BACKGROUND Immunopathological and inflammatory processes play important roles in the initiation and development of ischemic heart disease. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum levels rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) and severity of coronary stenotic lesions. METHODS Totally 140 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (n = 70) and chron...

OBJECTIVE Cystatin C and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) are biomarkers of renal functions. We evaluated their roles in predicting the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS Fifty-two consecutive type 2 diabetic patients (32 males, 65.7±8.6 years) who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) for stable CAD were included in this single-center, prospective, cross-secti...

The aim of the present study was to investigate the correlation between the degree of coronary artery stenosis determined by digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and infarcted segments detected by delayed enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (DE-MRI). DE-MRI and DSA were performed in 40 patients with coronary artery disease. The number of myocardial segments with infarction, the transmural e...

OBJECTIVES We investigated the relation between neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (N/L) and the extent, severity, and complexity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and myocardial perfusion. STUDY DESIGN One hundred and fifty-one patients who underwent coronary angiography with stable angina pectoris (SAP) (n=93) or acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (n=58) were included in the study. Blood samples were...

BACKGROUND Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) of the vessel wall is highly reproducible and can evaluate both changes in plaque burden and composition. It can also measure aortic compliance and endothelial function in a single integrated examination. Previous studies have focused on patients with pre-identified carotid atheroma. We define these vascular parameters in patients presenting wi...

BACKGROUND It is a matter of debate whether metabolic syndrome (MS) improves cardiovascular risk prediction beyond the risk associated with its individual components. The present study examined the association of MS score with high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), resistin, adiponectin, and angiographic coronary artery disease (CAD) severity according to the presen...

BACKGROUND Pulse-wave velocity (PWV) measures aortic stiffness. It is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events and mortality, yet there is paucity in the literature on its association with the severity and extent of coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS To examine the utility of PWV in predicting CAD burden in men and women the PWV was determined in 344 patients (Men = 266, Women = ...

OBJECTIVE To explore the association between rs6903956 and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in a Chinese population. METHODS A cohort of 1075 consecutive patients who underwent coronary arteriography for suspected or known coronary atherosclerosis was enrolled in our study. Coronary atherosclerosis severity was defined by Gensini's Score System and counts of diseased vessels. RESUL...

BACKGROUND Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and Tissue Inhibitor of Matrix Metalloproteinases (TIMPs) may be associated with atherogenesis and plaque rupture. We evaluated the relationship between MMP-1, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and IL-6 levels and risk factors, presentation, extent and severity of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS Consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiogr...

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the most prevalent metabolic disease worldwide and is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). Therefore it is very important to find a clue to diagnose the presence of CAD as early as possible in DM patients. The aim of this study was to find any correlation between microalbuminuria (MAU) and the severity of CAD in patients with DM type 2. This was a cross secti...