Objective: Data pertaining to the prognostic value of the combination of high neutrophilto-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and anemia on admission in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are limited. The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical value of baseline NLR in combination with anemia in predicting clinical outcomes after STEMI. Methods: A total of 5,194 consecutive patients with STEMI within 12 hours of symptom onset from the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry-National Institute of Health database between 2011 and 2015 were categorized into 4 groups according to their NLR and hemoglobin levels: low NLR (<4) without anemia (n=2,722; reference group); high NLR (≥4) without anemia (n=1,527); low NLR with anemia (n=508); and high NLR with anemia (n=437). The co-primary outcomes were 180-day and 3-year all-cause mortality. Results: Mortality rates significantly increased at the 3-year follow-up across the groups (3.3% vs. 5.4% vs. 16.5% vs. 21.7% for 180-day mortality and 5.3% vs. 9.0% vs. 23.8% vs. 33.4% for 3-year mortality; all p-trends <0.001). After adjusting for baseline covariates, the combination of high NLR and anemia was a significant predictor of 180-day mortality after STEMI with low NLR and no anemia as the reference (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.58–2.95; p<0.001). Similar findings were observed for the 3-year mortality. Conclusions This nationwide prospective cohort study showed that the combination of high NLR (≥4) and anemia is a strong predictor of all-cause mortality after STEMI.

Clinical practice guidelines published by the European Society of Cardiology and the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association summarize the available evidence and provide recommendations for health professionals to enable appropriate clinical decisions and improve clinical outcomes for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, most current guidelines are based on studies in non-Asian populations in the pre-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) era. The Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry is the first nationwide registry to document many aspects of AMI from baseline characteristics to treatment strategies. There are well-organized ongoing and published randomized control trials especially for antiplatelet therapy among Korean patients with AMI. Here, members of the Task Force of the Korean Society of Myocardial Infarction review recent published studies during the current PCI era, and have summarized the expert consensus for the pharmacotherapy of AMI.

BACKGROUND: Gated myocardial perfusion SPECT improved diagnostic accuracy of coronary artery disease and enabled us to observe motion and thickening of myocardial walls, ejection fraction as well as myocardial perfusion. Many studies suggested that there was a decrease of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at post-stress compared with that at rest gated myocardial perfusion SPECT (stunning). The objective of this retrospective study is to evaluate the clinical significance of the decrease of LVEF at post-stress gated myocardial perfusion SPECT by correlating with coronary angiographic finding. METHODS: Authors selected 41 patients who underwent exercise electrocardiography and gated myocardial perfusion SPECT between May, 2001 and May, 2002. The patients underwent coronary angiography within 6 months. The patients were divided into two groups, 16 patients in whom post-stress LVEF was >or=5% lower than rest (stunning group) and 25 patients in whom LVEF was not >or=5% lower than rest (non-stunning group). RESULTS: The number of patients with hyperlipidemia was higher in stunning group than in non-stunning group (50% vs 4%, p=0.001). The number of patients with angiographic stenoses >90% was significantly higher in stunning group than in non-stunning group (75% vs 28%, p=0.04). The number of patients with multi-vessel disease was also significantly higher in stunning group than in non-stunning group (75% vs 36%, p=0.015). CONCLUSION: The patients who had a decreased LVEF after stress (stunning) showed more severe coronary artery stenosis. This finding suggests that stunning may be an important additional indicator of underlying myocardial ischemia.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Stenosis ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Myocardial Stunning ; Perfusion* ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke Volume* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

BACKGROUND: Syncope is a sudden and brief loss of consciousness associated with a loss of postural tone, from which recovery is spontaneous. The most frequently identified causes of syncope are neurocardiogenic, cardiac, cerebrovascular and side effects of drugs. However, in many cases, it is not easy to make a diagnosis of syncope. The prevalence rate of syncope also is variable according to the nature of the study. We investigated the prevalence rate, characteristics and triggering factors of syncope in young medical students. METHODS: We contacted 400 medical students of Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea, and a questionnaire on the prevalence, triggering factors, and recurrence rate of syncope was handed out. The data from 379 medical student (male 168, female 211, mean age 22.3 years) were included for further analysis. RESULTS: Fifty-eight students (15.3%) experienced syncope and female students reported higher prevalence rate than male students (20.4 versus 8.9%, p=0.002). Among 58 students with syncopal history, 22 students (male 2, female 20) experienced recurrent syncope. The students who experienced recurrent syncope were younger at first syncope than those without recurrent syncope (15.0 versus 17.3 years, p=0.039). The triggering factors of syncope were prolonged standing, warm environment, immediate standing, tiredness, emotional upset, menstruation, and so on. CONCLUSION: The prevalence rate of syncope was 15% in medical student with mean age of 22.3 years. As the syncope in female and early onset syncope showed higher rate of recurrence, more attention may prevent recurrent syncope in these cases.
Daegu ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Hand ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Menstruation ; Prevalence* ; Recurrence ; Students, Medical* ; Syncope* ; Unconsciousness ; Surveys and Questionnaires

We report here on a case of ascending aortic dissection combined with anterior myocardial infarction that was caused by a retrograde dissection into the left main coronary trunk and proximal left anterior descending artery. We successfully treated this with stenting of the left main coronary artery and proximal left anterior descending artery, and this allowed for the definitive surgical correction. Stenting a collapsed left main coronary artery can be lifesaving procedure and serve as a bridge to surgery.
Aortic Diseases ; Arteries ; Coronary Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Stents*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Epidemiologic studies and clinical trials require a more precise definition of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The advent of sensitive and specific serologic biomarkers can identify those patients with small areas of myocardial necrosis. Acute myocardial infarction was redefined and approved by the ESC/ACC on September, 2000. To investigate the clinical implications of the revised criteria, the clinical features, the in-hospital outcomes and the 18 months outcomes were compared between the AMI patients who were diagnosed using the definition of the WHO criteria and those AMI patients added by the revised criteria. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred and seventy four consecutive patients diagnosed as AMI by the new criteria were included in the study. These patients with positive cardiac enzymes and ischemic symptoms or signs (n=174) were divided into two groups. The patients of group 1 (n=105) were the patients who were diagnosed with AMI by the WHO criteria, and the patients of group 2 (n=69), were the additional patients who were diagnosed with AMI only by the new criteria. RESULTS: The new criteria of AMI by ESC/ACC increased the numbers of AMI by 66%. As compared with group 1, women and patients with hypertension and a past history of ischemic heart disease were more common in group 2 (p<0.05). Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was used less frequently and Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), beta blockers and aspirin were prescribed less frequently in group 2. The total cardiac events and cumulative survival rate in group 1 were higher than in Group 2 (12.3% vs 7.2%, 89% vs 94%, respectively) but these differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The new criteria results in a substantial increase in the diagnosis of AMI, and the new criteria helps identify patients who were missed by the old criteria. The patients with AMI who were added by the new criteria had a similar risk of adverse outcome.
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; Aspirin ; Biomarkers ; Diagnosis ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Necrosis ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND: Aneurysms of sinus Valsalva are rare anomalies thought to be primarily congenital in origin. To evaluate the clinical features and surgical results associated with ruptured aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva, we reviewed the clinical characteristics and follow up results of the patients. METHODS: From January, 1991, through June 2001, 33 patients with ruptured aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva underwent surgical correction from the above five university hospitals. The patients included 24 men and 9 women, with a mean age of 32+/-13 years. We reviewed symptoms, physical examination findings, ECG findings, the coexistent cardiac anomalies, echocardiographic findings, surgical results in 33 patients. RESULTS: Patterns of fistula tract were right coronary sinus-right ventricle in 24 patients (73%), noncoronary sinus- right atrium in 3 patients (9%), noncoronary sinus - right ventricle in 3 patients (9%), right coronary sinus - right atrium in 2 patients (6%) and right coronary sinus - right ventricle and right atrium in 1 patient (3%). Combined cardiac anomalies were VSD (20 cases; 61%), ASD (1 case; 3%) and PDA (1 case; 3%). But, only 12 cases of VSD (60%) were diagnosed with preoperative transthoracic echocardiography. The aneurysmal sacs were excised in all patients and the defects were closed with a patch in 21 patients (64%) and without patch in 12 patients (36%). No recurrence was observed during follow-up periods (68+/-38 months) for all survivors and there was no late complications or symptoms. CONCLUSION: In sinus of Valsalva aneurysm patients, combined cardiac anomalies, especially VSD, are common. Careful preoperative echocardiography should be performed to detect combined anomalies. And, surgical results are excellent without recurrence.
Aneurysm* ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; Coronary Sinus ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Atria ; Heart Ventricles ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Male ; Physical Examination ; Recurrence ; Sinus of Valsalva* ; Survivors

BACKGROUND: The oxidative modification of lipids and the endothelial expression of adhesion molecules are key events in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The appropriate antioxidants that protected and slowed the progression of the disease were reported. We measured the antioxidant enzyme activities and the levels of soluble cellular adhesion molecules in order to evaluate whether antioxidant vitamin supplementation affected the oxidative changes and the expression of cellular adhesion molecules. METHODS: Seventy-seven patients participated in a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial. The test group (38 patients) was given antioxidant vitamin doses including a daily dose of vitamin C 500 mg, beta-carotene 15 mg, vitamin E 400 IUs, and selenium 50 microgram, The control group (44 patients) received placeboes for three months. We measured the vitamin serum levels, intercellular adhesion molecules-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin and activities of erythrocyte enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) before and at 3 months after supplementation. RESULTS: After supplementation, the serum vitamin levels increased significantly (P<0.05) and the activity of the erythrocyte SOD significantly increased by 0.85 unit/mg hemoglobin (P<0.05) in the test group. Soluble ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin levels did not change significantly in the test group after supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the antioxidant vitamin supplementation may affect erythrocyte SOD activity, but not soluble cellular adhesion molecule levels.
Antioxidants ; Ascorbic Acid ; Atherosclerosis ; beta Carotene ; Catalase ; E-Selectin ; Erythrocytes ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Selenium ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Most reports about coronary angiographic findings in acute myocardial infarction were done after thrombolytic therapy or several days after onset of symptom. The aim of this study is to evaluate coronary angiographic findings in patients with AMI within 24 hours after onset of symptoms and without thrombolytic therapy. Also we evaluated the correlation between the risk factors and severity of coronary artery disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 70 patients with acute myocardial infarction admitted to Kyungpook National University Hospital (KNUH) from November 1997 to January 1999, and evaluated the clincial and coronary angiographic findings. We analyzed risk factors of coronary artery disease: age, total cholesterol, tiglyceride, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, hypertension, smoking, diabetes and family history of CAD. Coronary angiography was done immediately after the arrival at emergency room (door-to- angiography time). Exclusion criteria were delayed arrival (more than 24 hours after symptom onset), previous history of anticoagulation or medication of antiplatelet agents. RESULTS: 1) Among 70 patients (M/F: 53/17), 59 patients had Q wave myocardial infarction (QMI) (84%), 11 patients had non-Q wave-MI (NQMI) (16%). 2) The mean age was 61+/-12.2 years (range: 26 to 82 years). 3) The mean time from the onset of chest pain to angiography was 6.2+/-4.7 hours. 4) Twenty eight patients (40%) had one-vessel disease, 25 (36%) had two-vessel disease and 17 (24%) had three-vessel disease. 5) The location of infarct related arteries were as follows: LAD in 33 (47%), LCX in 13 (19%) and RCA in 24 (34%). 6) The mean diameter stenosis of infarct related artery (IRA) was 95+/-10.9%. According to the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) classification of IRA, type B lesion occurred most commonly in 56 patients (80%). 7) Thrombus was observed in 44 patients (63%) with QMI versus 3 patients (27%) with NQMI (p=0.006). 8) Calcifications of the wall of coronary arteries were observed in 28 patients (40%) and correlated with ages of patients. 9) History of cigarette smoking was present in 73%, hypertension in 31% and hypercholesterolemia in 15% of patients. The mean number of risk factor for each patient was 1.3. 10) Multivessel disease was significantly more frequent in patients who had two more risk factors. 11) The frequency of cigarette smoking was greater and the level of plasma triglyceride were higher in patients under 50 years of age. 12) One patient died during coronary angiography and another 2 patients died at 5 and 8 days after coronary angiography due to cardigenic shock. CONCLUSION: In immediate coronary angiographic findings in patients with AMI, multivessel disease and thrombus, and severe stenosis of IRA were observed more frequently than other studies after thrombolytic therapy or after several days of delay. Multivessel disease was significantly more frequent in the patients who had two or more risk factors of atherosclerosis.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Atherosclerosis ; Chest Pain ; Cholesterol ; Classification ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hypertension ; Lipoproteins ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Plasma ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; Risk Factors ; Shock ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Thrombosis ; Triglycerides

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The intracoronary stent may be useful in the preventing of abrupt closure and coronary restenosis after coronary angioplasty, and recently primary stenting has been one of therapeutic modalities. We assessed the clinical and angiographic results of primary NIR stenting in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between November 1997 to January 1999, 55 stentings with NIR stents were done in 51 patients with acute myocardial infarction. Angiographic follow-up was available at 7+/-2.3 days in 35 patients. RESULTS: 1) Among 51 patients (M/F: 37/14), 44 patients had Q-wave MI (86%), 7 patients had non-Q-wave MI (14%). 2) The mean age was 61+/-12.4 years (range: 26 to 82 years). 3) The mean time from the onset of chest pain to the arrival at emergency room was 4.6 +/- 4.2 hours. The mean door-to-balloon time was 93+/-46 minutes 4) Treated vessels were as follows: 28 in LAD, 17 in RCA, 10 in LCX. 5) The indications for stent implantation were suboptimal angiographic results after PTCA in 38 lesions (69%), dissection in 9 lesions (16%), abrupt vessel closure in 1 lesion and elective in 7 lesions (13%). 6) Single stent implantation was done in 47 patients. Overlapping stents were done in 4 patients. 7) A procedure related complication occurred in one patient, peri-stent dissection without flow limitation. 8) Full expansion of the stent failed in three lesions with coronary calcifications and the residual stenosis was 35, 40, 50% in each case. In these cases, in-stent thrombus was not demonstrated in follow up angiography. 9) The minimal lumen diameter increased from 0.11+/-0.39 to 2.96+/-0.40 mm. 10) Angiographic follow-up on 38 stents in 35 patients demonstrated in-stent thrombus in 3 stents, in-stent restenosis in 1 stent. But in-stent flow limitations were not found in these 4 cases and TIMI III flow were maintained. Patients with Q-wave MI and coronary thrombus on initial angiography were more prone to subacute thrombosis. CONCLUSION: The NIR stent could be used successfully in primary coronary stenting in acute myocardial infarction. The present study shows relatively low risk of subacute stent thrombosis. The rate of restenosis needs to be confirmed by long term study.
Angiography ; Angioplasty ; Chest Pain ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Restenosis ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Stents* ; Thrombosis