The rapid and reliable diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction is a major unmet clinical need.
We conducted a multicenter study to examine the diagnostic accuracy of new, sensitive cardiac troponin ...assays performed on blood samples obtained in the emergency department from 718 consecutive patients who presented with symptoms suggestive of acute myocardial infarction. Cardiac troponin levels were determined in a blinded fashion with the use of four sensitive assays (Abbott-Architect Troponin I, Roche High-Sensitive Troponin T, Roche Troponin I, and Siemens Troponin I Ultra) and a standard assay (Roche Troponin T). The final diagnosis was adjudicated by two independent cardiologists.
Acute myocardial infarction was the adjudicated final diagnosis in 123 patients (17%). The diagnostic accuracy of measurements obtained at presentation, as quantified by the area under the receiver-operating-characteristic curve (AUC), was significantly higher with the four sensitive cardiac troponin assays than with the standard assay (AUC for Abbott-Architect Troponin I, 0.96; 95% confidence interval CI, 0.94 to 0.98; for Roche High-Sensitive Troponin T, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.94 to 0.98; for Roche Troponin I, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.92 to 0.97; and for Siemens Troponin I Ultra, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.94 to 0.98; vs. AUC for the standard assay, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.86 to 0.94). Among patients who presented within 3 hours after the onset of chest pain, the AUCs were 0.93 (95% CI, 0.88 to 0.99), 0.92 (95% CI, 0.87 to 0.97), 0.92 (95% CI, 0.86 to 0.99), and 0.94 (95% CI, 0.90 to 0.98) for the sensitive assays, respectively, and 0.76 (95% CI, 0.64 to 0.88) for the standard assay. We did not assess the effect of the sensitive troponin assays on clinical management.
The diagnostic performance of sensitive cardiac troponin assays is excellent, and these assays can substantially improve the early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, particularly in patients with a recent onset of chest pain. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00470587.)
Abstract Background Uric acid was shown to predict outcome in patients with stable chronic heart failure. Its impact in patients admitted in the Emergency Department with acute dyspnea, however, ...remains unknown. Methods We prospectively investigated the diagnostic and prognostic value of uric acid in 743 unselected patients presenting to the Emergency Department with acute dyspnea. Results Uric acid at admission was higher in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (51% of the cohort) as compared with patients with noncardiac causes of dyspnea (median, 447 μmol/L vs 340 μmol/L, P <.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the accuracy to detect acute decompensated heart failure was inferior for uric acid (0.70) than for B-type natriuretic peptide (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.91, P <.001). Patients in the highest uric acid tertile more often required admission to the hospital (92% vs 74% in the first tertile, P <.001) and had higher in-hospital mortality (13% vs 4% in the first tertile, P <.001). Cumulative 24-month mortality rates were 28% in the first, 31% in the second, and 50% in the third tertile ( P <.001). After adjustment in multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis, uric acid predicted 24-month mortality independently of B-type natriuretic peptide ( P = .003). Conclusions Our study first shows that uric acid, measured at Emergency Department admission or hospital discharge, is a powerful predictor of long-term outcome in dyspneic patients.
Local renal ischemia is regarded as an important factor in the development of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is involved in the tissue damage during experimental ...ischemia/reperfusion injury of the kidneys. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of MBL deficiency with radiocontrast-induced renal dysfunction in a large prospective cohort.
246 patients with advanced non-dialysis-dependent renal dysfunction who underwent radiographic contrast procedures were included in the study. Baseline serum MBL levels were analyzed according to the occurrence of a creatinine-based (increase of ≥ 0.5 mg/dL or ≥ 25% within 48 hours) or cystatin C-based (increase of ≥ 10% within 24 hours) CIN.
The incidence of creatinine-based and cystatin C-based CIN was 6.5% and 24%, respectively. MBL levels were not associated with the occurrence of creatinine-based CIN. However, patients that experienced a cystatin C increase of ≥ 10% showed significantly higher MBL levels than patients with a rise of <10% (median 2885 (IQR 1193-4471) vs. 1997 (IQR 439-3504)ng/mL, p = 0.01). In logistic regression analysis MBL deficiency (MBL levels ≤ 500 ng/ml) was identified as an inverse predictor of a cystatin C increase ≥ 10% (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.15-0.8, p = 0.01).
MBL deficiency was associated with a reduced radiocontrast-induced renal dysfunction as reflected by the course of cystatin C. Our findings support a possible role of MBL in the pathogenesis of CIN.
Short-term infusions of single vasodilators, usually given in a fixed dose, have not improved outcomes in patients with acute heart failure (AHF).
To evaluate the effect of a strategy that emphasized ...early intensive and sustained vasodilation using individualized up-titrated doses of established vasodilators in patients with AHF.
Randomized, open-label blinded-end-point trial enrolling 788 patients hospitalized for AHF with dyspnea, increased plasma concentrations of natriuretic peptides, systolic blood pressure of at least 100 mm Hg, and plan for treatment in a general ward in 10 tertiary and secondary hospitals in Switzerland, Bulgaria, Germany, Brazil, and Spain. Enrollment began in December 2007 and follow-up was completed in February 2019.
Patients were randomized 1:1 to a strategy of early intensive and sustained vasodilation throughout the hospitalization (n = 386) or usual care (n = 402). Early intensive and sustained vasodilation was a comprehensive pragmatic approach of maximal and sustained vasodilation combining individualized doses of sublingual and transdermal nitrates, low-dose oral hydralazine for 48 hours, and rapid up-titration of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, or sacubitril-valsartan.
The primary end point was a composite of all-cause mortality or rehospitalization for AHF at 180 days.
Among 788 patients randomized, 781 (99.1%; median age, 78 years; 36.9% women) completed the trial and were eligible for primary end point analysis. Follow-up at 180 days was completed for 779 patients (99.7%). The primary end point, a composite of all-cause mortality or rehospitalization for AHF at 180 days, occurred in 117 patients (30.6%) in the intervention group (including 55 deaths 14.4%) and in 111 patients (27.8%) in the usual care group (including 61 deaths 15.3%) (absolute difference for the primary end point, 2.8% 95% CI, -3.7% to 9.3%; adjusted hazard ratio, 1.07 95% CI, 0.83-1.39; P = .59). The most common clinically significant adverse events with early intensive and sustained vasodilation vs usual care were hypokalemia (23% vs 25%), worsening renal function (21% vs 20%), headache (26% vs 10%), dizziness (15% vs 10%), and hypotension (8% vs 2%).
Among patients with AHF, a strategy of early intensive and sustained vasodilation, compared with usual care, did not significantly improve a composite outcome of all-cause mortality and AHF rehospitalization at 180 days.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00512759.
The most effective regimen for the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) remains uncertain. Our purpose was to compare two regimens of sodium bicarbonate with 24 h sodium chloride 0.9% ...infusion in the prevention of CIN.
We performed a prospective, randomized trial between March 2005 and December 2009, including 258 consecutive patients with renal insufficiency undergoing intravascular contrast procedures. Patients were randomized to receive intravenous volume supplementation with either (A) sodium chloride 0.9% 1 mL/kg/h for at least 12h prior and after the procedure or (B) sodium bicarbonate (166 mEq/L) 3 mL/kg for 1 h before and 1 mL/kg/h for 6 h after the procedure or (C) sodium bicarbonate (166 mEq/L) 3 mL/kg over 20 min before the procedure plus sodium bicarbonate orally (500 mg per 10 kg). The primary endpoint was the change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) within 48 h after contrast. Secondary endpoints included the development of CIN. The maximum change in eGFR was significantly greater in Group B compared with Group A {mean difference -3.9 95% confidence interval (CI), -6.8 to -1 mL/min/1.73 m2, P = 0.009} and similar between groups C and B mean difference 1.3 (95% CI, -1.7-4.3) mL/min/1.73 m(2), P = 0.39. The incidence of CIN was significantly lower in Group A (1%) vs. Group B (9%, P = 0.02) and similar between Groups B and C (10%, P = 0.9).
Volume supplementation with 24 h sodium chloride 0.9% is superior to sodium bicarbonate for the prevention of CIN. A short-term regimen with sodium bicarbonate is non-inferior to a 7 h regimen. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00130598.
Aims
Sex‐specific differences in acute heart failure (AHF) are both relevant and underappreciated. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate the risk/benefit ratio and the implementation of novel AHF ...therapies in women and men separately.
Methods and results
We performed a pre‐defined sex‐specific analysis in AHF patients randomized to a strategy of early intensive and sustained vasodilatation versus usual care in an international, multicentre, open‐label, blinded endpoint trial. Inclusion criteria were AHF with increased plasma concentrations of natriuretic peptides, systolic blood pressure ≥100 mmHg, and plan for treatment in a general ward. Among 781 eligible patients, 288 (37%) were women. Women were older (median 83 vs. 76 years), had a lower body weight (median 64.5 vs. 77.6 kg) and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (median 48 vs. 54 ml/min/1.73 m2). The primary endpoint, a composite of all‐cause mortality or rehospitalization for AHF at 180 days, showed a significant interaction of treatment strategy and sex (p for interaction = 0.03; hazard ratio adjusted for female sex 1.62, 95% confidence interval 1.05–2.50; p = 0.03). The combined endpoint occurred in 53 women (38%) in the intervention group and in 35 (24%) in the usual care group. The implementation of rapid up‐titration of renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors was less successful in women versus men in the overall cohort and in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (median discharge % target dose in patients randomized to intervention: 50% in women vs. 75% in men).
Conclusion
Rapid up‐titration of RAAS inhibitors was less successfully implemented in women possibly explaining their higher rate of all‐cause mortality and rehospitalization for AHF.
Clinical Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov, unique identifier NCT00512759.
In patients randomized to a strategy of early intensive and sustained vasodilatation or usual care, the combined primary endpoint showed a significant interaction of treatment strategy and sex. Women randomized to intervention significantly more often experienced the combined endpoint when comapred to standard of care. AHF, acute heart failure. Correction added on 15 January 2024, after first online publication: abbreviation has been added in this version.
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