Impact of high-sensitivity troponine T on the orientation of patients suspected of non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) in the prehospital setting

ObjectiveTo review, inventory and compare available diagnostic tools and investigate which tool has the best performance for prehospital risk assessment in patients suspected of non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS).MethodsSystematic...

Considerations in selecting antithrombotic and antiplatelet therapy for patients with non-ST-segment elevation (NSTE) acute coronary syndrome (ACS), including patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), are discussed, and case studies are used to illustrate. Patients with NSTE ACS for whom a conservative treatment strategy is selected should receive enoxaparin, fondaparinux, or unfractionated heparin (UFH) as anticoagulant therapy. In high-risk patients with NSTE ACS for whom an early invasive strategy is planned, enoxaparin and UFH are the agents with the highest level of evidence (evidence level A). Fondaparinux and bivalirudin can also be used, but they have a lower level of evidence (evidence level B). Since fondaparinux use in patients undergoing PCI has been associated with an increased risk for catheter-related thrombosis, the use of fondaparinux in PCI patients should be limited. The use of bivalirudin alone is as effective and has been associated with less bleeding than the use of UFH or enoxaparin plus a glycoprotein (GP) IIb/ IIIa inhibitor in patients with NSTE ACS who undergo PCI. No benefit has been shown from adding bivalirudin to a GP IIb/ IIIa inhibitor. The role of GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors in patients with NSTE ACS and elevated troponin levels who are undergoing PCI has been well established, even for patients receiving high-dose clopidogrel. Anti-platelet therapy with clopidogrel has been shown to reduce both acute and chronic events in patients with NSTE ACS, including patients undergoing PCI. A conventional 300-mg clopidogrel loading dose needs to be administered at least six hours before PCI to achieve an adequate antiplatelet effect. A 600-mg loading dose appears to shorten the time to achieve an adequate antiplatelet effect to about two hours. The choice of anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents, dose, and timing of administration can affect outcomes in patients with NSTE ACS.

Background Lipid-rich plaques detected with intravascular imaging are associated with adverse cardiovascular events in patients with non-ST-segment elevation (NSTE) acute coronary syndrome (ACS). But evidence about the prognostic implication of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) in NSTE ACS is limited. Purpose To assess whether quantitative variables at CCTA that reflect lipid content in nonrevascularized plaques in individuals with NSTE ACS might be predictors of subsequent nonrevascularized plaque-related major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). Materials and Methods In this multicenter prospective cohort study, from November 2017 to January 2019, individuals diagnosed with NSTE ACS (excluding those at very high risk) were enrolled and underwent CCTA before invasive coronary angiography (ICA) within 1 day. Lipid core was defined as areas with attenuation less than 30 HU in plaques. MACEs were defined as cardiac death, myocardial infarction, hospitalization for unstable angina, and revascularization. Participants were followed up at 6 months, 12 months, and annually thereafter for at least 3 years (ending by July 2022). Multivariable analysis using Cox proportional hazards regression models was performed to determine the association between lipid core burden, lipid core volume, and future nonrevascularized plaque-related MACEs at both the participant and plaque levels. Results A total of 342 participants (mean age, 57.9 years ± 11.1 [SD]; 263 male) were included for analysis with a median follow-up period of 4.0 years (IQR, 3.6-4.4 years). The 4-year nonrevascularized plaque-related MACE rate was 23.9% (95% CI: 19.1, 28.5). Lipid core burden (hazard ratio [HR], 12.6; 95% CI: 4.6, 34.3) was an independent predictor at the participant level, with an optimum threshold of 2.8%. Lipid core burden (HR, 12.1; 95% CI: 6.6, 22.3) and volume (HR, 11.0; 95% CI: 6.5, 18.4) were independent predictors at the plaque level, with an optimum threshold of 7.2% and 10.1 mm3, respectively. Conclusion In NSTE ACS, quantitative analysis of plaque lipid content at CCTA independently predicted participants and plaques at higher risk for future nonrevascularized plaque-related MACEs. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry no. ChiCTR1800018661 © RSNA, 2023 Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Tavakoli and Duman in this issue.

Platelets play an important role in both initiation and propagation of acute coronary syndromes. We sought to evaluate the predictive value of mean platelet volume (MPV) in young patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS). This is a retrospective observational study; evaluating the MPV values of 79 NSTE-ACS patients aged under 45 years and 45 control subjects having normal coronary anatomy. NSTE-ACS group was composed of 41 non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and 38 unstable angina pectoris (USAP) patients. MPV was measured using an automated hematologic analyzer called Coulter counter. The predictive value of MPV was evaluated using logistic regression analysis and comparison of MPV between NSTE-ACS and control groups was performed by Mann-Whitney U test. The MPV was found to be significantly higher in the NSTE-ACS compared with control group (8.49±1.22 versus 7.78±0.65 fL, p=0.001). In logistic regression analysis, MPV was found to be an independent predictor of NSTE-ACS (OR=3.1, 95% CI 1.2-8.2, p=0.022). The MPV values of NSTEMI group were not significantly different from USAP group (8.78±1.38 versus 8.17±0.95 fL, p=0.66). Similarly, the MPV values of the 3 groups (Control, USAP and NSTEMI) were found to be significantly different (7.78±0.65, 8.18±0.95, 8.78±1.38 fL respectively, p=0.001). In conclusion, MPV was found to be elevated in NSTE-ACS patients compared with control subjects in young population. In addition, increased MPV was established to be an independent predictor of NSTE-ACS.

### Learning objectives Upon completion of this module, the reader will be able to: Non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS) comprise unstable angina and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Among...

Background : The National Cholesterol Education Program Third Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP ATP III) recently added an optional secondary prevention low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol goal (<70 mg/dL) for high-risk patients, such as those with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). The effect of the optional goal on the need for treatment in patients (pts) presenting with non-ST-segment elevation (NSTE) ACS is unclear. Methods : We evaluated pts with NSTE ACS (positive cardiac markers and/or ischemic ECG changes) included in the CRUSADE initiative between January 2001 and July 2004 with a LDL cholesterol drawn before or during hospitalization. This population was stratified by prehospitalization use of lipid-lowering therapy and divided into LDL cholesterol categories of <70, ≥70 to <100, ≥100 to 130, and ≥130 mg/dL. Results : Of 129,054 total pts in CRUSADE, 71,814 (55.7%) had a LDL cholesterol available (Figure ). Of those with an LDL cholesterol, 23,728 (33.0%) received lipid-lowering therapy prior to hospitalization, including 22,046 (30.7%) on statin therapy. Of the 71,814 pts, 34,258 (47.8%) were at the NCEP-ATP III recommended treatment goal of <100 mg/dL, and 12,463 (17.4%) were at the optional aggressive treatment goal of <70 mg/dL on presentation with NSTE ACS. Conclusions : The majority of pts presenting with NSTE ACS are not on lipid-lowering therapy prior to admission, most are not at the NCEP ATP III recommended LDL goal, and a minority are at the optional LDL goal for high-risk patients.

IntroductionBecause of the lack of prehospital protocols to rule out a non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS), patients with chest pain are often transferred to the emergency department (ED) for...

Clinical Correlates and Prognostic Value of Flow Mediated Dilation in Patients With Non-ST Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes

IntroductionA preliminary assessment of patients who suffer from severe and complex coronary artery lesions, such as three-vessel disease and/or a left main (LM) artery lesion, plays a critical contribution in determining prognosis and treatment plans for non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). Therefore, a pre-angiography (i.e., before angiography) predictor was required to cost-effectively evaluate severe and complex coronary lesions to efficiently direct our subsequent dealing.AimThis study aimed to compare two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) global longitudinal strain (GLS) at the regional level to assess extremely complicated coronary lesions using the SYNTAX score as a standard of reference in 100 patients with NSTE-ACS.Materials and methodsThis research included 100 patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome who presented at the Cardiology Department at Fayoum University from December 2019 to July 2020. All patients underwent a complete history and physical examination, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), lipid profile, creatinine assessment, 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) to detect global and regional longitudinal strain by 2D and 3D speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE). Coronary angiography was done on all patients within 24 hours of admission after acquiring echo images. Then, the results of 2D and 3D regional and global longitudinal strain (GLS) to predict the severity and coronary lesion complexity in terms of the SYNTAX score were compared.ResultsThis study revealed that 2D GLS was −12.10 ± 3.51, which is significantly higher than 3D GLS of −11.64 ± 4.05 (p < 0. 001). The left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) and left circumflex artery (LCX) territories revealed a significantly higher value using 2D regional longitudinal strain (−11.13 ± 4.47 and −12.54 ± 4.11, respectively) than using 3D regional longitudinal strain (−10.84 ± 5.18 and −12.05 ± 4.29, respectively) (p= 0.017 and p < 0.001, respectively). There were significantly lower 2D GLS, 3D GLS, global circumferential strain (GCS), area strain, and global radial strain (GRS) in the intermediate and high score group than in the low score group of patients (p < 0.001 for all).Conclusion2D and 3D strain echocardiography including GLS, GCS, GRS, and area strain are a noninvasive and rapid tool with clinical utility for evaluating coronary lesions in patients with NSTE-ACS. They can be routinely used to diagnose and stratify high-risk patients with NSTE-ACS, thereby potentially resulting in improved patient assessment. GLS as measured by 2D and 3D STE at minimal effort is a significant risk factor for patients with complex NSTE-ACS. In NSTE-ACS cases, the GLS absolute value is significantly associated with the degree of complexity of coronary artery lesions.

Despite advances in cardiovascular medicine, acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is still a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Synergy between percutaneous coronary intervention with TAXUS™ and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score is used to determine the extent and complexity of coronary artery disease (CAD). Renal resistive index (RRI), a renal Doppler ultrasound parameter, is used to detect renal haemodynamics. Although some risk factors for CAD, including hypertension and diabetes mellitus, were demonstrated to have an association with RRI; a direct relationship between the presence, extent, and complexity of CAD and RRI has not been investigated yet. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between RRI and SYNTAX score in patients with ACS. This cross-sectional study enrolled 235 patients who were diagnosed with ACS and underwent coronary angiography at our tertiary clinic between February 2016 and August 2016. Regarding clinical presentation, 112 patients were diagnosed with non-ST-segment elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS) and 123 patients were diagnosed with ST-segment elevation ACS (STE-ACS). The patients' demographic, clinical, laboratory, echocardiographic data, SYNTAX scores and measurements of renal Doppler ultrasound parameters, including RRI, renal pulsatility index (RPI) and acceleration time (AT) were recorded. Among 235 patients, 112 (47.7%) were diagnosed with NSTE-ACS and 123 (52.3%) were diagnosed with STE-ACS. Mean SYNTAX score and RRI of patients with NSTE-ACS and STE-ACS were 15.4 and 0.69, 21.1 and 0.67, respectively. The SYNTAX score was associated with gender, height, plasma uric acid level, left atrial diameter, left ventricular (LV) end-systolic and end-diastolic diameter, RPI, and RRI in patients with NSTE-ACS, as well as with low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, total cholesterol, ejection fraction, and LV end-systolic diameter in patients with STE-ACS (p < 0.05 for each variable). RRI was significantly associated with age, haemoglobin level, left atrial diameter, SYNTAX score, AT, and RPI in patients with NSTE-ACS, as well as with weight, body mass index, interventricular septum thickness at diastole, LV posterior wall thickness at diastole, LV ejection fraction, and RRI in patients with STE-ACS. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that LV end-systolic diameter (β = 0.385, 95% CI 1.065-2.029, p = 0.019), RRI (β = 32.230, 95% CI 5343.15-2.E+24, p = 0.008), and RPI (β = -7.439, 95% CI 0.000-0.231, p = 0.015) were independent predictors of moderate to high SYNTAX score in patients with NSTE-ACS. Non-invasively detected RRI is closely associated with the extent and complexity of CAD in patients with NSTE-ACS. However, there is a need for randomised, controlled studies involving wider populations.

BackgroundThrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 0 flow often characterizes ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) patients, but may also feature in non-ST-segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome (NSTE-ACS). Since recanalization usually occurs later in NSTE-ACS patients, the aim of this study was to assess whether patients presenting with NSTE-ACS and TIMI 0 flow have worse clinical outcomes as compared to patients presenting with STEMI and TIMI 0 flow.MethodsA single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted with patients treated for NSTE-ACS and STEMI with TIMI 0 flow at diagnostic angiogram between January 2015 and December 2019. The two patient groups were 1:1 matched using a propensity score logistic regression model. The primary outcome was Major Adverse Cardiac Events (MACE), a composite of all-cause mortality, any myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft, urgent target vessel revascularization or stroke during long term follow-up.ResultsThe total population consisted of 1255 ACS patients, of which 249 NSTE-ACS and 1006 STEMI patients. After propensity score matching, 234 NSTE-ACS patients were matched with 234 STEMI patients. In this matched population, the mean age was 62.6 (±12.4) years and 75.2 % of the patients was male. The median follow-up time was 3.2 years. MACE rates during follow-up were similar between the two matched groups (HR = 0.84 [95 % CI 0.60 – 1.12] with p = 0.33) with cumulative event-free survival of 63.3 % in the NSTE-ACS group vs 59.3 % in the STEMI group at 6 year follow-up.ConclusionIn this retrospective study, a culprit lesion with TIMI 0 flow has similar clinical outcome in NSTE-ACS and STEMI patients. Further research is warranted to determine optimal the timing of PCI in NSTE-ACS patients with TIMI 0 flow.

ObjectivesTo determine whether coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) can improve the diagnostic work-up of patients with acute chest pain and inconclusively high-sensitivity troponins (hs-troponin).MethodsWe conducted a prospective, blinded, observational, multicentre study. Patients aged 30–80 years presenting to the emergency department with acute chest pain and inconclusively elevated hs-troponins were included and underwent CCTA. The primary outcome was the diagnostic accuracy of ≥ 50% stenosis on CCTA to identify patients with type-1 non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS).ResultsA total of 106 patients (mean age 65 ± 10, 29% women) were enrolled of whom 20 patients (19%) had an adjudicated diagnosis of type-1 NSTE-ACS. In 45 patients, CCTA revealed non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) or no CAD. Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), positive predictive value and area-under-the-curve (AUC) of ≥ 50% stenosis on CCTA to identify patients with type 1 NSTE-ACS, was 95% (95% confidence interval: 74–100), 56% (45–68), 98% (87–100), 35% (29–41) and 0.83 (0.73–0.94), respectively. When only coronary segments with a diameter ≥ 2 mm were considered for the adjudication of type 1 NSTE-ACS, the sensitivity and NPV increased to 100%. In 8 patients, CCTA enabled the detection of clinically relevant non-coronary findings.ConclusionThe absence of ≥ 50% coronary artery stenosis on CCTA can be used to rule out type 1 NSTE-ACS in acute chest pain patients with inconclusively elevated hs-troponins. Additionally, CCTA can help improve the diagnostic work-up by detecting other relevant conditions that cause acute chest pain and inconclusively elevated hs-troponins.Clinical relevance statementCoronary CTA (CCTA) can safely rule out type 1 non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) in patients presenting to the ED with acute chest pain and inconclusively elevated hs-troponins, while also detecting other relevant non-coronary conditions.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov (NCT03129659). Registered on 26 April 2017Key PointsAcute chest discomfort is a common presenting complaint in the emergency department.CCTA achieved very high negative predictive values for type 1 NSTE-ACS in this population.CCTA can serve as an adjunct for evaluating equivocal ACS and evaluates for other pathology.Graphical

Acute medical management of the non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS) in older patients

We examined the impact of non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) on clinical outcomes in patients with bifurcation lesions treated with drug-eluting stents. We hypothesized that NSTE-ACS would be attributable to the increased risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in bifurcation percutaneous coronary intervention. We enrolled 1668 patients, using data from a multicenter real-world bifurcation registry. The primary objective was to compare the 2-year cumulative risk of MACE in patients with NSTE-ACS to those with stable angina. Major adverse cardiac events were defined as the composite endpoint of cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), and target-lesion revascularization. Non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome was seen in 969 (58.1%) patients and stable angina in 699. Major adverse cardiac events occurred in 7.3% of NSTE-ACS patients and in 5.2% with stable angina (P = 0.042). However, cardiac death, MI, and target-lesion revascularization were similar between the 2 groups. We stratified patients with NSTE-ACS into those with non-ST-segment elevation MI and those with unstable angina. Cumulative risks of 2-year MACEs were 7.0% in non-ST-segment elevation MI patients and 7.5% in unstable angina patients (P = 0.87). In the NSTE-ACS cohort, the baseline lesion length in the side branch (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.07, P = 0.022), paclitaxel-eluting stents in the main vessel (adjusted HR: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.21-3.40, P = 0.008), and final kissing ballooning (adjusted HR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.10-3.21, P = 0.021) were independent predictors of MACE. Compared with stable angina patients, the NSTE-ACS patients who underwent bifurcation percutaneous coronary intervention had an increased risk of MACE during the 2-year follow-up.

Acute coronary syndromes, characterized by the rupture of unstable plaque and the subsequent thrombotic process involving platelets, have been increasing in relative frequency. The central role of platelet activation has long been noticed in this pathophysiology; hence, many therapies have been directed against it. In this study, we have aimed to search prospectively the value of mean platelet volume (MPV), which is a simple and accurate measure of the functional status of platelets, in patients hospitalized with diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). A total of 216 consecutive patients (156 male, 60 female) hospitalized with the diagnosis of non-ST segment elevation (NSTE) ACS within the first 24 h of their chest pain were enrolled. One hundred and twenty patients, matched according to sex and age, with stable coronary heart disease (CHD) (85 male, 35 female) were enrolled as a control group. Patients were classified into two group: those with unstable angina (USAP, n = 105) and those with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI, n = 111). MPVs were 10.4 +/- 0.6 fL, 10 +/- 0.7 fL, 8.9 +/- 0.7 fL consecutively for NSTEMI, USAP and stable CHD with significant differences. Patients with ischemic attacks in the first day of hospitalization accompanied by >0.05 mV ST segment shift had significantly higher MPV compared to those without such attacks (P = 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis yielded that MPV (P = 0.016), platelet count (P < 0.001), and the presence of >0.05 mV ST segment depression at admission (P = 0.002) were independent predictors of development of NSTEMI in patients presenting with NSTE ACS. In patients presenting with NSTE ACS, higher MPV, though there are overlaps among subgroups, indicates not only more risk of having NSTEMI but also ischemic complications.