Significance of the percentage of cholesterol efflux capacity and total cholesterol efflux capacity in patients with or without coronary artery disease.

We hypothesized that cholesterol efflux capacity is more useful than the lipid profile as a marker of the presence and the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). Therefore, we investigated the associations between the presence and the severity of CAD and both the percentage of cholesterol efflux capacity and total cholesterol efflux capacity and the lipid profile including the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level in patients who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA). The subjects consisted of 204 patients who were clinically suspected to have CAD and underwent CTA. We isolated HDL from plasma by ultracentrifugation and measured the percentage of cholesterol efflux capacity using 3H-cholesterol-labeled J774 macrophage cells and calculated total cholesterol efflux capacity as follows: the percentage of cholesterol efflux capacity/100× HDL-C levels. While the percentage of cholesterol efflux capacity was not associated with the presence or the severity of CAD, total cholesterol efflux capacity and HDL-C in patients with CAD were significantly lower than those in patients without CAD. In addition, total cholesterol efflux capacity and HDL-C, but not the percentage of cholesterol efflux capacity, significantly decreased as the number of coronary arteries with significant stenosis increased. Total cholesterol efflux capacity was positively correlated with HDL-C, whereas the percentage of cholesterol efflux capacity showed only weak association. In a logistic regression analysis, the presence of CAD was independently associated with total cholesterol efflux capacity, in addition to age and gender. Finally, a receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that the areas under the curves for total cholesterol efflux capacity and HDL-C were similar. In conclusion, the percentage of cholesterol efflux capacity using the fixed amount of isolated HDL was not associated with CAD. On the other hand, the calculated total cholesterol efflux capacity that was dependent of HDL-C levels had a significant correlation with the presence of CAD.

Association between smoking habits and severity of coronary stenosis as assessed by coronary computed tomography angiography.

Smoking promotes arteriosclerosis and is one of the most important coronary risk factors. However, few studies have investigated the association between smoking habits and the severity of coronary stenosis as assessed by coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA). We enrolled 416 patients [165/251 = smoker (past and current)/non-smoker)]. They had all undergone CTA and either were clinically suspected of having coronary artery disease (CAD) or had at least one cardiovascular risk factor. We divided the patients into smoking and non-smoking groups, and evaluated the presence of CAD, the number of significantly stenosed coronary vessels (VD), and the Gensini score as assessed by CTA in the two groups. The incidence of CAD, VD, the Gensini score, and coronary calcification score in the smoking group were all significantly greater than those in the non-smoking group (CAD, p = 0.009; VD, p = 0.003; Gensini score, p = 0.007; coronary calcification score, p = 0.01). Pack-year was significantly associated with VD and the Gensini score, and was strongly associated with multi-vessel disease (2- and 3-VD) (p < 0.05), whereas the duration of cessation in past smokers was not associated with VD or the Gensini score. Pack-year, but not the duration of cessation, may be the most important factor that was associated with the severity of coronary stenosis in terms of VD and the Gensini score.

Associations between parameters of flow-mediated vasodilatation obtained by continuous measurement approaches and the presence of coronary artery disease and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis.

We investigated the associations between the parameters of flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) obtained by continuous measurement approaches and the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis. The subjects consisted of 282 consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) and in whom we could measure FMD. Using continuous measurement approaches, we measured FMD as the magnitude of the percentage change from brachial artery diameter from baseline to peak (bFMD), the maximum FMD rate calculated as the maximal slope of dilation (FMD-MDR), and the integrated FMD response calculated as the area under the dilation curve during the 60- and 120 s dilation periods (FMD-AUC60 and FMD-AUC120). We divided the patients into two groups, the CAD group and the non-CAD group, and defined the severity of coronary atherosclerosis according to the Gensini score. The CAD group showed significantly lower %FMD, FMD-MDR, FMD-AUC60, and FMD-AUC120. Gender, smoking, dyslipidemia (DL), and diabetes mellitus (DM), in addition to FMD-AUC120, were identified as significant independent variables that predicted the presence of CAD by a multivariate logistic regression. In addition, a multiple regression analysis indicated that gender, DL, and hypertension, in addition to FMD-AUC120, were predictors of the Gensini score. Finally, we defined the cutoff value of FMD-AUC120 for the prediction of CAD in all patients as 11.1 (sensitivity 0.582, specificity 0.652) by a receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. In conclusion, FMD-AUC120 as assessed by continuous measurement approaches may be a superior marker for evaluating the presence of CAD and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis.

Association between the severity of coronary artery stenosis and the combination of the difference in blood pressure between arms and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity.

BACKGROUND: A difference in systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥10 mmHg between the arms is associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and mortality in high-risk patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Four hundred and fourteen patients were divided into three groups according to the percent most severe luminal narrowing of a coronary artery as diagnosed by coronary computed tomography angiography: no or mild coronary stenosis (0-49%), moderate stenosis (50-69%) and severe stenosis (≥70%) groups. The relative difference in SBP between arms in the severe group was significantly lower than those in the no or mild and moderate groups. The brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) significantly increased as the severity of coronary stenosis increased. We confirmed that severe coronary stenosis was independently associated with both the relative difference in SBP between arms and baPWV, in addition to age, gender, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus and ankle-brachial index by a logistic regression analysis. The group with a relative difference in SBP between arms of <1 mmHg and baPWV ≥ 1613 cm/s showed a higher percentage of patients with severe coronary stenosis than groups that met neither or only one of these criteria. CONCLUSION: The combination of the relative difference in SBP between arms and baPWV may be a more effective approach for the non-invasive assessment of the severity of CAD.

Is pentraxin 3 a biomarker, a player, or both in the context of coronary atherosclerosis and metabolic factors?

The objective of this study is to determine whether pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) is clinically a biomarker of inflammation, a player in anti-inflammation, or both with regard to coronary atherosclerosis, we compared levels of PTX-3 with levels of adiponectin in addition to high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). We enrolled 693 patients (51 % male; mean age 64 ± 12 years) at Fukuoka University Hospital. They were clinically suspected to have coronary artery disease (CAD) or had at least one cardiac risk factor and had undergone coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA). We evaluated the levels of PTX-3, hs-CRP, and adiponectin, the presence of CAD or metabolic factors, subcutaneous fat area, visceral fat area (VFA) and lipid profiles. The presence of CAD was independently associated with aging (p = 0.010) and the prevalence of hypertension (p < 0.0001), but not the levels of PTX-3, hs-CRP and adiponectin by a multivariate analysis. Although the number of significantly stenosed coronary vessels (VD) was not associated with PTX-3 or adiponectin, hs-CRP tended to increase as the number of VD increased. In addition, PTX-3 decreased as the number of metabolic factors increased, whereas hs-CRP increased as the number of metabolic factors increased. Interestingly, PTX-3 did not correlate with hs-CRP, but was positively correlated with adiponectin. In a multiple regression analysis, adiponectin (p = 0.003) and VFA (p = 0.008) were significant predictors of PTX-3 levels. In conclusion, PTX-3 and adiponectin showed similar associations with metabolic factors, whereas PTX-3 and hs-CRP showed opposite trends. Adiponectin and VFA were significant predictors of PTX-3 levels. PTX-3 might have an atheroprotective role as well as serving as a simple biomarker, like adiponectin.

Contrast between innovator drug- and generic drug-induced renal dysfunction on coronary angiography (CONTRAST study).

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) has gained increasing attention in clinical practice, particularly during coronary angiography (CAG). However, some "bioequivalent" generic (GE) drugs are less effective than the innovator (IN) drug. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare contrast media (IN drug)-induced renal dysfunction with contrast media (GE drug)-induced dysfunction. We enrolled 44 patients who underwent elective CAG or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and randomly divided them into two groups that received contrast media (Iohexol, nonionic and low-osmolality contrast agent) containing either IN drug (Omnipaque) or GE drug (Iopaque). Blood and urine sampling were performed before and after (24 and 48 h) CAG or PCI. Biochemical parameters in blood (serum creatinine, cystatin C, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and pentraxin-3) and urine (urinary albumin/Cr and liver-type fatty acid binding protein/Cr) were measured. There were no significant differences in the biochemical parameters at baseline between the groups. In addition, there were no differences in changes in biochemical parameters in blood and urine before and after CAG or PCI between the groups, although one patient in the GE group had CIN. The degree of contrast in Iopaque-induced renal dysfunction was comparable with that in Omnipaque-induced dysfunction.

Association between pentraxin 3 levels and aortic valve calcification.

OBJECTIVE: Aortic valve calcification (AVC) reflects the state of aortic valve sclerosis (AVS), which is a precursor to aortic valve stenosis (AS). Therefore, we investigated the presence of AVC in patients who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA), which is an effective tool for evaluating early-stage AVC, and examined the association between plasma levels of pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and AVC. METHODS AND RESULTS: The subjects consisted of 162 consecutive patients who underwent CTA and in whom we could measure plasma levels of PTX3. We divided the patients into an AVC group (n=42) and a non-AVC group (n=120), as assessed by CT. Furthermore, we divided the patients without AS, assessed by echocardiography, into non-AS AVC (n=23) and non-AS non-AVC groups (n=60). We analyzed the predictors of the presence of AVC in all patients by a logistic regression analysis. AVC was independently associated with PTX3, in addition to age, chronic kidney disease, and coronary artery calcification. We also examined the predictors of the presence of AVC in patients without AS. PTX3, in addition to age, was an independent predictor of the presence of AVC in patients without AS. Finally, we found that adding PTX3 to the model containing age improves the specificity and, therefore, positive predictive value for AVC. CONCLUSIONS: PTX3, in addition to age, was shown to be an independent predictor of AVC in patients without AS. The combination of age and PTX3 may be a better approach to the evaluation of AVC than either of these alone.

Associations between glycated albumin or hemoglobin A1c and the presence of coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the associations between serum levels of glycated albumin (GA) or hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA). METHODS AND RESULTS: The study consisted of 244 consecutive patients who underwent CTA and in whom we could measure the levels of both GA and HbA1c. Any narrowing of the normal contrast-enhanced lumen to >50% that could be identified in multiplanar reconstructions or cross-sectional images by CTA was defined as significant stenosis in CAD. We divided the patients into two groups: CAD group (n=72) and non-CAD group (n=172), as assessed by CTA. The CAD group showed significantly higher GA and HbA1c than the non-CAD group. GA and HbA1c showed a positive correlation (r=0.551, p<0.0001). A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the associations between the presence of CAD and age, gender, body mass index, and coronary risk factors (hypertension, dyslipidemia, and smoking), in addition to GA and HbA1c. Age [odds ratio (OR): 1.04, p=0.02], gender (OR: 2.84 p=0.01), hypertension (OR: 3.20, p=0.01), and GA (OR: 1.16, p=0.03) were identified as significant independent variables that predicted the presence of CAD. In particular, GA (OR: 1.30, p=0.02) was the only predictor of the presence of CAD in the diabetes mellitus group by a multivariate logistic regression analysis. We defined the cut-off value of GA for the prediction of CAD in patients with diabetes as 17.9% (sensitivity 0.639, specificity 0.639) by a receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis. CONCLUSION: GA may be superior to HbA1c as a marker for evaluating the presence of CAD.

Impact of the Absolute Difference in Diastolic Blood Pressure Between Arms in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the relationship between the severity and presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and a difference in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) between arms or between lower limbs. METHODS: We enrolled 277 patients who underwent coronary angiography. We calculated the absolute (|right BP (rt. BP) - left BP (lt. BP)|) and relative (rt. BP - lt. BP) differences in SBP or DBP between arms or between lower limbs, and assessed the severity of CAD in terms of the Gensini score. RESULTS: The absolute difference in DBP between arms in the CAD group was significantly lower than that in the non-CAD group, whereas the absolute difference in DBP between lower limbs in the CAD group was significantly higher. There were no differences in the absolute or relative difference in SBP between arms or lower limbs between the groups. The absolute difference in DBP between arms decreased as the Gensini score increased. In a logistic regression analysis, the presence of CAD was independently associated with the absolute difference in DBP between arms, in addition to male, family history, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus and hypertension. CONCLUSION: The absolute difference in DBP between arms in addition to traditional factors may be a critical risk factor for the presence of CAD.

The ratio of low-frequency to high-frequency in ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring immediately before coronary angiography as a predictor of the presence of coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: There is considerable evidence that impaired autonomic control may be associated with the etiology of coronary artery disease (CAD). We hypothesized that the autonomic imbalance as assessed by measuring heart rate variability (HRV) and biological parameters before and after coronary angiography (CAG) may predict the presence of CAD. METHODS: Ambulatory electrocardiographic (ECG) examination using eHEART(®) (Parama-Tec) is a novel, rapid, and simple method with which we can measure HRV within 5 min. We selected patients (n = 78, 68 ± 10 y) who underwent CAG and analyzed their ambulatory ECGs and blood levels of neuropeptides at both 1 day and immediately before and after CAG. The patients were divided into the presence (n = 64, CAD group) and absence of CAD (n = 14, non-CAD group). RESULTS: Although the CAD group showed an increase in blood pressure immediately before CAG, the ratio of low-frequency to high-frequency (LF/HF) was significantly decreased in the CAD group, but not in the non-CAD group. On the other hand, there was no difference in a coefficient of variation of the R-R interval or pulse rate between the two groups. CAD was independently associated with hypertension (P = 0.011), dyslipidemia (P = 0.009), and LF/HF immediately before CAG (P = 0.046) by a logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that LF/HF immediately before CAG in addition to hypertension and dyslipidemia might predict the presence of CAD.