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Background: Data from over 4 decades have reported a higher incidence of silent infarction among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), but recent publications have shown conflicting results regarding the correlation between DM and presence of pain in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS)., Objective: Our primary objective was to analyze the association between DM and precordial pain at hospital arrival. Secondary analyses evaluated the association between hyperglycemia and precordial pain at presentation, and the subgroup of patients presenting within 6 hours of symptom onset., Methods: We analyzed a prospectively designed registry of 3,544 patients with ACS admitted to a Coronary Care Unit of a tertiary hospital. We developed multivariable models to adjust for potential confounders., Results: Patients with precordial pain were less likely to have DM (30.3%) than those without pain (34.0%; unadjusted p = 0.029), but this difference was not significant after multivariable adjustment, for the global population (p = 0.84), and for subset of patients that presented within 6 hours from symptom onset (p = 0.51). In contrast, precordial pain was more likely among patients with hyperglycemia (41.2% vs 37.0% without hyperglycemia, p = 0.035) in the overall population and also among those who presented within 6 hours (41.6% vs. 32.3%, p = 0.001). Adjusted models showed an independent association between hyperglycemia and pain at presentation, especially among patients who presented within 6 hours (OR = 1.41, p = 0.008)., Conclusion: In this non-selected ACS population, there was no correlation between DM and hospital presentation without precordial pain. Moreover, hyperglycemia correlated significantly with pain at presentation, especially in the population that arrived within 6 hours from symptom onset.

Background: It is well known that the occurrence of bleeding increases in-hospital mortality in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), and there is a good correlation between bleeding risk scores and bleeding incidence. However, the role of bleeding risk score as mortality predictor is poorly studied., Objective: The main purpose of this paper was to analyze the role of bleeding risk score as in-hospital mortality predictor in a cohort of patients with ACS treated in a single cardiology tertiary center., Methods: Out of 1655 patients with ACS (547 with ST-elevation ACS and 1118 with non-ST-elevation ACS), we calculated the ACUITY/HORIZONS bleeding score prospectively in 249 patients and retrospectively in the remaining 1416. Mortality information and hemorrhagic complications were also obtained., Results: Among the mean age of 64.3 ± 12.6 years, the mean bleeding score was 18 ± 7.7. The correlation between bleeding and mortality was highly significant (p < 0.001, OR = 5.296), as well as the correlation between bleeding score and in-hospital bleeding (p < 0.001, OR = 1.058), and between bleeding score and in-hospital mortality (adjusted OR = 1.121, p < 0.001, area under the ROC curve 0.753, p < 0.001). The adjusted OR and area under the ROC curve for the population with ST-elevation ACS were, respectively, 1.046 (p = 0.046) and 0.686 ± 0.040 (p < 0.001); for non-ST-elevation ACS the figures were, respectively, 1.150 (p < 0.001) and 0.769 ± 0.036 (p < 0.001)., Conclusions: Bleeding risk score is a very useful and highly reliable predictor of in-hospital mortality in a wide range of patients with acute coronary syndromes, especially in those with unstable angina or non-ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that leukocytosis and hyperglycemia verified at the admission of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are associated with intrahospital mortality. However, little is known on the long-term impact of these markers., Objective: To evaluate the short-and long-term influence of the levels of glucose and leukocytes on the prognosis of patients with AMI., Methods: A total of 809 patients with AMI were retrospectively assessed (mean age: 63.2 +/- 12.87 yrs) and prospectively and consecutively included in a specific database., Results: a) At the intrahospital phase, the mean values were compared between patients that died and those who survived: Leukocytosis: 12156+/-5977 vs 10337+/-3528 (p=0.004, 95%CI = 976-2663); Glucose 176+/-105 mg/dl vs 140+/-72 mg/dl (p<0.001, 95%CI = 19.4 - 52.6), respectively. b) With the adjusted mode, the same pattern was observed [p values: 0.002 (t-ratio 3.05), 0.04 (t-ratio 2.06), respectively]. c) Long-term follow-up: the univariate analysis showed P values of 0.001 (t-ratio 3.3), <0.001 (t-ratio 4.16), respectively. The multivariate analysis showed P=0.001 (t-ratio 3.35), 0.08 (t-ratio 1.75), respectively. (d) After the exclusion of the intrahospital deaths, the leukocyte (P=0.989) and glucose levels (P=0.144) did not remain significantly correlated with mortality. The same result was observed at the multivariate analysis., Conclusion: The levels of glucose and leukocytes at the hospital admission of patients with AMI are excellent predictors of intrahospital mortality and poor predictors of long-term death.

Background: Little is known, especially in our country, about the influence of health insurance plans on the long term outcome of patients after acute myocardial infarction (AMI)., Objective: To assess the outcome of patients with AMI who are covered by the National Health System (SUS) or other health insurance plans., Methods: We analyzed 1,588 patients with AMI (mean age of 63.3 + 12.9 years, 71.7% male) who were included prospectively into a specific database and followed up for up to 7.55 years. Of this total, 1,003 were placed in the "SUS" group and 585 in the "other insurance plans" group. We applied chi-square, log-rank and Cox (stepwise) to the different statistical analyses. The long term multivariate model with mortality as a dependent variable included 18 independent variables., Results: In-hospital mortality rates in the "other insurance plans" and "SUS" groups were 11.4% and 10.3%, respectively (p = 0.5); in the long term, survival chances in the groups were respectively, 70.4% + 2.9 and 56.4% + 4.0 (p = 0.001, hazard-ratio = 1.43, or a 43% higher chance of death in the "SUS" group). In the adjusted model, the 'SUS' group had a significantly higher chance of death (a 36% higher chance, p = 0.005). Surgical revascularization and angioplasty improved the prognosis of these patients, whereas age and previous history of infarction, diabetes or heart failure worsened the prognosis., Conclusions: Relative to patients with other insurance plans, SUS users present similar mortality rates during hospital stay, but their prognosis is worse in the long term, thus reinforcing the need for additional efforts to improve the care provided to these patients after hospital discharge.

It is reported the case of a 71 year old male patient admitted to the emergency service pale and with systemic arterial hypertension and thoracic pain. In the diagnostic investigation, there was no evidence of compatible with acute myocardial ischemia. The thorax x-ray showed important enlargement of the mediastinum. In the echocardiogram the ascending aorta measured 47 mm, at the level of the pulmonary artery. One day after the echo, submitted to exam of magnetic resonance (RNM), the ascending aorta had a diameter of 62 mm, without false lumen flow or intimal "flap", but showing intramural hematoma envolving the ascending aorta and the proximal portion of the aorta. It was submitted to the surgical correction, being accomplished by resection of the ascending aorta and part of the aortic arch (hemiarch), with preservation of the aortic valve with suspension of the comissures. The patient had uneventful recovery, being discharged in the 9th postoperative day. We emphasized the similarity of the clinical presentation of the intramural hematoma of the aorta with that of aortic dissection, the importance of establishing correct diagnosis and the best treatment.

We described a case of left ventricular pseudoaneurysm associated to a severe mitral regurgitation, complicating a inferolaterodorsal acute myocardial infarction. The lesion was found in a routine echocardiogram during the in-hospital follow-up. The well-succeeded surgical strategy and the good clinical evolution of the patient were distinguished.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of gemfibrozil and pravastatin in coronary artery disease patients with HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) < 35 mg/dl)., Methods: Twenty-nine patients (20 males, 60 +/- 9) were divided in a gemfibrozil group (G) (1200 mg/day n = 15) and a pravastatin group (P) (10 or 20 mg n = 10 and 4, respectively). The plasma lipid profile (LP) e.g. total cholesterol (TC), fractions and triglycerides (TG) was determined at 4 and 12 weeks of treatment., Results: HDL-C was not affected in P, TC and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) reductions were superior to those in G (31.3% vs 13.4% and 38.7 and 11.5%, p < 0.05 and < 0.01 respectively). In G HDL-C raised by 50% (12th week p < 0.01). Gemfibrozil reduced TG levels in 44.7% while in P it varied -32.2% (12th week p < 0.01 and < 0.05 respectively)., Conclusion: Gemfibrozil is more effective in reducing TG and raising HDL-C than pravastatin. On the other hand, pravastatin was more potent in reducing LDL-C levels.