Taylan Akgun

Impact of Chronic Pre-Treatment of Statins on the Level of Systemic Inflammation and Myocardial Perfusion in Patients Undergoing Primary Angioplasty

Statins have many favorable pleiotropic effects beyond their lipid-lowering properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of long-term statin pretreatment on the level of systemic inflammation and myocardial perfusion in patients with acute myocardial infarctions. This was a retrospective study of 1,617 patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention <12 hours after the onset of symptoms. Angiographic no-reflow was defined as postprocedural Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade ≤2. Long-term statin pretreatment was significantly less common in the no-reflow group (6.2% vs 21%, p <0.001). The serum lipid profiles of the groups were similar (p >0.05 for all parameters). Baseline C-reactive protein levels (10 ± 8.2 vs 15 ± 14 mg/L, p <0.001) and the frequency of angiographic no-reflow (3.9% vs 14%, p <0.001) were significantly lower, and myocardial blush grade 3 was more common (50% vs 40%, p = 0.006) in the statin pretreatment group (n = 306). Moreover, the frequency of complete ST-segment resolution (>70%) (70% vs 59%, p <0.001) and the left ventricular ejection fraction were higher (49 ± 7.5% vs 46 ± 8.3%, p <0.001) and peak creatine kinase-MB was lower (186 ± 134 vs 241 ± 187 IU/L, p <0.001) in the statin-treated group. In conclusion, long-term statin pretreatment is associated with lower C-reactive protein levels on admission and better myocardial perfusion after primary percutaneous coronary intervention, leading to lower enzymatic infarct area and a more preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. This is a group effect independent of lipid-lowering properties.

The risk of false results in the assessment of platelet function in the absence of antiplatelet medication: Comparision of the PFA-100, multiplate electrical impedance aggregometry and verify now assays

OBJECTIVES Evaluation of aspirin (ASA) responsiveness with platelet function tests varies by the choice of blood mixture and functional test and cut off values for defining the the treatment used. Addition to that we also aimed to determine agreement between three tests and to research whether there is any necessity to measure baseline platelet activity. METHODS The study group comprised of 52 patients with multiple risk factors receiving primary prophylaxis of ASA (100 mg/day). For each patient inhibition of platelet aggregation with aspirin was determined using three different whole blood tests: Multiplate electrical impedance aggregometry, Verify Now Aspirin, and collagen-epinephrine closure time PFA-100. Platelet aggregation was assessed with multiplate electrical impedance aggregometry,and was defined as the area under curve (AUC,AUxmin). Maximal 6,4 microM collagen-induced AUC were used to quantify platelet aggregation due to ASA. The ASA response was defined as >30 % reduction in basal platelet aggregation with multiplate electrical impedance aggregometry. Collagen induced platelet aggregation at the Verify Now Aspirin assay quantitated the ASA-induced platelet inhibition as aspirin reaction units (ARU). According to manufacturer insert ARU>550 indicates aspirin resistance. ASA platelet function studies were assessed twice at baseline (pre-aspirin), and after 7 day(post-aspirin) were performed. RESULTS After ASA intake none of the patients was found aspirin resistant with PFA-100. (CEPI-CT (129+/-36 vs 289+/-18 ). None of the patients was found aspirin resistant with PFA-100. As>30 % reduction in basal platelet aggregation with multiplate electrical impedance aggregometry is selected all of the patients have been stratified as responders.(COL TEST 688+/-230 vs 169+/-131 AU) None of the patients with Verify Now Aspirin found resistance to ASA(594+/-62 vs 446+/-43).Prior to ASA intake 15 of all patients with VN(501+/-16) and 2 of all patients with multiplate electrical impedance aggregometry (223+/-40 AUC )aggregation levels below the cut off label before ingestion of ASA.None of the patients was above the cut off label with PFA -100 (129+/-36). CONCLUSIONS Verify Now ASA assay, multiplate electrical impedance aggregometry and PFA-100 seem to be reliable tests in reflecting ASA effect on platelets. Cut off labels for the defining the responsiveness given by manufacturer may show significant interindividual variability with Verify Now ASA assay and multiplate electrical impedance aggregometry, and these test may show platelet inhibition despite the absence of ASA intake. Consideration of the pretreatment values may eliminate the risk of overestimation in the assessment of platelet inhibition by ASA.

Acute alcohol consumption is associated with increased interatrial electromechanical delay in healthy men

BACKGROUND Acute alcohol consumption can cause atrial fibrillation in patients with, and without, heart disease. Increased atrial electromechanical delay (EMD) has been associated with atrial fibrillation. We evaluated the atrial conduction properties by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) echocardiography in healthy men following acute alcohol intake. METHODS Thirty healthy male volunteers were included in this study. Baseline ECG, heart rate, blood pressure, and TDI echocardiographic findings were compared to readings taken one hour after drinking six 12-oz cans of beer (76.8 g of ethanol). RESULTS Although the blood pressure and heart rate remained similar before and one hour after alcohol intake, Pmax and Pd values were significantly prolonged (114.2 ± 10.4 vs 100.8 ± 10.6, p = 0.002; 50.6 ± 9.6 vs 34.5 ± 8.8, p < 0.0001). Interatrial EMD was significantly increased after drinking alcohol compared to the baseline (19.8 ± 9.2 vs 14.0 ± 5.5 ms, p < 0.0002). CONCLUSIONS Acute moderate alcohol intake was associated with an increased interatrial EMD obtained by TDI echocardiography. This finding may help explain how these patients express increased susceptibility to atrial fibrillation.

Kounis syndrome presenting with cardiogenic shock

Kounis syndrome has been found to be associated with coronary artery spasm and acute coronary syndrome developing due to mast cell degranulation. It is relatively newly described and is being reported more and more frequently. The drugs, endovascular devices, environmental agents and several allergic diseases likely to cause Kounis syndrome have been described. All patients presented with acute coronary syndrome and anaphylactic shock in the absence of hemodynamic failure. No patient was reported with cardiogenic shock.

Baseline SYNTAX Score and Long-Term Outcome in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Objectives: The SYNTAX score (SXscore) has emerged as a reproducible angiographic tool to quantify the extent of coronary artery disease based on the location and complexity of each lesion. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the SXscore is an independent predictor of long-term cardiovascular outcomes in patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods: A total of 2993 patients with acute STEMI who underwent primary PCI were stratified into the 4 groups according to the SXscore quartiles; quartile 1(Q1, SXscore ≤ 9, n = 819), Q2 (9 < SXscore < 16, n = 715), Q3 (16 ≤ SXscore < 20, n = 710), and Q4 (SXscore ≥ 20, n = 749). Results: There were significant differences among the quartiles with respect to age, basal creatinine and glucose levels, and the incidences of diabetes mellitus, Killip ≥2, and anemia. From Q1 to Q4, there were increasing rates of culprit left anterior descending lesion (P < .001), multivessel disease (P < .001), chronic total occlusion (P < .001), and proximal lesion localization (P < .001). At long-term follow-up, all-cause mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, rehospitalization due to heart failure, and the need of revascularization were significantly more frequent among the patients in the highest SXscore quartile. In multivariate analysis, after including the SXscore as a numerical variable into the model, every point of increase was determined as an independent predictor for long-term mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.05, P = .008) and for overall major adverse cardiac events (MACEs; HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.04, P < .001). Conclusion: The SXscore is an independent predictor of both in-hospital and long-term mortality and MACE in patients with acute STEMI undergoing primary PCI.

Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background:Spontaneous early patency of infarct-related artery (IRA) on arrival for primary percutaneous coronary intervention is associated with better short- and long-term prognosis in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We aimed to investigate whether the hemographic parameters on admission are associated with spontaneous IRA patency. Methods:This was a retrospective study of 1,625 patients with acute STEMI who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention <12 hours after the onset of symptoms. Results:Angiography showed patent IRA (prethrombolysis in myocardial infarction [TIMI] grade 3 flow) in 160 (9.8%) patients. Neutrophil count on admission (7.8 ± 2.4 × 103/&mgr;L versus 9.7 ± 3.8 × 103/&mgr;L; P < 0.001) was significantly lower and lymphocyte count (2.4 ± 1.0 × 103/&mgr;L versus 1.9 ± 1.1 × 103/&mgr;L; P < 0.001) on admission was significantly higher in the patent IRA group. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was significantly lower in the patent IRA group (4.1 ± 3.2 versus 6.9 ± 5.5; P < 0.001). Admission leukocyte counts (13 ± 4.0 × 103/&mgr;L versus 12 ± 3.4 × 103/&mgr;L; P < 0.001) and NLR (7.2 ± 5.8 versus 5.5 ± 4.4; P < 0.001) of the patients with TIMI thrombus score ≥4 were significantly higher than patients with TIMI thrombus score <4. In the multivariate analysis, NLR ≥4.5 (3.17 [95% confidence interval: 2.04–4.92]; P < 0.001) was found to be independently predicting an occluded IRA on initial angiography with a sensitivity of 62.7% and a specificity of 70%. Conclusions:NLR on admission is significantly related to angiographic thrombus burden and spontaneous early IRA patency in patients with acute STEMI.

Assessment of Left Ventricular Functions in Patients With Isolated Coronary Artery Ectasia by Conventional and Tissue Doppler Imaging

The authors sought to determine left ventricular functions by conventional and tissue Doppler imaging in patients with isolated coronary artery ectasia and controls. Peak early (E) and late (A) mitral inflow velocity, E/A ratio, E deceleration time, and isovolumetric relaxation time were obtained. Peak systolic velocity (Sm), diastolic early (Em), and late (Am) velocities were measured by tissue Doppler imaging. Interventricular septum velocities, including peak systolic (Ss), diastolic early (Es), and late (As) velocities, were recorded. Peak early (E) velocity, E/A ratio, and E deceleration time were different in both groups. Isovolumetric relaxation time was prolonged in patients with coronary artery ectasia than controls. Em and Em/Am ratio were lower in patients with coronary artery ectasia than controls. Diastolic early and Es/As velocities were lower in patients with coronary artery ectasia compared with controls. The authors showed that mitral inflow-lateral annulus and interventricular septum velocities were lower in patients with coronary artery ectasia than controls indicating left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.

Left atrial deformation parameters in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a 2D speckle tracking imaging study.

The presence of the metabolic syndrome is a strong predictor for the presence of NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis) in patients with NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease). In the present study, we assessed LA (left atrial) deformation parameters in patients with NAFLD using 2D-STE (speckle tracking echocardiography) and to investigate if any changes exist between subgroups of the NAFLD. A total of 55 NAFLD patients and 21 healthy controls were included in the study. The diagnosis of NAFLD was based on liver biopsy. After patients were categorized into groups according to histopathological analysis (simple steatosis, borderline NASH, definitive NASH), all patients underwent echocardiography with Doppler examination. In the 2D-STE analysis of the left atrium, LA-Res (peak LA strain during ventricular systole), LA-Pump (peak LA strain during atrial systole), LA-SR(S) (peak LA strain rate during ventricular systole), LA-SR(E) (peak LA strain rate during early diastole) and LA-SR(A) (peak LA strain rate during atrial systole) were obtained. LA-Res, LA-Pump and LA-SR(A) were lower in the NAFLD group than in the control group. LA-Res was found to be significantly lower in NAFLD subgroups compared with healthy subjects (43.9±14.2 in healthy controls compared with 31.4±8.3 with simple steatosis, 32.8±12.8 with borderline NASH and 33.8±9.0 with definitive NASH). LA-Pump was significantly lower in the NAFLD group (18.2±3.1 in healthy controls compared with 13.3±4.7 with borderline NASH and 14.4±4.7 with definitive NASH). There were significant differences in LA-SR(A) between healthy controls compared with simple steatosis and borderline NASH (-1.56±0.36 compared with 1.14±0.38 and 1.24±0.32 respectively). Correlation analysis showed significant correlation of LA-Res values with E (early diastolic peak velocity)/E(m) (early diastolic mitral annular velocity) ratio (r=-0.50, P≤0.001), with LAVI (LA volume index; r=-0.45, P≤0.001) and with V(p) (propagation velocity; r=0.39, P≤0.001). 2D-STE-based LA deformation parameters are impaired in patients with NAFLD with normal systolic function. Although LA-Res and pump function parameters might be useful in estimating LV (left ventricular) filling pressure in the NAFLD patient group, it could not be used for differentiating the subgroups.

Circulating stromelysin concentration is elevated in hypertensive aortic root dilatation

Accumulating data suggest that activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is increased in aortic dissection, and in thoracic and abdominal aneurysms. In the present study we sought to determine circulating stromelysin (MMP-3) concentration and its relationship with hypertension-induced aortic root dilatation. The study population included 42 patients with essential hypertension. The subjects were divided into two groups according to echocardiographically measured aortic diameter as those with aortic dilatation (n = 22) and without aortic root dilatation (n = 20). Plasma concentration of MMP-3 was determined by one-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay (EIA) method and compared in both groups. Baseline demographic properties were similar in both groups. Plasma stromelysin (MMP-3) level was significantly higher in patients with aortic dilatation than those without aortic dilatation (5.2 ± 2.3 vs 3.3 ± 1.9 ng/ml; P = 0.007). In conclusion, we found that circulating stromelysin (MMP-3) concentration was elevated in hypertension-induced aortic root dilatation.

Determinants of high sensitivity troponin T concentration in chronic stable patients with heart failure: Ischemic heart failure versus non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND Cardiac troponin T is a marker of myocardial injury, especially when measured by means of the high-sensitivity assay (hs-cTnT). The echocardiographic and clinical predictors of hs-cTnT may be different in ischemic heart failure (IHF) and non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). METHODS Sixty consecutive patients (19 female, 41 male; mean age 56.3 ± 13.9 years) with stable congestive heart failure (33 patient with IHF and 27 patients with DCM), with New York Heart Association functional class I-II symptoms, and left ventricular ejection fraction < 40% were included. RESULTS In patients with IHF peak early mitral inflow velocity (E), E/peak early diastolic mitral annular tissue Doppler velocity (Em) lateral, peak systolic mitral annular tissue Doppler velocity (Sm) lateral and logBNP were univariate predictors of hs-cTnT above median. But only E/Em lateral was an independent predictor of hs-cTnT above median (p = 0.04, HR: 1.2,CI: 1-1.4). In patients with DCM; left atrial volume index, male sex, Sm lateral and global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) were included in multivariate model and LV-GLS was detected to be an independent predictor for hs-cTnT above median (p < 0.05, HR: 0.7, CI: 0.4-1.0). CONCLUSIONS While LV-GLS is an independent predictor of hs-cTnT concentrations in patients with DCM, E/Em lateral predicted hs-TnT concentrations in patients with IHF.