[Dynamics of NT-proBNP and ST2 levels as markers of heart failure in patients with endogenous Cushing syndrome (hypercortisolism)].

AIM: To evaluate frequency of heart failure syndrome in patients with endogenous hypercortisolism and to establish relationship between effective treatment for hypercortisolism and regression of heart failure with particular emphasis on the observation of NT-proBNP and ST2 levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 56 patients with endogenous hypercortisolism (45 female, mean age 47 years [36; 55] hospitalized with endogenous hypercortisolism to National Medical Research Center for Endocrinology were enrolled in the study. All patients underwent comprehensive clinical investigation including expert echocardiography with speckle tracking and evaluation of NT-proBNP and ST2 cardiac biomarkers at baseline and 6 months after surgical treatment. RESULTS: According to clinical data and elevated biomarkers of cardiac stress 28 out of 56 patients (50%) at baseline met the criteria for heart failure. 20 patients were included in the final analysis. Follow-up investigation with focus on changes in NT-proBNP and ST2 levels demonstrated that surgical correction of endogenous hypercortisolism resulted in resolution of heart failure syndrome in 11 patients (55%). CONCLUSION: These preliminary data suggest that signs and symptoms of heart failure are observed in patients with endogenous hypercortisolism in about half the cases. Surgical correction results in resolution of heart failure in approximately two thirds of the cases. Prospective evaluation NT-proBNP and ST2 levels may provide important diagnostic and prognostic information in patients with endogenous hypercortisolism.

[New opportunities of antithrombotic therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and stable coronary heart disease for reducing the cardiovascular risk and cardiovascular complications: THEMIS, THEMIS-PCI trials].

Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and coronary heart disease belong to a group with a very high risk of developing cardiovascular disease. In patients with coronary atherosclerosis, DM increases the risk of ischemic events by 2-4 times. Apparently, increased antithrombotic therapy has an advantage in patients with DM who have had myocardial infarction. However, until recently it was not clear there is such an advantage in patients with DM and stable coronary artery disease without prior myocardial infarction. The addition of ticagrelol to monotherapy of acetylsalicylic acid reduces the risk of major cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 DM and stable coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, if patients have a high risk of ischemic events.

[Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Diseases and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus - new Developments in the Treatment].

Despite obvious success in the management of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, incidence of myocardial infarction, stroke, critical ischemia, and lower extremity amputation remains high. Results of clinical studies of new hypoglycemic drugs have demonstrated their high efficacy in decreasing mortality, incidence of cardiovascular complications, and progression of chronic heart failure. At the same time, prevention of atherothrombotic complications is essential for this patient category. Traditionally, the antiaggregant therapy with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is administered to patients with stable atherosclerotic diseases to reduce the risk. Attempts of reducing additionally the risk with ASA combinations with other antiplatelet drugs did not produce an expected result. Theoretical prerequisites suggested that anticoagulant supplements would increase the treatment efficacy in prevention of atherothrombotic complications in patients with cardiovascular diseases. Recently emerged oral anticoagulants can be administered at a considerably lower dose. In the COMPASS study, a combination of rivaroxaban 2.5 mg twice a day and ASA 100 mg/day compared to ASA 100 mg/day significantly reduced the total risk of stroke and cardiovascular death by 24 % and incidence of stroke and cardiovascular death by 42% and 22 %, respectively. Patients with peripheral artery disease showed for the first time improvement of prognosis, decreased number of amputations, major complications of lower extremity disease. Results of the COMPASS study confirmed the validity of influencing simultaneously the platelet and the coagulation components of hemostasis in patients with stable atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases.

[Leptin and leptin receptor evaluation in atherosclerotic plaques in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus].

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a significant predictor of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, and cardiovascular mortality. It is known that atherosclerosis occurs earlier in patients with diabetes, reducing the duration of their life. Leptin as well as other inflammatory markers can contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis in patients with DM, participate in the development of a local inflammatory reaction. AIM: Determine the cells immunophenotype of atherosclerotic plaques in patients with diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 24 patients (20 men and 4 women), who underwent aortofemoral bypass, femoral-tibial bypass or carotid endarterectomy. During the operation, a fragment of the arterial wall with an atherosclerotic plaque was obtained for further immunohistochemical studies. Five histologic plaque characteristics (CD68+, -SMA, CD34, leptin and leptin receptor) were compared. RESULTS: No difference in the expression of CD68 (p=0.922), -SMA (p=0.192), CD34 (p=0.858), leptin receptor (p=0.741) and leptin (p=0.610) in atherosclerotic plaques were observed between patients with and without DM. The lack of significant differences between the two groups was possibly due to the small number of observations with DM. In particular, when assessing the expression of selected markers in atherosclerotic plaques, patients with DM showed significantly more leptin receptors than patients without DM (2160.716 and 1205.88 respectively); and also significantly less CD68+ (0.39 and 0.98 respectively) and -SMA+ (6.5 and 13.5 respectively). CONCLUSION: Based on the expression of CD68, -SMA, CD34, leptin receptor and leptin, no significant differences were observed in atherosclerotic plaque between patients with and without DM. At the same time, despite the limitations of the study (a small number of patients, moderate severity of DM, elderly patients in the DM group), we found a tendency in the increased number of leptin receptors and a decreased number of -SMA+, CD68+ in DM atherosclerotic plaques. Further study needed, taking into account the limitations of this work.

[Intravascular ultrasound with virtual histology in assessment of atherosclerotic plaque composition in patients with coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus].

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a serious medical and social problem leading to early disability of patients and high mortality from cardiovascular complications. The development of cardiovascular events is associated not only with the degree of coronary artery stenosis, but also with the structure of the atherosclerotic plaque. AIM: This study aimed to characterize structure and composition of coronary artery atherosclerotic plaque in target lesion of T2DM patients and patients without diabetes using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and IVUS with virtual histology (IVUS-VH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We observed 25 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) with T2DM and without T2DM, which admitted to Endocrinology Research Centre to perform percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Patients with CAD and T2DM were included at group 1 and patients with CAD and without T2DM were included at group 2. IVUS and IVUS-VH assessment of target lesion were performed prior to stent implantation. We observed 24 plaques at group 1 and 10 plaques at group 2. RESULTS: In grey - scale IVUS 2D analysis there were no differences in mean cross - sectional area of the vessel (12.5 [10.4; 15.8] mm2 vs. 13.5 [12,7; 16.5] mm2; p=0.223, respectively) and lumen area (3.71 [2.5; 4.5] mm2 vs. 3.2 [2.7; 3.8] mm2; p=0.589, respectively). Plaque burden were higher in patients without T2DM (71.6 [65.5; 75.7] % vs. 77.6 [74.4; 80.4] %; p=0.008, respectively). IVUS-VH analysis showed that percent of necrotic core and dense calcium areas were significantly higher in the T2DM group (31.3 [25.3; 36.5] % vs. 21.65 [14.3; 27.8] %; p=0.01 and 4.7 [2.3; 7.8] % vs. 2.45 [1.2; 4.05] %; p=0.046, respectively). Percent of the fibrotic tissue were higher in non-T2DM group (55.35 [49.7; 63.6] % vs 67.7 [61.8; 76.5] %; p=0.004, respectively). There were no differences in percent of lipidic tissue in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: IVUS-VH assessment of coronary artery atherosclerotic plaques showed greater amount of necrotic core and dense calcium in patients with T2DM compared to patients without diabetes.