Diagnostic Performance of Coronary Tomography Angiography and Serial Measurements of Sensitive Cardiac Troponin in Patients With Chest Pain and Intermediate Risk for Cardiovascular Events.

Background: Coronary tomography angiography (CTA) has been mainly used for chest pain evaluation in low-risk patients, and few data exist regarding patients at intermediate risk.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of serial measures of sensitive troponin and CTA in intermediate-risk patients.

Methods: A total of 100 patients with chest pain, TIMI risk scores of 3 or 4, and negative troponin were prospectively included.

Incremental value of B-type natriuretic peptide for early risk prediction of infective endocarditis.

Background: Early and accurate risk prediction is an unmet clinical need in patients with infective endocarditis (IE). The aim of this study was to determine the value of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels obtained on admission for the prediction of in-hospital death in IE patients.

Methods: Between 2009 and 2011, consecutive patients with IE diagnosed using the revised Duke criteria and admitted to the emergency department were evaluated prospectively.