Achilles tendon xanthomas are associated with the presence and burden of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Achilles tendon xanthomas (ATX) are a sign of long-term exposure to high blood cholesterol in familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) patients, which have been associated with cardiovascular disease. We evaluated the ATX association with the presence and extent of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in heterozygous FH patients. METHODS: 102 FH patients diagnosed by US-MEDPED criteria (67% with genetically proven FH), with median LDL-C 279 mg/dL (interquartile range: 240; 313), asymptomatic for cardiovascular disease, underwent computed tomography angiography and coronary artery calcium (CAC) quantification. Subclinical coronary atherosclerosis was quantified by CAC, segment-stenosis (SSS) and segment-involvement (SIS) scores. Adjusted Poisson regression was used to assess the association of ATX with subclinical atherosclerosis burden as continuous variables. RESULTS: Patients with ATX (n = 21, 21%) had higher LDL-C and lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] concentrations as well as greater CAC scores, SIS and SSS (p < 0.05). After adjusting for age, sex, smoking, hypertension, previous statin use, HDL-C, LDL-C and Lp(a) concentrations, there was an independent positive association of ATX presence with CAC scores (ß = 1.017, p < 0.001), SSS (ß = 0.809, p < 0.001) and SIS (ß = 0.640, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: ATX are independently associated with the extension of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis quantified by tomographic scores in FH patients.

Association between postprandial triglycerides and coronary artery disease detected by coronary computed tomography angiography.

BACKGROUND: Studies have demonstrated the association of severe anatomical coronary artery disease (CAD) with postprandial triglycerides (TG) concentrations. Nevertheless the relationship between less severe atherosclerosis plaque burden and postprandial TG is less established. OBJECTIVE: to study the relationship between postprandial TG and CAD detected by coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 130 patients who underwent an oral fat tolerance test were enrolled (85 with CAD detected by CTA and 45 without). Postprandial lipemia was studied by measuring TG from T0h to T6h with 2-h intervals, and analyzed the TG change over time using a longitudinal multivariable linear mixed effects model with the log normal of the TG as the primary outcome. RESULTS: The majority of individuals with CAD had non-obstructive disease (63.3%) Patients with CAD had a slower clearance of postprandial TG change from 4 h to 6 h (p<0.05) compared to patients without CAD. These results remained significant after adjustment for fasting TG and glucose, age, gender, body mass index, and waist circumference. However, those differences did not reach statistical significance after adjustment for fasting HDL-C. CONCLUSION: Patients with mild (<25% lumen obstruction) and moderate CAD (25-50% lumen obstruction) detected by coronary CTA had an impaired postprandial metabolism, with a delayed TG clearance, when compared to individuals with no CAD. This difference was partially explained by the lower HDL-C. Thus, though postprandial TG may contribute to the development of CAD, this association is partially related to low HDL-C.

[Intracoronary inflammatory markers after percutaneous coronary interventions]. / Marcadores inflamatórios intracoronarianos após intervenções coronarianas percutâneas.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze intracoronary release of inflammatory markers (IM) after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) and compare their concentrations concerning the type of PCI used (rotablator vs. balloon angioplasty). METHODS: Twenty-two patients with average age of 60 +/- 11.9 years old, 12 of male sex, with stable coronary disease, submitted to elective treatment of a single coronary lesion, using rotablator (N = 11) or balloon pre-dilatation (N = 11) for stent implant were randomized. Samples were collected at aorta root and coronary sinus, immediately before and 15 minutes after intervention. All dosages were made before stent implant, and the cytokines TNF-a, IL-6 and IL-1 and the soluble adhesion molecules ICAM-1, E-selectin and P-selectin were analyzed by using ELISA method. RESULTS: TNF-a and IL-6 concentrations increased after PCI, respectively from 9.5 +/- 1.5 pg/ml to 9.9 +/- 1.8 pg/ml (p = 0.017) and from 6.0 +/- 2.4 pg/ml to 6.9 +/- 3.0 pg/ml (p < 0.001). There was no significant changes in IL-1, ICAM-1 and P-selectin, and a decrease in E-selectin concentrations after the procedures (52.0 +/- 17.5 ng/ml to 49.3 +/- 18.7 ng/ml; p = 0.009) was observed. There were no significant differences between IM concentrations after PCI, concerning the type of procedure used. CONCLUSION: At the early period, post-percutaneous coronary interventions, an increase of intracoronary concentrations of TNF-a and IL-6, and absence of significant difference between concentrations of inflammatory markers released in coronary flow through rotablator and balloon angioplasty were observed.

Marcadores inflamatórios intracoronarianos após intervenções coronarianas percutâneas / Intracoronary inflammatory markers after percutaneous coronary interventions

OBJETIVO: Analisar a liberação intracoronariana de marcadores inflamatórios (MI) após intervenções coronarianas percutâneas (ICP) e comparar suas concentrações com relação ao tipo de ICP utilizada (rotablator vs angioplastia por balão). MÉTODOS: Foram randomizados 22 pacientes com média de idade de 60±11,9 anos, 12 do sexo masculino, portadores de síndromes coronarianas estáveis, submetidos ao tratamento eletivo de uma única lesão coronariana utilizando rotablator (N=11) ou pré-dilatação por balão (N=11) para implante de stents. As amostras foram colhidas na raiz da aorta e no seio coronariano, imediatamente antes e 15 minutos após as intervenções. Todas as dosagens foram feitas antes do implante do stent, sendo analisadas as citocinas TNF-a, IL-6 e IL-1 e as moléculas de adesão solúveis ICAM-1, E-selectina e P-selectina, utilizando o método ELISA. RESULTADOS: As concentrações de TNF-a e IL-6 aumentaram após as ICP, passando respectivamente de 9,5±1,5 pg/ml para 9,9±1,8 pg/ml (p=0,017) e de 6,0±2,4 pg/ml para 6,9±3,0 pg/ml (p<0,001). Não houve mudança significativa na expressão de IL-1, ICAM-1 e P-selectina, observando-se diminuição nas concentrações de E-selectina após os procedimentos (52,0±17,5 ng/ml para 49,3±18,7 ng/ml; p=0,009). Não houve diferença significativa entre as concentrações dos MI após as ICP, com relação ao tipo de procedimento utilizado. CONCLUSAO: No período precoce, pós-intervenções coronarianas percutâneas, observou-se aumento das concentrações intracoronárias de TNF-a e IL-6 e ausência de diferença significativa entre as concentrações dos marcadores inflamatórios liberados na circulação coronariana por rotablator e pela angioplastia com balão.

Papel dos antagonistas dos receptores da angiotensina II na insuficiência cardíaca congestiva / Role of angiotensin II antagonists receptors in congestive heart failure

O bloqueio da açäo vasoconstritora periférica da angiotensina II reduzindo a pós-carga, a diminuiçäo de seu estímulo proliferativo impedindo ou atenuando a hipertrofia e/ou a remodelaçäo miocárdica e vascular constituem claros benefícios obtidos pela modulaçäo do sistema renina-angiotensina. A proteçäo contra os efeitos pró-aterogênicos da angiotensina II, diminuindo direta ou indiretamente a incidência de doença coronária e infarto do miocárdio, constitui outro importante benefício a ser considerado. O sistema renina-angiotensina pode ser interrompido em graus variáveis pelos betabloqueadores que reduzem a secreçäo renal de renina, pelos inibidores da enzima de conversäo que limitam a conversäo da angiotensina I em angiotensina II e pelos antagonistas dos receptorees AT-I, que atuam no elo terminal no sistema. Baseando-se nesses fundamentos de fisiopatologia e nas evidências favoráveis de grandes estudos que utilizaram, com sucesso, inibidores da enzima conversora no tratamento da insuficiência cardíaca congestiva, passou-se a analisar o emprego de antagonistas de receptores da angiotensina II em tal situaçäo. Os primeiros resultados demonstram melhora da tolerância ao exercício com o uso dos antagonistas da angiotensina e, no estudo Resolved, constatou-se efeito sinérgico com a adiçäo de inibidor da enzima conversora, obtendo-se valores mais altos da fraçäo de ejeçäo. A conclusäo do primeiro grande estudo (ELITE II) comparando-os no tratamento da insuficiência cardíaca congestiva revelou ausência de diferença significativa entre essas duas classes terapêuticas. Nos próximos anos, os resultados de outros grandes estudos em andamento nos permitiräo escolher, para cada paciente, a droga que seja mais bem indicada (ou, eventualmente, sua associaçäo), considerando a tolerabilidade, o custo/benefício e a comodidade posológica.