CK-MB Elevation in Mild Hypothermia: What We Did and We Should Have Done

Therapeutic effect of captopril combined with phosphocreatine sodium on viral myocarditis

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the therapeutic effect of captopril combined with phosphocreatine sodium in patients with viral myocarditis.

METHODS

A total of 140 patients with infectious myocarditis who received treatment in Hanzhong City People's Hospital from December 2019 to January 2022 were retrospectively enrolled as study subjects. 61 of them were treated with captopril and constituted the control group (CG), and the remaining 79 who received phosphocreatine sodium in addition to captopril were the research group (RG). Variables were observed and compared between the two groups, including clinical efficacy, adverse reactions during treatment, and changes in myocardial enzymes, cardiac function, troponin, and inflammatory factors. According to therapeutic effect, those patients with marked results were categorized as the significant improvement group, and those whose results were just effective or ineffective were the insignificant improvement group. The risk factors affecting the efficacy of the patients were analyzed by logistic regression.

RESULTS

Compared to the CG, the RG had greater decreases in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), creatine kinase (CK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (all P < 0.05). The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular fractional shortening (FS), and left ventricular stroke volume (SV) in the RG increased significantly more after treatment (P < 0.05), while the levels of high-sensitivity troponin I (cTnI) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) decreased more significantly (P < 0.05) compared to the CG. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the RG were more down-regulated (P < 0.05), and they had a higher overall response rate after treatment (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between these two groups (P > 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that CK-MB, LVEF, cTnI, and cTnT were independent factors affecting the efficacy.

CONCLUSION

Captopril combined with phosphocreatine sodium can reduce the inflammatory response in patients with infectious myocarditis, improve cardiac function, and improve the therapeutic efficacy.

A case of fatal myxedema coma with electrocardiogram Osborne J-wave in a patient initially diagnosed with hypothyroidism

Myxedema coma is a life-threatening endocrine emergency with a high mortality rate resulting from severe insufficiency of thyroid hormones. Intravenous levothyroxine replacement is considered the standard therapy for myxedema coma in many countries. In Japan, however, although there are diagnostic criteria highly suggestive or diagnostic for myxedema coma, no management strategy has been established, despite the availability of levothyroxine. Here we report a 75-year-old man with a history of Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia who developed somnolence and generalized edema. Except for a pulse rate of 60 bpm, his vital signs and blood oxygen level were stable. Thyroid studies showed an elevated serum thyrotropin level of 219.2 μU/mL and a decreased serum free-thyroxine level of 0.15 ng/dL. On this basis he was diagnosed as having hypothyroidism rather than being highly suggestive for myxedema coma. Daily oral levothyroxine 25 μg was initiated and increased to 50 μg 3 days later. Seven days after being started on levothyroxine, the patient suddenly developed impaired consciousness, hypoxemia, hypotension, hypothermia, and hyponatremia. Electrocardiography revealed junctional bradycardia with Osborne J-wave. Myxedema coma was therefore diagnosed. He went into cardiac arrest in the emergency room but was resuscitated. Despite subsequent intravenous administration of hydrocortisone and levothyroxine, as well as intensive supportive care, he eventually died 12 hours after hospital admission. This case illustrates some of the challenges associated with the management of patients with signs highly suggestive/diagnostic of myxedema coma, including the optimal loading dosage and intervention timing of thyroid hormone replacement.