Prognostic significance of refractory thrombus in STEMI patients and the role of red cell distribution width: A case-control study

The high thrombus burden of the infarct-related artery (IRA) is associated with the adverse prognosis in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. Our objectives were to investigate the predictors and evaluate the prognosis of refractory thrombus in STEMI patients. A total of 1305 consecutive patients with STEMI who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) were screened. The refractory thrombus group (n = 15) was defined as IRA thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow < grade 2 after multiple thrombus aspiration (TA). The control group (n = 45) was age- and sex-matched and was selected from the same batch of patients. Baseline hematologic indices were measured before the pPCI. The major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were recorded during follow-up. The refractory thrombus group had significantly higher red cell distribution width (RDW) at baseline compared with the control group (13.1 [12.4-13.7] vs 12.6 [12.3-12.8], P = .008). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, RDW was an independent predictor of refractory thrombus (odds ratio: 8.799, 95% CI: 1.240-62.454, P = .030). The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of the RDW was 0.730 (95%CI: 0.548-0.912, P = .008). During a mean period of 26 months follow-up, patients in the refractory thrombus group tended to have higher percent MACEs compared with patients in the control group (53.3% vs 6.7%, P < .001). In the present study, we found that the refractory thrombus in STEMI patients was associated with the worse prognosis and the increased RDW might be a potential independent predictor.

Elevated Serum Total Bilirubin Might Indicate Poor Coronary Conditions for Unstable Angina Pectoris Patients beyond as a Cardiovascular Protector

Backgrounds

Serum total bilirubin (STB) is recently more regarded as an antioxidant with vascular protective effects. However, we noticed that elevated STB appeared in unstable angina pectoris (UAP) patients with diffused coronary lesions. We aimed to explore STB's roles in UAP patients, which have not been reported by articles.

Methods and Results

1120 UAP patients were retrospectively screened, and 296 patients were finally enrolled. They were grouped by Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) angina grades. The synergy between PCI with TAXUS stent and cardiac surgery score (SYNTAX score) and corrected thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow count (CTFC) were adopted to profile coronary features. The results showed that STB, mean platelet volume (MPV), hs-CRP, fasting blood glucose (FBG), red blood cell width (RDW), and CTFC elevated significantly in the CCS high-risk group. STB (B = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.39-0.74, P < 0.01) and MPV (B = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.42-1.31, P < 0.01) could indicate SYNTAX score changes for these patients. STB (≥21.7 μmol/L) could even indicate a coronary slow flow condition (AUC: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.84-0.93, P < 0.01). Moreover, UAP patients with elevated STB had a lower event-free survival rate by the Kaplan-Meier curve. STB ≥21.7 μmol/L could reflect a poor coronary flow status and indicate 1-year poor outcomes for these patients (HR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.06-3.84, P < 0.01).

Conclusion

Elevated STB in UAP patients has a close relationship with changes in SYNTAX score. STB (over 21.7 μmol/L) could even indicate a coronary slow flow condition and poor outcomes for the UAP patients.

Circulating Total Bilirubin and Long-Term Prognosis in Patients With Previous Myocardial Infarction

Background

Although experimental studies have demonstrated the protective role of total bilirubin (TBil) in cardiovascular diseases, several previous clinical observations are controversial. More importantly, no data are currently available regarding the relation of TBil to major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with previous myocardial infarction (MI).

Objectives

This study sought to explore the association between TBil and long-term clinical outcomes in patients with previous MI.

Methods

A total of 3,809 patients who are post-MI were consecutively enrolled in this prospective study. Cox regression models using HRs and CIs were applied to investigate associations between the TBil concentration category (group 1: bottom to median tertiles within the reference range; group 2: top tertile; group 3: above reference range) and main outcome (recurrent MACE) as well as secondary outcomes (hard endpoints and all-cause mortality).

Results

During the 4-year follow-up period, 440 patients (11.6%) suffered from recurrent MACE. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed the lowest MACE incidence in group 2 (P < 0.001). When compared with the reference group (group 1) in multivariable analysis, a J-shaped association was apparent for MACE, with decreased risk in group 2 (HR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.59-0.96) and elevated risk in group 3 (HR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.03-1.61). Similar associations were identified regarding hard endpoints and all-cause mortality. Moreover, TBil demonstrated incremental discriminatory strength when added to the predictive model.

Conclusions

In this prospective cohort study with long-term follow-up, higher TBil levels within the physiological range reduced the incidence of long-term cardiovascular events in patients who are post-MI.

Relationship between intracoronary thrombus burden and systemic immune-inflammation index in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

AIM

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between intracoronary thrombus burden and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and to compare the predictive capacity of SII together with the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and the platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI).

PATIENT & METHODS

A total of 425 patients were included in the study. The clinical, laboratory, and demographic characteristics of the patients were recorded. The thrombus classification "Thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI)" was used to assess the intracoronary thrombus burden. According to the TIMI thrombus classification, 229 (54%) patients with low thrombus burden (grade 0-3) and 196 (46%) patients with high thrombus burden (grade 4 and 5) were compared. SII was calculated as platelet × neutrophil/lymphocyte counts.

RESULTS

High NLR (OR: 1.068, 95% CI:1.023-1.404; p = 0.031), PLR(OR: 1.012, 95% CI:1.002-1.018; p = 0.043), SII(OR: 1.325, 95% CI: 1.156-1.879; p = 0.015) and low left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) (OR: 0.957, 95% CI:0.924-0.990; p = 0.012) were found to be independent predictors of high thrombus burden. SII values above 812 predicted a high thrombus burden with a sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 73% (AUC: 0.836; 95% CI:0.795-0.877; p < 0.001). This predictiveness of SII was stronger as compared to NLR (0.836 vs. 0.818, p = 0.043) and PLR (0.836 vs. 0.780, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

SII is an independent predictor of high thrombus burden in patients with STEMI. In addition, SII is superior to NLR and PLR in this regard.

Prediction of massive coronary thrombosis of the infarct-related artery in ST-elevation myocardial infarction

Aim    To identify clinical, laboratory and angiographic predictors for development of massive coronary thrombosis in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).Material and methods    This prospective, single-site study included 137 patients with STEMI (mean age, 66.5±13.2 years). Among these patients, 59 were in the group of massive coronary thrombosis and 78 patients were in the group of minor thrombosis. To identify predictors for the development of massive coronary thrombosis, medical history data, blood count and biochemistry, coagulogram, and angiography data were analyzed. A predictive model was constructed using the method of binary logistic regression followed by a search for the optimum value of the prognostic function with a ROC analysis. Results    The study showed statistically significant roles of total bilirubin, platelets, prothrombin ratio (PTR), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and presence of inferior myocardial infarction in prediction of massive coronary thrombosis in STEMI. The model sensitivity was 71.2 %, specificity 75.6 %, and overall diagnostic efficacy 73.7 %.Conclusion    The predictive model for the development of massive coronary thrombosis in STEMI based on laboratory and instrumental data potentially allows assessing the thrombus load in the infarction-involved coronary artery and determining the optimum tactics of percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with STEMI. This reduces the probability of distal embolization with fragments of the disintegrated thrombus and improves the prognosis of STEMI patients both during the stay in the hospital and in the long-term. According to results of this study, the prognostic model for massive coronary thrombosis in STEMI based on such indexes as the platelet count, PTR, APTT, total bilirubin, and presence of inferior myocardial infarction provides accurate predictions in 73.7 % of cases. Independent predictors of massive coronary thrombosis were inferior myocardial infarction and total bilirubin.

Role of bilirubin in the prognosis of coronary artery disease and its relationship with cardiovascular risk factors: a meta-analysis

Background

Bilirubin is a heme catabolism product with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties and is implicated in the prognosis of several diseases. This study evaluates the prognostic role of bilirubin in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients.

Methods

After identifying studies from the literature, meta-analyses were performed to achieve a) overall estimates of serum total bilirubin levels in patients with myocardial infarction (MI), non-MI CAD and healthy individuals; b) odds ratios (OR) of adverse outcomes between higher and lower total bilirubin levels; c) standardized mean difference (SMD) in total bilirubin levels in patients with high vs low CAD severity; and d) correlation between disease severity and total bilirubin. Metaregression analyses were performed to examine the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and increasing quantiles of total bilirubin levels.

Results

Forty-three studies were identified. Pooled serum total bilirubin levels were 0.72 mg/dl [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.60, 0.83] in MI patients; 0.65 mg/dl [95% CI: 0.60, 0.69] in non-MI CAD patients; and 0.66 mg/dl [95% CI: 0.56, 0.75] in healthy individuals. Higher total bilirubin levels were associated with greater odds of adverse outcomes in MI patients (OR: 1.08 [95% CI: 0.99, 1.18]) but lower odds in non-MI CAD patients (OR: 0.80 [95%CI: 0.73, 0.88]). Compared to non-severe cases, total bilirubin levels were higher in patients with severe MI (SMD 0.96 [95% CI: − 0.10, 2.01]; p = 0.074) but were lower in severe non-MI CAD patients (SMD − 0.30 [95%CI: − 0.56, − 0.03]; p = 0.02). Total bilirubin levels correlated positively with MI severity (r = 0.41 [95% CI: 0.24, 0.59]; p < 0.01) but correlated negatively with non-MI CAD severity (r =  − 0.17 [95% CI: − 0.48, 0.14]; p = 0.28). Female sex was inversely associated with increasing quantiles of bilirubin (meta-regression coefficient: − 8.164 [− 14.531, − 1.769]; p = 0.016) in MI patients.

Conclusion

Prognostic role of bilirubin for CAD appears complicated, as different odds are observed for MI and non-MI CAD patients which weakens the case of causal involvement of bilirubin in CAD etiology or prognosis.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12872-022-02899-w.

Bilirubin levels as an independent predictor of myocarditis in patients with COVID-19

Background

Myocardial damage worsens the clinical course and prognosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. High total bilirubin levels have been associated with a poor prognosis in COVID-19. This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of the total bilirubin level, a marker of heme oxygenase-1 enzyme activity, in determining myocarditis in patients with COVID-19.

Results

A total of 190 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were enrolled in the study. The patients were divided into two groups based on their troponin positivity. The study group (n = 95) consisted of patients with high troponin, and the control group (n = 95) consisted of patients without high troponin levels. The D-dimer (727 [572–995] vs. 591 [440–790], p = 0.001), C-reactive protein (CRP) (30.0 [10–48] vs. 10.3 [5.8–15.9], p < 0.001), and total bilirubin (9.5 [8.2–12.1] vs. 7.0 [5.3–8.0], p < 0.001) levels were significantly higher in the study group. In multivariate analysis, CRP (odds ratio [OR]: 1.103; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.060–1.148; p < 0.001) and total bilirubin (OR: 1.612; 95% CI: 1.330–1.954; p < 0.001) levels were independent predictors of myocarditis in COVID-19.

Conclusions

Total bilirubin levels can be used as an early predictor of myocarditis in COVID-19 and can contribute to therapy management.

Correlates of Residual Thrombus Burden in Successfully Thrombolysed Patients of ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Receiving Dual Anti-Platelet Therapy

Background

Variable residual thrombus ranging from minimal to a large thrombus is seen in the culprit vessel after successful thrombolysis in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Factors associated with residual thrombus in thrombolysed patients are poorly understood. The objective of our study was to determine the correlates of residual thrombus burden in successfully thrombolysed STEMI patients receiving dual antiplatelet therapy.

Methods

In this prospective observational study of 60 successfully thrombolysed STEMI patients receiving dual antiplatelet therapy, various clinical and coronary angiographic features like residual thrombus burden, residual stenosis, and thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade in the infarct-related artery were evaluated.

Results

Out of 60 patients, 49 and 11 patients, respectively, had low and high thrombus burden. Thirty-seven (75.5%) patients amongst low-grade thrombus had TIMI 3 flow, whereas seven (63.6%) amongst high thrombus burden had TIMI 2 flow indicating an association between residual thrombus burden and TIMI flow grade, which was statistically significant (p=0.009). Further, amongst the 39 patients who were 45 years old, a statistically significant association of age and residual stenosis (p = 0.039) was observed.

Conclusion

In successfully thrombolysed STEMI patients receiving dual antiplatelet therapy, there is an inverse correlation between residual thrombus burden and TIMI flow grade with high-grade residual thrombus associated with more frequent low TIMI flow. Further, significant residual stenosis is more common in patients older than 45 years of age, underscoring the necessity for invasive evaluation after successful thrombolysis.

Association of stress hyperglycemia ratio with intracoronary thrombus burden in diabetic patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Background

Large intracoronary thrombus burden is not rare during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Stress hyperglycemia is independently associated with poor prognosis. However, the underlying relationship between stress hyperglycemia and thrombus burden remains unknown. This study aims to investigate the association of stress hyperglycemia, evaluated by the combination of acute and chronic glycemic levels, with intracoronary thrombus burden in diabetic patients with STEMI.

Methods

We enrolled 227 consecutive diabetic patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI within 12 hours after symptom onset. Stress hyperglycemia was estimated using the stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR), which was calculated as admission glycemia divided by estimated average glucose derived from glycosylated hemoglobin. Based on reclassified angiographic thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) thrombus grades, patients were divided into small thrombus burden (STB) group (TIMI thrombus grades <4) and large thrombus burden (LTB) group (TIMI thrombus grades 4 or 5).

Results

Of the entire study population, 77 (33.9%) patients were categorized as LTB group, whereas 150 (66.1%) patients presented with STB. The mean age was 64.1 years, and 80.6% of the patients were male. The SHR levels were significantly higher in patients with LTB than in those with STB [1.31; interquartile range (IQR): 1.13–1.48 versus 1.11; IQR: 0.96–1.32; P<0.001]. The predictive performance of SHR for LTB was moderate (area under the curve: 0.669; 95% confidence interval: 0.604–0.730; P<0.001), with the best cut-off value 1.19 (sensitivity 71.4%, specificity 64.7%). The incidence of LTB with SHR ≥1.19 was significantly higher compared with SHR <1.19 (50.9% versus 18.5%; P<0.001). Based on the multivariable logistic regression analysis, the high SHR (≥1.19) was found to be an independent predictor of LTB following adjustment for baseline clinical confounders.

Conclusions

A high SHR value was independently associated with large thrombus burden and has a better predictive value than glycemia at admission in diabetic patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI. Stress hyperglycemia may play an important role on the intracoronary thrombus formation.

Biomarkers of liver dysfunction correlate with a prothrombotic and not with a prohaemorrhagic profile in patients with cirrhosis

Background & Aims

Different liver dysfunction biomarkers are used to assess the bleeding risk of patients with cirrhosis, either as such or included in bleeding risk assessment scores. Since the current model of coagulation in patients with cirrhosis describes a procoagulant tendency with increasing severity according to Child-Pugh stage, we decided to investigate the relation between liver dysfunction biomarkers and thrombin generation. Our aim was to verify their adequacy for bleeding risk assessment.

Methods

We performed a prospective single-centre study including 260 patients with liver cirrhosis. Thrombin generation was measured using ST Genesia® Thrombin Generation System without and with thrombomodulin in order to assess the role of proteins C and S. Relations between thrombin generation and Child-Pugh/model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores, prothrombin time (PT)/international normalised ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), factor V activity, albumin, and total bilirubin were assessed.

Results

Thrombomodulin-mediated inhibition of thrombin generation was significantly decreased in patients with liver cirrhosis compared with healthy donors (p <0.0001) and in Child-Pugh B and C compared with A (p <0.0001 [A–B], 0.4515 [B–C], <0.0001 [A–C]). Thrombomodulin-mediated inhibition significantly decreased with increasing PT/INR, aPTT, and total bilirubin levels and with decreasing factor V activity and albumin levels.

Conclusions

Worsening liver dysfunction biomarkers reflect an increasing prothrombotic profile in patients with liver cirrhosis. In particular, prolonged PT/INR and aPTT as well as decreasing factor V activity are related to an increasing thrombotic risk and not to an increasing bleeding risk. These parameters should not be used to assess bleeding risk due to haemostatic anomalies in patients with liver cirrhosis. Alternative biomarkers for bleeding risk assessment in patients with liver cirrhosis need to be developed.

Lay summary

We demonstrate that the laboratory parameters used to assess bleeding risk of patients with liver disease, e.g. prothrombin time/international normalised ratio (PT/INR) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), are inadequate for this purpose because they are correlated with a prothrombotic coagulation profile. In this article, we highlight the need for alternative parameters to assess bleeding risk in patients with liver disease.

•

Patients with cirrhosis display a prothrombotic coagulation profile.

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This is due to a relative decrease of natural anticoagulants compared with procoagulants.

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In cirrhosis, PT and aPTT correlate with a prothrombotic state, and are inadequate as bleeding risk biomarkers.

Antithrombotic effects of heme-degrading and heme-binding proteins

In the murine venous thrombosis model induced by ligation of the inferior vena cava (IVCL), genetic deficiency of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) increases clot size. This study examined whether induction of HO-1 or administration of its products reduces thrombosis. Venous HO-1 upregulation by gene delivery reduced clot size, as did products of HO activity, biliverdin, and carbon monoxide. Induction of HO-1 by hemin reduced clot formation, clot size, and upregulation of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) that occurs in the IVCL model, while leaving urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) expression unaltered. The reductive effect of hemin on clot size required HO activity. The IVCL model exhibited relatively high concentrations of heme that peaked just before maximum clot size, then declined as clot size decreased. Administration of hemin decreased heme concentration in the IVCL model. HO-2 mRNA was induced twofold in the IVCL model (vs. 40-fold HO-1 induction), but clot size was not increased in HO-2^-/- mice compared with HO-2^+/+ mice. Hemopexin, the major heme-binding protein, was induced in the IVCL model, and clot size was increased in hemopexin^-/- mice compared with hemopexin^+/+ mice. We conclude that in the IVCL model, the heme-degrading protein HO-1 and HO products inhibit thrombus formation, as does the heme-binding protein, hemopexin. The reductive effects of hemin administration require HO activity and are mediated, in part, by reducing PAI-1 upregulation in the IVCL model. We speculate that HO-1, HO, and hemopexin reduce clot size by restraining the increase in clot concentration of heme (now recognized as a procoagulant) that otherwise occurs.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study provides conclusive evidence that two proteins, one heme-degrading and the other heme-binding, inhibit clot formation. This may serve as a new therapeutic strategy in preventing and treating venous thromboembolic disease.

Relation of total bilirubin and QT interval prolongation (from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey)

OBJECTIVE

The association of bilirubin with cardiovascular disease (CVD) is controversial. We sought to explore the association of total bilirubin (TB) levels with QT interval in a multiracial cohort.

METHODS

A total of 6,627 participants (59.0 ± 13.3 years; 52.6% women, 49.7% Non-Hispanic Whites) without CVD from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included in this analysis. QT was automatically measured from digital 12-lead electrocardiogram in a central reading center. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to examine the cross-sectional association between tertiles of TB and prolonged QT interval (≥450 ms in men and ≥460 ms in women).

RESULTS

The prevalence of prolonged QT was higher among those with higher levels of TB (prolonged QT prevalence was 4.7%, 6.8%, and 7.0% across TB lower (0-0.4 mg/dl), middle (0.5-1.6 mg/dl), and higher (0.70-4.30 mg/dl) tertiles, respectively). In a model adjusted for potential confounders, participants within the highest TB tertile had significantly greater odds of the prolonged QT interval (Odds ratios [95% confidence interval] 1.53 [1.16-2.02]) compared to those with bilirubin levels in the first tertile. Each 0.29 mg/dl increase in TB levels was associated with a 12% (p-value <.0001) increase in the prevalence of prolonged QT interval. This association was stronger in men than in women (interaction p-value = .04).

CONCLUSION

Elevated bilirubin levels are associated with a prolonged QT interval. This finding extends our current knowledge on the relationship between serum bilirubin and CVD by demonstrating a link between higher TB and abnormal cardiac repolarization.

Relationship Between C-Reactive Protein to Albumin Ratio and Thrombus Burden in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome

Increased coronary thrombus burden is known to be a strong predictor of adverse cardiovascular (CV) outcomes. C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) can be used as a surrogate marker of pro-inflammation which is closely related to prothrombotic state. We aimed to evaluate the association between CAR and coronary thrombus burden in patients who presented with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Patients who presented with ACS and treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention were included in the study. Patients were divided into 2 groups as high thrombus burden and low thrombus burden. The study population included 347 patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (169 [48.7%]) and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (178 [51.3%]). The CAR was significantly higher in patients with higher thrombus burden (24.4 [1.2-30.2] vs 31.9 [2.2-31.3], P < .001). Independent predictors for increased thrombus burden were higher CRP level (odds ratio [OR]: 0.047; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.004-0.486; P = .010), lower serum albumin level (OR: 0.057; 95% CI: 0.033-0.990; P = .049), higher CAR (OR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.03-1.23; P = .008), higher neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (OR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.05-1.31; P = .004), and baseline troponin I level (OR: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.01-1.13; P = .017). Novel CAR can be used as a reliable marker for increased coronary thrombus burden that is associated with adverse CV outcomes.

Influence of hypertriglyceridemia, hyperbilirubinemia and hemolysis on thrombin generation in human plasma

Background

Although accumulating evidence suggests that the hemostatic balance is impaired in patients with hypertriglyceridemia, hyperbilirubinemia or hemolytic anemias, little is known on the underlying biological mechanisms. This experimental study was aimed at exploring whether increasing values of triglycerides, bilirubin or cell-free hemoglobin promote thrombin generation in plasma.

Methods

Three different pools were prepared from three different sets of 20 normal routine plasma citrate samples. The native pools were spiked with increasing amounts of exogenous triglycerides (up to 8.8 mmol/L), bilirubin (up to 350 μmol/L) or autologous hemolyzed blood (up to 3.5 g/L cell-free hemoglobin). Using the fully-automated thrombin generation analyzer ST Genesia, we measured the following parameters: lag time (LT), time to peak (TP), peak height (PH) and endogenous thrombin potential (ETP).

Results

A sustained increase of PH and ETP was found in parallel with increasing triglyceride concentrations, peaking in the aliquot with 8.8 mmol/L. Conversely, LT and TP displayed an opposite trend, reaching a maximum decrease in the 8.8 mmol/L aliquot. Increasing bilirubin concentrations promoted remarkable increases of PH and ETP and decreases of TP and LT, up to 211 μmol/L. After this threshold, all parameters tended to return towards baseline values. A constant increase of PH and ETP was also noted in hemolyzed samples, peaking in the 3.5 g/L cell-free hemoglobin aliquot, whereas the TP and LT remained unchanged in all hemolyzed aliquots.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that hypertriglyceridemia, hyperbilirubinemia and hemolysis may promote a hypercoagulable state in human plasma.

Prognostic value of total bilirubin in patients with acute myocardial infarction: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Experimental data obtained in animal models supported the protective role of bilirubin. However, clinical studies regarding the prognostic role of total bilirubin in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are conflicting. We, therefore, undertook this meta-analysis to evaluate the prognostic value of serum total bilirubin in AMI patients.

METHODS

Relevant studies were searched from PubMed and EMBASE databases up to April 15, 2018. Studies evaluating the outcomes in relation to serum total bilirubin in AMI patients and reporting multivariable-adjusted risk estimate of the prognostic value were eligible. The outcome measures were major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), cardiovascular death, and all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

Six studies involving 14,554 AMI patients were identified. Meta-analysis indicated that higher total bilirubin was associated with an increased risk of MACEs (risk ratio [RR] 1.65; 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.25-2.19) and cardiovascular death (RR 2.12; 95%CI 1.24-3.64). However, higher serum total bilirubin did not significantly increase all-cause mortality risk (RR 1.31; 95%CI 0.75-2.28). Subgroup analyses by the types of AMI and study design supported the pooled results.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher serum total bilirubin level is a predictor of MACEs and cardiovascular death in patients with AMI. However, interpretation of these findings should be with caution due to the impact of cardiac dysfunction after AMI.

Determinants of angiographic thrombus burden and impact of thrombus aspiration on outcome in young patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to investigate the determinants of thrombus burden (TB) and the impact of thrombus aspiration (TA) on outcome in young adults with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

BACKGROUND

The determinants of TB in young STEMI patients are not fully understood now.

METHODS

The 182 young (age ≤ 45 years) STEMI patients, who underwent coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in our hospital from January 2013 to September 2016, were included. Angiographic TB and impact of TA on major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) were evaluated. Median clinical follow-up period was 875 (641-1,052) days.

RESULTS

All patients were male, mean age was 40 ± 5 years. High thrombus burden (HTB) was evidenced in 100 (54.9%) patients. TA was performed in 62 out 100 (62%) patients with high TB (HTB) during PCI. The prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher in the HTB group than in the low thrombus burden (LTB) group (75 vs. 17%, P < 0.001). The proportion of smoking, alcohol consumption, and family history of premature coronary artery disease were similar between HTB and LTB groups. During follow-up, 2 patients died and 31 patients underwent repeat PCI. MACE rate was significantly higher in the HTB group than in the LTB group (24.0 vs. 9.8%, P = 0.012) and significantly lower in HTB patients with TA than HTB patients without TA (14.5 vs. 39.5%, P = 0.018).

CONCLUSIONS

Hypertension is an independent determinant of HTB and TA could be considered as an effective therapeutic option in young male STEMI patients with HTB.

Predictors and prognosis for incident in-hospital heart failure in patients with preserved ejection fraction after first acute myocardial infarction: An observational study

Patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) are likely to have more adverse cardiovascular events and higher mortality. The purpose of this study was to examine the predictors and outcomes in AMI patients complicated by HFpEF.We examined the demographics, clinical data, and clinical outcomes in 405 consecutive subjects who firstly presented with AMI after undergoing emergency percutaneous coronary intervention from January 2013 to June 2016.Three hundred twenty patients and eighty-five patients were classified into the nonheart failure (non-HF) group and HFpEF group, respectively. Patients with HFpEF had higher prevalence of prior hypertension, had higher levels of biomarkers, and had a larger left atrial diameter with a nondilated left ventricle were more likely to develop multivessel disease-vessels and had infarction-related artery located in left anterior descending artery than patients without HF. Moreover, patients with HFpEF had a higher probability of developing the in-hospital incident cardiovascular complications and death than non-HF patients.Two routine biomarkers, levels of hypersensitive C-reactive protein and N-terminal-pro brain natriuretic peptide, and number of diseased-vessels were independent predictors for in-hospital HFpEF incidence in AMI patients with preserved LVEF. AMI patients with HFpEF had a higher probability of in-hospital cardiovascular outcomes and mortality.

Bilirubin acts as a multipotent guardian of cardiovascular integrity: more than just a radical idea

Bilirubin, a potentially toxic catabolite of heme and indicator of hepatobiliary insufficiency, exhibits potent cardiac and vascular protective properties. Individuals with Gilbert's syndrome (GS) may experience hyperbilirubinemia in response to stressors including reduced hepatic bilirubin excretion/increased red blood cell breakdown, with individuals usually informed by their clinician that their condition is of little consequence. However, GS appears to protect from all-cause mortality, with progressively elevated total bilirubin associated with protection from ischemic heart and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. Bilirubin may protect against these diseases and associated mortality by reducing circulating cholesterol, oxidative lipid/protein modifications, and blood pressure. In addition, bilirubin inhibits platelet activation and protects the heart from ischemia-reperfusion injury. These effects attenuate multiple stages of the atherosclerotic process in addition to protecting the heart during resultant ischemic stress, likely underpinning the profound reduction in cardiovascular mortality in hyperbilirubinemic GS. This review outlines our current knowledge of and uses for bilirubin in clinical medicine and summarizes recent progress in revealing the physiological importance of this poorly understood molecule. We believe that this review will be of significant interest to clinicians, medical researchers, and individuals who have GS.

Associations between serum bilirubin levels and essential trace elements status in an adult population

Objective

This paper aims to evaluate the relations between serum bilirubin and essential trace elements in an adult population.

Results

Demographic and clinical data were stratified according to the median of serum bilirubin concentrations (50th percentiles). There were statistical differences in regarding with age, body mass index, white blood count, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, iron, zinc and copper. Studying the correlation of serum bilirubin levels with iron, zinc, copper and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, we found positive correlations for iron and zinc, and negative correlations for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and copper in whole participants. Similar results of correlation analysis were repeated when the further analyses were performed separately for subjects with high and low serum bilirubin concentrations. Similar results were also observed in gender-based stratified analysis. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that serum bilirubin levels were independently correlated with serum iron, zinc and copper.

Materials and Methods

The cross-sectional study involved 264 healthy subjects.

Conclusions

The current study demonstrated that serum bilirubin within the reference range is correlated with iron, zinc and copper in an adult population, regardless of potential confounders.

Determinants of Chronic Total Occlusion in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease

Chronic total occlusion (CTO) is a common finding in 40% of the patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The aim of this study was to investigate the determinants of CTO in patients with PAD. The study included a total of 211 nonanemic patients with PAD. All patients were categorized according to the Fontaine classification. In lower extremity angiography cohorts, CTO− patients were designated as group 1 and CTO+ patients were designated as group 2. Patients with CTO had significantly higher red cell distribution width (RDW), neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio, uric acid, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein compared to patients without CTO ( P ≤ .001, P = .036, P ≤ .001, and P = .015, respectively). Albumin, total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin were significantly lower in the patients with CTO compared to patients without CTO ( P = .023, P ≤ .001, and P = .049, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that RDW, uric acid, and total bilirubin were independent predictors of CTO in patients with PAD. We demonstrated that increased RDW and uric acid levels and lower total bilirubin values were independently associated with CTO in patients with PAD.

Association of the Monocyte to HDL Cholesterol Ratio With Thrombus Burden in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Intracoronary thrombus burden is associated with some adverse events and poor prognosis in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Identifying predictors of the intracoronary thrombus burden may contribute to the management of STEMI. In this study, we evaluated whether monocyte count to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR) is a predictor of intracoronary thrombus burden in patients with STEMI. The study population consisted of 414 patients with STEMI who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Angiographic thrombus burden was classified based on thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) thrombus grades. The patients were grouped into 2 categories of low thrombus burden and high thrombus burden. The MHR was significantly higher in the high thrombus burden group compared with the low thrombus group (16.0 [9.2-22.1] vs 25.4 [13.5-44.6]; P < .001). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, MHR was an independent predictor of high thrombus burden (odds ratio: 1.067, 95% CI: 1.031-1.105; P < .001). The area under the receiver–operating characteristic curve of the MHR was 0.688 (0.641-0.733; P < .001) to predict high thrombus burden. In conclusion, MHR was independent predictor of high thrombus burden in patients with STEMI who underwent primary PCI.

The Role of Serum Bilirubin Levels in Predicting Troponin Positivity in Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome

Data are scant regarding serum bilirubin levels in non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). In this study, we evaluated the role of serum bilirubin levels in NSTE-ACS. We enrolled 782 patients who presented to the emergency department with acute chest pain. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the troponin positivity. Patients with NSTE-ACS who had troponin positivity were included in group 1 (n = 382), and group 2 consisted of the control patients (n = 400). Direct bilirubin (DB) levels (group 1: 0.31 ± 0.37 mg/dL, group 2: 0.20 ± 0.25 mg/dL, P < .001) and total bilirubin (TB) levels (group 1: 0.78 ± 0.56 mg/dL, group 2: 0.62 ± 0.45 mg/dL, P < .001) were significantly higher in group 1. There was a significant and moderate correlation between serum bilirubin levels and admission troponin values ( r = .34, P < .001 for TB and r = .42, P < .001 for DB). These results show that serum bilirubin levels were associated with troponin positivity in patients with NSTE-ACS.

Total Bilirubin Levels Predict Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Patients With Prediabetes

Bilirubin may have important antiatherosclerotic effects. Prediabetes (PD), the intermediate stage before diabetes mellitus, is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We evaluated the relationship between serum bilirubin levels and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), as a surrogate marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, in patients with PD. We enrolled 170 consecutive patients with PD. The patients underwent ultrasonography to evaluate cIMT. The patients were divided into groups according to cIMT values (<0.9 vs ≥0.9 mm). The patients with cIMT ≥ 0.9 mm had significantly higher diastolic blood pressure, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and glycated hemoglobin values compared with patients having cIMT < 0.9 mm, whereas total and direct bilirubin values were significantly lower in this group. Multivariate regression analyses revealed NLR and total bilirubin as the independent predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis. The present study demonstrated that NLR and lower total bilirubin levels were independent predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with PD. Simple measures such as NRL and total bilirubin may provide predictive information regarding the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with PD.