Objectives: Arterial stiffness and epicardial fat thickness (EFT) are associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) is a novel marker of arterial stiffness. The SYNTAX score (SS) reflects the complexity of CAD. We aimed to evaluate the relation of EFT and CAVI with CAD complexity in nondiabetic patients. Method: We enrolled 121 patients undergoing coronary angiography. In all patients, CAVI and EFT were determined. SS were calculated. The relationship between EFT, CAVI and SS was analyzed. Results: CAVI and EFT were significantly correlated with SS (r = 0.537, p < 0.001, and r = 0.629, p < 0.001, respectively) and found to be independent predictors of intermediate-high SS. For the prediction of intermediate-high SS, receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis revealed a cutoff value of 5 mm for EFT (area under the curve, AUC = 0.851, 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.775–0.910) with a specificity of 92.2% and a sensitivity of 77.4% and 8.6 for CAVI (AUC = 0.877, 95% CI 0.805–0.929) with a specificity of 68.9% and a sensitivity of 93.5%. Conclusion: CAD complexity is associated with adverse cardiovascular events. It can be predicted noninvasively with EFT and CAVI in nondiabetic patients with suspected CAD. Thus, patients at high risk for cardiovascular events may be detected early and managed with appropriate treatment strategies.

This study shows that the nondipper pattern is associated with subclinical LV systolic dysfunction in treated hypertensive diabetic patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. Also, elevated night-time SBP was found to be related to impaired LV systolic functions.

In the present study, we aimed to evaluate temporal changes in heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (h-FABP) and myocardial performance index (Tei index) following administration of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a chemotherapeutic agent associated with myocardial ischemia induced by coronary vasospasm. Thirty-two patients with cancer receiving their first 5-FU-based chemotherapy were included in the study. Prior to chemotherapy and 24 hours after the initiation of chemotherapy, all patients underwent a comprehensive echocardiographic examination. Blood samples were taken for h-FABP and troponin I (TnI) measurements at different time points during the first 24 hours of 5-FU administration. Postinfusion echocardiography revealed worsening in Tei index (0.37 ± 0.08 vs 0.43 ± 0.07, P < .001). Clinically overt cardiotoxicity was evident in 4 (12.5%) of our patient population. Heart-type fatty acid binding protein and TnI levels were within normal ranges at all time points. Our results suggest that ischemia coronary vasospasm due to 5-FU cardiotoxicity should be reviewed. Furthermore, Tei index might be a sensitive indicator of occult 5-FU cardiotoxicity.

High SS which was obtained through diagnostic angiogram of PPCI may be associated with LVT development in patients with first anterior wall STEMI.

Background Prediction of severity or complexity of coronary artery disease (CAD) is valuable owing to increased risk for cardiovascular events. Although the association between total coronary artery calcium (CAC) score and severity of CAD, Gensini score was not used, it has been previously demonstrated. There is no information about the association between total CAC score and complexity of CAD. ObjectivesTo investigate the association between severity or complexity of coronary artery disease (CAD) assessed by Gensini score and SYNTAX score (SS), respectively, and coronary artery calcium (CAC) score, which is a noninvasive method for CAD evaluation in symptomatic patients with accompanying significant CAD. MethodsTwo-hundred-fourteen patients were enrolled. Total CAC score was obtained before angiography. Severity and complexity of CAD was assessed by Gensini score and SS, respectively. Associations between clinical and angiographic parameters and total CAC score were analyzed. ResultsMedian total CAC score was 192 (23.0-729.8), and this was positively correlated with both Gensini score (r: 0.299, p<0.001) and SS (r: 0.577, p<0.001). At multivariate analysis, it was independently associated with age (ß: 0.154, p: 0.027), male gender (ß: 0.126, p: 0.035) and SS (ß: 0.481, p< 0.001). Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed a cut-off value > 809 for SS >32 (high SS tertile). ConclusionIn symptomatic patients with accompanying significant CAD, total CAC score was independently associated with SS and patients with SS >32 may be detected through high Agatston score.