Coronary Artery Ectasia Patients Research Articles

DUAL ANTIPLATELET THERAPY OR ORAL ANTICOAGULATION REDUCES THE INCIDENCE OF ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROMES IN PATIENTS WITH CORONARY ARTERY ECTASIA

The effect of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) or oral anticoagulation on long term incidence of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in patients with coronary artery ectasia (CAE) and no significant occlusive CAD is not well known. We retrospectively analyzed 317 consecutive cases of CAE. CAE patients

Cytokine Disturbances in Coronary Artery Ectasia Do Not Support Atherosclerosis Pathogenesis.

Background: Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is a rare disorder commonly associated with additional features of atherosclerosis. In the present study, we aimed to examine the systemic immune-inflammatory response that might associate CAE. Methods: Plasma samples were obtained from 16 patients with coronary artery ectasia (mean age 64.9 ± 7.3 years, 6 female), 69 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and angiographic evidence for atherosclerosis (age 64.5 ± 8.7 years, 41 female), and 140 controls (mean age 58.6 ± 4.1 years, 40 female) with normal coronary arteries. Samples were analyzed at Umeå University Biochemistry Laboratory, Sweden, using the V-PLEX Pro-Inflammatory Panel 1 (human) Kit. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) between patient groups and controls were determined using Mann–Whitney U-tests. Results: The CAE patients had significantly higher plasma levels of INF-γ, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-8 (p = 0.007, 0.01, 0.001, and 0.002, respectively), and lower levels of IL-2 and IL-4 (p < 0.001 for both) compared to CAD patients and controls. The plasma levels of IL-10, IL-12p, and IL-13 were not different between the three groups. None of these markers could differentiate between patients with pure (n = 6) and mixed with minimal atherosclerosis (n = 10) CAE. Conclusions: These results indicate an enhanced systemic pro-inflammatory response in CAE. The profile of this response indicates activation of macrophages through a pathway and trigger different from those of atherosclerosis immune inflammatory response.

Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio as an inflammatory marker in patients with lone coronary artery ectasia in comparison with stenotic coronary artery disease

Background: Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is an uncommon but known finding in coronary angiography. We compared the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in patients with sole CAE and coronary artery disease (CAD) patients as well as normal coronary individuals who presented to our center. Methods: In this case-control study, we compared patients with lone coronary ectasia with two other groups: patients with CAD and normal coronary individuals. Demographic and clinical data of the ectatic patients were retrieved from the databank of our center and all variables, particularly neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio compared between the study groups. Results: A total of 233 patients with coronary ectasia met our criteria and were compared to 433 stenotic CAD patients and 466 normal coronary individuals. The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio was significantly lower in the normal coronary individuals (P

5941The beneficial effects of renin angiotensin system blockades on two years outcomes in coronary artery ectasia patients

5941The beneficial effects of renin angiotensin system blockades on two years outcomes in coronary artery ectasia patients

The beneficial effects of renin–angiotensin system blockades on 2 year outcomes in coronary artery ectasia patients

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the impact of renin–angiotensin system blockade (RASB) therapy with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers on the outcomes of coronary artery ectasia (CAE).Methods: The CAE patients identified by coronary angiography from our center were consecutively enrolled. We obtained the baseline discharge prescription of RASB from the medical records system and conducted follow-up through telephone interviews. Cox regression models, propensity score and subgroup analysis were used to assess the impact of RASB on all-cause mortality and non-fatal myocardial infarction. Both the unadjusted and adjusted Kaplan–Meier curves stratified by RASB therapy were plotted.Results: There were 595 patients with CAE in total and 333 (56.0%) were prescribed RASB therapy. Over a 2 year follow-up time, 16 all-cause deaths and 10 non-fatal myocardial infarctions were identified. Those patients treated with RASB had a significantly lower all-cause mortality and non-fatal myocardial infarction rate with an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.32 (95% confidence interval: 0.13 to 0.77, p = .011). The outcome benefits of RASB therapy were further confirmed in the propensity score analysis and subgroup analysis.Conclusions: This observational study suggests that RASB therapy is associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality and non-fatal myocardial infarction in patients with CAE.

Transcriptional expression profiles of the main proteinases and their regulators in coronary artery ectasia patients' mononuclear cells.

Proteolytic enzymes might contribute to coronary artery ectasia (CAE) through the destruction of extracellular matrix (ECM) vessel components. This study aimed to find out if peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) served as a source of those proteinases and their regulators. In this study, transcriptional expression profiles of the main proteinases and their regulators were detected in the PBMCs of CAE patients as follows: (1) matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 13; (2) the serine proteinases elastase: cathepsin G and proteinases 3; (3) the cysteine proteinases: cathepsin L and cathepsin S; (4) the main endogenous inhibitors for the above proteinases: tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP) 1 and 2, α1-antitrypsin (α1-PI) and α2-macroglobulin (A2M); (5) twelve cytokines that could regulate the above proteinases. The characteristic changes in CAE were: (1) MMP1 and MMP9 increased while the serine and cysteine families did not change; (2) the four proteinase inhibitors did not change in the CAE group; (3) among the 12 cytokines, interleukin-1 alpha (IL1A), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), interferon gamma (IFNγ) and growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) were elevated. Partial correlation analysis showed that MMP1 significantly correlated with IL1A and with IFNγ, and MMP9 correlated with IFNγ and with GDF 15. PBMCs might participate in the pathological process of CAE by the increased expression of MMP1, MMP9, IL1A, IFNγ and GDF15.

Genome-wide methylation profiles in coronary artery ectasia.

Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is a disease characterized by abnormally dilated coronary arteries. The mechanism of CAE remains unclear, and its treatment is limited. Previous studies have shown that risk factors for CAE were related to changes in DNA methylation. However, no systematic investigation of methylation profiles has been performed. Therefore, we compared methylation profiles between 12 CAE patients and 12 propensity-matched individuals with normal coronary arteries using microarrays. Wilcoxon's rank sum tests revealed 89 genes with significantly different methylation levels (P<0.05 and Δβ > |0.1|). Functional characterization using the DAVID database and gene set enrichment analysis indicated that these genes were involved in immune and inflammatory responses. Of these genes 6 were validated in 29 CAE patients and 87 matched individuals with CAE, using pyro-sequencing. TLR6 and NOTCH4 showed significant differences in methylation between the two groups, and lower protein levels of toll-like receptor 6 (TLR6) were detected in CAE patients. In conclusion, this genome-wide analysis of methylation profiles in CAE patients showed that significant changes in both methylation and expression of TLR6 deserve further study to elucidate their roles in CAE.

Evaluation of longitudinal left ventricular function in patients with coronary artery ectasia and vitamin D deficiency by 2D speckle tracking echocardiography.

Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is defined as the dilation of at least one segment of the coronary arteries that reaches at least 1.5 times the size of a normal neighboring segment. It has been shown that left ventricular (LV) diastolic function is impaired in patients with CAE. Also, it has been shown that LV function is impaired in vitamin D-deficient subjects compared with vitamin D-sufficient subjects and vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in CAE patients. We hypothesized that LV function is impaired in patients with CAE so we evaluated longitudinal LV myocardial function by 2D speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) in patients with CAE and vitamin D deficiency without significant coronary artery stenosis and compared the results with those of subjects with vitamin D deficiency and near-normal coronary arteries. Our study population comprised 21 consecutive patients with CAE and without significant coronary artery stenosis (<50%) and 31 control subjects with near-normal coronary arteries. All subjects had vitamin D deficiency. All 2DSTE-derived indices of longitudinal LV function, comprised of the absolute values of systolic strain (14.0±2.7% vs 15.4±2.3%, P=.039), systolic strain rate (1.2±0.2/s vs 1.3±0.2/s, P=.015), early diastolic strain rate (1.1±0.3/s vs 1.3±0.3 s-1 , P=.030), and late diastolic strain rate (0.8±0.2/s vs 1±0.2/s, P=.005), were reduced in the patients with CAE and vitamin D deficiency. The systolic and diastolic functions of the LV in the patients with CAE and vitamin D deficiency were impaired as evaluated by 2DSTE.

Independent Prognostic Value of High-sensitivity C-reactive Protein in Patients with Coronary Artery Ectasia.

Background:Despite its severity, coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is still poorly understood. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) has been recognized as a prognostic factor in some cardiovascular diseases but not assessed in CAE. The aim of this observational study was to investigate the prognostic value of hs-CRP in CAE.Methods:Our analysis evaluated the effect of the baseline hs-CRP on cardiovascular events (CVs) (cardiac death and nonfetal myocardial infarction) in consecutively enrolled stable CAE patients. We used the Cox proportional hazards regression models to examine the association between baseline hs-CRP level and follow-up CVs in CAE. The net reclassification improvement and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) of hs-CRP were also assessed.Results:We obtained the follow-up results of 540 patients over a median follow-up period of 36 (37.41 ± 15.88) months. The multivariable Cox analysis showed that the hs-CRP was a significant predictor of adverse outcomes in CAE (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.99, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.31–6.81, P = 0.0091). In Kaplan–Meier analysis, the group with hs-CRP >3 mg/L had a lower cumulative 66-month event-free survival rate (log-rank test for trend, P = 0.0235) and a higher risk of CVs (HR = 2.66, 95% CI: 1.22–5.77, P = 0.0140) than the group with hs-CRP ≤3 mg/L. Hs-CRP added predictive information beyond that given by the baseline model comprising the classical risk factors (P value for IDI = 0.0330).Conclusions:A higher level of hs-CRP was independently associated with cardiac death and nonfatal myocardial infarction in CAE patients. The hs-CRP level may therefore provide prognostic information for the risk stratification of CAE patients.

Transcriptional expression profiles of the main proteinases and their regulators in coronary artery ectasia patients’ mononuclear cells

Objective Proteolytic enzymes might contribute to coronary artery ectasia (CAE) through the destruction of extracellular matrix (ECM) vessel components. This study aimed to find out if peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) served as a source of those proteinases and their regulators.Method In this study, transcriptional expression profiles of the main proteinases and their regulators were detected in the PBMCs of CAE patients as follows: (1) matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 13; (2) the serine proteinases elastase: cathepsin G and proteinases 3; (3) the cysteine proteinases: cathepsin L and cathepsin S; (4) the main endogenous inhibitors for the above proteinases: tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP) 1 and 2, α 1-antitrypsin (α 1-PI) and α 2-macroglobulin (A2M); (5) twelve cytokines that could regulate the above proteinases.Result The characteristic changes in CAE were: (1) MMP1 and MMP9 increased while the serine and cysteine families did not change; (2) the four proteinase inhibitors did not change in the CAE group; (3) among the 12 cytokines, interleukin-1 alpha (IL1A), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), interferon gamma (IFNγ) and growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) were elevated. Partial correlation analysis showed that MMP1 significantly correlated with IL1A and with IFNγ, and MMP9 correlated with IFN γ and with GDF 15.Conclusion PBMCs might participate in the pathological process of CAE by the increased expression of MMP1, MMP9, IL1A, IFN γ and GDF15.

Disequilibrium of Blood Coagulation and Fibrinolytic System in Patients With Coronary Artery Ectasia

Thrombus formation and myocardial infarction are not uncommon in patients with coronary artery ectasia (CAE). In light of this, the present study aims to systemically evaluate the blood coagulation and fibrinolytic systems in CAE patients. In this study, we enrolled 30 patients with CAE, 30 patients with coronary atherosclerosis disease (CAD), and 29 subjects with normal coronary arteries (control). The coagulation system was evaluated using a routine coagulation function test performed in the hospital laboratory before coronary angiography, and measurements included prothrombin time, international normalized ratio, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen time, and thrombin time. The evaluation of the fibrinolytic system included measurements of D-dimer, euglobulin lysis time, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, plasminogen, plasminogen activity assay, α1-antitrypsin (α1-AT), α2 plasmin inhibitor (α2-PI), and α2-macroglobulin (α2-MG). Alpha1-AT, α2-PI, and α2-MG also inhibit activities of 3 neutrophil serine proteases, namely human neutrophil elastase (HNE), cathepsin G (CG), and proteinase 3 (PR3); therefore, the plasma levels of these 3 proteinases were also evaluated.In CAE patients, the circulating coagulation system was normal. For the fibrinolytic system, a decrease of plasminogen activity was observed (P = 0.029) when compared with CAD patients, and the concentrations of α1-AT (both P < 0.001), α2-PI (P = 0.002 and P = 0.025), and α2-MG (P = 0.034 and P < 0.001) were significantly elevated when compared with CAD patients and normal controls. Moreover, the plasma levels of HNE (both P < 0.001) and CG (P = 0.027 and 0.016) in CAE patients were also significantly higher than those of the CAD and control groups. There was no difference in plasma PR3 concentration among these 3 groups.Disequilibrium of the coagulation/fibrinolytic system may contribute to thrombus formation and clinical coronary events in patients with CAE. The increased plasma concentrations of α1-AT, α2-PI, and α2-MG might provide beneficial effects by inhibiting the proteinases and restraining the ectatic process; on other hand, they led to unfavorable results by inhibiting plasmin and decreasing thrombus degradation in CAE patients.

Gamma glutamyltransferase, inflammation and cardiovascular risk factors in isolated coronary artery ectasia

Introduction and ObjectiveThere are conflicting data on the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in coronary artery ectasia (CAE). It is unclear whether CAE is associated with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT). We therefore investigated major cardiovascular risk factors, serum GGT and hs-CRP levels in a large population of patients with CAE. MethodsA total of 167 patients with isolated CAE and 150 controls with normal coronary arteries were selected from 10505 patients undergoing coronary angiography. Serum GGT and hs-CRP levels were evaluated in addition to cardiovascular risk factors including family history, obesity, smoking, diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. ResultsHypertension and obesity were slightly more prevalent in CAE patients than in controls, whereas diabetes was slightly less frequent in CAE patients. Other risk factors were similar. Serum GGT (22 [17–42] vs. 16 [13–21] U/l, p=0.001) and hs-CRP (2.9 [1.9–3.6] vs. 1.4 [1.1–1.8] mg/l, p=0.001) levels were higher in CAE patients than in controls. The presence of CAE was independently associated with diabetes (OR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.20–0.95, p=0.04), obesity (OR: 2.84, 95% CI: 1.07–7.56, p=0.04), GGT (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.03–1.12, p=0.001) and hs-CRP levels (OR: 3.1, 95% CI: 2.1–4.6, p=0.001). In addition, GGT and hs-CRP levels were higher in diffuse and multivessel ectasia subgroups than focal and single-vessel ectasia subgroups (each p<0.05). ConclusionsOur findings show that CAE can be independently and positively associated with obesity, GGT and hs-CRP levels, but inversely with diabetes. Moreover, its severity may be related to GGT and hs-CRP levels.

Apelin Levels in Patients with Coronary Artery Ectasia.

To the Editor: We read the article “Apelin Levels In Isolated Coronary Artery Ectasia” written by Bilik et al.1) The study aimed to determine the relationship between plasma apelin levels and isolated coronary artery ectasia. They concluded that patients with isolated coronary artery ectasia (CAE) have decreased plasma apelin levels compared with the control group. CAE is well known as an atherosclerotic process. Angiographic criterion for definition of CAE, is the diameter of the ectatic segment, being at least 1.5 times larger compared to near the healthy segment.2) The CAE classification is widely used as a Markis model,3) which shows the severity of the disease pattern classified from Type 1 to Type IV. In this context, apelin levels are associated with inflammatory conditions in many disorders. However, in a recent study, the authors have not investigated the relation between apelin levels and the severity of CAE. Moreover, though the authors have mentioned that an intravascular ultrasound was not performed in patients in order to establish a diagnosis, it is important to accurately diagnose the real coronary artery disease. Furthermore, coronary angiograms should be evaluated by two independent, experienced clinicians who are unaware of the patients' clinical information in order to provide interobserver and intraobserver variability for coronary angiography in the recent study. Thus, these crucial factors should be evalauted in future studies. Apelin levels play important roles in cardiovascular functions and volume regulation, including vasodilation and protection of endothelium. Recently, it has been established that apelin levels may play a role in the pathogenesis of many diseases. Insufficient apelin levels were detected in many chronic illnesses, including diabetes mellitus, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, Behcet's disease, malignancy, autoimmune and infectious diseases. Furthermore, some drugs like antihypertensive treatment, including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blocker, statins, anti-inflammatory drugs used may influence apelin levels. In conlusion, apelin levels were lower in CAE patients when compared with controls as presented in the current study. However, the level of apelin can be affected by many conditions. Further studies will evaluate all of these conditions that can affect the results of clinical investigations.

Gamma glutamyltransferase, inflammation and cardiovascular risk factors in isolated coronary artery ectasia

Introduction and ObjectiveThere are conflicting data on the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in coronary artery ectasia (CAE). It is unclear whether CAE is associated with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT). We therefore investigated major cardiovascular risk factors, serum GGT and hs-CRP levels in a large population of patients with CAE. MethodsA total of 167 patients with isolated CAE and 150 controls with normal coronary arteries were selected from 10505 patients undergoing coronary angiography. Serum GGT and hs-CRP levels were evaluated in addition to cardiovascular risk factors including family history, obesity, smoking, diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. ResultsHypertension and obesity were slightly more prevalent in CAE patients than in controls, whereas diabetes was slightly less frequent in CAE patients. Other risk factors were similar. Serum GGT (22 [17–42] vs. 16 [13–21] U/l, p=0.001) and hs-CRP (2.9 [1.9–3.6] vs. 1.4 [1.1–1.8] mg/l, p=0.001) levels were higher in CAE patients than in controls. The presence of CAE was independently associated with diabetes (OR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.20–0.95, p=0.04), obesity (OR: 2.84, 95% CI: 1.07–7.56, p=0.04), GGT (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.03–1.12, p=0.001) and hs-CRP levels (OR: 3.1, 95% CI: 2.1–4.6, p=0.001). In addition, GGT and hs-CRP levels were higher in diffuse and multivessel ectasia subgroups than focal and single-vessel ectasia subgroups (each p<0.05). ConclusionsOur findings show that CAE can be independently and positively associated with obesity, GGT and hs-CRP levels, but inversely with diabetes. Moreover, its severity may be related to GGT and hs-CRP levels.

Coronary and Basilar Artery Ectasia Are Associated: Results From an Autopsy Case-Control Study.

Intracranial artery dolichoectasia (IADE) and coronary artery ectasia have been associated with stroke and myocardial infarction, respectively. Only rarely have cases of coexisting IADE and coronary artery ectasia been reported. We investigated this association in a large consecutive autopsy series. Sixteen stroke patients with IADE were identified among 381 stroke patients and were matched with 16 stroke patients without IADE. The heart and coronary arteries from all patients were examined after a prespecified protocol. Coronary artery ectasia was observed in 8 of the stroke patients with IADE, and in none of the stroke patients without IADE (P=0.008). The diameters of basilar and right coronary arteries were positively correlated (IADE patients, r=0.51; P=0.003 and coronary artery ectasia patients, P=0.006). This autopsy study examining the association of coronary artery ectasia and IADE in stroke patients suggests a common pathogenesis.

Abstract 433: Coronary Artery Ectasia in Patients with Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease

Background and Objective: The pathophysiology of isolated coronary artery ectasia (CAE) remains poorly understood although associations between CAE and a broad spectrum of different diseases, especially atherosclerotic coronary artery disease have been reported. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of CAE and its relationship to obstructive artery disease in the Chinese Population. Methods and Results: This study recruited 3793 consecutive patients who had undergone coronary angiography for suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) between January 2009 and December 2014. The median age of the patients was 63 years (range, 27 to 94 years) and the majority (69.71%) was male. There were 3068 patients with obstructive coronary artery disease, including angina pectoris (n=1611), acute myocardial infarction (n=1265), and old myocardial infarction (n=192). A total of 120 cases (Male, n=93, female, n=27) with a median age of 63 years (range, 28-86) were identified as CAE in patients undergoing coronary angiography. Co-existent CAD was present in 94% of CAE patients, including 56 angina pectoris; 53 acute myocardial infarction; and 4 old myocardial infarction cases. The prevalence of CAE in patients with obstructive coronary artery disease was 3.67%. The frequency of arterial involvement was: right coronary artery (RCA), 63%; left anterior descending artery (LAD), 43%; left circumflex artery (LCX), 38%; and left main artery (LM), 14%. CAE affected only 1 major vessel in 83% of cases, 2 vessels in 12%, and all 3 vessels in 5%. Using multivariate analysis, serum levels of uric acid were independently associated with present of CAE (P&lt;0.001), while other cardiovascular risk factors such age, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, and diabetes mellitus did not show statistically significant associations (P&gt;0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of CAE in patients with obstructive coronary artery disease was 3.67%. The RCA was the most commonly affected and most patients had single vessel involvement. Increased serum uric acid level may be a potential risk factor for presence of CAE.

Neutrophil serine proteases and their endogenous inhibitors in coronary artery ectasia patients.

Objective:Proteolytic enzymes possibly contribute to coronary artery ectasia (CAE). This study aimed to determine whether neutrophils, neutrophil serine proteases (NSPs), and their endogenous inhibitors participated in the pathological process of CAE.Methods:The study consisted of 30 patients with CAE, 30 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), and 29 subjects with normal coronary arteries (Control). The following circulating items were measured: the main NSPs, including human neutrophil elastase (HNE), cathepsin G (CG), and proteinase 3 (PR3); soluble elastin (sElastin), which was a degradation product of elastin fibres; NSP inhibitors such as α1-protease inhibitor (α1-PI), α2-macroglobulin (α2-MG), secretory leucoprotease inhibitor (SLPI), and elafin; as well as two neutrophil activation markers (myeloperoxidase and lactoferrin) and three classic neutrophil activators [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and bacterial endotoxin].Results:The levels of HNE, CG, and sElastin were elevated in the CAE group. The levels of α1-PI and α2-MG were also significantly increased in the CAE group. The levels of myeloperoxidase and lactoferrin were higher in the CAE group. The levels of TNF-α, IL-8, and endotoxin were unchanged in the CAE group compared with those in the CAD group.Conclusion:Neutrophils may participate in the process of vessel extracellular matrix destruction and coronary ectasia by releasing NSPs in a non-classical manner.

The Investigation of Relationship between Coronary Artery Ectasia, Benign Prostatic Enlargement, and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms

To investigate benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in patients with coronary artery ectasia (CAE). The relation between CAE, BPE, and LUTS has not been studied so far. We investigated BPE and LUTS symptoms in 47 men with CAE, 45 men with coronary artery disease (CAD), and 47 male controls with normal coronary arteries. LUTS was evaluated by the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). BPE was evaluated with transabdominal ultrasonography. CAD was defined as myocardial infarction and angiographically diagnosed coronary disease. CAE was defined as being without any stenotic lesions with a visual assessment of the coronary arteries showing a luminal dilatation ≥1.5 fold of the adjacent normal coronary segments. Prostate volume was higher in CAE and CAD patients compared with that of the control subjects, respectively (41.0 ± 10.4 vs 33.5 ± 9.4 cm(3); 39.1 ± 10.3 vs 33.5 ± 9.4 cm(3); P = .0001); total IPSS was higher in CAD and CAE patients compared with that of the control subjects (P = .0001). Postmictional residual urine volume was higher in CAE and CAD patients compared with that of the control subjects (P = .002). We showed that patients with CAE have higher prostate volume, IPSS, and postmictional residual urine volume compared with those of controls with normal coronary angiograms. This study proposes that BPE, LUTS, and CAE maybe different disorders to a common vascular pathology and endothelial dysfunction. This study showed that BPE and LUTS were frequently seen in CAE at least as much as in CAD. Therefore, LUTS and BPE should be kept in mind for CAE patients in follow-ups.

Extracellular matrix turnover in coronary artery ectasia patients.

Dysregulation of the metabolism of the extracellular matrix (ECM) may contribute to coronary artery ectasia (CAE). This study evaluated the turnover of main ECM components and related proteolytic enzymes activities. In this study, thirty patients with CAE, 30 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and 30 subjects with normal coronary arteries (Control) were selected. The following circulating ECM metabolism markers were measured: soluble elastin (sElastin), collagen type I cross-linked telopeptides (ICTP), procollagen type I carboxy terminal peptide (PICP), protocollagen III N-terminal propeptide (PIIINP), and procollagen a1(III) C-terminal propeptide (PIIICP). Serum total elastase activity and total matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity were also determined. The level of sElastin was higher in the CAE group than in the CAD and Control groups (P1 = 0.009, P2 = 0.000). There was no difference in ICTP (P = 0.168) or PIIICP (P = 0.079) among the three groups. PICP was significantly elevated in CAE (P1 = 0.001, P2 = 0.002). PIIINP was also significantly increased in CAE (P1 = 0.002, P2 = 0.007). Total elastase activity was higher in the CAE group than in the other two groups (P1 = 0.006, P2 = 0.022). Total MMP activity was significantly higher in the CAE group than the Control group (P2 = 0.013) but not higher than the CAD group (P1 = 0.477). In conclusion, within CAE patients the main changes in ECM metabolism were increased degradation of elastin fibres and the transition of collagen from type III to type I. Elastase and MMPs appear to be associated with this kind of ECM turnover.

Comparison of outcomes of diseased coronary arteries ectasia, stenosis and combined.

Background:Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is a localized or diffuse abnormal dilatation of coronary arteries. Controversy still remains about its cardiovascular events rate, prognosis, and etiology. Adverse effects of CAE coinciding with coronary artery stenosis (CAS) (and in isolated form) are unclear.Objectives:We aimed to investigate the cardiovascular event rate of CAE in comparison to ‘CAS only’, and comparing their etiology.Patients and Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 patients between May 2011 and June 2012. Of them, 40 had CAE (case group) and 160 had only CAS (control group). Patients with CAE were divided into 2 subgroups according to the absence (E1) or presence (E2) of CAS. They were followed up for at least 6 month for cardiovascular events, including death, unstable angina and myocardial infarction (MI). Finally, we compared findings in CAE, CAS, and E1 and E2 subgroups and evaluated the relationship between severity of ectasia (1-1.5 times, 1.5-2 times, and > 2 times) and CAS.Results:Hypertension (HTN), dyslipidemia (DLP), and male sex were matched in both groups without significant difference. Cigarette smoking (C/S) was significantly higher and diabetes mellitus (DM) was significantly lower in CAE compared to CAS patients. A subgroup of CAE patients with CAS (E2 subgroup) had significantly higher mortality rate than isolated CAS (P = 0.043). MI was seen in several isolated CAE patients (E1) subgroup. Severity of ectasia showed no significant relationship with CAS.Conclusions:Presence of CAE in patients with CAS increases its cardiovascular event rate. Isolated CAE is not a benign finding and MI can occur. Risk factors of CAE are similar to CAS, but C/S is more associated with CAE than CAS. DM is seen in CAE patients less than CAS.