Darko Počanić

Association of chronic kidney disease with periprocedural myocardial injury after elective stent implantation: A single center prospective cohort study.

AbstractCoronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Patients with CKD who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) may have more ischemic events than patients without CKD. The aim of our study was to determine the incidence of periprocedural myocardial injury (PMI) after elective stent implantation in patients with CKD using the Third Joint ESC/ACCF/AHA/WHF PMI definition.In a single center prospective cohort study, we enrolled 344 consecutive patients who underwent elective PCI in a period of 39 months. Serum troponin I (cTnI) concentrations were measured at baseline and at 8 and 16 hours after PCI. Periprocedural increase of cTnI, according to the most recent PMI definition, was used to define both the presence and intensity of PMI. Patients were further stratified according to the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using 4 variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation: control group with eGFR >90 mL/min/1.73 m2 and the CKD group with eGFR < 90 mL/min/1.73 m2, with further subdivision according to the CKD stage.We found no significant difference in the incidence as well as intensity of the PMI in the control (>90 mL/min/1.73 m2) and the CKD group (<90 mL/min/1.73 m2) both 8 and 16 hours after PCI. When the CKD patients were further subdivided according to their CKD stage, there was again no difference in the intensity or incidence of PMI compared to the control group. Further analyses of our data showed angina pectoris CCS IV, bare metal stent (BMS) implantation, and treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) as independent predictors of PMI. Furthermore, the presence of hypertension was inversely related to the occurrence of PMI.Applying the new guidelines for PMI and using the eGFR equation most suitable for our patients, we found no association between PMI and CKD. Further analyses showed other factors that could potentially influence the occurrence of PMI.

Angiographic characteristics and clinical relations of coronary collaterals in chronic total occlusion lesions

2018;13(1-2):48. LITERATURE 1. Meier P, Schirmer SH, Lansky AJ, Timmis A, Pitt B, Seiler C. The collateral circulation of the heart. BMC Med. 2013 Jun 4;11:143. https://doi.org/10.1186/1741-7015-11-143 Introduction: Coronary collaterals (CC) are anastomotic connections that can provide an alternative blood supply. They are especially important in the case of the vessel occlusion as they are prerequisite of viability. Collaterals have an indispensable role in any type of chronic total occlusion (CTO) intervention.1 Aim of our study was to analyze angiographic characteristics and clinical relations of collaterals in CTO patients.

Mortality and causes of death among Croatian male Olympic medalists

Aim To compare the overall and disease-specific mortality of Croatian male athletes who won one or more Olympic medals representing Yugoslavia from 1948 to 1988 or Croatia from 1992 to 2016, and the general Croatian male population standardized by age and time period. Methods All 233 Croatian male Olympic medalists were included in the study. Information on life duration and cause of death for the Olympic medalists who died before January 1, 2017, was acquired from their families and acquaintances. We asked the families and acquaintances to present medical documentation for the deceased. Data about the overall and disease-specific mortality of the Croatian male population standardized by age and time period were obtained from the Croatian Bureau of Statistics (CBS). Overall and disease-specific standard mortality ratios (SMR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to compare the mortality rates of athletes and general population. Results Among 233 Olympic medalists, 57 died before the study endpoint. The main causes of death were cardiovascular diseases (33.3%), neoplasms (26.3%), and external causes (17.6%). The overall mortality of the Olympic medalists was significantly lower than that of general population (SMR 0.73, 95% CI 0.56-0.94, P = 0.013). Regarding specific causes of death, athletes’ mortality from cardiovascular diseases was significantly reduced (SMR 0.61, 95% CI 0.38-0.93, P = 0.021). Conclusions Croatian male Olympic medalists benefit from lower overall and cardiovascular mortality rates in comparison to the general Croatian male population.