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Kerkhof PLM, Tona F. Sex differences in diagnostic modalities of atherosclerosis in the macrocirculation. Atherosclerosis 2023; 384:117275. [PMID: 37783644 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2023.117275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Asymptomatic atherosclerosis begins early in life and may progress in a sex-specific manner to become the major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and death. As diagnostic tools to evaluate atherosclerosis in the macrocirculation, we discuss imaging methods (in terms of computed tomography, positron emission tomography, intravascular ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and optical coherence tomography), along with derived scores (Agatston, Gensini, Leaman, Syntax), and also hemodynamic indices of vascular stiffness (including flow-mediated dilation, shear stress, pulse pressure, augmentation index, arterial distensibility), assessment of plaque properties (composition, erosion, rupture), stenosis measures such as fractional flow reserve. Moreover, biomarkers including matrix metalloproteinases, vascular endothelial growth factors and miRNAs, as well as the impact of machine learning support, are described. Special attention is given to age-related aspects and sex-specific characteristics, along with clinical implications. Knowledge gaps are identified and directions for future research formulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter L M Kerkhof
- Dept. Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Francesco Tona
- Dept. Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Italy
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Maruhashi T, Higashi Y. Current topic of vascular function in hypertension. Hypertens Res 2023; 46:630-637. [PMID: 36604472 PMCID: PMC9813887 DOI: 10.1038/s41440-022-01147-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Vascular function assessment is useful for the evaluation of atherosclerosis severity, which may provide additional information for cardiovascular risk stratification. In addition, vascular function assessment is helpful for a better understanding of pathophysiological associations between vascular dysfunction and cardiometabolic disorders. In 2020 and 2021, although coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was still a worldwide challenge for health care systems, many excellent articles regarding vascular function were published in Hypertension Research and other major cardiovascular and hypertension journals. In this review, we summarize new findings on vascular function and discuss the association between vascular function and COVID-19, the importance of lifestyle modifications for the maintenance of vascular function, and the usefulness of vascular function tests for cardiovascular risk assessment. We hope this review will be helpful for the management of cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuya Maruhashi
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Division of Radiation Medical Science, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
| | - Yukihito Higashi
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Division of Radiation Medical Science, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.,Division of Regeneration and Medicine, Medical Center for Translational and Clinical Research, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
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Sykora D, Firth C, Girardo M, Bhatt S, Tseng A, Chamberlain A, Liedl D, Wennberg P, Shamoun FE. Peripheral artery disease and the risk of venous thromboembolism. VASA 2022; 51:365-371. [DOI: 10.1024/0301-1526/a001029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Summary: Background: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) impacts 3–12% of patients worldwide and is characterized by endothelial dysfunction and inflammatory pathways which are also common to venous thromboembolism (VTE), but there is a paucity of evidence regarding VTE risk in PAD patients. We investigated whether PAD is an independent risk factor for VTE. Patients and methods: We reviewed medical records of patients undergoing ABI studies at Mayo Clinic from 01/1996-02/2020. We classified patients by ABI (low [<1.0], normal [1.0–1.4], or elevated [>1.4]), as well as by specific low ABI subgroup: severely reduced (ABI: 0.00–0.39), moderately reduced (0.40–0.69), mildly reduced (0.70–0.90), and borderline reduced (0.91–0.99). The primary outcome was incident VTE event (acute lower extremity deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism) after ABI measurement. Multivariable Cox proportional regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) after adjusting for age, sex, active smoking, cancer, previous VTE, thrombophilia, anticoagulation, and revascularization. Results: 39,834 unique patients (mean age 66.3±14.3 years, median follow-up 34 months) were identified. 2,305 VTE events occurred in patients without PAD (13.0%), 2,218 in low ABI patients (13.0%), and 751 in elevated ABI patients (14.8%). After risk factor adjustment, VTE risk was modestly increased for PAD overall (HR: 1.12, 95% CI [1.06, 1.18]), including low ABI (HR: 1.11, 95% CI [1.04, 1.18]) and elevated ABI groups (HR: 1.15, 95% CI [1.04, 1.26]), compared to patients without PAD. The greatest VTE risk was in severely low ABI patients (HR: 1.46, 95% CI [1.31, 1.64]). Conclusions: In a large longitudinal cohort, we present strong clinical evidence of PAD, with low and elevated ABI, as an independent VTE risk factor, with the highest risk seen in patients with severely low ABI. Continued research is required to further investigate this relationship and its intersection with functional performance status to optimize VTE risk reduction or anticoagulation strategies in the PAD population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Sykora
- Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Christine Firth
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Marlene Girardo
- Department of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Division of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
| | - Shubhang Bhatt
- Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
| | - Andrew Tseng
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | - David Liedl
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Paul Wennberg
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
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Firth C, Tseng AS, Abdelmalek M, Girardo M, Atwal D, Cooper L, McBane R, Pollak A, Liedl D, Wennberg P, Shamoun FE. Discordant Values in Lower Extremity Physiologic Studies Predict Increased Cardiovascular Risk. J Am Heart Assoc 2020; 9:e015398. [PMID: 32419570 PMCID: PMC7428982 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.119.015398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Background Ankle‐brachial indexes (ABI) are a noninvasive diagnostic tool for peripheral arterial disease and a marker of increased cardiovascular risk. ABI is calculated using the highest systolic blood pressure of the 4 ankle arteries (bilateral dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial). Accordingly, patients may be assigned a normal ABI when the result would be abnormal if calculated using one of the other blood pressure readings. Cardiovascular outcomes for patients with discordant ABIs are undescribed. Methods and Results We performed a retrospective study of patients who underwent ABI measurement for any indication between January 1996 and June 2018. Those with normal ABIs (1.00–1.39) were included. We compared patients with all 4 normal ABIs (calculated using all 4 ankle arteries; n=15 577, median age 64.0 years, 54.4% men) to those with discordant ABIs (at least 1 abnormal ABI ≤0.99; n=2095, median age 66.0 years, 47.8% men). The outcomes assessed were ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, and all‐cause mortality. Compared with patients with concordant normal ABIs, patients with discordant ABIs were older; women; smoked; and had chronic kidney disease, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, or prior stroke. Patients with discordant ABIs had a greater risk of myocardial infarction (hazard ratio [HR], 1.31; 95% CI, 1.10–1.56), ischemic stroke (HR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.37–1.72), and all‐cause mortality (HR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.16–1.39), including after adjustment for baseline comorbidities. Conclusions Discordant ABI results were associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, and all‐cause mortality in the studied population. Clinicians should examine ABI calculations using all 4 ankle arteries to better characterize a patient's cardiovascular risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Firth
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine Mayo Clinic Scottsdale AZ
| | - Andrew S Tseng
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine Mayo Clinic Rochester MN
| | - Mina Abdelmalek
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine Mayo Clinic Scottsdale AZ
| | - Marlene Girardo
- Department of Health Science Research Mayo Clinic Scottsdale AZ
| | - Danish Atwal
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine Mayo Clinic Scottsdale AZ
| | - Leslie Cooper
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine Mayo Clinic Jacksonville FL
| | - Robert McBane
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine Mayo Clinic Rochester MN
| | - Amy Pollak
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine Mayo Clinic Jacksonville FL
| | - David Liedl
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine Mayo Clinic Rochester MN
| | - Paul Wennberg
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine Mayo Clinic Rochester MN
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