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Data from the preceding low-level exercise test studies have been compiled and are presented in Table II. The table is arranged according to groups of prognostic indicators for future coronary events or indicators for those patients with multivessel coronary artery disease. In summary, current studies demonstrate safety and predictive value in predischarge low-level exercise testing in patients after myocardial infarction. If the test reveals a positive S-T segment change or angina or both, the predictive value for future cardiac events is significant. In addition, a limited duration on the exercise test, a flat or falling blood pressure response, and the presence or absence of premature ventricular depolarizations add to this predictive value. A more sophisticated technique that employs radionuclide ventriculography may add to the sensitivity and specificity of these various tests but should be used selectively. Post-myocardial infarction patients who perform low-level exercise testing prior to discharge and demonstrate no exercise-induced abnormality from baseline may also harbor multivessel coronary disease, and this group of patients needs to be carefully followed. Testing at 3 weeks and 6 weeks after infarction may be beneficial in revealing additional clinical data. Less data are currently available on predischarge low-level exercise testing in patients with myocardial revascularization. However, these limited data support both feasibility and safety of low-level exercise testing in myocardial revascularization patients before discharge. Prognostic data with regard to low-level exercise testing for this group of patients should be forthcoming. Data from low-level exercise testing need to be incorporated during the in-hospital phase to eliminate unnecessary testing as the patient proceeds home and/or to medically supervised exercise programs. Proper therapeutic modalities based on these data should be included. In accord with this, it is imperative that the cardiac rehabilitation team or exercise testing laboratory correspond directly with the private physician regarding all clinical data and recommendations for discharge activity. Follow-up exercise testing for patients after myocardial infarction and coronary bypass surgery utilizes end points similar to those of predischarge low-level testing and therefore will not be discussed in detail. In general the patient should be able to achieve a higher heart rate or MET level in follow-up testing.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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PMID:Exercise testing for patients after myocardial infarction and coronary bypass surgery: emphasis on predischarge phase. 660 42

Cardiac insufficiency represents a major risk factor in patients about to undergo non-cardiac surgery. The post-operative mortality is linked to the severity of the pre-operative functional impairment: rising from 4% in NYHA class 1 to 67% in class IV. The operative risk is greater when the cardiac insufficiency is more disabling, the patient is older (> 70 years) and if there is a history of acute pulmonary oedema and a gallop bruit on auscultation. The use of metabolic equivalents (Duke Activity Status Index) is recommended: the functional capacity is defined as excellent if > 7 MET, moderate between 4 and 7, or poor if < 4. A non-invasive evaluation of left ventricular function is necessary in each patient with obvious congestive cardiac insufficiency or poor control under the American consensus, but it is rare that the patient has not already been seen by a cardiologist. The degree of per-operative haemodynamic constraint is linked to the surgical technique and is stratified according to the type of surgical intervention and whether or not it is performed as an emergency. An intervention duration > 5 hours is associated with an increased peri-operative risk of congestive cardiac insufficiency and non-cardiac death. Deaths from a cardiac cause are thus twice as frequent after intra-abdominal, non-cardiac thoracic or aortic surgery and the post-operative cardiac complications are six times more frequent. Numerous studies have attempted to document the impact of different anaesthetic techniques on the prognosis for the population at increased risk of post-operative cardiovascular complications. It is advisable to opt for peripheral nerve blocks. The cardiovascular morbidity and overall mortality do not differ between general anaesthetic, epidural anaesthetic or spinal nerve block. The ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) classification is widely used to determine the overall risk. The ASA class and the age are however too coarse as methods of evaluation for the individual risk and for giving judicious pre-operative advice. Multifactorial cardiac risk indexes such as that of Goldman allow overall evaluation (taking the patient and the intervention into account) of the peri-operative cardiovascular risk in non-cardiac surgery as a function of predictive clinical elements. Nine variables concerning the patient's history, the physical examination and several simple supplementary examinations are identified for which the relative weight is recorded under a points system. The average risk score for a given procedure is converted into an average risk for a given patient using a nomogram such as Detsky's. Surgical acts which do not impose major constraints on the cardiocirculatory apparatus (ophthalmic surgery for example) do not require supplementary examinations. The risk of post-operative cardiac complications is low in the absence of the 9 risk factors defined by Goldman, as is an ischaemic syndrome (angina on light physical activity, unstable angina, myocardial infarction). Certain risk factors (jugular congestion, gallop bruit, recent myocardial infarction, non-sinus rhythm, extrasystoles, aortic stenosis) obviously require appropriate treatment beforehand. The sometimes difficult process demands a dialogue between the cardiologist and the surgeon, the recognition of the risk of surgery in a given centre, and the opinion of the patient duly informed of the terms of the discussion about him.
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PMID:[Evaluation of the cardiac risks in non-cardiac surgery in patients with heart failure]. 1193 51

The aim of the study was to evaluate which pattern of coagulation indicators characterizes unstable angina and, particularly, its relationship with short-term prognosis. Forty patients with unstable angina (UA Group) at admission in the intensive care unit, 40 patients with chronic stable effort angina (SEA Group), and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were studied. Blood coagulation indicators were fibrinogen, prothrombin fragment F1 + 2 (F1 + 2), thrombus precursor protein (TpP), and D-dimer. C reactive protein (CRP) and cardiac Troponin I (cTnI) have also been determined and compared. Patients in the UA Group were followed for in-hospital adverse events (sudden death, acute myocardial infarction and angina refractory to medical therapy). CRP, D-dimer and cTnI plasma levels were significantly lower in the SEA Group than in the UA Group; the same trend was found for fibrinogen and F1 + 2 plasma levels, although not statistically significant. The TpP was similar in all groups. The control group showed the lowest levels for all indicators. Within the UA Group, 17 patients developed adverse events during hospitalization; F1 + 2, D-dimer, cTnI and CRP plasma levels were higher in these patients than in those with good outcome. Relative risks for adverse events associated with the highest tertile of D-dimer, cTnI, and CRP plasma levels were 8.4 (95% confidence interval, 1.5-48.9), 6.7 (95% confidence interval, 1.1-38.6) and 5.2 (95% confidence interval, 1.1-25.2), respectively. D-Dimer is significantly increased in patients with unstable angina and, in particular, in those who develop an adverse event.
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PMID:Coagulation indicators in chronic stable effort angina and unstable angina: relationship with acute phase reactants and clinical outcome. 1194 39

Increased lipid oxidative stress has been recently implicated in the pathogenesis of coronary artery spasm. Small, dense LDL with high susceptibility to oxidation may be linked to the genesis of coronary vasospasm. The relative migratory distance of the predominant densitometric peak of LDL from that of VLDL to that of HDL in a 3% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was determined as a measure of LDL particle size in 49 patients with coronary spastic angina (CSA), in 56 patients with stable effort angina and a significant coronary artery stenosis (SEA) and also in 40 control subjects without coronary artery disease (Control). The incidence of detection of small, dense LDL (particle diameter <25.5 nm) or a relative migratory distance above 0.36 was significantly higher in CSA (57%) and also in SEA (39%) than in Control (20%). In SEA, a significantly higher serum level of triglyceride was noted in the subgroup with the small, dense LDL as compared with the subgroup without. In contrast, in CSA, the serum level of triglyceride was not significantly different between the subgroups with and without the small, dense LDL, although significantly lower serum levels of both HDL-cholesterol and alpha-tocopherol were noted in the former. In 16 patients of CSA, the detection of the small, dense LDL was significantly decreased after a >6-month angina-free period (69-->31%). We conclude that patients with coronary spastic angina had smaller LDL particles, associated not with hypertriglyceridemia but low serum levels of both HDL-cholesterol and vitamin E. Dyslipidemia with small, dense LDL may be related to the genesis of coronary vasospasm.
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PMID:Low density lipoprotein particles are small in patients with coronary vasospasm. 1255 40

Data on the functional status of the cardiorespiratory system are required to identify patients at risk for postoperative complication in the presence of lung diseases. Very many factors influence the course of an operation and the postoperative period so there is no golden standard or the only parameter for predicting how the postoperative period runs. Patients with normal spirographic values (FEV1, more than 80%??) and without cardiovascular comorbidity are at a slight risk for postoperative complications. These patients do not need to be additionally examined. A less than one-month history of myocardial infarction, instable angina pectoris, decompensated heart failure, severe valvular disease are contraindications to planned surgery. The risk of cardiovascular events is high when the signs of myocardial ischemia occur with low exercise (less than 4 MET). Stress echocardiography, loading tests, and radioisotopic study are used as auxiliary techniques, FEV1, under 60%; ppo-FEV1, and ppo-DC, under 40%; VO2max, under 15 ml/kg/min are the values of a high risk for respiratory complications.
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PMID:[Functional studies in the prediction of postoperative complications in the presence of lung diseases]. 1452 92

The relative significance of traditional risk factors, chronic infections and autoimmune processes in the development of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has not been fully elucidated. We compared serum IgG antibody titres to various pathogens, i.e. Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn), cytomegalovirus (CMV) and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), and to the potential autoantigens human heat shock protein 60 (hHSP60) and mycobacterial heat shock protein 65 (mHSP65), in serum samples obtained from patients 3-48 h after AMI (n = 40) or stable effort angina (SEA, n = 43), and from controls (n = 46). The strongest association was observed between AMI and the elevated level of hHSP60 antibodies. The association between AMI and the level of Cpn antibodies was also significant. High levels of hHSP60 and Cpn antibodies represented independent risk factors for the development of AMI, but the simultaneous presence of high levels of antibodies to Cpn and hHSP60 suggested a joint effect on the relative risk of AMI (OR = 12.0-21.1). The antibody titres to mHSP65 were higher in the SEA group than in the controls, and the simultaneous presence of high levels of Cpn and mHSP65 antibodies meant an increased risk among the SEA patients. The antibody titres to CMV or HSV-1 were similar in the three groups. In conclusion, these results demonstrate associations of AMI with high levels of anti-hHSP60 and anti-Cpn antibodies, and of SEA with the level of anti-mHSP65 antibodies, these being independent risk factors.
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PMID:Elevated antibody levels against Chlamydia pneumoniae, human HSP60 and mycobacterial HSP65 are independent risk factors in myocardial infarction and ischaemic heart disease. 1506 11

The Duke Treadmill Score (DTS) has been shown to predict mortality in women who have symptomatic heart disease, but its ability to do so in asymptomatic women is unknown, as is its comparative advantage to exercise capacity. We investigated whether a decreased DTS is associated with increased mortality in a prospective cohort of 5,636 asymptomatic women. A symptom-limited exercise treadmill test using Bruce's protocol was performed at baseline. DTS was calculated using exercise time, exercise-induced angina, and ST-segment depression. Exercise capacity was measured in METs. Deaths and cause of death were identified from 1992 to 2000. After adjusting for the Framingham Risk Score, the risk of death decreased by 9% for each unit increase in DTS and by 17% for every 1-MET increase (p <0.001). Those who had a DTS <5 (moderate or high risk) had hazard ratios for death and cardiac death that were 2.2 and 2.5 times greater, respectively, than did those who had a DTS > or =5 (low risk), after adjusting for Framingham Risk Score (p <0.001). Receiver-operating characteristic curves for the DTS model and the exercise capacity model were not significantly different. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that, although the DTS is an independent predictor of mortality and cardiac mortality in asymptomatic women, it does not appear to be a better predictor than exercise capacity alone. The role of ST-segment changes and symptoms with stress testing in asymptomatic women does not provide additional prognostic information.
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PMID:Prognostic value of the duke treadmill score in asymptomatic women. 1605 60

Beta-blockers have been considered for decades as effective agents in preventing coronary events in hypertensive patients. Actually, the scrutiny of the available data arises some doubts over the real value of this pharmacological class. In primary prevention, the clinical benefits of beta-blockers are poorly documented: the studies conducted against placebo (MRC, IPPPSH...) did not show any significant differences regarding the rate of coronary events (except within non smokers); moreover, the beneficial effect of propranolol in preventing sudden deaths and silent myocardial infarctions has been reported byjust one retrospective analysis. Likewise in HAPPHY study, the comparison with diuretics did not emphasize a clear superiority of one of both classes; the better effect of metoprolol regarding overall mortality and fatal coronary events was shown in the pecular subset MAPHY, only. Furthermore, in elderly people, HEP, MRC OA and STOP studies did not find any significant effect of beta-blockers in preventing coronary events, as compared with placebo. However, SHEP study, which involved patients older than 60 years with isolated systolic hypertension receiving first a diuretic, then a beta-blocker(atenolol) in 1/4 of the cases, demonstrated a significant reduction versus placebo both in strokes and in coronary events. Finally, in UKPDS, CAPP, LIFE and CONVINCE studies, atenolol turned out to have a similar efficacy as captopril, losartan and verapamil, in preventing ischemic heart disease. Among the numerous published meta-analyses, that of Psaty pointed out the absence of a primary cardioprotective effect by beta-blockers; more recently, that of Carlberg, emphasized atenolol given alone as the first-line drug to fail in significantly reducing coronary events and strokes. In secondary prevention, some more convincing data may be found in the literature, regarding post myocardial infarction patients (meta-analyses of Staessen, 1982, Yusuf, 1985 and Soriano, 1997), as well as those with stable angina (BIP study in diabetics) or silent ischemia (ASIST study: significant reduction in number and duration of ischemic events by atenolol). Moreover, INVEST study recently showed atenolol and verapamil to have an equivalent efficacy in the hypertensive patients with stable coronary artery disease. Last, hypertension should be reminded as resulting in many cases of heart failure, a pathology where beta-blockers have clearly demonstrated their beneficial effects.
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PMID:[Do beta-blockers prevent coronary events in hypertensive patients?]. 1623 74

Endothelial dysfunction, a well recognized marker of cardiovascular risk, is an early event in arteriosclerosis process. Diabetes mellitus, hypertension and dyslipidemia, known risk factors for coronary disease have been associated with endothelial dysfunction, which improves after the control of these factors. Statins have additional benefits on endothelial function not related to decreasing cholesterol levels, known as pleiotropic effects. Most recently it has been reported the effect of statins promoting bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells. These cells are positive for CD34 and KDR superficial markers of endothelial cellular lineage, which is consistent with the hypothesis that they constitute the endothelial progenitor cells. Circulating endothelial progenitor cells are involved in the repair process of the endothelium after endothelial-cell injury in myocardial ischemia, angina and other stressful situations. Recent studies have demonstrated an inverse relationship between the EPC count in peripheral blood and risk of developing a cardiovascular event. In addition, circulating EPC correlates with the presence of endothelial dysfunction and could play a role as a surrogate biologic marker in vascular function. The effect of statins on endothelial progenitor cells might contribute to improve endothelial function leading to a decrease in vascular risk, independently of their impact on LDL cholesterol. In this paper, we review the role of statins in EPC mobilization, its effect in endothelial function restoration and the relevance of this finding in cardiovascular risk. We also review future therapeutic implications.
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PMID:The role of endothelial progenitor cells and statins in endothelial function: a review. 1797 88

Coronary artery disease either presents with acute chest pain or with exercise induced chest symptoms or shortness of breath. The differentiation between stable and unstable Angina pectoris is prognostically important, unstable angina is managed as an acute coronary syndrome including hospital admission, patients with stable symptoms can be further evaluated in an outpatient setting. A broad differential diagnosis of other cardiac and non-cardiac causes must be considered. Important initial diagnostic steps are cardiovascular risk stratification and prove of ischemia (or scar, necrosis) either at rest or usually exercise-induced, if necessary by additional imaging. Exercise capacity is assessed by physiological parameters (watt, VO2max., MET and distance) during exercise tests like ergometry, spiroergometry or 6-minute walking test (e.g. heart failure patients). Additional factors must be considered for the assessment of working capacity.
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PMID:[Outpatient diagnosis of coronary artery disease]. 1935 34


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