[Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and atherosclerosis]. / Czynnik wzrostowy hepatocytów (HGF) a miazdzyca.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) takes part in tissue regeneration after injury. It is a potent survival and regeneration factor after severe tissue damage. It promotes cell growth and protection from apoptosis, regulates the cell migration and differentiation. HGF is a subject of intensive investigations in order to apply it in the future in gene therapy to improve treatment of angina pectoris or intermittent claudication. The aim of this review is discussion about the role of HGF in pathogenesis and treatment of atherosclerosis. Angiogenetic activity of HGF was proven in vivo as well as in vitro. In patients with collaterals increased HGF plasma concentration was revealed. It is possible to determine with high probability the risk of cardiovascular event on the basis of HGF concentration. Plasma concentration of this factor increases dramatically after heparin injection, particularly after unfractionated heparin. Also other drugs (ACE-inhibitors) may take part in regulation of HGF synthesis.

Myocardial perfusion assessed by contrast echocardiography correlates with angiographic perfusion parameters in patients with a first acute myocardial infarction successfully treated with angioplasty.

BACKGROUND: Angiographic flow in an epicardial artery does not define perfusion at the microvascular level. AIM: To compare myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) with angiographic methods of assessing microvascular reperfusion in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: One hundred consecutive patients with a first ST segment elevation myocardial infarction and single-vessel disease were successfully treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Regional contrast score index (RCSI), corrected Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) frame count (cTFC), TIMI myocardial perfusion grade (TMPG) and myocardial blush grade were evaluated. RESULTS: Among 717 asynergic segments on MCE, 168 revealed a lack of perfusion. TMPG and cTFC correlated significantly with RCSI (P=0.031 and P=0.027, respectively). Myocardial blush grade did not correlate with RCSI (P=0.067). Patients with anterior AMI had significantly more segments with a perfusion defect on MCE than patients with inferior AMI (P=0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: MCE results correlate with angiographic methods of perfusion assessment such as TMPG and cTFC. Anterior AMI is associated with a greater extent of perfusion defect. MCE results correlate also with recovery of systolic left ventricular function and clinical outcome at six month follow-up.

[Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in stable and unstable coronary heart disease]. / Czynnik wzrostowy hepatocytów (HGF) w stabilnej i niestabilnej chorobie wiencowej.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is an angiogenic factor upregulated in ischaemic diseases. We measured plasma HGF concentration in 26 patients (pts) with stable angina pectoris (SAP) and 16 pts with unstable angina pectoris (UAP). HGF levels were significantly higher in pts with UAP compared with pts with SAP (p<0,01), in pts with SAP vs control group (n=38, p<0,01) and in pts with UAP vs control group (p<0,001). HGF levels in SAP group correlated with heart failure symptoms (p=0,023). There was a trend towards significance between HGF and left ventricle ejection fraction (p=0,08) and between HGF and VEGF levels in pts with SAP (p=0,08). This study demonstrates that HGF plasma levels correlates with SAP symptoms. Pts with SAP and UAP has significantly higher levels of HGF comparing with control group.