Yoshitaka Sugawara

Peak C-Reactive Protein Level Predicts Long-Term Outcomes in Type B Acute Aortic Dissection

Acute aortic dissection (AAD) is associated with an inflammatory reaction, as evidenced by elevated inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP). The association between the peak CRP level and long-term outcomes in type B AAD has not been systematically investigated. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the peak CRP level during admission predicts long-term outcomes in type B AAD. We conducted a clinical follow-up study of type B AAD. We divided the study population into 4 groups according to the tertiles of peak CRP levels (T1: 0.60 to 9.37 mg/dL; T2: 9.61 to 14.87 mg/dL; T3: 14.90 to 32.60 mg/dL; and unavailable peak CRP group). Multivariate Cox regression analysis was applied to investigate whether the tertiles of peak CRP predict adverse events even after adjusting for other variables. A total of 232 type B AAD patients were included in this analysis. The median follow-up period was 50 months. CRP reached its peak on day 4.5±1.7. Mean peak CRP values in T1, T2, and T3 were 6.4±2.4, 12.0±1.5, and 19.5±4.0 mg/dL, respectively. There were 65 events (39 deaths and 26 aortic events) during the follow-up. T3 and T2 (versus T1) were strong predictors of adverse events (T3: hazard ratio: 6.02 [95% CI: 2.44 to 14.87], P=0.0001; T2: hazard ratio: 3.25 [95% CI: 1.37 to 7.71], P=0.01) after controlling for all of the confounding factors. In conclusion, peak CRP is a strong predictor for adverse long-term events in patients with type B AAD.

Impact of acute hyperglycemia during primary stent implantation in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND Acute hyperglycemia is associated with increased mortality rates in patients with acute coronary syndrome. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the glucose level and clinical variables during primary intervention in patients with ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS AND RESULTS Of consecutive 94 patients with STEMI treated by primary stent implantation, acute hyperglycemia (plasma glucose level on admission>198 mg/dl) was recognized in 29 patients. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics, except for the presence of diabetes and HbA(1c) level, between patients with and without acute hyperglycemia. In patients with acute hyperglycemia, corrected TIMI frame counts were significantly higher compared with those in patients without acute hyperglycemia (46.3+/-30.3 vs. 34.0+/-17.9, p=0.02). And corrected TIMI frame count was independently associated with plasma glucose level (p=0.006). Maximum level of creatine kinase (CK) and CK-MB were significantly higher in patients with acute hyperglycemia (CK, 4840.0+/-4690.3 vs. 2410.7+/-2302.9 IU, p=0.001; CK-MB, 315.3+/-257.7 vs. 195.9+/-191.1, p=0.01). CONCLUSION The presence of acute hyperglycemia was associated with the impairment of epicardial coronary flow after primary stent implantation. This mechanism might be responsible for the increased infarct size.

Plaque Characteristics of the Coronary Segment Proximal to the Culprit Lesion in Stable and Unstable Patients

Identifying vulnerable plaque is important for preventing an acute coronary event. The present study examined the relationship between the clinical presentation of coronary artery disease and the plaque characteristics of nonculprit segment assessed by virtual histology intravascular ultrasound (VH‐IVUS).

Determinants of long-term mortality in patients with type B acute aortic dissection.

BACKGROUND Type B acute aortic dissection (AAD) carries a high short- and midterm mortality rate; however, knowledge related to long-term outcome is largely incomplete. The objective of this study was to identify long-term predictors including antihypertensive medications in type B AAD. METHODS We conducted a clinical follow-up study on 202 type B AAD patients. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of mortality. RESULTS There were 44 postdischarge deaths in 202 consecutive type B AAD patients with a median follow-up of 55 months. In univariate Cox regression analysis, age (10 year incremental: hazard ratio (HR) 1.82, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.35-2.46, P < 0.0001), previous myocardial infarction or angina pectoris (HR 3.93, 95% CI 1.72-8.99, P = 0.001), and impaired renal function (HR 4.90, 95% CI 2.48-9.65, P < 0.0001) were predictors of death. Calcium channel blockers (CCBs), beta-blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors as antihypertensive medications at discharge were predictors of increased survival. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, CCBs were a significant predictor of increased survival (vs. no antihypertensive medication at discharge: HR 0.38, 95% CI 0.15-0.97, P = 0.04). Impaired renal function was a significant predictor of death (HR 3.41, 95% CI 1.58-7.33, P = 0.002). No antihypertensive medication at discharge group was significantly associated with increased mortality (vs. 1 class of antihypertensive medication: HR 9.51, 95% CI 1.85-48.79, P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS Impaired renal function was a predictor for adverse outcome in patients with type B AAD. The use of CCBs as antihypertensive medication at discharge was associated with increased survival.

Idiopathic pulmonary artery aneurysm.

A 45-year-old man was referred to our hospital after a prolonged history of exertional dyspnea. Clinical examination revealed systolic and diastolic heart murmurs without any systolic click in the second right sternal border. Chest x-ray showed pulmonary artery dilation (Figure 1). Multidetector computed tomography showed a huge pulmonary artery aneurysm ≈70 mm in diameter (Figure 2). Transthoracic echocardiography showed a huge aneurysm of the pulmonary artery by 2D echocardiography (Figure 3). There was no significant tricuspid regurgitation in either the 4-chamber view or the short-axis view, and pulmonary regurgitation due to dilatation of pulmonary annulus was …

Plaque characterization of non-culprit lesions by virtual histology intravascular ultrasound in diabetic patients: impact of renal function.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to characterize coronary plaque composition of non-target lesions in diabetic patients using virtual histology intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS). METHODS AND RESULTS In 134 stable angina pectoris patients, plaque components of non-culprit (< 50% in diameter stenosis) lesions in de novo target vessels were analyzed by VH-IVUS. Plaque characterization was compared between diabetic (n=65) and non-diabetic groups (n=69). Diabetic patients were further divided into four groups according to estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, ml/min): eGFR > or = 70 (n=20), 50 < or = eGFR < 70 (n=19), GFR < 50 (n=18), and end stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis (HD) (n=11). There was no significant difference in plaque composition between the diabetic and the non-diabetic patients except for the percentage of dense calcium (8.9% vs. 6.2%; p<0.05). In the diabetic patients, the percent volume of necrotic core was 9.6%, 11.4%, 14.8%, and 20.8% in the eGFR > or = 70, 50 < or = eGFR < 70, eGFR < 50, and the ESRD on HD groups, respectively, showing significantly higher percentage in eGFR < 50 (p<0.05 vs. eGFR > or = 70) and ESRD on HD group (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Diabetic patients have significantly larger amount of dense calcium than non-diabetic patients in non-culprit coronary artery segments, and the plaque components of non-culprit lesions in diabetes are significantly different according to the decline in renal function.

Pulmonary hypertension due to left heart disease: The prognostic implications of diastolic pulmonary vascular pressure gradient.

BACKGROUND Compared to transpulmonary pressure gradient (TPPG), diastolic pulmonary vascular pressure gradient (DPG) may be a more sensitive and specific indicator for pulmonary hypertension (PH) due to left heart disease (LHD) with significant pulmonary vascular disease (PVD). The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and clinical features of PH-LHD with PVD classified by DPG and TPPG. METHODS We analyzed 410 patients admitted for symptomatic heart failure (HF) (New York Heart Association ≥2) and who underwent right heart catheterization (RHC) at compensated stage between 2007 and 2012. Patients with PH-LHD were divided into 3 groups according to the value of DPG and TPPG (Non-PVD group: DPG <7mmHg and TPPG ≤12mmHg; TPPG-PVD group: DPG <7mmHg and TPPG >12mmHg; DPG-PVD group: DPG ≥7mmHg). Multivariate Cox regression analysis was applied to investigate whether each PH-LHD category predicts death or HF readmission after adjusting for other variables. RESULTS PH-LHD was observed in 164 patients (40%) with symptomatic HF. Thirteen patients (3%) were allocated into DPG-PVD group, while 24 patients were allocated into TPPG-PVD group (6%). DPG-PVD group was significantly associated with death or HF readmission compared to non-PVD group (hazard ratio: 3.57; 95% CI: 1.33 to 9.55, p=0.01), while the association between TPPG-PVD group and non-PVD group did not reach statistical significance (hazard ratio: 1.89; 95% CI: 0.77 to 4.64, p=0.17). CONCLUSIONS PH-LHD with PVD classified by DPG was significantly associated with poor long-term clinical outcomes, whereas the association between PH-LHD with PVD classified by TPPG and clinical outcomes did not reach statistical significance. However, further studies are needed, because there was no substantial difference in clinical outcomes between PH-LHD with PVD classified by DPG and PH-LHD with PVD classified by TPPG.

Clinical features of infective endocarditis: Comparison between the 1990s and 2000s

BACKGROUND The circumstances surrounding infective endocarditis (IE) are under constant change due to an increase in drug-resistant organisms, a decrease in rheumatic valve disease, progress in surgical treatment, and aging society. The purpose of this study was to compare clinical features of IE between the 1990s and 2000s and to elucidate the determinants of death or clinical event. METHODS All hospital admission records between January 1990 and December 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. The definition of IE was based on modified Duke criteria. Clinical presentation, blood culture, laboratory results, and echocardiography findings were compared between the 1990s and 2000s. RESULTS There were 112 patients with definite or probable IE according to modified Duke criteria. The most frequent organism causing IE was Streptococcus viridians both in the 1990s and 2000s. The determinants of in-hospital death were hemodialysis and congestive heart failure. The in-hospital mortality of IE was 5.4% in the 1990s and 13.3% in the 2000s. Composite events of in-hospital death and central nervous system disorders were significantly higher in the 2000s compared with the 1990s. CONCLUSION The most frequent causative organism of IE was S. viridians, both in the 1990s and 2000s. Independent predictors of in-hospital mortality in IE were hemodialysis and congestive heart failure.

Long-term follow-up on cardiac function following fulminant myocarditis requiring percutaneous extracorporeal cardiopulmonary support

Fulminant myocarditis is a rapidly progressive, life-threatening disease with severe impairment of systolic left ventricle function in the acute phase. However, the long-term prognosis of patients who survive the acute phase with percutaneous extracorporeal cardiopulmonary support (PCPS) is not established. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the long-term follow-up on chronic cardiac function and long-term outcome. Twenty consecutive patients with fulminant myocarditis in the acute phase supported by PCPS were enrolled between January 1995 and March 2010. Echocardiography was performed at least three times; acute phase (within 3 days from onset), predischarge (days 3–30), and chronic phase (>6 months, 2.67 ± 2.19 years, mean ± SD). The clinical events were queried by their medical record and questionnaires. Eight patients (40%) died in the acute phase. The time course of ejection fraction (%) by echocardiography was 22.7 ± 9.8, 53.1 ± 7.2, and 57.2 ± 9.6 in acute, predischarge, and chronic phase, respectively. Diastolic dimension (mm) was 46.8 ± 7.4, 51.3 ± 2.9, and 50.4 ± 1.8, and systolic dimension (mm) was 41.4 ± 7.7, 36.8 ± 4.0, and 35.2 ± 3.3 in acute, predischarge, and chronic phase, respectively. There was no recurrence or admission related to heart failure during the follow-up period. The cardiac function of patients with fulminant myocarditis recovers rapidly during their stay in hospital. The cardiac function of predischarge patients remains unchanged in the chronic phase. The long-term survival of fulminant myocarditis appears favorable in the chronic phase.

Determinants of progression of aortic valve stenosis and outcome of adverse events in hemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND Hemodialysis (HD) is an important risk factor for progression of aortic valve stenosis (AS). However, there are varying degrees of disease progression among patients with AS on HD. The aim of this study was to find determinants of rapid progression of AS in patients on HD. METHODS We enrolled 30 patients with AS on HD with a mean follow-up period of 4 years. The peak pressure gradient (PPG) between the initial echocardiography and the last echocardiography at least 3 months interval (ΔPPG) was adopted as the indicator of AS progression. We divided the patients into two groups according to ΔPPG per year [rapid progression (ΔPPG>4.5 mmHg/year), slow progression (ΔPPG<4.5 mmHg/year)] and compared the clinical characteristics between the two groups. RESULTS Overall mean ΔPPG was 4.5 mmHg/year. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), serum calcium, and calcium-phosphate product were significantly higher in rapid progression group compared with slow progression group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION High systolic blood pressure, serum calcium, and calcium-phosphate product were associated with rapid progression of AS in patients on chronic HD.