Relation of C-reactive protein levels to presence, extent, and severity of angiographic coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: C-reactive protein is a valid marker of cardiovascular risk. It is not known whether C-reactive protein is a marker of atherosclerotic burden or whether it reflects a process (e.g. inflammatory fibrous cap degradation) leading to acute coronary events. This study was performed to determine whetherthe concentration of C-reactive protein is associated with coronary atherosclerosis assessed by coronary angiography. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied a total of 100 men and women (41 women, 59 men, mean age 63.7 +/- 11.0 years) who were referred for coronary angiography. Baseline data collection comprised clinical characteristics and conventional risk factors for coronary artery disease, levels of serum lipids and fasting total homocysteine levels. The relation between serum C-reactive protein levels and the severity and extension of coronary lesions was studied. The coronary angiograms were evaluated in a blinded manner according to three scores: vessel score (0-3 points for 0-3 vessels with coronary artery disease), stenosis score (0-3 points: number and severity of coronary stenoses or lesions; 0 for no, 1 for coronary lesion with diameter stenosis less than 50%, 2 for 50%-75%, and 3 for more than 75% diameter stenosis), and extent score (0-3 points; segment-extension of all coronary lesions within the total coronary vessel length). According to the total score values obtained, groups for coronary artery disease risk were defined and analyzed forcorrelations with age and levels of total cholesterol. high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting total homocysteine. and C-reactive protein in serum. From the 100 patients, 40 were found to have no or minimal coronary artery disease (group A; score 0-3), 33 had moderate (group B; score 4-8) and 27 had severe (group C: score more than 8) coronary artery disease assessed by coronary angiography. Estimates of the relative risk of coronary heart disease for the third quintile of serum C-reactive protein as compared with the first quintile were 1.79 (95 percent confidence interval 1.23-2.39). Serum C-reactive protein levels were 3.54 (+/- 7.07) mg/L, 11.41 (+/- 13.5) mg/L and 5.66 (+/- 8.32) mg/L in groups A, B and C and represented an independent risk factor for the presence of coronary artery disease assessed by coronary angiography (p<0.01). With step-wise logistic regression analyses, use of C-reactive protein values maintained the ability to predict the probability of coronary artery disease. Moreover, the presence of angiographic coronary artery disease was associated with patient age (p=0.048), male sex (p<0.01), high LDL-cholesterol levels (p=0.02), low HDL-cholesterol levels (p=0.02), high plasma fibrinogen levels (p<0.01) and high fasting total homocysteine levels (p=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the serum concentration of C-reactive protein is associated with presence, but not severity, of coronary artery disease in patients referred for coronary angiography.

[Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis]. / Atherosklerotische Nierenarterienstenose.

The most common cause of obstructive renal artery disease is atherosclerosis, accounting for 90 % of cases of renal artery stenosis. Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis can be associated with renovascular hypertension, ischemic nephropathy, or both or it may occur alone. The prevalence of atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis among hypertensive patients is estimated between 1 and 5 %, but the frequency rises among patients with refractory hypertension (20 %) coronary heart disease (15 to 20 %) or peripheral arterial disease (30 to 40 %). The gold standard for diagnosing renal artery disease is contrast renal arteriography. MR angiography, CT angiography and color duplex ultrasonography have the highest sensitivity and specifity among the non invasive screening methods. Therapy is based on consequent medical treatment of hypertension, antiplatelet therapy and modification of risk factors for atherosclerosis. Revascularisation is advised in patients with severe hypertension, in patients with pulmonary edema and cases of acute worsening of renal function. Percutaneous angioplasty with stent implantation is the method of choice for revascularisation. The prognosis of patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis is determined by cardiovascular and renal complications.

[Weight loss, abdominal pain and anemia after a holiday abroad--case report of lead poisoning]. / Gewichtsverlust, Bauchschmerzen und Anämie als Folgen einer Urlaubsreise -- Fallbericht einer Bleiintoxikation.

HISTORY AND ADMISSION FINDINGS: A 58-year-old woman with type 1 diabetes and coronary artery disease was admitted to hospital because of diminished appetite, weight loss, abdominal pain and anemia. Earlier treatment of duodenal ulcer and cholecystectomy had not achieved sustained relief. On physical examination paleness and general weakness was noted. INVESTIGATIONS: Laboratory tests showed a normocytic, normochromic anemia, anisocytosis, polychromasia and basophilic stippling of erythrocytes. Bone marrow examination revealed a hyperreactive erythropoesis with basophilic stippling of erythrocytes and incomplete differentiation of erythroid progenitor cells. Inherited or acquired enzymopathies of erythrocytes were ruled out. Urinary collection showed remarkable elevation of porphyrin concentration. DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT AND COURSE: Suspected poisoning was confirmed by elevated lead concentrations in whole-blood (85.8 microg/dl) and urine (106.3 microg/l). A souvenir of Rhodes, a ceramic mug with lead-containing glaze, was identified as the source of the lead poisoning, the lead dissolving into hot tea put in the mug. Treatment with D-penicillamine was begun, and within five weeks anemia disappeared and the patient achieved complete resolution of symptoms. CONCLUSION: Recognition of the cause of lead poisoning is of critical importance. This case report demonstrates difficulties in diagnosing and identifying the source of poisoning.

Lansoprazole-associated collagenous colitis: a case report.

A 57-year-old man developed chronic, watery diarrhea four weeks after Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy including lansoprazole followed by lansoprazole monotherapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease. Four weeks later the patient was admitted to our hospital. By repeated testing other causes of diarrhea, e. g., infectious diarrhea including Clostridium difficile colitis were excluded. Endoscopy showed a normal colon, histopathology of random biopsies of all sections of the colon demonstrated the characteristic features of collagenous colitis. Withdrawal of lansoprazole lead to prompt and sustained relief. Two months later repeat colonoscopy with biopsies showed no evidence of collagenous colitis. Collagenous colitis as a subtype of microscopic colitis is a rare cause of chronic diarrhea with unknown pathogenesis. The reported case represents an unusual association between medication with the proton pump inhibitor lansoprazole and the development of collagenous colitis suggesting the importance of evaluation of drug use in patients with microscopic colitis.

Body iron stores and coronary atherosclerosis assessed by coronary angiography.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Epidemiological studies have suggested an association between higher body iron stores and coronary artery disease (CAD), but recent trials have reported conflicting data on the role of ferritin in CAD. To assess these findings, we examined the association between serum ferritin and the angiographic extent of coronary atherosclerosis in consecutive patients referred for coronary angiography. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 100 consecutive white subjects (41 women and 59 men; mean age 63.7 +/- 11.0 years) who underwent coronary angiography. The data collected at baseline included conventional risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD), lipid and fasting total homocysteine levels, serum ferritin levels and transferrin saturation, and clinical characteristics. Serum ferritin levels and transferrin saturation (serum iron concentration divided by total iron-binding capacity) were used as measures of the amount of circulating iron available to tissues. Two experienced cardiologists blinded to the clinical and laboratory data reviewed the angiographic cinefilms, and defined the angiographic severity of CAD on the basis of the sum of three vessel scorring systems. The risk of CAD assessed by coronary angiography was not related to ferritin concentrations or transferrin saturation levels. The estimated relative risk of CAD for the fifth vs the first quintile of serum ferritin was 0.83 (95% CI: 0.63-1.24). Forty of the 100 patients had no or minimal CAD (group A; score 0-3), 33 moderate CAD (group B; score 4-8) and 27 severe CAD (group C; score > 8): the serum ferritin levels in the three groups were respectively 165 +/- 126, 167 +/- 121 and 164 +/- 110 ng/ml, and did not represent an independent risk factor for CAD (p = 0.98). Transferrin saturation in the three groups was 22.9 +/- 10%, 21 +/- 9% and 19.9 +/- 10%, with no significant relationship to the severity of CAD (p = 0.23). The presence of angiographic CAD was associated with patient age (p = 0.048), male gender (p < 0.01), high lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol levels (p = 0.02), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (p = 0.02), high plasma fibrinogen levels (p < 0.01) and high fasting total homocysteine levels (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: In patients referred for coronary angiography, higher ferritin concentrations and transferrin saturation levels were not associated with an increased extent of coronary atherosclerosis.

[W.D.H.A. Syndrome due to occult neuroendocrine malignancy with concomitant liver metastases]. / Okkulte, maligne neuroendokrine Neoplasie mit Lebermetastasen als Ursache eines WDHA-Syndroms.

In June 1999, a 62-year-old man is hospitalised to evaluate the sonographic suspicion of liver metastases. The biopsy of the liver shows a malignant neuroendocrine tumour. Further diagnostic investigation including gastroscopy, colonoscopy, enteroclysis, thoracal and abdominal CT and somatostatin-receptor-scintigraphy does not localise the primary tumour. In the absence of clinical symptoms a wait and see procedure with clinical and imaging controls at regular intervals is arranged. Beginning in spring of 2001--nearly two years after the initial diagnosis--the patient suffers from progredient diarrhoea and weight loss leading to hospitalisation in September 2001. The existence of secretory diarrhoea, hypokalaemia and hypercalcaemia arouses suspicion of vipoma. This is proven by a remarkably elevated plasma concentration of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). Once more, an accurate investigation is started but no primary tumour can be discovered despite extensive liver metastases. A vipoma is a rare differential diagnosis of secretory diarrhoea. This case report describes the remarkable constellation of liver metastases of a malignant neuroendocrine neoplasm without a primary tumour and the clinical presentation of a W.D.H.A. syndrome (watery diarrhoea, hypokalaemia and hypo- or achlorhydria). Despite extensive disease, therapy with octreotide and prednisolone provides a good clinical response.