Control of smoking and early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of diabetes may reduce the burden of AMI-related morbidity and mortality.

Objectives: To identify the characteristics of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), their hospital management and in-hospital outcomes, through a prospective registry system in Kuwait. Subjects and Methods: A registry involving all 7 general hospitals in Kuwait was set up. Consecutive patients diagnosed as having ACS over a period of 6 months were enrolled. Results: Of 2,129 patients enrolled, 718 (34%) had ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), 576 (27%) non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and 835 (39%) unstable angina (UA). Thrombolytic therapy was used in 556 (77%) patients with STEMI. The median time from diagnostic electrocardiogram to administration of thrombolytic therapy was 38 min. Almost all patients with ACS (2,050, 96%) received aspirin during hospitalization. Only a minority received clopidogrel, 18 (3%) STEMI, 36 (6%) NSTEMI and 96 (12%) UA patients. The use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists was minimal (38 patients, 2%). β-Blockers were used in 1,473 (69%) patients, while 982 (46%) received angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Coronary angiography during hospitalization was performed in 119 (17%), 120 (21%) and 126 (15%) patients with STEMI, NSTEMI and UA, respectively. In-hospital mortality occurred in 31 (4%) myocardial infarction patients and 4 (0.5%) UA patients (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: This registry has enabled us to determine the incidence and characteristics of ACS patients in Kuwait. It has also enabled us to identify some barriers that we need to overcome for the full implementation of published guidelines for the management of patients with ACS.

Objectives: To report a rare case of moyamoya syndrome with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Clinical Presentation and Intervention: A 41-year-old woman was admitted with sudden onset of left-sided hemiparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography of the brain showed characteristic features of moyamoya vessels. Laboratory investigations revealed raised levels of anticardiolipin antibody. She made a complete and uneventful recovery with aspirin and intensive physiotherapy over a period of 2 weeks. Conclusion: The association of APS and moyamoya disease may present a dilemma in management. While APS is often considered to be an indication for giving anticoagulation, a trial of antiplatelet agents is preferable to anticoagulation because of the risk of bleeding from the fragile moyamoya vessels.

Background: Diabetes mellitus complicates 1% -2% of all pregnancies, and associates with high perinatal morbidity. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is treatable condition, and women who have adequate glycemic control during pregnancy can effectively decrease the adverse outcomes of GDM. Objectives: This study was designed to compare the serum fructosamine, and the glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), in monitoring the glycemic control in GDM. Patients and Methods: 1516 women with GDM included, and were advised for dietary modification to achieve proper glycemic control. If the target glucose levels were not reached by the diet regimen or by the dietary modification, insulin was prescribed for the studied women. The average values of the pre-and post-prandial glucose levels were calculated, and the insulin doses were adjusted to achieve the target glucose values during the antenatal visits. HbA1c, and fructosamine were measured to assess the glycemic control for the studied women. Results: The fructosamine, and the HbA1c were significantly high in the uncontrolled GDM compared to controlled group, and there was positive significant correlation between fractuosamine, and HbA1c in monitoring the glycemic control in GDM (r = 0.93, and P = 0.001). The

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