ST-segment resolution after primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The association between ST-segment resolution and clinical outcome in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) remains unclear. Recent studies on the association between ST-segment resolution and mortality have given conflicting results. We undertook this study to assess whether ST-segment resolution in electrocardiograms recorded 90-120 min after initiation of PPCI predicts long-term mortality in patients with STEMI. METHODS: The study included 900 patients with STEMI presenting within the first 24 h after symptom onset who were treated with PPCI. The ST-segment resolution was assessed in electrocardiograms recorded 90-120 min after the first balloon inflation. The ST-segment resolution was dichotomized as follows: < 30% (no resolution), 30% to ≤ 70% (partial resolution) and > 70% (complete resolution). The primary endpoint was five-year mortality. RESULTS: ST-segment resolution was < 30% in 263 (29.0%) patients, between 30% and ≤ 70% in 356 (40.0%) patients and > 70% in 281 (31.0%) patients. There were 62 deaths during the follow-up. In patients with ST-segment resolution < 30%, 30 to ≤ 70% and > 70%, the Kaplan-Meier estimates of mortality were 8.3% (n = 17 deaths), 11.5% (n = 29 deaths) and 6.8% (n = 16 deaths), respectively; unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 0.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.46-1.67, p = 0.695 for ST-segment resolution > 70% vs < 30%; adjusted HR = 0.91, 95% CI 0.61-1.33; p = 0.607, for ST-segment resolution > 70% vs ST-segment resolution < 30%. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with STEMI undergoing PPCI, ST-segment resolution in electrocardiograms recorded 90-120 min after initiation of PPCI did not predict long-term mortality.

Impact of perfusion restoration at epicardial and tissue levels on markers of myocardial necrosis and clinical outcome of patients with acute myocardial infarction.

AIMS: To assess the impact of reperfusion after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on myocardial salvage and outcome of patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS AND RESULTS: This study included 1,406 patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI. Blood flow restoration at epicardial and tissue levels was assessed by Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) and myocardial perfusion grade (MPG). Patients had paired scintigraphic examinations before, and 7-14 days after intervention. Based on TIMI and MPG grades, patients were divided into three groups: patients with optimal epicardial/optimal tissue perfusion (TIMI=3/MPG=3; n=801), patients with optimal epicardial/suboptimal tissue reperfusion (TIMI=3/MPG ≤ 2; n=412) and patients with suboptimal epicardial/suboptimal tissue reperfusion (TIMI ≤ 2/MPG ≤ 2; n=193). In these groups, the median infarct size (25th-75th quartiles) in the 7-14 days scintigraphy was: 7.0% (1.0%-19.0%), 12.6% (5.0%-27.6%) and 18.7% (10.4%-33.7%) of the left ventricle (p<0.001); frequency of aborted myocardial infarction was: 15.5%, 10.0% and 4.7%, (p<0.001); estimates of 5-year mortality were: 7.8%, 16.0% and 20.1% (adjusted hazard ratio=0.43, 95% confidence interval 0.21-0.89; p=0.02 for optimal epicardial/optimal tissue vs suboptimal epicardial/suboptimal tissue reperfusion). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI, restoration of blood flow at epicardial and tissue levels was associated with increased myocardial salvage and improved long-term survival.

5-year prognostic value of no-reflow phenomenon after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of no-reflow phenomenon on 5-year mortality among patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This impact was also assessed in relation to infarct size. BACKGROUND: The impact of no-reflow on long-term mortality in patients with STEMI has been insufficiently studied. METHODS: This study included 1,406 patients with STEMI treated by primary PCI. No-reflow was diagnosed using angiographic criteria. Infarct size was measured with single-photon emission computed tomography imaging 7 to 14 days after the acute event. The primary outcome was 5-year mortality. RESULTS: The no-reflow phenomenon was diagnosed in 410 patients (29%). Infarct size was 15.0% (6.0% to 29.0%) of the left ventricle in the no-reflow group versus 8.0% (2.0% to 21.0%) of the left ventricle in the reflow group (p < 0.001). There were 132 deaths during follow-up. Of them, 59 deaths occurred among patients with no-reflow and 73 deaths occurred among patients with reflow (Kaplan-Meier estimates of 5-year mortality 18.2% and 9.5%, respectively; odds ratio: 2.02; 95% confidence interval: 1.44 to 2.82; p < 0.001). The Cox proportional hazards model adjusting for infarct size among other variables identified the no-reflow phenomenon as an independent correlate of 5-year mortality (hazard ratio: 1.66; 95% confidence interval: 1.17 to 2.36; p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with STEMI treated by primary PCI, no-reflow phenomenon is a strong predictor of 5-year mortality. No-reflow phenomenon after PCI provides prognostic information that is independent of and beyond that provided by infarct size.

[The cardiovascular risk of schizophrenic patients]. / Das kardiovaskuläre Risiko schizophrener Patienten.

OBJECTIVE: Schizophrenia is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. The deceleration capacity of heart rate is discussed to be a predictor of mortality, more powerful than conventional measures of heart rate variability (HRV) or the left ventricular ejection fraction. The aim of this study was to determine whether patients with schizophrenia, receiving antipsychotic medication have a reduced HRV indicating an elevated mortality risk. METHODS: We quantified HRV and the deceleration capacity in 24-hour electrocardiogram recordings from 28 medicated patients with schizophrenia and 28 matched controls. In addition to the evaluation of the 24-hour recording, 4-hour periods of "sleep" and "wake" recordings were evaluated separately, as activity has a major influence on HRV. Actigraphy was used to identify coherent sleep and wake phases and to ensure comparable levels of activity in patients and controls. RESULTS: Medicated patients showed a significant reduction of the HRV. The HRV was reduced significantly according to the time domain and frequency domain measures. The deceleration capacity of medicated patients was 5.36 compared with 8.26 for the controls (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Heart rate deceleration capacity is significantly reduced in schizophrenic patients treated with antipsychotics and may serve as an indicator of increased cardiovascular mortality risk.