[Acute coronary syndromes in Latin America: lessons from the ACCESS registry].

Background: Evidence of the clinical characteristics, treatment and outcomes among Latin American (LA) patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is scarce.

Methods: ACCESS, international prospective multicenter registry to evaluate risk stratification, management and outcomes in ACS (unstable angina or non-ST elevation myocardial infarction [UA/NSTEMI] or ST elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI]) in developing countries. Primary endpoint: all-cause death at 1 year; all-cause mortality within 30 days was also recorded, Patients with acute ischemic symptoms within 24 hours of symptoms onset and electrocardiographic evidence of ischemia were enrolled.

Prospective validation of the prognostic usefulness of B-type natriuretic peptide in asymptomatic patients with chronic severe aortic regurgitation.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the independent and additive prognostic value of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in patients with severe asymptomatic aortic regurgitation and normal left ventricular function.

Background: Early surgery could be advisable in selected patients with chronic severe aortic regurgitation, but there are no uniform criteria to identify candidates who could benefit from this strategy. Assessment of BNP has not been studied for this purpose.

Improved diagnostic and prognostic performance of a new high-sensitive troponin T assay in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Background: In the present study, we aimed to analyze the diagnostic and prognostic potential of a newly developed high-sensitive troponin T assay and compared these results with those of a contemporary troponin T assay in 2 distinct patient cohorts, one including patients with evident ACS and the other one including patients with general chest pain.

Methods And Results: For this study, we analyzed data from 2 independent patient cohorts, the Bad Nauheim ACS registry and the Prognosis in Acute Coronary Syndromes registry, with a total of 2,506 patients. On admission, clinical data have been recorded, and a single measurement of troponin T has been performed with a contemporary assay (TnT) and a new high-sensitive troponin T assay (hsTnT).

Prospective validation of the prognostic usefulness of brain natriuretic peptide in asymptomatic patients with chronic severe mitral regurgitation.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to determine the independent and additive prognostic value of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in patients with severe asymptomatic mitral regurgitation and normal left ventricular function.

Background: Early surgery could be advisable in selected patients with chronic severe mitral regurgitation, but there are no criteria to identify candidates who could benefit from this strategy. Assessment of BNP has not been studied in asymptomatic patients with severe mitral regurgitation; hence, its prognostic value remains unclear.

Preoperative 6-minute walk test adds prognostic information to Euroscore in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement.

Aims: The authors investigated the additive prognostic value of the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) to Euroscore in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) METHODS AND RESULTS: 208 patients with severe AS underwent the 6MWT before AVR, as part of a randomised trial (ASSERT) comparing stented and stentless aortic valves. Clinical follow-up was available for 200 patients up to 12 months. The rate of death, myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke (time to first event) was 13% (n = 14) in patients walking <300 metres compared to 4% (n = 4) in those who walked > or =300 metres (p = 0.