Thromboembolic risk scores in patients with non-obstructive coronary architecture with and without coronary slow flow: A case-control study

AIM

Coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP) detected on coronary angiography (CA) has been related to poor prognosis. We sought to examine the relationship between thromboembolic risk scores, routinely used in cardiology practice, and CSFP.

METHODS

This single-center, retrospective, case-control study comprised 505 individuals suffering from angina and had verified ischemia between January 2021 and January 2022. Demographic and laboratory parameters were obtained from the hospital database. The following risk scores were calculated; CHA₂DS₂-VASc, M-CHA₂DS₂-VASc, CHA₂DS₂-VASc-HS, R₂-CHA₂DS₂-VASc, M-R₂-CHA₂DS₂-VASc, ATRIA, M-ATRIA, M-ATRIA-HSV. The overall population was divided into two groups; coronary slow flow and coronary normal flow. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to compare risk scores between patients with and without CSFP. Pairwise comparisons were then undertaken to test performance in determining CSFP.

RESULTS

The mean age was 51.7 ± 10.7 years, of whom 63.2% were male. CSFP was detected in 222 patients. Those with CSFP had higher rates of male gender, diabetes, smoking, hyperlipidemia, and vascular disease. All scores were higher in CSFP patients. Multivariable logistic regression analysis found that CHA₂DS₂-VASc-HS score was the most powerful determinant of CSFP among all risk schemes (for each one-point increase in score OR = 1.90, p < 0.001; for score of 2-3 OR = 5.20, p < 0.001; for score of >4 OR = 13.89, p < 0.001). Also, the CHA₂DS₂-VASc-HS score provided the best discriminative performance, with a cut-off value of ≥2 in identifying CSFP (AUC = 0.759, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

We showed that thromboembolic risk scores may be associated with CSFP in patients with non-obstructive coronary architecture who underwent CA. The CHA₂DS₂-VASc-HS score had the best discriminative ability.

Impact of increased inflammation biomarkers on periprocedural myocardial infarction in patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention: a cohort study

Background

The fact that each inflammatory indicator has a forecasting capacity on the occurrence of periprocedural myocardial infarction (PMI) has a controversial existence. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of inflammation biological indicators on PMI in a group of patients undergoing selective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

The study was carried out both in a retrospective and prospective manner in 7,413 and 1,189 subjects, respectively. In the retrospective cohort study, the association between inflammation biomarkers and PMI was assessed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. WBC, CRP, and NLR were distributed using k-means clustering into a virtual variable “Inflammatory Trend”, and multivariate logistic regression and subgroup analysis were performed. In the prospective cohort study, the endpoints were PMI, cardiovascular death or cardiac arrest. The chi-square test was performed to calculate the relative risk (RR).

Results

In the retrospective cohort study, except WBC, CRP, NLR and virtual variable “Inflammatory trend” were independent risk factors for PMI. The subgroup analysis revealed that CRP can serve as the most stable predictor. In the prospective cohort study, WBC (RR =1.134, P=0.416) has no effect on the incidence of PMI. However, an elevation in the incidence of PMI was observed with an increase of NLR (RR =1.354, P=0.041) and CRP (RR =1.412, P=0.025).

Conclusions

In patients with elective PCI for single-vessel lesions, high CRP increases the risk for PMI. The increase of NLR was an independent risk factor for PMI, especially for patients with hypertension and under the age of 70. WBC has no influence on the occurrence of PMI.

Association of glomerular filtration rate with slow coronary flow in patients with normal to mildly impaired renal function

We evaluated the association between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and slow coronary flow (SCF) in patients with normal to mildly impaired renal function; 211 patients with angiographically proven SCF and 219 controls were studied. Patients were categorized based on the angiographic findings as with or without SCF. We used the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation to calculate eGFR. The frequency of mildly decreased eGFR, serum uric acid levels, and eGFR was higher in the SCF group. Patients with mildly impaired renal function had higher thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame counts in 3 major coronary arteries. In logistic regression analysis, uric acid (odds ratio [OR] = 1.323, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.109-1.572, P = .002) and eGFR (OR = 0.972, 95% CI = 0.957-0.987, P < .001) were independent correlates of SCF. In conclusion, eGFR was significantly correlated with SCF in patients with normal to mildly impaired renal function.

Real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography as a useful tool to select candidates for coronary revascularization among patients with end-stage renal disease - a 3-year follow-up study

PURPOSE

To evaluate a real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) as a tool to select candidates for coronary revascularization among patients with ESRD and to assess the rate of revascularization and mortality.

MATERIAL/METHODS

58 ESRD patients were screened for CAD using MCE. We analyzed the rate of coronary revascularization during 3-year follow-up. Patients with and without perfusion disturbances on MCE were compared.

RESULTS

CAD was found in 46.2% patients out of 39 who underwent coronary angiography. 11 (39.3%) patients out of 28 from the group with perfusion defects on MCE underwent revascularization procedure (21.4% - PCI, 17.9% - CABG). No one from the group without perfusion defects had revascularization procedure. Perfusion defect (OR 1.37 CI 1.37-1.86, p=0.022) was related to revascularization in multivariant analysis (OR 12.87, CI 1.86-89.21, p=0.025). There was no difference in mortality between the group which underwent invasive procedures and treated conservatively (p=0.6643). In ROC analysis defects on MCE and CAD on angiography were equally good in anticipating combined end-point (AUC 0.716, CI 95% 0.544-0.851 and AUC 0.747, CI 95% 0.577-0.875, p=0.701) and death (AUC 0.752, CI 95% 0.582-0.878 and AUC 0.729, CI 95% 0.558-0.861, p=0.805).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that MCE is a safe and uncomplicated method which may help along with other methods to select candidates for coronary revascularization among ESRD patients. In our study coronary revascularization procedures were successful but they did not improve patients' survival on 3-year follow-up.