Sang-Hong Baek

Prognosis of Large, Symptomatic Pericardial Effusion Treated by Echo-guided Percutaneous Pericardiocentesis

The causes and prognosis of pericardial effusion (PE) may be different according to time, region, economy, and hospital. This study was performed to evaluate the etiology, clinical outcome, and prognosis of patients with large, symptomatic PE treated by echo‐guided pericardiocentesis at Kangnam St. Marys Hopital (the Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea).

Vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 gene polymorphism is associated with atherothrombotic complication after drug-eluting stent implantation: 2-Center prospective cohort study

BACKGROUNDnSingle nucleotide polymorphisms of vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (VKORC1) was reported to have association with arterial vascular disease. We investigated whether single nucleotide polymorphism of VKORC1 +2255 is associated with clinical outcomes among patients who underwent drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation.nnnMETHODSnWe prospectively collected genomic DNA in patients who underwent DES deployment from September 2003 to December 2006 and compared clinical outcomes according to their VKORC1 genotype at the locus + 2255 (rs 2359612). The primary end point was composite of atherothrombotic events (cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and nonhemorrhagic stroke).nnnRESULTSnMean follow-up duration was 631 +/- 251 days. Genotyping was completed in 764 cases (TT genotype [n = 640, 83.8%] vs non-TT [CC or CT] genotype [n = 124, 16.2%]). Non-TT group showed more composite events than TT group (7.3% vs 3.0%, P = .032). In the Cox regression analysis, non-TT genotype of VKORC gene was a significant predictor of atherothrombotic events (hazard ratio 2.56, 95% confidence interval 1.14-5.78). In the event-free survival analysis, non-TT group also showed significantly poorer cardiovascular events-free survival rate than TT group (P = .02).nnnCONCLUSIONSnVKORC1 genotype is associated with cardiovascular events in patients with DES implantation, suggesting the role of coagulation system.

Association between OPG, RANK and RANKL gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to acute coronary syndrome in Korean population

B ligand (RANKL), its receptor RANK and osteo-protegerin (OPG) are members of tumour necrosis fac-tor (TNF) superfamily and they form a key cytokine triadinvolved in bone metabolism, specifically osteoclastogen-esis (Khosla 2001; Boyce and Xing 2008). Recent stud-ies have demonstrated that OPG/RANK/RANKL system isinvolved in plaque instability and rupture by inducing plaquecalcification (Panizo

A multicenter, eight-week treatment, single-step titration, open-label study assessing the percentage of Korean dyslipidemic patients achieving LDL cholesterol target with atorvastatin starting doses of 10 mg, 20 mg and 40 mg.

BackgroundThis study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of algorithm-based atorvastatin therapy initiated at different starting doses of 10, 20, and 40xa0mg in Korean dyslipidemic patients.MethodsFive hundred seventy-four patients were screened, and 425 were enrolled (low risk, nu2009=u200929; intermediate risk, nu2009=u200945; high risk, nu2009=u2009351). The starting dose depended on a patient’s cardiovascular risk and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels.ResultsOf the patients, 253 (59.5%), 63 (14.8%) and 109 (25.6%) patients were assigned at baseline to 10xa0mg, 20xa0mg and 40xa0mg atorvastatin, respectively. 390 patients (91.8%) completed the study, and 35 discontinued prematurely. No patient in the low or intermediate risk groups was titrated to 80xa0mg at Week 4, whereas, 26 in the high risk group were. 81.9% of patients achieved their LDL-C target at Week 4, which was sustained through to Week 8 (86.0%). 89.1% of patients who were not titrated achieved their LDL-C target at Week 8, and 82.1% of patients who were titrated 1 step up achieved their LDL-C target at Week 8. Overall, about 40% reduction in LDL-C, non-HDL-C levels, and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio was observed during the follow-up. Triglyceride was reduced by ∼10% by Week 8. HDL cholesterol was slightly increased over 8xa0weeks (2.6%). Atorvastatin was well tolerated at all dose levels.ConclusionsPatient-tailored statin therapy according to an individual’s risk category and LDL-C levels was safe and effective with a quick achievement of LDL-C target in Korean dyslipidemic patients.