Bahadir Sarli

Predictive Value of Admission Platelet Volume Indices for In-hospital Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Acute ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Although mean platelet volume (MPV) is an independent correlate of impaired angiographic reperfusion and 6-month mortality in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI), there is less data regarding the association between platelet distribution width (PDW) and in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). A total of 306 patients with STEMI pPCI were evaluated. No reflow was defined as a post-PCI thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade of 0, 1, or 2 (group 1). Angiographic success was defined as TIMI flow grade 3 (group 2). The values of MPV and PDW were higher among patients with no reflow. In-stent thrombosis, nonfatal myocardial infarction, in-hospital mortality, and MACEs were significantly more frequent among patients with no reflow. In multivariate analysis, PDW, MPV, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and glucose on admission were independent correlates of in-hospital MACEs. Admission PDW and MPV are independent correlates of no reflow and in-hospital MACEs among patients with STEMI undergoing pPCI.

Mean platelet volume predicts embolic complications and prognosis in infective endocarditis

OBJECTIVES This study was designed to examine the change in mean platelet volume (MPV) over the course of infective endocarditis (IE) and also the association between MPV and complications including embolic events in IE. METHODS Forty patients (26 male, mean age 46±15 years) who were hospitalized with a diagnosis of IE at the Department of Cardiology, Erciyes University, from March 2005 to August 2008, were retrospectively evaluated. The diagnosis of IE was made clinically and was confirmed with Dukes criteria. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and MPV were measured before treatment and periodically during the follow-up period, until discharge. RESULTS There were 27 cases of native valve endocarditis and 13 of prosthetic valve endocarditis. While 31 patients were treated medically, an operation was performed in nine patients because of unsuccessful medical therapy. On admission, mean MPV was 10.8±1.1 fl, ESR was 82±26mm/h, and hs-CRP was 110±72mg/l. Seven patients died: one intraoperatively, three patients postoperatively, and three patients during medical treatment. With the exception of these seven patients, ESR and hs-CRP were significantly reduced in all patients at discharge compared to levels at hospitalization (ESR 82±26 to 32±22, p=0.001 and hs-CRP 110±72 to 25±15, p=0.001). Similarly, we detected a significant decrease in MPV from hospitalization to discharge, i.e., from the active period of the disease to recovery (10.8±1.1 to 9.7±0.8 fl, p=0.002). In addition, MPV was found to be significantly higher in patients with observed embolic complications (11.5 vs. 10.3 fl, p=0.001), other complications (11.0 vs. 10.2 fl, p=0.001), and death (11.1 vs. 10.4 fl, p=0.005). CONCLUSION MPV can be used as an activity criterion in IE, like ESR and hs-CRP. Also, high MPV is associated with a poor prognosis and adverse outcomes, and predicts complications including embolic events.

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio is Associated With Severity of Coronary Artery Ectasia

We investigated the association between coronary artery ectasia (CAE) and Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), an indicator of the inflammatory state. The study population included 434 patients (247 males, mean age 62 ± 10 years) including 230 patients with isolated CAE and 104 patients with coronary artery disease and 100 patientss with normal coronary arteries. The NLR was measured at admission and 30 days after coronary angiography in all the patients. The NLR was significantly higher in patients with CAE than those with normal coronary arteries (2.2 ± 0.6-1.3 ± 0.6, P < .001). Linear regression analyses revealed that NLR (coefficient β = −.61, P < .001) was significantly associated with severity of CAE. The NLR is significantly higher in patients with CAE compared to controls with normal coronary arteries, and NLR is associated with severity of CAE.

Does Serum Bilirubin Level on Admission Predict TIMI Flow Grade and In-Hospital MACE in Patients With STEMI Undergoing Primary PCI

We evaluated the association of total bilirubin with post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) coronary blood flow and in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary PCI. A total of 536 consecutive patients with STEMI (male 79%, mean age = 59.9 ± 12.6 years) admitted within 6 hours from symptom onset were enrolled. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (MI) flow grade. In-stent thrombosis, nonfatal MI, and in-hospital mortality were significantly higher in no-reflow group (P = .007, P = .002, and P < .001, respectively). On multivariate regression, the total bilirubin levels remained independent predictors of no-reflow (odds ratio [OR] 1.586, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-2.47; P = .042) and in-hospital MACE (OR 1.399, 95% CI 1.053-1.857; P = .020). Serum bilirubin levels were independently associated with no-reflow and in-hospital MACE in patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI.

Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio Predicts SYNTAX Score in Patients With Non-ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

In this study we aimed to investigate whether there is an association between the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) using the SYNTAX score (SXscore). A total of 414 patients with NSTEMI who underwent coronary angiography were enrolled in the study. NLR was measured for all patients at presentation. The study population was then divided into 3 tertiles based on the SYNTAX trial results.(1)) The low syntax group (n = 329) was defined as those with an SXscore ≤ 22, the intermediate syntax group (n = 58) was defined as an SXscore ≥ 23 and < 33, and the high syntax group (n = 27) as those with an SXscore ≥ 33. NLR was significantly lower in patients with a low SXscore compared to patients with an intermediate SXscore or high SXscore (3.7 ± 4 to 4.6 ± 2 and 7.9 ± 4, P < 0.001). Linear regression analysis revealed that NLR (coefficientβ = 0.380, 95%CI: 1.165-1.917, P < 0.001) was significantly associated with the SXscore in patients with NSTEMI. Our results indicate that NLR is independently associated with the severity of CAD in patients with NSTEMI.

Persistence of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Women With Previous Preeclampsia: A Long-term Follow-up Study

Background Preeclampsia is a cardiovascular (CV) disease risk factor, and lifestyle modifications are recommended. It was suggested that preeclampsia may increase the prevalence of various CV disease risk factors such as metabolic syndrome, hypertension, insulin resistance, microalbuminuria, and endothelial dysfunction, among others. Here, we investigate the role of serum uric acid in preeclampsia in the development of CV complications. Materials and Methods This was an observational case-control study that compared women with history of preeclampsia (n = 25) with age-matched controls with uncomplicated pregnancies (n = 20) who were followed for at least 5 years. Measurements included clinical and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, ultrasound-measured flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), microalbuminuria, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and serum uric acid, as well as clinical and demographic features. Cardiovascular disease risk factors were compared in women with and without previous preeclampsia. Results At the time of index gestation, preeclamptic women had higher serum uric acid values (4.36 ± 0.61 vs 2.27 ± 0.38 mg/dL, P < 0.001). Five years after pregnancy, the patients who had preeclampsia were more likely to have hypertension and had higher serum uric acid levels, higher microalbuminuria and CIMT levels, and lower FMD values than did the patients who did not have preeclampsia. The 2 groups were similar with regard to various ambulatory blood pressure parameters. Univariate associates of FMD were history of preeclampsia and the current hypertension status. Microalbuminuria correlated with gestational uric acid levels (coefficient of correlation of 0.40, P = 0.01 for FMD and coefficient of correlation of 0.37, P = 0.01 for CIMT, respectively). Conclusions Preeclampsia might be a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular risk factors at least 5 years after index pregnancy. Serum uric acid and microalbuminuria may be mechanistic mediators of heightened risk, along with impaired endothelial function in preeclampsia.

Relation between serum total bilirubin levels and severity of coronary artery disease in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

We studied 403 consecutive patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). This population was divided into tertiles according to the SYNTAX score (SXscore). The high SXscore group was defined as an SXscore ≥13, and the low SXscore group as an SXscore <13. The total bilirubin (sTB) and direct bilirubin levels of patients were significantly higher in the high SXscore group (P = .001 and P = .007, respectively). There was a correlation between sTB and SXscore (r = .495; P = .005). On multivariate linear regression analyses, age (β = .100; P = .041), sTB levels (β = .171; P = .005), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (β = .121; P = .014), and troponin-I (β = .124; P = .011) remained independent correlates of high SXscore. The mean follow-up period was 18.2 months. All-cause mortality rate was higher in the high SXscore group but did not reach significance (P = .058). In conclusion, high sTB level is independently associated with severity of coronary artery disease in patients with NSTEMI. However, no association was found with long-term mortality.

Serum gamma glutamyl transferase and alanine transaminase concentrations predict endothelial dysfunction in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Abstract Purpose. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We aimed to investigate the presence of endothelial dysfunction and whether serum concentrations of liver enzymes may reflect the severity of such an endothelial dysfunction in patients with NASH. Methods. Fifty patients with NASH diagnosed by liver biopsies and 30 healthy controls were included. Blood samples after fasting were harvested for measurements of glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglyceride, and liver enzymes. All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography and brachial and carotid artery Doppler ultrasonography to evaluate flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT). Results. Patients with NASH had impaired FMD (4.9 ± 2.8% to 9.3 ± 4.4%, P < 0.001) and higher CIMT (0.79 ± 0.16 mm to 0.64 ± 0.11 mm, P < 0.001) when compared with healthy controls. Linear regression analyses revealed that serum concentrations of gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and alanine transaminase (ALT) were associated with FMD and CIMT. Conclusions. Patients with NASH have impaired FMD and increased CIMT when compared with healthy controls. In patients with NASH, serum concentrations of GGT and ALT might have a predictive value for FMD and CIMT.

Mean platelet volume is associated with poor postinterventional myocardial blush grade in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

ObjectiveIn a significant proportion of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), microvascular and myocardial reperfusion cannot be regained despite successfully restored thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) grade 3 epicardial blood flow. Myocardial blush grade (MBG) is a reliable marker for microvascular patency and predicts short-term and long-term mortality after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute STEMI, independent of other variables. Mean platelet volume (MPV), a unique measure of platelet size, is an indicator of platelet reactivity. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relation of admission MPV with postinterventional MBG in patients with STEMI and TIMI grade 3 flow at infarct artery after primary PCI. Materials and methodsThree hundred and ten patients were selected as a study group among patients with STEMI and TIMI grade 3 epicardial blood flow after primary PCI. Blood samples for analysis were obtained during the initial evaluation of patients at the emergency department. MBGs of patients were classified at the end of angioplasty. Patients with MBG 0 and 1 were defined as having poor myocardial blush and patients with MBG 2 and 3 were defined as having normal myocardial blush. ResultsPatients with poor myocardial blush had higher admission MPV (10.5±1.3 to 9.1±1 fl, P<0.001), higher peak creatine kinase myocardial band isoenzyme levels (260±53 to 190±38 U/l, P<0.001), higher white blood cell count (11.3±4 to 10.3±3×103/&mgr;l, P=0.012), and lower left ventricular ejection fraction (42±7 to 51±8%, P<0.001) compared with patients with normal myocardial blush. Linear regression analysis showed that admission MPV was significantly associated with postinterventional MBG (coefficient=0.598, P<0.001). Cardiovascular mortality (13–5%, P=0.013) and acute–subacute stent thrombosis at 3 months (12–8%, P=0.028) were significantly higher in patients with poor postinterventional myocardial blush compared with those with normal myocardial blush. ConclusionThe MPV measured at admission is significantly associated with poor postinterventional MBG in patients with STEMI and TIMI grade 3 flow at infarct artery after primary PCI.

Heart Rate Recovery Is Impaired in Patients with Psoriasis

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between psoriasis and heart rate recovery (HRR) index. Patients and Methods: A total of 50 patients with a diagnosis of psoriasis and 32 healthy volunteers were included in the study. In all patients, a stress test was performed to calculate the HRR index in a manner which aimed to reach the age-specific maximum heart rate. HRR indices were calculated in all patients and controls. Results: HRR (beats/minute) indices after the 1st (HRR1, 26 ± 10 vs. 33 ± 8, p = 0.002), 2nd (44 ± 11 vs. 50 ± 6, p = 0.002), 3rd (51 ± 7 vs. 63 ± 8, p < 0.001), 4th (54 ± 7 vs. 65 ± 8, p < 0.001) and 5th (57 ± 8 vs. 70 ± 10, p < 0.001) minutes of the recovery period were significantly lower in the psoriasis group compared to healthy controls. In addition, HRR1 was significantly correlated with duration of psoriasis (r = 0.541, p < 0.001) and psoriasis area and severity index score (r = 0.511, p < 0.001). Conclusion: HRR was lower in patients with psoriasis. Given the prognostic value of this test, patients with psoriasis might be at risk for future cardiovascular events and cardiovascular mortality.