Value of right-sided cardiac catheterization in patients undergoing left-sided cardiac catheterization for evaluation of coronary artery disease

The value of right-sided cardiac catheterization was assessed prospectively in 200 patients undergoing left-sided catheterization for evaluation of known or suspected coronary artery disease. Before catheterization, data from right-sided catheterization was not felt to be necessary for clinical management. There were 6 +/- 2 extra minutes of procedure time and 86 +/- 63 extra seconds of fluoroscopy time used. Abnormalities were detected in 69 (35%) patients. These findings were unexpected in 37 of these patients and in 3 patients, further evaluation was prompted. However, management was altered in only 3 (1.5%) patients as a result of data obtained by right-sided catheterization. In conclusion this additional procedure rarely adds clinically useful information about patients undergoing left-sided catheterization and angiography for coronary artery disease without a clinical indication for right-sided catheterization.     

Reduced pulmonary function is associated with central arterial stiffness in men.

The association of impaired pulmonary function with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality has been reported in several prospective studies. The nature of this association and the mechanisms underlying it are unknown. Both atherosclerosis and central arterial stiffness might be involved. We recently reported, in a 4-yr longitudinal study, that reduced lung function predicts the development of carotid atherosclerotic plaques. In the present study, we report the associations of aortic stiffness with lung function measurements. One hundred and ninety-four men, aged 30 to 70 yr and free of coronary heart disease, who volunteered for a standard health examination were included. FEV(1) and FVC were used to assess lung function. Aortic stiffness was estimated from the carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity (PWV), which increases proportionally with an increase in aortic stiffness. PWV was significantly and negatively associated with FEV(1) and FVC (partial correlation coefficients adjusted for age and height: -0.27 [p < 0.001] and -0.24 [p < 0.001], respectively). For every 1 SD increase in PWV (2.5 m/s), FEV(1) decreased by 195.2 +/- 50.1 ml (p < 0.001) in an age- and height-adjusted analysis. The corresponding decrease in FVC was 190.4 +/- 55.0 ml (p < 0.001). Further adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors (weight, smoking habits, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, and hypertension) did not markedly alter these results. In addition, negative associations of PWV with lung function measurements were observed within each category of cardiovascular risk factors. This study suggests that reduced pulmonary function is independently associated with aortic stiffness in men. The interrelations between pulmonary and vascular alterations should be thoroughly investigated.     

Prevalence of renal artery stenosis in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization

To investigate the prevalence of significant renal artery stenosis (RAS ≥50%), and to identify clinical predictors for significant RAS in patients with an elevated cardiovascular risk, such as those affected by ischemic heart disease. In patients with an elevated cardio-vascular risk, both atherosclerotic renovascular disease and coronary artery disease (CAD) are likely to occur. Prospectively from April 2007 to March 2008, all consecutive patients with ischemic heart disease undergoing non-emergent cardiac catheterization were also evaluated for atherosclerotic RAS by renal arteriography. A RAS ≥50% was considered as significant. A total of 1,298 patients underwent cardiac and renal angiography. Significant RAS was found in 70 out of 1,298 patients (5.4%). The presence of peripheral vascular disease, eGFR <67 ml/min/1.73 m², age >66 years, dyslipidemia, CAD severity and pulse pressure >52 mmHg were independent clinical predictors of significant RAS, and jointly produced a ROC AUC of 0.79 (95% CI 0.73–0.85, P < 0.001). Based on these data, a prediction rule for significant RAS was developed, and it showed an adequate predictive performance with 64% sensitivity and 82% specificity. In a large cohort of patients undergoing coronary angiography, significant RAS is a relatively rare comorbidity (5.4%). A model based on simple clinical variables may be useful for the clinical identification of high CV risk patients who may be suitable for renal arteriography at the time of cardiac catheterization.     

Endothelin-1 in patients with coronary heart disease undergoing cardiac catheterization

Objectives. This study examined the possible association between endothelin and coronary atherosclerosis and evaluated the synthesis and release of endothelin in the presence of various stimuli that occur during cardiac catheterization.Background. Circulating endothelin has been reported to be increased in diffuse atherosclerosis and acute myocardial infarction. However, the relation between coronary artery disease and endothelin release remains unclear.Methods. We measured the plasma and urinary concentrations of endothelin immunoreactivity in 45 patients and 10 healthy control subjects.Results. In group IA (n = 9), simultaneous blood sampling in the coronary sinus and femoral artery during coronary angioplasty of the left anterior descending coronary artery demonstrated no immediate changes in plasma immunoreactive endothelin-1 (ir-ET-1) levels. In 11 patients in group IB undergoing coronary angioplasty of a major artery, we did not detect changes in peripheral plasma concentrations of ir-ET-1 within 24 h, but urinary ir-ET-1 levels increased from 9.2 ± 2.3 to 18.6 ± 4.9 pg/mg of creatinine a few hours after coronary angioplasty (mean ± SEM, p < 0.05). This increase in urinary endothelin excretion persisted 24 h later. Group II patients (n = 12) had coronary angiography without coronary angioplasty. Levels of both plasma and urinary ir-ET-1 did not change during the 24-h follow-up period. There was no relation between the severity of coronary atherosclerosis and the plasma or urinary concentrations of ir-ET-1. Systolic aortic pressure correlated with basal urinary excretion of endothelin (r = 0.54, p = 0.03, n = 15). In group III (n = 13), levels of ir-ET-1 in patients undergoing right heart catheterization without angiography did not differ from those in the control group.Conclusions. The presence or the severity, or both, of coronary atherosclerosis is not associated with a detectable increase in endothelin release. The diagnostic procedures of Catheterization do not modify endothelin concentrations in plasma and urine. Vascular stretch or injury, or both, during coronary angioplasty increases urinary ir-ET-1 levels a few hours after the procedure. This increase persists for at least 24 h but is not detectable by brief sampling of peripheral or coronary sinus blood.     

Metabolic syndrome is associated with severe coronary artery disease and poor cardiac outcome in end-stage renal disease patients with acute coronary syndrome

OBJECTIVE: People with either end-stage renal disease or metabolic syndrome (MS) are at increased risk for developing coronary artery disease. The impact of MS on coronary artery disease in end-stage renal disease patients, however, remained unclear. We therefore evaluated whether the presence of MS is associated with more coronary lesions and a worse cardiac outcome in end-stage renal disease patients with acute coronary syndrome. METHODS: We retrospectively examined 76 consecutive end-stage renal disease patients who experienced acute coronary syndrome and underwent cardiac catheterization. Cardiovascular events were compared between the MS and non-MS group. RESULTS: MS was found in 58 patients and coronary artery disease was found in 63 patients [52 with MS (accounting for 90% of the MS group); 11 without MS (61% of the non-MS); MS vs. non-MS, P=0.01]. Patients with MS had more multi-vessel coronary artery disease (P<0.001) than those without MS. Sixty-nine (MS, 51; non-MS, 18) patients survived the acute coronary syndrome. During the follow-up period (MS, 17.6+/-13.8; non-MS, 19.9+/-11.7 months), 12 patients with MS (24%) and none without MS died owing to cardiovascular events (MS vs. non-MS, P=0.028). Regarding major cardiac events, including cardiac death, repeat non-fatal myocardial infarction, and repeat revascularization, the non-MS group had a higher probability of event-free survival (P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with end-stage renal disease complicated by acute coronary syndrome, MS is frequently seen and associated with a higher probability of coronary artery disease involving multiple coronary branches and a higher probability of cardiac death and major cardiac events. Therefore, detection of MS in such patients is useful for risk stratification.     

Association of arterial stiffness with coronary flow reserve in revascularized coronary artery disease patients

AIM: To investigate the association of arterial wave reflection with coronary flow reserve(CFR) in coronary artery disease(CAD) patients after successful revascularization.METHODS: We assessed 70 patients with angiographically documented CAD who had undergone recent successful revascularization. We measured(1) reactive hyperemia index(RHI) using fingertip peripheral arterial tonometry(RH-PAT Endo-PAT);(2) carotid to femoral pulse wave velocity(PWVc-Complior);(3) augmentation index(AIx), the diastolic area(DAI%) and diastolic reflection area(DRA) of the central aortic pulse wave(Arteriograph);(4) CFR using Doppler echocardiography; and(5) blood levels of lipoprotein-phospholipase A2(LpPLA2).RESULTS: After adjustment for age, sex, blood pressure parameter, lipidemic, diabetic and smoking status, we found that coronary flow reserve was independently related to AIx(b =-0.38, r = 0.009), DAI(b = 0.36, P = 0.014), DRA(b = 0.39, P = 0.005) and RT(b =-0.29,P = 0.026). Additionally, patients with CFR 2.5 had higher PWVc(11.6 ± 2.3 vs 10.2 ± 1.4 m/s, P = 0.019), SBPc(139.1 ± 17.8 vs 125.2 ± 19.1 mm Hg, P = 0.026), AIx(38.2% ± 14.8% vs 29.4% ± 15.1%, P = 0.011) and lower RHI(1.26 ± 0.28 vs 1.50 ± 0.46, P = 0.012), DAI(44.3% ± 7.9% vs 53.9% ± 6.7%, P = 0.008), DRA(42.2 ± 9.6 vs 51.6 ± 11.4, P = 0.012) and Lp PLA2(268.1 ± 91.9 vs 199.5 ± 78.4 ng/m L, P = 0.002) compared with those with CFR ≥ 2.5. Elevated Lp PLA2 was related with reduced CFR(r =-0.33, P = 0.001), RHI(r =-0.37, P 0.001) and DRA(r =-0.35, P = 0.001) as well as increased PWVc(r = 0.34, P = 0.012) and AIx(r = 0.34, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Abnormal arterial wave reflections are related with impaired coronary flow reserve despite successful revascularization in CAD patients. There is a common inflammatory link between impaired aortic wall properties, endothelial dysfunction and coronary flow impairment in CAD.     

肾功能正常冠心病患者及高危人群中甲状旁腺激素与大动脉僵硬度关系的研究

目的探讨肾功能正常冠心病患者及冠心病高危人群血清甲状旁腺激素(PTH)与大动脉僵硬度的关系。方法选取2007年8月至12月上海交通大学医学院附属瑞金医院心脏科77例具有冠心病危险因素的住院患者,根据无创中心动脉脉压(CPP)是否大于40mmHg将病例分为大动脉僵硬度增高组(35例)和对照组(42例)。所有患者测定全段甲状旁腺激素(iPTH)、钙、磷、高敏C-反应蛋白(hsCRP)等指标,并行冠状动脉造影。结果(1)与对照组比较,大动脉僵硬度增高组平均年龄大、血尿酸增高;入选患者中44例确诊为冠心病,大动脉僵硬度增高组冠心病患者(23例)血清iPTH较对照组(21例)显著增高(P0.05)。(2)血清iPTH与CPP呈正相关(r=0.262,P=0.022)。(3)多因素Logistic回归分析表明,在调整了年龄、BMI、hsCRP和男性4个因素后,血清iPTH(OR=1.065,95%CI:1.005～1.127,P=0.032)是大动脉僵硬度增高(CPP40mmHg)的独立危险因素。结论大动脉僵硬度增高的肾功能正常冠心病患者血清PTH增高。血清PTH与大动脉僵硬度呈正相关,并且是大动脉僵硬度增高(CPP40mmHg)的独立危险因素。     

Anemia is an independent predictor for elevated plasma levels of natriuretic peptides in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization for coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether the association of anemia with elevated plasma levels of B-type and atrial natriuretic peptides (BNP and ANP) is mediated by the hemodynamic effects of anemia. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study group comprised 237 consecutive patients (BNP, median [interquartile range], 28.3 [9.5-77.1] pg/ml; ANP, 17.8 [8.5-39.0] pg/ml) undergoing determination of hemoglobin (Hb) and natriuretic peptide levels and cardiac catheterization for evaluation of coronary artery disease (CAD). Hb correlated with BNP (r=-0.36, p<0.001) and ANP (r=-0.35, p<0.001). Patients with anemia (Hb <12 g/dl for females; <13 g/dl for males, n=63) were more likely to be older with reduced body mass index and renal function, greater severity of CAD and to have higher heart rate, mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, and cardiac output. Anemia was a significant predictor for elevated (>third quartile value) natriuretic peptide levels and the predictive value remained significant after adjustment for other predictors, including increased left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and differences in clinical and hemodynamic variables between patients with and without anemia (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval] for elevated BNP and ANP levels, 7.39 [2.76-19.8] and 2.56 [1.08-6.07], respectively). CONCLUSION: Anemia is an independent predictor for elevated natriuretic peptide levels in patients with known or suspected CAD.     

多种大动脉僵硬度指标的联合应用对冠心病预测价值的研究

目的探讨多种大动脉僵硬度无创检测指标对冠心病发病的预测作用。方法选择205例具有冠心病危险因素的住院患者,根据冠状动脉造影结果分为冠心病组(136例)和对照组(69例)。完成脉搏波传导速度(PWV)、大小动脉弹性指数、脉搏波分析和颈总动脉超声4项检测。并采用多元逐步logistic回归分析各因素与冠心病发病风险的关系;ROC曲线评估无创检测的敏感性和特异性。结果与对照组比较,冠心病组平均年龄、男性比例、糖尿病患者比例、血清肌酐、受试当天左侧肱动脉收缩压和肱动脉脉压均增高(P0.05),PWV、增强压(AP)、中心动脉脉压(CPP)、颈总动脉内膜中层厚度(C-IMT)和颈总动脉内径均值明显升高(P0.05),两组大小动脉弹性指数、反射波增强指数、CPP/外周脉压(PP)均值无显著差异。在校正了年龄、性别、身高和受试时心率后,两组AP、CPP、CPP/PP、C-IMT均值明显增高(P0.05)。结论多种大动脉僵硬度指标与冠心病发病独立相关。logistic回归模型是较为理想的冠心病筛查工具,具有一定的临床实用价值。     

Prevalence and predictors of renal artery stenosis in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization.

Renal artery stenosis (RAS) is recognized as a major co-morbid condition for patients with cardiovascular disease. Although the prevalence of RAS in Western countries has been reported as 13.5-18% in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing coronary angiography, there is little information available about the prevalence of RAS in Asian populations, which are less susceptible to atherosclerosis. To evaluate the prevalence of RAS in Japanese patients suspected of cardiovascular disease and the relationships among RAS and vascular risk factors, especially hypertension, renal artery angiography was performed in a total of 289 consecutive patients receiving diagnostic cardiac catheterization. RAS with a stenosis diameter greater than 50% was considered significant. The prevalence of RAS was 21/289 (7%) including 18 (6%) cases of unilateral stenosis and 3 (1%) of bilateral stenosis. RAS accompanied 14/220 (6%) cases of CAD, 4/34 (12%) cases of valvular heart disease and 1/14 (7%) cases of cardiomyopathy. In the subgroups of CAD, the prevalence of RAS was 5%, 10%, 9%, and 19% in cases of 0, 1, 2 and 3-vessel disease, respectively. Hypertension was more frequent among patients with than among those without RAS (86% vs. 45%, p=0.0003). The prevalence of RAS was 13% in hypertensives and 2% in normotensives (p = 0.004). Thus RAS was frequent in patients with established CAD, and particularly in those with 3-vessel disease. Together, the results showed that hypertension was closely associated with RAS, appearing as both a risk factor and a possible clinical manifestation of the disease. We conclude that more attention should be paid to RAS in Japanese patients with hypertension and cardiovascular disease.     

Coronary anatomy predicts presence or absence of renal artery stenosis. A prospective study in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization for suspected coronary artery disease.

AIMS: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of renal artery stenosis (RAS) and associated risk factors in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization for suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: One hundred and seventy-seven consecutive patients (62 females) with a serum creatinine concentration <2.0mg.dl(-1) were studied. Abdominal aortography followed cardiac catheterization to screen for RAS. RESULTS: In 110 patients (62%) CAD and in 19 patients (11%) significant RAS (luminal narrowing of >or=50%) were detected, 12 of whom had high grade (>or=70%) RAS, and two subjects had significant RAS without CAD. Patients with RAS were older (67+/-8 vs 61+/-11 years, mean+/-SD;P =0.004), had higher systolic blood pressure (150+/-15 vs 138+/-20 mmHg;P =0.005), a lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR; 61+/-16 vs 80+/-22 ml.min(-1), P<0.001) and more often diabetes mellitus (69% vs 30%; P=0.004). In multivariate analysis a low GFR and the extent of CAD were independent predictors of RAS. The presence of >2 significant coronary lesions predicted RAS (sensitivity 0.84, specificity 0.77, positive predictive value 0.30, negative predictive value 0.98). CONCLUSION: Screening for RAS in patients with >2 diseased coronary segments has a high diagnostic yield, which is even greater in the presence of a reduced GFR, diabetes mellitus, and elevated systolic blood pressure.     

中青年冠心病患者动脉弹性与冠状动脉狭窄程度关系的研究

目的探讨中青年冠心病患者动脉弹性与冠脉狭窄程度的关系。方法对中青年冠心病患者和正常人分别进行臂踝脉搏波传导速度（baPWV）和踝臂指数（ABI）、冠状动脉造影、血脂及高敏C反应蛋白测定,对动脉硬化参数与冠脉狭窄程度进行相关性分析。结果与单支和双支组比较,冠心病多支病变组baPWV升高（P〉0.05）、ABI降低（P〈0.05）。中青年冠心病患者baPWV与Gensini冠脉积分无相关性,而ABI与Gensini冠脉积分呈负相关。多元回归分析显示中青年冠心病患者ABI与Gensini冠脉积分的相关性较强（P=0.012）。结论中青年冠心病患者ABI与冠脉狭窄程度呈负相关。     

Reduced adiponectin level is associated with severity of coronary artery disease

Adipocyte-derived adiponectin has an antiatherosclerotic effect that acts independently of its antidiabetic effect. Plasma adiponectin levels are generally low in subjects with coronary artery disease. In this study, the relationship between the plasma adiponectin level and the severity of coronary artery disease, as assessed using the Gensini score, an index for the severity of coronary artery stenosis, was investigated. The subjects of the study were 104 patients (72 men and 32 women; BMI, 23.5 +/- 3.3 kg/m(2); age, 63.6 +/- 10.1 years) admitted to Tokyo University Hospital for coronary angiography. Plasma adiponectin levels were inversely correlated with the insulin resistance index HOMA-IR (P = 0.0127). The plasma adiponectin level was significantly associated with the Gensini score (P = 0.0332). After adjustment for conventional risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, the plasma adiponectin level tended to be inversely correlated with the Gensini score (P = 0.087). The measurement of plasma adiponectin levels may be useful for predicting the severity of coronary artery stenosis.     

Predictors of renal artery stenosis in patients with normal renal function undergoing coronary angiography

AIM: A number of patients with normal renal function undergoing coronary angiography have shown a renal artery stenosis (RAS). Detection of unknown RAS may influence therapeutic strategy in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) candidate to coronary revascularization. Prevalence of RAS in patients with normal renal function has not been yet fully investigated. We retrospectively evaluated the prevalence of RAS in patients with normal renal function undergoing coronary angiography and candidate to coronary revascularization. METHODS: Medical records of consecutive patients underwent coronary angiography at a single public institutions over a twelve-month period were evaluated. Patients with normal renal function undergoing coincident diagnostic renal angiography to evaluate renal vessels on the basis of clinical criteria and at least one-vessel CAD were analyzed. Moderate to severe arterial stenosis (>50% stenosis), vessel occlusion were noted as significant angiographic findings. RESULTS: Angiographically significant RAS were reported in 35 (17%) of 205 consecutive patients (mean age 67.1+/-12.8 years, mean serum creatinine 0.8+/-0.5 mg/dL, mean glomerular filtration rate 112+/-13 mL/min). Twenty patients (9.8% of total) underwent renal angioplasty and stenting before successful coronary revascularization. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed three-vessel CAD (odds ratio[OR] 8.71; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.24-40.8; P=0.002), hypertension (OR 2.34 CI 95% 0.96-6.9; P=0.048), and hypercholesterolemia (OR 2.851; CI 95% 1.03 to 7.9; P=0.044) as independent predictors of RAS. CONCLUSIONS: The association of significant RAS with CAD is relatively high in patients with normal renal function. Renal semi-selective or selective angiography may contribute to detect unknown significant RAS in patients undergoing coronary angiography: our small series suggests that this strategy may be useful also in patients with normal renal function in presence of three- or four-vessel CAD and multiple risk factors.