Cardiac troponin-T in pre-end stage kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac troponin T level (cTnT) is commonly increased in end stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the absence of acute myocardial infarction. There are few data available on serum cTnT concentration in patients with pre-end stage CKD. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation of cTnT level and severity of kidney disease in patients with CKD stage 3 and 4 and to evaluate whether there is a relationship between left ventricular mass index and cTnT level. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Patients (103) with CKD stage 3-4 between 26 and 85 years of age (mean 60.0 +/- 11.9) entered the present study. Serum cTnT determined using a third-generation electrochemiluminescent immunoassay on an Elecsys 2010 analyzer (Roche Diagnostics Ltd.). All patients underwent echocardiography. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was considered when LV mass index exceeded 125 g/m2. RESULTS: Overall, 28 patients (28.2%) had cTnT > 0.01 micro/L and two patients (1.8%) had cTnT > 0.1 microg/L cTnT concentration was commonly increased in more severe CKD (9 patients in stage 3 and 20 patients in stage 4). LVH was not associated with increased cTnT (p=0.105). CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that the elevated cTnT > 0.01 microg/L is relatively common in patients with CKD stage 3-4 who do not require dialysis treatment, however serum cTnT level above > 0.1 microg/L is uncommon in this population. Increased serum cTnT is associated with decreased renal clearance but not LVH.

Predictive factors of systemic embolism in patients with mitral stenosis in sinus rhythm.

BACKGROUND: Systemic embolism is one of the major complications in patients with mitral stenosis (MS) who are in atrial fibrillation; however, this serious complication can also occur in patients with MS in sinus rhythm. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to identify the predictive factors of systemic emboli in patients with MS in sinus rhythm. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Twenty patients with MS in sinus rhythm with recent cerebral embolism and 32 with MS in sinus rhythm without any history of systemic embolism were studied between January 2004 and May 2006. Clinical and echocardiographic data were assessed using stepwise logistic regression for prediction of systemic embolism. RESULTS: Age (odds ratio [OR], 1.14; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.26) and left atrial spontaneous echo contrast (LASEC) grade 3+ and 4+ (OR, 46.42; 95% CI, 5.00-436.49) were associated with, and predictive of systemic emboli, whereas left atrial appendage contraction flow velocities, left atrial size and mitral valve area were not. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that age and LASEC are the major predictive factors of systemic embolism in patients with MS in sinus rhythm. It would therefore be prudent to give anticoagulants to patients in atrial fibrillation as well as to those in sinus rhythm at risk of systemic embolism.

Predictors of in-hospital mortality in non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome in Thai Acute Coronary Syndrome Registry (TACSR).

OBJECTIVE: To determine baseline prognostic factors of in-hospital mortality in Thai patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). MATERIAL AND METHOD: Among 5,537 NSTE-ACS patients enrolled in Thai Acute Coronary Syndrome Registry, a univariate analysis and multivariate analysis were used to estimate the relationship of baseline clinical variables and in-hospital mortality. Variables examined included demographics, history and presenting characteristics. RESULTS: The in-hospital mortality rate was 9.5%. The statistically significant, adjusted baseline prognostic factors of in-hospital death were older age > or =65 years) (odds ratio [OR] 2.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.54-3.09), shock at presentation (OR 4.6, 95%CI = 2.91-7.32), heart failure (OR 3.1, 95%CI = 2.15-4.38), positive cardiac marker (OR 1.7, 95%CI = 1.18-2.53), arrhythmia (OR 12.3, 95%CI = 8.71-17.35), major bleeding (OR 2.9, 95%CI = 1.84-4.51), and cerebrovascular accident (OR 4.9, 95% CI = 2.42-9.97). While dyslipidemia (OR 0.6, 95%CI = 0.45-0.87), having percutaneous coronary intervention (OR 0.6, 95% CI = 0.39-0.94), receiving aspirin (OR 0.6, 95%CI = 0.33-0.94), beta-blocker (OR 0.5, 95% CI = 0.40-0.73), angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (OR 0.6, 95% CI = 0.43-0.78) and nitrate (OR 0.5, 95%CI= 0.35-0.76) were associated with lower in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSION: The in-hospital mortality is higher in Thai NSTE-ACS patients compared to other populations. The present study supports and confirms the prognostics importance of several baseline characteristics reported in previous studies.

D-dimer and pulmonary arterial hypertension in systemic sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Micro-vascular thrombus is a common pathological finding in pulmonary artery hypertension. The association between plasma D-dimer, a marker of thrombus formation, and pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) in patients with systemic sclerosis is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To assess the correlation of the level of plasma D-dimer and pulmonary artery pressure in patients with systemic sclerosis. MATERIAL AND METHOD: One hundred and twenty nine patients with systemic sclerosis between 19 and 75 years of age (mean, 48 +/- 11.3) entered the study. Plasma D-dimer was determined using immunoturbidimetric assay (D-dimer plus, Dade Behring Inc., Newark, USA). Pulmonary artery pressure was estimated by Doppler echocardiography. PAH was considered present if the Doppler echocardiography-estimated right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) exceeded 36 mmHg. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients (36.4%) had PAH according to Doppler echocardiography including 32 (68.1 %) mild (RVSP, 36-45 mmHg), nine (19.1%) moderate (RVSP, 46-55 mmHg), and six (12.8%) severe PAH (RVSP > or = 56 mmHg). No significant correlation was found between plasma D-dimer and RVSP (r = 0. 02, p = 0. 82). CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that the D-dimmer level is not associated with the level of pulmonary artery pressure in patients with systemic sclerosis, indicating that microvascular thrombosis may not play a significant role in the pathogenesis of PAH in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Predictors of in-hospital mortality in Thai STEMI patients: results from TACSR.

BACKGROUND: Clinical predictors of high-risk STEMI patients may guide physicians to the type of treatment, as high-risk patients need more aggressive treatment than low-risk patients. There was no previous registry of STEMI patients in Thailand. Objective: To determine the clinical predictors of in-hospital mortality in STEMI patients from the Thai ACS MATERIAL AND METHOD: A multi-center prospective nationwide Thai Acute Coronary Syndrome Registry (TACSR) was done between August 1, 2002 and October 31, 2005. The STEMI patients were registered to Thai ACS web site. Clinical and demographic characteristics, coronary risk factors, presenting symptoms, in-hospital treatments, reperfusion procedures and the patients' outcomes were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: 3,836 STEMI patients were studied. The mean age was 62.2 +/- 12.8 years and 68% of the patients were male. The mortality rate of Thai STEMI patients was 17% (86.8% from cardiac causes) and the main cause of death was pumping failure (61.3%). The patients with older age > or = 75 years, patients with diabetes, shock, and cardiac arrhythmias had a higher mortality (29.4, 21.2, 43.4 and 37.24% respectively), while patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (primary PCI) had a lower mortality rate (12.66%). Patients who received treatment with ASA, beta-blocker ACE inhibitor/ARB and statin had lower in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSION: The clinical predictors of high in-hospital mortality in STEMI patients from the TACSR were older age > or = 75 years, diabetes, shock, and cardiac arrhythmias. The treatments that can decrease the mortality were primary PCI, ASA, beta-blocker, ACE inhibitor/ARB and statin.

Effect of changes in diagnosis and management of active infective endocarditis on the clinical outcome at Srinagarind Hospital.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, diagnostic methods and treatment of infective endocarditis (IE) have been improved. It is not known whether the clinical outcome is any better. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of changes on the clinical outcomes of IE patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The authors performed a retrospective study comparing IE patients hospitalized at Srinagarind hospital during the period from 1/1/1990 to 31/12/2002. The authors classified the patients according to the period of diagnosed from 1990 to 1993 (n=57), 1994 to1997 (n=71), and 1998 to 2002 (n=72) cohorts. RESULTS: There were two hundred IE patients in the present study. Mean age and degenerative heart disease were increasing. Operative and in-hospital mortality were decreasing. Overall survival rate was 81% at the first year 60% at 5 years, 55% at 12 years in surgically treated patients, with 30-day mortality in 27.1% mostly from the 1990 to 1993 cohort. In medically treated IE, overall the survival rate was 37% in the first year, 32% at 5 years, 20% at 12 years, with 30-day mortality in 72.86% mostly in the 1990 to 1993 cohort. Early surgical intervention, improved long-term survival rates (hazard ratio 0.23; 95% CI 0.14-0.37), severe congestive heart failure (hazard ratio 1.87; 95% CI 1.17-2.99) and renal failure (hazard ratio 4.10; 95% CI 2.05-7.84) are the predictors of mortality by multivariate analysis. Survival rate from 1998 to 2002 cohort was 85%, 1994 to 1997 cohort was 54% and 1993 to 1990 cohort was 27% at 1-year (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The data indicated that the changing clinical outcome of this disease, reflected improvements in diagnostic method and treatment. Although IE remains a serious condition characterized by significant morbidity and mortality, the overall survival rate has significantly improved over time. The authors therefore, believe that early diagnosis and prompt treatment both medical or surgical interventions will improve the outcome of IE patients.

Congenital aortocaval fistula to the superior vena cava: a case report.

Various systemic arteriovenous fistulas have been described. The arteriovenous fistula arising from the ascending aorta and draining separately into the superior vena cava is very uncommon. The authors report a case of congenital aortocaval fistula to the superior vena cava in a 22 year-old woman in whom the fistula was closed successfully.

Role of echocardiography in congestive heart failure.

A comprehensive assessment of the nature and severity of heart failure is often the initial step in the management of patients with congestive heart failure. Unlike many other available methods, imaging and Doppler echocardiography can repetitively and noninvasively characterize left ventricular systolic and diastolic function and estimate prognosis. Recently, new Doppler applications (tissue Doppler and color M-mode-Doppler) have been shown to provide a more precise estimate of LV relaxation than the traditional Doppler echocardiography. The objective of this review was to critically evaluate the clinical impact of conventional echocardiographic methods on the management of heart failure patients.