Biomedical subjects

J Marinković

Publications and source records attributed to J Marinković.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Diet and bladder cancer: a case-control study.

To investigate possible relationships between diet and risk for bladder cancer in Serbia, the hospital-based case-control study was carried out. This study included 130 newly diagnosed bladder cancer patients and the same number of controls matched by sex, age (%+/-%2 years) and type of residence (rural or urban). Dietary information was obtained by using a food frequency questionnaire. Initial case-control comparisons were based on tertiles of average daily intake of control group. The odds ratios (ORs) were computed for each tertile, with the lowest tertile defined as the referent category. All variables (food items) significantly related to bladder cancer were included in multivariable logistic regression analysis. According to this analysis, risk factors for bladder cancer appeared to be consumption of liver (OR=6.60, 95%CI=1.89-23.03), eggs (OR=3.12, 95%CI=1.10-8.80), pork (OR=2.99, 95%CI=1.16-7.72), and pickled vegetable (OR=3.25, 95%CI=1.36-7.71). A protective effect was found for dietary intake of kale (OR=0.21, 95%CI=0.06-0.73), cereals (OR=0.19, 95%CI=0.06-0.62), tangerines (OR=0.21, 95%CI=0.07-0.68), cabbage (OR=0.27, 95% CI=0.11-0.68), and carrots (OR=0.15, 95%CI=0.05-0.41). The study indicated a potentially important role for dietary fat and pickled vegetables in bladder carcinogenesis. An inverse association was recorded between consumption of fruits, vegetables and cereals, and the development of bladder cancer.

Case-Control Studies↗

PubMed2004

Characteristics of dystonic movements in primary and symptomatic dystonias.

OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical characteristics of the involuntary movements in primary and symptomatic dystonias. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 132 consecutive patients with the diagnosis of primary dystonia and 51 consecutive patients with secondary dystonia caused by well defined structural lesion(s) of the central nervous system, with particular emphasis on the characteristics of involuntary movements. RESULTS: Eight variables with the highest risk contribution to either symptomatic or primary dystonias were identified: dystonic movement in secondary dystonia was much more frequently presented at rest, whereas the presence of dystonic tremor, chronic inflammatory process, or peripheral trauma located in the region that is later affected by dystonia, as well as the use of sensory tricks and development of spontaneous remissions, classified the affected patients more often in the category of those with primary dystonia. CONCLUSION: The study identified several clinical features that may be helpful in differentiating primary from secondary dystonia.

Dystonia↗

PubMed2003

Blood pressure levels in 7 to 14-year-old Belgrade children.

The objective of the work was to study blood pressure and some anthropometric characteristics in children. The study design included the prevalence study at Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro. The study comprised 1651 subjects (809 boys and 842 girls) aged 7-14 years, that is, 2.6% of all relevant population. The average levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP and DBP) were 113.4/70.3 mmHg in boys and 114.6/71.1 mmHg in girls. High SBP was present in 4.7% of boys and in 5.3% of girls. High DBP was found in 5.6% of boys and in 4.8% of girls. According to multivariate regression analysis, in boys SBP and DBP were significantly associated with age, body mass index (BMI) and subscapular skinfold, SBP was also associated with body weight, and DBP with triceps skinfold. In girls, SBP was significantly related to BMI, suprailiac skinfold and body height, and DBP was significantly associated with BMI, suprailiac and subscapular skinfolds. The results of the present study support the opinion that BMI is a significant predictor of blood pressure in children and point out to suprailiac skinfold in girls as a possible predictor of blood pressure.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Fluid intake and bladder cancer. A case control study.

To examine the relation of the total intake of fluids and the types of beverages to the risk of bladder cancer, we conducted a hospital based case-control study with 130 newly diagnosed bladder cancer patients and the same number of matched controls. Information of total fluid intake was derived from the reported frequency of consumption of the different types of beverages on the food frequency questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed in statistical analysis. There was no statistically significant difference between the cases and the controls in total daily fluid intake. Multivariate logistic regression model showed consumption of: soda (OR=8.32; 95%CI=3.18-21.76), coffee (OR=1.46; 95%CI=1.05-2.01) and spirits (OR=1.15; 95%CI=1.04-1.28) as statistically significant risk factors, while mineral water (OR=0.52; 95%CI=0.34-0.79), skim milk (OR=0.38; 95%CI=0.16-0.91), yogurt (OR=0.34; 95%CI=0.12-0.97) and frequency of daily urination (OR=0.27; 95%CI=0.18-0.41) were statistically significant protective variables. In our study no statistically significant association was observed for total fluid intake. The findings suggest consumption of soda, coffee and spirits were indicated as a risk factors for bladder cancer, while mineral water, skim milk, yogurt and frequency of urination as protective factors for bladder cancer.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Family history and risk of type 1 diabetes mellitus.

The aim of the study was to evaluate association of type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents with positive family history of type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and thyroid, adrenal, rheumatic, allergic, celiac and some other diseases. A case-control study was conducted in Belgrade. The case group comprised 105 subjects < or = 16 years old who were for the first time hospitalized because of type 1 diabetes during the period 1994-1997. For each case, two controls were chosen among children and adolescents treated for skin diseases. Cases and controls were individually matched by age (+/- one year), sex and place of residence (all were from Belgrade). In the statistical analyses we used chi(2)-test, Fisher's exact test and univariate and multivariate logistic regressions. According to multivariate logistic regression analysis, risk of type 1 diabetes was significantly associated with a positive family history for type 1 diabetes (OR = 4.04; 95% CI, 2.31-7.07), allergic diseases (OR = 3.32; 95% CI, 1.63-6.76), celiac and Crohn's diseases (OR = 11.02; 95% CI, 1.14-106.89) and other diseases (thrombocytopenia, alopecia areata, psoriasis, chronic uveitis and pernicious anemia; OR = 3.63; 95% CI, 1.05-12.48).

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

The effect of stage of Parkinson's disease at the onset of levodopa therapy on development of motor complications.

The aim of this study was to ascertain whether the stage of Parkinson's disease (PD) (according to the Hoehn and Yahr staging system) would affect the length of time between the introduction of levodopa therapy and appearance of levodopa-associated motor complications. Forty patients with clinically definite PD were studied. In all, clinical and therapeutic data were collected from the time of diagnosis to the time of levodopa-associated motor complications (i.e. dyskinesia, motor fluctuations). In 17 patients, levodopa could be started in Hoehn and Yahr stage I (H & Y-I; 16.2 months after the onset of PD), whilst in 13 patients levodopa could be started in H & Y-II (19.6 months after the onset of the disease) and in 10 in H & Y-III (45.1 months after the onset of PD). Cox proportional hazard regression model shows that the PD patients in whom the initial levodopa treatment was introduced at stage III develop both dyskinesias and motor fluctuations significantly earlier than the patients whose levodopa started in stage I and II of PD. The median interval to develop dyskinesias was 66, 72 and 24 months for patients in whom levodopa was introduced in stage I, II and III, respectively. These values were 64, 55 and 14 months for motor fluctuations. These findings add to the clinical arguments that favour an essential role of severity of PD at levodopa initiation as a risk factor for the development of levodopa-associated motor complications.

Age of Onset↗

PubMed2001

Uric acid levels in sera from patients with multiple sclerosis.

The levels of uric acid (UA), a natural peroxynitrite scavenger, were measured in sera from 240 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 104 sex- and age-matched control patients with other neurological diseases (OND). The mean serum UA concentration was lower in the MS than in the OND group, but the difference did not reach the level of statistical significance (P = 0.068). However, the mean serum UA level from patients with active MS (202.6 + 67.1 mumol/l) was significantly lower than that in inactive MS patients (226.5 + 78.6 mumol/l; P = 0.046) and OND controls (P = 0.007). We found a significant inverse correlation of serum UA concentration with female gender (P = 0.0001), disease activity (P = 0.012) and duration (P = 0.017), and a trend towards an inverse correlation with disability as assessed by EDSS score, which did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.067). Finally, multivariate linear regression analyses showed that UA concentration was independently correlated with gender (P = 0.0001), disease activity (P = 0.014) and duration of the disease (P = 0.043) in MS patients. These findings suggest that serum UA might serve as a possible marker of disease activity in MS. They also provide support to the potential beneficial therapeutic effect of radical-scavenging substances in MS.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Single-day loading dose of oral amiodarone for the prevention of new-onset atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass surgery.

BACKGROUND: Various regimens have been proposed for the prevention of postoperative atrial fibrillation, including the use of intravenous and oral amiodarone. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a single-day loading dose of oral amiodarone in prophylaxis of atrial fibrillation during the 7 days after coronary artery bypass surgery. METHODS: We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study encompassing 315 consecutive patients who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery. They received either amiodarone (159 patients) or placebo (156 patients). Therapy consisted of a single oral loading dose of 1200 mg of amiodarone 1 day before surgery, followed by the maintenance dose of 200 mg daily during the next 7 days. Only episodes of atrial fibrillation lasting more than 1 hour or associated with hemodynamic compromise were taken into consideration. RESULTS: Overall, the incidence of atrial fibrillation was similar in patients who received amiodarone (31/159, 19.5%) and placebo (33/156, 21.2%) (P = .78). However, amiodarone reduced the incidence of atrial fibrillation in elderly patients (age > or = 60 years): it occurred in 20 of 75 (26.7%) patients on amiodarone and in 28 of 65 (43.1%) patients in the placebo group (P = .05). There were no differences between the study groups regarding the postoperative intrahospital morbidity and mortality and the duration of hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: A single-day loading dose of oral amiodarone (1200 mg) does not prevent postoperative atrial fibrillation in a general population of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. However, it appears that this regimen reduces the occurrence of postoperative atrial fibrillation in elderly patients.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2000

Early changes in left ventricular function in chronic asymptomatic alcoholics: relation to the duration of heavy drinking.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to assess preclinical cardiac abnormalities in chronic alcoholic patients and possible differences among alcoholics related to the duration of heavy drinking. BACKGROUND: Chronic excessive alcohol intake has been reported as a possible cause of dilated cardiomyopathy. However, before the appearance of severe cardiac dysfunction, subtle signs of cardiac abnormalities may be identified. METHODS: We studied 30 healthy subjects (age 44 +/- 8 years) and 89 asymptomatic alcoholics (age 45 +/- 8 years, p = NS) divided into three groups, with short (S, 5-9 years, n = 31), intermediate (I, 10-15 years, n = 31) and long (L, 16-28 years, n = 27) duration of alcoholism. Transmitral early (E) and late (A) Doppler flow velocities, E/A ratio, deceleration time of E (DT) and isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) were obtained. Left ventricular (LV) wall thickness and volumes were also determined by echocardiography, and LV mass and ejection fraction (EF) were calculated. RESULTS: The alcoholics had prolonged IVRT (92 +/- 11 vs. 83 +/- 7 ms, p < 0.001), longer DT (180 +/- 20 vs. 170 +/- 10 ms, p < 0.01), smaller E/A (1.25 +/- 0.34 vs. 1.40 +/- 0.32, p < 0.05), larger LV volumes (73 +/- 8 vs. 65 +/- 7 ml/m2, p < 0.001 for end-diastolic volume index; 25 +/- 4 vs. 21 +/- 2 ml/m2, p < 0.001 for end-systolic volume index), higher LV mass index (92 +/- 14 vs. 78 +/- 8 g/m2, p < 0.001) and thicker posterior wall (9 +/- 1 vs. 8 +/- 1 mm, p < 0.001). Ejection fraction did not differ between the two groups (66 +/- 4 vs. 67 +/- 2%). Deceleration time of the early transmitral flow velocity was longer in groups L (187 +/- 18 ms) and I (185 +/- 16 ms) compared with group S (168 +/- 17 ms, p < 0.001 for L and I vs. S), whereas A was higher in group L compared with S (43 +/- 10 vs. 51 +/- 10 cm/s, p < 0.005). Multiple regression analysis identified duration of heavy drinking as the most important variable affecting DT and A. CONCLUSIONS: Left ventricular dilation with preserved EF and impaired LV relaxation characterized LV function in chronic asymptomatic alcoholic patients. It appeared that the progression of abnormalities in LV diastolic filling related to the duration of alcoholism.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Survival of Balkan endemic nephropathy patients.

The retrospective cohort study comprised 97 Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) and BEN-suspected patients discovered in 1971 in the field examination in the village of Sopić, one of the regions most frequently affected by the disease. Our aim was to determine the outcome of the disease in patients and to compare the survival of BEN-suspected and BEN-manifested patients and the survival of their kidneys. The mean survival time was 16.4 years for all patients (95% CI 14.51-18.21) and 23.1 years for suspected and 13.3 years for manifested patients (log-rank = 19.46; d.f. = 1; p < 0.001). According to our results, it can be concluded that BEN is characterized by slow course and prolonged evolution and that the prognosis was consistently better for BEN-suspected than for BEN-manifested patients.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Serum leptin levels in patients with acromegaly before and after correction of hypersomatotropism by trans-sphenoidal surgery.

It has been shown that GH excess is associated with decreased leptin levels and decreased body fat mass. Reports regarding the effect of GH on serum leptin levels are inconsistent. We studied leptin secretion in 20 acromegalics before and 2 months after trans-sphenoidal surgery and in 20 gender-, age-, and body mass index (BMI)-matched control subjects. The mean 8-h leptin concentration for each subject was measured from a pool formed of samples collected hourly beginning at 2200 h until 0600 h the next morning. In a subgroup of 10 acromegalics, leptin pulsatility was assessed for the same period of time in 10-min sampling intervals. Basal GH, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), insulin, glucose, and lipids levels were measured. Area under the curve for insulin (AUCins) during oral glucose tolerance test was calculated. Control subjects and acromegalics had similar BMI, but patients with active acromegaly had significantly lower mean leptin level (mean +/- SEM; in men, 2.6+/-0.4 vs. 7.1+/-1.1 microg/L, P = 0.003; in women, 16.0+/-3.4 vs. 23.5+/-3.1 microg/L; P = 0.036). Mean 8-h leptin correlated with BMI (r = 0.57, P = 0.007, in controls; r = 0.70, P = 0.001, in patients). In stepwise regression analysis with mean 8-h leptin as a dependent variable, BMI (P<0.001) and gender (P = 0.01) in acromegalics entered the equation, whereas in control subjects gender, free fatty acids, insulin, and age accounted for 99.3% in leptin variability. After surgery, BMI did not change significantly; and glucose (P = 0.014), GH (P<0.001), and IGF-I (P<0.001) levels together with AUCins (P = 0.002) decreased, whereas mean leptin concentration rose significantly and attained normal levels (4.1+/-0.8 microg/L, P = 0.028) in acromegalic men and (23.6+/-4.7 microg/L, P = 0.003) in acromegalic women. Correlation between leptin level and BMI was preserved after surgery (r = 0.62, P = 0.005). In stepwise regression analysis, free fatty acids (P = 0.04) contributed to 26.8% of the variance in corrected-leptin (for BMI and gender). Leptin concentration peak height and interpeak nadir level rose significantly (P = 0.033 and P = 0.037) after surgery by Cluster analysis, without significant changes in leptin pulse frequency and incremental peak amplitude. Nocturnal rise of leptin (mathematically described by a cubic curve) was characterized by an acrophase just after midnight, before and after surgery. The amplitude and the average leptin concentration of the cubic fit increased significantly after surgery (P = 0.028 and P< 0.001). In conclusion in acromegalic patients: 1) leptin secretion maintains the pulsatility and nocturnal rise; 2) the gender-based leptin differences are preserved; 3) GH-IGF-I normalization leads to a rise in leptin that is not related to changes in BMI; and 4) the possible role of rise in leptin levels when assessing clinical and metabolic outcome of therapy in acromegalic patients deserves additional studies.

Acromegaly↗

PubMed1999

Early predictors of mitral regurgitation after acute myocardial infarction.

We analyzed early predictors of mitral regurgitation after myocardial infarction in 131 consecutive patients with first acute myocardial infarction. Our data revealed that elderly patients with larger infarcts, multivessel coronary disease, and papillary muscle region asynergy are more likely to develop mitral regurgitation in the first year after infarction.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Early mitral regurgitation after acute myocardial infarction does not contribute to subsequent left ventricular remodeling.

BACKGROUND: It is well known that mitral regurgitation may lead to left ventricular dilation; however, the relationship between progressive left ventricular dilation after acute myocardial infarction (MI) and mitral regurgitation has not yet been clarified. HYPOTHESIS: This study tested the hypothesis that early mitral regurgitation contributes to left ventricular remodeling after acute MI. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated 131 consecutive patients by serial two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography on Days 1, 2, 3, and 7, after 3 and 6 weeks, 3 and 6 months, and 1 year following acute MI. Patients were divided into two groups: those with mitral regurgitation in the first week after acute MI (Group 1, n = 34) and those without mitral regurgitation (Group 2, n = 81). RESULTS: Over 1 year, a significant increase in end-diastolic volume index (from 62.1 +/- 12.9 to 70.5 +/- 23.6 ml/m2, p = 0.001) with a strong linear trend (F = 15.1, p < 0.001) was noted. Initial end-diastolic volume index was higher in Group 1 (65.6 +/- 13.3 vs. 60.4 +/- 12.5 ml/m2, p = 0.047), but this difference remained constant throughout the study (F = 1.76, p = NS). Therefore, the pattern of end-diastolic volume changes was similar in both groups during the period of observation. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that early mitral regurgitation after acute MI does not contribute to subsequent left ventricular remodeling in the first year after myocardial infarction.

Aged↗

PubMed1999

Environmental factors, health-related habits, and serum selenium levels in cancer patients and healthy controls.

Previous studies conducted in Yugoslavia indicated that the concentration of selenium in soil, food items, and serum of the population is very low. The aim of the study was to investigate the possible relationship among environmental, health-related habits, nutrition, and selenium serum levels in cancer patients and the healthy population. The case-control study included a group of cancer patients and a matched group of healthy controls: 57 cancer patients and 41 healthy controls living in Stari Grad (an urban area of Belgrade), as well as 17 cancer patients and 13 healthy controls living in Barajevo (a rural community in the vicinity of Belgrade). The healthy controls were matched to cancer patients in sex and age; they were not blood related. The selenium serum levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Health-related habits and relevant dietary factors ("food frequency" method) that may influence the selenium serum levels were assessed by questionnaires. The differences in average values of selenium serum levels between the cancer patients and healthy controls were not significantly different, but both were below the lowest recorded in referential studies. A significant difference between the values obtained from urban and rural subgroups was noted. The most important factors that influenced the level of selenium included the residence place in the region with selenium deficiency (Barajevo), age, associated chronic diseases, and some dietary factors potentially related to the intake of selenium. The results obtained in this investigation pointed out that use of selenium supplementation in this area should be seriously considered.

Aged↗

PubMed1999

Prognostic factors for survival in multiple sclerosis.

In a hospital-based study of 119 patients with definite multiple sclerosis, demographic and clinical factors were analysed with respect to their validity in assessing the long-term prognosis. Over a mean follow-up of 21.7 years, the following factors negatively influenced the prognosis by the univariate analysis: male sex, age at onset over 25, pyramidal involvement or spasticity at onset, > or =3 functional systems affected at onset or after 5 years, incomplete first remission, length of the first remission < or =1 year, >5 attacks in the first 10 years, secondary or primary-progressive disease, time to reach secondary progression over 5 years and time to reach EDSS 6 over 7 years. The multivariate model showed that in patients with relapsing-remitting disease, 5 years after onset, pyramidal involvement at onset and shorter time to reach EDSS 6 predicted poor outcome, while after 10 years, higher age at onset and incomplete first remission indicated poor prognosis. Ten years after onset, the predictors of poor outcome in the secondary-progressive group were shorter time to reach EDSS 6 or secondary progression and higher EDSS, while in the primary-progressive group those variables were spasticity or higher number of functional systems affected at onset, and higher EDSS after 5 and 10 years.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Myocardial tissue characterization after acute myocardial infarction with wavelet image decomposition: a novel approach for the detection of myocardial viability in the early postinfarction period.

BACKGROUND: Only a few texture measures can be used for texture characterization of infarcted myocardium and detection of reperfused myocardium early after infarction. This study was conducted to establish the relationship between texture properties of infarcted myocardium and infarct-related artery patency by quantitative computer analysis of 2-dimensional echocardiographic images with the wavelet-based method for texture characterization, evaluate the relationship between texture properties and myocardial viability, and correlate histopathologic changes after experimental infarction with the texture measures. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed 2-dimensional transthoracic echocardiographic images in 18 patients at different time points after infarction using the wavelet transform method. Regional wall motion of infarcted segments was analyzed on a follow-up echocardiographic study obtained 6 months after infarction. To verify the accuracy of the proposed texture measure and energy difference cutoff value, we prospectively evaluated another group of 19 patients. In addition, histopathologic changes in 9 dogs with experimental infarction were correlated with the texture measures. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the wavelet method for detection of reperfusion in the study group were 73%, 86%, and 78%, respectively, on day 2; 91%, 86%, and 89%, at 1 week; and 100%, 100%, and 100% at 3 weeks. Among 9 patients with improvement in regional wall motion on a follow-up study, 7 on day 2, 8 at 1 week, and 9 at 3 weeks were classified into the reperfused group by the wavelet method. Histopathologic features associated with the classification of reperfusion by the wavelet method were infarct transmurality (P=0.024) and degree of necrosis (P=0.028). CONCLUSIONS: Our clinical and experimental data suggest that the wavelet method can be used to differentiate between viable myocardium with recovery potential and definite myocardial necrosis in the early postinfarction period.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Risk factors for Toxoplasma infection in a reproductive age female population in the area of Belgrade, Yugoslavia.

The contribution to Toxoplasma infection of known transmission risk factors such as consumption of undercooked meat, contact with soil, and contact with cats, as well as that of age, degree of education, residence in central vs. suburban city communities, and year of entry into the study, has been investigated in a group of 1157 female residents (age range 15 to 45 years) of a defined geographic area (Belgrade) during a 4-years period (1988-1991). The rate of infection increased with age, ranging from 57% to 93%, with an overall mean of 77%. However, it decreased significantly over the study period (p < 0.01). Of the potential risk factors examined, regression analysis showed that the following: age (relative risk (RR): 1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02-1.37, p = 0.022), undercooked meat consumption (RR: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.2-2.86, p = 0.001), and the year of entry into the study (RR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.6-0.8, p = 0.000) were significantly associated with infection. However, while the consumption of undercooked meat contributed to the frequency of infection in the whole group, its significance increased with the degree of education but decreased with age, and was greater in women residing in the suburbs. In addition, in women below age 20, exposure to soil (farming, gardening) was significantly associated with infection (RR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.12-1.97, p = 0.037). Since cats are the single source of toxoplasma oocysts, the above finding indicates that cats are an epidemiologically significant source of environmental contamination in Belgrade. However, cat ownership itself as a criterion of contact with cats was not associated with infection (p = 0.326). In the absence of a general screening in pregnancy program in Yugoslavia, these data point out the groups of pregnant women at the highest risk of infection and provide a basis for a region-appropriate educational program to prevent congenital toxoplasmosis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Predictors of left ventricular thrombus formation and disappearance after anterior wall myocardial infarction.

AIMS: This study sought to determine predictors of left ventricular thrombus formation and resolution after acute anterior wall myocardial infarction. METHODS AND RESULTS: We have analysed clinical, echocardiographic and angiographic data in 53 consecutive patients with anterior myocardial infarction. Two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic examinations were performed on days 1, 2, 3 and 7, after 3 and 6 weeks, and 3, 6, and 12 months following infarction. Coronary angiography was performed in 44 patients before hospital discharge. Left ventricular thrombus was detected in 30/53 patients (29/30 in the first week after infarction). Univariate analysis showed that left ventricular thrombus formation was associated with a higher initial end-systolic volume index (beta = 0.04, P = 0.001), and end-diastolic volume index (beta = 0.03, P = 0.03), a larger infarct perimeter (beta = 0.02, P = 0.01), a lower initial ejection fraction (beta = 0.06, P =0.001), a higher initial wall motion score index (beta = 1.75, P = 0.023), a higher peak creatine kinase level (beta = 3.90, P = 0.01), Killip class >1 (beta = 1.11, P = 0.003), infarct expansion (beta = 0.78, P = 0.04), occluded infarct-related artery (beta = -0.87, P = 0.04) and non-thrombolytic therapy (beta = -0.76, P = 0.047). According to the Cox proportional regression model, independent predictors of thrombus formation after anterior myocardial infarction were high end-systolic volume index (beta = 0.06, P = 0.001) and high peak creatine kinase level (beta = 5.17, P = 0.046). Thrombus disappeared in 11/30 (36.7%) patients during one-year echocardiographic follow-up. The only independent predictor of thrombus disappearance after acute myocardial infarction was the absence of apical dyskinesis 6 weeks after infarction (beta = -1.53, P = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that the best predictor of left ventricular thrombus formation after acute anterior myocardial infarction is a high initial end-systolic volume. Thrombus resolution is more likely to occur in patients without apical dyskinesis at the end of the healing phase of infarction.

Anticoagulants↗