No abstract

Conclusions: This study suggests that in a relatively young population with mild-to-moderate alteration of kidney function and with less traditional cardiovascular risk factors, anomalies of the serum FGF 23 and fetuin A levels appear early in the course of disease and are independent major predictors for extent of CAD.

Background and Objectives: Cardiovascular disease is prevalent in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Uric acid is increased in subjects with CKD and has been linked with cardiovascular mortality in this population. However, no study has evaluated the relationship of uric acid with angiographically proven coronary artery disease (CAD) in this population. We therefore investigated the link between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and (i) extent of CAD assessed by the Gensini score and (ii) inflammatory parameters, including C-reactive protein (CRP) and pentraxin-3, in patients with mild-to-moderate CKD. Material and Methods: In an unselected population of 130 patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between 90 and 30 ml/min/1.73 m², we measured SUA, serum pentraxin-3, CRP, urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio, lipid parameters and the severity of CAD as assessed by coronary angiography and quantified by the Gensini lesion severity score. Results: The mean serum values for SUA, pentraxin-3 and CRP in the entire study population were 5.5 ± 1.5 mg/dl, 6.4 ± 3.4 ng/ml and 3.5 ± 2.6 mg/dl, respectively. The Gensini scores significantly correlated in univariate analysis with gender (R = –0.379, p = 0.02), uric acid (R = 0.42, p = 0.001), pentraxin-3 (R = 0.54, p = 0.001), CRP (R = 0.29, p = 0.006) levels, eGFR (R = –0.33, p = 0.02), proteinuria (R = 0.21, p = 0.01), and presence of hypertension (R = 0.37, p = 0.001), but not with smoking status, diabetes mellitus, and lipid parameters. After adjustments for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, only uric acid (R = 0.21, p = 0.02) and pentraxin-3 (R = 0.28, p = 0.01) remained significant predictors of the Gensini score. Conclusions: SUA and pentraxin-3 levels are independent determinants of severity of CAD in patients with mild-to-moderate CKD. We recommend a clinical trial to determine whether lowering uric acid could prevent progression of CAD in patients with CKD.

Increased TPO levels may increase both platelet count and platelet size, resulting in more hemostatic tendency, which may contribute to the progression of ischemic stroke.

H. pylori infection causes an asymptomatic airway inflammation which can be detected by exhaled breath condensate. The clinical importance of this inflammation remains unclear.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an important cause of liver failure. Whatever its cause, the liver failure is accompanied by multiple changes in the hemostatic system. The objective of the current report was to study several homeostasis parameters such as protein C, protein S, factor 7, factor 8 levels, platelet counts, prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time, and plasminogen activator inhibitor in patients with fatty liver. A total of 28 consecutive patients with ultrasound proven NAFLD and 33 healthy volunteers were included in the study. Plasma prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time were within normal ranges in both NAFLD and control groups. Plasma factor 7, factor 8, protein S, and protein C levels were decreased in NAFLD patients but the difference was not statistically significant, whereas plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 levels were significantly increased in patients with NAFLD compared to controls. In conclusion, in all types of liver disease, some alterations in hemostatic parameters are awaited. As fatty liver disease is very common in clinical practice, clinicians should be aware of this kind of alterations.

Our study suggests that, in addition to other well-known components of mineral metabolism, increased calcitonin levels are associated with greater severity of CAD. However, this relation was not independent of traditional and nontraditional cardiovascular risk factors. Longitudinal studies in larger populations including patients with more advanced CKD are needed.

OBJECTıvE: Cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of death in patients with endstage renal disease. Asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) is increased in conditions associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis. We aimed to examine the association between severity of coronary stenosis and the ADMA levels in a group of chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 1 to 3. maTERıal and mETHOdS: Eighty-eight (88) consecutive patients with decreased renal function (glomerular filtration rate (GFR) between 90 and 30 ml/min), undergoing cardiac catheterization for proven or clinically suspected coronary artery disease were enrolled at the study. Serum levels of creatinine, ADMA, nitric oxide (NO), calcium, phosphate, total cholesterol, HDL and LDL fractions, triglycerides were determined using measurement techniques. The Gensini scoring system was used for the detection of the severity of coronary atherosclerosis. RESulTS: The mean serum values were 81.48 ± 13.8 micromol/l for ADMA and 3.7 ± 1.7 mmol/L for NO. The mean Gensini score in the study group was 30.4 ± 40.1. All patients were classified into tertiles of Gensini score level. Patients in the highest tertile had statistically significantly lower GFR values. The ADMA values increased statistically significantly in the third tertile compared with the first tertile. The Gensini score values significantly correlated in univariate analysis with the GFR, ADMA and presence of hypertension. In a multivariate regression model, ADMA was the only statistically significant independent predictor of Gensini score.