Aim. To evaluate the structural and functional changes in the lungs of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with absence or presence of chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), and the relation with myocardial dysfunction and systemic inflammation.Material and methods. Totally, 189 STEMI patients included: group 1 — STEMI with COPD of moderate and mild grade, 2 — STEMI with no lung pathology. Groups were comparable by clinical and anamnestic parameters. Assessment of lung function and blood collection were done at 1012 day of STEMI. For comparison of the parameters representing structural and functional changes in the lungs and comparison of Creactive protein (CRP), Nterminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) concentration, a control group was formed with no pulmonary pathology, comparable by age and sex with the STEMI patients.Results. In COPD patients, higher values revealed of the parameters representing the part of residual volumes in pulmonary structure. Higher residual volume (RV) was found also in STEMI and no COPD comparing to controls, however the relation RV/TLC (total lung capacity) was not higher than normal range. In both groups there were lower values of diffusion lung capacity (DLCO) comparing to controls. The lowest DLCO found in COPD patients. Concentration of NTproBNP (H=41,6; p<0,001) and CRP (H=38,6; p<0,001) in COPD was significantly higher in STEMI with no COPD patients than in controls. The negative correlations found for NTproBNP and CRP with forced expiratory volume 1 sec, FEV/FVC1, DLCO, and positive — with the values of thoracic volume, RV/TLC.Conclusion. In STEMI patients the increase revealed of residual lung volumes. Mostly the level of residual volumes is high in STEMI and COPD patients. There are associations of NTproBNP and CRP with structural and functional parameters of the lungs regardless of COPD.
Heart and Brain: A Case of Focal Myocytolysis in Severe Pneumococcal Meningoencephalitis with Review of the Contemporary Literature