Significant Angiographic Coronary Artery Disease Research Articles

Prediction of angiographic coronary disease and mortality with a cadmium-zinc-telluride camera: a comparison of upright and supine ejection fractions and left ventricular volumes.

Perfusion imaging strongly predicts coronary artery disease (CAD), whereas cardiac volumes and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) strongly predict mortality. Compared to conventional Anger single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) cameras, cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT) cameras provide higher resolution, resulting in different left ventricular volumes. The cadmium-zinc-telluride D-SPECT camera is commonly used to image in the upright position, which introduces changes in left ventricular loading conditions and potentially alters left ventricular volumes. However, little or no data exist on the predictive value of left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction when acquired in the upright position. We investigated models for the prediction of CAD and mortality, comparing upright and supine imaging. A retrospective study of patients with upright/supine stress and rest imaging and coronary angiography within 3 months was performed. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to predict abnormal angiograms and all-cause mortality. Of the 392 patients, 210 (53.6%) had significant angiographic CAD; 78 (19.9%) patients died over 75 months. The best multivariable model for CAD included the supine summed stress score and supine stress LVEF, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic of 0.862, a sensitivity of 76.7%, and a specificity of 82.4%, but this model was not statistically superior to the best upright model. The best multivariable models for mortality included age, diabetes, history of cardiovascular disease, and end-systolic volume, with the upright and supine models being equivalent. Angiographic CAD was best predicted by the supine summed stress score and LVEF but was not statistically superior to the next-best upright model. Mortality was best predicted by end-systolic volume in combination with age, diabetes status, and cardiovascular disease status, with equivalent results from the upright and supine images.

Causes of Elevated Troponin in Patients with Normal Coronary Angiography

Troponin rise indicates myocardial cell injury. However, elevated values of troponin are not always consequence of infarction or ischemia. In this paper, aim was to elucidate diverse etiologies of elevated troponin in patients with normal coronary angiography. At KBC Zagreb in 2014 there was 976 patients identified from catheterization database who underwent coronary angiography due to suspicion of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We identified 30 (3.1%) patients who had alternative cause for myocyte injury other than coronary artery disease (CAD), meaning that there was less than 30 % coronary arterial luminal stenosis. The elevation of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) in patients with normal coronary angiography was attributed to diverse etiologies, including hypertensive crisis, Takotsubo syndrome, severe aortic stenosis, atrial fibrillation (AF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation, advanced heart failure, hypertensive cardiomyopathy, acute pulmonary embolism, malignant disease progression, and cardiogenic shock. Apart from ACS, cTnT could be elevated in a number of different conditions, which should be considered according to clinical presentation, different diagnostic procedure, and still could reflect myonecrosis, even in the absence of significant angiographic CAD.

The importance of characteristics of angina symptoms for the prediction of coronary artery disease in a cohort of stable patients in the modern era

ObjectiveAngina is an important clinical symptom indicating underlying coronary artery disease (CAD). Its characteristics are important for the diagnosis and risk stratification of patients with CAD. Currently, we aimed to investigate the association of chest pain characteristics with the presence of obstructive CAD in a contemporary cohort of patients undergoing coronary angiography for suspected stable CAD. MethodsConsecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography for suspected stable CAD (n = 686) in a single university hospital cardiology department were enrolled. Chest pain was classified as typical angina, atypical angina, nonangina chest pain, and lack of symptoms. The presence of significant angiographic CAD was diagnosed by standard coronary angiography. ResultsTypical angina symptoms were associated with a higher prevalence of CAD (odds ratio [OR], 3.47, p < 0.001), whereas atypical angina symptoms were associated with a lower prevalence of CAD (OR, 0.49, p = 0.003) than the nonangina symptoms/or asymptomatic status. In multivariate analysis, typical angina symptoms remained an independent predictor of CAD (OR, 2.54, p < 0.001), with a greater predictive accuracy than other clinical risk factors (area under the curve [AUC], 0.715, p < 0.001) and similar to the accuracy of the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (AUC, 0.712, p < 0.001). In a multivariate model, the combination of all studied factors further improved the predictive accuracy (AUC, 0.81, p < 0.001). ConclusionIn a contemporary cohort of patients referred for coronary angiography for stable CAD, the presence of typical angina symptoms was the most important independent predictor of obstructive CAD. The association of atypical angina symptoms with low CAD prevalence compared to nonangina chest pain or absence of significant symptoms probably reflects different management and referral strategies in these groups of patients.

Patients With Diabetes Without Significant Angiographic Coronary Artery Disease Have the Same Risk of Myocardial Infarction as Patients Without Diabetes in a Real-World Population Receiving Appropriate Prophylactic Treatment.

The risk of myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with diabetes is greater than for patients without diabetes. Consequently, prophylactic treatment is recommended for patients with diabetes and risk factors for ischemic heart disease. We aimed to estimate the risk of adverse cardiac events in patients with and without diabetes with and without coronary artery disease (CAD) after coronary angiography (CAG). A population-based cohort of patients registered in the Western Denmark Heart Registry who underwent CAG between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2012 was stratified according to the presence or absence of obstructive CAD and diabetes. End points were death, cardiac death, and MI. Unadjusted and adjusted rate ratios (RRs) were calculated by using patients without diabetes and without CAD as the reference group. We included 93,866 patients of whom 12,544 (13.4%) had diabetes at the time of CAG. Median follow-up was 4.1 years. Patients with and without diabetes without obstructive CAD had the same adjusted risk of death (RR 1.03 [95% CI 0.92-1.15]), cardiac death (RR 1.21 [95% CI 0.90-1.64]), and MI (RR 0.88 [95% CI 0.65-1.17]). Patients with diabetes without CAD were more often treated with statins (75.3% vs. 46.0%) and aspirin (65.7% vs. 52.7%) than patients without diabetes and CAD. In a real-world population, patients with diabetes with high rates of statin and aspirin treatment had the same risk of cardiovascular events as patients without diabetes in the absence of angiographically significant CAD.

Focused Vascular Ultrasound for the Assessment of Atherosclerosis: A Proof-of-Concept Study

Current decisions to refer for angiographic coronary assessment are based on pain character, risk scores, stress testing, and occasionally calcium scoring. Carotid plaque has emerged as an effective vascular biomarker, but the cost and time of a full carotid ultrasound examination are disadvantageous. Focused vascular ultrasound (FOVUS) is a rapid limited assessment of carotid plaque that can be conducted by non-vascular-trained operators. The objective of the study was to determine the test characteristics of FOVUS for the assessment of significant coronary atherosclerosis in symptomatic patients referred for cardiac assessment. In this prospective study, FOVUS was performed in 208 outpatients at low to intermediate risk undergoing same-day angiography. Carotid artery maximal plaque height was measured in each participant. A previously established receiver operating characteristic curve determined that a value of ≥1.5mm was the threshold for significant angiographic coronary artery disease. FOVUS scan results, alone or combined with stress testing, were analyzed for the prediction of significant coronary artery disease. The negative predictive value and sensitivity of plaque height alone by FOVUS were found to be 77% and 93%, respectively. Adding the FOVUS scan result to stress testing significantly increased the negative predictive value and sensitivity of these traditional risk stratification tools. Rapid carotid plaque height measurement by FOVUS enhanced atherosclerosis risk prediction in patients referred for cardiac assessment. Rapid plaque quantification had good negative predictive value and high sensitivity alone or in combination with stress testing. FOVUS may serve as a potential point-of-care ultrasound tool in the integrated assessment of cardiac pain.

VIEWING ONLY POSTERS1323Evaluation of right ventricular transverse strain and strain rate in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: a cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking study1333Cardiac resynchronization in ischemic heart failure patients: a comparison between therapy guided by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and 2D-speckle tracking echocardiography1338Cardiac magnetic resonance versus bisphosphonate scintigraphy for diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis1341Strain relaxation index, a novel

VIEWING ONLY POSTERS1323Evaluation of right ventricular transverse strain and strain rate in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: a cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking study1333Cardiac resynchronization in ischemic heart failure patients: a comparison between therapy guided by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and 2D-speckle tracking echocardiography1338Cardiac magnetic resonance versus bisphosphonate scintigraphy for diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis1341Strain relaxation index, a novel

HOMA-IR is associated with significant angiographic coronary artery disease in non-diabetic, non-obese individuals: a cross-sectional study.

Insulin resistance is a major component of metabolic syndrome, type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and coronary artery disease (CAD). Although important in T2DM, its role as a predictor of CAD in non-diabetic patients is less studied. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the association of HOMA-IR with significant CAD, determined by coronary angiography in non-obese, non-T2DM patients. We also evaluate the association between 3 oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) based insulin sensitivity indexes (Matsuda, STUMVOLL-ISI and OGIS) and CAD. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 54 non-obese, non-diabetic individuals referred for coronary angiography due to suspected CAD. CAD was classified as the “anatomic burden score” corresponding to any stenosis equal or larger than 50 % in diameter on the coronary distribution. Patients without lesions were included in No-CAD group. Patients with at least 1 lesion were included in the CAD group. A 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with measurements of plasma glucose and serum insulin at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min was obtained to calculate insulin sensitivity parameters. HOMA-IR results were ranked and patients were also categorized into insulin resistant (IR) or non-insulin resistant (NIR) if they were respectively above or below the 75th percentile (HOMA-IR > 4.21). The insulin sensitivity tests results were also divided into IR and NIR, respectively below and above each 25th percentile. Chi square was used to study association. Poisson Regression Model was used to compare prevalence ratios between categorized CAD and IR groups. Results: Fifty-four patients were included in the study. There were 26 patients (48 %) with significant CAD. The presence of clinically significant CAD was significant associated with HOMA-IR above p75 (Chi square 4.103, p = 0.0428) and 71 % of patients with HOMA-IR above p75 had significant CAD. Subjects with CAD had increased prevalence ratio of HOMA-IR above p75 compared to subjects without CAD (PR 1.78; 95 % CI 1.079–2.95; p = 0.024). Matsuda index, Stumvoll-ISI and OGIS index were not associated with significant CAD. We concluded that, in patients without diabetes or obesity, in whom a coronary angiography study is indicated, a single determination of HOMA-IR above 4.21 indicates increased risk for clinical significant coronary disease. The same association was not seen with insulin sensitivity indexes such as Matsuda, Stunvoll-ISI or OGIS. These findings support the need for further longitudinal research using HOMA-IR as a predictor of cardiovascular disease.

Quantitative Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography Using Speckle-Tracking Analysis versus Conventional Visual Analysis for Detection of Significant Coronary Artery Disease after ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Residual ischemia detection after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) during dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) using visual analysis is challenging. The aim of the present study was to investigate the feasibility and accuracy of two-dimensional speckle-tracking strain DSE to detect significant coronary artery disease (CAD) after STEMI. First STEMI patients (n = 105; mean age, 60 ± 11 years; 86% men) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention undergoing full-protocol DSE at 3 months and repeat coronary angiography within 1 year were retrospectively included. Using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography, segmental and global left ventricular peak longitudinal systolic strain (PLSS) at rest and peak stress and change (Δ) in PLSS were measured. Significant CAD was defined as detection of >70% diameter stenosis at coronary angiography. In total, 1,653 (93%) and 1,645 (92%) segments were analyzable at rest and peak stress, respectively. At follow-up, 38 patients (36%) showed significant angiographic CAD. These patients demonstrated greater worsening in global PLSS from rest to peak (-16.8 ± 0.5% to -12.6 ± 0.5%) compared with patients without significant CAD (-16.6 ± 0.4% to -14.3 ± 0.3%; group-stage interaction P < .001). The optimal cutoff of ΔPLSS for the detection of significant CAD on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was ≥1.9% (area under the curve, 0.70; sensitivity, 87%; specificity, 46%; accuracy, 60%). Using a sentinel segment approach (apex, midposterior, and midinferior for the left anterior descending, left circumflex, and right coronary artery territories, respectively), larger segmental ΔPLSS was also independently associated with significant CAD (odds ratio, 1.1; 95% CI, 1.1-1.2). Two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiographic strain analysis is feasible on DSE after STEMI and represents a promising new technique to detect significant angiographic CAD at follow-up.

Ex vivo coronary angiographic evaluation of a beating donor heart.

Coronary artery disease in the cardiac transplant population has been identified as a cause of worse long-term outcomes and accelerated graft vasculopathy. Pre-existing double or triple vessel in the donor heart is associated with a 61.5% post-transplant 30-day mortality.1 Significant angiographic donor heart coronary artery disease is generally considered a contraindication to transplantation. As a result, pretransplant screening for coronary artery disease in the donor population is recommended in male donors >45 years of age and female donors >50 years of age with no cardiovascular risk factors. In the presence of risk factors, the screening age should be reduced by 5 to 10 years.2 In such marginal donors, invasive coronary angiography is the mainstay of investigation for coronary artery disease, although stress echocardiography has also been used successfully before organ harvesting.3–5 Failure to perform pretransplant coronary angiographic screening of marginal donor populations may be associated with significant financial ramifications related to retrieval cost if the allograft is subsequently found to be unsuitable for transplant. However, preharvest coronary angiography may not always be feasible because …

Paradoxical protective effect of central obesity in patients with suspected stable coronary artery disease

Increased body mass index (BMI) has been paradoxically inversely associated with the presence of angiographic coronary artery disease (CAD). Central obesity measures, considered to be more appropriate for assessing obesity-related cardiovascular risk, have been little studied in relation to the presence of CAD. The aim was to investigate the association of central obesity with the presence of angiographic CAD as well as the prognostic significance of obesity measures in CAD prediction when added to other cardiovascular risk factors. Patients with suspected stable CAD (n = 403, age 61 ± 10 years, 302 males) referred for diagnostic coronary angiography with documented anthropometric data were enrolled. Significant angiographic CAD was found in 51% of patients. Both BMI (OR = 0.64 per 1 SD increase, P = 0.001) and waist circumference (WC) (OR = 0.54 per 1 SD increase, P < 0.001) were inversely associated with the presence of CAD even after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. In subgroup analysis, BMI and WC were significantly inversely associated with the presence of CAD in males, non diabetics, patients >60 years old and patients with Framingham risk score (FRS) >20% (P < 0.01 for all). The addition of BMI or WC in FRS-based regression models improved prediction of CAD (P = 0.03 and P < 0.001 for BMI and WC respectively) without a significant difference between the two models (P = 0.08). Central and overall obesity were independently associated with a reduced prevalence of angiographic CAD, lending further credence to the existence of the 'obesity paradox'. Obesity measures may further improve risk discrimination for the presence of CAD when added in an established risk score such as FRS.

Does metabolic syndrome predict significant angiographic coronary artery disease?

IntroductionMetabolic syndrome (MS) is an independent predictor of acute cardiovascular events. However, few studies have addressed the relationship between MS and stable angiographic coronary artery disease (CAD), which has a different pathophysiological mechanism. We aimed to study the independent predictors for significant CAD, and to analyze the impact of MS (by the AHA/NHLBI definition) on CAD. MethodsWe prospectively included 300 patients, mean age 64±9 years, 59% male, admitted for elective coronary angiography (suspected ischemic heart disease), excluding patients with known cardiac disease. All patients underwent assessment of demographic, anthropometric, and laboratory data and risk factors, and subsequently underwent coronary angiography. ResultsIn the study population, 23.0% were diabetic, 40.5% had MS (and no diabetes) and 36.7% had neither diagnosis. Significant CAD was present in 51.3% of patients. CAD patients were older and more frequently male and diabetic, with increased triglycerides and glucose and lower HDL cholesterol. Abdominal obesity was also less prevalent. MS was not associated with the presence of CAD (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.59–1.48, p=0.778). Of the MS components, the most important predictors of CAD were increased glucose and triglycerides. Abdominal obesity was associated with a lower risk of CAD. In a multivariate logistic regression model for CAD, independent predictors of CAD were age, male gender, glucose and triglycerides. Body mass index had a protective effect. ConclusionsAlthough MS is associated with cardiovascular events, the same was not found for stable angiographically proven CAD. Age, gender, diabetes and triglycerides are the most influential factors for CAD, with abdominal obesity as a protective factor.

Does metabolic syndrome predict significant angiographic coronary artery disease?

IntroductionMetabolic syndrome (MS) is an independent predictor of acute cardiovascular events. However, few studies have addressed the relationship between MS and stable angiographic coronary artery disease (CAD), which has a different pathophysiological mechanism. We aimed to study the independent predictors for significant CAD, and to analyze the impact of MS (by the AHA/NHLBI definition) on CAD. MethodsWe prospectively included 300 patients, mean age 64±9 years, 59% male, admitted for elective coronary angiography (suspected ischemic heart disease), excluding patients with known cardiac disease. All patients underwent assessment of demographic, anthropometric, and laboratory data and risk factors, and subsequently underwent coronary angiography. ResultsIn the study population, 23.0% were diabetic, 40.5% had MS (and no diabetes) and 36.7% had neither diagnosis. Significant CAD was present in 51.3% of patients. CAD patients were older and more frequently male and diabetic, with increased triglycerides and glucose and lower HDL cholesterol. Abdominal obesity was also less prevalent. MS was not associated with the presence of CAD (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.59–1.48, p=0.778). Of the MS components, the most important predictors of CAD were increased glucose and triglycerides. Abdominal obesity was associated with a lower risk of CAD. In a multivariate logistic regression model for CAD, independent predictors of CAD were age, male gender, glucose and triglycerides. Body mass index had a protective effect. ConclusionsAlthough MS is associated with cardiovascular events, the same was not found for stable angiographically proven CAD. Age, gender, diabetes and triglycerides are the most influential factors for CAD, with abdominal obesity as a protective factor.

Fasting plasma glucose correlates with angiographic coronary artery disease prevalence and severity in Chinese patients without known diabetes

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). While there is a clear association of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) with microvascular complications, the risk for CAD conferred by FPG is relatively less clear. Therefore, we investigate the association between different FPG and the prevalence and severity of angiographic CAD in high-risk Chinese patients without known diabetes. Among 1,419 subjects who were to undergo coronary angiography for the confirmation of suspected myocardial ischemia, 906 subjects without known diabetes were included in this study and categorized into four groups according to the level of FPG: group 1, ≤5.5 mmol/l; group 2, 5.6-6.0 mmol/l; group 3, 6.1-6.9 mmol/l; and group 4, ≥7.0 mmol/l. Significant angiographic CAD was defined as ≥50 % lumen diameter reduction in at least one major coronary artery in a given subject. The severity and extent of coronary atherosclerosis were defined as the number of diseased vessels, the proportion of totally occluded vessel and the Gensini score. Associations between FPG and the prevalence and severity of CAD were assessed by logistic and linear stepwise regression analyses. The angiographic CAD prevalence, the number of diseased vessels, the totally occluded vessel, and the Gensini score increased corresponding to increasing FPG levels from ≤5.5 mmol/l to 5.6-6.0 mmol/l to 6.1-6.9 mmol/l to ≥7.0 mmol/l (P < 0.05). The FPG had significant association with angiographic CAD (adjusted OR, 1.53; 95 % CI, 1.19-1.98; P = 0.001) and the Gensini score (standardized regression coefficient = 0.172, P = 0.011). Compared with group 1, group 2, 3 and 4 demonstrated significantly higher CAD prevalence after adjustment (adjusted OR, 1.61 [1.16-2.19]; P = 0.015 for group 2; 1.49 [1.11-2.59]; P = 0.027 for group 3; and 4.19 [2.85-6.16]; P = 0.024 for group 4, respectively). FPG group was also significantly associated with the Gensini score (Standardized coefficients, 0.185; P = 0.007, respectively). FPG was an independent risk factor for the prevalence and severity of significant angiographic CAD in our study population. The severity of angiographic CAD increased along with the increasing FPG levels even in prediabetic state.

Reduced Survival in Patients with “Coronary Microvascular Disease”

The syndrome of chest pain, abnormal stress test, and nonflow limiting coronary artery disease (CAD) is common and is attributed to coronary microvascular disease (µVD). It is associated with increased hospital admissions and health care costs. But its impact on long-term survival is not known. Of the 9941 consecutive patients who had an exercise stress test for evaluation of chest pain between May 1991 and July 2007, 935 had both a positive stress test and a coronary angiogram within 1 year of their stress test forming the study cohort. Significant angiographic CAD defined as ≥70% stenosis of an epicardial coronary artery or ≥50% stenosis of the left main coronary artery was present in 324 patients. Rest (n = 611) were considered to have coronary µVD. Compared with patients with significant epicardial CAD, patients with coronary µVD were younger (63 ± 11 vs. 65 ± 10 years, p = 0.002), and had lower left ventricular wall thickness (p < 0.02), systolic blood pressure (BP; p = 0.002), pulse pressure (0.0008), systolic BP with exercise (p = 0.0001), and pulse pressure with exercise (p < 0.0001). Those with coronary µVD had a better survival compared with those with significant epicardial CAD, but worse than that expected for age- and gender-matched population (p < 0.0001). Coronary µVD as a cause of chest pain and positive stress test is common. All-cause mortality in patients with coronary µVD is worse than in an age- and gender-matched population control, but better than those with significant epicardial CAD.

Intravascular imaging findings in severe coronary vasospasm

Appropriate diagnosis of patients with chest pain and no significant angiographic coronary artery disease remains challenging. We present the case of a 65-year-old woman with recurrent chest pain that was triggered by exertion as well as emotional stress. She underwent coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound which demonstrated no atherosclerosis. Coronary flow reserve assessment was also normal suggesting no significant microvascular disease. Intracoronary infusion of acetylcholine, however, resulted in an increase in blood velocity and epicardial vasoconstriction, confirmed by chest pain, electrocardiogram changes and complete closure of a coronary artery by angiography, suggesting the diagnosis of coronary vasospasm or variant angina. This report highlights the importance of considering vasoconstriction when markedly increased blood velocity is observed in response to acetylcholine.

Role of multimodality imaging in ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a major and growing problem in the western hemisphere, affecting about 5million patients in the United States. In daily practice patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and significant angiographic coronary artery disease (CAD) are felt to have an ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICMP) and those without CAD or mild-moderate CAD out of proportion to the extent of LVSD are felt to have a non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICMP). Although invasive coronary angiography is the gold standard for the diagnosis of CAD, recent advances in non-invasive imaging have created multiple options for evaluating ICMP and NICMP. This review details the role of cardiac imaging in the diagnosis of ICMP and NICMP and outlines an algorithm of use of non-invasive tests in asymtomatic LVSD and symptomatic heart failure.

N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide: an independent marker for coronary artery disease in asymptomatic diabetic patients

To determine whether plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels, a marker for cardiac failure and potentially for the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD), predicts silent myocardial ischaemia (SMI) and silent CAD in asymptomatic high-risk diabetic patients. Five hundred and seventeen asymptomatic diabetic patients with > or = 1 additional cardiovascular risk factor but without heart failure were prospectively screened between 1998 and 2008 for SMI, defined as an abnormal stress myocardial scintigraphy, and subsequently for significant (> 70%) angiographic CAD. The 323 patients with interpretable echocardiography and for whom NT-proBNP was measured were included in this analysis. SMI was found in 108 (33.4%) patients, 39 of whom had CAD. NT-proBNP was higher in the patients with CAD than in the patients without CAD [45.0 (1-3199) vs. 20.0 (1-1640) pg/ml; P < 0.0001 median (range)], even after adjustment for confounding factors: age, gender, body mass index, glycated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)), retinopathy, nephropathy, hypertension, echocardiographic parameters (P < 0.05). NT-proBNP in the third tertile (> or = 38 pg/ml) predicted CAD with a sensitivity of 59% and a specificity of 67%. In a multiple logistic regression analysis including NT-proBNP > or = 38 pg/ml, age, body mass index, gender, HbA(1c), hypertension, retinopathy, nephropathy, peripheral occlusive arterial disease, left ventricular systolic dysfunction, dilatation and hypertrophy and Type 1 transmitral flow, NT-proBNP > or = 38 pg/ml was the only significant independent predictor of silent CAD [odds ratio (OR) 3.1 (95% confidence interval 1.3-7.6), P = 0.015]. NT-proBNP measurement helps to better define asymptomatic diabetic patients with an increased likelihood for CAD, independently of cardiac function and structure.

Stress/rest myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in patients without significant coronary artery disease

AimTo define the prognostic impact of stress myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) in patients with angiographic exclusion of significant coronary artery disease. MethodsAngiographic and MPS databases were matched to define patients without significant coronary artery disease by quantitative angiography (diameter stenosis <50%) who underwent stress MPS and coronary angiography within a time period of 3 months. A total of 118 patients were identified and followed for a mean of 6.3 ± 1.2 years for death, a composite of death, myocardial infarction, bypass surgery, or percutaneous coronary intervention [MAE]) as well as occurrence of symptoms (angina or dyspnoe class CCS II to IV). Stress and rest MPS (using 99mTc-MIBI or tetrofosmin) were analyzed by quantitative perfusion SPECT (QPS) for summed stress and rest scores (SSS/SRS). ResultsThere were 16 deaths, 29 MAE, and 76 patients with MAE or significant symptoms during follow-up. Significant differences in SSS were found between patients who died (9.5 ± 6.9 vs. 5.4 ± 5.6, P = 0.012), had MAE (8.7 ± 7.2 vs. 5.2 ± 5.0, P = 0.010), or had MAE or significant clinical symptoms (7.2 ± 7.1 vs. 4.6 ± 6.2, P = 0.042) compared to those without the respective event. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated SSS to be a predictor of death (OR = 1.074 [95% CI: 1.004-1.149], P = 0.026) and MAE (OR = 1.087 [95% CI: 1.004-1.181], P = 0.027). ConclusionsIn patients without significant angiographic coronary artery disease, the result of stress MPS is a predictor of long-term prognosis. Quantitative analysis of MPS allows definition of patients with a higher likelihood to develop clinical events or symptoms.

Utility of Stress Echocardiography in Identifying Significant Coronary Artery Disease in Patients With Left Bundle-Branch Block

The aim of the study was to determine the utility of stress echocardiography for identification of significant coronary artery disease (CAD) in higher-risk patients with an underlying left bundle-branch block (LBBB). Patients with LBBB undergoing stress echocardiography were divided into 2 groups: group 1 (no history MI), group 2 (history MI). Positive stress echocardiograms were compared with the presence of >50% luminal-diameter stenosis during coronary angiography. During the follow-up (FU) period, cardiac events were determined for hard and soft endpoints. Sixty consecutive patients with LBBB underwent stress echocardiography. Twenty-eight patients had a positive stress echocardiogram (20 group 1; 8 group 2). Nineteen of these patients underwent coronary angiography (14 group 1; 5 group 2). In group 1, regional wall motion abnormality (RWMA) correlated with coronary anatomy in only 5 patients, while in group 2, RWMA correlated with coronary anatomy in only 2 patients. There were 12 false positives, with echocardiographic abnormalities identified. The positive predictive values in groups 1 and 2 were 35.7% and 40%, respectively. During the FU period, there was 1 mortality, 2 MI, 2 coronary revascularizations, and 6 hospitalizations (2 chest pain, 1 CHF, 3 coronary angiography). The negative predictive value for hard endpoints was 83%. Stress echocardiography has a poor positive predictive value to identify significant angiographic CAD in higher-risk patients with LBBB; however, the negative predictive value for hard ischemic events is similar to patients without LBBB.

Erectile dysfunction and angiographic extent of coronary artery disease in type II diabetic patients

Some studies observed an association between erectile dysfunction (ED) and coronary artery disease (CAD) extent in the general population, but others did not. There are no specific studies in diabetic populations. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether ED is correlated with the extent of angiographic CAD in a large group of type II diabetic patients. We recruited 198 consecutive type II diabetic males undergoing an elective coronary angiography to evaluate chest pain or suspected CAD. Presence and degree of ED were assessed by the International Index Erectile Function - 5 (IIEF-5) questionnaire. ED was considered present, when IIEF-5 score was < or =21. Moreover, each domain of IIEF-5 was considered. Angiographic CAD extent was expressed both by the number of vessels diseased and by the Gensini scoring system. The percentage of subjects with ED was significantly higher (45.8 versus 15.8%; P=0.0120) in patients with (n=179) than in those without (n=19) significant angiographic CAD (stenosis of the lumen > or =50%). No significant association of CAD extent with presence of ED, total IIEF-5 score and each domain of IIEF-5 was observed. Our study shows that ED was significantly more prevalent in type II diabetic males with angiographic CAD than in those with normal arteries. However, no correlation was found between the extent of angiographic CAD and the presence or the severity of ED.