Clinical and Angiographic Characteristics of Myocardial Bridges: a Descriptive Report of 19 Cases and Follow-up Outcomes

Background: Muscle fibers overlying the intramyocardial segment of an epicardial coronary artery are termed myocardial bridge (MB). The aim of this study was to analyze the mid-term outcome of MB and to examine its possible association with angiographic findings and concomitant cardiac pathologies such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Methods: From a total of 3218 patients admitted for coronary angiography during 9 consecutive months, 28 (0.9%) were diagnosed with MBs with stenoses >=50%. Of these, 19 referred for follow-up with a median duration of 18 months. Results: HCM was present in 5 patients (26.3%), of whom 4 had MB as the sole finding in angiography. Of the 19 patients, 14 had diastolic dysfunction. In follow-up, 2 patients were treated with revascularization strategies due to the concomitant coronary artery disease and in 2, syncope occurred. For two patients, an intra-cardiac device and a permanent pacemaker were implanted. Three patients with MB as the sole finding in angiography were readmitted because of chest pain. Conclusion: Diastolic dysfunction may contribute to the presentation of symptoms of muscle bridging. Also, myocardial bridging as the only finding in coronary angiography is highly associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and may help to detect this group of patients. The mid-term outcome of myocardial bridges is favorable

Association between hepatitis B surface antibody seropositivity and coronary artery disease

Background : Specific infectious agents have been found to be related to the pathogenesis of coronary atherosclerosis. Aims : We assessed the possible association between angiographically proven coronary artery disease (CAD) and hepatitis B surface antibody (HBS Ab) seropositivity in a population with relatively high prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Setting and Design : This was a cross-sectional study. Materials and Methods : We analyzed data from 830 consecutive subjects undergoing coronary angiography, including angiographic results reported by two cardiologists for inter-observer reliability and assessment of HBS Ab status determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Statistical Analysis Used : Chi-square test or Fisher′s exact test, independent two-sample t test and the Pearson′s Correlation Coefficient test were used, as required. Statistics were performed using SPSS software version 13 (SPSS, Chicago, IL). Results : Two hundred forty-nine (30%) subjects had normal angiogram or minimal CAD, and 581 (70%) had significant CAD in at least one major coronary artery. In patients with CAD and in patients without angiographic evidence of significant atherosclerosis, 28.7% and 28.9% respectively were positive for HBV (P = 0.954). Mean C-reactive protein levels in subjects with positive and negative HBS Ab were 10.77 ± 8.37 mg/L versus 10.33 ± 7.64 mg/L respectively (P = 0.465). However, C-reactive protein levels in CAD group were significantly higher (P < 0.001). Conclusions : Our results suggested hepatitis B surface antibody seropositivity has no relationship with coronary artery disease. Moreover, no significant linear correlation exists between HBS Ab and C-reactive protein levels. However, as previously shown, C-reactive protein level in patients with coronary artery disease is significantly higher than in patients with normal coronary arteries

Correlation between Plasma Adiponectin Levels and the Presence and Severity of Coronary Artery Disease

Background: The existing evidence suggests that plasma adiponectin concentrations can be indicative of the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the results of the studies conducted hitherto on this subject are inconsistent. We sought to investigate the possible correlation between plasma adiponectin levels and the presence and severity of CAD in patients undergoing non-urgent coronary angiography. Methods: In 399 consecutive patients undergoing non-urgent coronary angiography for CAD survey, plasma adiponectin, triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and fasting blood sugar levels were measured and demographic characteristics such as age, sex, Body Mass Index, diabetes mellitus history, systemic hypertension history, and family history of CAD were collected. According to the angiography results, the patients were divided into two groups of CAD and non-CAD. The severity of coronary atherosclerosis in the CAD group was defined using the Gensini score system. Results: Average age was 61.4 ± 9.94 years in the CAD group and 57.9 ± 10.75 years in the non-CAD group. Also, 73.7% of the CAD group and 55.4% of the non-CAD group were male.  Totally, 278 (69.7%) patients were found to have CAD. Patients without CAD did not have higher mean plasma adiponectin concentrations than did those with CAD (13.38 ± 11.96 vs. 14.95 ± 14.11 mcg/ml; p value = 0. 896). After adjustment for CAD conventional risk factors, plasma adiponectin levels still were not associated with CAD. No association was found between plasma adiponectin levels and the Gensini score. Furthermore, in contrast to the fairly strong correlation previously reported, there was no correlation between adiponectin levels and conventional CAD risk factors. Conclusion: We could not observe any relationship between plasma adiponectin concentrations and the presence or severity of CAD in patients undergoing coronary angiography

Association between Traditional Risk Factors and CoronaryArtery Ectasia:AStudy on 10057Angiographic Procedures among Iranian Population

Background: Whether coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is a unique clinical finding or results from other clinical entities is still unknown. We aimed to determine the CAE prevalence, investigate the relationship between CAE and patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics, and assess the prognosis at follow-up in a sample of Iranian population. Methods: Totally, 10057 patients who underwent coronary angiography were divided into three categories: normal coronary arteries without co-existing coronary artery disease; CAE without co-existing coronary artery narrowing 50% luminal narrowing (CAS). Results: The prevalence of CAE was 1.5%. Compared to the normal individuals, the CAE patients were older, were more frequently male, and had higher rates of myocardial infarction (MI). The CAE patients had a lower frequency of diabetes and MI than the CAS group. The CAE patients were largely focused between 40 to 60 years of age. The right coronary and left anterior descending arteries were the most involved arteries, and ectasia was located more frequently in the proximal part of these arteries. Patients with ectasia in the three main vessels had higher rates of MI. After a mean follow-up of 54.23 ±18.41 months, chest pain and dyspnea on exertion remained the main complaint in more than 97% of the patients, leading to hospital admission in more than 14%. Conclusion: There was no relationship between the presence of ectasia and conventional risk factors. According to our study, pure CAE may be deemed a benign feature of atherosclerosis; however, it can lead to frequent hospital admissions because of the persistence of cardiovascular symptoms

Efficacy of Two Streptokinase Formulations in Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: We sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the different trade forms of streptokinase available in our country, namely Heberkinasa (Heberbiotec, Havana, Cuba) and Streptase (Aventis Behring GmbH, Marburg, Germany). Methods: We conducted a double-blind randomized clinical trial to compare the two streptokinase formulations, i.e. Heberkinasa (HBK) or Streptase (STP), in patients with acute myocardial infarction who needed thrombolysis. Thrombolysis success was evaluated angiographically and/or clinically. Clinical follow-up was done 30 days after thrombolysis. Results: We randomly allocated 221 patients with a mean age of 56.9±10.8 years (males: 88.2%) to HBK (n=119) and STP (n=102) groups. Baseline clinical and demographic characteristics were similar between the two groups, and the two groups were not significantly different in terms of door-to-needle and pain-to-needle intervals. The rate of complications was not significantly different between the groups (44.1% [HBK] vs. 42% [STP]). Angiography was done for 158 (71.5 %) patients in the first 24 hours (9%) and in the first 72 hours (38.8%) after thrombolysis. Lesion morphology and lesion/patient ratio were not significantly different between the two groups (1.87[HBK] vs. 1.67[STP]). The two groups were similar with respect to angiographic patency rate (67.5% [HBK] vs. 67.6% [STP]). The study groups were also similar as regards clinical outcome and complications of both streptokinase formulations. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that Heberkinasa is as effective and as safe as a standard streptokinase, namely Streptase, in a clinical setting

One-Year Clinical Outcomes of Ultra Long Apollo Polymer-Based Paclitaxel-Eluting Stents in Patients with Complex, Long Coronary Artery Lesions

Background: For all the wealth of research comparing the efficacy of the different types of the drug-eluting stent (DES) such as sirolimus- , paclitaxel- , and zotarolimus-eluting stents, there is still a dearth of data on the different brands of each DES type. We aimed to investigate the one-year clinical outcomes, including major adverse cardiac events (MACE), of the use of the ultra long Apollo paclitaxel-eluting stent in patients with long atherosclerotic coronary artery lesions.Methods: According to a retrospective review of the Tehran Heart Center Registry of Interventional Cardiology, a single-center nonrandomized computerized data registry in which all adult patients who undergo single or multi-vessel percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are enrolled without any specific exclusion criteria, the mixed use of long Apollo paclitaxel-eluting stents and other types of the DES as well as myocardial infarction within forty-eight hours prior to the procedure was excluded. In total, 122 patients were enrolled in the study, and their baseline clinical, angiographic, and procedural characteristics were obtained. In addition, the patients’ follow-up data and, most importantly, MACE during a one-year period after intervention were recorded.Results: The mean follow-up duration was 14.1 ± 3.8 months. The one-year clinical follow-up data were obtained in 95.9 % of all the patients. The incidence of MACE was 5.7% during the entire study period. There was 1 death, which occurred during the initial days after PCI. The incidence of non-fatal myocardial infarction was 2.5% (3 cases), including one patient who underwent target vessel revascularization seven months later. Also, 3 patients with single-vessel disease and in-stent restenosis underwent coronary artery bypass grafting between five to ten months later.Conclusions: Our results showed that the Apollo paclitaxel-eluting stent might be regarded as a safe and effective treatment for long coronary lesions

Association between Androgenic Hormone Levels and Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction

Background: Androgens have been shown to have diverse effects on the cardiovascular system. The aim of this study was to compare androgenic hormone levels in patients with different left ventricular ejection fractions (EF).Methods: The study population consisted of 515 consecutive men who were referred for angiographic studies and whose results of echocardiography and coronary angiography were available. The patients were classified into four groups: EF < 35%, EF = 35-45%, EF = 45-54%, and EF ≥ 55% to evaluate the trends of baseline characteristics and serum androgens,including free testosterone (fT), total testosterone (tT), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS). To better elucidate thedifference in the patients with severe heart failure, the patients were divided into two groups according to their EF level, andcomparisons were repeated between those with EF < 35% and the ones with EF ≥ 35%.Results: There were statistically significant trends in some characteristics in the patients with different levels of EF. The subjects with higher EF levels were less likely to have diabetes (p value < 0.001), coronary artery lesion (p value < 0.001),or high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) (p value < 0.001). As regards the patients with severe heart failure, our regressionanalysis revealed that the fT level was significantly lower in those with EF < 35% than in the ones with EF ≥ 35% (5.82 ± 2.73 pg/mL vs. 6.88 ± 3.34 pg/mL, p value < 0.05).Conclusion: A significant association was found between the level of fT and EF < 35%. There is a need for further controlled prospective studies to delineate any possible causal relationship accurately

Success Rate, Procedural Complications and Clinical Outcomes of Coronary Interventions in Octogenarians: a Case-Control Study

Background: Clinical trials of revascularization have routinely under-enrolled elderly subjects. Thus, symptom relief and improved survival might not apply to elderly patients, in whom the risk of mortality and disability from revascularization procedures seems to be high and co-morbidity is more prevalent. The present case control study was performed to draw a comparison in terms of the procedural success, procedural and in-hospital complications, and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in a one-year follow-up of octogenarians (age ≥ 80 years) with a selected matched younger control group in the Tehran Heart Center Angioplasty Registry.Methods: According to the Tehran Heart Center Interventional Registry of 9, 250 patients with a minimum follow-up period of one year between April 1993 and February 2010, 157 percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures were performed in 112 octogenarians. Additionally, 336 younger patients (459 PCI procedures) were selected from the database as the propensity-score matched controls.Results: There were 147 (93.6%) and 441 (96.1%) successful PCI procedures in the elderly group and control group, respectively (p value = 0.204). Procedural complications were seen in 5 (3.2%) of the elderly group and 16 (3.5%) of the control group (p value = 0.858). Totally, 7 (6.3%) in-hospital complications occurred in the elderly group and 22 (6.8%) in the control group (p value = 0.866). One-year MACE was seen in 9 (9.1%) of the elderly and 18 (5.8%) of the control group (p value = 0.26). Conclusion: Procedural success and complications, in-hospital complications, and one-year MACE were not significantly different between our two study groups. Therefore, age alone should not be used as the sole criterion when considering revascularization procedures. Furthermore, PCI should not be refused in octogenarians if indicated