ST-elevation myocardial infarction in the elderly--temporal trends in incidence, utilization of percutaneous coronary intervention and outcomes in the United States.

Background: Elderly patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are often underrepresented in major percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) trials. Use of PCI for STEMI, and associated outcomes in patients aged ≥65 years with STEMI needed further investigation.

Methods: We used the 2001-2010 United States Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database to examine the temporal trends in STEMI, use of PCI for STEMI, and outcomes among patients aged 65-79 and ≥80 years.

Use of antiplatelet therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention with bare-metal stents and different types of drug-eluting stents.

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with a thienopyridine and aspirin has been the standard of care post coronary stent implantation. DAPT has been shown to reduce the risk of stent thrombosis (ST) and complications of myocardial infarction and death after placement of a drug-eluting stent (DES) and bare-metal stent (BMS). This article reviews the available clinical efficacy and safety data of antiplatelet therapies.

Warfarin use and prevalence of coronary artery calcification assessed by multislice computed tomography.

Warfarin inhibits the synthesis and function of matrix Gla protein, a vitamin K-dependent protein, which is a potent inhibitor of tissue calcification. We had earlier reported the association of warfarin use with valvular calcification in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. The aim of our present study was to investigate the association of warfarin use with the presence and severity of coronary artery calcification.

Patients with ischemic stroke have a higher prevalence of a planar QRS-T angle >90° than patients with transient ischemic attack.

Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of a planar QRS-T angle >90° in patients with ischemic stroke versus transient ischemic attack (TIA).

Material/methods: In a prospective study of 279 consecutive patients who had ischemic stroke (197 patients) or TIA (82 patients), the planar QRS-T angle was measured from a 12-lead electrocardiogram taken at the time of the stroke or TIA. All QRS-T angle measurements were made by 3 authors who agreed on the measurements and who were blinded to the clinical findings.

Major adverse cardiac events in patients with moderate to severe renal insufficiency treated with first-generation drug-eluting stents.

No data are available comparing the long-term outcome of sirolimus-eluting stents (SESs) versus paclitaxel-eluting stents (PESs) in patients with moderate to severe renal insufficiency. The incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including death, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization, during long-term follow-up were studied in patients with a glomerular filtration rate of <60 ml/min/1.73 m(2), as measured by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) study equation, who also underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents.

Psoriasis induced by losartan therapy: a case report and review of the literature.

Psoriasis is a papulosquamous disease of multifactorial etiology. A combination of genetic and environmental agents is implicated in its pathogenesis. A variety of triggers, including infection, stress, and medications, have been recognized as precipitants of this disease.

A planar QRS-T angle >90 degrees is associated with multivessel coronary artery disease in patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients who had a planar QRS-T angle >90 degrees versus
Material/methods: Coronary angiography was performed in 1,229 consecutive patients. Obstructive CAD was diagnosed if there was >50% obstruction of >or=1 major coronary artery.

Brugada electrocardiographic pattern induced by amitriptyline overdose.

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) remain a common cause of fatal drug poisoning as a result of their cardiovascular toxicity manifested by electrocardiographic abnormalities, arrhythmias, and hypotension. The principal mechanism of toxicity is cardiac sodium channel blockade. Brugada electrocardiographic pattern (BEP) has also been described in TCA overdose.

Major adverse cardiac events at long-term follow-up in patients treated with single versus multiple stents during single-vessel percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Although insertion of multiple stents into a single coronary vessel during single-vessel percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is common, there are no data on long-term occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients treated with multiple stents versus a single stent.

Methods: The incidence of MACE (death, myocardial infarction, or target vessel revascularization) during long-term follow-up was investigated in 634 patients who underwent single-vessel PCI. Of the 634 patients, 319 (50%) had a single stent, and 315 (50%) had multiple stents inserted.

Major adverse cardiac events at follow-up after bare-metal stenting versus drug-eluting stenting in ST-elevated myocardial infarction.

After thrombolytic therapy with tenecteplase for ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction, 376 patients were transferred from their hospital to Westchester Medical Center for percutaneous coronary intervention with stenting. Of 376 patients, 102 (27%) received bare-metal stents and 274 (73%) received drug-eluting stents with sirolimus-eluting or paclitaxel-eluting stents. At 43 months of follow-up, major adverse cardiac events occurred in 25 (25%) of 102 patients treated with bare-metal stents versus 40 (15%) of 274 patients treated with drug-eluting stents (p = 0.

Prevalence of in-hospital complications in 500 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention treated with heparin 5000 IU administered systemically versus 500 age-matched and sex-matched patients treated with heparin 70 IU/kg administered systemically.

We investigated the prevalence of in-hospital complications in 500 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) treated with heparin 5000 IU administered systemically (group 1) at the time of PCI versus in 500 age-matched and sex-matched patients undergoing PCI treated with heparin 70 IU/kg administered systemically (group 2) at the time of PCI. There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics, indications for PCI, cardiovascular drug therapy at the time of PCI, prevalence of 1-vessel, 2-vessel, and 3-vessel obstructive coronary artery disease, and in-hospital complications between the 2 groups. In-hospital death occurred in 0.

Obstructive coronary artery disease in high-risk diabetic patients with and without atrial fibrillation.

Objective: To investigate the severity of coronary artery disease by coronary angiography in age-matched and sex-matched patients with diabetes mellitus with atrial fibrillation versus sinus rhythm.

Methods: The patients included 245 men and women, mean age of 70 years, with diabetes and atrial fibrillation and 245 age-matched and sex-matched patients with diabetes and sinus rhythm who underwent coronary angiography. Baseline characteristics and indications for coronary angiography were similar in both groups.