Vitamin D deficiency and periprocedural myocardial infarction in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions

Vitamin D and Cardiovascular Diseases: From Physiology to Pathophysiology and Outcomes

Vitamin D is rightly recognized as an essential key factor in the regulation of calcium and phosphate homeostasis, affecting primary adequate bone mineralization. In the last decades, a more complex and wider role of vitamin D has been postulated and demonstrated. Cardiovascular diseases have been found to be strongly related to vitamin D levels, especially to its deficiency. Pre-clinical studies have suggested a direct role of vitamin D in the regulation of several pathophysiological pathways, such as endothelial dysfunction and platelet aggregation; moreover, observational data have confirmed the relationship with different conditions, including coronary artery disease, heart failure, and hypertension. Despite the significant evidence available so far, most clinical trials have failed to prove any positive impact of vitamin D supplements on cardiovascular outcomes. This discrepancy indicates the need for further information and knowledge about vitamin D metabolism and its effect on the cardiovascular system, in order to identify those patients who would benefit from vitamin D supplementation.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with impaired reperfusion in STEMI patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Vitamin D displays a broad spectrum of cardioprotective effects, preventing oxidative stress, inflammation and thrombosis and improving endothelial function. Previous studies have associated vitamin D deficiency with more extended and severe coronary artery disease (CAD) and worse outcome, and especially among patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, few data have been reported on the association of vitamin D levels with the angiographic findings and epicardial reperfusion in STEMI patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI), that was therefore the aim of the present study.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A consecutive cohort of patients admitted for STEMI and treated with pPCI were included. The levels of 25(OH)D were assessed at admission by chemiluminescence immunoassay kit LIAISON® Vitamin D assay (Diasorin Inc). Hypovitaminosis D was defined for 25(OH)D < 10 ng/ml. We included in our study 450 patients, divided according to tertiles values of 25(OH)D. Lower vitamin D was associated to a higher use of diuretics (p = 0.02), higher levels of white blood cells and glycemia (p < 0.001), lower prevalence of lesions on bifurcations (p = 0.03) and smaller diameter of the target coronary vessel (p = 0.03). Procedural characteristics and pre-procedural TIMI flow were not different according to vitamin D levels, but for a higher rate of impaired epicardial reperfusion (12.8% vs 8.1% vs 5.3%, p = 0.03, adjusted OR[95%CI] = 2.6[1.05-6.6], p = 0.04 for I vs III tertile), requiring higher use of adenosine (p = 0.006) and glycoprotein IIbIIIa inhibitors (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The present study shows that among patients with STEMI undergoing pPCI, lower levels of vitamin D are independently associated with impaired reperfusion, Future dedicated studies will shed light on the prognostic implications of hypovitaminosis D in these patients and the potential therapeutic perspectives.