Aspirin use is associated with an improved long-term survival in an unselected population presenting with unstable angina.

Background: Few published data are available on the benefits of aspirin use in patients with unstable angina (UA).

Hypothesis: Aspirin use carries a mortality benefit in a population-based cohort of patients presenting with UA.

Methods: All residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota presenting to local emergency departments with acute chest pain from January 1985 through December 1992 having symptoms consistent with UA were identified through medical records.

Crushed clopidogrel administered via nasogastric tube has faster and greater absorption than oral whole tablets.

Objectives: To compare the absorption of 300 mg clopidogrel administered crushed via nasogastric (NG) tube versus whole tablets taken orally in healthy volunteers.

Background: Earlier antiplatelet therapy has proven benefits in treatment of myocardial infarction and in patients undergoing PCI. Aspirin can be delivered early in crushed form via NG tube after CABG surgery to prevent graft occlusion.

A comparison of the blood pressure changes of lumiracoxib with those of ibuprofen and naproxen.

The 52-week Therapeutic Arthritis Research and Gastrointestinal Event Trial (TARGET) investigated the gastrointestinal and cardiovascular safety profile of lumiracoxib 400 mg once daily compared with 2 traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): ibuprofen 800 mg 3 times daily and naproxen 500 mg twice daily. Data from TARGET were analyzed to examine the effect of lumiracoxib compared with ibuprofen and naproxen on blood pressure (BP), incidence of de novo and aggravated hypertension, prespecified edema events, and congestive heart failure. Lumiracoxib resulted in smaller changes in BP as early as week 4.

Cardiovascular outcomes in high risk patients with osteoarthritis treated with ibuprofen, naproxen or lumiracoxib.

Background: Evidence suggests that both selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors and non-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) increase the risk of cardiovascular events. However, evidence from prospective studies of currently available COX-2 inhibitors and non-selective NSAIDs is lacking in patients at high cardiovascular risk who are taking aspirin.

Objective: To determine the cardiovascular outcomes in high risk patients with osteoarthritis treated with ibuprofen, naproxen or lumiracoxib.

Potent arterial antithrombotic effect of direct factor-Xa inhibition with ZK-807834 administered to coronary artery disease patients.

It was the objective of this study to evaluate the anti-thrombotic potency of direct factor-Xa inhibition with ZK-807834 in stable coronary patients, using an ex-vivo model of arterial thrombus formation. Tissue factor pathway is important in atherothrombosis. Direct factor-Xa blockade may more potently reduce thrombosis and prevent coronary events.

Stress testing and troponin in unstable coronary syndromes: the status trial-clinical outcomes and resource use.

Cardiac troponins are markers used to diagnose acute myocardial infarction, but their value in guiding management in low- to intermediate-risk patients is not well established. Using a randomized design, the authors compared a strategy using stress testing with blinded troponins vs a troponin I-guided strategy for risk stratification and management of 241 patients with intermediate-risk unstable angina. Fewer stress-tested patients required coronary care unit admission and repeat hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome, at a lower cost.

Direct thrombin inhibitors are not equally effective in vivo against arterial thrombosis: in vivo evaluation of DuP714 and argatroban in a porcine angioplasty model and comparison to r-hirudin.

Background: Qualitative differences in antithrombotic efficacy between thrombin inhibitors may be explained by the affinity for which they bind thrombin. This affinity is inversely proportional to the inhibitory constant for the agent (Ki). Thrombin inhibitors, DuP714 (Ki=10(-11)) and argatroban (Ki=10(-8)), were compared to our previous studies with r-hirudin (Ki=10(-13)).

Inhibition and reversal of platelet-rich arterial thrombus in vivo: direct vs. indirect factor Xa inhibition.

Background/objective: The efficacy of a direct factor (F)Xa inhibitor, ZK-807834, was compared with indirect inhibition by enoxaparin for inhibition and deaggregation of acute platelet-rich thrombi in a well-characterized porcine carotid injury model.

Methods: A crush injury was performed on a randomly chosen carotid artery and the thrombus allowed to propagate for 30 min. Pigs then received intravenous drug for 35 min: ZK-807834-Dose 1 (40 microg kg(-1) bolus + 1.

The incremental value of troponin-I testing in patients with intermediate risk unstable angina.

Background: Classification of patients with unstable angina (UA) by Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) guidelines in the emergency department reliably stratifies risk of death or myocardial infarction (MI) for triage to outpatient evaluation (low-risk), hospitalization (high-risk), or additional testing (intermediate-risk). Cardiac troponin-I elevation may identify patients at higher risk, but the incremental value may vary with AHCPR clinical risk.

Hypothesis: The objective of this study was to determine whether cardiac troponin-I had any additional value beyond triage based upon history, physical examination, and electrocardiogram, in the evaluation of patients with UA.

Acute coronary syndromes: pathogenesis, acute diagnosis with risk stratification, and treatment.

Acute ischemic chest pain at rest consistent with unstable angina or non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction is a common problem that may cause death or recurrent myocardial infarction within 30 days unless identified and risk stratified acutely. The latter may be done within 15 minutes by the history, physical exam, and electrocardiogram, and is aided by the measurement of troponin T/I. According to the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research guidelines, low-risk patients can be discharged home and rechecked within 72 hours.

The impact of vitamin K-dependent factor depletion by warfarin on platelet-rich thrombosis after deep arterial injury.

Although the central role of thrombin in arterial thrombosis is well established, the efficacy of vitamin K-dependent factor depletion by warfarin at preventing this process has not been established. To assess the efficacy of warfarin in the prevention of arterial thrombosis, two intensities of anticoagulation were compared in a well-characterized porcine model of carotid angioplasty. For 10 days prior to angioplasty, pigs received either high-dose warfarin (n = 9), low-dose warfarin plus aspirin (n = 9), or control tablets (n = 10).

Comparison of lumiracoxib with naproxen and ibuprofen in the Therapeutic Arthritis Research and Gastrointestinal Event Trial (TARGET), cardiovascular outcomes: randomised controlled trial.

Background: The potential for cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX2)-selective inhibitors to increase the risk for myocardial infarction is controversial. The Therapeutic Arthritis Research and Gastrointestinal Event Trial (TARGET) aimed to assess gastrointestinal and cardiovascular safety of the COX2 inhibitor lumiracoxib compared with two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, naproxen and ibuprofen.

Methods: 18325 patients age 50 years or older with osteoarthritis were randomised to lumiracoxib 400 mg once daily (n=9156), naproxen 500 mg twice daily (4754), or ibuprofen 800 mg three times daily (4415) in two substudies of identical design.

Direct thrombin inhibitor therapy in the cardiovascular patient.

Direct thrombin inhibitors in cardiovascular patients are discussed. Patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) of ST- and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI and NSTEMI, respectively) or unstable angina develop mural thrombi within minutes of plaque disruption or erosion. Initial acute therapy includes heparin and aspirin.

From vulnerable plaque to vulnerable patient: a call for new definitions and risk assessment strategies: Part II.

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease results in >19 million deaths annually, and coronary heart disease accounts for the majority of this toll. Despite major advances in treatment of coronary heart disease patients, a large number of victims of the disease who are apparently healthy die suddenly without prior symptoms. Available screening and diagnostic methods are insufficient to identify the victims before the event occurs.

From vulnerable plaque to vulnerable patient: a call for new definitions and risk assessment strategies: Part I.

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease results in >19 million deaths annually, and coronary heart disease accounts for the majority of this toll. Despite major advances in treatment of coronary heart disease patients, a large number of victims of the disease who are apparently healthy die suddenly without prior symptoms. Available screening and diagnostic methods are insufficient to identify the victims before the event occurs.

Early coronary angiography improves long-term survival in unstable angina.

Background: The role of early coronary angiography in the evaluation of patients with unstable angina has been controversial. This study was designed to determine the effect of early coronary angiography on long-term survival in patients with unstable angina.

Methods: We reviewed the Olmsted County Acute Chest Pain Database, a population-based epidemiologic registry that includes all patients residing within Olmsted County who were seen for emergency department evaluation of acute chest pain from 1985 to 1992.

Thrombus formation on atherosclerotic plaques: pathogenesis and clinical consequences.

Purpose: To describe the characteristics of thrombus formation on atherosclerotic plaques, the clinical expression of atherothrombosis in vascular disease, and some of the most recent therapeutic approaches in cardiovascular disease.

Data Sources: MEDLINE search for English-language articles on thrombosis and atherosclerosis published up to January 2000. Abstracts of recent international meetings on new aspects of thrombus formation and new therapeutic options were reviewed, and references from identified articles were selected and reviewed.

Chronic endothelial dysfunction after oversized coronary balloon angioplasty in pigs: a 12-week follow-up of coronary vasoreactivity in vivo and in vitro.

Previous studies have reported the development of vasoconstriction immediately after invasive coronary interventions. Other studies in animals have demonstrated that using oversized balloon angioplasty, vasospasm can be suppressed, even in the presence of endothelial denudation due to important structural alteration in vascular smooth muscle. The regenerated endothelium also appears to be impaired chronically by selective attenuation of in vitro endothelial dependent relaxation related to pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins.