Effect of spironolactone on cardiac remodeling after acute myocardial infarction / 世界急诊医学杂志（英文）

BACKGROUND: Few studies have reported the effect of aldosterone receptor antagonist (ARA) on myocardial remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study was undertaken to investigate the preventive effect of ARA on myocardial remodeling after AMI.METHODS: A total of 616 patients who had been admitted into the CCU of the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from January 2008 to January 2010 were studied prospectively. Only 528 patients were observed completely, including 266 of the control group and 262 of the treatment group. There was no statistical difference in age, gender, medical history, admission situation, and treatment between the two groups (P>0.05). The preventive effects of spironolactone on cardiac remodeling, left ventricular function, renal function and blood levels of potassium were evaluated by echocardiography, serum potassium and serum creatinine at one-month and one-year follow-up.RESULTS: The echocardiography indicators such as LVESD, LVEDD, LVEF, LAD-ML and LAD-SI were signifi cantly improved in the treatment group compared with the control group at one year (P<0.05). In the treatment group, LVESD, LVEDD, LVPWT, LVEF, LAD-ML and LAD-SI were more significantly improved at one year than one month (P<0.05,P=0.007 to LVEF), and in the control group LVEF was more signifi cantly improved at one year than one month (P=0.0277). There were no signifi cant differences in serum potassium and serum creatinine levels between the two groups.CONCLUSION: On the basis of conventional treatment, the early combination of low-dose spironolactone (20 mg/d) could inhibit cardiac remodeling at late stage and prevent heart failure.

Impact of emergency percutaneous coronary intervention on outcomes of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients complicated by out-of-hospital cardiac arrest / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Cardiac arrest is one of the most serious complications of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), especially in the out-of-hospital patients. There is no general consensus as to whether percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is effective in treating ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients complicated by out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). In our study, we evaluated the efficacy of PCI in treating STEMI patients complicated by OHCA through observing their clinical conditions in hospital; including total mortality, adverse cardiac events, stroke, acute renal failure, and gastrointestinal bleeding events.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 1827 STEMI patients were enrolled in this study, where 81 were STEMI with OHCA. Between the patients with and without OHCA, and the OHCA patients with and without PCI, we compared the clinical characteristics during hospitalization, including total mortality and incidences of adverse cardiac events, and stroke.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared to the patients without OHCA, the OHCA patients had significantly lower systolic blood pressure (P < 0.05) and a faster heart rate (P < 0.05), and a higher percentage of Killip class IV or Glasgow coma scale (GCS) ≤ 7 on admission (P < 0.001). And the in-hospital mortality was higher in the OHCA patients (55.6% vs. 2.4%, P < 0.001). Comparing the OHCA patients without PCI to the patients with PCI, there was no obvious difference of heart rate, blood pressure or the percentage of Killip class IV and GCS ≤ 7 on admission, but the incidences of cardiogenic shock, stroke were significantly lower in the with-PCI group during hospitalization (P < 0.001, P < 0.05). And the in-hospital mortality of the OHCA patients receiving PCI was significantly lower (36.7% vs. 84.3%, P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>During hospitalization, the incidence of adverse events and mortality are higher in the STEMI with OHCA patients, comparing with the STEMI without OHCA. Emergency PCI reduces the incidence of adverse events and decreases mortality during hospitalization, which is effective for treating STEMI with OHCA patients.</p>

Outcome of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction complicated by pre-hospital cardiac arrest underwent emergency percutaneous coronary intervention / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the outcome of ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients complicated pre-hospital cardiac arrest underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From September 2004 to November 2008, 1446 consecutive patients with acute STEMI underwent PCI in our department. 49 out of 1446 patients complicated by pre-hospital cardiac arrest. Clinical outcome including total mortality, adverse cardiac events, stroke and bleeding events during the hospitalization period and within 1 year after discharge was compared between patients with or without pre-hospital cardiac arrest.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>PCI success rate was similar (85.7% vs. 88.8%, P = 0.497) while the incidence of in-hospital cardiogenic shock 22.4% vs. 3.0%, P < 0.001 and cardiac arrest (44.9% vs. 5.9%, P < 0.001) and in-hospital mortality (36.7% vs. 2.0%, P < 0.001) were significantly higher in patients with pre-hospital cardiac arrest than patients without pre-hospital cardiac arrest. Time from symptom onset to emergency treatment, asystole as initial rhythm, Glasgow coma scale (GCS ≤ 7) and cardiogenic shock on admission were independent risk factors of in-hospital death in patients with pre-hospital cardiac arrest. During follow up, incidences of overall mortality, re-infarction, revascularization and stroke were similar between the two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>STEMI patients with pre-hospital cardiac arrest undergoing emergency PCI are facing higher risk of cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest and higher in-hospital mortality compared to those without pre-hospital cardiac arrest. However, the post-hospital discharge outcome was similar between the two groups.</p>

Intensive atorvastatin therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the safety and efficacy of 40 mg daily atorvastatin in patients with acute myocardial infarction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 1102 patients with AMI admitted to our hospital from 2003 to 2007 were assigned to atorvastatin 40 mg daily within 24 hours of hospitalization and continued till 3 months post discharge. Patients with LDL-C < 2.0 mmol/L or increased liver enzyme level (3 times higher than normal) at discharge received atorvastatin 20 mg daily. Lipid profiles, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, liver enzyme level were measured at admission, hospital discharge and 3 months after discharge.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1)The mean hospitalization duration was (10.17 +/- 1.83) days. LDL-C was continuously decreased [(3.24 +/- 1.04) mmol/L at admission, (2.27 +/- 2.00) mmol/L at discharge and (1.48 +/- 0.78) mmol/L at 3 months after discharge, all P < 0.05]. HDL-C decreased from (1.45 +/- 0.38) mmol/L to (1.20 +/- 0.30) mmol/L at hospital discharge, then increased to (1.65 +/- 1.79) mmol/L at 3 months after hospital discharge (all P < 0.05). TC and apoB were also significantly decreased from admission to discharge (all P < 0.05). (2) high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level significantly decreased from admission to hospital discharge and at 1 months after hospital discharge [(49.71 +/- 50.46) mg/L vs. (8.80 +/- 17.66) mg/L vs. (2.61 +/- 2.30) mg/L, all P < 0.05]. (3) Increased ALT > 120 U/L (3 times higher than normal) were found in 127(11.25%), AST > 120 U/L were found in 26(2.40%) patients at discharge. There were still 4 patients with increased ALT (> 120 U/L) at 1 months after discharge and all returned to normal at 3 months after discharge.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Intensive atorvastatin therapy with a dose of 40 mg daily is safe and effective for patients with AMI.</p>

The prognostic value of hyponatremia in patients with acute myocardial infarction / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the prognostic significance of hyponatremia in patients with AMI.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The study population consisted of 670 patients with AMI in coronary care unit in our hospital from January 2003 to December 2004. The patients were designed into three groups according to serum sodium concentration within twenty four to forty eight hours following the onset of AMI: Group A. Na(+) > or = 135 mmol/L; Group B. Na(+) 120-135 mmol/L; Group C. Na(+) < or = 120 mmol/L. The data of myocardial enzymes, myocardial infarction size, heart function and inhospital mortality were analyzed retrospectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>1. The inhospital mortality of each group: group A was 7.6% (17/225), group B was 8.1% (34/421), group C was 33.3% (8/24). The difference between group C and group B or group A was significant. The P value was little than 0.05. 2. Activities of serum creatine phosphatase kinase and serum creatine phosphatase kinase isoenzymes and myocardial infarction sizes in each group were different (P < 0.05). 3. 59 cases of all died and 611 cases of all recovered in duration of hospital stay. Serum sodium concentrations of the recovered group were (133.00 +/- 5.25) mmol/L, and that of the died group were (122.00 +/- 7.25) mmol/L (P < 0.01). 4. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, hyponatremia was associated with 30-day mortality in patients with AMI. In analysis of the association between the degree of hyponatremia and outcome, we observed that the risk of 30-day mortality increased with the severity of hyponatremia.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Hyponatremia may be one of the important markers that predict a worse prognosis in patients with AMI.</p>