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Elliott M. Antman

Bio: Elliott M. Antman is an academic researcher from Brigham and Women's Hospital. The author has contributed to research in topics: Myocardial infarction & TIMI. The author has an hindex of 161, co-authored 716 publications receiving 179462 citations. Previous affiliations of Elliott M. Antman include Duke University & Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.


Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The American Heart Association will convene a group of stakeholders to identify the gaps between the existing and ideal delivery of care for STEMI patients, as well as the requisite policy implications, and recommend strategies to increase the number ofSTEMI patients with timely access to primary PCI.
Abstract: Although evidence suggests that primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the preferred reperfusion strategy in the majority of patients with ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), only a minority of patients with STEMI are treated with primary PCI, and of those, only a minority receive the treatment within the recommended 90 minutes after entry into the medical system. Market research conducted by the American Heart Association revealed that those involved in the care of patients with STEMI recognize the multiple barriers that prevent the prompt delivery of primary PCI and agree that it is necessary to develop systems or centers of care that will allow STEMI patients to benefit from primary PCI. The American Heart Association will convene a group of stakeholders (representing the interests of patients, physicians, emergency medical systems, community hospitals, tertiary hospitals, and payers) and quality-of-care and outcomes experts to identify the gaps between the existing and ide...

198 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Aspirin is effective in the short- and long-term prevention of adverse vascular events in high-risk patient groups, including those with ACS, stroke and peripheral arterial disease, and has been shown to reduce the frequency of ischemic complications after PCI.
Abstract: Although platelets lack nuclei and are the smallest circulating human cells, they play an integral and complex role in the process of thrombosis, both physiological and pathophysiological. Activation and aggregation of platelets play a central role in the propagation of intracoronary thrombi after (1) spontaneous atherosclerotic plaque disruption that results in myocardial ischemia or infarction in the acute coronary syndromes (ACS), or (2) the mechanical disruption that results from percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Platelets initially adhere to collagen and von Willebrand factor at the site of the disrupted plaque, resulting in an initial platelet monolayer. After activation, platelets release secondary agonists such as thromboxane A2 and adenosine diphosphate (ADP), which in combination with thrombin generated by the coagulation cascade result in stimulation and recruitment of additional platelets.1,2 With this pathophysiological background, it is not surprising that antiplatelet therapy is a cornerstone of the management of patients with ACS, especially those undergoing PCI.3–5 See p 3171 Aspirin inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX) by irreversible acetylation, which prevents the production of thromboxane A2. The antithrombotic effect of aspirin results from the decreased production of this prothrombotic, vasoconstrictive substance. Aspirin is effective in the short- and long-term prevention of adverse vascular events in high-risk patient groups, including those with ACS, stroke and peripheral arterial disease.6 Aspirin also has been shown to reduce the frequency of ischemic complications after PCI.7,8 Despite the impressive and consistent effects of aspirin in reducing adverse events in a variety of ischemic heart disease states, a significant rate of such events persists, and more potent antiplatelet agents, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, and thienopyridines have been developed. The thienopyridines irreversibly inhibit ADP binding to the P2Y12 receptor on the platelet surface. By blocking this receptor, these agents interfere with platelet activation, degranulation, and—by inhibiting the …

197 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A 65-year-old male presented for evaluation of chest pain this article, describing substernal chest pressure that comes on when he plays doubles tennis or walks up a hill on the golf course.
Abstract: Case Presentation : A 65-year-old male presents for evaluation of chest pain. He describes substernal chest pressure that comes on when he plays doubles tennis or walks up a hill on the golf course. His discomfort is associated with dyspnea and is relieved within a few minutes by rest. On one occasion, a golfing partner gave him one of his sublingual nitroglycerin tablets. This brought prompt relief of the discomfort. He denies any chest pain at rest or at night. He has a history of hypertension, for which he is taking a diuretic. On a routine physical examination last year, his cholesterol was 240, with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol of 150. He is trying to follow a low-fat diet and lose weight to reduce this. He has smoked 1 pack of cigarettes a day most of his adult life, although he did quit for a year or 2 on 2 separate occasions in the past. He has no history of diabetes. Both his mother and father lived into their late eighties and died of cancer. He is an only child. On physical examination, his blood pressure is 145/95 mm Hg. His heart rate is 72 beats per minute and regular. His cardiac examination is normal. His resting ECG is normal. The patient undergoes a treadmill exercise test. He completes 6 minutes of exercise according to a Bruce protocol. He stops because of fatigue but does note some mild chest pressure at peak exercise. Peak exercise heart rate is 135 beats per minute, and the peak exercise blood pressure is 190/100 mm Hg. Exercise electrocardiography shows 0.5 mm of up-sloping ST depression measured 80 seconds after the J point at peak exercise. To better define the patient’s diagnosis and prognosis, he then undergoes exercise myocardial perfusion imaging with sestamibi. He again …

196 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In patients with UA/NSTEMI, there was a different pattern of presenting biomarkers, whereas women were more likely to have elevated C-reactive protein and brain natriuretic peptide, which suggests that a multimarker approach may aid the initial risk assessment of UA-N STEMI, especially in women.
Abstract: Background— Diagnosis of coronary artery disease in women is more difficult because of lower specificity of symptoms and diagnostic accuracy of noninvasive testing. We sought to examine the relationship between gender and cardiac biomarkers in patients with unstable angina (UA)/non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Methods and Results— In the TACTICS-TIMI 18, OPUS-TIMI 16, and TIMI 11 studies, baseline samples were analyzed in the Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) biomarker core laboratory. We examined the relationship between gender and elevated biomarkers. Of 1865 patients from TACTICS-TIMI 18, 34% were women. Fewer women had elevated creatine kinase-MB or troponins, whereas more had elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein or brain natriuretic peptide. Presence of ST-segment deviation and TIMI risk scores were not significantly different. This pattern was confirmed in TIMI 11 and OPUS-TIMI 16. The prognostic value of the markers in TACTICS-TIMI 18 was similar in women ...

195 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Many attempts to estimate a gradient of risk among patients with UA/NSTEMI focus on a single variable, such as presence or absence of electrocardiographic (ECG) changes or elevated serum cardiac markers.
Abstract: PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH AN acute coronary syndrome without ST-segment elevation are diagnosed as having unstable angina/non–ST elevation myocardial infarction (MI) (UA/NSTEMI). Given the heterogeneous nature of UA/ NSTEMI, such patients have a wide spectrum of risk for death and cardiac ischemic events. Many attempts to estimate a gradient of risk among patients with UA/NSTEMI focus on a single variable, such as presence or absence of electrocardiographic (ECG) changes or elevated serum cardiac markers. Prognostication schemes have been developed that categorize patients qualitatively into high, intermediate, or low risk, but they do not provide a quantitative statement about finer gradations of risk that exist clinically. Although univariate analyses are informative as an initial assessment of the importance of a potential prognos-

187 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
04 Sep 2003-BMJ
TL;DR: A new quantity is developed, I 2, which the authors believe gives a better measure of the consistency between trials in a meta-analysis, which is susceptible to the number of trials included in the meta- analysis.
Abstract: Cochrane Reviews have recently started including the quantity I 2 to help readers assess the consistency of the results of studies in meta-analyses. What does this new quantity mean, and why is assessment of heterogeneity so important to clinical practice? Systematic reviews and meta-analyses can provide convincing and reliable evidence relevant to many aspects of medicine and health care.1 Their value is especially clear when the results of the studies they include show clinically important effects of similar magnitude. However, the conclusions are less clear when the included studies have differing results. In an attempt to establish whether studies are consistent, reports of meta-analyses commonly present a statistical test of heterogeneity. The test seeks to determine whether there are genuine differences underlying the results of the studies (heterogeneity), or whether the variation in findings is compatible with chance alone (homogeneity). However, the test is susceptible to the number of trials included in the meta-analysis. We have developed a new quantity, I 2, which we believe gives a better measure of the consistency between trials in a meta-analysis. Assessment of the consistency of effects across studies is an essential part of meta-analysis. Unless we know how consistent the results of studies are, we cannot determine the generalisability of the findings of the meta-analysis. Indeed, several hierarchical systems for grading evidence state that the results of studies must be consistent or homogeneous to obtain the highest grading.2–4 Tests for heterogeneity are commonly used to decide on methods for combining studies and for concluding consistency or inconsistency of findings.5 6 But what does the test achieve in practice, and how should the resulting P values be interpreted? A test for heterogeneity examines the null hypothesis that all studies are evaluating the same effect. The usual test statistic …

45,105 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this review the usual methods applied in systematic reviews and meta-analyses are outlined, and the most common procedures for combining studies with binary outcomes are described, illustrating how they can be done using Stata commands.

31,656 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An Explanation and Elaboration of the PRISMA Statement is presented and updated guidelines for the reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses are presented.
Abstract: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are essential to summarize evidence relating to efficacy and safety of health care interventions accurately and reliably. The clarity and transparency of these reports, however, is not optimal. Poor reporting of systematic reviews diminishes their value to clinicians, policy makers, and other users. Since the development of the QUOROM (QUality Of Reporting Of Meta-analysis) Statement—a reporting guideline published in 1999—there have been several conceptual, methodological, and practical advances regarding the conduct and reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Also, reviews of published systematic reviews have found that key information about these studies is often poorly reported. Realizing these issues, an international group that included experienced authors and methodologists developed PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) as an evolution of the original QUOROM guideline for systematic reviews and meta-analyses of evaluations of health care interventions. The PRISMA Statement consists of a 27-item checklist and a four-phase flow diagram. The checklist includes items deemed essential for transparent reporting of a systematic review. In this Explanation and Elaboration document, we explain the meaning and rationale for each checklist item. For each item, we include an example of good reporting and, where possible, references to relevant empirical studies and methodological literature. The PRISMA Statement, this document, and the associated Web site (http://www.prisma-statement.org/) should be helpful resources to improve reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

25,711 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
21 May 2003-JAMA
TL;DR: The most effective therapy prescribed by the most careful clinician will control hypertension only if patients are motivated, and empathy builds trust and is a potent motivator.
Abstract: "The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure" provides a new guideline for hypertension prevention and management. The following are the key messages(1) In persons older than 50 years, systolic blood pressure (BP) of more than 140 mm Hg is a much more important cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor than diastolic BP; (2) The risk of CVD, beginning at 115/75 mm Hg, doubles with each increment of 20/10 mm Hg; individuals who are normotensive at 55 years of age have a 90% lifetime risk for developing hypertension; (3) Individuals with a systolic BP of 120 to 139 mm Hg or a diastolic BP of 80 to 89 mm Hg should be considered as prehypertensive and require health-promoting lifestyle modifications to prevent CVD; (4) Thiazide-type diuretics should be used in drug treatment for most patients with uncomplicated hypertension, either alone or combined with drugs from other classes. Certain high-risk conditions are compelling indications for the initial use of other antihypertensive drug classes (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin-receptor blockers, β-blockers, calcium channel blockers); (5) Most patients with hypertension will require 2 or more antihypertensive medications to achieve goal BP (<140/90 mm Hg, or <130/80 mm Hg for patients with diabetes or chronic kidney disease); (6) If BP is more than 20/10 mm Hg above goal BP, consideration should be given to initiating therapy with 2 agents, 1 of which usually should be a thiazide-type diuretic; and (7) The most effective therapy prescribed by the most careful clinician will control hypertension only if patients are motivated. Motivation improves when patients have positive experiences with and trust in the clinician. Empathy builds trust and is a potent motivator. Finally, in presenting these guidelines, the committee recognizes that the responsible physician's judgment remains paramount.

24,988 citations

Book
23 Sep 2019
TL;DR: The Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions is the official document that describes in detail the process of preparing and maintaining Cochrane systematic reviews on the effects of healthcare interventions.
Abstract: The Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions is the official document that describes in detail the process of preparing and maintaining Cochrane systematic reviews on the effects of healthcare interventions.

21,235 citations