George Fernaine

MASP-2 activation is involved in ischemia-related necrotic myocardial injury in humans

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Insufficient blood supply to the heart results in ischemic injury manifested clinically as myocardial infarction (MI). Following ischemia, inflammation is provoked and related to the clinical outcomes. A recent basic science study indicates that complement factor MASP-2 plays an important role in animal models of ischemia/reperfusion injury. We investigated the role of MASP-2 in human acute myocardial ischemia in two clinical settings: (1) Acute MI, and (2) Open heart surgery. METHODS A total of 187 human subjects were enrolled in this study, including 50 healthy individuals, 27 patients who were diagnosed of coronary artery disease (CAD) but without acute MI, 29 patients with acute MI referred for coronary angiography, and 81 cardiac surgery patients with surgically-induced global heart ischemia. Circulating MASP-2 levels were measured by ELISA. RESULTS MASP-2 levels in the peripheral circulation were significantly reduced in MI patients compared with those of healthy individuals or of CAD patients without acute MI. The hypothesis that MASP-2 was activated during acute myocardial ischemia was evaluated in cardiac patients undergoing surgically-induced global heart ischemia. MASP-2 was found to be significantly reduced in the coronary circulation of such patients, and the reduction of MASP-2 levels correlated independently with the increase of the myocardial necrosis marker, cardiac troponin I. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate an involvement of MASP-2 in ischemia-related necrotic myocardial injury in humans.

Is Mitral Annular Calcification Associated With Atherosclerotic Risk Factors and Severity and Complexity of Coronary Artery Disease

We assessed the association of mitral annular calcification (MAC) with atherosclerotic risk factors and severity and complexity of coronary artery disease (CAD). Cardiac catheterization reports and electronic medical records from 2010 to 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 481 patients were divided into 2 groups: MAC present (209) and MAC absent (272). All major cardiovascular risk factors, comorbidities, and coronary lesion characteristics were included. On linear regression analysis, age (P = .001, β 1.12) and female gender (P = .031, β 0.50) were the independent predictors of MAC. Mitral annular calcification was not independently associated with the presence of lesions with >70% stenosis (P = .283), number of obstructive vessels (P = .469), lesions with 50% to 70% stenosis (P = .458), and Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery score (P = .479). Mitral annular calcification is probably a benign marker of age-related degenerative changes in the heart independent of the severity and complexity of CAD.

Do Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Coronary SYNTAX Score Predict Contrast Volume Use During Cardiac Catheterization

The association of cardiovascular risk factors and complexity and severity of coronary artery disease with contrast volume (CV) remains unknown. We assessed the predictive factors of CV use during elective and emergent cardiac catheterization (CC). Electronic medical records from 2010 to 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 708 patients were eligible. On multivariable regression analysis, the presence of obstructed coronary arteries was associated with CV (P = .01, β = −14.17), with greater CV used in patients with single or double vessel disease compared to those with triple vessel disease. The presence of lesions with >70% stenosis in major epicardial arteries (P = .019, β = 24.39) and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (P = .001, β = 36.14) was associated with increased CV use. Elevated B-type natriuretic peptide (P = .036, β = −17.23) and increase in Synergy between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery score (P = .024, β = −29.06) were associated with decreased CV use. These aforementioned associations were attenuated after adjusting for percutaneous coronary intervention. Our findings may help predict patient populations who could be exposed to increased CV during CC, thereby possibly increasing their risk of contrast-induced nephropathy.

Does aortic valve sclerosis predicts the severity and complexity of coronary artery disease

AIM We assessed the association of aortic valve sclerosis (AVS) with atherosclerotic risk factors and severity and complexity of coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS In this retrospective study, a total of 482 eligible patients were divided into 2 groups: AVS present and AVS absent. All major cardiovascular risk factors and coronary lesion characteristics were included. RESULTS Age was the only independent predictor of AVS. AVS was not independently associated with the number of obstructive vessels, degree of lesion obstruction and SYNTAX score. CONCLUSION AVS is probably a benign marker of age-related degenerative changes in the heart independent of the severity and complexity of CAD.

Coronary Collateral Circulation and Cardiovascular Risk Factors Is There a Paradox

We sought to determine the association of major cardiovascular risk factors and other comorbidities with the presence or absence of coronary collateral (CC) circulation. All electronic medical records from 2010 to 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 563 patients were divided into 2 groups: CC present (180) and CC absent (383). Smoking (P = .012, odds ratio [OR] 1.58), hypercholesterolemia (P = .001, OR 2.21), and hypertension (P = .034, OR 1.75) were associated with the presence of CC. Increasing body mass index (BMI, P = .001) and decreasing estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, P = .042) were associated with the absence of CC. On multivariable linear regression analysis, hypercholesterolemia (P = .001, OR 2.28), BMI (P = .012, OR 0.77), and eGFR (P = .001, OR 0.70) were found to be independently associated with CC. Our findings will help predict patient populations more likely to have presence or absence of CC circulation.

Predictors of Peak Troponin Level in Acute Coronary Syndromes: Prior Aspirin Use and SYNTAX Score

The peak troponin level has been associated with cardiovascular (CV) mortality and adverse CV events. The association of peak troponin with CV risk factors and severity and complexity of coronary artery disease remains unknown. We assessed the predictors of peak troponin in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This study aims to determine the predictors of peak troponin in ACS. Cardiac catheterization (CC) reports and electronic medical records from 2010 to 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 219 patients were eligible for the study. All major CV risk factors, comorbidities, laboratory data, CC indications, and coronary lesion characteristics were included. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were done. On multivariate linear regression analysis, ST-elevation myocardial infarction (p = 0.001, β = 65.16) and increasing synergy between percutaneous coronary intervention with Taxus and cardiac surgery (SYNTAX) score (p = 0.002, β = 1.15) were associated with higher peak troponin. The Pearson correlation between SYNTAX score and peak troponin was r = 0.257, p = 0.001. History of daily aspirin use was associated with lower peak troponin (p = 0.002, β = -24.32). Prior statin use (p = 0.321, β = -8.98) and the presence of CV risk factors were not associated with peak troponin. Coronary artery disease severity and complexity, urgency of CC, and prior aspirin use are associated with peak troponin levels in ACS. Our findings may help predict patient population with ACS who would be at a greater risk for short- and long-term CV morbidity and mortality due to elevated peak troponin.

Do Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Severity and Complexity of Coronary Atherosclerosis Predict Aortic Pulse Pressure during Cardiac Catheterization

Pulse pressure (PP), estimated from the peripheral blood pressure measurements, has been linked with adverse cardiovascular events. But, the association of PP and coronary artery disease is not well studied. There is a lack of data on the association of invasively measured aortic PP and cardiovascular risk factors and severity of coronary atherosclerosis. We determined the predictive factors of aortic PP during cardiac catheterization. Electronic medical records from 2010 to 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 368 patients were eligible. The data on demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, coronary lesion characteristics, and medication use was collected. On multivariable regression analysis, aging (β = 0.34, p = 0.001, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.14-0.53) and prior aspirin use (β = 5.09, p = 0.015, 95% CI 0.99-9.18) were associated with higher aortic PP. Increasing estimated glomerular filtration rate (β = - 0.52, p = 0.040, 95% CI -0.90 to -0.23) was associated with lower aortic PP. Severity and complexity of coronary lesions, SYNTAX score, and number of obstructed vessels were not associated with aortic PP. Aging, prior aspirin use, and declining renal function were associated with an increase in aortic PP. Aortic PP may not predict the severity and complexity of coronary atherosclerosis. Therefore, the risk of adverse cardiovascular events associated with an elevated aortic PP may not be mediated by the severity of coronary atherosclerosis.