombi in ISR lesions and their clinical presentation have not yet been precisely validated. METHODS Thirty angiographic ISR lesions occurring within 3 to 8 months after stenting were evaluated by optical coherence tomography (OCT). A thrombus was defined as a mass protruding into the lumen with an irregular surface, and its type was divided into red or white. The maximum size of a thrombus and the longitudinal distance from the thrombus to the narrowest lumen were measured. RESULTS A thrombus was identified in 2 patients by angiography and in 10 patients by OCT (7% vs. 33%; P=0.01). OCT showed that 9 patients had white thrombus and another patient had both types of thrombi. ACS relevant to ISR was seen in 6 patients, and the frequency of ACS was significantly higher in patients with thrombus than in those without thrombus [50% (5/10) vs. 5% (1/20); P=0.003]. The maximum size of the thrombus was 412 ± 220 µm in height, 424 ± 251 µm in width, and the longitudinal distance between the thrombus and the minimum lumen area was 0.3 ± 0.7 mm. CONCLUSIONS One third of ISR lesions following BMS deployment dominantly contained a white thrombus, and half of them were associated with ACS. A small thrombus formation adjacent to the narrowest lumen in an ISR lesion may therefore contribute to the clinical presentation of ACS.