Vitamin D deficiency is independently associated with the extent of coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D (25-OH D3) deficiency represents a rising social and economic problem in Western countries. Vitamin D has been recently reported to modulate inflammatory processes, endothelium and smooth muscle cell proliferation and even platelet function, thus potentially modulating atherothrombosis. Great interest has been addressed on its impact on cardiovascular outcome, with contrasting results. The aim of current study was to evaluate the relationship between 25-OH D3 and the extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) in a consecutive cohort of patients undergoing coronary angiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients undergoing elective coronary angiography were included in a cross-sectional study. Fasting samples were collected for 25-OH D3 levels assessment. Significant CAD was defined as at least 1 vessel stenosis > 50%, while severe CAD as left main and/or trivessel disease, as evaluated by quantitative coronary angiography. RESULTS: Hypovitaminosis D was observed in 70·4% of 1484 patients. Patients were divided according to vitamin D tertiles (< 9·6; 9·6-18·4; ≥ 18·4). Lower vitamin D levels were associated with age, female gender (P < 0·001), renal failure (P = 0·05), active smoking (P = 0·001), acute coronary syndrome at presentation (P < 0·001), therapy with calcium antagonists (P = 0·02) and diuretics (P < 0·001), less beta-blockers (P = 0·02) and statins (P = 0·001) use. Vitamin D was directly related to haemoglobin (P < 0·001) and inversely with platelet count (P = 0·002), total and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0·002 and P < 0·001) and triglycerides (P = 0·01). Vitamin D did not influence angiographic features of coronary lesions, but was associated with higher prevalence of left main or right CAD (P = 0·03). Vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with higher prevalence of CAD (adjusted OR [95%CI] = 1·32[1·1-1·6], P = 0·004) and severe CAD (adjusted OR [95%CI] = 1·18[1-1·39], P = 0·05). CONCLUSION: Hypovitaminosis D was observed in the vast majority of patients undergoing coronary angiography. Vitamin D deficiency is significantly associated with the prevalence and extent of CAD, especially for patients with values < 10 ng/mL. Therefore, future large studies are needed to evaluate whether vitamin D supplementation may prevent CAD and its progression.

Benefits from small molecule administration as compared with abciximab among patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary angioplasty: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to perform a meta-analysis of randomized trials (RTs) comparing abciximab versus small molecules (eptifibatide and tirofiban) in primary angioplasty (PPCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). BACKGROUND: Abciximab has been shown to provide significant benefits in PPCI for STEMI. However, small molecules represent an attractive strategy due to the reversibility of the inhibition of platelet aggregation and the lower costs. METHODS: We obtained results from RTs comparing abciximab versus small molecules in PPCI. The literature was scanned by searches of electronic databases (MEDLINE and CENTRAL) up to October 2008. The following key words were used: RT, myocardial infarction, reperfusion, primary angioplasty, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, abciximab, tirofiban, and eptifibatide. Concerning tirofiban, we only included trials or groups of patients with high-dose bolus and infusion. The primary end point was 30-day mortality. Secondary end points were 30-day reinfarction, post-procedural Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade 3, and ST-segment resolution. RESULTS: A total of 6 RTs were included in the meta-analysis, involving 2,197 patients (1,082 randomized to abciximab and 1,115 to small molecules [high-dose tirofiban in 5 trials and eptifibatide in 1 trial]). Abciximab did not improve post-procedural TIMI flow grade 3 (89.8% vs. 89.1%, p = 0.72) or ST-segment resolution (67.8% vs. 68.2%, p = 0.66). Abciximab did not reduce 30-day mortality (2.2% vs. 2.0%, p = 0.66) or reinfarction (1.2% vs. 1.2%, p = 0.88), nor was there any difference in major bleeding complications (1.3% vs. 1.9%, p = 0.27). CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis shows among STEMI patients undergoing PPCI similar results between abciximab and small molecules in terms of angiographic, electrocardiographic, and clinical outcome.