Search

Objectives: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an established treatment for high-grade aortic valve stenosis in patients found unfit for open heart surgery. The method may cause cardiac conduction disorders requiring permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation, and the long-term effect of PPM implantation remains ambiguous. Design One hundred sixty-eight patients who underwent TAVI from 2008 to 2012 were included. Patient characteristics, ECGs and PPM data were collected through medical records. Kaplan-Meier plots and Cox regression analysis were performed., Results: Forty subjects were excluded, leaving 128 patients for final inclusion. 41 (32%) received a PPM (mean age 82 vs. 80 in patients without PPM, p = .06) within 30 days of the TAVI procedure. Median follow-up was ∼4 years and 37 (29%) died. One-year mortality was 14% for non-PPM patients vs. 2% in PPM patients, and mortality at 5yrs 70% vs. 54%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed higher mortality in patients without PPM (p = .008). In multivariate survival analysis significant variables were: No PPM (HR 2.6; CI 1.1-6.2; p = .03), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (HR 2.4; CI 1.2-5.0; p = .02) and either pre- or post-procedural chronic or paroxystic atrial fibrillation (HR 2.3; CI 1.2-4.7; p= .02)., Conclusion: TAVI-patients with a PPM had better survival than patients in whom a PPM was not implanted.

Background: As patients with severe aortic valve stenosis (AS) develop symptoms their survival decreases rapidly, if treated conservatively. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been introduced as a less invasive treatment alternative, especially in inoperable patients, who often have severe comorbidities, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)., Materials and Methods: Since the beginning of our TAVI program in March 2008, data on all 131 TAVI patients were prospectively and consecutively collected in this registry with complete follow-up. COPD was present in 37 patients. By January 2012 survival data were collected from the Danish Civil Registration System. Median follow-up duration was 559 days., Results: Overall survival and survival from cardiac death was equivalent in both patients with and without COPD (p = 0.98 and p = 0.26) in the follow-up period. Further, patients with COPD had higher New York Heart Association (NYHA) class prior to intervention compared with those without (3.1 ± 0.5 vs. 2.9 ± 0.5, p = 0.02). In multivariate regression analysis COPD was associated with 30-day postoperative NYHA class (0.43; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.10-0.75; p = 0.01), but not to NYHA class improvement from pre- to postintervention (0.25; 95% CI: - 0.12 to -0.63; p = 0.18)., Conclusions: In patients with symptomatic severe AS treated with TAVI, the presence of COPD neither affects overall survival nor survival from cardiac death. Patients with COPD had, however, both higher pre- and postoperative NYHA class compared with patients without COPD, but NYHA class improvement from pre- to postintervention was equivalent in both groups.

Objective: To determine the risk in administering β-blockers, contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) and the trend in X-ray use, during coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA)., Methods: A total of 416 patients were referred for elective CCTA. To achieve a resting heart rate below 60 beats per minute, oral and/or intravenous β-blockers were administered. Using questionnaires, information on the adverse effects of β-blockers was collected from the patients. The levels of s-creatinine and estimated GFR (eGFR) were measured before and after contrast enhanced CCTA. Radiation exposure was compared with the exposure 3 years earlier., Results: There was no significant difference in the symptoms (dizziness, lipothymia and palpitations) between patients with and patients without β-blocker pretreatment. Compared to baseline values, the decrease in s-creatinine was not significant (75.2 vs. 74.6 μmol/L, p = 0.09), while the increase in eGFR was not significant (78 vs. 79 mL/min, p = 0.17). Also, subgroups of patients with hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes or pre-existing slight impairment in renal function did not develop CIN. The mean radiation exposure decreased from 17.5 to 6.7 mSv, p < 0.0001., Conclusions: In terms of the side effects of β-blockers and contrast media, there were no short term complications to CCTA. Furthermore, the radiation dose has been dramatically diminished over the last three years.

Objective: Osteoprotegerin (OPG) may be involved in development of atherosclerosis. To evaluate plasma concentrations of OPG in individuals with stable coronary artery disease (CAD), acute coronary syndrome (ACS), peripheral artery disease (PAD), and cerebrovascular disease (CBVD) a systematic literature review was performed., Design and Methods: Studies investigating OPG concentrations in stable CAD, ACS, PAD, and CBVD were extracted from PubMed and the Cochrane Library, retrieving 280 articles. Nonrelevant articles were excluded and after thorough evaluation, and only 14 studies with clearly defined cohorts qualified for this review., Results: In 11 studies, OPG concentrations were elevated. Severity of atherosclerosis was significantly associated with higher OPG concentrations compared to healthy controls. No association between PAD and OPG concentrations was observed., Conclusion: OPG concentrations are associated with the presence and severity of stable CAD, ACS, and CBVD. Larger studies are needed to reach conclusions concerning OPG concentrations in PAD. Studies addressing a putative role for OPG in suspected CAD and CBVD are warranted.

Objective: To evaluate if biomarker sampling in PCI has adhered to the 2 000 consensus document for the diagnosis of procedure-related myocardial infarction (MI)., Design: Firstly, a review of relevant papers from 2000 to September 2007 was done. Secondly, in October 2007, a questionnaire addressing biomarker sampling in routine PCI was sent to Danish PCI centres., Results: Fourteen papers fulfilled the selection criteria. In six studies serial sampling according to the consensus document had been done. Biomarker measuring before PCI was not performed in four studies. All centres answered the questionnaire. In none of six centres the proposed 3-sample testing of biomarkers had been followed. A pre-PCI sample was taken in one centre. In approximately half of the centres biomarkers were only measured on clinical indication., Conclusion: Biomarker sampling for procedure-related MI according to the 2 000 consensus document has not been universally adapted. In order to avoid hampering of epidemiologic data and the comparison of future clinical trials it is proposed that the 2007 MI re-definition consensus document will be rapidly and universally accepted.

Objectives: Coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) has proven clinically useful for non-invasive assessment of coronary pathology. However, coronary calcium can reduce its diagnostic value. The objective of this study was to define a calcium score above which CTA appears less reliable., Design: We prospectively investigated 109 patients referred for elective coronary angiography (CA). With a 64-slice CT-scanner, coronary calcium was determined and expressed in Agatston unit (AU). A significant coronary stenosis was defined as > or =50% luminal diameter reduction. Following blinded interpretation, diagnostic values of CTA at different levels of AU were calculated using quantitative CA as reference., Results: A strong association with stent and the severity of coronary calcium was observed. In patients without stents (n = 91) sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive value for presence of significant stenosis were: 100%, 91%, 74%, and 100% in patients with a calcium score < or =400 AU versus 100%, 17%, 75%, and 100% in patients with a score >400 AU., Conclusions: The diagnostic accuracy of CTA in patients with no or little coronary calcium is excellent. However, in patients with an Agatston score >400 specificity declines and therefore, these patients should not go on to CTA, but be referred to CA instead.

Background: ST-segment depression and T-wave inversion (ST-T changes) in the electrocardiogram (ECG) and raised levels of natriuretic peptide have been observed in acute ischemic stroke patients. It is unknown whether any relation between ST-T changes and raised levels of natriuretic peptides in patients with an acute ischemic stroke exists., Methods: Serial measurements of plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and 12-lead ECGs were obtained in 192 consecutive patients with an acute ischemic stroke without ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, heart- or renal failure., Results: ST-T changes suggestive of myocardial ischemia were observed in the 12 lead ECG of 47 patients (24%). In uni- and multivariate regression analysis after adjustment for age, stroke severity, female sex, systolic blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, and levels of troponin T > 0.03 microg/L, ST-T changes in the ECG remained associated with increased levels of NT-proBNP (beta=76.5, p=0.011)., Conclusions: ST-T changes suggestive of myocardial ischemia are independently associated with the levels of NT-proBNP in patients with acute ischemic stroke. The clinical importance of this observation remains to be defined.

Objective: Holter monitoring is one option in risk-stratification after acute myocardial infarction (MI). Measurements of heart rate variability (HRV), ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ST-segment elevation (ST upward arrow ) have been useful in predicting clinical outcome. We investigated if a combination of different Holter variables could optimize risk-stratification., Design: One hundred and twenty-one men < 70 years old with a first MI were studied. Holter monitoring for 24 h was started 11 +/- 5 days after MI and analysed for HRV, VT and ST. Follow-up was 10-12 years with cardiac death as endpoint., Results: Thirty-six patients were positive for > or = 1 Holter variable (HRV in 15, VT in 16, ST in 10). At follow-up 22 cardiac deaths had occurred. The prognostic sensitivity of individual Holter variables ranged from 23 to 36%, but increased to 64% if combined. The cardiac death rate in Holter positive patients (39%) was significantly higher than in Holter negative patients (9%) (p < 0.0001)., Conclusion: By combining measurements of HRV, VT and ST the prognostic importance of Holter monitoring can be significantly improved. The patients can be stratified in a low-risk group with an annual mortality < 1% vs a high-risk group with a cardiac death rate around 40% over the following decade.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of thrombolytic therapy on vagal tone after acute myocardial infarction (AMI)., Design: Holter monitoring for 24 h was performed at hospital discharge and 6 weeks after AMI in 74 consecutive male survivors of a first AMI, who fulfilled established criteria for thrombolytic therapy. Thirty-five patients received thrombolyses, while the remaining 39 patients did not (controls). In each Holter recording 24-h heart rate variability was calculated as pNN50, which represents the percentage of successive RR interval differences >50 ms. Alterations in pNN50 are known to reflect changes in vagal tone., Results: The analysis showed that controls early after AMI had low pNN50 values without any diurnal changes. Six weeks after AMI pNN50 values in controls exhibited a circadian rhythm with higher values during night-time. This pattern was similar to the pattern observed in thrombolysed patients early after AMI. In thrombolysed patients pNN50 values, particularly at night, were further improved 6 weeks after AMI (p = 0.037)., Conclusion: These observations indicate that thrombolytic therapy, given for a first AMI, preserves vagal activity when compared with patients who are not thrombolysed. The enhanced parasympathetic tone may be a part of the beneficial mechanisms responsible for the reduction in mortality after thrombolysis in AMI.