THE ROLE OF MULTIFOCAL ATHEROSCLEROSIS IN DEVELOPMENT OF UNFAVORABLE CARDIOVASCULAR OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS AFTER CORONARY BYPASS GRAFTING

Abstract

Background: The number of disorders caused by atherosclerosis of various arterial tree is constantly increasing worldwide. Multifocal atherosclerosis (MFA) remains to be an important problem limiting effectiveness of coronary bypass grafting. Aim: To compare one-year rates of unfavorable cardiovascular events in patients, who underwent coronary bypass grafting, depending on the degree of non-coronary stenoses (stenoses of extracranial arteries and lower limb arteries). Materials and methods: Two hundred and thirty two patients, that underwent coronary bypass graft surgery in 2006 due to clinical manifest coronary atherosclerosis, were included into the study. Oneyear outcome (10–12 months) was assessed with the following endpoints: coronary and non-coronary death, myocardial infarction, stroke, angina pectoris and severe chronic heart failure (III–IV functional classes). One-year combined outcome after coronary bypass grafting was considered unfavorable if these events were registered. Results: After initial assessment, patients were divided into 2 groups depending on the degree of coronary atherosclerosis; thereafter, each group was subdivided into subgroups depending on presence or absence of MFA. Compared to patients without MFA, those with hemodynamically significant stenosis (≥ 50%) of non-coronary arteries had higher rates of unfavorable one-year outcomes (р = 0.001). They had higher rates of stroke (20% (5) and 5.8% (12) of patients, respectively, р = 0.03) and of recurrent angina (р = 0.001). Patients with hemodynamically non-significant stenoses (≥ 30%) also had significantly higher rates of unfavorable events, compared to patients without stenoses: myocardial infarction, in 12 (11%) and 3 (2%), respectively (p = 0.006), stroke, in 14 (13%) and 3 (2%) (p = 0.001). Eighty four (79%) patients with MFA had clinical manifestations of angina pectoris, whereas among those without MFA, only 23 (18%) of patients (p = 0.0001). Severe chronic heart failure was significantly more frequent in the MFA group, than in patients with isolated coronary atherosclerosis (38 (36%) and 21 (17%) patients, respectively, p = 0.002). In the MFA group, 10 (9%) patients died, while in the group without MFA there was one death (0.8%) (p = 0.003). Conclusion: Taking into account non-coronary stenoses of ≥ 30%, compared to only hemodynamically significant stenoses of ≥ 50%, produces more significant differences in clinical and historical characteristics of patients.