Frequency and Predictors of Renal Artery Stenosis in Patients Undergoing Simultaneous Coronary and Renal Catheterization

Background: Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS) remains underdiagnosed due to its nonspecific demonstrations. We aimed to both estimate the frequency of ARAS in high-risk non-selected patients undergoing simultaneous coronary and renal catheterization and possibly identify a predictive model for ARAS using baseline clinical, laboratory, and coronary angiographic variables. Methods: The records of 866 patients aged ≥ 21 years undergoing simultaneous coronary and renal angiography were retrieved for analysis from our computerized database. The degree of ARAS was estimated visually by experienced attending interventional cardiologists. Lesions with an estimated stenosis of ≥ 50% were considered significant. Multivariable stepwise logistic regression models were used to identify the risk factors predicting the presence and extent of ARAS. Results:  Of a total of 866 consecutive patients undergoing renal angiography in conjunction with coronary angiography (mean age ± SD: 63.06 ± 10.32, ranging from 24 to 89 years), 454 (57%) were men. A total of 345 (39.8%) cases had significant ARAS, 77 (22.3%) of which were bilateral. Using significant ARAS as the dependent variable, six variables were identified as the independent predictors significantly associated with the presence of ARAS, namely age, female sex (male sex was found to be a protector), hypertension, history of renal failure, left anterior descending artery (LAD) stenosis > 50%, and left circumflex artery (LCX) stenosis > 50%. The Gensini score was not found to be a predictor of the presence of ARAS, but it was more likely associated with a trend towards a more extensive ARAS (adjusted OR = 1.00, 95% CI = 1.00-1.01; p value = 0.039). Other independent determinants of the ARAS extent were the same as the predictors of the ARAS presence. Conclusions: Although risk versus benefit was not tested in this study, it seems that clinicians could consider renal catheterization in combination with coronary angiography particularly in female patients with advanced age and with significant coronary artery stenoses in the LAD and LCX

Comparing angiography features of inferior versus anterior myocardial infarction regarding severity and extension in a cohort of Iranian patients

Background: The location of acute myocardial infarction (MI) is an important prognostic factor for risk stratification of patients with first ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI). The main goal of this study was to compare the severity and extension of coronary involvement in inferior and anterior MI. Methods: This study reviewed angiographic reports of 579 patients with a first anterior wall STEMI and 690 with a first inferior STEMI that were referred to Tehran Heart Center between March 2004 and September 2007. The number of coronary vessels involvement and the presence of left main lesion were determined based on angiography reports. The Gensini score was also calculated for each patient from the coronary arteriogram. Results: Incidence of left main lesion was similar between the two groups. Although coronary arteries involvement according to Gensini score was more severe in anterior wall MI group compared with inferior wall MI group, the number of involved coronary arteries was significantly higher in the inferior MI patients. Recommendation of coronary artery bypass grafting, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or medical treatment were the same for both groups; however, patients with anterior MI were treated more with primary PCI. Conclusions: According to our angiography database, despite anterior wall MI is associated with more severity of coronary artery disease; inferior wall MI is more extent with regard to the number of involved coronary vessels. Location of MI can predict the severity and extension of infarction

Anatomy of Atrioventricular Node Artery and Pattern of Dominancy in Normal Coronary Subjects: A Comparison between Individuals with and without Isolated Right Bundle Branch Block

Background: Isolated right bundle branch block (RBBB) is a common finding in the general population. The atrioventricular node (AVN) artery contributes to the blood supply of the right bundle branch. Our hypothesis was that the anatomy of the AVN artery and the pattern of dominancy differ between subjects with and without RBBB. Methods: We retrospectively studied the coronary angiography of 92 patients with RBBB and 184 age- and gender- matched controls without RBBB. All the subjects had angiographically proven normal coronary arteries. The dominant circulation and precise origin of the AVN artery were determined in each subject. Obtained data were compared between the two study groups. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of dominancy (p value = 0.200). Origination of the AVN artery from the right circulatory system was more common in both groups, but this pattern was more prevalent in the cases than in the controls (p value = 0.021). There was a great variation of the AVN artery origin. In the total study population, the AVN artery was more commonly separated from a non crux origin than from the crux area. The prevalence of the non-crux origination of the AVN artery was significantly higher in the cases than in the controls (p value < 0.001). While the origination of the AVN artery from the right circulatory system was more common in both groups, the prevalence of the right origin of the AVN artery was significantly higher in the cases than in the controls. We observed that the AVN artery most commonly originated from the dominant artery but not necessarily from the crux. Conclusion: The anatomy of the AVN artery but not the pattern of dominancy is somewhat different in subjects with RBBBcompared with normal individuals

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

Relationship between Body Mass Index and Outcome of Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background: Studies have shown controversial effects of obesity on major adverse cardiac events (MACE) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We sought to investigate the impact of the body mass index (BMI) on the mid-term outcome following successful PCI. Methods: Between March 2006 and August 2008, 3948 patients underwent successful elective PCI in Tehran Heart Center, Tehran, Iran, and were retrospectively included in this study. Patients who underwent PCI on the same day as the occurrence of myocardial infarction were excluded. The demographic, procedural, in-hospital, and follow-up information of these patients was extracted from the PCI Data Registry of our institution. The patients were divided into three groups:  normal weight (No. 1058, BMI < 25 kg/m2 age = 58 ± 10 years); overweight (No. 1867, 25 ≤ BMI < 30 kg/m2, age = 57 ± 10 years); and obese (No. 1023, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, age = 56 ± 10 years). MACE included death, myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization, and target lesion revascularization. Results: Compared with the other patients, the obese individuals were significantly younger and more frequently female, had a higher ejection fraction, and more frequently presented with hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. There was no association between the BMI and the angiographic and procedural findings in the univariate analysis. While no difference was found in the rate of in-hospital death between the groups, the number of the obese patients undergoing emergent cardiac surgery was marginally different in the univariate analysis (p value = 0.06). At 9 months' follow-up, MACE had occurred in 92 (2.3%) patients and cardiac mortality was 9 (0.2%). After adjustments for confounders, no significant difference was observed in terms of MACE between the BMI groups. Conclusion: The BMI had no significant effect on the rate of MACE at 9 months' follow-up in our study population. Interventionists' recommendations for patients undergoing PCI should, therefore, not be significantly influenced by the BMI status

Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: a Single Center Registry

Background: Early clinical investigations indicate that an infusion of autologous bone-marrow cells into the infarct-related coronary artery is feasible after acute myocardial infarction. There is increasing evidence that cell transplantation may improve the perfusion and contractile function of the ischemic myocardium. The present study reports primarily the safety of intracoronary bone marrow mononuclear cell (BMMNC) injections and secondarily the hypothesis that intracoronary injections of autologous BMMNC in patients with acute myocardial infarction may have a favorable impact on tissue perfusion and contractile performance. Methods: Twelve patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction of the anterior wall treated with percutaneous coronary intervention were enrolled in this prospective, nonrandomized, open-label study. Left ventricular function and number of nonviable segments were assessed with the use of echocardiography and Technetium-sestamibi single photon emission tomography respectively at baseline and after a 4-month follow-up.Results: At 4 months’ follow-up, global left ventricular ejection fraction in echocardiography increased from a mean of 31.78±7.56% at baseline to 38.89±6.97% (p=0.018). Mean wall motion score in rest echocardiography was 29.5±6.67 in basal and 26.75±5.44 at 4 months’ follow-up (p=0.05). Nuclear perfusion imaging studies in the patients for the mean number of nonviable segments were 6.5 at baseline and 6 in 4 months’ follow-up (p=0.17). Three patients were lost to follow-up and did not undergo the 4-month evaluations. Conclusion: This study is small and very preliminary. Data from large, randomized, controlled trials are needed to clarify the effect of stem-cell injection in myocardial functio