Correspondence to Dr Anna Corsini; anna.corsini@aosp.bo.it The recent 2020 European Society of Cardiology Guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in patients presenting ...without persistent ST-segment elevation (NSTE) recommend an early (<24 hours) invasive strategy with class of recommendation I, level of evidence A for the following groups of patients: all patients with NSTE myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) according to the diagnostic algorithm proposed by the guidelines, patients with dynamic or presumably new contiguous ST/T-segment changes suggesting ongoing ischaemia, patients with transient ST-segment elevation and patients with a Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) risk score >140. There have been several randomised controlled trials and at least four meta-analyses investigating the optimal timing of an invasive strategy in patients with NSTE-ACS and the summary of the general evidence suggests that compared with a delayed invasive strategy, an early invasive strategy does not reduce the overall risk of death, myocardial infarction or stroke, but it may reduce the risk of recurrent/refractory ischaemia. The findings on high-risk patients have been controversial, some studies reporting lower rates of mortality with an early invasive strategy, but with inconclusive interaction tests.1 In addition, the reduction in recurrent ischaemia reported in two meta-analyses was associated with moderated-to-severe heterogeneity of treatment effect, suggesting caution on data interpretation.2 3 The lack of a significant difference in hard endpoints such as death, myocardial infarction or stroke between an early versus a delayed strategy suggests that the majority of patients with NSTE-ACS can be safely managed with a less urgent strategy.
The diagnosis of periprocedural myocardial infarction (PMI) after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is based on biochemical markers along with clinical and instrumental findings. However, there is ...not a clear cutoff value of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) to identify PMI. We hypothesized that isolated hs-cTn concentrations in the first 24 h following CABG could predict cardiac adverse events (in-hospital death and PMI) and/or left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) decrease.
We retrospectively enrolled all consecutive adult patients undergoing CABG, alone or in association with other cardiac surgery procedures, over 1 year. Hs-cTn I concentrations (Access, Beckman Coulter) were serially measured in the post-operative period and analyzed according to post-operative outcomes.
300 patients were enrolled; 71.3% underwent CABG alone, 33.7% for acute coronary syndrome. Most patients showed hs-cTn I values superior to the limit required by the latest guidelines for the diagnosis of PMI. Five patients (1.7%) died, 8% developed a PMI, 10.6% showed a LVEF decrease ≥ 10%. Hs-cTn I concentrations did not significantly differ with respect to death and/or PMI whereas they were associated with LVEF decrease ≥ 10% (p value < 0.005 at any time interval), in particular hs-cTn I values at 9-12 h post-operatively. A hs-cTn I cutoff of 5556 ng/L, a value 281 (for males) and 479 (for females) times higher than the URL, at 9-12 h post-operatively was identified, representing the best balance between sensitivity (55%) and specificity (79%) in predicting LVEF decrease ≥ 10%.
Hs-cTn I at 9-12 h post-CABG may be useful to early identify patients at risk for LVEF decrease and to guide early investigation and management of possible post-operative complications.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Abstract Background In acute coronary syndromes (ACS), the influence of cerebro-vascular disease (CVD) and/or peripheral artery disease (PAD) on short-midterm outcome has been well established. Data ...on long-term outcome however, are limited. Our study aimed to explore the effect of CVD and PAD on long-term outcome in a cohort of unselected ACS patients, including ST-elevation (STE-ACS) and non-ST-elevation (NSTE-ACS). Methods and results The population consisted of 2046 consecutive patients with a confirmed final diagnosis of ACS; 896 (44%) had STE-ACS and 1150 (66%) NSTE-ACS. CVD alone was present in 98 patients (5%), 282 (14%) had PAD alone, and 30 (1.5%) had both. All cause mortality at 5 years was lowest in patients without CVD/PAD (33%), intermediate in patients with either CVD or PAD (62% and 63%, respectively) reaching 80% in those with both CVD and PAD. These findings were confirmed in the STE-ACS and NSTE-ACS subgroups. CVD and PAD remained independent predictors of mortality after multivariable analysis, the combined presence of both carrying the highest risk within each ACS type (HR 4.15, 95% CI 1.83–9.44 for STE-ACS; HR 2.14, 1.29–3.54 for NSTE-ACS). Patients with CVD and/or PAD were less likely to be treated invasively and received less evidence-based treatment at discharge. Conclusions Across the spectrum of ACS, extracardiac vascular disease harbors a negative long-term prognosis that worsens progressively with the number of affected arterial beds.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
We sought to evaluate the rates, time course, and causes of death in the long-term follow-up of unselected patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). We enrolled 2046 consecutive patients ...hospitalized from January 2004 to December 2005 with an audited final diagnosis of ACS. The primary study end point was 5-year all-cause mortality. In our series, 896 patients had ST-segment elevation (STE) and 1,150 non–ST-segment elevation (NSTE). Mean age of the study population was 71.6 years. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention was performed in 86% of STE-ACS, and 70% of NSTE-ACS was managed invasively. The 5-year all-cause mortality was 36.4% for STE-ACS and 42.0% for NSTE-ACS, with patients with STE-ACS showing a trend boarding statistical significance toward a lower risk of mortality (hazard ratio HR = 0.88, 95% confidence interval CI 0.76 to 1.02, p = 0.08). Landmark analysis demonstrated that patients with STE-ACS had a higher risk of 30-day mortality (STE-ACS vs NSTE-ACS HR = 1.53, 95% CI 1.16 to 2.06, p = 0.003) whereas the risk of NSTE-ACS increased markedly after 1 year (STE-ACS vs NSTE-ACS HR = 0.67, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.84, p = 0.001). The contribution of noncardiovascular (CV) causes to overall mortality increased from 3% at 30 days to 34% at 5 years, with cancer and infections being the most common causes of non-CV death both in STE-ACS and NSTE-ACS. In conclusion, long-term mortality after ACS is still too high both for STE-ACS and NSTE-ACS. Although patients with STE-ACS have a higher mortality during the first year, the mortality of patients with NSTE-ACS increases later, when non-CV co-morbidities gain greater importance.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Despite controversial evidences, intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) is still the most widely used temporary mechanical support device in cardiogenic shock (CS), as a bridge to recovery or to more ...invasive mechanical supports/heart transplantation.
We analyzed retrospectively data of all patients receiving IABP for CS from 2009 to 2018 in a referral centre for advanced heart failure and heart transplantation; we included CS following acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and other CS etiologies different from ACS. We excluded patients in which IABP was implanted as a support following cardiac surgery, non-cardiac surgery in patients with severe chronic heart failure, or in elective high risk or complicated Cath Lab procedures.
We focused on in-hospital outcomes (including death, recovery, heart transplantation, LVAD) and IABP complications.
403 patients received IABP, 303 (75.2%) following ACS and 100 (24.8%) in non-ACS CS. Non-ACS patients were younger (59 ± 18.3 vs 73.1 ± 12.6 years, p < 0.001), had lower median left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (25% 18–35 vs 38% 25–45, p < 0.001). In patients with non-ACS etiologies IABP was more frequently a bridge to heart transplantation 20% (n = 20) vs 0.3% (n = 1), P < 0.001 or LVAD 4% (n = 4) vs 0.6% (n = 2), P = 0.055, while ACS patients were more frequently discharged without transplantation/LVAD 65.7% (n = 199) vs 33% (n = 33), P < 0.001. Non-ACS patients showed higher in-hospital mortality 46% (n = 46) vs 33.9% (n = 103), P = 0.042. Post-transplant/LVAD outcome in non-ACS subgroup was favorable (21 out of 24 patients were discharged). Serious IABP-related adverse events occurred in 21 patients (5.2%). Ischemic/hemorrhagic complications, infections and thrombocytopenia were more frequent with longer IABP stay.
Despite therapy including percutaneous circulatory support, the mortality in CS is still high. In our experience, in the clinical setting of refractory CS an IABP support represents a relatively safe bridge to heart transplantation/LVAD in non-ACS patients and to recovery in ACS patients.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
TNKase is a genetically engineered variant of the alteplase molecule. Three different mutations result in an increase of the plasma half-life, of the resistance to plasminogen-activator inhibitor 1 ...and of the thrombolytic potency against platelet-rich thrombi. Among available agents in clinical practice, TNKase is the most fibrin-specific molecule and can be delivered as a single bolus intravenous injection. Several large-scale clinical trials have enrolled more than 27,000 patients with acute myocardial infarction, making the use of this drug truly evidence-based. TNKase is equivalent to front-loaded alteplase in terms of mortality and is the only bolus thrombolytic drug for which this equivalence has been formally demonstrated. TNKase appears more potent than alteplase when symptoms duration lasts more than 4 hours. Also, TNKase significantly reduces the rate of major bleeds and the need for blood transfusions. The efficacy of TNKase may be further improved by enoxaparin substitution for unfractionated heparin, provided that enoxaparin dose adjustment is made for patients more than 75 years old. Hitherto, the small available randomized studies and international clinical registries suggest that pre-hospital TNKase is as effective as primary angioplasty, thus laying the foundations for a new fibrinolytic, TNKase-based strategy as the backbone of reperfusion in acute myocardial infarction.
Abstract
Aims
To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patient admissions to Italian cardiac care units (CCUs).
Methods and Results
We conducted a multicentre, observational, nationwide ...survey to collect data on admissions for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) at Italian CCUs throughout a 1 week period during the COVID-19 outbreak, compared with the equivalent week in 2019. We observed a 48.4% reduction in admissions for AMI compared with the equivalent week in 2019 (P < 0.001). The reduction was significant for both ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction STEMI; 26.5%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 21.7–32.3; P = 0.009 and non-STEMI (NSTEMI; 65.1%, 95% CI 60.3–70.3; P < 0.001). Among STEMIs, the reduction was higher for women (41.2%; P = 0.011) than men (17.8%; P = 0.191). A similar reduction in AMI admissions was registered in North Italy (52.1%), Central Italy (59.3%), and South Italy (52.1%). The STEMI case fatality rate during the pandemic was substantially increased compared with 2019 risk ratio (RR) = 3.3, 95% CI 1.7–6.6; P < 0.001. A parallel increase in complications was also registered (RR = 1.8, 95% CI 1.1–2.8; P = 0.009).
Conclusion
Admissions for AMI were significantly reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic across Italy, with a parallel increase in fatality and complication rates. This constitutes a serious social issue, demanding attention by the scientific and healthcare communities and public regulatory agencies.
Abstract Aim To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of electrocardiographic inferior Q waves persistence during inspiration and echocardiographic segmental wall motion abnormalities for the detection of ...previously unsuspected silent myocardial infarction, by using cardiac magnetic resonance as the gold standard. Methods We prospectively enrolled 50 apparently healthy subjects with inferior Q waves on routine electrocardiogram and high atherosclerotic risk profile. Patients underwent electrocardiogram during deep inspiration, standard transthoracic echocardiography, and cardiac magnetic resonance. Results Inferior Q waves during deep inspiration persisted in 10 subjects (20%) and cardiac magnetic resonance was positive in 10 (20%). Between the 10 positive cardiac magnetic resonance subjects 8 showed persistence of inferior Q waves, giving a sensitivity of 80% (95%;CI 44.4–97.5%) and a specificity of 95% (95%;CI 83.1–99.4%). Segmental wall motion abnormalities were present overall in 10 subjects (20%), but only in 5 of the 10 positive cardiac magnetic resonance subjects, giving a sensitivity of 87.5% (95% CI 73.2–95.8) and specificity of 50% (95% CI 18.7–81.3). Conclusions Electrocardiographic inferior Q waves persistence during deep inspiration is a simple test with a high accuracy for diagnosis of silent myocardial infarction. Standard echocardiography resulted less accurate.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Abstract
We report the case of an 80 years old, fit, mildly hypertensive man receiving adjuvant immunotherapy with Pembrolizumab for stage IIIC (pT4a pN1b) cutaneous nodular melanoma, for which he ...had also undergone radical surgery. His preoperative ECG was unremarkable.
Few days after his first Pembrolizumab dose, he started complaining of gradually worsening muscle aches and weakness and double vision, as well as of brief episodes of otherwise asymptomatic palpitations, so that he finally showed up at the Emergency Department (day 1).
Clinical examination revealed mild hypertension, low-grade temperature, subtotal bilateral ophthalmoplegia, fatigable left palpebral ptosis, dysarthria, dysphagia, and neck and limb hyposthenia. Laboratory analyses indicated an inflammatory state with mild neutrophilia and elevated C reactive protein, associated to an increase in serum creatinine, creatine kinase and transaminases. Chest x-ray and brain CT demonstrated no alterations. The ECG showed sinus rhythm at 90 bpm and a previously unknown right bundle branch block (RBBB). The patient was admitted to the Internal Medicine ward in the suspect of Pembrolizumab toxicity leading to myositis and myasthenia and to hepatorenal dysfunction, and Methylprednisolone 1 mg/kg/day was administered intravenously ex adiuvantibus, together with Pyridostigmine and low flow oxygen.
The next morning (day 2), dyspnea and palpitations ensued, atrial fibrillation at 130 bpm with RBBB was recorded, while the echocardiogram showed normal biventricular dimensions and systodiastolic function, mild aortic and mitral regurgitations, and the absence of pericardial effusion or inferior vena cava congestion. A single, oral, 60 mg dose of Diltiazem was administered, but suspended few hours later upon evidence of atrioventricular block (AVB) 2:1 (HR 40 bpm) quickly escalating to 3:1 (HR 40 bpm) and, later on, of atrial fibrillation with slow ventricular rate (HR 36 bpm). Given a CHA2DS2-VASc score equal to 3, anticoagulation was started.
The patient was then moved to the intensive care unit for bradycardia and worsening tachydyspnea. Respiratory function as well as clinical and laboratory parameters of neuromuscular, renal and hepatic impairment began improving (day 3). However, rhythm monitoring showed progression of conduction anomalies with the appearance of sino-atrial block, left bundle branch block and alternance between Mobitz I AVB, AVB 2:1 and complete AVB. High-sensitivity cardiac troponin I remained stably highly elevated, around 25000 ng/L. Control echocardiography showed the onset of mild left ventricular systolic dysfunction with a mild pericardial effusion. A cardiac magnetic resonance was planned to corroborate the hypothesis of Pembrolizumab-induced myocarditis. However, on day 5 respiratory and hemodynamic worsening occurred, up to cardiocirculatory arrest due to an electrical storm of ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation, despite in-range electrolytes, with emergency echocardiogram revealing also a dysfunctioning right ventricle. Despite prolonged resuscitation attempts, including high-dose corticosteroid, death ensued.
Widely used in cancer treatment, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) bear the potential for immune-related adverse events, including cardiovascular ones: brady- and tachy- arrhythmias, acute myocardial infarction, pericarditis, myocarditis, pulmonary embolism, and vasculitis; in particular, ICI-related myocarditis, reportedly highly arrhythmogenic, often occurs together with myositis and myasthenia (“triple M rule”); despite immunosuppression, mortality still remains high.
Abstract
Aims
The diagnosis of periprocedural myocardial infarction (PMI) after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is based on biochemical markers along with clinical and/or instrumental findings. ...However, there is not a clear cut-off value of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) to identify PMI. We hypothesized that isolated hs-cTn concentrations in the first 24 h following CABG could predict cardiac adverse events (in-hospital death and PMI) and/or left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) decrease.
Methods and results
We retrospectively enrolled all consecutive adult patients undergoing CABG at our Institution over 1 year. Hs-cTnI concentrations (Access assay, Beckman-Coulter) were serially measured in the post-operative period and correlated with post-operative outcomes. 300 patients were enrolled; 71.3% of them underwent CABG alone, mainly on-pump (96.7%), 33.7% in the setting of an acute coronary syndrome. Most patients showed hs-cTnI values superior to the limit required by the latest guidelines for the diagnosis of PMI. Five patients (1.7%) died, 8% developed a PMI, and 10.6% showed a LVEF decrease ≥10%. Hs-cTnI concentrations did not correlate with death or PMI whereas they did correlate with LVEF decrease ≥ 10% (P-value < 0.05 at any time interval). Indeed, higher hs-cTnI values at 9–12 h post-operatively, along with previous cardiac surgery, number of surgical procedures, longer cardiopulmonary bypass time, and PMI diagnosis were predictors of LVEF decrease.
Conclusions
After CABG surgery, hs-cTnI at 9–12 h post-operatively may be a useful method to early identify patients at risk for LVEF decrease and to guide early investigation and management of possible post-operative complications.
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