Coronary collateral vessel development after acute myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to assess the factors affecting collateral vessel development in patients with acute myocardial infarction.METHODS AND RESULTS: Between May 2001 and April 2004, coronary angiography was performed on 74 patients following myocardial infarction. Only patients with total proximal occlusion in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) or right coronary artery (RCA) in angiography were included in the study. Patients were separated into two groups according to the development of coronary collateral circulation (CCC). In group 1, CCC was inadequate (Rentrop 0, 1 and 2); and in group 2, CCC was adequate (Rentrop 3). Although CCC was adequate in 20 of 28 (71%) patients who had RCA occlusion (P=0.015), it was adequate in only 14 of 46 (30%) patients who had LAD occlusion (P>0.05). The presence of angina pectoris was positively correlated with the development of CCC (P=0.03). Diabetes mellitus (DM) was present in 14 of 40 (35%) patients with inadequate CCC and four of 34 (11%) patients with adequate CCC. The presence of DM was significantly higher in the group with inadequate development of CCC (P=0.017).

CONCLUSIONS

While DM was associated with an inadequate development of CCC, the presence of angina pectoris and RCA occlusion were associated with an adequate development of CCC.     

Hematological parameters and coronary collateral circulation in patients with stable coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND:

Although hematological parameters have been associated with prognosis in patients with various cardiovascular diseases, their relationship with coronary collateral (CC) circulation in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) is unknown.

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the relationship between hematological parameters and CC vessel development in patients with stable CAD.

METHODS:

A total of 96 patients who underwent coronary angiography were retrospectively enrolled. All study participants had at least one occluded major coronary artery. Development of CCs was classified using the method of Rentrop. Rentrop grades of 0 and 1 indicate poor CCs, whereas grades 2 and 3 indicate good CCs. Hematological parameters, including mean platelet volume (MPV) and neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratio, were measured. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent variables.

RESULTS:

The MPV and N/L ratio were significantly higher in the poor CC group compared with the good CC group. Negative correlations were found in the analyses comparing Rentrop score with MPV and N/L ratio (r=−0.274; P=0.012 and r=−0.339; P=0.001, respectively). In multivariate analysis, the N/L ratio was independently related to CC circulation (OR 0.762 [95% CI 0.587 to 0.988]; P=0.04).

CONCLUSION:

The results suggest that N/L ratio and MPV are associated with poor CCs, and a high N/L ratio is a significant predictor of poor CC development in patients with stable CAD.     

Low density lipoprotein cholesterol level inversely correlated with coronary flow velocity reserve in patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Objectives To evaluate the association of coronary artery endothelial function and plasma levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Methods We investigated 90 participants from our institution between October 2007 to March 2010: non-DM (n = 60) and DM (n = 30). As an indicator of coronary endothelial dysfunction, we used non-invasive Doppler echocardiography to quantify coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) in the distal part of the left descending artery after rest and after intravenous adenosine administration. Results Plasma level of LDL-C was significantly higher in patients with DM than in non-DM (3.21±0.64 vs. 2.86±0.72 mmo/L, P < 0.05), but HDL-C level did not differ between the groups (1.01 ± 0.17 vs. 1.05 ± 0.19 mmo/L). Furthermore, the CFVR value was lower in DM patients than non-diabetics (2.45 ± 0.62 vs. 2.98 ± 0.68, P < 0.001). Plasma levels of LDL-C were negatively correlated with CFVR in all subjects (r = -0.35, P < 0.001; 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.52 - -0.15) and in the non-DM (r = -0.29, P < 0.05; 95% CI:-0.51 - -0.05), with an even stronger negative correlation in the DM group (r = -0.42, P < 0.05; 95% CI:-0.68 - -0.06). Age (β = 0.019, s = 0.007, sβ = -0435, 95% CI: -0.033 - -0.055, P = 0.008), LDL-C (β = -0.217, s = 0.105,sβ= -0.282, 95% CI: -0.428 - -0.005, P = 0.045) remained independently correlated with CFVR in the DM group. However, we found no correlation between HDL-C level and CFVR in any group. Conclusions Diabetes may contribute to coronary artery disease (CAD) by inducing dysfunction of the coronary artery endothelium. Increased LDL-C level may adversely impair coronary endothelial function in DM. HDL-C may lose its endothelial-protective effects, in part as a result of pathological conditions, especially under abnormal glucose metabolism.     

Prognostic value of coronary artery calcium score in patients with stable an-gina pectoris after percutaneous coronary intervention

Objectives To evaluate the prognostic value of the coronary artery calcium （CAC） score in patients with stable angina pectoris （SAP） who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention （PCI）. Methods A total of 334 consecutive patients with SAP who underwent first PCI following multi-slice computer tomography （MSCT） were enrolled from our institution between January 2007 and June 2012. The CAC score was calculated according to the standard Agatston calcium scoring algorithm. Complex PCI was defined as use of high pressure bal-loon, kissing balloon and/or rotablator. Procedure-related complications included dissection, occlusion, perforation, no/slow flow and emer-gency coronary artery bypass grafting. Main adverse cardiac events （MACE） were defined as a combined end point of death, non-fatal myo-cardial infarction, target lesion revascularization and rehospitalization for cardiac ischemic events. Results Patients with a CAC score〉300 （n=145） had significantly higher PCI complexity （13.1%vs. 5.8%, P=0.017） and rate of procedure-related complications （17.2%vs. 7.4%, P=0.005） than patients with a CAC score≤300 （n=189）. After a median follow-up of 22.5 months （4-72 months）, patients with a CAC score≤300 differ greatly than those patients with CAC score＆gt;300 in cumulative non-events survival rates （88.9 vs. 79.0%, Log rank 4.577, P=0.032）. After adjusted for other factors, the risk of MACE was significantly higher [hazard ratio （HR）：4.3, 95%confidence inter-val （95%CI）：2.4-8.2, P=0.038] in patients with a CAC score〉300 compared to patients with a lower CAC score. Conclusions The CAC score is an independent predictor for MACE in SAP patients who underwent PCI and indicates complexity of PCI and proce-dure-related complications.     

The importance of depression and alcohol use in coronary artery bypass graft surgery patients: risk factors for delirium and poorer quality of life

Objective To investigate whether depression, anxiety and stress increase the risk for delirium and poor quality of life (QOL) after coronary artery bypass (CABG) surgery. Methods A total of 180 CABG patients (mean age of 63.5 ± 10.1 years, 82.2% males) completed baseline and postoperative self-report questionnaires to assess distress and QOL. Incident delirium was diagnosed postoperatively with a structured clinical interview and patients were monitored every day post-operatively for confusion and disturbance in consciousness. Results Delirium developed in 63 persons (35% of sample). After adjustment for covariates, delirium was significantly associated with depression [odds ratio (OR): 1.08; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03–1.13, P = 0.003], anxiety (OR: 1.07; 95% CI: 1.02–1.13, P = 0.01) and stress (OR: 1.05; 95% CI: 1.00–1.09, P = 0.03). Preoperative depression scores were associated with poorer QOL including bodily pain (β = -0.39, P = 0.013), vitality (β=-0.32, P = 0.020), social functioning (β = -0.51, P ≤ 0.001), emotional role function (β = -0.44, P = 0.003) and general health (β = -0.33, P = 0.038). Among the covariates, harmful levels of alcohol use was consistently associated with poorer QOL. Conclusions Depression and harmful levels of alcohol use were consistently associated with poorer QOL whereas depression, anxiety and stress were associated with delirium risk. These findings point to further research examining depression and harmful levels of alcohol use in coronary heart disease populations undergoing coronary revascularization.     

Neopterin is associated with plaque inflammation and destabilisation in human coronary atherosclerotic lesions

Background

Previous studies have shown that recent activation of the inflammatory response in coronary atherosclerotic lesions contributes to rapid progressive plaque destabilisation. Neopterin, a by‐product of the guanosine triphosphate pathway, is produced by activated macrophages and serves as an activation marker for monocytes/macrophages.

Objective

To elucidate the role of neopterin in coronary plaque destabilisation by immunohistochemical study of the presence of neopterin in coronary atherectomy specimens obtained from patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP) and unstable angina pectoris (UAP).

Patients and methods

All patients underwent atherectomy of the primary atherosclerotic lesions responsible for SAP (n = 25) and UAP (n = 25). Frozen samples were studied with antibodies against smooth muscle cells, macrophages, T cells, neutrophils and neopterin.

Results

In 22/25 patients with UAP, abundant neopterin‐positive macrophages were found at the sites of coronary culprit lesions. However, in 25 lesions from patients with SAP, only 11 lesions showed neopterin positivity. Quantitatively, the neopterin‐positive macrophage score was significantly higher (p<0.001) in patients with UAP than in patients with SAP. Moreover, the neopterin‐positive macrophage score showed a significant positive correlation with the number of neutrophils or T cells, respectively (neutrophils, r = 0.55, p<0.001; T cells, r = 0.70, p<0.001).

Conclusions

Neopterin can be considered as one of the significant factors in the process of plaque inflammation and destabilisation in human coronary atherosclerotic lesions. Its exact role in the process needs to be investigated further.     

Use of coronary CT angiography in the diagnosis of patients with suspected coronary artery disease: findings and clinical indications

Objective To investigate the clinical applications of coronary CT angiography in patients with suspected coronary artery disease and identify factors that affect CT findings. Methods Medical records of patients suspected of coronary artery disease over a period of 12 months from a tertiary teaching hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Patient age, sex (male/female), duration of symptoms and abnormal rates of coronary CT angiography scans were analysed to investigate the relationship among these parameters. The patients by age were characterized into five groups: under 36 years, 36–45 years, 46–55 years, 56–65 years and more than 66 years, respectively; while the duration of symptoms was also classified into five groups: less than one week, one week to one month, one to three months, three to six months and more than six months. Results Of the 880 patient records reviewed, 800 met the above study criteria. Five hundred and forty nine patients demonstrated abnormal CT findings (68.6%). There was no significant difference in the percentage of abnormal CT findings based on patient sex and the duration of symptoms (P = 0.14). The abnormal rates of coronary CT angiography, however, increased significantly with increasing age (P < 0.001); with patients over 65 years of age 2.5 times more likely to have an abnormal CT scan relative to a patient under 45 years. A significant difference was found between abnormal coronary CT angiography and the duration of symptoms (P = 0.012). Conclusions Our results indicate coronary CT angiography findings are significantly related to the patient age group and duration of symptoms. Clinical referral for coronary CT angiography of patients with suspected coronary artery disease needs to be justified with regard to the judicious use of this imaging modality.     

The relationship of serum erythropoietin level with coronary collateral grade

Background

Erythropoietin has been shown to induce neovascularization and protect against ischemic vascular injury. We investigated whether a higher serum erythropoietin (EPO) level is related to better coronary collateral vessel grade.

Methods

Ninety-nine patients with stable angina pectoris who have at least 1 coronary stenosis of equal to or greater than 70% at coronary angiography were prospectively enrolled. Serum EPO and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels were studied. Coronary collateral degree was graded according to the Rentrop method. Patients with grade 2-3 collateral degree were included in the good collateral group and formed Group I. The patients with grade 0-1 collateral degree were included in the poor collateral group and formed Group II.

Results

The serum EPO level was significantly higher in the good collateral group (17.3 ± 9.3 mU/mL vs 11.7 ± 5.0 mU/mL; P < 0.001). There was also a positive correlation between serum EPO level and Rentrop score (r = 0.39; P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, serum EPO level (odds ratio [OR] 1.336; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.120-1.593; P = 0.001), oxygen saturation (OR 0.638; 95% CI, 0.422-0.963; P = 0.033) and presence of chronic total occlusion (CTO) (OR 26.7; 95% CI, 3.874-184.6; P = 0.001) were independently related to well-developed coronary collaterals.

Conclusions

Higher serum EPO level is related to better coronary collateral development. Erythropoietin may have a positive effect on the development of collaterals and may provide a new agent for the treatment strategies to enhance coronary collateral vessel development.     

Perioperative myocardial ischemia in coronary artery disease patients undergoing abdominal nonvascular surgery

BACKGROUND:

The incidence of perioperative myocardial ischemia (PMI) is the highest in patients who have coronary artery disease, and it is the best predictor of intrahospital morbidity and mortality.

OBJECTIVE:

To identify predictors of PMI in patients who have coronary artery disease and are undergoing abdominal nonvascular surgery.

METHODS:

A prospective, observational, clinical study of 111 consecutive patients with angiographically verified coronary artery disease, scheduled for open abdominal nonvascular surgery, was conducted. Patients received general anesthesia and were monitored by continuous electrocardiogram during surgery and immediately postsurgery (72 h period) in the intensive care unit at the University Clinical Center (Belgrade, Serbia). All of the patients had 12-lead electrocardiography immediately after the surgery, on postoperative days 1, 2 and 7, and one day before discharge from hospital. The patients were monitored until the 30th postoperative day.

RESULTS:

A total of 24 predictors for PMI were analyzed. The Pearson’s χ² test and a binomial logistic regression model were used for statistical analysis. A significant difference in the incidence of PMI was found in the coronary artery disease patients with an associated risk factor (14 of 24 risk factors) compared with those without the risk factor. In particular, a highly significant difference in the incidence of PMI was found in coronary artery disease patients with angina pectoris, compared with those without angina pectoris.

CONCLUSION:

Using the multivariate logistic regression analysis, angina pectoris was an independent predictor of PMI.     

Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting using a bilateral internal mammary artery Y graft

Objectives To evaluate the outcome of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG) using a bilateral internal mammary artery (BIMA) Y configuration graft to achieve total arterial myocardial revascularization. Methods From October 2002 to December 2008, 208 patients (196 males and 12 females) underwent OPCABG using a BIMA Y configuration graft. The average age of the patients was 56.5 ± 11.3 years, with an age range of 33–78 years. A total of 167 (80.2%) cases had triple-vessel disease. Left main stem disease was found in 33 (15.9%) cases, and double-vessel disease was found in 8 (3.9%) cases. The semi-skeletonization technique was used to harvest the two internal mammary arteries (IMAs), and then the free right internal mammary artery was connected end-to-side to the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) in situ to complete the Y configuration graft. Off-pump and sequential anastomosis methods were used to perform coronary artery bypass surgery in all patients. Graft patency was assessed intra-operatively with the HT311 transit time flowmeter. Results A total of 728 distal anastomoses were performed in 208 patients, with the average being 3.5 ± 1.3 per person. No one died or experienced recurrent angina within 30 days after the operation. Conclusions OPCABG using the BIMA Y graft was safe and effective to achieve total arterial revascularization. This method avoids surgical operation on the ascending aorta and other incisions.     

Is frailty associated with short-term outcomes for elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome?

Background Frailty is a new prognostic factor in cardiovascular medicine due to the aging and increasingly complex nature of elderly patients. It is useful and meaningful to prospectively analyze the manner in which frailty predicts short-term outcomes for elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods Patients aged ? 65 years, with diagnosis of ACS from cardiology department and geriatrics department were included from single-center. Clinical data including geriatrics syndromes were collected using Comprehensive Geriatrics Assessment. Frailty was defined according to the Clinical Frailty Scale and the impact of the co-morbidities on risk was quantified by the coronary artery disease (CAD)—specific index. Patients were followed up by clinical visit or telephone consultation and the median follow-up time is 120 days. Following-up items included all-cause mortality, unscheduled return visit, in-hospital and recurrent major adverse cardiovascular events. Multivariable regression survival analysis was performed using Cox regression. Results Of the 352 patients, 152 (43.18%) were considered frail according to the study instrument (5?7 on the scale), and 93 (26.42%) were considered moderately or severely frail (6?7 on the scale). Geriatrics syndromes including incontinence, fall history, visual impairment, hearing impairment, constipation, chronic pain, sleeping disorder, dental problems, anxiety or depression, and delirium were more frequently in frail patients than in non-frail patients (P = 0.000, 0.031, 0.009, 0.014, 0.000, 0.003, 0.022, 0.000, 0.074, and 0.432, respectively). Adjusted for sex, age, severity of coronary artery diseases (left main coronary artery lesion or not) and co-morbidities (CAD specific index) by Cox survival analysis, frailty was found to be strongly and independently associated with risk for the primary composite outcomes: all-cause mortality [Hazard Ratio (HR) = 5.393; 95% CI: 1.477?19.692, P = 0.011] and unscheduled return visit (HR = 2.832; 95% CI: 1.140?7.037, P = 0.025). Conclusions Comprehensive Geriatrics Assessment and Clinical Frail Scale were useful in evaluation of elderly patients with ACS. Frailty was strongly and independently associated with short-term outcomes for elderly patients with ACS.     

Relationship between HLA molecules and late restenosis after coronary stent placement

Objective

The objective of this study is to confirm whether there is relation between the human leucocyte antigen (HLA) locus and restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) holds in our patient population and whether it can be useful as a prognostic factor.

Methods

We examined the HLA phenotypes in 46 consecutive patients (39 men, 7 women, mean age of 57 ± 9 years) who had successful stent implantation in the coronary artery. Selective coronary arteriography was performed 6 months after coronary stenting to assess the presence of restenosis. The HLA phenotyping was performed for HLA-A,-B,-C antigens by Terasaki microlymphocytotoxicity technique and for HLA-DR alleles with PCR-SSP technique.

Results

Restenosis(R+) was present in 12 (26.1%) patients (11 men, 1 woman, mean age of 57 ± 10 years). For HLA Class I antigens frequency of HLA-B62 and HLA-CW2 antigen was slightly higher in restenotic patients but did not reach statistical significance. For HLA-DR alleles restenotic patients had higher frequencies for HLA-DRB1^∗01(R+ %25, R− %14.7), and HLA-DR11(R+ %41.7, R− %20.6), without reaching statistical significance and lower frequencies for DR7(R+ %0, R− %17.6) and D13(R+%8.3, R− %32.4) and HLA-DR53 (R+ %25, R− %35.3) without reaching statistical significance.

Conclusion

In conclusion, results show that there was no relationship between the development of restenosis and HLA-subtypes.     

Clinical features of coronary artery ectasia in the elderly

Objective To investigate the incidence, imaging and clinical characteristics in elderly patients with coronary artery ectasia （CAE）. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with CAE who underwent coronary angiography between January 2006 and December 2012. According to age, the enrolled patients were divided into two groups （elderly group, age≥ 65 years; non-elderly group, age 〈 65 years）. The clinical feature, imaging characteristics and the 5-year survival rate of the two groups were compared.Results The preva-lence of CAE in elderly patients was 0.33%. Patients in elderly group were found to have significantly higher proportion of female （30.1%vs. 10.1%,P〈 0.001）, three-vessel disease （60.5%vs. 45.2%,P = 0.003） and localized ectasia （55.0%vs. 40.2%,P = 0.003）. In addition, body mass index （20.90 ± 2.71 kg/m2vs. 22.31 ± 2.98 kg/m2,P 〈 0.001） and percentage of current smokers （45.0%vs. 64.6%,P 〈 0.001） were significantly lower in elderly group. Cumulative survival curves demonstrated reduced 5-year cumulative survival at the follow-up in the elderly group compared with the non-elderly group （88.0%vs. 96.0%,P = 0.002）. But the 5-year event free survival rate failed to show a significant difference between the two groups （31.0%vs. 35.0%,P= 0.311）.ConclusionThe prevalence of CAE in elderly patients was 0.33%, which was about 1/3 of the entire numbers of CAE patients. There were significant differences between the elderly and the non-elderly patients with CAE in terms of coronary artery disease risk factors and coronary artery ectatic characteristics. CAE might be asso-ciated with increased mortality risk in the elderly.     

64-Slice CT coronary angiography in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome

Background

A high diagnostic accuracy of 64‐slice CT coronary angiography (CTCA) has been reported in selected patients with stable angina pectoris, but only scant information is available in patients with non‐ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Objectives

To study the diagnostic performance of 64‐slice CTCA in patients with non‐ST elevation ACS.

Patients and methods

64‐slice CTCA was performed in 104 patients (mean (SD) age 59 (9) years) with non‐ST elevation ACS. Two independent, blinded observers assessed all coronary arteries for stenosis, using conventional quantitative angiography as a reference. Coronary lesions with ⩾50% luminal narrowing were classified as significant.

Results

Conventional coronary angiography demonstrated the absence of significant disease in 15% (16/104) of patients, and the presence of single‐vessel disease in 40% (42/104) and multivessel disease in 44% (46/104) of patients. Sensitivity for detecting significant coronary stenoses on a patient‐by‐patient analysis was 100% (88/88; 95% CI 95 to 100), specificity 75% (12/16; 95% CI 47 to 92), and positive and negative predictive values were 96% (88/92; 95% CI 89 to 99) and 100% (12/12; 95% CI 70 to 100), respectively.

Conclusion

64‐slice CTCA has a high sensitivity to detect significant coronary stenoses, and is reliable to exclude the presence of significant coronary artery disease in patients who present with a non‐ST elevation ACS.Patients with a non‐ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are usually stratified into high and low risk for progression to myocardial infarction or death on the basis of their clinical presentation, ECG changes, biomarkers, electrical or haemodynamical instability, and presence of diabetes mellitus.¹ An invasive management strategy, including conventional coronary angiography (CCA) and revascularisation, is recommended in high‐risk patients, whereas a conservative strategy with ischaemia‐guided revascularisation is recommended in low‐risk patients.^1,2,3 We investigated the feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of 64‐slice CT coronary angiography (CTCA) in 104 patients with non‐ST elevation ACS as a first step to evaluate the potential decision‐making role of CT in this patient cohort.     

Correlation between serum free fatty acids levels and Gensini score in elderly patients with coronary heart disease

Objectives To investigate the relationship between serum fxee fatty acids （FFAs） levels and the severity of coronary artery lesions in elderly patients with coronary heart disease （CAD）. Methods A total of 172 elderly patients who underwent coronary angiography were divided into CAD group （n = 128） and non-CAD group （n = 44） according to the results of coronary angiography. Serum FFAs and lipid levels were measured and the Gensini score were calculated. Results No matter the differences between age, gender and the usage of stat- ins or not, there was no statistical significance in FFAs levels （P 〉 0.05）. In terms of the Gensini score, it was higher in patients aged 70-79 years than in patients 60-69 years old [15.00 （5.00, 34.00） vs. 10.00 （2.00, 24.00）, P 〈 0.05], higher in men than women [14.00 （4.00, 34.00） vs. 7.00 （2.50, 19.75）, P 〈 0.05], and higher in patients on statins [13.50 （4.25, 33.50）vs. 6.50 （2.00, 18.00）, P 〈 0.05]. The serum FFAs lev- els [449.50 （299.00, 624.75） mEq/L vs. 388.00 （258.50, 495.25） mEq/L, P 〈 0.05J and Gensini score [17.50 （8.00, 41.75） vs. 1.00 （0, 5.00）, P 〈 0.05] were higher in the CAD group than in the non-CAD group. In the CAD group, there was no statistical significance in FFAs levels among patients with different numbers of diseased coronary vessels （P 〉 0.05）. Furthermore, the FFAs levels were positively correlated with the Gensini score （r = 0.394, P = 0.005）. Regression analysis showed that the FFAs levels were related to the Gensini score independently after adjusting for the other risk factors. Conclusions The serum FFAs levels were associated with the Gensini score in elderly patients with CAD. It might indicate FFAs as a biomarker predicting the severity of coronary artery lesions.     

Assessment of myocardial perfusion for detection of coronary artery stenoses by steady-state, free-precession magnetic resonance first-pass imaging

Objective

To evaluate the diagnostic impact of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) first‐pass perfusion using steady‐state, free‐precession (SSFP) sequences with parallel imaging (SENSE) for detection of coronary stenoses.

Design

Prospective observational study.

Setting

University hospital, cardiac MRI and catheterisation laboratories.

Patients and methods

228 patients were examined with coronary angiography and MRI (1.5 T Intera CV). A three‐slice, short‐axis SSFP perfusion scan with a saturation prepulse was performed during infusion of adenosine and at rest followed by myocardial scar (late enhancement) imaging. Gadolinium‐DTPA was given at 0.1 mmol/kg body weight. Perfusion images were visually assessed. Analysis for myocardial hypoperfusion was done according to patient group and according to vessel.

Results

Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MRI first‐pass perfusion for detection of a coronary artery stenosis (>50% luminal narrowing) in the total patient group were 93.0%, 85.7%, 91.2% and for a significant lesion (>70% luminal narrowing) 96.1%, 72.0%, 88.2%, respectively. Based on 536 coronary artery territories without myocardial scar, the sensitivity of MRI perfusion analysis for detection of a significant lesion was for the left anterior descending artery 91.4%, for the circumflex artery 81.6% and for the right coronary artery 65.1% (p<0.001).

Conclusions

MRI first‐pass perfusion analysis using an SSFP sequence with three myocardial slices was a highly accurate diagnostic method for detection of coronary artery stenoses. This MRI technique can be included in daily practice and has the potential to guide the indication for invasive coronary angiography.     

Impact of estimated HDL particle size via the ratio of HDL-C and apoprotein A-I on short-term prognosis of diabetic patients with stable coronary artery disease

BackgroundRevascularization and statin therapy are routinely used in the management of stable coronary artery disease. However, it is unclear whether the estimated high-density lipoprotein （HDL） particle size （eHDL-S）, the ratio of HDL cholesterol （HDL-C） to apoprotein A-I （apoA-I）, is associated with the clinical outcomes of diabetic patients with stablecoronary artery disease （CAD）.MethodsWe per-formed a prospective cohort study of 328 patients diagnosed with stable CAD by coronary angiography. Patients were followed up for a mean duration of 12 months. The patients were divided into three groups by the tertiles of eHDL-S： low eHDL-S （〈 0.71,n= 118）; interme-diate eHDL-S （0.71-0.79,n= 111）; and high eHDL-S （〉 0.79,n= 99）. The associations between the baseline eHDL-S and short-term out-comes were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional regression.Results The low eHDL-S group had higher trig-lyceride, hemoglobin A1c, uric acid, and leukocyte count than the other groups. During the follow-up period, 47/328 patients experienced a pre-specified outcome. According to the Kaplan-Meier analysis, the incidence of pre-specified outcomes was lower in the high eHDL-S group （P = 0.04）. However, eHDL-S was not independently associated with adverse outcomes in Cox proportional hazards regression （haz-ard ratio （HR）： 0.23, 95% confidence interval （95% CI）： 0.01-11.24,P = 0.493）.ConclusionAlthough the eHDL-S was associated with inflammatory biomarkers, it was not independently associated with the short-term prognosis of diabetic patients with stable CAD in the era of revascularization and potent statin therapy.     

Chronic kidney disease and coronary artery vulnerable plaques

Summary

Background and objectives

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a risk factor of cardiovascular disease. The number of yellow plaques is a predictor of future cardiovascular events. We assumed that CKD might raise the risk of cardiovascular events by increasing the number of yellow plaques. Therefore, we compared the number of yellow plaques between patients with and without CKD.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

Consecutive 136 patients with acute myocardial infarction who received percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and angioscopic examination were analyzed. The infarct-related artery was angioscopically examined. The number of yellow plaques, maximum yellow color grade of detected yellow plaques, and prevalence of disrupted yellow plaques in nonculprit segments were compared between patients with and without CKD.

Results

The number of yellow plaques was significantly larger in CKD than in non-CKD patients (median [interquartile range]: 4.0 [2.0 to 6.0] versus 2.0 [1.0 to 4.0], P = 0.001). Maximum yellow color grade and prevalence of disrupted plaques in the nonculprit segments were not different between patients with and without CKD. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed CKD as an independent risk of multiple yellow plaques per vessel (odds ratio 3.49, 95% confidence interval 1.10 to 11.10, P = 0.03).

Conclusion

CKD was an independent risk factor of multiple coronary yellow plaques, suggesting that patients with CKD would have a higher risk of coronary events because they had more yellow plaques than patients without CKD.     

El polimorfismo de un solo nucleótido PLAU P141L se asocia con el grado de circulación colateral en pacientes con enfermedad arterial coronaria

Introduction and objectives

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator, which is encoded by the PLAU gene, plays a prominent role during collateral arterial growth. We investigated whether the PLAU P141L (C > T) polymorphism, which causes a mutation in the kringle domain of the protein, is associated with coronary collateral circulation in a cohort of 676 patients with coronary artery disease.

Methods

The polymorphism was genotyped in blood samples using a TaqMan-based genotyping assay, and collateral circulation was assessed by the Rentrop method. Multivariate logistic regression models adjusted by clinically relevant variables to estimate odds ratios were used to examine associations of PLAU P141L allelic variants and genotypes with collateral circulation.

Results

Patients with poor collateral circulation (Rentrop 0-1; n = 547) showed a higher frequency of the TT genotype than those with good collateral circulation (Rentrop 2-3; n = 129; P = .020). The T allele variant was also more common in patients with poor collateral circulation (P = .006). The odds ratio of having poorly developed collaterals in patients bearing the T allele (adjusted for clinically relevant variables) was statistically significant under the dominant model (odds ratio =1.83 [95% confidence interval, 1.16-2.90]; P = .010) and the additive model (odds ratio =1.73 [95% confidence interval, 1.14-2.62]; P = .009).

Conclusions

An association was found between coronary collateral circulation and the PLAU P141L polymorphism. Patients with the 141L variant are at greater risk of developing poor coronary collateral circulation.Full English text available from: www.revespcardiol.org/en     

Sex differences in resource use after on-pump and off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery: A propensity score-matched cohort

BACKGROUND:

Previous studies have demonstrated that off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB) is associated with less use of hospital resources compared with on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (ONCAB).

OBJECTIVE:

To determine whether there is a sex effect between the two procedures regarding resource utilization.

METHODS:

Between 1996 and 2004, 13,522 patients (10,637 men and 2885 women) underwent coronary artery bypass grafting surgery at the Toronto General Hospital (Toronto, Ontario). Among the men, 10,121 patients underwent ONCAB and 516 underwent OPCAB. The female population consisted of 2723 ONCAB and 162 OPCAB patients. Both groups were matched to standard preoperative risk factors. A propensity score macro-matched 471 OPCAB men to 471 ONCAB men, and 148 OPCAB women to 148 ONCAB women.

RESULTS:

The mean (± SD) postoperative length of stay (7.5±6.5 days versus 6.4±5.5 days; P<0.0001) was significantly higher in ONCAB compared with OPCAB in the male population. The mean length of stay in the intensive care unit and the mean ventilation time was similar between the groups. However, in the female population, there were no differences in mean posoperative length of stay (8±5.9 days versus 8±6 days; P=0.4), mean length of stay in the intensive care unit (43±38 h versus 53±81 h; P=0.4) or mean ventilation time (9.8±9.7 h versus 11±13 h; P=0.8).

CONCLUSION:

These results suggest that the benefits of OPCAB in terms of hospital resource use are influenced by sex. The potential beneficial effects are not demonstrated in the female population.