Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio at Emergency Room Predicts Mechanical Complications of ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Background@#The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been proven to be a reliable inflammatory marker. A recent study reported that elevated NLR is associated with adverse cardiovascular events in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We investigated whether NLR at emergency room (ER) is associated with mechanical complications of STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). @*Methods@#A total of 744 patients with STEMI who underwent successful primary PCI from 2009 to 2018 were enrolled in this study. Total and differential leukocyte counts were measured at ER. The NLR was calculated as the ratio of neutrophil count to lymphocyte count. Patients were divided into tertiles according to NLR. Mechanical complications of STEMI were defined by STEMI combined with sudden cardiac arrest, stent thrombosis, pericardial effusion, post myocardial infarction (MI) pericarditis, and post MI ventricular septal rupture, free-wall rupture, left ventricular thrombus, and acute mitral regurgitation during hospitalization. @*Results@#Patients in the high NLR group (> 4.90) had higher risk of mechanical complications of STEMI (P = 0.001) compared with those in the low and intermediate groups (13% vs. 13% vs. 23%). On multivariable analysis, NLR remained an independent predictor for mechanical complications of STEMI (RR = 1.947, 95% CI = 1.136–3.339, P= 0.015) along with symptom-to balloon time (P = 0.002) and left ventricular dysfunction (P < 0.001). @*Conclusion@#NLR at ER is an independent predictor of mechanical complications of STEMI undergoing primary PCI. STEMI patients with high NLR are at increased risk for complications during hospitalization, therefore, needs more intensive treatment after PCI.

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio at Emergency Room Predicts Mechanical Complications of ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Background@#The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been proven to be a reliable inflammatory marker. A recent study reported that elevated NLR is associated with adverse cardiovascular events in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We investigated whether NLR at emergency room (ER) is associated with mechanical complications of STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). @*Methods@#A total of 744 patients with STEMI who underwent successful primary PCI from 2009 to 2018 were enrolled in this study. Total and differential leukocyte counts were measured at ER. The NLR was calculated as the ratio of neutrophil count to lymphocyte count. Patients were divided into tertiles according to NLR. Mechanical complications of STEMI were defined by STEMI combined with sudden cardiac arrest, stent thrombosis, pericardial effusion, post myocardial infarction (MI) pericarditis, and post MI ventricular septal rupture, free-wall rupture, left ventricular thrombus, and acute mitral regurgitation during hospitalization. @*Results@#Patients in the high NLR group (> 4.90) had higher risk of mechanical complications of STEMI (P = 0.001) compared with those in the low and intermediate groups (13% vs. 13% vs. 23%). On multivariable analysis, NLR remained an independent predictor for mechanical complications of STEMI (RR = 1.947, 95% CI = 1.136–3.339, P= 0.015) along with symptom-to balloon time (P = 0.002) and left ventricular dysfunction (P < 0.001). @*Conclusion@#NLR at ER is an independent predictor of mechanical complications of STEMI undergoing primary PCI. STEMI patients with high NLR are at increased risk for complications during hospitalization, therefore, needs more intensive treatment after PCI.

The relationship between J wave and ventricular tachycardia during Takotsubo cardiomyopathy

Background and objectives@#Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) occasionally causes life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia. J wave on surface electrocardiography (sECG) has also been associated with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation and cardiac events; therefore, we investigated whether the presence of J wave on sECG is a potential risk factor for ventricular arrhythmia in patients with TTC. @*Subjects and methods@#We performed a retrospective study in 79 patients who were diagnosed with TTC from 2010 to 2014. Among them, 20 (25.3%) were diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia (VT). The J wave on the sECG was defined as J point elevation manifested through QRS notching or slurring at least 1 mm above the baseline in at least two leads. @*Results@#A higher prevalence of ventricular tachycardia was observed in patients with J wave. The corrected QT interval (QTc) was significantly longer in the VT group than in the non-VT group. In a multivariate analysis, the presence of J wave appeared to be the only independent predictors of VT [Hazard Ratio (HR) 3.5, p = 0.019]. @*Conclusion@#Our results suggest that the presence of J wave on the sECG is significantly associated with VT, and appear to indicate that the presence of J wave is a strong and independent predictor of VT in patients with TTC.

Endoscopic Treatment of a Case of Post-cholecystectomy Mirizzi Syndrome / 대한췌담도학회지

Mirizzi's syndrome (MS) caused by the retention of a stone in the cystic duct stump after cholecystectomy is rare. Most cases of MS are treated by surgical intervention. However, developments of endoscopic accessories and techniques have resulted in the recent introduction of endoscopic treatments for MS. Furthermore, in view of the postoperative morbidity caused by post-operative scarring, the endoscopic approach should be preferred to the surgical approach. In the described case, the authors were able to remove a remnant cystic duct stone endoscopically because the cystic duct stump was wide and non-tortuous. This case shows endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with mechanical lithotripsy can be utilized in suitable cases of type I MS development after cholecystectomy.

A Case of Extremely Very Late Stent Thrombosis 8 Years after Implantation of Drug-Eluting Stent Observed by Intravascular Ultrasound

Drug-eluting stents (DES) are now widely used for patients with coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions. The current major agenda for using DES is very late stent thrombosis (VLST) that occurs beyond 1 year after DES implantation. Although VLST is rare, it is a serious complication that can result in sudden death or myocardial infarction. Until now, there have been only a few case reports of VLST within 7 years. We report a case of a 78-year-old man who presented with an ST segment elevation myocardial infarction due to extremely very late stent thrombosis resulting from a mal-apposed stent and delayed neointimal coverage that occurred 8 years after stent implantation after the cessation of antiplatelet agents for 10 days.

A Case Report of Renal Involvement in Adult-Onset Still's Disease over Age 70

Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a rare systemic inflammatory disease characterized by spiking fever, arthralgia, salmon pink rash, neutrophilic leukocytosis, and multi-organ involvement. Although renal involvement may appear in some cases of adult Still's disease, onset over 70 years of age with renal involvement has not been described. We report a 73-years-old woman whose illness manifested with fever of unknown origin, massive proteinuria, and multiple lymph nodes enlargement. With proteinuria of 2,650 mg/day, a renal biopsy was performed, and histopathological evaluation yielded the diagnosis of chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN). After excluding infectious disease, malignancy, and other rheumatic disease, AOSD was diagnosed with symptoms including fever over 39.0degrees C for more than a week, leukocytosis, generalized lymphadenopathy, and negative autoantibodies. Proteinuria and fever were improved markedly by high dose glucocorticoids and methotrexate therapy.