Masayoshi Takeno

Impact of Metabolic Syndrome on the Long-Term Survival of Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background Population-based cohort studies demonstrate that metabolic syndrome (MeS) is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular diseases and related mortalities. The present study was designed to investigate the prognostic impact of MeS in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods and Results The study group was 461 AMI patients without a history of previous myocardial infarction. On the basis of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria, MeS was defined having at least 3 of the following 5 conditions: dysglycemia (impaired fasting glucose, current use of insulin or oral hypoglycemic drugs), hypertriglyceridemia, low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level, hypertension and obesity. The prevalence of MeS was 37% (n=172). C-reactive protein (CRP) levels increased with the increase in the number of conditions of MeS. During follow-up at a median of 17.6 months, the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) was significantly different between patients with and without MeS. Furthermore, after adjustment of predictive factors (age, sex, Killip class, multivessel coronary artery disease, low ejection fraction and high CRP level), MeS was an independent risk factor for MACE. Conclusions In patients with AMI, MeS is associated with systemic inflammation and is an important predictor for MACE, which suggests the need for early identification and medical intervention for secondary prevention of MeS. (Circ J 2008; 72: 415 - 419)

Elevated levels of systemic pentraxin 3 are associated with thin-cap fibroatheroma in coronary culprit lesions: assessment by optical coherence tomography and intravascular ultrasound.

OBJECTIVES This study sought to determine whether systemic levels of pentraxin 3 (PTX3), a novel inflammatory marker, are associated with thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA). BACKGROUND Biomarkers predicting the presence of TCFA in vivo have not been established. METHODS We evaluated 75 patients (stable angina pectoris, n = 47; acute coronary syndrome, n = 28) with de novo culprit lesions who were examined by optical coherence tomography and intravascular ultrasound. We defined TCFA as lipid-rich plaque with a fibrous cap <65 μm thick. Systemic levels of PTX3 were compared between patients with and without TCFA. RESULTS Thirty-eight and 37 patients with and without TCFA, respectively, were identified. Levels of PTX3 were significantly higher in patients with than in those without TCFA (p < 0.001) and correlated inversely with fibrous cap thickness (r = -0.71, p = 0.001) and positively with the remodeling index (r = 0.25, p = 0.037). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a higher PTX3 level was the most powerful predictor of TCFA (odds ratio: 3.26, 95% confidence interval: 1.75 to 6.05, p < 0.001). Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis showed that >3.24 ng/ml of PTX3 could predict TCFA with 84% sensitivity and 86% specificity. CONCLUSIONS Higher levels of systemic PTX3 are associated with TCFA. Systemic PTX3 levels comprise a useful inflammatory marker that reflects coronary plaque vulnerability.

Mass lesions surrounding coronary artery associated with immunoglobulin G4-related disease

Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related diseases have been reported to be systemic diseases characterized by elevation of serum IgG4 concentration and infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells within the target organ. However, the involvement of coronary artery is very rare. Here, we report a 62-year-old man with mass lesions surrounding coronary artery and abdominal aorta associated with IgG4-related disease diagnosed by a needle biopsy of the mass lesion surrounding the coronary artery using echocardiography and computed tomography. After we started to treat the patient with prednisolone, his serum IgG4 level decreased, and the mass lesions of coronary and abdominal artery were markedly reduced in size after 4 months. In conclusion, IgG4-related disease should be considered in addition to tumors such as malignant lymphoma when mass lesions surrounding coronary artery are detected.

Rivaroxaban therapy resulting in the resolution of right atrial thrombosis resistant to ordinary control with warfarin in a patient with atrial fibrillation.

A 72-year-old man with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and metastatic liver and lung cancer after surgery for colon cancer developed thrombosis in the right atrium one month after decreasing the dose of warfarin due to the introduction of double anti-platelet therapy for coronary stent implantation. Restoring the warfarin dose with ordinary control for two months did not result in any changes in the size of the thrombus; however, the subsequent substitution of rivaroxaban (oral treatment with a direct Factor Xa inhibitor) for warfarin ultimately resolved the thrombosis.

Culprit segments identified by optical coherence tomography in patients with acute myocardial infarction: two case reports

The high resolution of optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides detailed information about coronary plaque morphology, which enables the mechanism of acute myocardial infarction to be evaluated. We describe two patients with acute myocardial infarction in whom culprit segments were identified by OCT, but not by either coronary angiography or intravascular ultrasound.