Obesity and Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Data on the association between obesity and acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are sparse and inconclusive. We aimed to evaluate the association between obesity and AKI and the outcome in these patients. METHODS: A retrospective observational study of 3979 STEMI patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was performed at a single center. Patients with and without AKI were compared. Patients were also divided into three categories according to BMI, and these were compared. All-cause mortality was determined at 30 days and over a median period of 7.0 years. RESULTS: The incidence of AKI was similar in all BMI categories. There was no association between BMI categories and AKI (p = 0.089). The Spearman correlation coefficient between BMI categories and AKI showed no correlation (r = -0.005; p = 0.75). More AKI patients died within 30 days and in the long term [137 (18.5%) and 283 (38.1%) patients in the AKI group died compared to 118 (3.6%) and 767 (23.1%) in the non-AKI group; p < 0.0001]. AKI was harmful in all BMI categories (p < 0.0001) and was associated with more than a 2.5-fold and a 1.5-fold multivariable-adjusted 30-day and long-term mortality risk, respectively (aOR 2.59; 95% CI 1.84-3.64; p < 0.0001, aHR 1.54; 95% CI 1.32-1.80; p < 0.0001). BMI categories were not associated with 30-day mortality (p = 0.26) but were associated with long-term mortality (p < 0.0001). Overweight and obese patients had an approximately 25% lower long-term multivariable-adjusted risk of death than normal-weight patients. In patients with AKI, BMI was only associated with long-term risk (p = 0.022). Obesity had an additional beneficial effect in these patients, and only patients with obesity, but not overweight patients, had a lower multivariable adjusted long-term mortality risk than normal-weight patients (aHR 062; 95% CI 0.446-0.88 p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: In patients who experienced AKI, obesity had an additional positive modifying effect. Our data suggest that the incidence of AKI in STEMI patients is not BMI-dependent.

Sex differences in the relationship between body mass index and outcome in myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The data on sex-related differences regarding the body mass index (BMI) in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) are rare and inconclusive. We aimed to assess sex differences in the relationship between BMI and 30-day mortality in men and women with MI. METHODS: A single-center retrospective study of 6453 patients with MI who underwent PCI was performed. Patients were divided into five BMI categories and these were compared. The relationship between BMI and 30-day mortality was assessed in men and women. RESULTS: An L-shaped relationship between BMI and mortality was observed in men (p=0.003) with the highest mortality rate (9.4%) in normal weight patients and the lowest in patients with obesity grade I (5.3%). In women, similar mortality was found in all BMI categories (p=0.42). After adjustment for potential confounders, the negative association between BMI category and 30-day mortality was found in men, but not in women (p=0.033 and p=0.13, respectively). Overweight men had a 33% lower risk of death within 30 days compared to normal weight patients (OR 0.67,95%CI 0.46-0.96;p=0.03). Other BMI categories in men had a similar mortality risk to the normal weight category. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the relationship between BMI and outcome in patients with MI is different in men and women. We found an L-shaped relationship between BMI and 30-day mortality in men, but no relationship was observed in women. The obesity paradox was not found in women. Sex itself could not explain this differential relationship, and the underlying cause is likely multifactorial.

Lipoprotein(a) As a Risk Factor in a Cohort of Hospitalised Cardiovascular Patients: A Retrospective Clinical Routine Data Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is a well-recognised risk factor for ischemic heart disease (IHD) and calcific aortic valve stenosis (AVS). METHODS: A retrospective observational study of Lp(a) levels (mg/dL) in patients hospitalised for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in our clinical routine was performed. The Lp(a)-associated risk of hospitalisation for IHD, AVS, and concomitant IHD/AVS versus other non-ischemic CVDs (oCVD group) was assessed by means of logistic regression. RESULTS: In total of 11,767 adult patients, the association with Lp(a) was strongest in the IHD/AVS group (eß = 1.010, p < 0.001), followed by the IHD (eß = 1.008, p < 0.001) and AVS group (eß = 1.004, p < 0.001). With increasing Lp(a) levels, the risk of IHD hospitalisation was higher compared with oCVD in women across all ages and in men aged ≤75 years. The risk of AVS hospitalisation was higher only in women aged ≤75 years (eß = 1.010 in age < 60 years, eß = 1.005 in age 60-75 years, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The Lp(a)-associated risk was highest for concomitant IHD/AVS hospitalisations. The differential impact of sex and age was most pronounced in the AVS group with an increased risk only in women aged ≤75 years.

Differential impact of anemia in relation to sex in patients with myocardial infarction.

Background: Data on the possible sex-specific effects of anemia on clinical outcome in patients with myocardial infarction are extremely sparse, conflicting, and inconclusive. We investigated the possible sex-specific effects of anemia on outcome in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: Data from 8,318 patients, who were divided into four groups: men and women with and without anemia on admission, were analyzed. The association between anemia and sex and 30-day and long-term mortality was assessed. The median follow-up time was 7 years (25th, 75th percentile: 4, 11). Results: Non-anemic men had the lowest 30-day and long-term observed mortality (4.3, 18.7%), followed by non-anemic women (7.0, 25.3%; p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001). Anemic men and women had similar mortality rates (12.8, 46.2%) and (13.4, 45.6%; p = 0.70, p = 0.80), respectively. The anemia/sex groups were independently associated with 30-day and long-term mortality (p = 0.033 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Compared to non-anemic men, non-anemic and anemic women had a similar risk of death at 30 days, but anemic men had a 50% higher risk of death (OR 1.12; 95% CI 0.83-1.52; p = 0.45, OR 1.30; 95% CI 0.94-1.79; p = 0.11, OR 1.50; 95% CI 1.13-1.98; p = 0.004, respectively). In the long term, anemic men had a 46% higher, non-anemic women 15% lower, and anemic women a similar long-term mortality risk to non-anemic men (HR 1.46; 95% CI 1.31-1.63; p < 0.0001, HR 0.85; 95% CI 0.76-0.96; p = 0.011, and HR 1.06; 95% CI 0.93-1.21; p = 0.37, respectively). Conclusion: Our result suggests that the influence of anemia in patients with MI is different in men and women, with anemia seemingly much more harmful in male than in female patients with MI.

Epicardial Adipose Tissue: A Piece of The Puzzle in Pediatric Hypertension.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a metabolically active tissue located on the surface of the myocardium, which might have a potential impact on cardiac function and morphology. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether EAT is associated with essential arterial hypertension (AH) in children and adolescents. METHODS: Prospective cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) study and clinical evaluation were performed on 72 children, 36 of whom were diagnosed with essential AH, and the other 36 were healthy controls. The two groups were compared in volume and thickness of EAT, end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, stroke volume, left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, average heart mass, average LV myocardial thickness, peak filling rate, peak filling time and clinical parameters. RESULTS: Hypertensive patients have a higher volume (16.5 ± 1.9 cm3 and 10.9 ± 1.5 cm3 (t = -13.815, p < 0.001)) and thickness (0.8 ± 0.3 cm and 0.4 ± 0.1 cm, (U = 65.5, p < 0.001)) of EAT compared to their healthy peers. The volume of EAT might be a potential predictor of AH in children. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that the volume of EAT is closely associated with hypertension in children and adolescents.

Impact of dual antiplatelet therapy duration on clinical outcome after coronary bifurcation stenting: results from the EuroBifurcation Club registry.

BACKGROUND: Optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of a bifurcation stenosis is still debated. We evaluated the impact of DAPT duration on clinical outcomes in all-comers patients undergoing bifurcation PCI included in the European Bifurcation Club (EBC) registry. METHODS: We enrolled 2284 consecutive patients who completed at least 18 months follow-up. The cumulative occurrence of major adverse cardiac and cardiovascular events (MACCE), defined as a composite of overall-death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), target vessel revascularization (TVR) and stroke were evaluated. Bleedings classified as Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) ≥3 were evaluated too. RESULTS: Patients were divided into 3 groups: short DAPT (<6-months, N.=375); standard DAPT (≥6-months but ≤12-months, N.=636); prolonged DAPT (>12-months, N.=1273). At 24 months follow-up MACCE-free survival was significantly lower in short DAPT patients (Log-Rank: 45.23, P for trend <0.001). MACCE occurred less frequently in the prolonged DAPT group (148 [11.6%]) as compared with both the short (83 [22.1%] HR: 0.48 [0.37-0.63], P<0.001) and standard DAPT groups (137 [21.5%] HR:0.51 [0.41-0.65], P<0.001). These differences remain after propensity score adjustment (respectively, HR: 0.27 [0.20-0.36] and HR: 0.44 [0.34-0.57]). Such finding was consistent in patients presenting with both acute and chronic coronary syndromes. BARC≥3 bleedings were 0.3% in the standard DAPT, 1.6% in short and 1.9% in prolonged DAPT groups. CONCLUSIONS: In the "real-world" EBC registry of patients undergoing PCI of coronary artery bifurcation stenosis, a prolonged DAPT duration was associated with a significantly lower risk of MACCE and a potential increased risk of major bleedings.

Clopidogrel, ticagrelor, prasugrel or an alternation of two P2Y12 in patients with acute myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock.

Background: Data are lacking on the effects of the alternation of P2Y12 receptor antagonists (P2Y12) on bleeding and outcome in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) with cardiogenic shock (CS). We compared the effects of different P2Y12 and alternation of P2Y12 (combination) on bleeding and outcome in patients with MI and CS. Methods: Data from 247 patients divided into four groups: clopidogrel, ticagrelor, prasugrel, and the combination group, were analyzed. The association between P2Y12 and bleeding as well as 30-day and one-year mortality was examined. Results: The highest bleeding rate was observed in patients in the combination group, followed by the clopidogrel, ticagrelor, and prasugrel groups [12(50%) patients, 22(28.2%), 21(18.3%) and 4(13.3%), respectively; p = 0.003]. Bleeding occurred with a similar frequency in the combination and clopidogrel groups (p = 0.081), but more frequently than in the ticagrelor and prasugrel groups (p = 0.002 and p = 0.006, respectively). Bleeding rates were similar in patients receiving P2Y12 alone (p = 0.13). Compared to clopidogrel, both ticagrelor and prasugrel had a lower bleeding risk (aOR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.18-0.92; p = 0.032 and aOR: 0.20; 95% CI: 0.05-0.85; p = 0.029, respectively) and the combination had a similar bleeding risk (aOR: 2.31; 95% CI: 0.71-7.48; p = 0.16). The ticagrelor and prasugrel groups had more than an 80% and 90% lower bleeding risk than the combination group (aOR: 0.17; 95% CI: 0.06-0.55; p = 0.003 and aOR: 0.09; 95% CI: 0.02-0.44; p = 0.003, respectively). The unadjusted 30-day and one-year mortality were highest in the clopidogrel group, followed by the ticagrelor, prasugrel, and combination groups (44(56.4%) and 55(70.5%) patients died in the clopidogrel group, 53(46.1%) and 56(48.7%) in the ticagrelor group, 12(40%) and 14(46.7%) patients died in the prasugrel, and 6(25%) and 9(37.5%) patients died in the combination group; p = 0.045 and p < 0.0001. After adjustment for confounders, the P2Y12 groups were not independently associated with either 30-day (p = 0.23) or one-year (p = 0.17) mortality risk. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the choice of P2Y12 was not associated with treatment outcome. The combination of P2Y12 increased bleeding risk compared with ticagrelor and prasugrel and was comparable to clopidogrel in patients with MI and CS. However, these higher bleeding rates did not result in worse treatment outcomes.

GP IIb/IIIa Receptor Inhibitors in Mechanically Ventilated Patients with Cardiogenic Shock due to Myocardial Infarction in the Era of Potent P2Y12 Receptor Antagonists.

Objective: To investigate the association between GP IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors (GPI) and mortality and bleeding in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) due to myocardial infarction (MI) who were mechanically ventilated on admission. Methods: We retrospectively divided 153 patients into two groups (with or without GPI). Thirty-day and one-year all-cause mortality and bleeding were studied. Results: The observed 30-day and one-year all-cause mortality were similar in both groups [54 (69.2%) with GPI vs. 62 (82.7%) without GPI; p = 0.06, and 60 (76.9%) with GPI vs. 64 (85.3%) without GPI; p = 0.22, respectively]. Patients with GPI suffered fewer unsuccessful PCI (TIMI 0/1 was 10% in the GPI group vs. 57% in the group without GPI), experienced more improvements in TIMI ≥ 1 flow [68 (87.2%) in the GPI group vs. 38 (50.7%) without GPI; p < 0.0001], and they achieved better cerebral performance category (CPC) scores (1.61 ± 0.99 with GPI vs. 2.76 ± 1.64 without GPI; p = 0.005). The bleeding rate was similar in patients with and without GPI [33 (42.3%) vs. 31 (41.3%): p = 1.00], in patients with P2Y12 receptor antagonists (P2Y12) [18 (46.1%) with GPI vs. 21 (46.7%) without GPI; p = 1.00], and in patients with potent P2Y12 [8 (30.8%) with GPI vs. 9 (37.5%) without GPI; p = 0.77]. Conclusions: Due to the study design (limited sample size, retrospective inclusion with high risk of selection bias), our analysis does not allow us to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of GPI in this context. Despite all these limitations, GPI were associated with improved TIMI flow after PCI in our multivariable model without increasing bleeding rates. In addition, better CPC scores were observed, but no association between GPI and outcome was found. Our analysis suggests that selective use of GPI may be beneficial in mechanically ventilated patients with MI in CS without additional bleeding risk, even in the era of potent P2Y12.

Lipoprotein(a) in Cardiovascular Diseases: Insight From a Bibliometric Study.

Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a complex polymorphic lipoprotein comprised of a low-density lipoprotein particle with one molecule of apolipoprotein B100 and an additional apolipoprotein(a) connected through a disulfide bond. The serum concentration is mostly genetically determined and only modestly influenced by diet and other lifestyle modifications. In recent years it has garnered increasing attention due to its causal role in pre-mature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and calcific aortic valve stenosis, while novel effective therapeutic options are emerging [apolipoprotein(a) antisense oligonucleotides and ribonucleic acid interference therapy]. Bibliometric descriptive analysis and mapping of the research literature were made using Scopus built-in services. We focused on the distribution of documents, literature production dynamics, most prolific source titles, institutions, and countries. Additionally, we identified historical and influential papers using Reference Publication Year Spectrography (RPYS) and the CRExplorer software. An analysis of author keywords showed that Lp(a) was most intensively studied regarding inflammation, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular risk assessment, treatment options, and hormonal changes in post-menopausal women. The results provide a comprehensive view of the current Lp(a)-related literature with a specific interest in its role in calcific aortic valve stenosis and potential emerging pharmacological interventions. It will help the reader understand broader aspects of Lp(a) research and its translation into clinical practice.

Differential associations between body mass index and outcome in different age groups in patients with myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between age and body mass index (BMI) and mortality in patients with myocardial infarction (MI). Methods We divided 6453 patients into three age groups (<60, 60-75, >75 years) and five BMI categories. Thirty-day and long-term all-cause mortality were assessed. RESULTS: No association was found between the BMI category and 30-day mortality in any age group. The association between BMI and long-term multivariable-adjusted mortality risk was age-dependent. Overweight patients had a lower risk than patients with BMI <25 kg/m2 in all age groups (HR 0.62; 95%CI 0.45-0.85; p = 0.003, HR 0.78; 95%CI 0.65-0.93; p = 0.005, HR 0.82; 95%CI 0.70-0.95; p = 0.011 for ages <60, 60-75, >75 years, respectively). The lower risk of death as a function of BMI shifted upward with age, and the risk was also lower in patients with obesity grade I (HR 0.81; 95% CI 0.66-0.98; p = 0.035 and HR 0.78; 95% CI 0.63-0.97; p = 0.023 for ages 60-75, >75 years, respectively). Excessive obesity was harmful only in the oldest group. Patients with obesity grade III had more than a 2.5 times higher mortality risk than patients with BMI <25 kg/m2 only in this group (HR 2.58; 95%CI 1.27-5.24; p = 0.009). An obesity paradox was found in all age groups. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that moderate weight gain with age improves long-term survival after MI and that the magnitude of this "protective" weight gain is greater in older compared to younger patients. However, excessive weight gain (obesity grade III) is particularly harmful in the oldest age group. The exact relationship between BMI, age, and mortality remains unclear.

Fat-Free Mass and Body Fat in Patients with Myocardial Infarction Who Underwent Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

There are no data on the effects of fat-free mass (FFM) and body fat (BF) on prognosis in patients with myocardial infarction (MI). We investigated the effects of FFM and BF (which were estimated using formulas rather than direct measurements) on 30-day and long-term all-cause mortality in patients with MI who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. We analyzed data from 6,453 patients with MI. The patients were divided into 2 categories (high/low) according to the fat-free mass index (FFMI) and 2 categories (low/high) according to the BF. The resultant 4 patient groups: HighFFMI-LowBF, HighFFMI-HighBF, LowFFMI-LowBF, and LowFFMI-HighBF, were compared. The lowest crude mortality after 30 days and in the long term was observed in the HighFFMI-LowBF group (3.0%,9.8%, respectively), followed by the HighFFMI-HighBF group (6.6%, 27.0%, respectively), the LowFFMI-LowBF group (10.4%, 36.0%, respectively), and the LowFFMI-HighBF group (14.7%, 56.8%, respectively). The difference was significant (p <0.0001), as was the difference between groups. After adjustment, the FFMI-BF groups independently predicted 30-day mortality (p = 0.003), but the risk was similar in all groups. Compared with the HighFFMI-LowBF group, the long-term mortality risk was similar in the HighFFMI-HighBF group (hazard ratio [HR] 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.84 to 1.47, p = 0.47), but the LowFFMI-LowBF and LowFFMI-HighBF patients had a higher risk (HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.20 to 2.11, p = 0.001, HR 1.40, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.91, p = 0.033, respectively). Body composition predicted mortality better than body mass index in patients with MI. Mortality appeared to be inversely related to FFM, with patients with low FFM and low BF having a particularly high mortality risk. The body composition groups also confirmed the obesity paradox.

Impact of dual antiplatelet therapy duration on clinical outcome after coronary bifurcation stenting: results from the euro bifurcation club registry

BACKGROUND: Optimal duration of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy (DAPT) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of a bifurcation stenosis is still debated. We evaluated the impact of DAPT duration on clinical outcomes in all-comers patients undergoing bifurcation PCI included in the European Bifurcation Club (EBC) registry. METHODS: We enrolled 2284 consecutive patients who completed at least 18 months follow-up. The cumulative occurrence of Major Adverse Cardiac and Cardiovascular Events (MACCE), defined as a composite of overall-death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), target vessel revascularization (TVR) and stroke were evaluated. Bleedings classified as BARC ≥ 3 were evaluated too. RESULTS: Patients were divided into 3 groups: Short DAPT (<6-months, n=375); Standard DAPT (≥6-months but ≤12-months, n=636); Prolonged DAPT (>12- months, n=1273). At 24 months follow-up MACCE-free survival was significantly lower in Short DAPT patients (Log-Rank: 45.23, p for trend <0.001). MACCE occurred less frequently in the Prolonged DAPT group (148 (11.6%)) as compared with both the Short (83 (22.1%) HR:0.48 (0.37-0.63), p<0.001) and Standard DAPT groups (137 (21.5%) HR:0.51 (0.41-0.65), p<0.001). These differences remain after propensity score adjustment (respectively, HR: 0.27 (0.20-0.36) and HR: 0.44 (0.34-0.57)). Such finding was consistent in patients presenting with both acute and chronic coronary syndromes. BARC ≥ 3 bleedings were 0.3% in the Standard DAPT, 1.6% in Short and 1.9% in Prolonged DAPT groups. CONCLUSIONS: In the "real-world" EBC registry of patients undergoing PCI of coronary artery bifurcation stenosis, a prolonged DAPT duration was associated with a significantly lower risk of MACCE and a potential increased risk of major bleedings.

Untangling the relationship between hemoglobin, peak troponin level, and mortality in patients with myocardial infarction.

Patients with a history of myocardial infarction (MI) and lower admission hemoglobin (aHb) levels have a worse outcome than patients with higher aHb, but lower or similar peaks in enzymatic infarct size. Hemoglobin levels are positively correlated with body surface area (BSA), which is positively correlated with cardiac mass. We hypothesized that patients with lower aHb suffer comparatively greater myocardial injury. We examined the relationships between aHb, and troponin (Tn) normalized to BSA (Tn/BSA) and its association with 30-day mortality. Data from 6055 patients, who were divided into seven groups based on their aHb at 10g/L intervals, were analyzed, and the groups were compared. The relationships between aHb and Tn/BSA and between Tn/BSA and 30-day mortality were assessed. Patients with higher aHb levels had greater BSA (p<0.0001). A negative relationship between aHb and log10Tn/BSA was observed in the entire group, and in men and women separately (p<0.0001, p<0.0001, and p=0.013, respectively). The log10Tn/BSA value was associated with 30-day mortality in the entire group, and in men and women separately (p<0.0001, p=0.014, and p<0.0001, respectively). Our finding suggests that a similar peak Tn value in patients with lower aHb means comparatively greater myocardial injury relative to cardiac mass. This hypothesis helps to explain the worse outcomes in patients with lower aHb. According to our findings, troponin should be indexed to BSA to provide comparable information on cardiac injury relative to cardiac mass. Whether this relationship is causal remains to be clarified.

The role of kidney function on patient survival after percutaneous coronary intervention for acute coronary syndrome in left main coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing on a global scale. Patients with CKD have a reduced quality of life and are more likely to develop significant cardiovascular disease, most commonly coronary artery disease (CAD). Left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD) is one of the most severe forms of CAD, where revascularization is needed. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of CKD on the mortality of patients after undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for the acute coronary syndrome (ACS) due to LMCAD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 210 Caucasian patients (142 male; 67.6%, mean age 69.2 ± 11.3 years) with ACS due to LMCAD who underwent primary PCI were included in this retrospective study. Basic demographic and laboratory data were recorded. Patients were divided into two groups by their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Those in the CKD group had eGFR ≤ 60 mL/min/1.73m2 (n = 82), and those in the non-CKD group had eGFR > 60 mL/min/1.73m2 (n = 128). RESULTS: The mean survival time of patients in the CKD group was 1,550 ± 1,393 days, compared to the non-CKD group of 2,149 ± 1,235 days. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a statistically significant (log-rank, p < 0.0005) difference in mortality for patients in the CKD group compared to those in the non-CKD group. Cox-regression analysis showed a correlation between CKD and mortality (B = 0.541, p = 0.036), independent of arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, total cholesterol, and triglycerides. CONCLUSION: CKD is an independent risk factor for increased mortality after PCI due to an ACS in LMCAD.

Enalapril and Acute Kidney Injury in a Hypertensive Premature Newborn - Should It Be Used or Not?

Extremely low birth weight infants (birth weight ≤1000 g) have a significantly lower nephron number. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is usually sufficient under normal conditions but is unable to meet the needs during stress, which results in acute kidney injury (AKI). We describe the case of an extremely low birth weight infant (970 g) with a gestational age of 27 weeks (immature preterm) who was mechanically ventilated because of hyaline membrane disease. AKI with anuria and a rise in serum creatinine to 3.4 mg/dL developed in the second week. Diuresis was restored after diuretics and dopamine were administered intravenously and kidney function recovered in the next two weeks. However, he slowly became hypertensive, so intravenous enalapril was introduced in the 6th week. After the third dose, he suffered another AKI. After cessation of enalapril, kidney function recovered over the next few days. Although angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) may cause kidney injury, it can be used with great caution in the treatment of hypertension or heart failure in preterm infants. There remains a real dilemma of whether enalapril should be used in extremely low birth weight immature infants.

An obesity paradox in patients with myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous intervention.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Data concerning the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and outcome in myocardial infarction (MI) patients are inconclusive. Long-term data on the influence of BMI on survival in patients with MI who have undergone percutaneous intervention (PCI) are lacking. We aimed to assess the effect of different categories of BMI on long-term mortality. METHODS AND RESULTS: A single-center retrospective study of 6496 patients with MI who underwent PCI was performed. Patients were divided into six categories according to their BMI and these were compared. All-cause mortality was assessed over a median period of 6.0 years. An inverse J-shaped relationship was observed between BMI and long-term mortality. The lowest mortality was observed in patients with class I obesity. The patients with a BMI below 25.0 kg/m2 were more likely to die than patients with class I obesity. A gradual decrease in BMI below 25.0 kg/m2 was associated with a progressively increased risk of dying, with underweight patients showing a 2.18-fold increase in mortality risk. An obesity paradox was present. In addition, the patients with class III obesity had a more than 70% higher long-term mortality risk as compared to the reference group. Both lower and higher degrees of BMI were found to be harmful in patients with MI who underwent PCI. CONCLUSION: The obesity paradox was present in a very long-term follow-up of patients with MI who underwent PCI. However, both lower and higher BMI values are harmful, and an inverse J-shaped relationship between BMI and outcome was observed.

Outcome in Patients Resuscitated following Myocardial Infarction with Acute Kidney Injury.

Background: Data on acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) after cardiac arrest are scarce. The prevalence of AKI, as classified by the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria; and its possible association with 30-day mortality were assessed. Methods: Data on 6387 patients with MI, 342 (5.3%) with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest or arrest immediately after admission before PCI, were retrospectively analyzed. The AKI and no-AKI groups were compared. The 30-day mortality was determined. Results: Ninety-three (27.2%) patients suffered AKI. AKI KDIGO stages 1, 2 and 3 occurred in 45 (13.2%), 8 (2.3%) and 40 (11.7%) patients, respectively. Higher mortality was found in AKI patients [56 (60.2%) vs. no-AKI patients 32 (12.9%); p<0.0001]. More patients died in the higher AKI KDIGO stages. In AKI KDIGO stages 1/2 and stage 3, 20 (37.7%) patients and 36 (90.0%) patients died, respectively compared to 32 (12.9%) no-AKI patients; p<0.0001. AKI was the strongest predictor of 30-day mortality (adjusted OR 6.98; 95% CI 3.42 to 14.23; p<0.0001). Other predictors were bleeding, cardiogenic shock, contrast volume-to-glomerular filtration rate ratio, and female sex. The adjusted OR for AKI KDIGO stages 1/2 and stage 3 were 3.68; 95% CI 1.53 to 8.32; p=0.002 and 29.10; 95% CI 8.31 to 101.88; p<0.0001, respectively. Conclusion: In patients resuscitated after MI undergoing PCI, AKI had a deleterious impact on the prognosis. A graded increase in the severity of AKI according to the KDIGO definition was associated with a progressively increased risk of 30-day mortality.

The impact of the extent of side branch disease on outcomes following bifurcation stenting.

OBJECTIVES: To define the impact of side branch (SB) lesion length on clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on bifurcation lesions. BACKGROUND: The role of the SB lesion length remains questionable in PCI planning and its implication on clinical outcome is controversial. METHODS: Data from the retrospective multicenter EBC-P2BiTO registry were analyzed. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as the composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction excluding periprocedural, or stent thrombosis at 13 months median follow-up (IQR 11-28). By using propensity scores for inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW), the comparison of treatment groups was adjusted to correct for potential confounding. RESULTS: Among 1,252 patients, SB was normal in 489 (39%), diseased in 763 (61%) cases. MACE occurred in 68 patients (5.4%). The optimal discriminant SB lesion length for MACE was ≥10 mm, with an area under the curve of 0.71 (p < .01). The incidence of MACE was higher among patients with SB lesions ≥10 mm (8%) than with normal SB (4.1%) (hazard ratio [HR], 2.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5-5.3; p = .001, IPTW-adjusted) or SB lesions <10 mm (5.1%) (HR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-3.3; p = .048, IPTW-adjusted), being similar between these last two groups. CONCLUSIONS: In bifurcation PCI, SB lesion length ≥ 10 mm identifies patients at higher risk of MACE than those with <10 mm SB lesions and those without SB disease, considering that no differences were observed among these last two groups. Careful planning is mandatory when approaching bifurcations with long SB lesions.

Predictors of early cardiac changes in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus: An echocardiography-based study.

In patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) imaging studies have demonstrated an increased prevalence of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and increased left ventricular mass (LVM) unrelated to arterial hypertension and ischemic heart disease. The aim of our study was to identify potential predictors of early subclinical changes in cardiac chamber size and function in such patients. Sixty-one middle-aged asymptomatic normotensive patients with T1DM were included in the study. Conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography was performed and fasting serum levels of glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipids, and creatinine were measured. We found moderate bivariate correlations of body mass index (BMI) with left atrial volume (r = 0.47, p < 0.01), LVM (r = 0.42, p < 0.01), left ventricular relative wall thickness (r = 0.32, p = 0.01), and all observed parameters of diastolic function of both ventricles. The five-year average value of HbA1c weakly correlated with the Doppler index of left ventricular filling pressure E/e´sept (r = 0.27, p = 0.04). We found no significant association of diabetes duration, five-year trend of HbA1c, serum lipids, and glomerular filtration rate with cardiac structure and function. After adjusting for other parameters, BMI remained significantly associated with left atrial volume, LVM as well as with the transmitral Doppler ratio E/A. In our study, BMI was the only observed parameter significantly associated with subclinical structural and functional cardiac changes in the asymptomatic middle-aged patients with T1DM.

ST-elevation myocardial infarction in a real world population - An observational retrospective study with a sex perspective.

BACKGROUND: Mortality after myocardial infarction is higher in women than in men. Data on the association between sex and mortality are conflicting and inconclusive. We evaluated whether there is a sex difference in survival and if sex is associated with the outcome in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: We analyzed 3671 STEMI patients. Long-term and 30-day mortality in men and women were compared. RESULTS: Unadjusted mortality at day 30 was higher in women [221 (8.7%) men died compared to 147 (13.1%) women; p < 0.0001]. After multivariate adjustments, this became insignificant (OR 1.65; 95% CI; 0.81 to 1.40). The long-term, unadjusted mortality was also higher in women [674 (26.3%) men died compared to 382 (34%) women; p < 0.0001]. After multivariable adjustments, female sex (adjusted HR 0.81; 95% CI 0.71 to 0.93; p = 0.002), bleeding (adjusted HR 1.79; 95% CI 1.52 to 2.10; p < 0.0001), renal dysfunction adjusted HR (1.60; 95% CI 1.40 to 1.84; p < 0.0001), hyperlipidemia (adjusted HR 1.61; 95% CI 1.40 to 1.85; p < 0.0001), arterial hypertension (adjusted HR 1.17; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.33; p = 0.015), diabetes (adjusted HR 1.55; 95% CI 1.35 to 1.78; p < 0.0001), age (adjusted HR 1.05; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.06; p < 0.0001), anemia on admission (adjusted HR 1.38; 95% CI 1.23 to 1.58; p < 0.0001), and heart failure (adjusted HR 2.40; 95% CI 2.09 to 2.75; p < 0.0001) predicted long-term mortality. CONCLUSION: Female sex was associated with a lower risk of dying in the long term. However, risk factors, age, and comorbidities associated with female patients affected the worse outcome.