Alfredo Bardají

Manejo del síndrome coronario agudo sin elevación del segmento ST en España. Estudio DESCARTES (Descripción del Estado de los Síndromes Coronarios Agudos en un Registro Temporal Español)

Introduccion y objetivos Se dispone de escasa informacion acerca de la situacion asistencial a escala poblacional de los sindromes coronarios agudos sin elevacion del segmento ST (SCASEST) en Espana. El objetivo es conocer la situacion de la atencion medica a los pacientes con SCASEST en Espana, desde una perspectiva representativa de la realidad estatal. Pacientes y metodo Registro prospectivo de pacientes consecutivos con SCASEST ingresados en 52 hospitales espanoles con distintos recursos cardiologicos, seleccionados al azar y que cumplieron con los criterios de control de calidad del estudio. Resultados Entre abril y mayo de 2002 se recluto a 1.877 pacientes con una edad promedio de 69 anos. El 93% tenia algun factor de riesgo y 73% antecedentes cardiovasculares. Un 76% presentaba un electrocardiograma anormal y un 53% elevacion de las troponinas. El 27% fue ingresado en una unidad coronaria o de cuidados intensivos. Se estudio al 56% de los pacientes mediante ecocardiografia, al 39% mediante una prueba de deteccion de isquemia y al 41% mediante coronariografia. En el hospital, un 88% recibio aspirina, un 81% heparina, un 37% clopidogrel, un 12% inhibidores de la glucoproteina IIb/IIIa, un 63% bloqueadores beta, un 46% inhibidores de la enzima de conversion de la angiotensina y un 52% estatinas. Se realizo revascularizacion coronaria en el 24% de los pacientes. El diagnostico final fue angina en el 54%, infarto en el 28% y otros diagnosticos en el 18%. La mortalidad fue del 3,7% a los 28 dias y del 7,8% a 6 los meses. Conclusiones DESCARTES es el primer registro representativo de la actividad asistencial en la atencion a los SCASEST en Espana. Se demuestra que, pese a que son pacientes de alto riesgo, reciben una atencion suboptima segun lo recomendado.

A polymorphism in the promoter of the tumor necrosis factor-α gene (-308) is associated with coronary heart disease in type 2 diabetic patients

BACKGROUND Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a key cytokine in the inflammation process of atherosclerosis. Through its effects on lipid metabolism, insulin resistance and endothelial function, it might be involved in coronary heart disease (CHD). A biallelic polymorphism within the promoter of TNF-alpha locus at the position -308 has been reported to be associated with TNF production. We have studied the association of this polymorphism with CHD in a Mediterranean non-diabetic and type 2 diabetic population. METHODS Three hundred and forty one CHD patients (106 with type 2 diabetes), 207 healthy matched control subjects and 135 type 2 diabetic patients without CHD were evaluated. A single nucleotide polymorphism at the promoter TNF-alpha (-308) was analyzed by RFLP-PCR. RESULTS TNF-alpha (-308) genotype and allele frequencies for A carriers were higher in CHD patients than those observed in the control group (32.3 vs. 23.2%, P=0.03; and 18.8 vs. 12.1%, P=0.0047; respectively) independently of other risk factors. Genotypic analysis revealed that CHD patients with type 2 DM displayed a greater prevalence of the -308 TNF-alpha A allele (40.6%) than controls (23.2%) or CHD patients without type 2 DM (28.5%) (P=0.0056). The odds ratio for CHD in type 2 diabetic patients in presence of -308 TNF-alpha A allele was 2.86 (CI 95%: 1.55-5.32). This difference was observed mainly in diabetic women for the A allele carriers (OR: 4.29; CI 95%: 1.6-11.76). CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that -308 TNF-alpha gene polymorphism may contribute to CHD risk in patients with type 2 diabetes and it could constitute an useful predictive marker for CHD in type 2 diabetic women.

Severe hyperkalemia with minimal electrocardiographic manifestations: a report of seven cases.

Severe hyperkalemia with minimal or nonspecific electrocardiographic (ECG) changes is unusual. We report data on seven patients with renal failure, metabolic acidosis, and severe hyperkalemia (K+ > or =8 mmol/L) without typical ECG changes. Initial ECGs revealed sinus rhythm and PR and QT intervals in the normal range. QRS intervals were slightly prolonged in two patients (110 ms), and incomplete right bundle branch block was evident in one. Thus, the absence of typical ECG changes does not preclude severe hyperkalemia.

Guías de práctica clínica de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología en pruebas de esfuerzo

La mayor parte de las pruebas de esfuerzo se realizan a pacientes adultos con cardiopatia isquemica en estudio o ya conocida. En los ultimos anos se ha producido la incorporacion de las tecnicas de imagen en este campo, mejorando asi la informacion aportada por la prueba de esfuerzo convencional. Pero cada vez existen mas situaciones que escapan a esta norma general, tanto en sujetos sanos (asintomaticos, atletas, discapacitados, etc.) como en pacientes con cardiopatias diferentes de la isquemica (insuficiencia cardiaca congestiva avanzada, hipertension, trastornos del ritmo, cardiopatias congenitas etc.). Todos estos aspectos justifican un documento de consenso en Espana, necesariamente multidisciplinario. Este documento revisa en profundidad la metodologia de las pruebas de esfuerzo convencionales, sin olvidar las realizadas con determinacion de consumo de oxigeno. El papel de esta exploracion en el manejo de la cardiopatia isquemica, asi como las aplicaciones de las tecnicas de imagen al campo del estres, ocupan un lugar fundamental en esta revision. Por ultimo, se analiza la utilidad de las pruebas de esfuerzo en diversas cardiopatias no isquemicas y en diferentes poblaciones de sujetos sanos.

Left ventricular mass and diastolic function in normotensive young adults with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Left ventricular hypertrophy is often found very early in the course of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Diastolic dysfunction has been shown in hypertensive adult patients with ADPKD with increased left ventricular mass (LVM), but there are no data about diastolic function in the young ADPKD population without hypertension and with normal renal function. To evaluate very early alterations in cardiac structure and diastolic function in young normotensive patients with ADPKD, color Doppler echocardiography was performed in 46 young normotensive patients with ADPKD and 35 healthy subjects. LVM, transmitral pulsed Doppler flow (diastolic function), and valvular abnormalities were studied. Patients with ADPKD showed higher LVM indices (LVMIs) than controls (89.7+/-17.3 v 68.5+/-17.2 g/m2; P < 0.0001). Peak early diastolic velocity (E wave) deceleration time and isovolumic relaxation time were significantly prolonged in patients with ADPKD compared with controls (E wave deceleration time, 182.5+/-51.3 v 149.4+/-34 msec; P=0.002; isovolumic relaxation time, 97.7+/-17.5 v 79+/-15 msec; P=0.0001). No differences were found in valvular abnormalities in the two groups. In conclusion, young normotensive patients with ADPKD showed increased LVMIs and Doppler abnormalities consistent with early diastolic dysfunction.

Long-Term Myocardial Effects of Correction of Anemia With Recombinant Human Erythropoietin in Aged Patients on Hemodialysis

Long-term myocardial effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) therapy were investigated in nine hemodialysis (HD) patients greater than 60 years of age. Echocardiographic studies were performed before the administration of rhEPO with a hematocrit of 20.8% +/- 1.9% and repeated after 6 (period I) and 24 months (period II) of treatment, when the hematocrit was increased to 34.1% +/- 2.3% and 32.3% +/- 2.8%, respectively. Left ventricular diameters were not significantly changed by rhEPO, although they tended to decrease at the end of the study (30.6 +/- 5.3 v 27.7 +/- 3.6 mm systole, and 50.3 +/- 3 v 46.5 +/- 3.7 mm diastole). Thickness of the interventricular septum and left ventricular posterior wall remained unaltered, although there was a downward trend (14.5 +/- 5.2 to 12.8 +/- 2.8 mm and 11.7 +/- 1.9 to 10.6 +/- 1.4 mm, respectively). Left ventricular mass index (LVM) progressively decreased from 181.5 +/- 61 to 153.8 +/- 38.3 (period I) and 135.7 +/- 45.6 g/m2 (period II, P less than 0.05). Stroke volume remained unaltered in period I, but it decreased from 93.7 +/- 10 to 65.2 +/- 12.8 mL (P less than 0.001) in period II, resulting in a decrease of cardiac index (CI) from 3.93 +/- 0.86 to 2.54 +/- 0.68 L/min/m2 (P less than 0.001) at the end of the study. Heart rate did not change during the study period. Blood pressure was kept constant, although antihypertensive therapy needed to be adjusted to prevent occurrence or aggravation of hypertension in two patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Magnitude and consequences of undertreatment of high‐risk patients with non‐ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes: insights from the DESCARTES Registry

Objective: To analyse intensity of treatment of high-risk patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTEACS) included in the DESCARTES (Descripción del Estado de los Sindromes Coronarios Agudos en un Registro Temporal Español) registry. Patients and setting: Patients with NSTEACS (n  =  1877) admitted to 45 randomly selected Spanish hospitals in April and May 2002 were studied. Design: Patients with ST segment depression and troponin rise were considered high risk (n  =  478) and were compared with non-high risk patients (n  =  1399). Results: 46.9% of high-risk patients versus 39.5% of non-high-risk patients underwent angiography (p  =  0.005), 23.2% versus 18.8% (p  =  0.038) underwent percutaneous revascularisation, and 24.9% versus 7.4% (p < 0.001) were given glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor. In-hospital and six-month mortality were 7.5% versus 1.1% and 17% versus 4.6% (p < 0.001), respectively. A treatment score (⩾ 4, 2–3 and < 2) was defined according to the number of class I interventions recommended in clinical guidelines: aspirin, clopidogrel, β blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, statins and revascularisation. Independent predictors of six-month mortality were age (odds ratio (OR) 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04 to 1.10, p < 0.001), diabetes (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.14 to 3.22, p  =  0.014), previous cardiovascular disease (OR 4.17, 95% CI 1.63 to 10.68, p  =  0.003), high risk (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.30 to 3.71, p  =  0.003) and treatment score < 2 versus ⩾ 4 (OR 2.87, 95% CI 1.27 to 6.52, p  =  0.012). Conclusions: Class I recommended treatments were underused in high-risk patients in the DESCARTES registry. This undertreatment was an independent predictor of death of patients with an acute coronary syndrome.

Left atrial enlargement and NT-proBNP as predictors of sudden cardiac death in patients with heart failure.

The identification of valuable markers of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients with established HF remains a challenge. We sought to assess the value of clinical, echocardiographic and biochemical variables to predict SCD in a consecutive cohort of patients with heart failure (HF) due to systolic dysfunction.

Risk Stratification of Mortality in Patients With Heart Failure and Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction >35%

The population of patients with heart failure (HF) and mild to moderate left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is growing, and mortality remains high. There is a need for better risk stratification of patients who might benefit from primary prevention of mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of Holter-based parameters for predicting mortality in patients with HF with LV ejection fraction (EF) >35%. The study involved 294 patients (199 men, mean age 66 years) with HF of ischemic and nonischemic causes, New York Heart Association classes II to III, and LVEF >35%. Surface electrocardiogram and 24-hour Holter monitoring were performed at enrollment to assess traditional electrocardiographic variables, as well as heart rate variability, heart rate turbulence, and repolarization dynamics (QT/RR). Total mortality and sudden death were the primary and secondary end points. During a median 44-month follow-up, there were 43 deaths (15%). None of the traditional electrocardiographic risk parameters significantly predicted mortality. A standard deviation of all normal-to-normal RR intervals < or =86 ms, turbulence slope < or =2.5 ms/RR, and QT end/RR >0.21 at daytime were found to be independent risk predictors of mortality in multivariate analyses. The predictive score based on these 3 variables showed that patients with > or =2 abnormal risk markers were at risk of death (30% 3-year mortality rate) and sudden death (12%), similar to death rates observed in patients with LVEF < or =35%. In conclusion, increased risk of mortality and sudden death could be predicted in patients with HF with LVEF >35% by evaluating the combination of standard deviation of all normal-to-normal RR intervals, turbulence slope, and QT/RR, parameters reflecting autonomic control of the heart, baroreflex sensitivity, and repolarization dynamics.

Paraoxonase Gln-Arg(192) and Leu-Met(55) gene polymorphisms and enzyme activity in a population with a low rate of coronary heart disease

OBJECTIVES To assess whether paraoxonase (PON1) polymorphisms at positions 55 and 192 and/or their phenotypic expressions influence the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) in Spanish population. DESIGN AND METHODS Two hundred and fifteen male survivors of a MI and their age-matched controls were included in the study. Lipids, apolipoproteins (apo) A-I and B, PON1 activity on paraoxon and phenylacetate and PON1 polymorphisms were determined. RESULTS Genotype distribution was similar in patients and controls. Enzyme activities were lower in patients, but multiple logistic regression analysis did not show any independent association with a higher risk of MI. CONCLUSION None of the PON1 polymorphisms or their corresponding measured activities are independent risk factors for MI in our population.