Usefulness of elevated levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in predicting in-hospital prognosis in patients with unstable angina pectoris.

To assess the in-hospital prognostic value of cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs), the levels of soluble CAMs were measured at admission in 114 patients with severe unstable angina. Patients with an eventful in-hospital course (death, nonfatal acute myocardial infarction, and recurrence of angina) had higher levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 than those without events (p = 0.01); this association was independent of classic risk factors and C-reactive protein.

Successful treatment of staphylococcal pericarditis with early catheter drainage and antibiotics.

We describe a 26-year-old man with staphylococcal pericarditis who was treated successfully by percutaneous catheter drainage combined with antibiotics. One year later he remains in good condition without echocardiographic evidence of constriction.