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Previous studies have reported that acute myocardial infarction (AMI) related to left anterior descending (LAD) lesion is associated with worse outcomes than left circumflex artery (LCX) or right coronary artery (RCA) lesions. However, it is unknown whether those relationships are still present in the contemporary era of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), using newer generation drug-eluting stents and potent antiplatelet agents.Methods and Results:This study is a sub-analysis of the Japan AMI Registry (JAMIR), a multicenter, prospective registry enrolling 3,411 AMI patients between December 2015 and May 2017. Among them, 2,780 patients undergoing primary PCI for only a culprit vessel were included and stratified based on infarction-related artery type (LAD, LCX, and RCA). The primary outcome was 1-year cardiovascular death. The overall incidence of cardiovascular death was 3.4%. Patients with LAD infarction had highest incidence of cardiovascular death compared to patients with LCX and RCA infarction (4.8%, 1.3%, and 2.4%, respectively); however, landmark analysis showed that culprit vessel had no significant effect on cardiovascular death if a patient survived 30 days after primary PCI. LAD lesion infarction was an independent risk factor for cardiovascular death in adjusted Cox regression analysis.The present sub-analysis of the JAMIR demonstrated that LAD infarction is still associated with worse outcomes, especially during the first 30 days, even in the contemporary era of PCI.

Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) after ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) can predict the prognosis. This study investigated the clinical significance of a serial 3D-STE can predict the prognosis after onset of STEMI.Methods and Results:This study enrolled 272 patients (mean age, 65 years) with first-time STEMI treated with reperfusion therapy. At 24 h after admission, standard 2D echocardiography and 3D full-volume imaging were performed, and 2D-STE and 3D-STE were calculated. Within 1 year, 19 patients who experienced major adverse cardiac events (MACE; cardiac death, heart failure requiring hospitalization) were excluded. Among the 253 patients, 248 were examined with follow-up echocardiography. The patients were followed up for a median of 108 months (interquartile range: 96-129 months). The primary endpoint was the occurrence of a MACE; 45 patients experienced MACEs. Receiver operating characteristic curves and Cox hazard multivariate analysis showed that the 2D-global longitudinal strain (GLS) and 3D-GLS at 1-year indices were significant predictors of MACE. The Kaplan-Meier curve demonstrated that a 3D-GLS of-13.1 was an independent predictor for MACE (log-rank χThe deterioration of 3D-GLS measured by STE at 1 year after the onset of STEMI is the strongest predictor of long-term prognosis.

The early mitral inflow velocity to mitral early diastolic velocity ratio (E/e') and electrocardiogram (ECG) determination of QRS score are useful for risk stratification in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).Methods and Results:In this study, 420 consecutive patients (357 male; mean [±SD] age 63.6±12.2 years) with first-time STEMI who successfully underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention within 12 h of symptom onset were followed-up for 5 years (median follow-up 67 months). Echocardiography, ECG, and blood samples were obtained 2 weeks after onset. Infarct size was estimated by the QRS score after 2 weeks (QRS-2wks) and creatine phosphokinase-MB concentrations (peak and area under the curve). The primary endpoint was death from cardiac causes or rehospitalization for heart failure (HF). During follow-up, 21 patients died of cardiac causes and 62 had HF. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis showed that mean E/e' (hazard ratio [HR] 1.152; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.088-1.215; P0.0001), QRS-2wks (HR 1.153; 95% CI 1.057-1.254; P0.0001), and hypertension (HR 1.702; 95% CI 1.040-2.888; P=0.03) were independent predictors of the primary endpoint. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that patients with QRS-2wks4 and mean E/e'14 were at an extremely high risk of cardiac death or HF (log rank, χIn patients with STEMI, a combination of QRS-2wks and mean E/e' was a simple but useful predictor of cardiac death and HF.

BACKGROUND Prompt and potent antiplatelet effects are important aspects of management of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). We evaluated the association between platelet-derived thrombogenicity during PPCI and enzymatic infarct size in STEMI patients.Methods and Results:Platelet-derived thrombogenicity was assessed in 127 STEMI patients undergoing PPCI by: (1) the area under the flow-pressure curve for the PL-chip (PL18-AUC10) using the total thrombus-formation analysis system (T-TAS); and (2) P2Y12reaction units (PRU) using the VerifyNow system. Patients were divided into 2 groups (High and Low) based on median PL18-AUC10during PPCI. PRU levels during PPCI were suboptimal in both the High and Low PL18-AUC10groups (median [interquartile range] 266 [231-311] vs. 272 [217-317], respectively; P=0.95). The percentage of final Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 3 flow was lower in the High PL18-AUC10group (75% vs. 90%; P=0.021), whereas corrected TIMI frame count (31.3±2.5 vs. 21.0±2.6; P=0.005) and the incidence of slow-flow/no-reflow phenomenon (31% vs. 11%, P=0.0055) were higher. The area under the curve for creatine kinase (AUCCK) was greater in the High PL18-AUC10group (95,231±7,275 IU/L h vs. 62,239±7,333 IU/L h; P=0.0018). Multivariate regression analysis identified high PL18-AUC10during PPCI (β=0.29, P=0.0006) and poor initial TIMI flow (β=0.37, P

Background Antiplatelet therapy is the corner stone of treatment following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Prasugrel, a new and potent antiplatelet agent, was recently introduced to clinical practice. We compared the clinical outcomes of patients with AMI treated with prasugrel with those treated with clopidogrel in real-world clinical practice in Japan.Methods and Results:The Japan AMI Registry (JAMIR) is a multicenter, nationwide, prospective registry enrolling patients with AMI from 50 institutes. Between December 2015 and May 2017, a total of 3,411 patients were enrolled. Among them, 3,069 patients were treated with either prasugrel (n=2,607) or clopidogrel (n=462) during hospitalization. Median follow-up period was 12 months. Prasugrel-treated patients were predominantly male, younger, more often showed ST-elevation AMI, and had fewer comorbidities. After adjustment using inverse probability of treatment weighting, the primary endpoint, defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal MI and non-fatal stroke, was comparable between the prasugrel and clopidogrel groups (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.67-1.72), whereas the risk of major bleeding (BARC type 3 or 5 bleeding) was significantly lower in the prasugrel group (adjusted HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.39-0.99). Conclusions The present real-world database of the JAMIR demonstrated that the potent P2Y12-inhibitor prasugrel showed comparable rates of 1-year ischemic events to clopidogrel, but the risk of bleeding was lower with prasugrel than with clopidogrel.

Background Few reports have evaluated the total antithrombotic effect of multiple antithrombotic agents. Methods and Results: Thrombus formation was evaluated with the Total Thrombus-formation Analysis System (T-TAS®) using 2 types of microchips in 145 patients with stable coronary artery disease receiving oral anticoagulants plus single- or dual-antiplatelet therapy. The PL-chip coated with collagen is designed for analysis of the platelet thrombus formation process under shear stress condition (18 µL/min). The AR-chip coated with collagen and tissue thromboplastin is designed for analysis of the fibrin-rich platelet thrombus formation process under shear stress condition (4 µL/min). The results were expressed as an area under the flow pressure curve (PL18-AUC10and AR4-AUC30, respectively). Bleeding events occurred in 43 patients during a 22-month follow-up. AR4-AUC30was significantly lower in patients with bleeding events than in those without (584 [96-993] vs. 1,028 [756-1,252], P=0.0003). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified AR4-AUC30(odds ratio 3.18) as a significant predictor of bleeding events, in addition to baseline anemia and usage of the standard dose of direct oral anticoagulants. However, PL18-AUC10was not significantly related to bleeding events. Conclusions A lower AR4-AUC30level was associated with increasing risk of subsequent bleeding complications in patients with stable coronary artery disease who received multiple antithrombotic agents.

Type A acute aortic dissection (AAD) is a serious cardiovascular emergency requiring urgent surgery. Timely accurate diagnosis is essential, but often challenging, because of the wide spectrum of clinical presentations. In patients with type A AAD, chest pain is the most common symptom; furthermore, ischemic ST-T changes such as ST-segment elevation or depression or negative T waves are frequently observed on presentation ECG. These clinical presentations of type A AAD are difficult to differentiate from those of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), which could lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment of type A AAD or misdiagnosis of ACS followed by inappropriate treatment. Of note, ischemic ST-T changes have been shown to be associated with poor outcomes in patients with type A AAD. Because ECG is simple, inexpensive, noninvasive, readily available, and rapidly interpretable at the time of presentation, risk stratification based on ECG findings is considered very useful clinically. ECG findings of type A AAD thus have clinically important diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic implications; however, the relationships among these factors remain poorly understood. We review the prevalence of ECG abnormalities, clinical features associated with such changes, and the prognostic importance in patients with type A AAD.

BACKGROUND Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with poor outcome after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), but whether hemodynamic status at presentation influences this prognostic significance is unknown.Methods and Results:A total of 2,798 AMI patients admitted within 48 h after symptom onset and who underwent urgent coronary angiography were enrolled in the present study. AKI was defined as an increase in serum creatinine ≥0.3 mg/dL or ≥50% within 48 h during hospitalization. Patients were classified into 3 groups according to Killip class on admission: Killip 1, n=2,164; Killip 2-3, n=366; and Killip 4, n=268. AKI occurred more frequently with increasing Killip class (Killip 1, 2-3, and 4: 6.3%, 15.3%, and 31.3%, respectively; P

BACKGROUND Target lesion calcification is known to influence percutaneous coronary intervention. We evaluated the effects of rotational atherectomy (RA) and subsequent balloon angioplasty on calcified coronary lesions using optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS AND RESULTS Thirty-seven calcified lesions in 36 patients were treated with RA followed by balloon angioplasty and stent implantation. In all patients, serial OCT images obtained after RA, after balloon angioplasty, and after stent implantation were analyzed at 1-mm intervals. The arc and thickness of the calcium component were measured after RA. The formation of calcium cracks was assessed after balloon angioplasty. A total of 625 segments were analyzed. The formation of calcium crack after balloon angioplasty was associated with greater stent cross-sectional area (7.38±1.92 vs. 7.13±1.68 mm(2), P=0.035) as well as greater lumen gain (3.89±1.53 vs. 3.40±1.46 mm(2), P

The 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) is the important, initial examination for diagnosing acute coronary syndrome (ACS). In the traditional 12-lead ECG display, the precordial leads are displayed in their anatomically contiguous order, which makes it easy to understand the positional relationships between the precordial leads and the heart, but the limb leads are not. The "Cabrera sequence" displays the limb leads in an anatomically contiguous manner, which facilitates understanding of the positional relations between the limb leads and the heart, resulting in more rapid, easy, and accurate ECG interpretation than the traditional limb leads display. This review explores the clinical advantages of the Cabrera sequence as compared with the traditional limb leads display for the diagnosis of ACS. (Circ J 2016; 80: 1087-1096).

ST-segment elevation (STE) in leads V1-2 is often observed in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS), but its significance remains unknown.We retrospectively evaluated baseline ECGs and 5-year clinical outcomes in 211 consecutive patients with severe AS, defined as peak aortic jet velocity (Aortic Vmax)4.0 m/s, or mean aortic pressure gradient40 mmHg, or aortic valve area (AVA)1.0 cm(2). The primary outcome measure was a composite of death or surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR). Patients with STE in leads V1-2(≥0.15 mV) had greater Aortic Vmax and smaller AVA than patients without. With a median follow-up of 4.9 years, the cumulative 5-year incidence of death or AVR was significantly higher in patients with STE in leads V1-2 than in patients without (91.4% vs. 77.1%; P=0.003). After adjusting for confounders, STE in leads V1-2 was independently associated with higher risk for death or AVR (hazard ratio, 1.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-2.22; P=0.02). In 64 asymptomatic patients without any indication for AVR at initial diagnosis of severe AS, the cumulative incidence of AVR was significantly higher in patients with STE in leads V1-2 than in patients without (57.6% vs. 30.5%; P0.001).STE in leads V1-2 independently predicted poorer prognosis and more frequent need for AVR in patients with severe AS.

BACKGROUND The relationship between plasma glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and coronary plaque characteristics in humans remains unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 85 culprit coronary vessels excluding the 10-mm culprit segments in non-diabetic patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were examined using integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound, performed using a 40-MHz intravascular catheter before PCI. All patients underwent 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and the plasma GLP-1 response was evaluated on the basis of the area under the GLP-1 concentration-time curve (GLP-1 AUC) from 0 to 120 min. Patients in the low GLP-1 AUC tertile had a significantly greater percentage lipid area than did patients in the intermediate and high tertiles (low tertile vs. intermediate tertile vs. high tertile: 57.3 ± 12.1% vs. 47.2 ± 15.4% vs. 46.3 ± 12.7%, P

Background Glycemic variability (GV) is associated with coronary plaque rupture at the culprit lesion in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The present study determined the relationship between GV and coronary plaque vulnerability in the non-culprit vessel. Methods and results The present prospective study involved 46 patients with first-episode acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who underwent optical coherence tomography in the non-culprit vessel. The relationship between GV, assessed with continuous glucose monitoring system, and the presence of thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) at the non-culprit plaque with mild-to-moderate stenosis in the non-culprit vessel, was assessed. GV was quantified using mean amplitude of glycemic excursion (MAGE). Patients were divided into tertiles according to MAGE. TCFA was observed in 13 (28%) of the 46 patients. Fibrous cap thickness was thinner (MAGE tertiles: high, 80±40 µm; intermediate, 152±122 µm; low, 155±102 µm; P=0.01), and TCFA was more common (MAGE tertiles: high, 50%; intermediate, 27%; low, 7%; P=0.03) in patients with high MAGE. On multivariate logistic analysis high MAGE was the only significant determinant of TCFA, independent of coronary risk factors (OR, 5.000; P=0.021), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, and hemoglobin A1c(OR, 5.674; P=0.018). Conclusions High MAGE measured early after the onset of first-episode ACS correlated with thinner fibrous cap thickness and higher prevalence of TCFA at the non-culprit plaque in the non-culprit vessel.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common and sometimes lethal postoperative complication of arthroplasty. Endothelial dysfunction is important in the pathogenesis of thrombus formation. Reactive hyperemia-peripheral arterial tonometry (RH-PAT) can noninvasively evaluate endothelial function. This study investigated the predictive value of RH-PAT for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after lower limb arthroplasty. Methods and Results: A prospective observational study of 126 osteoarthritic patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA) or hip arthroplasty (THA) was conducted. The RH-PAT index (RHI) was measured on the day before surgery, and presence of DVT was checked by ultrasonography or phlebography before and after surgery. Following arthroplasty, DVT was diagnosed in 51 patients (40.5%). RHI in the DVT group (0.58±0.25) was significantly lower than in the non-DVT group (0.71±0.25, P=0.004). RHI was a significant and independent predictor of postoperative DVT in multivariate logistic regression analyses and improved a net reclassification index (23.8%, P=0.022). Subgroup analyses according to operation site with adjustment for Qthrombosis score demonstrated that RHI significantly predicted postoperative DVT in the THA group (odds ratio per 0.1, 0.77; 95% confidence interval 0.60–0.98; P=0.03), but did not reach statistical significance in the TKA group. Conclusions: Low RHI was significantly associated with DVT after lower limb arthroplasty. Endothelial dysfunction, as assessed by RH-PAT, is potentially useful for identifying patients at high risk for VTE especially after THA. (Circ J 2014; 78: 1723–1732)

Background: Acute pulmonary edema (APE) often occurs without remarkable fluid retention, and the benefits of diuretics are unclear in such patients. Although aggressive diuresis induces an increase in intravascular substances including hemoglobin (Hb), acute changes in Hb level remain to be investigated. Methods and Results: We analyzed 237 consecutive acute heart failure patients (74±12 years; 60.8% men) without shock, hemodialysis, bleeding, or urgent coronary angiography. APE was defined as acute onset of dyspnea within the preceding 6h and radiographic alveolar edema requiring immediate airway intervention. At admission, Hb level was higher in APE (n=29) than non-APE patients (n=208; 13.4±2.2 vs 12.2±2.1g/dl, P

Background: Postprandial hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia have been considered as important determinants for the development of atherosclerosis. However, it remains to be elucidated whether correction of the postprandial glycemic status prevents atherosclerotic changes. Methods and Results: The DIANA (DIAbetes and diffuse coronary NArrowing) study is a prospective randomized open-label multicenter trial. The 302 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), impaired glucose tolerance/diabetes mellitus (DM) pattern according to 75-g oral glucose tolerance test and HbA1c

Reperfusion therapy has become an established treatment for ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI), increasing the need for early diagnosis and early treatment. Despite the development of diagnostic strategies, the electrocardiogram (ECG) plays a central role in the diagnostic pathway for STEMI because it is inexpensive, readily available, and noninvasive. Moreover, in the acute phase of STEMI, the ECG can provide useful information about the extent of area at risk, the degree of myocardial damage, reperfusion injury, and myocardial reperfusion, all of which influence infarct size. This review explores the clinical importance of the ECG for patients with anterior wall STEMI in the current interventional era.

In patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), QRS score at presentation electrocardiogram (ECG) may reflect the evolutionary stage of the infarction and allow one to predict the degree of myocardial reperfusion potentially achievable by reperfusion therapy.The relationship between QRS score on admission ECG and myocardial blush grade, an angiographic marker of myocardial reperfusion, was examined in 416 patients with a first anterior AMI who received reperfusion therapy within 6h after symptom onset. Patients were classified into 3 groups according to QRS score: 0 or 1 (n=102), 2-4 (n=228), and ≥5 (n=86). Higher QRS scores were associated with a longer time to admission, a greater ST-segment elevation, a higher frequency of impaired initial and final culprit coronary vessel flow, a higher peak creatine kinase level, and a higher frequency of impaired myocardial reperfusion as defined by myocardial blush grade 0/1 on the final angiogram. Multivariate analysis showed that a high QRS score ≥5 was the strongest predictor of impaired myocardial reperfusion (odds ratio 20.3, P0.001). These findings were similar when the data were stratified according to time to admission (≤2h,2h).In patients with a first anterior AMI treated by reperfusion therapy, admission high QRS score ≥5 strongly predicts impaired myocardial reperfusion, even when presentation is early (≤2h).

Background: Monocytes and macrophages have been shown to play major roles in the progression of atherosclerosis. This study examined whether the circulating monocyte count can be used to predict coronary plaque progression of non-culprit intermediate lesions in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods and Results: Intravascular ultrasound findings of non-culprit intermediate plaque in 90 patients were analyzed in the acute phase and at a 7-month follow up. A higher peak monocyte count after AMI was associated with a greater plaque volume change (r=0.32, P=0.002). Multivariate analysis showed that a peak monocyte count of ≥800 /mm3 was an independent predictor of plaque progression (odds ratio 5.02, P=0.005). High monocyte (≥800 /mm3) at baseline had a higher monocyte count at 7-month follow up than did those with a lower count (368±109 vs 263±64 /mm3, P

Ruptured plaque and culprit lesions associated with anterior acute myocardial infarction cluster mainly in the proximal segment of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). This study investigated whether the tissue characteristics of plaque in the proximal LAD differs from that of plaque in the distal LAD as assessed by integrated backscatter (IB)-intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).IVUS interrogation was used to study 107 non-culprit intermediate plaques in 68 patients with angina pectoris who underwent percutaneous coronary interventions. Proximal and distal segments were defined as30 mm andor =30 mm from the ostium, respectively. IB-IVUS images were recorded, and the average percentage values of each plaque component (lipid, fibrosis, dense fibrosis, and calcification) were compared between segments. Plaques in the proximal segment (n=51) had a higher %lipid content (36 vs 19%, P0.01) and a lower %fibrosis content (57 vs 64%, P0.01) than did plaques in the distal segment (n=56). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that proximal plaques had a higher %lipid content, independently of other coronary risk factors and plaque burden (P0.01).The %lipid and %fibrosis contents differ significantly between plaques in the proximal segment and those in the distal segment of the LAD. (Circ J 2010; 74: 142 - 147).

Background Experimental studies suggest that statins promote vascular fibrinolysis, so statin treatment before the onset of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) may result in a smaller infarct size. Methods and Results The study group comprised 310 patients with AMI who received fibrinolysis within 12 h after symptom onset: 39 had received statin pretreatment (statin group) and 271 had not (non-statin group). Initial Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade did not differ between groups. Among 120 patients with initial TIMI flow grade 0/1, achievement of TIMI flow grade >2 after passing the guidewire through the culprit lesion was more frequent in the statin group (70% vs 35%, P=0.03). The final rate of TIMI flow grade 3 was higher in the statin group (95% vs 86%, P=0.11). Area under the curve (AUC) for creatine kinase (CK) was lower in the statin group (55,972±45,934 vs 84,195±84,276 IU · L-1 · h-1, P=0.04). Multivariate analysis revealed statin pretreatment as an independent negative predictor of larger infarct size as defined by the upper tertile of AUC for CK (odds ratio 0.25, 95% confidence interval 0.07-0.91, P=0.035). Conclusion Statin pretreatment may enhance fibrinolysis and reduce infarct size in patients with AMI. (Circ J 2009; 73: 330 - 335)

Background In non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS), the relation of the level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) to the progression of atherosclerosis remains unclear. Methods and Results The study group comprised 153 patients with NSTE-ACS who underwent percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) and follow-up (mean interval, 7 months) coronary angiography. Rapid progression was defined as ≥10% diameter reduction of a preexisting stenosis ≥50%, ≥30% diameter reduction of a stenosis

The impact of ST-segment elevation resolution in lead aVR on outcomes in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS) is unclear.Electrocardigrams (ECGs) were recorded on admission and 6 h later in 367 patients with NSTE-ACS. ST-segment deviationor=0.5 mm was considered significant: 92 patients had ST-segment elevation in lead aVR on admission ECG (ST upward arrowaVR), and 275 did not. Among patients with ST upward arrowaVR, 50 had ST resolution, defined as a reduction50% in the degree of ST-segment elevation in lead aVR from admission to 6 h later, and 42 did not. ST upward arrowaVR without ST resolution was associated with older age, greater ST-segment depression in other leads on admission and 6 h later, higher rates of positive troponin T, left main and/or 3-vessel coronary disease, and adverse events such as death, (re)infarction, or urgent revascularization within 30 days after admission. Multivariate analysis showed that ST upward arrowaVR without ST resolution was the strongest independent predictor of death or (re)infarction within 30 days after admission (hazard ratio 5.62, p=0.018).ST upward arrowaVR without ST resolution is a strong predictor of 30-day adverse outcomes and correlates with the extent and severity of coronary artery disease in patients with NSTE-ACS.

Background The effects of glucose abnormalities on outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remain unclear. We examined the association between glucose abnormalities and in-hospital outcome in patients undergoing PCI for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods and Results A total of 849 patients with AMI who were admitted within 12 h after symptom onset and underwent emergency PCI were classified according to the presence or absence of admission hyperglycemia, defined as a blood glucose level on admission of >11 mmol/L and whether they had a history of diabetes mellitus: group 1 (n=504), non-diabetic patients without admission hyperglycemia; group 2 (n=111), diabetic patients without admission hyperglycemia; group 3 (n=87), non-diabetic patients with admission hyperglycemia; and group 4 (n=147), diabetic patients with admission hyperglycemia. Among groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, in-hospital mortality was 2.6, 2.7, 11.5 and 8.8%, respectively (p

BACKGROUND The relationship of changes in blood glucose concentrations after admission to left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in patients with recanalized anterior acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS Blood glucose concentrations were measured on admission and 24 h after symptom onset in 210 patients with recanalized anterior AMI within 6 h of symptom onset. Of them, 142 had hyperglycemia on admission, defined as a blood glucose >or=8.9 mmol/L, and 68 patients did not. Among the patients with admission hyperglycemia, 49 had persistent hyperglycemia, defined as a blood glucose >or=8.9 mmol/L 24 h after onset, and 93 did not. The incidences of myocardial blush grade of 0/1 after recanalization indicating impaired myocardial perfusion (71%), and peak creatine kinase concentration (5,631+/-2,855 mU/ml) were higher and predischarge LV function (43+/-11%) was lower in patients with persistent hyperglycemia than in those without (p