Javier Jiménez-Candil

Identification of serum endoglin as a novel prognostic marker after acute myocardial infarction.

Endoglin is a proliferation‐associated and hypoxia‐inducible protein expressed in endothelial cells. The levels of soluble circulating endoglin and their prognostic significance in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are not known. In this observational prospective study serum endoglin levels were measured by ELISA in 183 AMI patients upon admission to hospital and 48 hrs later and in 72 healthy controls. Endoglin levels in AMI patients on admission were significantly lower than in healthy controls (4.25 ± 0.99 ng/ml versus 4.59 ± 0.87 ng/ml; P= 0.013), and decreased further in the first 48 hours (3.65 ± 0.76 ng/ml, P < 0.001). Upon follow‐up (median 319 days), patients who died had a significantly greater decrease in serum endoglin level over the first 48 hrs than those who survived (1.03 ± 0.91 versus 0.54 ± 0.55 ng/ml; P= 0.025). Endoglin decrease was an independent predictor of short‐term (30 days) (hazard ratio 2.33;95% CI = 1.27–4.23; P= 0.006) cardiovascular mortality, and also predicts overall cardiovascular mortality during the follow‐up (median 319 days) in AMI patients (hazard ratio 2.13;95% CI = 1.20–3.78; P= 0.01). In conclusion, early changes in serum endoglin may predict mortality after AMI.

Prognosis and Management of Acute Coronary Syndrome in Spain in 2012: The DIOCLES Study

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES To identify the current mortality and management of patients admitted for suspected acute coronary syndrome in Spain. The last available registry (2004-2005) reported an in-hospital mortality of 5.7%. METHODS The study included patients consecutively admitted between January and June 2012 at 44 hospitals selected at random. Information was collected on clinical course at admission and on events at 6 months. RESULTS A total of 2557 patients admitted with suspected acute coronary syndrome were included: 788 (30.8%) with ST-segment elevation, 1602 (62.7%) without ST-segment elevation, and 167 (6.5%) with unclassified acute coronary syndrome. In-hospital mortality was 4.1% (6.6%, 2.4%, and 7.8% respectively), significantly lower than that observed for 2004-2005. Reperfusion treatment (most commonly, primary percutaneous coronary intervention) was administered to 85.7% of patients with ST-segment elevation attended within 12h. The median time from first medical contact to thrombolysis was 40 min and to balloon inflation, 120 min. Among patients without ST-segment elevation, coronary angiography was performed in 80.6%, percutaneous intervention in 52.0%, and surgery was indicated in 6.4%. Secondary prevention treatments at discharge was prescribed more often than in earlier registries. In patients alive at discharge (follow-up available for 97.1%), 6-month mortality was 3.8%. CONCLUSIONS Mortality among patients with acute coronary syndrome in Spain was lower than that reported in the most recent published studies, in parallel with a more frequent use of the main treatments recommended.

Vía radial derecha o izquierda en la coronariografía. Importancia en la curva de aprendizaje

There are anatomical differences between right and left radial artery approaches for coronary catheterization that could influence application of the technique. We present the results of a randomized study that compared the effectiveness of the two approaches and identified factors associated with failure of the procedure. The study involved 351 consecutive patients: a left radial approach was used in 180, and a right radial approach, in 171. The procedure could not be completed using the initial approach selected in 15 patients (11 right radial vs 4 left radial; P=.007). Use of a right radial approach, lack of catheterization experience, patient age >70 years, and the absence of hypertension were found to be independently associated with prolonged fluoroscopy duration and failure using the initial approach. Use of the right radial approach in patients aged over 70 years was associated with a 6-fold increase in the risk of an adverse event. Consequently, use of the right radial approach should be avoided in patients aged over 70 years when trainee practitioners are on the learning curve.

Influence of beta-blocker therapy on antitachycardia pacing effectiveness for monomorphic ventricular tachycardias occurring in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator patients: a dose-dependent effect

AIMS To determine, in a non-selected population of 282 implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) patients with left ventricular dysfunction, the influence of the dose of beta-blockers on antitachycardia pacing (ATP) effectiveness and on the incidence of shock due to monomorphic ventricular tachycardias (VT). METHODS AND RESULTS We followed 282 ICD patients along 26 +/- 19 months. Antitachycardia pacing and shock programming were standardized. We determined the indexed dose equivalent of beta-blockers (IDE-BB), using metoprolol as a reference, at each VT presentation. The median of IDE-BB was 55 mg/m(2)/day. We analysed 846 VT occurred in 100 patients. The ATP success rate was 84%. Upon classification of the events into three groups (IDE-BB = 0, IDE-BB < 55, and IDE-BB > or = 55), the frequency of effective ATP increased with the IDE-BB: 75 vs. 83 vs. 92% (P < 0.001). According to logistic regression, IDE-BB remained as an independent predictor of effective ATP (P < 0.001) and VT-related shock (P = 0.001). Both the mean ATP effectiveness per patient (67 vs. 80 vs. 91%, P = 0.007) and the mean survival time free of VT-related shock (583 vs. 847 vs. 1158 days, P = 0.019, log-rank test) increased linearly with the dose of beta-blockers. CONCLUSION Beta-blockers increase the effectiveness of ATP through a dose-dependent effect. As a result, they reduce the incidence of shocks due to VT.

Pronóstico hospitalario del síndrome coronario agudo sin elevación del segmento ST determinado por una nueva escala de riesgo integrada por variables electrocardiográficas obtenidas al ingreso

Diferentes variables electrocardiograficas tienen capacidad predictiva en el sindrome coronario agudo sin elevacion del ST (SCASEST). Tras analizar a 427 pacientes, construimos una escala de riesgo (ER) basada en el ECG al ingreso (ER-ECG) para definir la probabilidad de muerte o isquemia recurrente (M-IsqR) durante la hospitalizacion, que fue del 36%. En un analisis de regresion logistica que incluyo siete variables electrocardiograficas y las de la ER TIMI, alcanzaron la significacion estadistica: QTc ≥ 450 ms (odds ratio [OR] = 4,2; p 0,5 (OR = 2,7; p 0,5 mm y 1 a crecimiento auricular izquierdo. Agrupando a los pacientes segun la ER-ECG en: ≤ 1, 2-3, ≤ 4, esta discrimino adecuadamente la probabilidad de M-IsqR: el 11 frente al 27 frente al 58% (p

Early Reduction of QT Dispersion after Primary Percutaneous Intervention in ST-Segment Elevation Acute Myocardial Infarction

Objectives: To determine, in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI), the mechanisms and clinical implications of the acute changes in QT dispersion (QTd). Methods: In this prospective study we included 216 patients admitted with a STEMI of <12 h of evolution. All were treated with PPCI. QTd was measured prior to PPCI and within 1 h after. Results: The ratio of QTd reduction after PPCI (QTd-R) – defined as [(QTd before PPCI – QTd after PPCI)/QTd before PPCI] ×100 – was significantly correlated with the percentage of ST-segment elevation resolution (ST-R; p < 0.001). To determine the significance of the different values of QTd-R, we further subdivided our population into 3 groups according to the tertiles of QTd-R (<10, 11–49, ≥50%). Patients with longer QTd-R had higher percentages of ST-R: 32 ± 43 for QTd-R <10% vs. 60 ± 21 for 11–49% vs. 71 ± 12 for ≥50% (p < 0.05). By logistic regression, patients with QTd-R ≥50% had a reduction of 75% in the adjusted frequency of death or severe heart failure during hospitalization (95% CI 13–73%, p = 0.03). Conclusion: QTd-R after PPCI occurs early, is closely related to the restoration of reperfusion at the microvascular level and provides additional prognostic information.

Influence of cycle length variations on antitachycardia pacing effectiveness among ICD patients

BACKGROUND Antitachycardia pacing (ATP) fails to terminate 5% to 25% of ventricular tachycardias (VTs) occurring in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator patients. We speculated that small fluctuations in VT cycle length (CL) may be related to the efficacy of subsequent ATP. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the R-R variations of the last 12 R-R intervals before ATP and the efficacy of the first ATP attempt. METHODS We studied 551 VTs (CL 329±35 ms) occurring in 67 patients. We also analyzed the percentage of variation (P-RR), which was calculated by dividing the mean difference between each R-R interval and the next one by the CL (×100), and the acceleration index (AI), which was calculated by dividing the CL of the first 6 R-R intervals by the CL of the next 6. RESULTS The effectiveness of the first ATP therapy was 81%, being higher in VTs with AI<1 (85% vs 64%; P<.001). After classifying the events according to the tertiles of P-RR, ATP efficiency was better in higher values of P-RR (VTs with AI<1): 99% (third tertile) vs 85% (second tertile) vs 76% (first tertile), P<.001; and for VTs with AI≥1: 94% vs 68% vs 42% (P<.001). By logistic regression, P-RR (%; odds ratio 2.37; P<.001), and AI<1 (odds ratio 4.17; P<.001) were found to be independent predictors of successful first ATP attempts. CONCLUSION Small changes in CL increase the effectiveness of ATP significantly. VTs with lower degrees of R-R fluctuations, especially when the pattern is a progressive CL shortening, are infrequently terminated by ATP.

Morfología de la onda P y recurrencia tras cardioversión de fibrilación auricular aislada

e V k ). a f r ; logical cardioversion (n = 47). No patient suffered ventricular dysfunction nor any significant valve disease. Table 1 shows the baseline characteristics of the patient population. Follow-up was undertaken for one year. R-AF was defined as a clinical recurrence (the perception of an arrhythmic pulse lasting more than 1 min) or an electrocardiographic recurrence detected during programmed or additional appointments during follow-up. output increases. When any increase in the size of the aorta is documented on abdominal ultrasound, magnetic resonance is indicated to achieve a more precise assessment. The risk of aortic rupture or dissection secondary to development of a large dilatation or aneurysm is very high and implies a dismal prognosis. All women with Marfan syndrome who wish to have a baby should be evaluated and counseled by a multidisciplinary team, primarily a cardiologist and obstetrician, with individualized determination of the associated risk.

Relationship between the duration of the basal QRS complex and electrical therapies for ventricular tachycardias among ICD patients.

Background: In implantable cardioverter‐defibrillators (ICD) patients, the duration of the basal QRS complex (QRSd) is not associated with a greater risk of developing ventricular tachyarrhythmias. QRSd could be inversely related to the effectiveness of antitachycardia pacing (ATP) because it may be associated with longer conduction times of the paced‐impulses and hence, with a greater propensity to require shocks to terminate ventricular tachycardias (VTs).

Update on ischemic heart disease and critical care cardiology.

This article summarizes the main developments reported during the year 2012 concerning ischemic heart disease, together with the most relevant innovations in the management of acute cardiac patients.