Association of GDF-15, hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP with coronary artery disease in patients undergoing elective angiography.

Aim: This study investigated the association between plasma levels of GDF-15, hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP and the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in stable patients referred for elective coronary angiography. Methods: The outcome of CAD was defined as an ordinal variable with 3 levels. The association between each biomarker and the outcome was tested using the Winell and Lindbäck method. Results: In unadjusted analysis of 252 patients, GDF-15 and hs-cTnT were associated with the presence and extent of CAD. In multivariate regression analysis including traditional risk factors, this association was no longer significant. Conclusion: NT-proBNP, GDF-15 and hs-cTnT plasma levels do not seem to improve the predictive ability of traditional risk factors for CAD in stable patients referred for coronary angiography.

This study aimed to look at a possible association between blood levels of three molecules (GDF-15, hs-cTnT and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide [NT-proBNP]) and the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in stable patients referred for coronary angiography. Three CAD degrees of severity were identified: no CAD, 1- or 2-vessel CAD and 3-vessel or left main CAD. The association between each of the three blood molecules and CAD was studied using a specific statistical method. In the 252 consecutive patients enrolled, the two molecules GDF-15 and hs-cTnT were significantly associated with the presence and extent of CAD, while NT-proBNP was not. However, when the statistical analysis was adjusted for the traditional risk factors of CAD (age, gender, smoking, diabetes, etc.), the association of GDF-15 and hs-cTnT with CAD was no longer significant. NT-proBNP, GDF-15 and hs-cTnT blood levels do not seem to be independent predictive tools for CAD in stable patients referred for coronary angiography.

[Balloon dilation of critical neonatal aortic stenosis: early and midterm results]. / Valvuloplastie percutanée des sténoses aortiques critiques néonatales--résultats à court et moyen terme.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated our immediate and midterm results of balloon dilation of critical valvular aortic stenosis in 15 consecutive neonates. METHODS: Balloon dilatation was attempted in 15 neonates at a mean age of 14 days. Three patients (20%) had associated left heart hypoplasia. RESULTS: Balloon dilation could be performed in 14 out of the 15 neonates (93.3%). The average immediate maximal gradient reduction was 80 +/- 26%. The immediate mortality rate was nil, but 7 deaths (46%) occurred afterwards all not related to the dilation. Moderate to severe aortic regurgitation was noted in 7/14 (50%) of the dilated neonates but none has necessitated reintervention. At a mean follow-up of 11.5 months, survival and freedom of reintervention rates were respectively 40% and 50%. At last follow-up, 87.5% of the survivors were asymptomatic. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that dilation of aortic stenosis in neonates is effective, with encouraging immediate success but still disappointing short and midterm results.