Prognostic tools at hospital arrival in acute myocardial infarction: copeptin and hepatocyte growth factor.

BACKGROUND: Prompt evaluation and treatment of acute coronary syndrome has demonstrated to reduce mortality. Although several biomarkers have been studied for risk stratification and prognostic purposes, none is recommended to guide treatment based on its prognostic value. Copeptin and hepatocyte growth factor have been associated with poor outcome in patients with acute myocardial infarction. The aim of this study is to evaluate the early prognostic value of measurements of copeptin and hepatocyte growth factor for hospital mortality risk and 1-year-follow-up mortality, in patients with acute myocardial infarction. In our retrospective observational study, we measured hepatocyte growth factor and copeptin in blood samples collected at hospital arrival in patients with acute myocardial infarction; and follow-up them until 1-year. RESULTS: 84 patients with were included in the study, mainly male (65%) with a median age of 70.3 ± 13.56 years. Hospital mortality was 11.9%. Plasma levels of copeptin at hospital arrival were statistically significant higher in patients who died during hospital admission (145.60 pmol/L [52.21-588.50] vs. 24.79 pmol/L [10.90-84.82], p 0.01). However, we found no statistically significant association between plasma levels of hepatocyte growth factor and hospital mortality (381.05 pg/ml [189.95-736.65] vs. 355.24 pg/ml [175.55-521.76], p 0.73). 1-year follow-up mortality was 21.4%. Plasma levels of copeptin at hospital arrival were higher in those patients who died in the following year (112.28 pmol/L [25.10-418.27] vs. 23.82 pmol/L [10.96-77.30], p 0.02). In the case of HGF, we also find no association between hepatocyte growth factor plasma levels and 1 -year follow-up mortality (350.00 pg/ml [175.05-555.08] vs. 345.53 pg/ml [183.68-561.15], p 0.68). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with acute myocardial infarction measurement of copeptin at hospital arrival could be a useful tool to assess the prognosis of these patients, since their elevation is associated with a higher hospital mortality and higher 1-year follow-up mortality. We have not found this association in the case of hepatocyte growth factor measurement.

Un caso de síndrome de crouzon con sintomatología psiquiátrica / A case of Crouzon syndrome with psychiatric symptoms

El síndrome de Crouzon es un trastornoautosómico dominante caracterizado por craneosinostosis (cierre prenatal de una o varias suturas craneales) que provoca alteraciones secundarias de los huesos craneales y de la estructura facial. Las características más frecuentes incluyen deformidadesde cráneo y cara: proptosis ocular, exoftalmos y estrabismo divergente, nariz en forma de pico de loro, labio superior corto, maxilar hipoplásico y prognatismo mandibular relativo. La presión intracraneal enalgunos casos puede producir trastornos neurológicos y discapacidad intelectual.Realizamos una breve revisión del concepto y planteamos un caso clínico quepresenta graves alteraciones de conducta con agresividad y escasa respuesta terapéutica. (AU)

Crouzon syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by craniosynostosis (prenatal closure of one or morecranial sutures) that causes secondary alterations of the cranial bones and facial structure. The most frequent features include skull and facial deformities: ocular proptosis, divergent exophthalmos and strabismus,parrot beak-shaped nose, short upper lip, hypoplastic maxilla, and relative mandibular prognathism. Intracranial pressure in some cases can cause neurological disorders andintellectual disability.We carry out a brief review of the concept and we present a clinical case that presents serious behavior alterations with aggressiveness and little therapeutic response. (AU)

Factor de crecimiento de hepatocitos séricos como herramienta diagnóstica en pacientes con dolor torácico agudo / Serum hepatocyte growth factor as diagnostic tool in patients with acute chest pain

Resumen Objetivo Determinar si los niveles plasmáticos de factor de crecimiento de hepatocitos podrían ayudar a realizar el diagnóstico diferencial en pacientes con dolor torácico prolongado y elevación de la troponina cardiaca, y evaluar su valor pronóstico de mortalidad al año en estos pacientes. Método: Estudio prospectivo observacional. Se incluyeron pacientes mayores de 18 años que acudieron a urgencias con dolor torácico agudo de más de 20 minutos y elevación de la troponina cardiaca, con seguimiento al año. Resultados Se incluyeron 303 pacientes, 103 (34%) con infarto de miocardio y 200 (66%) con otras enfermedades. Los niveles plasmáticos del factor de crecimiento de hepatocitos fueron superiores en el grupo sin infarto de miocardio: 329 pg/ml (rango intercuartílico [IQR]: 66-558) vs. 476 pg/ml (IQR: 264-908; p < 0.001). La mortalidad al año fue del 30.7%, superior en el grupo sin infarto de miocardio (36.5% vs. 19.4%; p = 0.002). Se encontró una fuerte asociación entre la mortalidad y los niveles elevados de factor de crecimiento de hepatocitos (650 pg/ml [344-1159] vs. 339 pg/ml [205-607]; p < 0.001). En el análisis multivariado se halló que los niveles de factor de crecimiento de hepatocitos, la edad y la escala GRACE son factores independientes de mortalidad al año en estos pacientes. Conclusiones En los pacientes con dolor torácico agudo prolongado y elevación de la troponina cardiaca, la determinación de los niveles del factor de crecimiento de hepatocitos no permite confirmar ni descartar la presencia de infarto agudo de miocardio. No obstante, podría ser un marcador pronóstico de mortalidad en estos pacientes, junto con la edad y la escala GRACE.

Abstract Objective To determine if plasma levels of hepatocyte growth factor could help in the differential diagnosis of patients with prolonged chest pain and elevated cardiac troponin; and to evaluate its prognostic value for one-year mortality in these patients. Method A prospective observational study. Patients over the age of 18 who were seen in the emergency room for acute chest pain lasting longer than 20 minutes and elevated cardiac troponin were included, with follow up after one year. Results We included 303 patients, 103 (34%) with myocardial infarction and 200 (66%) with other diseases. Plasma levels of hepatocyte growth factor were higher in the group without myocardial infarction: 329 pg/ml (IQR: 166-558) vs. 476 pg/ml (IQR: 264-908; p < 0.001). One-year mortality was 30.7%, higher in the group without myocardial infarction (36.5% vs. 19.4%; p = 0.002). We found a strong association between mortality and elevated levels of hepatocyte growth factor (650 pg/ml [344-1,159] vs. 339 pg/ml [205-607]; p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that levels of hepatocyte growth factor, age and the GRACE scale are independent factors for one-year mortality in these patients. Conclusions In patients with prolonged acute chest pain and elevated cardiac troponin, hepatocyte growth factor levels do not confirm or rule out acute myocardial infarction, although they may be a prognostic marker for mortality in these patients, along with age and the GRACE scale.

Acute renal failure in COVID-19 patients on mechanical ventilation / Insuficiencia renal aguda en pacientes COVID-19 en ventilación mecánica

COVID-19 Community acquired pneumonía is a recent and frequent cause of admission in European intensive care units. Currently, there are many open questions regarding the management and prognostic factors of these patients. Among them, its association with acute renal failure in patients on mechanical ventilation. Analysis of acute renal failure in COVID-19 patients on mechanical ventilation. Prognosis and factors related to its development. Retrospective observational study carried out in the intensive care unit of a University Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. We analysed patients admitted to the ICU with the diagnosis of Respiratory Failure due to Pneumonia COVID-19 between 6/3/2020 and 21/4/2020. Demographic data (age, sex), APACHE II, comorbidities, analytical data (ferritin, total bilirubin), length of stay, treatments administered (mechanical ventilation, muscle relaxant, vasoactive drugs, prone) and its association to acute renal failure were analysed. 67 patients received complete treatment in our hospital. Length of stay (days) 14.1 ± 10, average age 60 years, APACHE II 14.3 ± 5.2, 67.2% males. Maximum creatinine mean value (mg/dl) 1.48 ± 1.26, Maximum ferritin mean value (ng/ml) 2,310 ± 3,322, Maximum total bilirubin mean value (mg/dl) 2 ± 2.2. 100% of the patients required mechanical ventilation. 65.7% prone positioning, 74.6% neuromuscular blockers and 98.5% required vasoactive drugs. Establishing renal failure as creatinine values greater than 1.2 mg/dl. Patients with maximum creatinine above 1.2 mg/dl presented average values of bilirubin and ferritin higher than those with values under 1.2 mg/dl (P < 0.05). The presence of renal failure was also statistically significantly associated with sex (male), presence of dyslipidaemia, and mortality. In our sample, we have associated acute renal failure with higher ferritin valúes. Likewise, we have observed higher creatinine valúes in the group of non-survivors, those with dyslipidaemia and men, with statistical signification.

La neumonía adquirida en la comunidad COVID-19 es una causa reciente y frecuente de ingreso en las unidades de cuidados intensivos europeos. Actualmente, hay muchas preguntas abiertas con respecto al manejo y los factores pronósticos de estos pacientes. Entre ellos, su asociación con insuficiencia renal aguda en pacientes en ventilación mecánica. Análisis de insuficiencia renal aguda en pacientes con COVID-19 en ventilación mecánica. Pronóstico y factores relacionados con su desarrollo. Estudio observacional retrospectivo realizado en la unidad de cuidados intensivos de un Hospital Universitario durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Analizamos los pacientes ingresados en UCI con el diagnóstico de insuficiencia respiratoria por neumonía COVID-19 entre el 3/6/2020 y el 21/4/2020. Se analizaron datos demográficos (edad, sexo), APACHE II, comorbilidades, datos analíticos (ferritina, bilirrubina total), tiempo de estancia, tratamientos administrados (ventilación mecánica, relajante muscular, fármacos vasoactivos, prono) y su asociación con insuficiencia renal aguda. 67 pacientes recibieron tratamiento completo en nuestro hospital. Duración de la estancia (días) 14,1 ± 10, edad media 60 años, APACHE II 14,3 ± 5,2, 67,2% varones. Valor medio máximo de creatinina (mg/dl) 1,48 ± 1,26, valor medio máximo de ferritina (ng/ml) 2.310 ± 3.322, valor medio máximo de bilirrubina total (mg/dl) 2 ± 2,2. El 100% de los pacientes requirió ventilación mecánica. El 65,7% en decúbito prono, el 74,6% bloqueantes neuromusculares y el 98,5% requirieron fármacos vasoactivos. Estableciendo la insuficiencia renal como valores de creatinina superiores a 1,2 mg/dl, los pacientes con creatinina máxima superior a 1,2 mg/dl presentaron valores medios de bilirrubina y ferritina superiores a aquellos con valores menores a 1,2 mg/dl, de forma estadísticamente significativa. La presencia de fallo renal, también se asoció de forma estadísticamente significativa al sexo hombre, la presencia de dislipidemia como antecedente personal de interés y a la mortalidad. En nuestra muestra hemos asociado la insuficiencia renal aguda con valores más elevados de ferritina. Asimismo, hemos observado mayores valores de creatinina en el grupo de no supervivientes, los que presentan dislipidemia y los hombres, con significación estadística.

Functional Status and Quality of Life in Elderly Intensive Care Unit Survivors.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate functional status and quality of life in elderly intensive care unit (ICU) survivors at 1-year follow-up. DESIGN: Prospective 18-month observational study. SETTING: University medical-surgical ICU. PARTICIPANTS: ICU survivors aged 75 and older. MEASUREMENTS: Functional status at baseline (Barthel Index (BI)) was compared with that at hospital discharge and 1-year follow-up. Health-related quality of life (HRQL Spanish version of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-From Survey) was measured at 1-year follow-up and compared with that of the Spanish population of same age. RESULTS: Of 176 individuals admitted to the ICU, 110 (62.1%) were discharged alive from the hospital, and 94 (53.1%) were alive at 1-year follow-up. ICU admission was associated with significant clinical deterioration (median BI 100 points (interquartile range (IQR) 85-100) at baseline vs 85 (IQR 60-100) at hospital discharge, P < .001). Three months after discharge, there was a significant although modest improvement in functional status (BI 95 (IQR 80-100) P = .03). Baseline functional status was not recovered at 1-year follow-up (BI 95 (IQR 80-100) P < .001). More ICU survivors had moderate to severe dependence at the end of follow-up (20.3%) than at ICU admission (6.6%) (P < .001). Factors independently associated with poor functional recovery were low baseline BI and ICU stay longer than 4 days. At 1-year follow-up, 76.8% of participants who survived were living in their own homes. HRQL was similar to that of the Spanish population of the same age. CONCLUSION: Elderly ICU survivors experienced significant deterioration in functional status, and although they recovered modestly during the following year, they never regained their baseline status. Good recovery was associated with short ICU stay and better baseline functional status.

New Atlanta Classification of acute pancreatitis in intensive care unit: Complications and prognosis.

BACKGROUND: The updated Atlanta Classification of acute pancreatitis (AP) in adults defined three levels of severity according to the presence of local and/or systemic complications and presence and length of organ failure. No study focused on complications and mortality of patients with moderately severe AP admitted to intensive care unit (ICU). The main aim of this study is to describe the complications developed and outcomes of these patients and compare them to those with severe AP. METHODS: Prospective, observational study. We included patients with acute moderately severe or severe AP admitted in a medical-surgical ICU during 5years. We collected demographic data, admission criteria, pancreatitis etiology, severity of illness, presence of organ failure, local and systemic complications, ICU length of stay, and mortality. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients were included: 12 with moderately severe AP and 44 with severe. All patients developed some kind of complications without differences on complications rate between moderately severe or severe AP. All the patients present non-infectious systemic complications, mainly acute respiratory failure and hemodynamic failure. 82.1% had an infectious complication, mainly non-pancreatic infection (66.7% on moderately severe AP vs. 79.5% on severe, p=0.0443). None of the patients with moderately severe AP died during their intensive care unit stay vs. 29.5% with severe AP (p=0.049). CONCLUSIONS: Moderately severe AP has a high rate of complications with similar rates to patients with severe AP admitted to ICU. However, their ICU mortality remains very low, which supports the existence of this new group of pancreatitis according to their severity.

Individualized PEEP setting in subjects with ARDS: a randomized controlled pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Low-tidal-volume ventilation may be associated with repetitive opening and closing of terminal airways. The use of PEEP is intended to keep the alveoli open. No method of adjusting the optimal PEEP has shown to be superior or to improve clinical outcomes. We conducted a pilot study to evaluate the effect of setting an individualized level of PEEP at the highest compliance on oxygenation, multiple-organ-dysfunction, and survival in subjects with ARDS. METHODS: Subjects with ARDS ventilated with low tidal volumes and limitation of airway pressure to 30 cm H2O were randomized to either a compliance-guided PEEP group or an FIO2-guided group. RESULTS: Of the 159 patients with ARDS admitted during the study period, 70 met the inclusion criteria. Subjects in the compliance-guided group showed nonsignificant improvements in PaO2/FIO2 during the first 14 days, and in 28-day mortality (20.6% vs. 38.9%, P = .12). Multiple-organ-dysfunction-free days (median 6 vs 20.5 d, P = .02), respiratory-failure-free days (median 7.5 vs 14.5 d, P = .03), and hemodynamic-failure-free days (median 16 vs 22 d, P = .04) at 28 days were significantly lower in subjects with compliance-guided setting of PEEP. CONCLUSIONS: In ARDS subjects, protective mechanical ventilation with PEEP application according to the highest compliance was associated with less organ dysfunction and a strong nonsignificant trend toward lower mortality. ClinicalTrials.gov Number NCT01119872.

Characteristics and outcomes of elderly patients refused to ICU.

BACKGROUND: There are few data regarding the process of deciding which elderly patients are refused to ICU admission, their characteristics, and outcome. METHODS: Prospective longitudinal observational cohort study. We included all consecutive patients older than 75 years, who were evaluated for admission to but were refused to treatment in ICU, during 18 months, with 12-month followup. We collected demographic data, ICU admission/refusal reasons, previous functional and cognitive status, comorbidity, severity of illness, and hospital and 12-month mortality. RESULTS: 338 elderly patients were evaluated for ICU admission and 88 were refused to ICU (26%). Patients refused because they were "too ill to benefit" had more comorbidity and worse functional and mental situation than those admitted to ICU; there were no differences in illness severity. Hospital mortality rate of the whole study cohort was 36.3%, higher in patients "too ill to benefit" (55.6% versus 35.8%, P < 0.01), which also have higher 1-year mortality (73.7% versus 42.5%, P < 0.01). High comorbidity, low functional status, unavailable ICU beds, and age were associated with refusal decision on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Prior functional status and comorbidity, not only the age or severity of illness, can help us more to make the right decision of admitting or refusing to ICU patients older than 75 years.