Ahmet Temizhan

Ventricular function abnormalities in active rheumatoid arthritis: a Doppler echocardiographic study.

ObjectiveThe aim of the present study was to evaluate cardiac involvement in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsForty patients with active RA participated. All were submitted to standard Doppler echocardiography and myocardial performance index (MPI) grading.ResultsThere were left and right ventricular diastolic function abnormalities in RA patients. Left ventricular MPI was also significantly higher than in controls (P<0.05). A relationship was found between left ventricular early diastolic (E)/atrial (A) flow velocities (E/A ratio), isovolumic relaxation time (IRT), and disease duration (r=−0.47 and P=0.002, r=0.618 and P=0.000, respectively).ConclusionDiastolic function was impaired in both ventricles in patients with active RA. There was a direct relationship between some of the parameters of left ventricular diastolic function and disease duration as well. These findings suggest a subclinical myocardial involvement in RA patients.

Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio as a Prognostic Marker of In-Hospital and Long-Term Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

We assessed the prognostic value of the platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) on in-hospital and long-term major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) in a large prospective study. Patients (n = 1938) admitted with acute STEMI within 12 hours of symptom onset and who underwent pPCI between January 2010 and January 2015 were followed up for 31.6 ± 16.2 months. During the in-hospital and long-term follow-up period, MACE, the prevalence of stent thrombosis, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and mortality were higher in the third PLR tertile group. A PLR in the third tertile had 2.4-fold increased risk of in-hospital MACE and 2.8-fold risk of long-term MACE. The PLR was significantly and positively correlated with peak creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) levels (r = 0.562, P < .001) and Gensini score (r = 0.408, P < .001). Kaplan-Meier analysis of long-term MACE-free survival revealed a higher occurrence of MACE in the third PLR tertile group compared to the other tertiles. In conclusion, the PLR may be a marker of inflammatory and prothrombotic status and predicted in-hospital and long-term MACE in a population with STEMI.

Monocyte to HDL Cholesterol Ratio Predicts Coronary Artery Disease Severity and Future Major Cardiovascular Adverse Events in Acute Coronary Syndrome

BACKGROUND We aimed to investigate the usefulness of monocyte to HDL cholesterol ratio (MHR) in predicting coronary artery disease severity and future major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS 2661 patient with ACS were enrolled and followed up during median 31.6 months. RESULTS MHR were significantly positively correlated with neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (r=0.438), CRP (r=0.394), Gensini (r=0.407), and SYNTAX score (r=0.333). During in-hospital and long-term follow-up, MACE, stent thrombosis, non-fatal MI, and mortality occurred more frequently in the third tertile group. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed the higher occurrence of MACE in the third tertile group compared with other tertiles. Adjusting for other factors, a MHR value in the third tertile group was determined as an independent predictor of in-hospital and long-term MACE. CONCLUSIONS MHR as a novel inflammation-based marker seemed to be an independent predictor of severity of coronary artery disease and future cardiovascular events in patients with ACS. MHR may utilise the identification of patients who are at higher risk for MACE and individualisation of targeted therapy.

Usefulness of the monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio to predict bare metal stent restenosis

AIM The aim of the present study was to investigate the predictive value of preprocedural monocyte count-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR) on development of in-stent restenosis in patients undergoing coronary bare-metal stent (BMS) implantation. PATIENTS & METHODS Data from 705 patients who had undergone BMS implantation and additional control coronary angiography were analyzed. RESULTS Patients were divided into three tertiles based on preprocedural MHR. Restenosis occurred in 59 patients (25%) in the lowest tertile, 84 (35%) in the middle tertile and 117 (50%) in the highest MHR tertile (p < 0.001). Using multiple logistic regression analysis, smoking, diabetes mellitus, stent length, preprocedural MHR and C-reactive protein levels emerged as independent predictors of in-stent restenosis. CONCLUSION High preprocedural MHR is related to BMS restenosis.

The Relationship Between Resting Heart Rate and SYNTAX Score in Patients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease

We investigated the relationship between resting heart rate (HR) and The Synergy between percutaneous coronary intervention with Taxus and cardiac surgery (SYNTAX) score in patients with stable coronary artery disease (SCAD). A total of 420 patients who were admitted to our outpatient clinic for stable angina pectoris with sinus rhythm and had at least 50% narrowing in at least 1 coronary artery after coronary angiography were included in the study. Patients were divided into 3 tertiles based on the resting HR: HR of tertile 1 was ≤65 (n = 138), tertile 2 was between 66 and 76 (n = 139), and tertile 3 was ≥77 beats/min (n = 143). The SYNTAX score (7.6 ± 4.6, 12.4 ± 5.6, 20.3 ± 8.1; P < .001) was significantly higher for those in tertile 3 than for those in tertiles 1 and 2. Leukocyte count (7.8 ± 2.2, 7.9 ± 2.2, 8.4 ± 2.3 × 109/L; P = .035) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (2.4 ± 0.5, 3.2 ± 0.7, 4.5 ± 1.2 mg/L, P < .001) were increasing from the lowest to the highest tertile. Using multiple logistic regression analysis, CRP (odds ratio [OR] 1.54 [1.17-2.11], P = .001) and resting HR (OR 1.67 [1.25-2.19], P < .001) emerged as independent predictors of SYNTAX score. Resting HR is related to SYNTAX score in patients with SCAD.

The Relationship Between Epicardial Adipose Tissue Thickness and Infarct-Related Artery Patency in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

We investigated the relationship between epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and infarct-related artery (IRA) patency before mechanical reperfusion in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Patients (n = 640) were divided into 2 groups based on the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade. Impaired flow was defined as TIMI grades 0, 1, and 2, and normal flow was defined as TIMI 3. On the admission angiography, 65 (10.2%) patients had TIMI 3 flow, and the remaining 575 (89.8%) had TIMI 0, 1, or 2 flow. The impaired flow group patients had a higher incidence of diabetes mellitus (53.7% vs 41.5%, P = .035), higher EAT thickness (5.66 ± 1.84 vs 4.87 ± 2.09 mm, P = .001), and lower ejection fraction (43.1% ± 8.9% vs 47.4% ± 9.1%, P = .025). Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that IRA patency was independently associated with EAT thickness (odds ratio [OR] 0.785; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.712-0.858; P = .001) and neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (OR 0.815; 95% CI 0.732-0.917; P = .025). Thickness of EAT was an independent predictor of lower TIMI flow in IRA in patients with STEMI.

A nation-wide survey of patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia phenotype undergoing LDL-apheresis in Turkey (A-HIT 1 registry)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) is a genetic condition characterized by lethally high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) from birth, and requires rapid and aggressive intervention to prevent death due to coronary heart disease and/or atherosclerosis. Where available, lipoprotein apheresis (LA) is the mainstay of treatment to promote survival. METHODS A-HIT1 registry was conducted with the aim of providing insight to the real-life management of HoFH patients undergoing LA in Turkey, where LA procedures are fully reimbursed and widely available. Participating centers provided patient information, including family history, treatment patterns and relevant laboratory values, via a standard questionnaire. RESULTS The study evaluated 88 patients (mean age: 27 ± 11 years, 41 women) in 19 centers. All patients were receiving regular LA with a clinical diagnosis of HoFH. Mean age at first symptom disease was 10 ± 10 years, and at diagnosis it was 12 ± 11 years; 74.7% were diagnosed before age 15 years; and only 31% before the age of 7. First referral of most patients was to pediatricians. Early onset coronary artery disease was present in 57.8% of patients. Mean age at first LA was 21 ± 12 years. Only 11 (12.5%) patients were undergoing LA weekly. Mean frequency of apheresis sessions was 19 ± 13 days. For the last four LA sessions, LDL-C levels reached the target in only in 5.7% of patients. CONCLUSIONS Diagnosis of HoFH is delayed, and LDL targets are not reached. LA frequencies are not optimal. Urgent attention is needed to support the survival of patients with HoFH.

Right Ventricular Dysfunction Complicates Time in Therapeutic Range in Heart Failure Patients Receiving Warfarin

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the effect of echocardiographically demonstrated right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) on time in therapeutic range (TTR) in heart failure (HF) patients receiving warfarin therapy. Methods: A total of 893 consecutive HF patients were included and classified into 4 different subgroups: HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) without RVD (n = 373), HF with reduced EF (HFrEF) without RVD (n = 215), HFpEF with RVD (n = 106) and HFrEF with RVD (n = 199). Groups were compared according to baseline, demographic and clinical data and the characteristics of warfarin therapy. Results: Presence of RVD yielded lower median TTR values both in HFpEF and HFrEF patients. RVD, current smoking, New York Heart Association functional class III/IV, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, pulmonary disease, prior transient ischemic attack or stroke, chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 4/5 and CKD stage 3 were found to be independent predictors of poor anticoagulation control in multivariate logistic regression analysis. Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that presence of RVD in HF increases the risk for poor anticoagulation.

Effectiveness of computed tomography attenuation values in characterization of pericardial effusion

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of computed tomography (CT) attenuation values in the characterization of pericardial effusion. Methods: This study consisted of 96 patients with pericardial effusion who underwent pericardiocentesis. For further diagnostic evaluation of pericardial effusion, all the patients were assessed by thorax CT. CT attenuation values were measured from at least 5 different areas of pericardial fluid by specifying the largest region of interest. The average of these measurements was computed and considered as the CT attenuation value of the patient. The patients were classified into two groups: patients with transudative pericardial effusion and those with exudative pericardial effusion. Results: CT attenuation values were significantly higher in patients with exudative pericardial effusion than in those with transudative pericardial effusion [14.85±10.7 Hounsfield unit (HU) vs. 1.13±4.3 HU, p<0.001]. CT attenuation values had a close correlation with the pericardial fluid albumin (r=0.829), protein (r=0.752), and LDH (r=0.708) levels; WBC count (r=0.564); protein ratio (r=0.739); and LDH ratio (r=0.689) as well as the albumin gradient (r=–0.725). A cut-off value of 4.7 HU had 80% sensitivity and 87.7% specificity for the identification of exudative pericardial effusion. In addition, a cut-off value of 6.5 HU had 71.4% sensitivity and 72.3% specificity for the prediction of cardiac tamponade. Conclusion: In patients with pericardial effusion, CT attenuation values seem to be correlated with the characterization parameters of the fluid and may distinguish exudative pericardial effusion from transudative pericardial effusion. This parameter was also found to be a predictor of cardiac tamponade. CT attenuation values can be a useful tool in the clinical evaluation of patients with pericardial effusion.

Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio as a novel marker of in-hospital and long-term adverse outcomes among patients with acute pulmonary embolism: A single center large-scale study

BACKGROUND The interaction of platelets with leukocytes is a well-known process both in progression and prognosis of acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Recently, platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) is emerged as an indirect inflammatory indicator which was shown to be associated with adverse cardiovascular events in various clinical conditions, including acute PE. However, the long-term prognostic value of PLR in acute PE has not been investigated thoroughly. Therefore, we aimed to assess the impact of PLR on both in-hospital and long-term adverse outcomes in acute PE. METHODS A total of 459 patients with definite diagnosis of acute PE between January 2009 and January 2016 were enrolled. On admission, blood sampling to calculate PLR and detailed clinical data were obtained. Patients were divided into tertiles according to the admission PLR levels. Simplified PE severity index (sPESI) score and computerized tomography (CT) based pulmonary artery obstruction index were calculated for each patient. RESULTS Mean sPESI score of the study population was 1.6. A total of 34 patients (7.4%) died during index hospitalization. At median 28.8months follow-up, all-cause mortality was observed in 81 patients (1.9%). Patients in the highest tertile of PLR revealed a higher rate of in-hospital adverse events including cardiogenic shock, the necessity for thrombolytic therapy and in-hospital mortality as well as long-term all-cause mortality. In multivariate analysis, the PLR was found to be a significant predictor of both in-hospital adverse events (OR: 1.588, 95% CI:1.116-2.154, p=0.004) and long-term all-cause mortality (OR:1.746, 95% CI:1.211-2.865, p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS The PLR, as a simple, inexpensive and available marker of inflammatory and prothrombotic status, seemed to be a novel predictor of in-hospital and long-term adverse outcomes in patients with acute PE.