A Case of Mitral Valve Infective Endocarditis and Atrial Fibrillation Complicated by Hemorrhagic Stroke: A Challenging Clinical Scenario and Approach to Management

This case report presents a rare and intricate clinical scenario involving a 58-year-old male with a history of hypertension, intravenous drug use (IVDU), and cocaine abuse. The patient presented with profound hypotension and symptoms suggestive of impending shock. Septic workup revealed Staphylococcus aureus in all four blood culture bottles, confirming a diagnosis of infective endocarditis (IE). Transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated a large vegetation measuring 1.9x1.7 cm on the mitral valve. Additionally, the patient exhibited non-ST segment elevated myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) type II in the setting of cocaine use, atrial fibrillation, and therapeutic anticoagulation. Subsequent imaging studies raised concerns regarding hemorrhagic stroke. A multidisciplinary team comprising cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, infectious disease, and neurology collaborated to develop an optimal management strategy. Considering the high-risk features of the IE and the need to address the hemorrhagic stroke, anticoagulation was temporarily halted, and the patient was transferred for urgent mitral valve replacement surgery. This case highlights the complex interplay between substance abuse, cardiovascular complications, IE, and neurological events, underscoring the challenges encountered in managing such patients.

Invasive Approaches in the Management of Cocaine-Associated Non-ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of invasive approaches and revascularization in patients with cocaine-associated non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI).

BACKGROUND

The role of invasive approaches in cocaine-associated NSTEMI is uncertain.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study identified 3,735 patients with NSTEMI and history of cocaine use from the Nationwide Readmissions Database from 2016 to 2017. Invasive approaches were defined as coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Revascularization was defined as PCI and CABG. The primary efficacy outcome was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), and the primary safety outcome was emergent revascularization. Nonadherence was identified using appropriate International Classification of Diseases-Tenth Revision codes. Two propensity-matched cohorts were generated (noninvasive vs. invasive and noninvasive vs. revascularization) through multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

In the propensity score-matched cohorts, an invasive approach (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.56 to 0.92; p = 0.008) and revascularization (HR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.40 to 0.73; p < 0.001) (compared with a noninvasive approach) were associated with a lower rate of MACE, without an increase in emergent revascularization. On stratification, PCI and CABG individually were associated with a lower rate of MACE. Emergent revascularization was increased with PCI (HR: 1.78; 95% CI: 1.12 to 2.81; p = 0.014) but not with CABG. Nonadherent patients after PCI and CABG did not have significant difference in rate of MACE. PCI in nonadherent patients was associated with an increase in emergent revascularization (HR: 4.45; 95% CI: 2.07 to 9.57; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Invasive approaches and revascularization for cocaine-associated NSTEMI are associated with lower morbidity. A history of medical nonadherence was not associated with a difference in morbidity but was associated with an increased risk for emergent revascularization with PCI.

The current practice for cocaine-associated chest pain in the Netherlands

Introduction

Cocaine is considered a cardiovascular risk factor, yet it is not included in the frequently used risk stratification scores. Moreover, many guidelines provide limited advice on how to diagnose and treat cocaine-associated chest pain (CACP). This study aimed to determine the current practice for CACP patients in emergency departments and coronary care units throughout the Netherlands.

Methods

An anonymous online questionnaire-based survey was conducted among Dutch emergency physicians and cardiologists between July 2015 and February 2016. The questionnaire was based on the American Heart Association CACP treatment algorithm.

Results

A total of 214 subjects were enrolled and completed the questionnaire. All responders considered cocaine use a risk factor for developing acute coronary syndrome (ACS), nevertheless 74.4 % of emergency physicians and 81.1 % of cardiologists do not always question chest pain patients about drug use. Of all responders, 73.6 % never perform toxicology screening. Most responders (60 %) observe patients with CACP according to the European Society of Cardiology ACS guideline, and 24.3 % give these patients ß-blockers.

Conclusion

The current practice for CACP patients in most emergency departments and coronary care units in the Netherlands is not in line with the AHA scientific statement. Emergency physicians and cardiologists should be advised to routinely question all chest pain patients on drug history and be aware that the risk stratifications scores are not validated for CACP. Despite the AHA scientific statement of 2008, many respondents utilize ß-blockers for CACP patients, which is supported by published evidence since the statement appeared.

Evaluation of plasma cytokines in patients with cocaine use disorders in abstinence identifies transforming growth factor alpha (TGFα) as a potential biomarker of consumption and dual diagnosis

BACKGROUND

Cocaine use disorder (CUD) is a complex health condition, especially when it is accompanied by comorbid psychiatric disorders (dual diagnosis). Dual diagnosis is associated with difficulties in the stratification and treatment of patients. One of the major challenges in clinical practice of addiction psychiatry is the lack of objective biological markers that indicate the degree of consumption, severity of addiction, level of toxicity and response to treatment in patients with CUD. These potential biomarkers would be fundamental players in the diagnosis, stratification, prognosis and therapeutic orientation in addiction. Due to growing evidence of the involvement of the immune system in addiction and psychiatric disorders, we tested the hypothesis that patients with CUD in abstinence might have altered circulating levels of signaling proteins related to systemic inflammation.

METHODS

The study was designed as a cross-sectional study of CUD treatment-seeking patients. These patients were recruited from outpatient programs in the province of Malaga (Spain). The study was performed with a total of 160 white Caucasian subjects, who were divided into the following groups: patients diagnosed with CUD in abstinence (N = 79, cocaine group) and matched control subjects (N = 81, control group). Participants were clinically evaluated with the diagnostic interview PRISM according to the DSM-IV-TR, and blood samples were collected for the determination of chemokine C-C motif ligand 11 (CCL11, eotaxin-1), interferon gamma (IFNγ), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-17α (IL-17α), macrophage inflammatory protein 1α (MIP-1α) and transforming growth factor α (TGFα) levels in the plasma. Clinical and biochemical data were analyzed in order to find relationships between variables.

RESULTS

While 57% of patients with CUD were diagnosed with dual diagnosis, approximately 73% of patients had other substance use disorders. Cocaine patients displayed greater cocaine symptom severity when they were diagnosed with psychiatric comorbidity. Regarding inflammatory factors, we observed significantly lower plasma levels of IL-17α (p < 0.001), MIP-1α (p < 0.001) and TGFα (p < 0.05) in the cocaine group compared with the levels in the control group. Finally, there was a significant primary effect of dual diagnosis on the plasma concentrations of TGFα (p < 0.05) in the cocaine group, and these levels were lower in patients with dual diagnoses.

DISCUSSION

IL-17α, MIP-1α and TGFα levels are different between the cocaine and control groups, and TGFα levels facilitate the identification of patients with dual diagnosis. Because TGFα reduction is associated with enhanced responses to cocaine in preclinical models, we propose TGFα as a potential biomarker of complex CUD in humans.

Association Between Radiologic Incidental Findings and Resource Utilization in Patients Admitted With Chest Pain in an Urban Medical Center

BACKGROUND

Increasing use of testing among hospitalized patients has resulted in an increase in radiologic incidental findings (IFs), which challenge the provision of high-value care in the hospital setting.

OBJECTIVE

To understand impact of radiologic incidental findings on resource utilization in patients hospitalized with chest pain.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational cross sectional study.

SETTING

Academic medical center.

PARTICIPANTS

Adult patients hospitalized with principal diagnosis of chest pain.

MEASUREMENTS

Demographic, imaging, and length of stay (LOS) data were abstracted from the medical charts. We used multiple logistic regression to evaluate factors associated with radiologic IFs and negative binomial regression to evaluate the association between radiologic IFs and LOS.

RESULTS

1811 consecutive admissions with chest pain were analyzed retrospectively over a period of 24 months; 376 patients were included in the study after exclusion criteria were applied and readmissions removed. Of these, 197 patients (52%) had 364 new radiologic IFs on imaging; most IFs were of minor (50%) or moderate clinical significance (42%), with only 7% of major significance. Odds of finding radiologic IFs increased with age (adjusted odds ratio, 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.06) and was associated with a 26% increase in LOS (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.07-1.49).

CONCLUSION

Radiologic IFs were very common among patients hospitalized with chest pain of suspected cardiac origin and independently associated with an increase in the LOS. Interventions to address radiologic IFs may reduce LOS and, thereby, support high-value care. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2017;12:323-328.

β-Blockers, Cocaine, and the Unopposed α-Stimulation Phenomenon

Cocaine abuse remains a significant worldwide health problem. Patients with cardiovascular toxicity from cocaine abuse frequently present to the emergency department for treatment. These patients may be tachycardic, hypertensive, agitated, and have chest pain. Several pharmacological options exist for treatment of cocaine-induced cardiovascular toxicity. For the past 3 decades, the phenomenon of unopposed α-stimulation after β-blocker use in cocaine-positive patients has been cited as an absolute contraindication, despite limited and inconsistent clinical evidence. In this review, the authors of the original studies, case reports, and systematic review in which unopposed α-stimulation was believed to be a factor investigate the pathophysiology, pharmacology, and published evidence behind the unopposed α-stimulation phenomenon. We also investigate other potential explanations for unopposed α-stimulation, including the unique and deleterious pharmacologic properties of cocaine in the absence of β-blockers. The safety and efficacy of the mixed β-/α-blockers labetalol and carvedilol are also discussed in relation to unopposed α-stimulation.