Long Term Survival Rate and Prognostic Factors of Acute Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: To identify the long term survival rate and prognostic factors of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Korea, total 1139 patients who presented between Jan. 1980 and Dec. 1997 at Seoul National University Hospital were followed for an average of 115 months. 321 patients died during follow up periods, 238 patients were lost and 580 patients are alive till the end point of the study. RESULTS: Overall survival rates (+/-standard error) were 88.2+/-1%, 86.8+/-1%, 85.3+/-1.1%, 82.1+/-1.2%, 79.6+/-1.3%, 75.6+/-1.5%, 73.1+/-1.6%, 70.3+/-1.7%, 67.4+/-1.8%, 64.5+/-1.9%, 60.0+/-2.2%, 56.3+/-2.5% at 1,6,12,24,36,48,60,120 months. In univariate analysis, older, history of diabetes, higher degree of Killip class, higher peak creatine kinase level, residual ischemia on treadmill test or MIBI scan, lower ejection fraction on echocardiography or gated blood pool scan, more severe extent of coronary artery disease, lower HDL-cholesterol level at least 3 months after AMI proved as poor long term prognostic factors of AMI with statistical significance (p0.05). In mltivariate analysis, old age and Killip class III versusIproved as independent poor long term prognostic factors of AMI with statistical significance (p<0.05) at combinations of age, sex, Killip class, existence of Q-wave, history of diabetes, ejection fraction on gated blood pool scan. CONCLUSION: The morthality of AMI is composed of two components. At acute phase, within 1 month, the mortality reaches to about 12%, and at chronic phase, after 1 month from AMI, mortality increases by 3% a year for 10 years. The other conclusion is old patients who have poor left ventricular functions show poor prognosis.

Effect of Recurrent Coronary Artery Spasm on Left Ventricular Contractile Function

BACKGROUND: Myocardial contractile dysfunction is often noticed without myocardial infarction, it may be due to myocardial stunning or hibernation. There are several case reports of myocardial stunning in patients with variant angina, but effect of recurrent myocardial spasm on myocardial contratile function in human is not well established. METHODS: To evaluate the effect of recurrent spasm-induced myocardial ischemia on myocardial contractile function, we analyzed the ejection fraction(by area-length method) and regional wall motion(by centerline method) at before and after intracoronary nitroglycerin in variant angina group and control group. Variant angina group consisted of 15 patients(LAD ; 10 patients, RCA ; 5 patients) and normal control group consisted of 6 patients. RESULTS: Ejection fraction increment after nitroglycerin infusion was not significant in normal control group, but that in variant angina group was significant(p<0.05). Pre-NG shortening fraction of LAD territory on both RAO and LAO view in patients with spasm in LAD was significantly lower than that in patients without spasm in LAD(RAO ; p<0.05, LAO ; p<0.01). On LAO view pre-NG shortening fraction of LAD territory in 6 patients with spasm and without significant fixed lesion was lower than that in patients without spasm in LAD(p<0.05). Shortening fraction increment after nitroglycerin infusion in LAD territory on both RAO and LAO view was significant in patients with spasm in LAD(RAO ; 0.05, LAO ; p<0.01), but that in LCX or RCA territory and that in LAD territory of patients without spasm in LAD was not significant. Shortening fraction increment after nitroglycerin infusion in RCA territory on LAO view was significant in patients with spasm in RCA(p<0.05), but that in LAD or LCX territory and that RCA territory of patients without spasm in RCA and was not significant. CONCLUSION: These observations suggest that recurrent coronary artery spasm results in reversible dysfunction of the ventricular global and regional contractility, and myocardial stunning may be the cause of this phenmenon.

Predicting Factors of Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease in Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography

BACKGROUND: Dobutamine stress echocardiography(DSE) is useful detection of coronary artery disease as a noninvasive test. The purpose of this study is to find predicting factors of multivessel disease (MVD) in DSE. METHODS: Sixty-five patients suspicious of coronary artery disease excluding myocardial infarction on clinical base had undergone DSE and coronary arteriography. We divided the patient group into normal group (22 patients), single vessel disease(SVD) group(25 patients) and multivessel disease (MVD) group (18 patients) according to the findings of the findings of coronary angiogram. DSE findings and hemodynamic change during stress were analyzed and compared in these groups. We defined MVD on DSE as findings of new or aggravating regional wall motion abnormalities in 2 or more coronary artery territories, and significant stenosis on coronary angiogram as stenosis of 50% or more. RESULTS: 1) The numbers of diseased vessel evaluated by DSE showed significant correlation with those evaluated by coronary angiogram. 2) Resting, low-dose and peak-dose wall motion scores were significantly different among 3 groups, being higher in MVD group than in SVD and normal group. 3) Total administered dose of dobutamine in MVD group was significantly lower than that of normal group. 4) Heart rate at peak-dose showed significant difference among 3 groups, but product of heart rate and systolic blood pressure at peak-dose was not significantly different. 5) Frequency of ST segment change was significantly higher in multicessel disease group CONCLUSION: DSE reflects severity of coronary artery disease. and frequency of resting regional wall motion abnormally. wall motion score in low-dose and paak stress seems to be useful as a predictor of multivessel disease. Value of total administered dose of dobutamine, hemodynamic changes and ST segment changes as a MVD remains to be proved.

Predicting Factors of Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease in Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography

BACKGROUND: Dobutamine stress echocardiography(DSE) is useful detection of coronary artery disease as a noninvasive test. The purpose of this study is to find predicting factors of multivessel disease (MVD) in DSE. METHODS: Sixty-five patients suspicious of coronary artery disease excluding myocardial infarction on clinical base had undergone DSE and coronary arteriography. We divided the patient group into normal group (22 patients), single vessel disease(SVD) group(25 patients) and multivessel disease (MVD) group (18 patients) according to the findings of the findings of coronary angiogram. DSE findings and hemodynamic change during stress were analyzed and compared in these groups. We defined MVD on DSE as findings of new or aggravating regional wall motion abnormalities in 2 or more coronary artery territories, and significant stenosis on coronary angiogram as stenosis of 50% or more. RESULTS: 1) The numbers of diseased vessel evaluated by DSE showed significant correlation with those evaluated by coronary angiogram. 2) Resting, low-dose and peak-dose wall motion scores were significantly different among 3 groups, being higher in MVD group than in SVD and normal group. 3) Total administered dose of dobutamine in MVD group was significantly lower than that of normal group. 4) Heart rate at peak-dose showed significant difference among 3 groups, but product of heart rate and systolic blood pressure at peak-dose was not significantly different. 5) Frequency of ST segment change was significantly higher in multicessel disease group CONCLUSION: DSE reflects severity of coronary artery disease. and frequency of resting regional wall motion abnormally. wall motion score in low-dose and paak stress seems to be useful as a predictor of multivessel disease. Value of total administered dose of dobutamine, hemodynamic changes and ST segment changes as a MVD remains to be proved.

Antihypertensive Efficacy and Safety of Perindopril Versus Nifedipine in High Salt Intake Essential Hypertensives : A Double-Blind Parallel Group Study

BACKGROUND: To assess the efficacy and safety of perindopril, a new angiotensin-converting enzyme(ACE) inhibitor, perindopril was compaired to nifedipine LP. METHODS: Perindopril(4mg q.d.) was compaired to nifedipine LP(20mg b.i.d.) in the double blind, parallel-group study involving total of 41 hypertensive patients with diatolic blood pressure(DBP) of 95-125mmHg. A 4-week single-blind placebo period preceeded 12 weeks of active tratment. Dose titration was at weeks 4 and 8 if the DBP was >90mmHg. The dose was doubled and, if necessary, a diuretic(hydrochlorthiazide 25mg) was added. The analysis of efficacy was performed on the 36 patients who completed the trial after 12 weeks; active treatment. The analysis of tolerance involved all 41 patients who entered the study. RESULTS: 1) The two groups were homogeneous prior to treatment. 2) The fall in blood pressure(BP) with perindopril was 22/11mmHg(from 160+/-14/101+/-6mmHg to 139+/-15/90+/-6mmHg) and 32/19mmHg(from 164+/-18/104+/-7 to 132+/-17/85+/-10mmHg) for nifedipine. 3) 65% of the perindopril group and 84% of the nifedipine group achived the target BP(diastolic BP or =10mmHg) was similar between two groups(88% cersus 89%). 5) Heart rate was not changed in the perindopril group. but increased in the nifedipine group. 6) Five patients withdrew from the study ; two were attributed to adverse events. one in the perindopril group and one in the nifedipine group. 7) The incidence of side effects in the perindopil group was less than that in the nifedipine group. Cough was reported by 10% of patients of the perindopril group. 8) Both groups did not induce changes in blood glucose and lipid profiles. 9) We could not find any significant relationship between the amount of blood pressure decline and 24 hour urine sodium excretion. 10) There were no clinically significant changes in laboratory parameters. CONCLUSION: Perindopril reduced blood pressure to slightly less extent than nifedipine, but had as similar efficacy as nifedipine. Perindopril had less side effects than nifedipine.