Aortic valve sclerosis is a sign of increased arterial stiffness in clinically asymptomatic subjects

Background: Classic risk scores may under estimate the risk of cardiovascular (CV) events in specific risk groups requiring appropriate medical and interventional treatment. Arterialstiffness has been known as a sign of CV risk and has a predictive value for CV events beyond classic CV risk factors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between thecardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) that has been recently reported as a new surrogate marker of arterial stiffness and aortic valve sclerosis (AVS).Methods: Eighty patients with AVS and 80 control subjects were enrolled to the study. Arterial stiffness was evaluated by VaSera-1000 CAVI instrument and AVS was defined by echocardiography as thickening and calcification of the normal trileaflet aortic valve without obstruction to the left ventricular outflow.Results: CAVI was significantly higher in patients with AVS compared to the control subjects (10.5 ± 2.7 vs. 8.6 ± 1.4, p < 0.001). Higher frequency of AVS was detected in patients with abnormal than borderline and normal CAVI values (69% vs. 27% and 20%, respectively, p < 0.001). In univariate analysis, there was a significant association between AVS and CAVI (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.44–2.48, p < 0.001]. Multivariate analysis demonstrated CAVI (95% CI 1.39–2.44, p < 0.001) as an independent determinant of AVS.Conclusions: Detection of increased arterial stiffness could prevent patients from being mistakenly classified as at low or moderate risk, when they actually are at high risk. Assessment of aortic valve during echocardiography examination may offer the opportunity to identify these subjects

Atherosclerosis burden and coronary artery lesion complexity in acute coronary syndrome patients

Background: Syntax score (SS) is a prognostic marker in patients with acute coronary sydromes (ACS). Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and cardio ankle vascular index (CAVI) are well known surrogate marker of atherosclerosis burden. But association between atherosclerosis burden and coronary artery disease (CAD) complexity in ACS patients has not been investigated yet. Methods and Results: Consecutive patients with first time diagnosis of ACS (n = 172) were enrolled. SS, a marker of CAD complexity, was assessed by dedicated computer software. CIMT was examined by B-mode ultrasound. CAVI was assessed by VaSera VS-1000 cavi instrument. SS for low, intermediate and high tertiles of CIMT value were 10.1 ± 8.2 vs 11.4 ± ± 7.9 and 15.2 ± 8.8; p = 0.02). SS for normal, borderline and abnormal CAVI values were 4 ± 3.7 vs 11.1 ± 7.2 and 14.1 ± 9.1, respectively p = 0.009). Also, there was independent association between SS and CIMT (95% coinfidence interval [CI] 2.1–19, p = 0.014) and CAVI (95% CI 15–29, p = 0.021]. Neither traditional cardiovascular risk factor nor thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) risk score was independent determinant of SS. Conclusions: We have shown that patients with higher atherosclerosis burden have more complex coronary artery lesions. Also these patients may be identified early by using surrogate markers of atherosclerosis. Its clinical significance requires further research

Badanie służące ocenie występowania choroby wieńcowej w młodym wieku

Introduction. An increasing number of younger patients are being hospitalized with acute coronary syndromes. Earlier risk assessment is essential to prevent or delay coronary artery disease (CAD). This study aimed to assess the rate, risk factor profile, presentation, management and prognosis in young patients with CAD and compared with the same age group without CAD. Material and methods. In this retrospective study, 4325 patients who had undergone coronary angiography from 2011 to 2014 were identified. A total of 627 patients were ≤ 45 years age; 412 of them had CAD, and 215 had normal coronary arteries (control group). Results. The mean age of the patients was 41.7 ± 4.1 years in the CAD group and 41.5 ± 4.5 years in the control group. The prevalences of dyslipidemia, smoking, family history of CAD, hypertension, diabetes, and overweight were higher in the CAD than in the control group. However, the obesity rate was not significantly different between the two groups. Patients with ACS often presented with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (49.3%), and single-vessel involvement (55.3%) predominated. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was the main myocardial reperfusion therapy (68.4%). Conclusıons. Among the young patients studied, CAD had a higher incidence in males. Smoking was the most important modifiable risk factor. Also, patients showed high prevalences of dyslipidemia, overweight, diabetes, and family history of CAD. This study re-emphasizes the relationship between traditional cardiovascular risks and CAD in young.Wstęp. Coraz więcej młodych osób jest hospitalizowanych z powodu ostrych zespołów wieńcowych (ACS). Wczesna ocena ryzyka ma podstawowe znaczenie w zapobieganiu chorobie wieńcowej (CAD) lub opóźnieniu jej wystąpienia. Badanie przeprowadzono w celu oceny częstości występowania CAD, jej czynników ryzyka, objawów, leczenia oraz rokowania u młodych pacjentów z CAD i porównanie tych danych z odpowiednimi danymi dotyczącymi osób niechorujących na CAD. Materiał i metody. Na potrzeby tego retrospektywnego badaniu zidentyfikowano 4325 chorych poddanych koronarografii w latach 2011–2014. W grupie badanych było 627 chorych w wieku nie więcej niż 45 lat; u 412 osób z tej grupy stwierdzono CAD, a u 215 obraz tętnic wieńcowych był prawidłowy (grupa kontrolna). Wyniki. Średni wiek chorych wynosił 41,7 ± 4,1 roku w grupie CAD i 41,5 ± 4,5 roku w grupie kontrolnej. W grupie CAD stwierdzono częstsze występowanie dyslipidemii, palenia tytoniu, dodatniego wywiadu rodzinnego odnośnie do CAD, nadciśnienia tętniczego, cukrzycy i otyłości niż w grupie kontrolnej. Jednak różnica w zakresie częstości występowania otyłości nie była istotna statystycznie. U chorych z ACS często stwierdzano zawał serca z uniesieniem odcinka ST (49,3%), a dominującym typem zmian w koronarografii była choroba jednonaczyniowa (55,3%). Najczęściej stosowanym leczeniem reperfuzyjnym (68,4%) była przezskórna interwencja wieńcowa. Wnioski. W badanej grupie młodych pacjentów stwierdzono większą zapadalność na CAD wśród mężczyzn. Najważniejszym poddającym się modyfikacji czynnikiem ryzyka było palenie tytoniu. U dużej części chorych stwierdzono również dyslipidemię, otyłość, cukrzycę i występowanie CAD w rodzinie. Badanie ponownie zwróciło uwagę na zależność między tradycyjnymi czynnikami ryzyka sercowo-naczyniowego a występowaniem CAD w młodym wieku

Is trans-radial approach related to an increased risk of radiation exposure in patients who underwent diagnostic coronary angiography or percutaneous coronary intervention? (The SAKARYA study)

Conclusion: In spite of an increased experience with trans-radial approach, PCI of coronary lesions via radial route was associated with a relatively small but significant radiation exposure in our study. Compared to femoral access, diagnostic CA via radial access was not related to an increased radiation exposure

Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity in patients with isolated coronary artery ectasia: an observational study

Conclusion: We have shown an association between increased carotid-femoral PWV and isolated CAE, suggesting that atherosclerosis may be involved in the pathogenesis of isolated CAE without any coronary stenosis in the adult population. (Anadolu Kardiyol Derg 2012; 12:313-9

Epicardial Adipose Tissue Increased in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Subclinical Hypothyroidism

Objective: To investigate whether or not patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) have increased epicardial adipose tissue (EAT). Subjects and Methods: Sixty-one patients with newly diagnosed SH and without any known cardiovascular disease were enrolled. Twenty-four subjects matched for age, gender and body mass index without any thyroid dysfunctions were included as a control group. The EAT was measured by echocardiography and thyroid functions were assessed by routine blood examination. Results: Patients with SH had higher EAT values than control subjects (3.6 +/- 0.9 vs. 2.8 +/- 1.4, p = 0.005). Also, SH patients with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) >= 10 mU/l had higher EAT than those with SH with TSH < 10 mU/l and control subjects (p = 0.013). In addition, while there was significant correlation between EAT and TSH (r = 0.31, p = 0.014) in patients with SH, there was no significant relation between EAT and TSH in normal subjects (r = 0.09, p = 0.64). Conclusions: There was a higher level of EAT in patients with SH compared with normal subjects and a significant correlation between EAT and TSH was found. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Base

Lipoprotein phospholipase A2 in patients with isolated coronary artery ectasia

We have demonstrated for the first time increased Lp-PLA2 level in patients with isolated CAE, suggesting that Lp-PLA2 may be involved in the pathogenesis of CAE