Noritake Hata

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.

Extended Follow-Up by Serial Angioscopic Observation for Bare-Metal Stents in Native Coronary Arteries: From Healing Response to Atherosclerotic Transformation of Neointima

Background— Although coronary angiograms after bare-metal stent (BMS) implantation show late luminal narrowing beyond 4 years, the detailed changes inside the BMS have not yet been fully elucidated. Methods and Results— Serial angiographic and angioscopic examinations were performed immediately (baseline), 6 to 12 months (first follow-up), and ≥4 years (second follow-up) after stenting without target lesion revascularization in 26 segments of 26 patients who received BMS deployment for their native coronary arteries. Angioscopic observation showed atherosclerotic yellow plaque crushed out by stent struts in 22 patients (85%) and mural thrombus in 21 patients (81%) at baseline. At first follow-up, white neointimal hyperplasia was almost completely buried inside the struts, and both yellow plaque and thrombus had decreased in comparison with baseline (12% and 4%, respectively; P <0.001). The frequencies of yellow plaque and thrombus increased from the first to second follow-ups (58% and 31%, respectively; P <0.05). All of the yellow plaques in the second follow-up were located not exterior to the struts but protruding from the vessel wall into the lumen. Late luminal narrowing, defined as an increasing of percent diameter stenosis between the first and second follow-ups, was greater in segments with yellow plaque than in those without yellow plaque (18.4±17.3% versus 3.6±4.2%, respectively; P =0.011). Conclusions— This angiographic and angioscopic study suggests that white neointima of the BMS may often change into yellow plaque over an extended period of time, and atherosclerotic progression inside the BMS may contribute to late luminal narrowing. Received January 29, 2009; accepted April 15, 2009. # CLINICAL PERSPECTIVE {#article-title-2}Background—Although coronary angiograms after bare-metal stent (BMS) implantation show late luminal narrowing beyond 4 years, the detailed changes inside the BMS have not yet been fully elucidated. Methods and Results—Serial angiographic and angioscopic examinations were performed immediately (baseline), 6 to 12 months (first follow-up), and ≥4 years (second follow-up) after stenting without target lesion revascularization in 26 segments of 26 patients who received BMS deployment for their native coronary arteries. Angioscopic observation showed atherosclerotic yellow plaque crushed out by stent struts in 22 patients (85%) and mural thrombus in 21 patients (81%) at baseline. At first follow-up, white neointimal hyperplasia was almost completely buried inside the struts, and both yellow plaque and thrombus had decreased in comparison with baseline (12% and 4%, respectively; P<0.001). The frequencies of yellow plaque and thrombus increased from the first to second follow-ups (58% and 31%, respectively; P<0.05). All of the yellow plaques in the second follow-up were located not exterior to the struts but protruding from the vessel wall into the lumen. Late luminal narrowing, defined as an increasing of percent diameter stenosis between the first and second follow-ups, was greater in segments with yellow plaque than in those without yellow plaque (18.4±17.3% versus 3.6±4.2%, respectively; P=0.011). Conclusions—This angiographic and angioscopic study suggests that white neointima of the BMS may often change into yellow plaque over an extended period of time, and atherosclerotic progression inside the BMS may contribute to late luminal narrowing.

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.

Relationship between neointimal coverage of sirolimus-eluting stents and lesion characteristics: A study with serial coronary angioscopy

BACKGROUND Delayed neointimal coverage after the implantation of a drug-eluting stent (DES) is thought to be related to their potential for developing late-stent thrombosis. However, few studies have shown which factor affects the neointimal coverage after DES implantation. We hypothesized that the extent of neointimal coverage after DES implantation is affected by the underlying lesion characteristics because arterial wall components are reported to determine the transport and distribution of the drugs. METHODS Thirty-seven coronary artery lesions treated with a single sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) were evaluated in 37 patients with stable coronary artery disease. Angioscopy was performed before, immediately after, and 6 months after stenting to examine the existence of yellow plaque, thrombus, complex plaque, and intramural hemorrhage and the degree of neointimal coverage at 6-month follow-up. This was classified either as a noncoverage group (stent struts were predominantly exposed or visible through a thin neointima) or as a coverage group (stent struts were predominantly covered by neointimal hyperplasia and thus invisible). RESULTS Twenty-one lesions were classified into the noncoverage group, and 16 lesions the coverage group. The frequency of preexistent yellow plaques was significantly higher in the noncoverage group than that in the coverage group (67% vs 19%, P = .007). A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed the preexistence of yellow plaque was the only independent factor behind less neointimal coverage at 6 months after SES implantation (odds ratio 19.5, 95% confidence interval 1.58-240.50, P = .020). CONCLUSIONS The preexistence of yellow plaque may be associated with decreased neointimal coverage of SES.

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.

Clinical InvestigationInterventional CardiologyRelationship between neointimal coverage of sirolimus-eluting stents and lesion characteristics: A study with serial coronary angioscopy

BACKGROUND Delayed neointimal coverage after the implantation of a drug-eluting stent (DES) is thought to be related to their potential for developing late-stent thrombosis. However, few studies have shown which factor affects the neointimal coverage after DES implantation. We hypothesized that the extent of neointimal coverage after DES implantation is affected by the underlying lesion characteristics because arterial wall components are reported to determine the transport and distribution of the drugs. METHODS Thirty-seven coronary artery lesions treated with a single sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) were evaluated in 37 patients with stable coronary artery disease. Angioscopy was performed before, immediately after, and 6 months after stenting to examine the existence of yellow plaque, thrombus, complex plaque, and intramural hemorrhage and the degree of neointimal coverage at 6-month follow-up. This was classified either as a noncoverage group (stent struts were predominantly exposed or visible through a thin neointima) or as a coverage group (stent struts were predominantly covered by neointimal hyperplasia and thus invisible). RESULTS Twenty-one lesions were classified into the noncoverage group, and 16 lesions the coverage group. The frequency of preexistent yellow plaques was significantly higher in the noncoverage group than that in the coverage group (67% vs 19%, P = .007). A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed the preexistence of yellow plaque was the only independent factor behind less neointimal coverage at 6 months after SES implantation (odds ratio 19.5, 95% confidence interval 1.58-240.50, P = .020). CONCLUSIONS The preexistence of yellow plaque may be associated with decreased neointimal coverage of SES.

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.