Effect of enhanced external counterpulsation therapy on myeloperoxidase in lowering cardiovascular events of patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a slowly progressive disease with high morbidity and mortality; therefore, the management using pharmacological treatments frequently fails to improve outcome. Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP), a non-invasive treatment, may serve as alternative treatment for heart failure. This study was aimed to evaluate the influence of EECP on myeloperoxidase (MPO) as inflammatory marker as well as cardiac events outcome. Methods: This was an open randomized controlled clinical trial on 66 CHF patients visiting several cardiovascular clinics in Manado between January-December 2012. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups, i.e. the group who receive EECP therapy and those who did not receive EECP therapy with 33 patients in each group. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) as inflammatory marker was examined at baseline and after 6 months of observation. Cardiovascular events were observed as well after 6 months of observation. Unpaired t-test was use to analyze the difference of MPO between the two groups, and chi-square followed by calculation of relative risk were used for estimation of cardiovascular event outcomes. Results: MPO measurement at baseline and after 6 months in EECP group were 643.16 ± 239.40 pM and 422.31 ± 156.26 pM, respectively (p < 0.001). Whereas in non EECP group, the MPO values were 584.69 ± 281.40 pM and 517.64 ± 189.68 pM, repectively (p = 0.792). MPO reduction was observed in all patients of EECP group and in 13 patients (48%) of non-EECP group (p < 0.001). Cardiovascular events were observed in 7 (21.21%) and 15 (45.45%) of patients in EECP and non-EECP groups, respectively (p = 0.037). Conclusion: EECP therapy significantly decreased the level of MPO as inflammatory marker and this decrease was correlated with the reduction of cardiovascular events in CHF patients.

Heart rate turbulence in patients after primary percutaneous coronary intervention and fibrinolytic treatment for acute myocardial infarction.

Heart rate turbulence (HRT) as novel predictor of sudden cardiac death were superior to all other presently available indicators. HRT significantly was improves after successful reperfusion reflecting rapid restoration of baroreceptor response. We investigated turbulence onset (TO) and turbulence slope (TS) values among patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) underwent revascularization by means of primary PCI or fibrinolytic. We hypothesized that the values of TO and TS were different in two kinds of revascularization treatment. The subjects underwent 24 hours ECG recording after revascularization therapy. TO was quantified by the relative change of the first two sinus RR intervals following a ventricular premature beat (VPB) and the last two sinus RR intervals before the VPB. TS was quantified by the maximum positive slope of a regression line assessed over any sequence of five subsequent sinus rhythm RR intervals within the first two sinus rhythm intervals after a VPB. Thirteen patients (mean of age 56 ± 9 years old) who underwent revascularization treatment of acute STEMI were eligible as subject of this study.Ten patients underwent fibrinolytic therapy and three patients underwent primary PCI. TO value was significantly different between PCI group and fibrinolytic group (-3.3 ± 1.7 % vs -0.2 ± 0.9 % ; P=0.03). The Primary PCI group has better outcome on turbulence slope value (TS) than fibrinolytic group but not significance (7.7 ± 4.4 msec/RR interval vs 3.4 ± 2.6 msec/RR interval; P = 0.056). In conclusion, TO was better in acute STEMI patient undergone PCI compare to that undergone fibrinolytic therapy.

Lipid Treatment Assessment Project (L-TAP) Study : a survey in 13 cities in Indonesia to evaluate the percentages of dyslipidemic patients achieving NCEP LDL-C target goals after treatment.

Clinical trials have demonstrated significant benefit from low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. In the US, it is well recognized that a substantial number of hypercholesterolemic patients were not treated to the LDL-C goals recommended by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guidelines. In 1996, the Indonesian Heart Association (PERKI) has issued guidelines recommending goals for screening and lipid treatment in Indonesia adopted from NCEP guidelines; however, the frequency of undertreatment in Indonesia is not known. The objective of this study was to determine the percentage of patients treated with lipid-lowering therapy who reached LDL-C goals as defined by NCEP guidelines in routine clinical practice. This was a cross-sectional survey targeted physicians who regularly treated dyslipidemic patients in 13 cities in Indonesia. Participating doctors were asked on their awareness of NCEP guidelines and to complete the case record form (CRF) of the enrolled patients. One-hundred and eighty-eight (188) out of four hundreds (400) physicians who were invited, have participated in this study. Among the evaluable 1420 CRF, 1082 patients received statins, 301 used fibrates, 14 patients used combination drugs, and 23 others received non-drug treatments only. Success rates on achieving target LDL-C in low-risk, high-risk, and CHD groups were 73.0 %, 43.6 %, and 14.8 %, respectively. Overall success rate in patients using statins was 55.1 %, while in low-risk group, high-risk group, and CHD patients, the success rates with statin were 77.8%, 50.1%, and 18.6 %, respectively. Atorvastatin showed the highest success rate (77.4 %) if compared to other statins. Only 14 % of physicians were knowledgeable about the NCEP goals. Conclusion : A large number of dyslipidemic patients who were on lipid-lowering therapy were not achieving the recommended LDL-C target levels. Success rates were lower in CHD patients and high risk group. Atorvastatin seemed more effective in lowering the LDL-C to target levels. There are still many physicians in Indonesia who do not aware about the NCEP guidelines and LDL-C treatment goals.

Hypoatphalipoproteinemia: Prevalence and the impact of treatment on reaching HDL cholesterol target level in patients with dyslipidemia.

A low serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level is a potent predictor of coronary heart disease (CHD). It has been estimated that 11% of the Framingham men have isolated low HDL-C levels and about 30% of dyslipidemia patients have HDL-C level of less than 35 mg/dl (hypoalphalipoproteinemia). In addition, there is uncertainty regarding the management of these patients. There is no epidemiological data on the prevalence low HDL-C level in dyslipidemia patients and the results of treatment on HDL-C on a large number of patients in Indonesia. We conducted a survey in 13 cities in Indonesia to evaluate the prevalence of hypoalphalipoproteinemia among dyslipidemic patients and the impact of treatment with lipid modification drugs on achieving target level of HDL-C 35 mg/dl or more in routine clinical practice. A total number of 1420 dyslipidemia patients (mean age 50 years, male 58%) were included and analyzed in this report. The overall prevalence of hypoalphalipoproteinemia in our study was 35.4% and it was correlated with the risk level of the patients; 21.9% among low risk group (patient with < 2 other risk factor), 39.6% in high risk group (≥ 2 other risk factors) and 44.3% in patients with CHD. After 12 week treatment, the prevalence decreased to 12%, 20% and 18% in low risk, high risk and CHD patients respectively. The magnitude of HDL-C changes correlated inversely with base-line HDL-C and it was highest (59%) in the lowest HDL-C group (< 25 mg/dl) and the least change (23%) was found in group with the highest HDL-C level (≥ 45 mg/dl). Only 46% of patients with low HDL-C value at baseline achieved normal HDL-C level after treatment. In conclusion, the prevalence of low HDL-C in dyslipidemia patients was high especially in high risk group and in CHD patients. The majority of patients with low HDL-C at base-line could not reach the target level for HDL-C of 35 mg/dl or more after 12 weeks treatment with lipid modification drugs.

The risk factors profile of coronary heart disease in dyslipidemic patients : Results from a survey in 13 cities in Indonesia.

The incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) has significantly increased and has been associated to the high mortality rate in Indonesia. One important CHD risk is the abnormal lipid profile or dyslipidemia, but there are other risk factors that has been associated with CHD in Western population. In Indonesia, data on CHD risk factors are very limited and usually only available as hospital-based data. The aim of this study is to analyze the CHD risk profile in the private clinical practice setting and to determine the factors affecting CHD in dyslipidemic patients in Indonesia. This study is a cross-sectional survey which targeted physicians in 13 cities in Indonesia who regularly treat patients with dyslipidemia. The majority of dyslipidemic patients in clinical practice setting was the CHD high-risk group. Age, Iow HDL-C and hypertension were the most common risk factors. The prevalence of the risk factors and the proportion of dyslipidemic patients which belongs to the high risk group were comparable to the result of US (L-TAP) study.