Proinflammatory cytokines in acute myocardial infarction with and without cardiogenic shock.

Background: Inflammatory response is an important feature of acute coronary syndromes and myocardial infarction (MI). The prognostic value of proinflammatory cytokines in patients with acute MI complicated by cardiogenic shock is unknown.

Methods And Results: In 41 patients admitted with acute MI (age 60 +/- 11 years, six females, 19 Killip class IV) serial plasma concentration of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) were measured.

Admission glucose concentrations independently predict early and late mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction treated by primary or rescue percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: In patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI), increased plasma glucose levels at hospital admission are associated with worse outcome. We aimed to assess the predictive value of admission glucose concentrations on short- and long-term mortality in patients with acute MI undergoing primary or rescue percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: We analyzed the 30-day and long-term (mean follow-up 3.

Characteristics of patients with abnormal stress technetium Tc 99m sestamibi SPECT studies without significant coronary artery diameter stenoses.

Background: Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) sestamibi (MIBI) is an excellent tool for detection of coronary artery disease (CAD), preoperative risk assessment, and follow-up management after coronary revascularization. While the sensitivity of MIBI SPECT for detecting CAD has been reported to exceed 90%, the specificity ranges between 53-100%.

Hypothesis: The study was undertaken to assess characteristics of patients with abnormal stress technetium Tc99m sestamibi SPECT (MIBI) studies without significant coronary artery diameter stenoses (< 50%).

Long-term outcome of acute myocarditis is independent of cardiac enzyme release.

Background: There are few data concerning prognostic markers of acute myocarditis. The purpose of this study was to assess the prognostic value of initial measurements of creatine kinase (CK), cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and myoglobin as regards late recovery of the left ventricular ejection fraction on follow-up.

Methods: A total of 22 patients (53+/-15 years old, 11 female) with acute myocarditis were followed up in a prospective observational study.

Long-term results after acute percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock.

The aim of this study was to determine the long-term outcome in unselected, consecutive patients after acute percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTCA) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock. This involved a follow-up study from a prospectively conducted patient registry in a tertiary referral center. A total of 59 patients (10 female/49 male; median age 62 years (32-91)) with percutaneous transluminal cardiac interventions in primary cardiogenic shock were identified between January 1995 and January 2000.