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We aimed to examine in-hospital and long-term outcomes of red blood cell (RBC) transfusions in patients undergoing a primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

The aim of our study was to determine the impact of direct stenting (DS) on procedural success and the in-hospital outcome among patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with a primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW), a marker of variation in the size of the circulating red blood cells, was evaluated in patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and unstable angina pectoris (UAP).

ObjectivesWe aimed to observe the relationship of the metabolic syndrome and proarrythmogenic ECG parameters and to evaluate a possible correlation of these parameters to the metabolic syndrome score in patients without overt diabetes mellitus.MethodsThe study population consisted of 142 patients with the metabolic syndrome and 170 age-and gender-matched control subjects. In the ECG recordings, resting heart rate, QRS duration, corrected QT duration and corrected QT dispersion were measured. Patients were classifi ed into three groups based on number of fulfi lled metabolic syndrome criteria: group 1 (three metabolic syndrome criteria), group 2 (four metabolic syndrome criteria) and group 3 (fi ve metabolic syndrome criteria).ResultsPatients with the metabolic syndrome had a higher increased resting heart rate, QTcd, prolonged QRS and QTc duration. Resting heart rate increases signifi cantly parallel to the increase in the metabolic syndrome score across the groups, whilst QRS duration remained unchanged. QTc duration and QTc dispersion were signifi cantly higher in groups 2 and 3 when compared to group 1. However, no signifi cant diff erences were observed between groups 2 and 3.ConclusionWe demonstrated that the metabolic syndrome and its score related with increased resting heart rate and prolonged repolarization durations in patiens without overt diabetes mellitus. These pro arrhythmogenic parameters could be used in the development of risk stratifi cation schemes for sudden cardiac death in patients with the metabolic syndrome.

The aim of the present study is to investigate incidence, predictors, and long-term outcomes of suboptimal coronary flow after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in a large population.

Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a measure of the heterogeneity of cell size in the peripheral blood and has been shown to be an independent correlate of adverse outcomes in healthy participants and in some cardiac conditions. We examined the association between RDW and the complexity of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Objective— We sought to determine the in-hospital incidence and predictors of ischaemic stroke in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Methods— We reviewed 2638 consecutive patients undergoing 2722 pimary PCI procedures for STEMI during in-hospital stay. Stroke was defined as any new focal neurological deficit lasting > 24 h, occurring anytime during or after PCI until discharge. Patients with haemorrhagic stroke were excluded. Clinical characteristics and in-hospital outcome were analysed regarding ischaemic stroke in patients undergoing primary PCI.Results— Ischaemic stroke was observed in 20 of the 2722 procedures, an incidence of 0.73%. Patients with ischaemic stroke were older than patients without stroke (mean age 67 ± 9.6 vs. 56.6 ± 11.8, P > 0.001). Compared to patients without stroke, female gender, diabetes and hypertension were more prevalent in patients with stroke. Ischaemic stroke was found to be a powerful independent predictor of in-hospital cardiovascular mortality (odds ratio [OR] 6.32, 1.15-34.7; P < 0.001). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 35% (OR 3.13, P = 0.04), contrast-induced nephropathy (OR 2.91, P = 0.04) and tirofiban use (OR 0.23, P = 0.02) were the independent predictors for in-hospital ischaemic stroke.Conclusions— The present study shows that the incidence of ischaemic stroke in patients undergoing PCI for STEMI is higher and ischaemic stroke increases in-hospital mortality in these patients. Moreover, LVEF < 35% and contrast-induced nephropathy were independent predictors of ischaemic stroke, whereas tirofiban use demonstrated a protective effect to this potentially catastrophic complication.