Background. To improve acute myocardial infarction (AMI) care in the region 'Hollands-Midden' (the Netherlands), a standardised guideline-based care program was developed (MISSION!). This study... Show moreBackground. To improve acute myocardial infarction (AMI) care in the region 'Hollands-Midden' (the Netherlands), a standardised guideline-based care program was developed (MISSION!). This study aimed to evaluate the outcome of the pre-hospital part of the MISSION! program and to study potential differences in pre-hospital care between four areas of residency. Methods. Time-to-treatment delays, AMI risk profile, cardiac enzymes, hospital stay, in-hospital mortality, and pre-AMT medication was evaluated in consecutive AMI patients (n=863, 61 +/- 13years, 75% male) transferred to the Leiden University Medical Center for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Results. Median time interval between onset of symptoms and arrival at the catheterisation laboratory was 150 (interquartile range [IQR] 101-280) minutes. The alert of emergency services to arrival at the hospital time was 48 (IQR 40-60) minutes and the door-to-catheterisation laboratory time was 23 (IQR 13-42) minutes. Despite significant regional differences in ambulance transportation times no difference in total time from onset of symptoms to arrival at the catheterisation room was found. Peak troponin T was 3.33 (IQR 1.23-7.04) mu g/l, hospital stay was 2 (IQR 2-3) days and in-hospital mortality was 2.3%. Twelve percent had 0 known risk factors, 30% had one risk factor, 45% two to three risk factors and 13% had four or more risk factors. No significant differences were observed for AMI risk profiles and medication pre-AMI. Conclusions. This study shows that a standardised regional AMI treatment protocol achieved optimal and uniformly distributed pre-hospital performance in the region 'Hollands-Midden', resulting in minimal time delays regardless of area of residence. Hospital stay was short and in-hospital mortality low. Of the patients, 88% had >= 1 modifiable risk factor. (Neth Heart J 2010;18:408-15.) Show less
Aims The purpose of the present study was to assess the evolution of left ventricular (LV) function after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) using global longitudinal peak systolic strain (GLPSS)... Show moreAims The purpose of the present study was to assess the evolution of left ventricular (LV) function after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) using global longitudinal peak systolic strain (GLPSS) during 1 year follow-up. In addition, patients were divided in groups with early, late, or no improvement of LV function and predictors of recovery of LV function were established. Methods and results A total of 341 patients with AMI were evaluated. Two-dimensional echocardiography was performed at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. At baseline, LV function was assessed with traditional parameters and GLPSS. Global longitudinal peak systolic strain was re-assessed at 3, 6, and 12 months. Improvement of LV function was based on GLPSS and was observed in 72% of the patients. No differences were observed between patients with early and late improvement. The left anterior descending coronary artery as culprit vessel, peak cardiac troponin T level, diastolic function, and baseline GLPSS were identified as independent predictors of recovery of LV function. Conclusion Improvement of LV systolic function occurred in the majority of patients during follow-up. Global longitudinal peak systolic strain, left anterior descending coronary artery as culprit vessel, peak cardiac troponin T level, and diastolic function were independent predictors of recovery of LV function. Quantification of GLPSS may be of important value for the prediction of recovery of LV function in patients after AMI. Show less
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) in a cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes, truly asymptomatic for coronary artery disease (CAD),... Show moreThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) in a cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes, truly asymptomatic for coronary artery disease (CAD), using heart rate variability (HRV) and I-123-metaiodobenzylguanidine (I-123-mIBG) myocardial scintigraphy. The study group comprised 88 patients with type 2 diabetes prospectively recruited from an outpatient diabetes clinic. In all patients myocardial perfusion scintigraphy, CAN by HRV and I-123-mIBG myocardial scintigraphy were performed. Two or more abnormal tests were defined as CAN-positive (ECG-based CAN) and one or fewer as CAN-negative. CAN assessed by I-123-mIBG scintigraphy was defined as abnormal if the heart-to-mediastinum ratio was < 1.8, the washout rate was > 25%, or the total defect score was > 13. The prevalence of CAN in patients asymptomatic for CAD with type 2 diabetes and normal myocardial perfusion assessed by HRV and I-123-mIBG scintigraphy was respectively, 27% and 58%. Furthermore, in almost half of patients with normal HRV, I-123-mIBG scintigraphy showed CAN. The current study revealed a high prevalence of CAN in patients with type 2 diabetes. Secondly, disagreement between HRV and I-123-mIBG scintigraphy for the assessment of CAN was observed. Show less
Schreurs, C.A.; Algra, A.M.; Man, S.C.; Cannegieter, S.C.; Wall, E.E. van der; Schalij, M.J.; ... ; Swenne, C.A. 2010
Background and Purpose: The spatial QRS-T angle (SA), a predictor of sudden cardiac death, is a vectorcardiographic variable. Gold standard vertorcardiograms (VCGs) are recorded by using the Frank... Show moreBackground and Purpose: The spatial QRS-T angle (SA), a predictor of sudden cardiac death, is a vectorcardiographic variable. Gold standard vertorcardiograms (VCGs) are recorded by using the Frank electrode positions. However, with the commonly available 12-lead ECG, VCGs must be synthesized by matrix multiplication (inverse Dower matrix/Kors matrix). Alternatively, Rautaharju proposed a method to calculate SA directly from the 12-lead ECG. Neither spatial angles computed by using the inverse Dower matrix (SA-D) nor by using the Kors matrix (SA-K) or by using Rautaharju's method (SA-R) have been validated with regard to the spatial angles as directly measured in the Frank VCG (SA-F). Our present study aimed to perform this essential validation. Methods: We analyzed SAs in 1220 simultaneously recorded 12-lead ECGs and VCGs, in all data, in SA-F-based tertiles, and after stratification according to pathology or sex. Results: Linear regression of SA-K, SA-D, and SA-R on SA-F yielded offsets of 0.01 degrees, 20.3 degrees, and 28.3 degrees and slopes of 0.96, 0.86, and 0.79, respectively. The bias of SA-K with respect to SA-F (mean +/- SD, -3.2 degrees +/- 13.9 degrees) was significantly (P < .001) smaller than the bias of both SA-D and SA-R with respect to SA-F (8.0 degrees +/- 18.6 degrees and 9.8 degrees +/- 24.6 degrees, respectively); tertile analysis showed a much more homogeneous behavior of the bias in SA-K than of both the bias in SA-D and in SA-R. In pathologic ECGs, there was no significant bias in SA-K; bias in men and women did not differ. Conclusion: SA-K resembled SA-F best. In general, when there is no specific reason either to synthesize VCGs with the inverse Dower matrix or to calculate the spatial QRS-T angle with Rautaharju's method, it seems prudent to use the Kors matrix. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Show less
Multidetector computed tomography coronary angiography (CTA) has emerged as a feasible imaging modality for non-invasive assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD). Recently, 320-row CTA systems... Show moreMultidetector computed tomography coronary angiography (CTA) has emerged as a feasible imaging modality for non-invasive assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD). Recently, 320-row CTA systems were introduced, with 16 cm anatomical coverage, allowing image acquisition of the entire heart within a single heart beat. The aim of the present study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of 320-row CTA in patients with known or suspected CAD. A total of 64 patients (34 male, mean age 61 +/- 16 years) underwent CTA and invasive coronary angiography. All CTA scans were evaluated for the presence of obstructive coronary stenosis by a blinded expert, and results were compared with quantitative coronary angiography. Four patients were excluded from initial analysis due to non-diagnostic image quality. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values to detect >= 50% luminal narrowing on a patient basis were 100, 88, 92, and 100%, respectively. Moreover, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values to detect >= 70% luminal narrowing on a patient basis were 94, 95, 88, and 98%, respectively. With inclusion of non-diagnostic imaging studies, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values to detect >= 50% luminal narrowing on a patient basis were 100, 81, 88, and 100%, respectively. The current study shows that 320-row CTA allows accurate non-invasive assessment of significant CAD. Show less
Wall, E.E. van der; Siebelink, H.M.; Scholte, A.J.; Bax, J.J. 2010
