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Background: We aimed to investigate coronary angiographic findings in unselected out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients referred to immediate coronary angiography (ICA) irrespective of their first postresuscitation ECG and to determine whether this ECG is useful to select patients with no need of ICA., Methods and Results: All resuscitated patients admitted after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest without a clear noncardiac cause underwent ICA. Patients were retrospectively grouped according to the postresuscitation ECG blinded for ICA results: (1) ST elevation or presumably new left bundle branch block, (2) other ECG signs indicating myocardial ischemia, and (3) no ECG signs indicating myocardial ischemia. All coronary angiograms were reevaluated blinded for postresuscitation ECGs. Two hundred and ten patients were included with mean age 62±12 years. Six-months survival with good neurological outcome was 54%. Reduced Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction flow (0-2) was found in 55%, 34%, and 18% and a ≥90% coronary stenosis was present in 25%, 27%, and 19% of patients in group 1, 2, and 3, respectively. An acute coronary occlusion was found in 11% of patients in group 3. ST elevation/left bundle branch block identified patients with reduced Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (0-2) flow with 70% sensitivity and 62% specificity. Among patients with initial nonshockable rhythms (24%), 32% had significantly reduced Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction flow., Conclusions: Initial ECG findings are not reliable in detecting patients with an indication for ICA after experiencing a cardiac arrest. Even in the absence of ECG changes indicating myocardial ischemia, an acute culprit lesion may be present and patients may benefit from emergent revascularization. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATIONURL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01239420., (© 2015 American Heart Association, Inc.)

Background: No data from controlled trials exists regarding the inflammatory response in patients with de novo heart failure (HF) complicating ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and a possible role in the recovery of contractile function. We therefore explored the time course and possible associations between levels of inflammatory markers and recovery of impaired left ventricular function as well as levosimendan treatment in STEMI patients in a substudy of the LEvosimendan in Acute heart Failure following myocardial infarction (LEAF) trial., Methods: A total of 61 patients developing HF within 48 hours after a primary PCI-treated STEMI were randomised double-blind to a 25 hours infusion of levosimendan or placebo. Levels of IL-6, CRP, sIL-6R, sgp130, MCP-1, IL-8, MMP-9, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and TNF-α were measured at inclusion (median 22 h, interquartile range (IQR) 14, 29 after PCI), on day 1, day 2, day 5 and 6 weeks. Improvement in left ventricular function was evaluated as change in wall motion score index (WMSI) by echocardiography., Results: Only circulating levels of IL-8 at inclusion were associated with change in WMSI from baseline to 6 weeks, r = ÷ 0.41 (p = 0.002). No association, however, was found between IL-8 and WMSI at inclusion or peak troponin T. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in change in WMSI from inclusion to 6 weeks between patients with IL-8 levels below, compared to above median value, ÷ 0.44 (IQR ÷ 0.57, ÷ 0.19) vs. ÷ 0.07 (IQR ÷ 0.27, 0.07), respectively (p < 0.0001). Levosimendan did not affect the levels of inflammary markers compared to control., Conclusion: High levels of IL-8 in STEMI patients complicated with HF were associated with less improvement in left ventricular function during the first 6 weeks after PCI, suggesting a possible role of IL-8 in the reperfusion-related injury of post-ischemic myocardium. Further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00324766.

Aims: The calcium sensitizer levosimendan may counteract stunning after reperfusion of ischaemic myocardium, but no randomized placebo-controlled trials exist regarding its use in PCI-treated ST-segment elevation infarction (STEMI). We evaluated the efficacy and safety of levosimendan in patients with a primary PCI-treated STEMI complicated by symptomatic heart failure (HF)., Methods and Results: A total of 61 patients developing clinical signs of HF within 48 h after a primary PCI-treated STEMI (including cardiogenic shock) were randomized double-blind to a 25 h infusion of levosimendan or placebo. The primary endpoint was change in wall motion score index (WMSI) from baseline to day 5 measured by echocardiography. There was a significantly larger improvement in WMSI from baseline to day 5 in the levosimendan group compared with placebo (from 1.94 ± 0.20 to 1.66 ± 0.31 vs. 1.99 ± 0.22 to 1.83 ± 0.26, respectively, P = 0.031). There were significantly more episodes of hypotension during study drug infusion in the levosimendan group (67% vs. 36%, P = 0.029), but no significant difference in blood pressure at the end of infusion or in use of vasopressors. No significant between-group differences in changes in NT-proBNP levels, clinical composite score, frequency of atrial fibrillation or ventricular arrhythmia, infarct size at 6 weeks, or new clinical events up to 6 months were found. One and four patients died in the levosimendan and placebo group, respectively., Conclusions: Levosimendan treatment improved contractility in post-ischaemic myocardium in patients with PCI-treated STEMI complicated by HF. The treatment was well tolerated, without any increase in arrhythmias.

Our objective was to evaluate the ability of CMR to visualize myocardial injuries over the course of myocarditis. We studied 42 patients (39 males, 3 females; age 37 ± 14 years) with myocarditis during the acute phase and after 12 ± 9 months. CMR included function analyses, T2-weighted imaging (T2 ratio), T1-weighted imaging before and after i.v. gadolinium injection (global relative enhancement; gRE), and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). In the acute phase, the T2 ratio was elevated in 57%, gRE in 31%, and LGE was present in 64% of the patients. In 32 patients (76%) were any two (or more) out of three sequences abnormal. At follow-up, there was an increase in ejection fraction (57.4 ± 11.9% vs. 61.4 ± 7.6; P < 0.05) while both T2 ratio (2.04 ± 0.32 vs. 1.70 ± 0.28; P < 0.001) and gRE (4.07 ± 1.63 vs. 3.11 ± 1.22; P < 0.05) significantly decreased. The LGE persisted in 10 patients. Dilated cardiomyopathy was present in 3 patients and 4 patients received a defibrillator or a pacemaker. A comprehensive CMR approach is a useful tool to visualize myocardial tissue injuries over the course of myocarditis. CMR may help to differentiate acute from healed myocarditis, and add information for the differential diagnoses.

Background: Patients with acute myocardial infarction and newly detected abnormal glucose regulation have been shown to have a less favourable prognosis compared to patients with normal glucose regulation. The importance and timing of oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT) in patients with acute myocardial infarction without known diabetes is uncertain. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of abnormal glucose regulation classified by an OGTT in-hospital and at three-month follow-up on clinical outcome in patients with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) without known diabetes., Methods: Patients (n = 224, age 58 years) with a primary percutanous coronary intervention (PCI) treated STEMI were followed for clinical events (all-cause mortality, non-fatal myocardial re-infarction, recurrent ischemia causing hospital admission, and stroke). The patients were classified by a standardised 75 g OGTT at two time points, first, at a median time of 16.5 hours after hospital admission, then at three-month follow-up. Based on the OGTT results, the patients were categorised according to the WHO criteria and the term abnormal glucose regulation was defined as the sum of impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance and type 2-diabetes., Results: The number of patients diagnosed with abnormal glucose regulation in-hospital and at three-month was 105 (47%) and 50 (25%), respectively. During the follow up time of (median) 33 (27, 39) months, 58 (25.9%) patients experienced a new clinical event. There were six deaths, 15 non-fatal re-infarction, 33 recurrent ischemia, and four strokes. Kaplan-Meier analysis of survival free of composite end-points showed similar results in patients with abnormal and normal glucose regulation, both when classified in-hospital (p = 0.4) and re-classified three months later (p = 0.3)., Conclusions: Patients with a primary PCI treated STEMI, without previously known diabetes, appear to have an excellent long-term prognosis, independent of the glucometabolic state classified by an OGTT in-hospital or at three-month follow-up., Trial Registration: The trial is registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT00926133.

The time course of recovery of left ventricular (LV) function after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery is largely unknown. We aimed to test the hypothesis that LV function improves shortly after CABG by using echocardiography to elucidate myocardial contractility before and after CABG, and to determine the segmental distribution of viable myocardium. We prospectively studied 42 patients undergoing elective isolated CABG. No selection was done regarding preoperative LV ejection fraction. All patients underwent serial transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography preoperatively, and at two to four days and six to seven weeks postoperatively. Regional wall motion was evaluated at each examination, and wall motion score index (WMSI) was calculated to assess recovery of contractile function. WMSI improved by surgery (P=0.005), stepwise from preoperatively to two to four days postoperatively (P=0.05) and borderline significantly between the two postoperative examinations (P=0.06). One hundred and one (15%) of 670 segments had abnormal contraction preoperatively; of which 69 were hypokinetic and 32 were akinetic. At six to seven weeks postoperatively a normalization of function was found in 35 (51%) hypokinetic and four (13%) akinetic segments. Our data suggest that CABG improves myocardial contractility within the first days postoperatively. Echocardiographic determination of wall motion is a useful tool to observe LV function.

Objectives: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is a diagnostic entity that is increasingly being recognized. Data from cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging and its impact on differential diagnosis are limited., Methods and Results: After 26 months, coronary angiography revealed normal coronary arteries and left ventriculography and/or echocardiography left ventricular dysfunction with apical ballooning in 20 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Four patients were excluded from CMR and in three patients an alternative diagnosis was revealed. Thirteen patients (all female; 60 ± 8 years) with TTC underwent a multisequential CMR, in which all showed myocardial oedema with an elevated T2 ratio in the apical region (2.4 ± 0.4; p < 0.001 vs. healthy controls), and five patients an elevated global relative enhancement (gRE; 3.7 ± 1.4; p < 0.05 vs. healthy controls). No late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was detected on CMR. Follow-up after 132 ± 33 days showed a normalized left ventricular ejection fraction, myocardial mass, T2 ratio, and gRE in all patients., Conclusions: TTC is a small but definite group among patients with ACS and normal coronary arteries. CMR allows differentiating TTC from other causes such as myocarditis and cardiomyopathies, as well as to identify the transient increase of myocardial mass and resolution of myocardial oedema as the systolic dysfunction improves. Therefore, CMR might add valuable information for the differential diagnoses and therapeutic decision-making in patients with suspected TTC.

Objectives: Mild therapeutic hypothermia after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is usually achieved either by surface cooling or by core cooling via the patient's bloodstream. We compared modern core (Coolgard) and surface (Arctic Sun) cooling devices with a zero hypothesis of equal cooling, complications, and neurologic outcomes., Design: Single-center observational study., Setting: University hospital medical and cardiac intensive care units., Patients: One hundred sixty-seven consecutive patients comatose after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest of all causes treated with mild therapeutic hypothermia in a 5-yr period., Interventions: Nonrandomized allocation to core or surface cooling depending on availability and physician preference., Measurements and Main Results: All out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients' records were reviewed for relevant data regarding medical history, cardiac arrest event, prehospital care, in-hospital treatment, and complications. Survivor neurologic function was reassessed at follow-up after 6 to 12 months. Baseline patient and arrest episode characteristics were similar in the treatment groups. There was no significant difference in survival with good neurologic function, either to hospital discharge (surface, 34/90, 38%; core, 34/75, 45%; p=.345) or at follow-up (surface, 34/88, 39%; core, 34/75, 45%; p=.387). Time from cardiac arrest to achieving mild therapeutic hypothermia was equal with both devices (surface, 273 min, interquartile range 158-330; core, 270 min, interquartile range 190-360; p=.479). There were significantly more episodes of sustained hyperglycemia among the surface-cooled patients (surface, 64/92, 70%; core, 36/75, 48%; p=.005) and significantly more hypomagnesaemia among core-cooled patients (surface, 16/87, 18%; core, 27/74, 37%; p=.01)., Conclusions: In this study, surface and core cooling of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients following the same established postresuscitation treatment protocol resulted in similar survival to hospital discharge and comparable neurologic function at follow-up.

Background: Inflammation plays an important role in the pathophysiology of both atherosclerosis and type 2 diabetes and some inflammatory markers may also predict the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The aims of the present study were to assess a potential association between circulating levels of inflammatory markers and hyperglycaemia measured during an acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in patients without known diabetes, and to determine whether circulating levels of inflammatory markers measured early after an acute STEMI, were associated with the presence of abnormal glucose regulation classified by an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at three-month follow-up in the same cohort., Methods: Inflammatory markers were measured in fasting blood samples from 201 stable patients at a median time of 16.5 hours after a primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Three months later the patients performed a standardised OGTT. The term abnormal glucose regulation was defined as the sum of the three pathological glucose categories classified according to the WHO criteria (patients with abnormal glucose regulation, n = 50)., Results: No association was found between inflammatory markers and hyperglycaemia measured during the acute STEMI. However, the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) measured in-hospital were higher in patients classified three months later as having abnormal compared to normal glucose regulation (p = 0.031 and p = 0.016, respectively). High levels of CRP (≥ 75 percentiles (33.13 mg/L)) and MCP-1 (≥ 25 percentiles (190 ug/mL)) were associated with abnormal glucose regulation with an adjusted OR of 3.2 (95% CI 1.5, 6.8) and 7.6 (95% CI 1.7, 34.2), respectively., Conclusion: Elevated levels of CRP and MCP-1 measured in patients early after an acute STEMI were associated with abnormal glucose regulation classified by an OGTT at three-month follow-up. No significant associations were observed between inflammatory markers and hyperglycaemia measured during the acute STEMI.

A man in his sixties had acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (treated with PCI [percutaneous coronary intervention] and antithrombotic medication) complicated by recurrent stent thrombosis. Excessive haematuria and discovery of a urinary bladder cancer complicated the antithrombotic treatment. Due to recurrent stent thrombosis the patient underwent a total of four PCIs and received the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa-inhibitor abciximab on two occasions. After the last administration of abciximab he developed excessive bleeding within an hour; a blood sample revealed severe thrombocytopenia (2 x 10(9)/l). Severe thrombocytopenia is a rare, but well-known complication to glycoprotein IIb/IIIa-inhibitor treatment and is most often seen after readministration of abciximab. The problem of recurrent coronary stent thrombosis was solved by aorto-coronary bypass surgery, which should always be considered in patients with recurrent stent thrombosis and complications to anti-thrombotic treatment. When bleeding occurs in connection with abciximab treatment, especially within the first month after previous treatment, severe thrombocytopenia should always be considered as a possible cause. Abciximab should be avoided in patients with a history of severe abciximab-related thrombocytopenia.

Background: A high prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance and unknown type 2-diabetes in patients with coronary heart disease and no previous diagnosis of diabetes have been reported. The aims of the present study were to investigate the prevalence of abnormal glucose regulation (AGR) 3 months after an acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in patients without known glucometabolic disturbance, to evaluate the reliability of a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) performed very early after an acute STEMI to predict the presence of AGR at 3 months, and to study other potential predictors measured in-hospital for AGR at 3 months., Methods: This was an observational cohort study prospectively enrolling 224 STEMI patients treated with primary PCI. An OGTT was performed very early after an acute STEMI and was repeated in 200 patients after 3 months. We summarised the exact agreement observed, and assessed the observed reproducibility of the OGTTs performed in-hospital and at follow up. The patients were classified into glucometabolic categories defined according to the World Health Organisation criteria. AGR was defined as the sum of impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance and type 2-diabetes., Results: The prevalence of AGR at three months was 24.9% (95% CI 19.1, 31.4%), reduced from 46.9% (95% CI 40.2, 53.6) when measured in-hospital. Only, 108 of 201 (54%) patients remained in the same glucometabolic category after a repeated OGTT. High levels of HbA1c and admission plasma glucose in-hospital significantly predicted AGR at 3 months (p < 0.001, p = 0.040, respectively), and fasting plasma glucose was predictive when patients with large myocardial infarction were excluded (p < 0.001)., Conclusion: The prevalence of AGR in STEMI patients was lower than expected. HbA1c, admission plasma glucose and fasting plasma glucose measured in-hospital seem to be useful as early markers of longstanding glucometabolic disturbance. An OGTT performed very early after a STEMI did not provide reliable information on long-term glucometabolic state and should probably not be recommended.

Objectives: Women with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) previously received less invasive evaluation and experienced higher mortality than men. After improvements in AMI care it is unclear whether gender differences still exist in management and outcome of AMI., Methods: All patients admitted to Ullevål University Hospital for AMI during 2006 and 2007 were included in this cohort study. Predefined data were recorded during the hospital stay, and the survival status of the patients was ascertained on June 30, 2008., Results: A total of 931 women and 2,174 men were included. No gender differences were observed in treatment delay or age-adjusted odds ratio (OR) of invasive evaluation in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). In non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), women were less likely than men to undergo coronary angiography (adjusted OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.53-0.99, p = 0.044) and percutaneous coronary intervention (adjusted OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.47-0.76, p = 0.0001). Age-adjusted in-hospital mortality and long-term survival were similar between men and women., Conclusions: Women with STEMI experienced similar treatment delays and odds of invasive evaluation as men. However, gender differences in invasive evaluation were still observed in NSTEMI patients. No sex differences were observed in age-adjusted early and long-term mortality., (Copyright 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Background: The effects on left ventricular function of intracoronary injection of bone marrow cells in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have been studied with conflicting results. The aim of this substudy of the ASTAMI trial was to examine the effects of this novel treatment on exercise capacity and quality of life., Methods: We studied 100 patients with anterior wall ST-elevation AMI. All had percutaneous coronary intervention with stent in the proximal or mid left anterior descending coronary artery 2 to 12 hours after start of symptoms. Patients were randomized to intracoronary injection of mononuclear bone marrow cells (mBMCs) in left anterior descending coronary artery 6 +/- 1.3 days after AMI (n = 50) or control (n = 50). Assessment of physical capacity by maximal symptom-limited bicycle ergometer exercise tests and quality of life by the Short Form 36 health survey was performed 2 to 3 weeks and 6 months after the AMI., Results: There was a significantly greater improvement in exercise time in the mBMC group than in the control group (treatment effect 0.9 minute, 95% CI 0.3-1.6, P < .01), and a similar improvement in peak oxygen consumption in the groups (2.8 +/- 3.9 mL/[kg min] in the mBMC group vs 2.4 +/- 3.5 mL/[kg min] in controls, P = .62). Peak heart rate and percentage of heart rate reserve increased significantly more in the treatment group than in the control group. Treatment with mBMCs did not influence quality of life., Conclusions: In this randomized open-labeled study, the mBMC group significantly improved exercise time and heart rate responses to exercise compared with the control group. There was no treatment effect on peak oxygen consumption.

Background: Mortality among patients admitted to hospital after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is high. Based on recent scientific evidence with a main goal of improving survival, we introduced and implemented a standardised post resuscitation protocol focusing on vital organ function including therapeutic hypothermia, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), control of haemodynamics, blood glucose, ventilation and seizures., Methods: All patients with OHCA of cardiac aetiology admitted to the ICU from September 2003 to May 2005 (intervention period) were included in a prospective, observational study and compared to controls from February 1996 to February 1998., Results: In the control period 15/58 (26%) survived to hospital discharge with a favourable neurological outcome versus 34 of 61 (56%) in the intervention period (OR 3.61, CI 1.66-7.84, p=0.001). All survivors with a favourable neurological outcome in both groups were still alive 1 year after discharge. Two patients from the control period were revascularised with thrombolytics versus 30 (49%) receiving PCI treatment in the intervention period (47 patients (77%) underwent cardiac angiography). Therapeutic hypothermia was not used in the control period, but 40 of 52 (77%) comatose patients received this treatment in the intervention period., Conclusions: Discharge rate from hospital, neurological outcome and 1-year survival improved after standardisation of post resuscitation care. Based on a multivariate logistic analysis, hospital treatment in the intervention period was the most important independent predictor of survival.

Objectives: Thrombolysis is the treatment of choice for patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) living in rural areas with long transfer delays to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This trial compares two different strategies following thrombolysis: to transfer all patients for immediate coronary angiography and intervention, or to manage the patients more conservatively., Design: The NORwegian study on DIstrict treatment of STEMI (NORDISTEMI) is an open, prospective, randomized controlled trial in patients with STEMI of less than 6 hours of duration and more than 90 minutes expected time delay to PCI. A total of 266 patients will receive full-dose thrombolysis, preferably pre-hospital, and then be randomized to either strategy. Our primary endpoint is the one year combined incidence of death, reinfarction, stroke or new myocardial ischaemia. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00161005., Results: By April 2006, 109 patients have been randomized. Thrombolysis has been given pre-hospital to 52% of patients. The median transport distance from first medical contact to catheterization laboratory was 155 km (range 90-396 km). Results of the study are expected in 2008.

Objectives: To assess if myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) at rest can be of value in elucidating myocardial perfusion, ischaemia and perioperative myocardial infarction (PMI) associated with coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery., Design: This was a prospective randomized study of patients undergoing elective CABG. Forty-eight patients in the control group underwent serial ECG recordings and measurements of CK-MB and cTnT. Fifty-four patients in the study group were additionally examined with MPS preoperatively and 2-4 days and 6 weeks postoperatively., Results: The study showed a highly significant (p < 0.001) improvement in myocardial radionuclide uptake from preoperatively to 2-4 days postoperatively. Judged from ECG and enzymatic changes, two control patients and one study patient only had PMI and no additional cases of PMI were demonstrated by MPS., Conclusion: MPS at rest showed that CABG significantly improved myocardial perfusion, by demonstrating an increase in radionuclide uptake. In diagnosing PMI, we found that MPS provided no additional information beyond cardiac biochemical markers and ECG changes.

Background: Previous studies have shown improvement in left ventricular function after intracoronary injection of autologous cells derived from bone marrow (BMC) in the acute phase of myocardial infarction. We designed a randomized, controlled trial to further investigate the effects of this treatment., Methods: Patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction of the anterior wall treated with percutaneous coronary intervention were randomly assigned to the group that underwent intracoronary injection of autologous mononuclear BMC or to the control group, in which neither aspiration nor sham injection was performed. Left ventricular function was assessed with the use of electrocardiogram-gated single-photon-emission computed tomography (SPECT) and echocardiography at baseline and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 2 to 3 weeks after the infarction. These procedures were repeated 6 months after the infarction. End points were changes in the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), end-diastolic volume, and infarct size., Results: Of the 50 patients assigned to treatment with mononuclear BMC, 47 underwent intracoronary injection of the cells at a median of 6 days after myocardial infarction. There were 50 patients in the control group. The mean (+/-SD) change in LVEF, measured with the use of SPECT, between baseline and 6 months after infarction for all patients was 7.6+/-10.4 percentage points. The effect of BMC treatment on the change in LVEF was an increase of 0.6 percentage point (95% confidence interval [CI], -3.4 to 4.6; P=0.77) on SPECT, an increase of 0.6 percentage point (95% CI, -2.6 to 3.8; P=0.70) on echocardiography, and a decrease of 3.0 percentage points (95% CI, 0.1 to -6.1; P=0.054) on MRI. The two groups did not differ significantly in changes in left ventricular end-diastolic volume or infarct size and had similar rates of adverse events., Conclusions: With the methods used, we found no effects of intracoronary injection of autologous mononuclear BMC on global left ventricular function., (2006 Massachusetts Medical Society)

Background: Diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance are associated with increased mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction. We have used standardised oral glucose tolerance tests shortly after a myocardial infarction., Methods: 109 patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction were prospectively enrolled in the study. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed the first morning the patients were stable, without pain, nausea or hyperglycaemia. The patients were classified into normal glucose tolerance, impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes, according to the results of the oral glucose tolerance test and fasting plasma glucose levels., Results: 109 patients (25 women) were included. Eight patients were previously diagnosed with diabetes type 2. Oral glucose tolerance was tested for 90 patients, usually the day after admission. The test was positive in 47 patients; 32 of them had 2-h plasma glucose levels between 7.8 and 11.0 mmol/L and were classified as having impaired glucose tolerance, and 15 had 2-h plasma glucose > or = 11.1 mmol/L and were classified as newly diagnosed diabetes patients. Similar body mass indexes and lipid values were found in patients with different glycometabolic states. Smoking was associated with a positive oral glucose tolerance test., Interpretation: More than half of the patients with acute myocardial infarction had undiagnosed impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes type 2, as determined by an oral glucose tolerance test. The test could easily be performed shortly after a myocardial infarction in most of the patients. Oral glucose tolerance testing should be considered in all patients with coronary heart disease without a history of diagnosed diabetes.

Background: Based on data from the literature, it has been suggested that elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction will benefit more from primary angioplasty than from thrombolysis., Material and Methods: Data for 100 consecutive patients, age 75 years or more, presenting with an acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) without cardiogenic shock and treated with primary angioplasty were analysed retrospectively. Some variables were compared with previously published data on a group of 100 younger patients (mean age 59) with STEMI., Results: Angiographically, the success rate of revascularization was similar between the elderly (mean age 80) and the younger STEMI patients. Mortality, both at 30 days and at 1 year, was higher among the elderly patients compared with the younger (15% vs. 1% and 21% vs. 3% respectively, both p < 0.001). In the same time period, primary angioplasty was performed in seven patients > or = 75 years who presented with cardiogenic shock at admission. All of these died during hospitalization., Interpretation: Technically, the success rate of primary angioplasty in elderly patients with STEMI was similar to that in younger STEMI patients. Mortality after 30 days was significantly higher among the elderly patients, but the mortality rate from 30 days to 1 year after the infarction was similar to that of the same age group in the general population. Patients > or = 75 years presenting with STEMI and cardiogenic shock had no benefit of angioplasty; all died during hospitalization.

Background: Cardiogenic shock is a condition associated with high mortality. The evidence base for choice of treatment is insufficient, but new therapeutic options and new understanding have lead to some improvement in the prognosis. A new class of heart failure medication is now approved in Norway (calcium sensitizers)., Methods: We present a case history that illustrates new options in the treatment of cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction. We have searched available literature and give a review of the treatment of cardiogenic shock with special emphasis on the role of inotropic drug therapy., Results and Interpretation: A 46-year-old man with cardiogenic shock complicating myocardial infarction because of occlusion of the left-main coronary artery was treated with acute revascularization, intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP) and levosimendan. Early revascularization is a key factor in the treatment of cardiogenic shock; rapid transfer of patients to a revascularization centre is recommended. IABP should be considered after successful revascularization because of post-ischaemic dysfunction that persists despite restoration of epicardial blood flow. Beta-adrenergic stimulation of the heart should, if possible, be avoided, because of increased myocardial oxygen requirement, calcium overload of the cardiomyocytes, and increased mortality. Drug therapy using calcium sensitizers is promising, but more controlled clinical trials are needed.

Background: Achieving reperfusion as soon as possible is essential in order to reduce myocardial infarction size and thus improve prognosis. An increasing number of patients with myocardial infarction are treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Technetium 99m-tetrofosmin myocardial perfusion tomography (SPECT) is a valid test for assessing myocardium at risk and final infarct size expressed by a hypoperfusion index (HPI) of the left ventricular mass., Material and Methods: 20 patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction were treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention within six hours of onset of symptoms. Myocardium at risk and final infarct size were assessed by Technetium 99m-tetrofosmin immediately before and a few hours, one week and six weeks after., Results: The hypoperfusion index immediately before percutaneous coronary intervention was 31%, four to six hours after PCI 25%, one week later 16% and six weeks later 12%, i.e. a relative reduction of 60% (p < 0.01). Anterior wall infarctions had a higher level of myocardium at risk before primary PCI compared to inferior wall infarctions (36% vs. 24%), but anterior wall infarctions had a higher salvage index compared to inferior wall infarctions., Interpretation: This non-controlled study shows a marked reduction in final infarction size in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary PCI.

Background: The effect of thrombolytic therapy in patients with myocardial infarction is well documented. In patients presenting with chest pain it may, however, be difficult to discriminate between myocardial infarction and aortic dissection only on the basis of clinical manifestations. Moreover, patients with type A dissection may have ECG changes caused by affection of the coronary flow., Material and Methods: We retrospectively investigated all patients admitted to our hospital with type A dissection of the aorta over the period 1999 to March 2001., Results: Fourteen patients were identified. Only two patients had normal ECG, six had ST elevation. Two patients had received antithrombotic or thrombolytic therapy., Interpretation: In patients with chest pain and ST elevation, aortic dissection must be considered as a differential diagnosis before thrombolytic therapy.

Background: There is little information available on long-term changes in left ventricular function and infarct size after acute myocardial infarction treated with primary angioplasty., Material and Methods: From 1996 to 1998, 100 consecutive patients were treated with primary angioplasty for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Left ventricular ejection fraction was determined by radionuclide ventriculography before discharge, after six weeks and after a mean follow-up time of 20 months (range 11-37). Infarct size was assessed by technetium 99m-tetrofosmin myocardial perfusion tomography (SPECT) at rest, performed at the same time intervals., Results: Mean ejection fraction was 56% at discharge, 55% after six weeks and 57% after 20 months of follow-up. A mean perfusion defect of 19% was measured by SPECT after one week. After six weeks and 20 months of follow-up, the mean perfusion defects were reduced to 14% (p < 0.001) and 15%, respectively., Interpretation: Left ventricular function was well preserved and infarct sizes small to moderate 20 months (range 11-37) after primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction, demonstrating that the initial successful effect of the treatment was maintained.