scholarly journals COVID-19 Infection and Myocardial Infarction Pathophysiology and Therapy

2021 ◽  
pp. 98-107
Author(s):  
Manraj Raja Singh Gill ◽  
John Ambrose

The relationship between COVID-19 and cardiovascular disease has been of interest since the beginning of the pandemic, with the focus more recently shifting towards thrombotic complications, including myocardial infarction (MI). While the inflammatory burden of infection has previously been implicated in the pathogenesis of MI, at least early in the pandemic, many hospitals were seeing fewer ST-elevation MI admissions and the delivery of acute coronary syndrome care was disrupted in multiple ways. Furthermore, patients presenting with both COVID-19 infection and MI have been noted in small studies to have unique characteristics that pose clinical challenges, and there is reason to believe that standard therapy for both the prevention and treatment of all thrombotic events, including MI, may not be adequate. The aim of this article is to review the data regarding MI and other thrombotic events during the pandemic, to explore the link between inflammation and thrombosis, and to suggest possible novel therapeutic options for the treatment and prevention of thrombosis in patients with COVID-19.

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 1108
Author(s):  
Admira Bilalic ◽  
Tina Ticinovic Kurir ◽  
Marko Kumric ◽  
Josip A. Borovac ◽  
Andrija Matetic ◽  
...  

Vascular calcification contributes to the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease while matrix Gla protein (MGP) was recently identified as a potent inhibitor of vascular calcification. MGP fractions, such as dephosphorylated-uncarboxylated MGP (dp-ucMGP), lack post-translational modifications and are less efficient in vascular calcification inhibition. We sought to compare dp-ucMGP levels between patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), stratified by ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) status. Physical examination and clinical data, along with plasma dp-ucMGP levels, were obtained from 90 consecutive ACS patients. We observed that levels of dp-ucMGP were significantly higher in patients with NSTEMI compared to STEMI patients (1063.4 ± 518.6 vs. 742.7 ± 166.6 pmol/L, p < 0.001). NSTEMI status and positive family history of cardiovascular diseases were only independent predictors of the highest tertile of dp-ucMGP levels. Among those with NSTEMI, patients at a high risk of in-hospital mortality (adjudicated by GRACE score) had significantly higher levels of dp-ucMGP compared to non-high-risk patients (1417.8 ± 956.8 vs. 984.6 ± 335.0 pmol/L, p = 0.030). Altogether, our findings suggest that higher dp-ucMGP levels likely reflect higher calcification burden in ACS patients and might aid in the identification of NSTEMI patients at increased risk of in-hospital mortality. Furthermore, observed dp-ucMGP levels might reflect differences in atherosclerotic plaque pathobiology between patients with STEMI and NSTEMI.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 180
Author(s):  
Frédéric Bouisset ◽  
Jean-Bernard Ruidavets ◽  
Jean Dallongeville ◽  
Marie Moitry ◽  
Michele Montaye ◽  
...  

Background: Available data comparing long-term prognosis according to the type of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are scarce, contradictory, and outdated. Our aim was to compare short- and long-term mortality in ST-elevated (STEMI) and non-ST-elevated myocardial infarction (non-STEMI) ACS patients. Methods: Patients presenting with an inaugural ACS during the year 2006 and living in one of the three areas in France covered by the Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease (MONICA) registry were included. Results: A total of 1822 patients with a first ACS—1121 (61.5%) STEMI and 701 (38.5%) non-STEMI—were included in the study. At the 28-day follow-up, the mortality rates were 6.7% and 4.7% (p = 0.09) for STEMI and non-STEMI patients, respectively, and after adjustment of potential confounding factors, the 28-day probability of death was significantly lower for non-STEMI ACS patients (Odds Ratio = 0.58 (0.36–0.94), p = 0.03). At the 10-year follow-up, the death rates were 19.6% and 22.8% (p = 0.11) for STEMI and non-STEMI patients, respectively, and after adjustment of potential confounding factors, the 10-year probability of death did not significantly differ between non-STEMI and STEMI events (OR = 1.07 (0.83–1.38), p = 0.59). Over the first year, the mortality rate was 7.2%; it then decreased and stabilized at 1.7% per year between the 2nd and 10th year following ACS. Conclusion: STEMI patients have a worse vital prognosis than non-STEMI patients within 28 days following ACS. However, at the 10-year follow-up, STEMI and non-STEMI patients have a similar vital prognosis. From the 2nd year onwards following the occurrence of a first ACS, the patients become stable coronary artery disease patients with an annual mortality rate in the 2% range, regardless of the type of ACS they initially present with.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Mamatha Punjee Raja Rao ◽  
Prashanth Panduranga ◽  
Mahmood Al-Jufaili

Pericarditis with pericardial effusion in acute coronary syndrome is seen in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction specifically when infarction is anterior, extensive, and Q wave. It is very uncommon to have pericardial effusion in a patient with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction. We present an elderly hypertensive patient who was diagnosed as non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction with pericardial effusion that turned out to be acute aortic dissection with catastrophic end. We conclude that, in patients with suspected diagnosis of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction or unstable angina, if pericardial effusion is detected on echocardiography, aortic dissection needs to be considered.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feras Husain Abuzeyad ◽  
Eltigani Seedahmed Ibnaouf ◽  
Mudhaffar Al Farras

Nonatherosclerotic spontaneous coronary artery dissection (NA-SCAD) is an uncommon cause of myocardial infarction. It most commonly affects females in the perimenopausal age. NA-SCAD has been associated with many predisposing factors including pregnancy and hormonal therapy for both contraception and ovulation induction. The presented case is a previously healthy 41-year-old woman diagnosed with inferior ST-elevation myocardial infarction due to right descending coronary artery dissection associated with recent use of clomiphene monotherapy for ovulation induction (a previously fertile woman), which was not previously reported. Learning Objectives. Emergency physicians (EPs) should be aware about NA-SCAD as a cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) especially in perimenopausal women even with no risk factors. NA-SCAD occurs more commonly in the postpartum period and in females following hormonal therapy. Here, clomiphene monotherapy was reported as a possible contributing factor to NA-SCAD. Guidelines for NA-SCAD management are not up to date, and EPs should avoid some interference before the final diagnosis of the cause of myocardial infarction.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 5-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominique N van Dongen ◽  
Rudolf T Tolsma ◽  
Marion J Fokkert ◽  
Erik A Badings ◽  
Aize van der Sluis ◽  
...  

Background: Pre-hospital risk stratification of non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) by the complete HEART score has not yet been assessed. We investigated whether pre-hospital risk stratification of patients with suspected NSTE-ACS using the HEART score is accurate in predicting major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Methods: This is a prospective observational study, including 700 patients with suspected NSTE-ACS. Risk stratification was performed by ambulance paramedics, using the HEART score; low risk was defined as HEART score ⩽ 3. Primary endpoint was occurrence of MACE within 45 days after inclusion. Secondary endpoint was myocardial infarction or death. Results: A total of 172 patients (24.6%) were stratified as low risk and 528 patients (75.4%) as intermediate to high risk. Mean age was 53.9 years in the low risk group and 66.7 years in the intermediate to high risk group ( p<0.001), 50% were male in the low risk group versus 60% in the intermediate to high risk group ( p=0.026). MACE occurred in five patients in the low risk group (2.9%) and in 111 (21.0%) patients at intermediate or high risk ( p<0.001). There were no deaths in the low risk group and the occurrence of acute myocardial infarction in this group was 1.2%. In the high risk group six patients died (1.1%) and 76 patients had myocardial infarction (14.4%). Conclusions: In suspected NSTE-ACS, pre-hospital risk stratification by ambulance paramedics, including troponin measurement, is accurate in differentiating between low and intermediate to high risk. Future studies should investigate whether transportation of low risk patients to a hospital can be avoided, and whether high risk patients benefit from immediate transfer to a hospital with early coronary angiography possibilities.


Author(s):  
Iranna Hirapur ◽  
Srinivas Setty ◽  
Ravindran Rajendran ◽  
Manjunath Nanjappa

Background: Acute coronary syndrome is one of the leading causes of death. Smoking is known to be associated  with many influencing factors for accelerating Myocardial Infarction (MI). In a country like India, Streptokinase (SK) is used as a leading therapeutic option for the treatment of ST elevation myocardial Infarction (STEMI). SK combines with plasminogen; this SK-plasminogen complex is responsible for fibrinolysis. The aim of this study was to determine angiographic patency after SK infusion in STEMI patients and comparison between smokers and non-smokers.Methods: In this observational, prospective and single-centre study conducted between September 2011 and April 2012, a total of 398 patients who were diagnosed with STEMI were included. Patients were divided in two groups i.e. smokers and non-smokers. The patients were treated with thrombolytic (streptokinase) therapy and evaluated for TIMI 3 flow by performing angiography within 72hours of thrombolysis with SK.Results: Of total 398 patients, 348 (87.4%) were male. The ratio of non-smokers and smokers was 1:2. Smokers were younger than the non-smokers (48.8±10.2 vs. 54.57±9.51). Post thrombolytic therapy, patients were evaluated for TIMI flow grades. Total of 202 patients achieved TIMI 3 flow, of which 157 were smokers and 45 were non-smokers.Conclusions: Smokers have relatively hypercoagulable state than non-smokers. Better outcome in smokers group may be because of younger age and lesser comorbidities. Smokers should be motivated and guided properly to quit smoking.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rishi Rajhans ◽  
M. Narayanan

Background: Acute coronary syndrome represents a global epidemic. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the first 24 hours of hospitalization post thrombolysis.Methods: 50 patients of AMI satisfying the inclusion criteria were included for this observational study. Philips Digitrak Holter was attached to the patient's chest for 24 hours and arrhythmias were noted.Results: In the study group 70% of cases were males, rest 30% females. Maximum incidence of AMI was seen between 4th and 7th decade of life. Incidence of diabetes and hypertension were 54% and 66% respectively either alone or in combination. Overall incidence of anterior wall was higher 56% than inferior wall which was 44%. Sinus tachycardia was seen in 54% of cases with higher incidence in anterior wall MI. Among the reperfusion arrhythmias incidence of frequent VPCs was highest with 66% followed by AIVR (42%) and NSVT (30%). AF was found in 3 cases i.e. 6% of which one died. One patient had VF to which she succumbed.Conclusions: It is a matter of debate whether arrhythmias being so common in AMI, should be considered under clinical spectrum or complication of AMI. An increasing belief that less serious arrhythmias may serve as a warning sign for potentially life threatening arrhythmias and timely intervention by drugs, D.C. shock or pacemakers can prevent mortality in these sets of patients.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document