Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock: the prospective, randomized IABP SHOCK Trial for attenuation of multiorgan dysfunction syndrome. Crit Care Med. 2010;38:152-160. [PMID: 19770739 DOI: 10.1097/ccm.0b013e3181b78671]

Use and impact of intra-aortic balloon pump on mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock: results of the Euro Heart Survey on PCI

AIMS

The intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) is recommended by current guidelines as adjunct in patients with cardiogenic shock, despite the lack of larger clinical trials. We sought to investigate the use and impact on mortality of IABP in current practice of percutaneous coronary interventions in Europe.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Between May 2005 and April 2008 a total of 47,407 consecutive patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in 176 centres in 33 countries in Europe and the Mediterranean basin were enrolled into the registry. From these, 8,102 had ST-elevation myocardial infarction and 7,999 non-ST elevation myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock was observed in 7.9% and 2.1%, respectively. Of the 653 patients with cardiogenic shock 25% were treated with an IABP. In-hospital mortality, with and without IABP, was 56.9% and 36.1%. In the multivariate analysis the use of IABP was not associated with an improved survival (odds ratio 1.47; 95% CI 0.97-2.21, p=0.07).

CONCLUSIONS

In current clinical practice in Europe, IABP is used only in one quarter of patients with cardiogenic shock treated with primary PCI. However, there was no hint of a beneficial effect of IABP on outcome. Therefore, a large randomised clinical trial is urgently needed to define the role of IABP in patients with PCI for shock.

Postresuscitation care

Caring in the emergency department for the patient with return of spontaneous circulation after cardiac arrest is challenging. A coordinated and systematic approach to post-cardiac arrest care can improve the mortality and the chance of meaningful neurologic recovery. By achieving appropriate targets for oxygenation, ventilation, and hemodynamic parameters, along with initiating therapeutic hypothermia and arranging early percutaneous coronary intervention, the emergency physician can have the most significant impact on patients who have just been revived from death.

Intra-aortic balloon pump counterpulsation (IABP) for myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock

BACKGROUND

Intra-aortic balloon pump counterpulsation (IABP) is currently the most commonly used mechanical assist device for patients with cardiogenic shock due to acute myocardial infarction.Although there is only limited evidence by randomised controlled trials, the current guidelines of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology and the European Society of Cardiology strongly recommend the use of the intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation in patients with infarction-related cardiogenic shock on the basis of pathophysiological considerations as also non-randomised trials and registry data.   

OBJECTIVES

To determine the effect of IABP versus non-IABP or other assist devices guideline compliant standard therapy, in terms of efficacy and safety, on mortality and morbidity in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock.

SEARCH STRATEGY

Searches of CENTRAL, MEDLINE and EMBASE, LILACS, IndMed and KoreaMed, registers of ongoing trials and proceedings of conferences were conducted in January 2010, unrestricted by date. Reference lists were scanned and experts in the field contacted to obtain further information. No language restrictions were applied.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials on patients with myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Data collection and analysis were performed according to a published protocol. Individual patient data were provided for five trials and merged with aggregate data. Summary statistics for the primary endpoints were hazard ratios (HR's) and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

MAIN RESULTS

Six eligible and two ongoing studies were identified from a total of 1410 references. Three compared IABP to standard treatment and three to percutaneous left assist devices (LVAD). Data from a total of 190 patients with acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock were included in the meta-analysis: 105 patients were treated with IABP and 85 patients served as controls. 40 patients were treated without assisting devices and 45 patients with LVAD. HR's for all-cause 30-day mortality of 1.04 (95% CI 0.62 to 1.73) provides no evidence for a survival benefit. While differences in survival were comparable in patients treated with IABP, with and without LVAD, haemodynamics and incidences of device related complications show heterogeneous results.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Available evidence suggests that IABP may have a beneficial effect on the haemodynamics, however there is no convincing randomised data to support the use of IABP in infarct related cardiogenic shock.

[Therapeutic strategies in acute decompensated heart failure and cardiogenic shock]

As the population of elderly people is increasing, the number of patients requiring hospitalization for acute exacerbations is rising. Traditionally, these episodes of hemodynamic instability were viewed as a transient event characterized by systolic dysfunction, low cardiac output, and fluid overload. Diuretics, along with vasodilator and inotropic therapy, eventually became elements of standard care. In a multicenter observational registry (ADHERE--Acute Decompensated Heart Failure National Registry) of more than 275 hospitals, patients with acute decompensated heart failure were analyzed for their characteristics and treatments options. These data have shown that this population consists of multiple types of heart failure, various forms of acute decompensation, combinations of comorbidities, and varying degrees of disease severity. The challenges in the treatment require multidisciplinary approaches since patients typically are elderly and have complex combinations of comorbidities. So far only a limited number of drugs is currently available to treat the different groups. Over the past years it was shown that even "standard drugs" might be deleterious by induction of myocardial injury, worsening of renal function or increasing mortality upon treatment. Therefore, based on pathophysiology, different types of acute decompensated heart failure require specialized treatment strategies.

Intracoronary pyruvate in cardiogenic shock as an adjunctive therapy to catecholamines and intra-aortic balloon pump shows beneficial effects on hemodynamics

Aims

Pyruvate was shown to increase cardiac performance in isolated human and animal myocardium and in patients with chronic heart failure. We sought to investigate the effects of pyruvate in acute heart failure.

Methods and results

Patients presenting with cardiogenic shock because of acute myocardial infarction were subjected to standard care with primary PCI and intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP). Then, a Swan–Ganz catheter was placed in the pulmonary artery and hemodynamics was analyzed before, during and after intracoronary administration of 300 mmol/L pyruvate (360 ml/h). Pyruvate induced a significant increase in cardiac index (CI 2.23 ± 0.53 vs. 1.95 ± 0.45 L min⁻¹ m⁻²; p < 0.05), stroke volume index (SVI, 29 ± 6 vs. 26 ± 5 mL m⁻²; p < 0.05), and mean systemic arterial pressure (mean SAP, 95 ± 9 vs. 87 ± 9 mmHg; p < 0.05), whereas heart rate did not significantly change. The effects occurred rapidly within 30 min and were reversible within 10 min.

Conclusion

Intracoronary pyruvate might show beneficial effects in severe acute heart failure in addition to treatment with catecholamines and IABP. These effects should be further investigated in randomized controlled trials.

Clinical review: mechanical circulatory support for cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction

Acute myocardial infarction is one of the 10 leading reasons for admission to adult critical care units. In-hospital mortality for this condition has remained static in recent years, and this is related primarily to the development of cardiogenic shock. Recent advances in reperfusion therapies have had little impact on the mortality of cardiogenic shock. This may be attributable to the underutilization of life support technology that may assist or completely supplant the patient's own cardiac output until adequate myocardial recovery is established or long-term therapy can be initiated. Clinicians working in the intensive care environment are increasingly likely to be exposed to these technologies. The purpose of this review is to outline the various techniques of mechanical circulatory support and discuss the latest evidence for their use in cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction.

Withdrawing intra-aortic balloon pump support paradoxically improves microvascular flow

INTRODUCTION

The Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump (IABP) is frequently used to mechanically support the heart. There is evidence that IABP improves microvascular flow during cardiogenic shock but its influence on the human microcirculation in patients deemed ready for discontinuing IABP support has not yet been studied. Therefore we used sidestream dark field imaging (SDF) to test our hypothesis that human microcirculation remains unaltered with or without IABP support in patients clinically ready for discontinuation of mechanical support.

METHODS

We studied 15 ICU patients on IABP therapy. Measurements were performed after the clinical decision was made to remove the balloon catheter. We recorded global hemodynamic parameters and performed venous oximetry during maximal IABP support (1:1) and 10 minutes after temporarily stopping the IABP therapy. At both time points, we also recorded video clips of the sublingual microcirculation. From these we determined indices of microvascular perfusion including perfused vessel density (PVD) and microvascular flow index (MFI).

RESULTS

Ceasing IABP support lowered mean arterial pressure (74 ± 8 to 71 ± 10 mmHg; P = 0.048) and increased diastolic pressure (43 ± 10 to 53 ± 9 mmHg; P = 0.0002). However, at the level of the microcirculation we found an increase of PVD of small vessels <20 μm (5.47 ± 1.76 to 6.63 ± 1.90; P = 0.0039). PVD for vessels >20 μm and MFI for both small and large vessels were unaltered. During the procedure global oxygenation parameters (ScvO2/SvO2) remained unchanged.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients deemed ready for discontinuing IABP support according to current practice, SDF imaging showed an increase of microcirculatory flow of small vessels after ceasing IABP therapy. This observation may indicate that IABP impairs microvascular perfusion in recovered patients, although this warrants confirmation.

Shock in acute myocardial infarction: the Cape Horn for trials?

Despite therapeutic improvements, cardiogenic shock (CS) remains the most common cause of death in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In addition to percutaneous coronary intervention, inotropes, fluids, adjunctive medication, intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation, and also assist devices are widely used for treatment. However, currently, there is only limited evidence for any of the above treatments. This review will therefore outline the underlying causes, pathophysiology, and treatment of CS complicating AMI with major focus on interventional techniques and advancement of new therapeutical arsenals, both pharmacological and mechanical.

Cellular responses to mild heat stress

Since its discovery in 1962 by Ritossa, the heat shock response has been extensively studied by a number of investigators to understand the molecular mechanism underlying the cellular response to heat stress. The most well characterized heat shock response is induction of the heat shock proteins that function as molecular chaperones and exert cell cycle regulatory and anti-apoptotic activities. While most investigators have focused their studies on the toxic effects of heat stress in organisms such as severe heat stress-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, the cellular response to fever-ranged mild heat stress has been rather underestimated. However, the cellular response to mild heat stress is likely to be more important in a physiological sense than that to severe heat stress because the body temperature of homeothermic animals increases by only 1-2 degrees C during febrile diseases. Here we provide information that mild heat stress does have some beneficial role in organisms via positively regulating cell proliferation and differentiation, and immune response in mammalian cells.

The trefoil protein TFF1 is bound to MUC5AC in human gastric mucosa

The trefoil protein TFF1 is expressed principally in the superficial cells of the gastric mucosa. It is a small protein and forms homo- and hetero-dimers via a disulphide bond through Cys58 which is located three amino acids from the C terminus. TFF1 is co-expressed with the secreted mucin MUC5AC in superficial cells of the gastric mucosa suggesting that it could be involved in the packaging or function of gastric mucus. We have previously shown that TFF1 co-sediments with mucin glycoproteins on caesium chloride gradients. To extend this observation we have now used gel filtration under physiological conditions, immunoprecipitation and Western transfer analysis to characterise the interaction of TFF1 with gastric mucin glycoproteins. We show that TFF1 co-elutes with MUC5AC but not MUC6 on gel filtration and that immunoprecipitation and Western transfer analysis confirms that TFF1 interacts with MUC5AC. We also demonstrate that the TFF1 dimer is the predominant molecular form bound to MUC5AC. Salt and chelators of divalent cations such as EDTA and EGTA disrupted the TFF1- MUC5AC interaction and increased the degradation of MUC5AC, whereas calcium increased the amount of TFF1 bound to MUC5AC. These data support the contention that TFF1 is pivotal in the packaging and function of human gastric mucosa.

New approaches to therapy of cancers of the stomach, colon and pancreas based on peptide analogs

Cancers of the stomach, colon and exocrine pancreas are major international health problems and result in more than a million deaths worldwide each year. The therapies for these malignancies must be improved. The effects of gastrointestinal (GI) hormonal peptides and endogenous growth factors on these cancers were reviewed. Some GI peptides, including gastrin and gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) (mammalian bombesin), appear to be involved in the growth of neoplasms of the GI tract. Certain growth factors such as insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, IGF-II and epidermal growth factor and their receptors that regulate cell proliferation are also implicated in the development and progression of GI cancers. Experimental investigations on gastric, colorectal and pancreatic cancers with analogs of somatostatin, antagonists of bombesin/GRP, antagonists of growth hormone-releasing hormone as well as cytotoxic peptides that can be targeted to peptide receptors on tumors were summarized. Clinical trials on peptide analogs in patients with gastric, colorectal and pancreatic cancers were reviewed and analyzed. It may be possible to develop new approaches to hormonal therapy of GI malignancies based on various peptide analogs.