The Association between Whole Blood Viscosity and Coronary Collateral Circulation in Patients with Chronic Total Occlusion

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Coronary collateral circulation (CCC) has been attributed as inborn bypass mechanisms supporting ischemic myocardium. Various factors have been postulated in CCC. Whole blood viscosity (WBV) has been an underappreciated entity despite close relationships between multiple cardiovascular diseases. WBV can be calculated with a validated equation from hematocrit and total plasma protein levels for a low and high shear rate. On the grounds, we aimed to evaluate the association between WBV and CCC in patients with chronic total occlusion. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 371 patients diagnosed as having at least one major, chronic total occluded coronary artery were included. 197 patients with good CCC (Rentrop 2 and 3) composed the patient group. The poor collateral group consisted of 174 patients (Rentrop grade 0 and 1). RESULTS: Patients with poor CCC had higher WBV values for a low-shear rate (LSR) (69.5±8.7 vs. 60.1±9.8, p<0.001) and high-shear rate (HSR) (17.0±2.0 vs. 16.4±1.8, p<0.001) than the good collateral group. Correlation analysis demonstrated a significant negative correlation between the grade of CCC and WBV for LSR (β=0.597, p<0.001) and HSR (β=0.494, p<0.001). WBV for LSR (β=0.476, p<0.001) and HSR (β=0.407, p<0.001) had a significant correlation with the synergy between percutaneous coronary intervention with taxus and cardiac surgery (SYNTAX) score. A multivariate analysis showed that the WBV for both shear rates were independent risk factors of poor CCC (WBV at LSR, OR: 1.362 CI 95%: 1.095-1.741 p<0.001 and WBV at HSR, 1.251 CI 95%: 1.180-1.347 p<0.001). CONCLUSION: WBV has been demonstrated as the overlooked predictor of poor coronary collateralization. WBV seemed to be associated with microvascular perfusion and angiogenesis process impairing CCC development.

Red cell distribution width can predict the significance of angiographically intermediate coronary lesions

Objective: In the present study, the association between red cell distribution width [RDW] with functional significance of intermediate coronary artery lesions was investigated

Materials and Methods: Two hundred and forty-six consecutive patients, 168 males and 78 females, who underwent fractional flow reserve [FFR] measurement for angiographically intermediate coronary stenosis [40-70% in quantitative coronary analysis] in the left anterior descending coronary artery were enrolled into the study. The functional significance of intermediate coronary artery lesions was determined by FFR measurement. An FFR value <0.75 was defined as functionally significant. Venous blood samples were taken within 48 h before the FFR measurement, and RDW levels were determined by a Coulter LH Series hematology analyzer. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between functional significance in FFR measurement and other variables

Results: Of the 246 patients, 62 [25.2%] exhibited significant functional stenosis [FFR <0.75] in the FFR measurement. The mean RDW level was significantly higher in patients with significant stenosis [14.19 +/- 0.73 vs. 13.69 +/- 0.77, p < 0.001]. In stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis, RDW [OR = 2.489, 95% CI = 1.631-3.799, p < 0.001] and male gender [OR = 2.826, 95% CI = 1.347-5.928, p = 0.006] were independent predictors of significant functional stenosis

Conclusion: Increased RDW levels were associated with functional significance of angiographically intermediate coronary artery stenoses

Usefulness of the macruz index for predicting successful percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty in patients with mitral stenosis

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether the Macruz index [P/P-R segment] could predict the severity of valvular involvement and the success of percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty [PMBV] in patients with mitral stenosis [MS]

Subjects and Methods:Sixty-one patients with MS eligible for PMBV and 72 healthy subjects [61 females and 11 males] with sinus rhythm were enrolled into this study. PMBV was performed in all patients using a percutaneous transseptal antegrade approach and a multitrack balloon technique. The P/P-R segment ratio and echocardiographic variables were measured before and 48-72 h after the procedure. The optimal cutoff point for differences in the Macruz index to determine clinical success was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic analysis by calculating the area under the curve as giving the maximum sum of sensitivity and specificity for the significant test

Results:In the patient group [mean age 42.9 +/- 11.1 years], the preprocedural Macruz index was significantly higher than in the control group [2.79 +/- 1.03 vs. 1.29 +/- 0.11; p < 0.001]. In the successful-procedure group [n = 53], the mean postindex value was significantly lower [2.12 +/- 0.71 vs. 2.81 +/- 1.0, p = 0.020], and the decrease in the Macruz index was significantly higher than in the unsuccessful-procedure group [p = 0.007]. An index decrease of 0.105 was the best cutoff value to distinguish the successful-PMBV group from the unsuccessful- PMBV group [area under the curve = 0.888, 95% confidence interval 0.788-0.988, p < 0.001]

Conclusion:The Macruz index was significantly higher in patients with MS compared to healthy subjects. A greater decrease in the Macruz index was associated with a successful PMBV

The Presence of Fragmented QRS on 12-Lead Electrocardiography in Patients with Coronary Artery Ectasia

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is an angiographic finding characterized by dilation of an arterial segment with a diameter at least 1.5 times that of its adjacent normal coronary artery. Fragmented QRS (fQRS) complexes are electrocardiographic signals which reflect altered ventricular conduction around regions of a myocardial scar and/or ischaemia. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the presence of fQRS in patients with CAE. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study population included 100 patients with isolated CAE without coronary artery disease (CAD) and 80 angiographically normal controls. fQRS was defined as the presence of an additional R wave or notching of R or S wave or the presence of fragmentation in two contiguous leads corresponding to a major coronary artery territory. RESULTS: The two groups were similar in terms of age, sex, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and family history of CAD. The presence of fQRS was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the CAE group than that in the normal coronary artery group (29% vs. 6.2%, p=0.008). Isolated CAE were detected most commonly in the right coronary artery (61%), followed by left anterior descending artery (52%), left circumflex artery (36%), and left main artery (9%). Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that CAE {odds ratio (OR) 1.412; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.085-1.541; p=0.003} and diabetes (OR 1.310; 95% CI 1.025-1.482; p=0.041) were independently associated with fQRS. CONCLUSION: The presence of fragmented QRS associated with increased risk for arrhythmias and cardiovascular mortality was significantly higher in patients with CAE than in patient with normal coronary artery. Further studies are needed to determine whether the presence of fragmented QRS is a possible new risk factor for patients with CAE.