Early repolarisation among athletes.

OBJECTIVES: Traditionally, early repolarisation (ER) is considered a benign ECG variant, predominantly found in youths and athletes. However, a limited number of studies have reported an association between ER and the incidental occurrence of ventricular fibrillation or sudden cardiac death. Yet definite, direct comparisons of the incidence of ER in unselected, contemporary populations in athletes as compared with non-athletes and across different sports are lacking. This study therefore aimed to investigate whether ER is more common among athletes as compared with non-athletes, and if ER patterns differ between sport disciplines based on static and dynamic intensity. METHODS: To assess ER we retrospectively analysed ECGs of 2241 adult subjects (2090 athletes, 151 non-athletes), who had a sports medical screening between 2010 and 2014 in an outpatient clinic. The outcome was tested for confounders in a multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: ER was found in 502 athletes (24%). We found a 50% higher prevalence of ER in the athlete group compared with the control group (OR 1.5 (SE 0.34), adjusted 95% CI 1.0 to 2.4) in multivariable analysis. A 30% higher prevalence of ER in the inferior leads only (OR 1.3 (SE 0.38), adjusted 95% CI 0.74 to 2.3), a 120% higher prevalence of ER in the lateral leads only (OR 2.2 (SE 1.0), adjusted 95% CI 0.87 to 5.4), and a 20% higher prevalence of ER in the inferior and lateral leads (OR 1.2 (SE 0.49), adjusted 95% CI 0.55 to 2.7) was found in athletes. CONCLUSION: Athletes had a 50% higher prevalence of ER and a 30% higher prevalence of ER in the inferior leads specifically. There was no association between training duration or sports discipline and ER.

Polymicrobial bacterial pericarditis and cardiac tamponade caused by pericardial penetration of an adjustable gastric band.

We describe a case of polymicrobial bacterial pericarditis with Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus mirabilis, caused by pericardial penetration of the tip of the catheter of a laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB). The patient developed a cardiac tamponade, and subsequently emergency pericardiocentesis was performed. Analysis of earlier CT scans showed that the tip of the catheter had migrated through the liver and through the diaphragm into the pericardium, and was in contact with the myocardium. After stabilisation he was operated to remove the LAGB. In this case report, we describe the chain of events that led to the polymicrobial pericarditis-a complication of LAGB placement that to our knowledge has thus far never been reported. We furthermore present a detailed literature review of all published cases of polymicrobial pericarditis and its causes.

Pre-infarction angina predicts thrombus burden in patients admitted for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

AIMS: In patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), high thrombotic burden, subsequent distal embolisation and myocardial no-reflow remain a large obstacle that may negate the benefits of urgent coronary revascularisation. We aimed at assessing the predictors of: 1) thrombus grade in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) and 2) infarct size, in order to optimise therapy to reduce thrombus burden. METHODS AND RESULTS: One-hundred and fifty-three consecutive patients presenting with STEMI and undergoing PPCI were included. Thrombus was evaluated by angiography and scored according to the TIMI study group score. Next, patients were categorised into two groups that had either high thrombus grade (HTG; score 4-5) or low thrombus grade (LTG; score 1-3). We evaluated predictors of angiographic thrombus grade among a number of clinical, angiographic and laboratory data. We also assessed infarct size and scintigraphic left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at three months in both patient groups. Ninety-four patients (58±11 years; 75% males) presented with HTG, whereas 59 patients (58±12 years; 78% males) presented with LTG. Pre-infarction angina (PIA) was more frequently encountered in the LTG group than in the HTG group (25% vs. 10%, p=0.009). Pre-procedural TIMI flow was significantly lower in the HTG group (p<0.001), and thrombosuction was more frequently applied in the HTG group (p<0.001). Absence of PIA (OR=0.29, 95% CI=0.11-0.75, p=0.01) and proximal culprit lesion (OR=2.10, 95% CI=1.02-4.36, p=0.04) were the only independent predictors of HTG. HTG proved an independent predictor of higher peak levels of creatine kinase (CK) (p<0.001) and troponin T (p<0.001), as well as lower LVEF (p=0.05) along with male gender and absence of prior statin therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Absence of PIA and proximal culprit lesions are associated with higher thrombus grade. Higher thrombus grade is associated with larger infarct size and slightly worse LV function. This may have clinical implications in planning strategies, particularly regarding pharmacotherapy, that aim to decrease thrombus burden prior to stent implantation.

Clinical value of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy as a screening tool in liver transplant candidates.

A cardiac evaluation before orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is imperative. Previous investigations have demonstrated that mild to moderate reversible perfusion defects on myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) in general are associated with a low risk for perioperative cardiac events. The objective of this study was to assess any perfusion defects in consecutive patients with chronic liver disease who were undergoing OLT. OLT candidates underwent extensive cardiovascular screening that included, among other methods, MPS. Patients who had no contraindications for surgery and underwent OLT were followed up. The occurrence and risk of complications and mortality were compared in 3 groups of patients: patients with normal MPS results, patients with any reversible defect, and patients with a fixed perfusion defect on MPS. In all, 156 subsequent patients underwent OLT. One or more reversible segmental perfusion defects on MPS were present in 14 patients (<3 segments, n = 12; 3 segments without obstructive coronary artery disease, n = 2). The risk of complications did not differ significantly between patients with normal MPS findings and patients with a reversible perfusion defect (odds ratio = 3.04, 95% confidence interval = 0.65-14.26, P = 0.16), although the study was not sufficiently powered to show a difference. The presence of 1 or more reversible defects on MPS was significantly associated with an increased incidence of all-cause 1-year mortality (hazard ratio = 3.17, 95% confidence interval = 1.02-9.83, P = 0.046). No significant difference in the outcomes of patients with normal MPS findings and patients with a fixed defect on MPS was found; the study was, however, not adequately powered to do so. In conclusion, the results of this small cohort study indicate that patients with mild to moderate reversible perfusion defects on MPS may have inferior survival characteristics in comparison with patients with normal MPS results. A prospective, adequately powered study is required to confirm the results of this study.