Effect of very early atorvastatin initiation for acute myocardial infarction on creatine kinase release

It have been suggested that pre-treatment with a statin agent prior to myocardial infarction limits myocardial creatine kinase release, and thus may act to limit myocardial infarct size in humans. To examine the effect of very early statin initiation for AMI, to the extent of myonecrosis as manifested by peak serum creatine kinase levels. Patients with AMI admitted to Al-Kindy teaching hospital cardiac care unit from February 2007 through February 2008, who fulfilled the inclusion criteria cited in the present study, were randomly assigned into two study groups. The statin group patients have received a single oral dose of 40 mg atorvastatin at time of admission and repeated for the next days until discharge, patients not receiving statin serves as controls. Blood samples were obtained upon admission and every 8 h for another three consecutive samples to identify peak creatine kinase levels. Patients who had statin therapy initiated immediately after hospital admission have similar peak creatine kinase concentrations as compared to those not receiving statin therapy [1020 +/- 621 IU/L vs. 911 +/- 591 IU/L,P= 0.332]. Statin initiation in AMI patients fails to show any observable effect on creatine kinase release, which can be attributed to the need of an extended period for the statin agent to achieve the predictable outcome and suggesting the necessity of statin pretreatment in patients at high risk for AMI

Selenium status and echocardiographic parameters in Iraqi patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

It has been speculated that trace elements may play a role in the pathogenesis of dilated cardiomyopathy [DCM] .In the present study, we aimed to assess serum concentrations of selenium [Se] in Iraqi patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy [IDC] and to evaluate the correlation between serum Se concentrations and echocardiographic parameters. This study included 28 patients with IDC and 22 healthy controls .Serum level of selenium was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry method .Echocardiographic parameters including left ventricular end diastolic diameter [LVEDD], LV end- systolic diameter [LVESD], and LV ejection fraction [LVEF] were measured in all patients with IDC in order to evaluate its correlation with serum Se concentrations. Serum concentration of Se in IDC patients was significantly lower than in healthy controls [p<0.001].Relationships of the serum Se levels with echocardiographic and clinical parameters were not statistically significant. The present study confirmed that IDC is associated with decreased serum Se concentrations. This change in Se may play an important role in the pathogenesis of myocardial damage in IDC