Role and significance of coagulation markers in understanding and treating acute coronary syndromes. Introduction.
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Publications and source records attributed to R M Califf.
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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is a serious complication of thrombolytic therapy. We systematically reviewed the radiographic features of 244 cases of symptomatic ICH complicating thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction in the Global Utilization of Streptokinase and Tissue Plasminogen Activator for Occluded Coronary Arteries (GUSTO-1) trial, correlated these observations with clinical data, and speculated on hemorrhage pathogenesis. METHODS: CT scans from 244 patients suffering symptomatic ICH were systematically reviewed for selected radiographic features, including ICH type, location, hematoma characteristics, mass effect features, hydrocephalus, and preexisting lesions. Hematoma volume was estimated by computer-assisted volumetric analysis. Data from this analysis were correlated with clinical data including hypertension, anticoagulation, age, thrombolytic regimen, and ICH timing. RESULTS: Most hemorrhages were large (median [25th, 75th percentile] volume, 72 mL [39, 118]), solitary (66%), lobar (77%), confluent (80%), and intraparenchymal (82%) with a blood/fluid level (82%) and little edema (median [25th, 75th percentile] volume, 9 mL [5, 16]). Hydrocephalus (P<.001), any one mass effect feature (P<.001), intraventricular hemorrhage (P=.022), mottled hematoma appearance (P=.050), and hematoma blood/fluid level (P<.001) were associated with higher hemorrhage volume in the radiographic analysis, as were older age (P=.005), treatment with combined streptokinase and tissue plasminogen activator (P=.034), and hemorrhage onset 8 to 13 hours after treatment (P=.008) in the clinical analysis. Subdural hemorrhage was a high-volume subgroup whose risk increased with antecedent trauma (P=.026) or syncope (P=.006). Deep intraparenchymal hemorrhage was associated with hypertension (P=.016), and multifocal ICH occurred significantly earlier after treatment (P=.002). CONCLUSIONS: Although the majority of postthrombolytic ICH are large, solitary, and supratentorial, the spectrum is diverse. Features of mass effect reflected the large volumes, and hematoma characteristics of mottling and blood/fluid levels were frequent. Thrombolysis-related coagulopathy and age appear to be the most important identifiable factors in the genesis of postthrombolytic ICH, but the hemorrhage subtype seen may reflect an interaction with other factors such as hypertension, ICH timing, antecedent head trauma, and syncope.
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We compared cardiac troponins T (cTnT) and I (cTnI) collected within 3.5 h of ischemic symptoms for predicting clinical outcomes in 770 patients. cTnT (cutoff > 0.1 microgram/L) and cTnI (cutoff > 1.5 micrograms/L) were concordant (both positive or negative) in 90.4% of patients. Among discordant results, 66 were cTnT positive and cTnI negative vs 8 who showed the reverse (P < 0.001). Five cTnT-positive and cTnI-negative patients died within 30 days; none who were cTnT negative and cTnI positive died. cTnT showed a slightly greater association (chi 2 = 18.0, P < 0.001) with 30-day mortality than cTnI (chi 2 = 12.5, P = 0.002). The area of the ROC curve for predicting 30-day mortality was significantly larger (Z = 2.08; P = 0.0375) for cTnT, at 0.68 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.60-0.75], compared with cTnI, at 0.64 (95% CI 0.56-0.72). When cTnI and the electrocardiogram (ECG) were put in a logistic multiple regression model, cTnT added significant information (chi 2 = 8.03, P = 0.045); however, cTnI did not add to a model containing cTnT and the ECG (chi 2 = 0.84, P = 0.657). cTnT provided more information than cTnI for predicting 30-day mortality early after presentation with acute coronary syndromes.
Platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa blockade has the potential to advance treatment of acute coronary syndromes, both as a primary pharmacologic approach and an adjunct to interventional treatment strategies. The benefits of GP IIb/IIIa inhibition with the chimeric monoclonal antibody abciximab in preventing ischemic complications of interventional treatment have been well defined in patients with unstable angina. In the future, major therapeutic applications for this class of agents may include the stabilization of patients with unstable angina and potentially as single medical therapy, as several recently completed trials have suggested. Evidence also is accumulating on the use of GP IIb/IIIa blockade as adjunctive therapy in fibrinolytic approaches to treatment of acute myocardial infarction. Several ongoing trials are evaluating the safety and efficacy of this novel strategy. This article reflects a distillation of the views and consensus regarding the prospective use of GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors in patients with acute coronary syndromes expressed by a group of international experts convened in Davos, Switzerland, February 16, 1997. This report attempts to review clinical progress to date, formulate recommendations, and map out potentially fruitful lines of inquiry for future investigation.
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OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the prognostic significance of simultaneous versus independent resolution of ST segment depression that occurs concomitant with ST segment elevation during acute myocardial infarction (AMI). BACKGROUND: ST segment depression in leads other than those showing ST segment elevation during AMI is a common phenomenon. Whether this indicates adverse outcomes remains controversial. We hypothesized that the timing of ST segment depression resolution relative to ST segment elevation resolution might differentiate between a high risk group and a low risk group of patients. METHODS: Continuous 12-lead ST segment monitoring was performed after thrombolytic therapy for AMI in 413 patients, 261 of whom met technical criteria for analysis. Blinded analysis of ST segment depression resolution patterns was used to group patients as follows: 1) no ST segment depression at any time (control group); 2) ST segment depression resolving simultaneously with ST segment elevation (simultaneous group); and 3) ST segment depression persisting after ST segment elevation resolution (independent group). These patterns were correlated with the outcomes-recurrent angina, reinfarction, heart failure and death-using chi-square analysis and the Fisher exact test for categoric variables and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test for continuous variables. RESULTS: The incidence of recurrent angina, reinfarction and heart failure was similar among the three groups. In-hospital mortality, however, was significantly higher in the independent group (13%) than either the simultaneous group (1%, p < 0.001) or the control group (0%, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Continuous analysis of ST segment resolution identifies, among patients with AMI with concomitantly occurring ST segment elevation and depression, a subgroup with increased in-hospital mortality. The pathogenic mechanism of increased mortality is not currently known.
BACKGROUND: The apparent benefit of magnesium in acute myocardial infarction, and the persistently poor outcome after cardiac arrest, have led to use of magnesium in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Because few data on its use in cardiac arrest were available, we undertook a randomised placebo-controlled trial (MAGIC trial). METHODS: Patients treated for cardiac arrest by the Duke Hospital code team were randomly assigned intravenous magnesium (2 g [8 mmoles] bolus, followed by 8 g [32 mmoles] over 24 h; 76 patients) or placebo (80 patients). Only patients in intensive care or general wards were eligible; those whose cardiac arrest occurred in emergency, operating, or recovery rooms were excluded. The primary endpoint was return of spontaneous circulation, defined as attainment of any measurable blood pressure or palpable pulse for at least 1 h after cardiac arrest. The secondary endpoints were survival to 24 h, survival to hospital discharge, and neurological outcome. Analysis was by intention to treat. FINDINGS: There were no significant differences between the magnesium and placebo groups in the proportion with return of spontaneous circulation (41 [54%] vs 48 [60%], p = 0.44), survival to 24 h (33 [43%] vs 40 [50%], p = 0.41), survival to hospital discharge (16 [21%] vs 17 [21%], p = 0.98), or Glasgow coma score (median 15 in both). INTERPRETATION: Empirical magnesium supplementation did not improve the rate of successful resuscitation, survival to 24 h, or survival to hospital discharge overall or in any subpopulation of patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest.
BACKGROUND: Recent subgroup analyses of randomized trials have suggested that percutaneous intervention in diabetic patients with multivessel disease results in higher mortality than coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). We studied the relationship between diabetes and survival after revascularization in a large prospective cohort of patients with multivessel coronary artery disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: By analyzing data for 3220 patients (24% diabetic) with symptomatic two- or three-vessel coronary disease who were undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or CABG at Duke University Medical Center between 1984 and 1990, we found that at 5 years, unadjusted survival in the group of patients undergoing CABG was 74% in diabetics and 86% in nondiabetics. Similarly, 5-year survival among PTCA patients was 76% in diabetics and 88% in patients without diabetes. After adjustment for baseline characteristics, diabetic patients receiving either PTCA or CABG had significantly poorer survival than nondiabetics (chi2=43.56, P<.0001). Unlike previous studies, however, there was no significant differential effect of diabetes on outcome between patients treated with PTCA and those treated with CABG (chi2=0.01, P=.91). CONCLUSIONS: Although diabetes was associated with a worse long-term outcome after both PTCA and CABG in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease, the effect of diabetes on prognosis was similar in both treatment groups. Thus, our findings support the concept that the choice of initial revascularization strategy should not be based exclusively on a history of diabetes but rather should rely on other factors, such as angiographic suitability and clinical status.
Percutaneous treatment of narrowed aortocoronary saphenous vein graft disease represents a viable option for patients with recurrent angina following coronary artery bypass grafting. Present strategies are limited by high rates of distal embolization, non-Q-wave acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and restenosis. Because these complications may be mediated by platelets, inhibition of platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor, the final common pathway for aggregation, may improve clinical outcomes. In the Evaluation of IIb/IIIa platelet receptor antagonist 7E3 in Preventing Ischemic Complications (EPIC) trial, 2,099 patients undergoing high-risk percutaneous coronary revascularization were randomized to receive abciximab bolus and infusion, abciximab bolus followed by placebo infusion or placebo. A total of 101 patients were treated for narrowing of saphenous vein grafts, 38 in the bolus and infusion group, 34 in the bolus group and 29 in the placebo group. Clinical end points included all-cause mortality, nonfatal AMI and need for repeat revascularization at 30 days. Compared with placebo, bolus and infusion therapy resulted in a significant reduction in distal embolization (2% vs 18%, p = 0.017) and a trend towards reduction in early large non-Q-wave AMI (2% vs 12%, p = 0.165). The occurrence of a 30-day composite end point was similar among the 3 treatment groups. At 6 months, there was also no difference in the composite end point. These results suggest that adjunctive therapy with abciximab during percutaneous treatment of narrowed saphenous vein grafts reduces the occurrence of distal embolization, and possibly non-Q-wave AMI.
BACKGROUND: Thrombolytic therapy can be life-saving in patients with acute myocardial infarction. However, if given too late or insufficiently selectively, it may provide little benefit but still cause serious complications and incur substantial costs. OBJECTIVE: To develop a thrombolytic predictive instrument for real-time use in emergency medical service settings that could 1) identify patients likely to benefit from thrombolysis and 2) facilitate the earliest possible use of this therapy. DESIGN: Creation and validation of logistic regression-based predictive instruments based on secondary analysis of clinical data. PATIENTS: 4911 patients who had acute myocardial infarction and ST-segment elevation on electrocardiogram; 3483 received thrombolytic therapy. MEASUREMENTS: Data were obtained from 13 major clinical trials and registries and directly from medical records, including electrocardiograms obtained at presentation. Input variables include presenting clinical and electrocardiography features; predictive models generate probabilities for acute (30-day) mortality if and if not treated with thrombolysis, 1-year mortality rates if and if not treated with thrombolysis, cardiac arrest if and if not treated with thrombolysis, thrombolysis-related intracranial hemorrhage, and thrombolysis-related major bleeding episode requiring transfusion. Together, these models constitute the thrombolytic predictive instrument. RESULTS: The predictive models generated the following mean predictions for patients in the Thrombolytic Predictive instrument Database: 30-day mortality rate, 7.1%; 1-year mortality rate, 10.9%; rate of cardiac arrest, 3.7%; rate of thrombolysis-related intracranial hemorrhage. 0.6%; and rate of other thrombolysis-related major bleeding episodes, 5.0%. They discriminated with between persons having and those not having the predicted outcome; areas under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve were between 0.77 and 0.84 for the five outcomes. Calibration between each instrument's predicted and observed served rates was excellent. Validation of the predictive instruments of 30-day and 1-year mortality, done on a separate test dataset, yielded areas under the ROC curve of 0.76 for each CONCLUSIONS: After the basic features of a clinical presentation are entered into a computerized electrocardiograph, the predictions of the thrombolytic predictive instrument can be printed on the electrocardiogram report. This decision aid may facilitate earlier and more appropriate use of thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction.
BACKGROUND: Several biochemical markers have been investigated for the noninvasive assessment of reperfusion after myocardial infarction. Because myoglobin is released very soon after myocardial injury and clears rapidly after reperfusion, it may prove to be an excellent marker of occlusion and reperfusion. METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined the relation between various myoglobin measures and Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade in 96 patients enrolled in a study of front-loaded thrombolysis who underwent 90-minute angiography. We also combined myoglobin measures with models that include clinical and creatine kinase-MB variables. The myoglobin level measured within 10 minutes of acute angiography showed the best overall performance and was used for later analyses. Of the clinical variables examined, only time from symptom onset to thrombolysis and chest pain grade at angiography discriminated among TIMI flow grades. Combining the 90-minute myoglobin level and these clinical variables showed a significant difference (P<.0001) between both TIMI 3 versus TIMI 0 through 2 and TIMI 2 or 3 versus TIMI 0 or 1 flow. When the 90-minute myoglobin level was added to an established predictive model containing clinical variables and creatine kinase-MB measures, its contribution remained significant (P=.044). The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve for this combined model was .88. CONCLUSIONS: A single myoglobin measurement obtained 90 minutes after the start of thrombolysis, combined with select clinical variables and creatine kinase-MB levels, enhances the noninvasive prediction of reperfusion after myocardial infarction.
BACKGROUND: Antithrombotic therapy with heparin plus aspirin reduces the rate of ischemic events in patients with unstable coronary artery disease. Low-molecular-weight heparin has a more predictable anticoagulant effect than standard unfractionated heparin, is easier to administer, and does not require monitoring. METHODS: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we randomly assigned 3171 patients with angina at rest or non-Q-wave myocardial infarction to receive either 1 mg of enoxaparin (low-molecular-weight heparin) per kilogram of body weight, administered subcutaneously twice daily, or continuous intravenous unfractionated heparin. Therapy was continued for a minimum of 48 hours to a maximum of 8 days, and we collected data on important coronary end points over a period of 30 days. RESULTS: At 14 days the risk of death, myocardial infarction, or recurrent angina was significantly lower in the patients assigned to enoxaparin than in those assigned to unfractionated heparin (16.6 percent vs. 19.8 percent, P=0.019). At 30 days, the risk of this composite end point remained significantly lower in the enoxaparin group (19.8 percent vs. 23.3 percent, P=0.016). The need for revascularization procedures at 30 days was also significantly less frequent in the patients assigned to enoxaparin (27.1 percent vs. 32.2 percent, P=0.001). The 30-day incidence of major bleeding complications was 6.5 percent in the enoxaparin group and 7.0 percent in the unfractionated-heparin group, but the incidence of bleeding overall was significantly higher in the enoxaparin group (18.4 percent vs. 14.2 percent, P=0.001), primarily because of ecchymoses at injection sites. CONCLUSIONS: Antithrombotic therapy with enoxaparin plus aspirin was more effective than unfractionated heparin plus aspirin in reducing the incidence of ischemic events in patients with unstable angina or non-Q-wave myocardial infarction in the early phase. This benefit of enoxaparin was achieved with an increase in minor but not in major bleeding.
CONTEXT: Abciximab, a monoclonal antibody fragment against the platelet receptor alphaIIb beta3 integrin, prevents platelet aggregation. A randomized, placebo-controlled study showed that abciximab improves outcomes for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary angioplasty at 30 days and at 6 months. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether abciximab improves outcomes 3 years after coronary angioplasty. DESIGN: Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. SETTING: A total of 56 academic and community hospitals in the United States. PATIENTS: A total of 2099 high-risk patients undergoing coronary angioplasty were randomized. Sufficient time elapsed for 2.5 years of follow-up among 2001 patients and for 3 years of follow-up among 1599 patients. INTERVENTIONS: Abciximab bolus of 0.25 mg/kg followed by infusion at 10 microg/min for 12 hours; abciximab bolus of 0.25 mg/kg followed by placebo infusion; or placebo bolus followed by placebo infusion. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: The primary outcome was the composite of death, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization. Secondary outcomes were death, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization individually. Subgroups having refractory unstable angina or evolving myocardial infarction and having different elevations of creatine kinase during initial angioplasty were analyzed. RESULTS: At 3 years, composite end points occurred in 41.1% of those receiving abciximab bolus plus infusion; 47.4% of those receiving abciximab bolus only; and 47.2% of those receiving placebo only (for abciximab bolus plus infusion vs placebo, P=.009). Death occurred in 6.8%, 8.0%, and 8.6%, respectively (for abciximab bolus plus infusion vs placebo, P=.20); myocardial infarction in 10.7%, 12.2%, and 13.6%, respectively (for abciximab bolus plus infusion vs placebo, P=.08); and revascularization in 34.8%, 38.6%, and 40.1%, respectively (for abciximab bolus plus infusion vs placebo, P=.02). Among those with refractory unstable angina or evolving myocardial infarction, death occurred in 5.1%, 9.2%, and 12.7%, respectively (for abciximab bolus plus infusion vs placebo, P=.01). Death rates increased as periprocedural creatine kinase levels increased. CONCLUSIONS: Abciximab bolus with infusion given at the time of coronary angioplasty improves outcomes as long as 3 years after the procedure.
BACKGROUND: Left ventricular remodeling is an important sequela of myocardial infarction (MI). Although remodeling occurs soon after MI, the effect of early left ventricular dilatation on outcome is not established and may be useful for early risk stratification. We assessed whether end-systolic volume index (ESVI) at 90 to 180 minutes into thrombolytic therapy for MI is associated with adverse outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the Global Utilization of Streptokinase and t-PA for Occluded Coronary Arteries (GUSTO)-I study, 41021 patients with evolving MI received one of four thrombolytic regimens. At 90 or 180 minutes into reperfusion therapy, 1300 patients underwent left ventriculography. ESVI was measured and correlated with adverse outcomes: 30-day and 1-year mortality and in-hospital congestive heart failure, shock, and reinfarction. Clinical variables were also tested in a stepwise logistic regression analysis to determine predictors of left ventricular dilatation. ESVI was directly related to all adverse outcomes with univariate analysis. ESVI of > or = 40 mL/m2 was independently associated with mortality (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 30-day, 3.4 [2.0 to 5.9]; 1-year, 4:1 [2.6 to 6.2], both P < .001). Male sex, prior angina or MI, weight of < 70 kg, heart rate of > or = 80 bpm, systolic blood pressure of < 110 mm.Hg, and anterior infarction were independent predictors of an ESVI of > or = 40 mL/m2. CONCLUSIONS: Left ventricular ESVI early into reperfusion therapy for MI strongly predicts adverse outcomes, including early and late mortality. The study establishes the role of very early left ventricular dilatation on outcome in MI and may be useful in identifying high-risk patients who might benefit from aggressive treatment, including the early use of ACE inhibitors.
BACKGROUND: Although retrospective analyses have revealed an association between survival and coronary angiography and angioplasty in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock, the degree to which bias in the selection of patients to undergo these procedures contributes to this observation remains unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 2200 patients in the Global Utilization of Streptokinase and Tissue Plasminogen Activator for Occluded Coronary Arteries (GUSTO-I) trial with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock (systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg for > or = 1 hour) who survived > or = 1 hour after the onset of shock to determine the influence of an aggressive strategy of early angiography (within 24 hours of shock onset) and coronary angioplasty or bypass surgery, if appropriate, on survival. Revascularization was not protocol mandated but was selected by the attending physicians. Shock was present on admission in 11% and developed after admission in 89% of shock patients. The 30-day mortality was 38% in the 406 patients who underwent early angiography and were referred within 24 hours for angioplasty (n = 175), bypass surgery (n = 36), angioplasty and bypass surgery (n = 22), or neither (late or no revascularization, n = 173) compared with 62% in the 1794 patients who did not (P = .0001). However, there were important differences in the baseline characteristics of the two groups, including younger age (63 versus 68 years, P = .0001), less prior infarction (19% versus 27%, P = .001), and a shorter time to thrombolytic therapy (2.9 versus 3.2 hours, P = .0001) in patients treated with an aggressive strategy. Using multivariate logistic regression analysis to adjust for differences in baseline characteristics, an aggressive strategy was independently associated with reduced 30-day mortality (odds ratio, 0.43 [confidence interval, 0.34 to 0.54], P = .0001). CONCLUSIONS: An aggressive strategy of early angiography (and revascularization when appropriate) is associated with a reduction in mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock who receive thrombolytic therapy.