‘Coronary Sinus Filling Time’- For Diagnosis of Microvascular Disease in Patients with Chronic Stable Angina

Patients having angina with normal epicardial coronary arteries are often considered to have coronary microvascular dysfunction that may result in coronary slow flow. Delayed Coronary Sinus Filling Time (CSFT) may represent transit time through coronary microcirculation.We evaluated CSFT in patients having angina with normal epicardial coronary arteries and compared it with control population. Methods: 31 patients having definite angina or probable angina with positive exercise tolerance test with normal epicardial coronary arteries in coronary angiogram (CAG) were included in the study group. 31 patients having normal epicardial coronary arteries in CAG during preoperative evaluation before surgical treatment for valvular and congenital heart diseases were in control group. CSFT, TIMI (Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction) frame count, cTIMI (Corrected TIMI) frame count and TMP (TIMI Myocardial Perfusion) score were assessed in CAG of both group and compared between groups. Results: Patients’ Mean±SD of age in study and control group were 48.84±9.50years and 46.71±5.53years respectively with no significant difference (p=0.569) and there was female preponderance (55% and 65%) in both groups. CSFT was significantly prolonged in study group (4.22±0.71sec vs. 3.65±0.25sec, P value 0.001) but TIMI frame count, cTIMI and TMP showed no significant difference between two groups (25.71±5.74 vs. 26.74±3.81, p= 0.552; 14.76±3.6 vs. 15.4±2.56, p=0.449; 2.54±0.5 vs. 2.61±0.49, p=0.326; respectively). Conclusion: We concluded that CSFT was significantly prolonged in patients having angina with normal epicardial coronary arteries which might be a marker for diagnosis of coronary microvascular disease.

Blood Lipid Profile in Acute Coronary Syndrome and Chronic Stable Angina Patients.

This study was designed to compare the blood lipid profile and conventional cardiovascular risk factors in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and chronic stable angina (CSA). A total of 110 patients, 55 of which were of ACS and 55 with chronic stable angina (CSA) who underwent coronary angiography in the Department of Cardiology, BSMMU, Dhaka were enrolled for the study. Lipid profile and age, sex, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking habit, family history of premature coronary artery diseases (CAD) of the patients were recorded and compared. Mean±SD age of the studied patients was 52.2±10 years. Prevalence of diabetes mellitus (p<0.05) and hypertension (p <0.05) was significantly higher in patients with CSA than that with ACS. Frequency of hyperlipidemia, smoking habit and family history of CAD was similar between groups. Patients with CSA had significantly higher triple vessel diseases (TVD) (p < 0.001) and significantly lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) (p < 0.05) compared to that of patients with ACS. ACS patients had significantly higher single vessel diseases (SVD) (p <0.001) compared to that of CSA but the distribution of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc), total cholesterol and triglycerides were variable between groups. This study showed that CSA patients had substantially higher frequency of having some CVD risk factors with alteration in certain lipid profile parameters and higher number of triple vessels disease than patients with ACS. This might aid in selecting appropriate criteria for angiographic evaluation and better management of patients with coronary artery diseases.

Effect of Ramadan Fasting on Serum Lipid Profile of Bangladeshi Female Volunteers.

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of fasting for a period of one month during Ramadan on the lipid profile of Bangladeshi female volunteers who fasted during the Arabic month of Ramadan, when there occurs a change, both in the pattern and timing of dietary intake. Findings of the study showed that Ramadan fast significantly reduced serum Total cholesterol (TC) (p=0.030) and Low density lipoprotein (LDL-C) (p=0.011). A statistically nonsignificant elevation of triglyceride (TG)) was observed (p=0.598). High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) also found to be raised significantly at the end of fasting (p = 0.037). Findings of the study revealed that fasting during the month of Ramadan changes lipid profile pattern in an aniatherogenic direction and may be beneficial to health.

Serum Lipid Profile in Ischemic Heart Disease: A Cross-Sectional Analytical Study.

Risk of coronary heart disease and other forms of atherosclerotic vascular diseases, rises with plasma cholesterol concentration and in particular with the rise of ratio of total cholesterol to high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) cholesterol. A much weaker correlation also exists with plasma triglyceride concentration. Extensive large-scale randomized trials have shown that lowering total cholesterol and LDL-C concentrations reduces the risk of cardiovascular events including death, myocardial infarction and stroke and reduces the need for revascularisation.This cross-sectional analytical study was designed to observe association between lipid profile level with chronic ischaemic heart disease and the study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka from July 2010 to June 2011. A total of 50 cases were selected purposively according to the selection criteria from the patients admitted in the Department of Cardiology, Dhaka Medical College Hospital with chronic ischaemic heart disease (IHD). Diagnosed IHD patients were taken as cases and 50 age- & sex- matched healthy subjects were taken as controls. Serum TC, TG, LDL-C & HDL-C were measured in all study subjects.The mean±SD of serum TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C concentration in cases were 314.54±73.72 mg/dl, 288.04±60.45 mg/dl, 36.02±4.12 mg/dl, and 178.62±22.7 mg/dl respectively and in controls were 174.64±18.97 mg/dl, 119.42±12.47 mg/dl, 43.04±2.58 mg/dl & 126.28±11.45 mg/dl respectively. Serum Total Cholesterol, TG & LDL-C were found to be significantly higher in cases than that of controls. Serum HDL-C was found to be significantly lower in cases than that of controls. The present study reveals that the patients with chronic ischemic heart disease is accociated with significantly higher levels of serum TC, TG and LDL-C whereas HDL-C was found to be lower in IHD patients.

Biochemical Factors associated with Breast Cancer in Bangladeshi Women.

Breast Cancer is the commonest maligrancy in woment. A study was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry, Dhaka Medical College to investigate some of the biochemical features that are associated with breast cancer occurring in Bangladeshi women. Thirty diagnosed breast cancer patients and thirty healthy women were selected. A questionnaire was used for collecting information regarding age, family history, physical activity and exercise, BMI, diet, smoking, alcohol abuse, addiction, details of menstrual and obstetric history, breast-feeding, parity, use of contraceptives and HRT. Blood samples were collected and tested for fasting lipid profiles, serum estrogen and progesterone. The study has revealed that high levels of serum total cholesterol (P<0.05), TAG (P<0.05), LDL-C (P<0.05) and low level of serum and HDL-C (P<0.05) were found to be associated with breast cancer. The study further reveals that blood levels of estrogen (P<0.05) and progesterone (P<0.05) were found to be lower than that of the controls.