Different manifestations of pulmonary embolism in younger compared to older patients: Clinical presentation, prediction rules and long-term outcomes.

PURPOSE: Data concerning specific manifestations of pulmonary embolism (PE) among younger patients are scarce. We aimed to evaluate differences in clinical presentation, PE prediction rules, thrombolytic treatment use and PE outcomes in younger (<50 years of age) compared to older patients. MATERIAL/METHODS: We studied 238 consecutive patients with proven PE who were retrospectively categorized into three PE probability subgroups according to the revised Geneva score (RGS) and Wells score (WS). Duration of follow-up was up to 115 months. RESULTS: Younger patients accounted for 19.7% of the study cohort. Obesity and smoking were significantly more common, while comorbidities were less common (P<0.05) in the younger patients. According to RGS and WS, younger patients were more often categorized into the low PE probability subgroup and rarely into the high probability subgroup (P<0.05). We found no differences in clinical signs, symptoms, and treatment between the two groups. In-hospital (2% vs. 13%) and long-term (12% vs. 36%) mortality rates were significantly lower in younger patients (P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: In younger PE patients, despite differences in predisposing factors and PE probability grading as assessed by RGS and WS, clinical features at admission and treatment were similar compared to the older group. Our findings confirmed lower mortality among younger compared to older patients.

Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation in the Course of Acute Pulmonary Embolism: Clinical Significance and Impact on Prognosis.

The relationship and clinical implications of atrial fibrillation (AF) in acute pulmonary embolism (PE) are poorly investigated. We aimed to analyze clinical characteristics and prognosis in PE patients with paroxysmal AF episode. Methods. From the 391 patients with PE 31 subjects with paroxysmal AF were selected. This group was compared with patients with PE and sinus rhythm (SR) and 32 patients with PE and permanent AF. Results. Paroxysmal AF patients were the oldest. Concomitant DVT varies between groups: paroxysmal AF 32.3%, SR 49.5%, and permanent AF 28.1% (p = 0.02). The stroke history frequency was 4.6% SR, 12.9% paroxysmal AF, and 21.9% permanent AF (p < 0.001). Paroxysmal AF comparing to permanent AF and SR individuals had higher estimated SPAP (56 versus 48 versus 47 mmHg, p = 0.01) and shorter ACT (58 versus 65 versus 70 ms, p = 0.04). Patients with AF were more often classified into high-risk group according to revised Geneva score and sPESI than SR patients. In-hospital mortality was lower in SR (5%) and paroxysmal AF (6.5%) compared to permanent AF group (25%) (p < 0.001). Conclusions. Patients with PE-associated paroxysmal AF constitute a separate population. More severe impairment of the parameters reflecting RV afterload may indicate relation between PE severity and paroxysmal AF episode. Paroxysmal AF has no impact on short-term mortality.

[Giant thrombus in the left atrium after mitral bioprosthesis implantation: is standard oral anticoagulation always sufficient?]. / Gigantyczna skrzeplina w lewym przedsionku po implantacji biologicznej protezy mitralnej: czy standardowa antykoagulacja jest zawsze wystarczajaca?

We present a case of 70-year old male after coronary by-pass surgery and mitral bioprosthesis implantation due to infective endocarditis, with continuous atrial fibrillation, who was admitted to the hospital due to the worsening of the heart failure. He was on oral antivitamine K agents with therapeutic value of INR. On echocardiography we found enlargement of all cavities with extremely big left atrium (9.5 cm) and poor contractile left ventricular function (EF 25%). An enormously big old thrombus was found in the left atrium. The patient was disqualified from surgical treatment. Treatment with unfractionated heparin was unsuccessful. We discuss if standard antithrombotic treatment is always sufficient in such unusual cases.

[Is establishing diagnosis of perivalvular abscess still difficult?]. / Czy rozpoznanie ropnia w przebieguinfekcyjnego zapalenia wsierdzia pozostaje nadal trudne?

We report the case of 42-year-old male, who developed infective endocarditis on bicuspid aortic valve due to infection of the central line with Staphylococcus aureus MSSA. The patient was hospitalised several times in district hospitals because of worsening of heart failure. He had a few transthoracic (TTE) and one transesophageal (TEE) echocardiography which did not reveal early stages of perivalvular abscess and was disqualified from surgical procedures due to bad left ventricular systolic function. The second TEE done a month after the first one showed an abscess with perforation to the right ventricle. The patient died disqualified again from surgical procedure due to multiorgan failure.

Do overweight patients have a better five years prognosis after an acute myocardial infarction treated with coronary intervention?

BACKGROUND: Obesity and overweight alone may confer a survival benefit after myocardial infarction, independent of age, medical care or therapy. AIM: To evaluate the impact of body mass index (BMI) on long-term mortality in ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients treated by primary angioplasty (PCI). METHODS: We prospectively studied a homogenous group of 131 patients who had suffered STEMI, and subsequently exhibited a TIMI 3 flow after primary PCI. The patients (41 women, 90 men, mean age 58.3 ± 10.8 years) were analysed in two groups: Group 1 - 30 (23%) patients with BMI 〈 25 kg/m(2) and Group 2 - 101 (77%) patients with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2). RESULTS: Altogether, 19 (14.5%) patients died during the five-year follow-up period - nine out of 30 (30%) were patients with BMI 〈 25 kg/m(2), and ten out of 101 (10%) were patients with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2) (p 〈 0.001). Individuals with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2) had lower five-year mortality, and this was independent of other potentially confounding variables. Area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves for death with respect to weight on ROC analysis was significantly different than for a random model (p 〈 0.05). There were no significant differences in 30-day mortality and one-year mortality (p = 0.6517 and p = 0.3573, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Patients after primary angioplasty for STEMI with BMI 〈 25 kg/m(2) and patients with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2) have no difference in 30-day or one-year mortality, but individuals with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2) have a better five year prognosis, and this is independent of other potentially confounding variables.

What level of hyperglycaemia on admission indicates a poor prognosis in patients with myocardial infarction treated invasively?

BACKGROUND: Stress hyperglycaemia on admission is a predictor of mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI). AIM: To establish what level of hyperglycaemia on admission indicates a significantly poorer long-term prognosis in patients with MI treated invasively. METHODS: Glycaemia on admission was measured in patients with both ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI) and non-ST- -segment elevation MI (NSTEMI) treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In-hospital and late mortality were evaluated during a 679.3 ± 202 day follow-up. RESULTS: We enrolled 794 patients (564 men; 71%), mean age 63.8 ± 11.3 years. One per cent of the patients died during initial hospitalisation, and 10% during the two-year follow-up. The mean value of glycaemia in the whole population was 115 ± 36 mg/dL (6.32 ± 1.98 mmol/L). Admission glycaemia in patients who died in hospital was 194 ± 71 mg/dL (10.67 ± 3.91 mmol/L), while in the patients discharged home it was 114 ± 35 mg/dL (6.27 ± 1.93 mmol/L) (p 〈 0.0001). In terms of two-year mortality, the patients who died had also significantly higher glycaemia on admission (145 ± 48 mg/dL; 7.98 ± 2.64 mmol/L) vs 112 ± 31 mg/dL (6.16 ± 1.71 mmol/L, p 〈 0.0001). Apart from admission hyperglycaemia, we found the following risk factors of late mortality in univariate analysis: age, heart rate (HR), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), creatinine level, number of significantly narrowed coronary vessels other than the infarct related artery (IRA), and unsuccessful PCI. In multivariate analysis, the following parameters correlated with death in the two-year follow-up: glycaemia on admission, age, HR, LVEF, GFR, creatinine level, total cholesterol, number of significantly narrowed coronary vessels other than the IRA, and unsuccessful PCI. Hyperglycaemia on admission was an independent risk factor of death even after adjustment for confounding variables such as age, sex and LVEF. We compared the areas under ROC curve for in-hospital mortality and the areas under ROC curve for late mortality according to glycaemia on admission. Both were significantly different from those of a random model (p 〈 0.001 and p 〈 0.001, respectively). A glycaemia value of 205 mg/dL (11.28 mmol/L) calculated from ROC curve had the highest sensitivity and specificity for late mortality. Apart from these findings, we observed a linear correlation between glycaemia and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The best cut-off value for stress hyperglycaemia determined by ROC curve in patients with acute MI treated invasively is 205 mg/dL (11.28 mmol/L). Patients with glucose levels 〉 205 mg/dL (11.28 mmol/L) on admission have significantly higher late mortality compared to those with glucose levels 〈 205 mg/dL (11.28 mmol/L). Our results suggest that hyperglycaemia is a reliable marker of poor outcome in acute MI patients with and without previously diagnosed diabetes mellitus. This level of glucose may be used in risk stratification in patients with acute MI.

[Pathological mass in media mediastinum - diagnostic difficulties]. / Patologiczny twór w sródpiersiu srodkowym­ trudnosci diagnostyczne.

Pathological mediastinal masses are usually unexpected, common findings. This discovery needs a wide range of diagnostic approach. The way of treatment depends on results of diagnostic tests and images and sometimes difficult decision has to be made as it was in a case report of 76 year-old man in whom according to echocardiogram and computed tomography a large postmyocardial aneurysm of left ventricle was found. But intraoperative finding revealed purulent pericarditis.