In-Hospital Bleeding in Elderly Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome: Are Potent Antiplatelet Agents Safe?

Despite implementation of new interventional techniques and therapeutic advances, elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) continue to be susceptible to in-hospital bleeding compared with younger ones. Thus, we investigated the incidence of in-hospital bleeding events and associated risk factors in elderly (≥ 75°years) ACS patients. We also wanted to define the bleeding sites, characteristics, and associated mortality. Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) classification type 2, 3, or 5 was used to define bleeding events. Overall, 539 patients were included in the study (mean age: 82.5 ± 4.8°years; 282 (52.3%) females). Of these patients, 69 (12.8%) developed in-hospital bleeding. Factors that were independently related with in-hospital bleeding were age (odds ratio (OR): 1.08; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.011.14, P = .01), acute kidney injury (OR: 3.66; 95% CI: 2.016.69; P < .01), tirofiban (OR: 4.43; 95% CI: 1.7810.99; P < .01), and ticagrelor (OR: 1.93; 95% CI: 1.013.73; P = .04) administration. The urinary tract was the most frequent bleeding site, followed by femoral arteries. In conclusion, ticagrelor and tirofiban should be used with caution in elderly ACS patients.

Oxidative stress parameters in children with acute rheumatic fever

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate of the role of oxidative stress (OS) in acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and its relationship with the progress of the disease.

METHODS

Thirty patients with ARF and 31 age-sex-matched healthy children were enrolled in this study. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl (PCO), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured. The diagnosis of ARF was based on the Jones criteria.

RESULTS

Patients with ARF had significantly higher serum MDA, PCO, hs-CRP and cytokine levels and lower TAC than healthy controls. On Pearson's correlation analysis we found that oxidative stress markers were positively correlated with hs-CRP and cytokines, while TAC was negatively correlated with MDA, PCO, hs-CRP and cytokines. The number of valves involved as well as the level of mitral valve involvement was also significantly related to the oxidative stress parameters and TAC. All oxidative stress parameters decreased significantly with anti-inflammatory therapy while TAC increased.

CONCLUSION

Malondialdehyde and PCO, as biomarkers, as well as hs-CRP together with the other available diagnostic tools, can be used in the evaluation of patients with ARF.