Association of C-Reactive Protein Velocity with Early Left Ventricular Dysfunction in Patients with First ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

C-reactive protein velocity (CRPv) has been proposed as a very early and sensitive risk predictor in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, the association of CRPv with early left ventricular (LV) dysfunction after STEMI is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between CRPv and early LV dysfunction, either before or at hospital discharge, in patients with first STEMI.

Prognostic relevance of peri-infarct zone measured by cardiovascular magnetic resonance in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging provides valuable prognostic information in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The peri-infarct zone (PIZ) is a potential marker for post-infarction risk stratification. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic impact of PIZ in a large multicenter STEMI-trial.

Determinants and prognostic relevance of aortic stiffness in patients with recent ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

The association between aortic stiffness, cardiovascular risk factors and prognosis in patients with recent ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is poorly understood. We analyzed the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and arterial stiffening and assessed its prognostic significance in patients with recent STEMI. We prospectively enrolled 408 consecutive patients who sustained a first STEMI and underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI).

C-reactive protein velocity predicts microvascular pathology after acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: The role of C-reactive protein velocity (CRPv) as an early and sensitive marker of an excessive inflammatory response in the setting of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is only poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate, in patients with STEMI treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), the association of CRPv with microvascular infarct pathology.

Methods And Results: This prospective cohort study included a total of 316 patients with STEMI undergoing PCI.

Estimating the extent of myocardial damage in patients with STEMI using the DETERMINE score.

Background: Recently, a simple ECG score (DETERMINE score) has been proposed for estimating myocardial scar in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy. We sought to evaluate the usefulness of the DETERMINE score for the assessment of myocardial infarct size (IS) as well as microvascular obstruction (MVO), in the setting of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods: This observational study enrolled 423 patients with STEMI (median age 56, 17% women), revascularised by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

High sensitivity C-reactive protein is associated with worse infarct healing after revascularized ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: The inflammatory response due to myocardial tissue injury in the setting of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is essential for proper local infarct healing. However, an excessive inflammatory response may aggravate myocardial damage and hampers infarct healing processes. The present study aimed to investigate the association of systemic inflammatory biomarkers with infarct size (IS) dynamics post-STEMI, using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging.

Role of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance to Improve Risk Prediction Following Acute ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging allows comprehensive assessment of myocardial function and tissue characterization in a single examination after acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Markers of myocardial infarct severity determined by CMR imaging, especially infarct size and microvascular obstruction, strongly predict recurrent cardiovascular events and mortality. The prognostic information provided by a comprehensive CMR analysis is incremental to conventional risk factors including left ventricular ejection fraction.

Early onset of menopause is associated with increased peripheral atherosclerotic plaque volume and progression.

Background And Aims: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in western countries. One risk factor unique to women is the menopausal status. The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of the onset of menopause (MP) on the extent and progression of atherosclerotic plaque volume (PV).

Complete versus simplified Selvester QRS score for infarct severity assessment in ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Complete and simplified Selvester QRS score have been proposed as valuable clinical tool for estimating myocardial damage in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We sought to comprehensively compare both scoring systems for the prediction of myocardial and microvascular injury assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in patients with acute STEMI.

Methods: In this prospective observational study, 201 revascularized STEMI patients were included.

Relationship between admission Q waves and microvascular injury in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Using comprehensive cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in patients suffering from ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI), we sought to investigate the association of admission Q waves with microvascular injury (microvascular obstruction (MVO) and intramyocardial haemorrhage (IMH)).

Methods: This prospective observational study included 195 STEMI patients treated with pPCI. Admission 12-lead electrocardiography was evaluated for the presence of pathological Q waves, defined as a Q wave duration of >30 ms and a depth of >0.

Biomarker assessment for early infarct size estimation in ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) represents the biomarker of choice for infarct size (IS) estimation in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, admission values of hs-cTnT are only weakly associated with IS. The aim of this study was to investigate the incremental value of different biomarkers measured on admission for IS estimation in STEMI patients.

Prognosis-based definition of left ventricular remodeling after ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Objectives: Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is the gold-standard modality for the assessment of left ventricular (LV) remodeling in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. However, the commonly used remodeling criteria have never been validated for hard clinical events. We therefore aimed to define clear CMR criteria of LV remodeling following STEMI with proven prognostic impact.

ACEF score adapted to ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients: The ACEF-STEMI score.

Background: The age, creatinine and ejection fraction (ACEF) score has originally been developed for risk stratification of patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. In patients with stable coronary artery disease treated by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), the prognostic accuracy of ACEF could be further improved by modifying the original scoring system (called "modified ACEF" or "ACEF-MDRD"). We aimed to specifically adapt the ACEF score for risk assessment of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients.

Thyroid-stimulating hormone and adverse left ventricular remodeling following ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Adverse left ventricular remodeling is one of the major determinants of heart failure and mortality in patients surviving ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis is a key cardiovascular regulator; however, the relationship between hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid status and post-STEMI left ventricular remodeling is unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between thyroid-stimulating hormone concentrations and the development of left ventricular remodeling following reperfused STEMI.

Relation of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol With Microvascular Injury and Clinical Outcome in Revascularized ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Microvascular injury (MVI) after primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a major determinant of adverse clinical outcome. Experimental data indicate an impact of hypercholesterolemia on MVI; however, there is a lack of clinical studies confirming this relation. We aimed to investigate the association of cholesterol concentrations on admission with MVI visualized by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and clinical outcome in STEMI patients treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Robotic Versus Conventional Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Direct Comparison of Long-Term Clinical Outcome.

Objective: Robotic coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was shown to be a safe and feasible method for the treatment of coronary artery disease in highly selected patients. However, long-term outcome data comparing robotic CABG with conventional CABG are still missing. Therefore, we aimed to compare robotic with conventional CABG in terms of perioperative and long-term outcomes.

Persistent T-wave inversion predicts myocardial damage after ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Persistent T-wave inversion (PTI) after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is associated with worse clinical outcome; however, the underlying mechanism between PTI and poor prognosis is incompletely understood. We sought to investigate the relationship between PTI and myocardial damage assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) following STEMI.

Methods: In this prospective observational study, we included 142 consecutive revascularized STEMI patients.

Acute kidney injury is associated with microvascular myocardial damage following myocardial infarction.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention. However, the pathophysiology of AKI in this setting is complex and goes beyond the administration of contrast media. Studies assessing the impact of infarct characteristics on AKI are currently lacking.