Management of patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction: Results of the FAST-MI Tunisia Registry.

BACKGROUND: The FAST-MI Tunisia registry was set up by the Tunisian Society of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery to assess the demographic and clinical characteristics, management and hospital outcome of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: Data for 459 consecutive patients (mean age 60.8 years; 88.5% male) with STEMI, treated in 16 public hospitals (representing 72.2% of public hospitals in Tunisia treating STEMI patients), were collected prospectively.The most common risk factors were smoking (63.6%), hypertension (39.7%), diabetes (32%) and dyslipidaemia (18.2%). RESULTS: Among the 459 patients, 61.8% received reperfusion therapy: 30% with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) and 31.8% with intravenous fibrinolysis (IF) (28.6% with pre-hospital thrombolysis). The median time from symptom onset to thrombolysis was 185 min and to PPCI was 358 min. In-hospital mortality was 5.3%. Compared with those managed at regional hospitals, patients managed at interventional university hospitals (n = 357) were more likely to receive reperfusion therapy (52.9% vs. 34.1%; p<0.001), with less IF (28.6% vs. 43.1%; p = 0.002) but more PPCI (37.8% vs. 3.9%; p<0.0001). However, in-hospital mortality in the two types of hospitals was similar (5.3% vs. 5.1%; p = 0.866). CONCLUSIONS: Data from the FAST-MI Tunisia registry show that a pharmaco-invasive strategy of management for STEMI should be promoted in non-interventional regional hospitals.

Design and Rationale of the National Tunisian Registry of Atrial Fibrillation: Protocol for a Prospective, Multicenter Trial.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an important health problem in Tunisia. A significant change in the epidemiological pattern of heart disease has been seen in the last 3 decades; however, no large prospective multicenter trial reflecting national data has been published so far. Robust data on the contemporary epidemiological profile and management of AF patients in Tunisia are limited. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to analyze, follow, and evaluate patients with AF in a large multicenter nationwide trial. METHODS: A total of 1800 consecutive patients with AF by electrocardiogram, reflecting all populations of all geographical regions of Tunisia, will be included in the study, with the objective of describing the epidemiological pattern of AF. Patients will be officially enrolled in the National Tunisian Registry of Atrial Fibrillation (NATURE-AF) only if an electrocardiogram diagnosis (12-lead, 24-hour Holter, or other electrocardiographic documentation) confirming AF is made. The qualifying episode of AF should have occurred within the last year, and patients do not need to be in AF at the time of enrollment. Patients will be followed for 1 year. Incidence of stroke or transient ischemic attack, thromboembolic events, and cardiovascular death will be recorded as the primary end point, and hemorrhagic accidents, measurement of international normalized ratio, and time in therapeutic range will be recorded as secondary end points. RESULTS: Results will be available at the end of the study; the demographic profile and general risk profile of Tunisian AF patients, frequency of anticoagulation, frequency of effective treatment, and risks of thromboembolism and bleeding will be evaluated according to the current guidelines. Major adverse events will be determined. NATURE-AF will be the largest registry for North African AF patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study would add data and provide a valuable opportunity for real-world clinical epidemiology in North African AF patients with insights into the uptake of contemporary AF management in this developing region. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03085576; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03085576 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6zN2DN2QX). REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER: RR1-10.2196/8523.

Multimodality imaging assessment of a caseous calcification of the mitral valve annulus.

Caseous calcification of the mitral annulus (CCMA) is a rare echocardiographic finding. It is commonly misdiagnosed as an abscess, tumor or infective vegetation on the mitral valve. Since it is a benign process, differentiating it from malignant intra-cardiac mass is primordial to avoid unnecessary surgery. Various imaging modalities can be complimentary for definitive diagnosis. We present a case of CCMA in a 71-year-old female patient. Her medical history revealed hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia and coronary artery disease. She was referred to our department for coronary catheterization because of angina symptoms upon minimal exertion. The lesion was detected during echocardiography and was defined as a mass of heterogeneous content with calcification points, located at the posterior side of the mitral valve annulus. Restricted motion of the posterior leaflet and the mass effect caused only minimal mitral regurgitation. To establish the correct diagnosis, we performed the full spectrum of noninvasive cardiac imaging modalities. Transesophageal echocardiography identified well-organized, composite lesion with regular edges, markedly calcified margins and more echolucent central portion. A computed tomography (CT) was performed, showing a hyperdense mass with hypodense center and a calcified peripheral rim located at the posterior mitral ring. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed that the mass was hypointense with respect to the myocardium in the T1 and T2-weighted sequences and only presented late-phase enhancement in the surrounding capsule. Based on the CT and MRI findings, the diagnosis of CCMA was established. The patient was managed conservatively.

Association of FV G1691A Polymorphism but not A4070G With Coronary Artery Disease.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the chief causes of death in the world. Several hypotheses have been promoted as for the origin of the disease, among which are genetic predispositions and/or environmental factors. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of factor V (FV) gene polymorphisms (Leiden, G1691A [FVL] and HR2 A4070G) and to analyze their association with traditional risk factors in assessing the risk of CAD. Our study population included 200 Tunisian patients with symptomatic CAD and a control group of 300 participants matched for age and sex. All participants were genotyped for the FVL and HR2 polymorphisms. Multivariate logistic regression was applied to analyze independent factors associated with the risk of CAD. Our analysis showed that the FVL A allele frequency ( P < 10-3, odds ratio [OR] = 2.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.6-4.9) and GA genotype ( P < 10-3, OR = 4.03, 95% CI = 2.1-7.6) are significantly more prevalent among patients with CAD compared to those controls and may be predisposing to CAD. We further found that the FVL mutation is an independent risk factor whose effect is not modified by other factors (smoking, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and a family history of CAD) in increasing the risk of the disease. However, analysis of FV HR2 variation does not show any statistically significant association with CAD. The FVL polymorphism may be an independent risk factor for CAD. However, further investigations on these polymorphisms and their possible synergisms with traditional risk factors for CAD could help to ascertain better predictability for CAD susceptibility.

The Effect of ACE I/D Polymorphisms Alone and With Concomitant Risk Factors on Coronary Artery Disease.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease (CAD), also known as atherosclerotic heart disease, is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity throughout the world. The role of insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphisms of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene in the etiology of CAD remains to be more completely clarified. The aim of this study was to determine the role of the ACE I/D polymorphism in patients with CAD and to study the association together with traditional risk factors in assessing the risk of CAD. METHODS: Our study population included 145 Tunisian patients with symptomatic CAD and a control group of 300 people matched for age and sex. All participants in the study were genotyped for the ACE I/D polymorphisms obtained by polymerase chain reaction amplification on genomic DNA. RESULTS: Our analysis showed that the ACE D allele frequency ( P < 10-3; odds ratio [OR] = 5.2; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.6-7.6) and DD genotype ( P < 10-3; OR = 6.8; 95% CI = 4.4-10) are significantly more prevalent among patients with CAD than in controls and may be predisposing to CAD. We further found that the risk of CAD is greatly potentiated by several concomitant risk factors (smoking, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and a family history of CAD). CONCLUSION: The ACE D allele may be predictive in individuals who may be at risk of developing CAD. Further investigations of these polymorphisms and their possible synergisms with traditional risk factors for CAD could help to ascertain better predictability for CAD susceptibility.

Data Sharing: A New Editorial Initiative of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Implications for the Editors´ Network.

The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) provides recommendations to improve the editorial standards and scientific quality of biomedical journals. These recommendations range from uniform technical requirements to more complex and elusive editorial issues including ethical aspects of the scientific process. Recently, registration of clinical trials, conflicts of interest disclosure, and new criteria for authorship -emphasizing the importance of responsibility and accountability-, have been proposed. Last year, a new editorial initiative to foster sharing of clinical trial data was launched. This review discusses this novel initiative with the aim of increasing awareness among readers, investigators, authors and editors belonging to the Editors´ Network of the European Society of Cardiology.

Data Sharing: A New Editorial Initiative of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Implications for the Editors´ Network.

The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) provides recommendations to improve the editorial standards and scientific quality of biomedical journals. These recommendations range from uniform technical requirements to more complex and elusive editorial issues including ethical aspects of the scientific process. Recently, registration of clinical trials, conflicts of interest disclosure, and new criteria for authorship - emphasizing the importance of responsibility and accountability-, have been proposed. Last year, a new editorial initiative to foster sharing of clinical trial data was launched. This review discusses this novel initiative with the aim of increasing awareness among readers, investigators, authors and editors belonging to the Editors´ Network of the European Society of Cardiology. Resumo O Comitê Internacional de Editores de Revistas Médicas (ICMJE) fornece recomendações para aprimorar o padrão editorial e a qualidade científica das revistas biomédicas. Tais recomendações variam desde requisitos técnicos de uniformização até assuntos editoriais mais complexos e elusivos, como os aspectos éticos do processo científico. Recentemente, foram propostos registro de ensaios clínicos, divulgação de conflitos de interesse e novos critérios de autoria, enfatizando a importância da responsabilidade e da responsabilização. No último ano, lançou-se uma nova iniciativa editorial para fomentar o compartilhamento dos dados de ensaios clínicos. Esta revisão discute essa nova iniciativa visando a aumentar a conscientização de leitores, investigadores, autores e editores filiados à Rede de Editores da Sociedade Europeia de Cardiologia.

Data Sharing: A New Editorial Initiative of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Implications for the Editors' Network.

The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) provides recommendations to improve the editorial standards and scientific quality of biomedical journals. These recommendations range from uniform technical requirements to more complex and elusive editorial issues including ethical aspects of the scientific process. Recently, registration of clinical trials, conflicts of interest disclosure, and new criteria for authorship- emphasizing the importance of responsibility and accountability-, have been proposed. Last year, a new editorial initiative to foster sharing of clinical trial data was launched. This review discusses this novel initiative with the aim of increasing awareness among readers, investigators, authors and editors belonging to the Editors' Network of the European Society of Cardiology.

Data Sharing: A New Editorial Initiative of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Implications for the Editors' Network / Compartir los datos de los estudios: Una nueva iniciativa editorial del Comité Internacional de Editores de Revistas Médicas. Implicaciones para la red europea de editores cardiovasculares

Abstract: The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) provides recommendations to improve the editorial standards and scientific quality of biomedical journals. These recommendations range from uniform technical requirements to more complex and elusive editorial issues including ethical aspects of the scientific process. Recently, registration of clinical trials, conflicts of interest disclosure, and new criteria for authorship - emphasizing the importance of responsibility and accountability -, have been proposed. Last year, a new editorial initiative to foster sharing of clinical trial data was launched. This review discusses this novel initiative with the aim of increasing awareness among readers, investigators, authors and editors belonging to the Editors' Network of the European Society of Cardiology.

Resumen: El Comite internacional de editores de revistas medicas (CIERM) propone recomendaciones para mejorar los standares editoriales y la calidad científica de las revistas biomédicas. Estas recomendaciones abarcan desde requerimeintos ténicos uniformados a temas editoriales mas complejos y evasivos, como los aspectos bioéticos relacionados con el proceso científico. Recientemente se han propuesto algunas iniciativas editoriales, como el registro de los ensayos clinicos, la declaración de los conflictos de interés y los nuevos criterios para autoría (que destacan la responsabilidad de los autores sobre el estudio). El año pasado se presentó una nueva iniciativa editorial para resaltar la importancia de compartir los datos generados en los estudios clinicos. En este artículo se discute esta nueva iniciativa editorial, con la idea de difundir su conocimiento entre los lectores, investigadores, autores y editores de la red de editores de revistas cardiovasculares nacionales de la Sociedad Europea de Cardiología.

Data Sharing: A New Editorial Initiative of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Implications for the Editors' Network.

The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) provides recommendations to improve the editorial standards and scientific quality of biomedical journals. These recommendations range from uniform technical requirements to more complex and elusive editorial issues including ethical aspects of the scientific process. Recently, registration of clinical trials, conflicts of interest disclosure, and new criteria for authorship -emphasizing the importance of responsibility and accountability-, have been proposed. Last year, a new editorial initiative to foster sharing of clinical trial data was launched. This review discusses this novel initiative with the aim of increasing awareness among readers, investigators, authors and editors belonging to the Editors' Network of the European Society of Cardiology.

Data Sharing: A New Editorial Initiative of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Implications for the Editors' Network.

The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) provides recommendations to improve the editorial standards and scientific quality of biomedical journals. These recommendations range from uniform technical requirements to more complex and elusive editorial issues including ethical aspects of the scientific process. Recently, registration of clinical trials, conflicts of interest disclosure, and new criteria for authorship - emphasizing the importance of responsibility and accountability -, have been proposed. Last year, a new editorial initiative to foster sharing of clinical trial data was launched. This review discusses this novel initiative with the aim of increasing awareness among readers, investigators, authors and editors belonging to the Editors' Network of the European Society of Cardiology.

Data Sharing: A New Editorial Initiative of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Implications for the Editors' Network.

The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) provides recommendations to improve the editorial standards and scientific quality of biomedical journals. These recommendations range from uniform technical requirements to more complex and elusive editorial issues including ethical aspects of the scientific process. Recently, registration of clinical trials, conflicts of interest disclosure, and new criteria for authorship - emphasizing the importance of responsibility and accountability - have been proposed. Last year, a new editorial initiative to foster sharing of clinical trial data was launched. This review discusses this novel initiative with the aim of increasing awareness among readers, investigators, authors and editors belonging to the Editors' Network of the European Society of Cardiology.

Data Sharing: A New Editorial Initiative of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Implications for the Editors´ Network / Compartilhamento de dados: Nova Iniciativa Editorial do Comitê Internacional de Editores de Revistas Médicas. Implicações para a Rede de Editores

Abstract The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) provides recommendations to improve the editorial standards and scientific quality of biomedical journals. These recommendations range from uniform technical requirements to more complex and elusive editorial issues including ethical aspects of the scientific process. Recently, registration of clinical trials, conflicts of interest disclosure, and new criteria for authorship - emphasizing the importance of responsibility and accountability-, have been proposed. Last year, a new editorial initiative to foster sharing of clinical trial data was launched. This review discusses this novel initiative with the aim of increasing awareness among readers, investigators, authors and editors belonging to the Editors´ Network of the European Society of Cardiology.

Resumo O Comitê Internacional de Editores de Revistas Médicas (ICMJE) fornece recomendações para aprimorar o padrão editorial e a qualidade científica das revistas biomédicas. Tais recomendações variam desde requisitos técnicos de uniformização até assuntos editoriais mais complexos e elusivos, como os aspectos éticos do processo científico. Recentemente, foram propostos registro de ensaios clínicos, divulgação de conflitos de interesse e novos critérios de autoria, enfatizando a importância da responsabilidade e da responsabilização. No último ano, lançou-se uma nova iniciativa editorial para fomentar o compartilhamento dos dados de ensaios clínicos. Esta revisão discute essa nova iniciativa visando a aumentar a conscientização de leitores, investigadores, autores e editores filiados à Rede de Editores da Sociedade Europeia de Cardiologia.

Data sharing: A new editorial initiative of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Implications for the editors' network.

The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) provides recommendations to improve the editorial standards and scientific quality of biomedical journals. These recommendations range from uniform technical requirements to more complex and elusive editorial issues including ethical aspects of the scientific process. Recently, registration of clinical trials, conflicts of interest disclosure, and new criteria for authorship -emphasizing the importance of responsibility and accountability-, have been proposed. Last year, a new editorial initiative to foster sharing of clinical trial data was launched. This review discusses this novel initiative with the aim of increasing awareness among readers, investigators, authors and editors belonging to the Editors' Network of the European Society of Cardiology.

Contribution of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome with normal coronary angiography.

Background - Acute coronary syndrome with high level of troponin is a common pattern for emergency consultation. In 10% of cases, coronary angiography concluded that there were no significant coronary lesions. The contribution of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the etiological investigation is increasing in these conditions. Aim - We analyzed the diagnostic value of cardiac MRI in case of acute coronary syndromes with elevated troponin and normal coronary angiography. Methods - It's a retrospective analytical study including 31 patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome with positive troponins and normal coronary angiography. All these patients underwent cardiac MRI. Results - The average age was 44.94 years. Cardiovascular risk factors were present in 38.70%. The average level of troponin was 4.85 ng/ml. Modification in the ST segment was noted in 87.1% of which 51.6% had ST elevated segment. Cardiac MRI was performed in the average of 8 days. MRI has contributed to the diagnosis in 77.4%: a myocardial infarction (MI) with no significant coronary lesions in 38.7% of cases, myocarditis in 29% of cases, Tako-Tsubo syndrome in 6.5% of cases and apical HCM in 3.2% of cases. MRI was normal in 22.6% of cases. Conclusions - The contribution of cardiac MRI is growing in the diagnostic management of patients with chest pain, elevated level of troponin and normal coronary angiography. The differential diagnoses have discriminating characteristics in MRI, allowing their identification with excellent diagnostic accuracy. The two main etiologies are myocardial necrosis and myocarditis.

Lack of association between factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A polymorphisms in Tunisian subjects with a history of myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarction is a multifactorial disease. It is provoked by occlusions in the coronary arteries resulting from exposure to multiple risk factors. OBJECTIVE: To study the risk of myocardial infarction associated with the gene polymorphisms of factor V Leiden and factor II (G20210A). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cases consisted of 100 myocardial infarction patients who were hospitalized in the Principal Military Hospital of Tunis and 200 control subjects with no history of myocardial infarction. RESULTS: The prevalence of the factor V Leiden was higher in myocardial infarction patients (9%) than in control subjects (6%) with an OR=1.55 (95% CI=0.58-4.12), whereas the prevalence of prothrombin G20210A mutation was 3% and 2.5% in the patient and control groups, respectively [OR=1.21 (95% CI=0.22-5.94)]. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that neither factor V Leiden nor the prothrombin G20210A contributed to the risk factors for myocardial infarction.

Combination of factor V Leiden and MTHFR mutations in myocardial infarction.

Identifying patients who are at high risk of suffering myocardial infarction can be done by determining risk factors or by the adoption of molecular genetic testing for inherited thrombophilia. We report a case of myocardial infarction at a young age. The patient complained of dyspnea (stage III) and a burning pain of severe intensity that radiated to the left retrosternal side, but was not associated with palpitations or diaphoresis. A number of biochemical parameters were normal except for an elevated creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) level. Genetic testing revealed the subject to be heterozygous for both the factor V leiden and MTHFR C677T polymorphisms. The combination of these two mutations may be a high risk factor for myocardial infarction. Genetic screening for inherited thrombophilia in young patients, especially in the presence of a common risk factor, may be useful for primary thrombopro.phylaxis and in asymptomatic relatives of patients.

Spontaneous multivessel coronary artery dissection associated with cannabis use.

Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in the world. It is generally considered to be a drug with low toxicity. Nevertheless, there are several case reports of myocardial infarction following cannabis use in otherwise low-risk individuals. We report the first case of a cannabis user presenting with acute coronary syndrome related to multivessel coronary artery dissection.