Relationship of anemia and uric acid with clinical outcomes in congestive heart failure / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Serum uric acid (UA) and anemia could be a valid and useful prognostic marker of chronic heart failure (CHF). We investigated the relationship of anemia and UA with clinical outcomes in CHF patients. METHODS: We analyzed 109 patients with congestive heart failure between August 2001 and October 2002 (age 67 +/- 15 years, follow-up 14 +/- 5 months). We distributed the patients into 3 groups according to hematocrit (Hct) level [Hct group 1 (Hct 38%, n=39)] and into 3 groups according to serum uric acid (UA) level [UA group I (UA 7.5 mg/dL, n=20)]. Primary end point were rehospitalization resulting from aggravation of CHF and all-cause of death. RESULTS: Among the groups according to Hct level, readmission rates were 57.1%, 28.6%, 15.4%, respectively (p<0.05). Among men, readmission rates were 82.3%, 22.2%, 14.3%, respectively (p<0.05). No significant difference in death rate was observed among the 3 groups. Among the groups according to UA level, there was no significant difference in readmission rates. Death rates were 5%, 8%, 35%, respectively (p<0.05) and there was significant difference in death rate especially among male patients. CONCLUSION: In male patients, lower hematocrit level was associated with higher readmission rate and higher serum uric acid level was associated with death rate.

The clinical effects of probucol combined with multivitamins and Tranilast on restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Tranilast is an anti-allergic drug that suppresses the release of cytokines. An antioxidant, probucol, prevents endothelial dysfunction and oxidation of low density lipoprotein and also inhibits the secretion of interleukin-1 by macrophages. In several studies, both the tranilast and probucol with multivitamins have been shown to decrease the frequency of angiographic restenosis after PCI. METHODS: We analyzed clinical events and restenosis at 6 months following percutaneous coronary angioplasty in 93 patients with 113 coronary arterial lesions after coronary stenting at Soonchunhyang University Hospital between Jan 2001 and Apr 2003. The patients were assigned to following three groups: 39 patients who didn't receive tranilast and antioxidants (control group, M 29, F 10, 61 +/- 10 years) ; 25 patients who received probucol (500 mg), vitamin C (1,000 mg), vitamin E (400 mg) (antioxidant group, M 19, F 6, 62 +/- 10 years) ; 29 patients who received tranilast (400 mg) (Tranilast group, M 18, F 11, 59 +/- 9 years). RESULTS: The restenosis per lesion between three groups was not different significantly (control group, 32.7%; antioxidant group, 26.7%; Tranilast group, 20.6%). At follow-up, minimal luminal diameter (MLD) was not different significantly between three groups (control group, 1.8 +/- 1.07 mm; antioxidant group, 2.1 +/- 1.18 mm; Tranilast group, 2.1 +/- 0.94 mm). Target lesion revascularization was lower in Tranilast group (3.4%) as compared with control group (25.6%) and antioxidant group (16%, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Neither probucol combined with vitamin C and E nor tranilast did not improve significantly the angiographic restenosis rate. But tranilast had reduced the target lesion revascularization rate as compared with control group and antioxidant group.