Effectiveness of clopidogrel and aspirin versus ticlopidine and aspirin after coronary stent implantation: 1 and 6-month follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Clopidogrel is a new thienopyridine derivative and has less serious hematologic complications. We investigated the efficacy of clopidogrel plus aspirin (CA) in stent thrombosis prevention compared with ticlopidine plus aspirin (TA). METHOD AND RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients who underwent coronary stenting were randomized into 2 groups: TA group, n = 31 and CA group, n = 37. At 1 month, there were 3 major bleeding complications, 2 in the CA group and 1 in the TA group. Neither stent thrombosis nor hematologic events were found in both groups. Two patients in the TA group died, 1 from sudden death and another from tracheal stenosis. At 6 months, five patients developed in-stent restenosis, 4 in the CA group and 1 in the TA group, p = NS. One patient in each group had acute coronary syndrome. CONCLUSION: Clopidogrel plus aspirin is an effective coronary stenting regimen comparable to ticlopidine plus aspirin.

Short and intermediate clinical outcome after late coronary stenting in myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The open artery theory has been proposed that late reperfusion of an occluded coronary artery favorably affects clinical outcome. Myocardial reperfusion can be achieved in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) by coronary angioplasty. Coronary stenting improves initial success rate and reduces rate of restenosis. However, there are limited data regarding intermediate outcome of late angioplasty with stenting. METHOD: Between June 1998 and August 1999, one hundred and twenty-three patients with AMI, and forty-four patients (37 males, 7 females) underwent late coronary stenting. Mean age was 57 +/- 10 years. Echocardiography was performed before the procedure and at 6-months follow-up. RESULTS: There were 36 Q-MI and 8 non Q-MI. The infarct-related artery (IRA) was left anterior descending artery (LAD) 55 per cent, left circumflex artery (LCX) 15 per cent, and right coronary artery (RCA) 30 per cent. Coronary stenting was successfully performed in all patients. Pre- and post-procedural diameter stenosis were 90.5 +/- 8.9 per cent and 2.2 +/- 6.5 per cent. Stent indications were suboptimal results (68.2%), intimal dissection (20.4%), and acute closure (11.4%). Over all in-hospital mortality was 2.27 per cent from sudden cardiac death. Mean follow-up was 11.41 +/- 4.79 months. There were 1 MI (2.3%), 2 CHF (4.65%), 1 unstable angina pectoris (2.3%), 1 transient ischemic attack (TIA) (2.3%), and no cardiac death. LVEF showed improvement at 6-months follow-up (47.75 +/- 11.55% vs 54.89 +/- 14.76%, p value < 0.001) CONCLUSION: Late coronary stenting of the IRA of patients with AMI is feasible, with few complications. There was improved LVEF and intermediate clinical outcome.

Effect of artemether on electrocardiogram in severe falciparum malaria.

The effect of intramuscular artemether (intramuscular loading dose of 160 mg, followed by 80 mg daily for another 6 doses), in comparison with that of quinine (intravenous infusion of loading dose of 20 mg/kg, followed by 10 mg/kg q 8 hourly for 7 days), on the electrocardiograph of severe falciparum malaria patients were investigated in 102 Thai patients (92 males, 10 females) admitted to Pra Pokklao Hospital, Chantaburi, southeast of Thailand. Fifty patients (19 with quinine and 31 with artemether) were eligible for ECG analysis. Hypotension was found significantly more common in the quinine group (13 vs 2 cases). Thirteen, 5 and 1 patients with quinine treatment, respectively, had tachycardia, non-specific T-wave change and QTc prolongation. No significant dysrhythmia was found despite high plasma quinine concentrations. Five patients died; their ECGs were not significantly different from those who survived. In the group with intramuscular artemether, 17 cases had tachycardia prior to artemether treatment. QTc prolongation and non-specific T-wave change were found in 2 and 6 cases. One patient had RBBB and second degree AV-block on Day 1, but returned to normal on Day 2. No other dysrhythmia or other significant changes in ECG tracing which would suggest any effect of artemether on cardiovascular system were observed.

Effect of mefloquine on electrocardiographic changes in uncomplicated falciparum malaria patients.

Asymptomatic sinus bradycardia and sinus arrhythmia have been noted in malarial patients receiving mefloquine. The present study was designed to assess the effect of mefloquine on electrocardiogram in malarial patients. The study was carried out in 102 acute uncomplicated falciparum malarial patients who were treated with mefloquine 750 mg and 1,250 mg regimens and 18 healthy male volunteers receiving 750 mg of mefloquine. Electrocardiogram was performed at intervals after mefloquine administration for a period of 42 days. PR, QRS, QT, QTc, RR interval and cardiac arrhythmia were measured and read by EKG-analyser with confirmation by a cardiologist. Sinus bradycardia and sinus arrhythmia were found in 61.8% and 45.1%, respectively during the first week after treatment. The patients' heart rate decreased significantly on day 6 after mefloquine administration when compared to day 0. The occurrence of sinus bradycardia and sinus arrhythmia were significantly higher in malarial patients when compared with findings in healthy subjects of the same age group. It is unlikely that these changes are associated with mefloquine concentration as mefloquine peaks around 12-24 hours after administration. There were no significant changes in PR-interval, QRS-interval and QTc interval on the electrocardiogram. The findings in this study suggest that cardiotoxicity from mefloquine is unlikely. Bradycardia may be the result of autonomic control modulation after resolution of high fever.