Cardiovascular manifestations of type IV Ehlers-Danlos syndrome – A case report

Type IV Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vascular) is a rare connective tissue disease caused by COL3A1 gene mutation on type III collagen. Clinical presentation is related to vascular fragility and risk of rupture of the arterial wall. Definite diagnosis is given by genetic study and the approach to these patients requires a multidisciplinary team and effective blood pressure control. There is currently only one medication with potential benefit in prevention of cardiovascular events: celiprolol. This article describes the case of a 41-year-old female patient, diagnosed with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome after multiple major cardiovascular events: aortic, coronary and carotid dissections and venous and arterial thrombosis. These required multiple surgical interventions and long-term admission in intensive care units leading to complete functional recovery. This case report seeks to stress the need for an early diagnosis to prevent the severe cardiovascular complications of this rare syndrome.     

Left main and/or three-vessel disease in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and low-risk GRACE score: Prevalence,clinical outcomes and predictors

Introduction

A low-risk GRACE score identifies patients with a lower incidence of major cardiac events, however it can erroneously classify patients with severe coronary artery disease as low-risk. We assessed the prevalence, clinical outcomes and predictors of left main and/or three-vessel disease (LM/3VD) in non-ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients with a GRACE score of ≤108 at admission.

Double coronary thrombosis in a patient with Behçet's disease

Behçet's disease is a chronic relapsing multisystem autoinflammatory condition, in which cardiac involvement is rare, but among the most life-threatening complications. Treatment is largely empirical, and is aimed at suppressing vasculitis. In this role glucocorticoids and colchicine are frequently used.We present the case of a 42-year-old male with previously diagnosed Behçet's disease presenting to our emergency department with an anterior-inferior STEMI. He presented combined thrombosis of the distal anterior descending coronary artery and proximal right coronary artery, and was treated with sequential primary percutaneous coronary interventions and implantation of drug-eluting stents, but required two interventions due to high thrombotic load.His clinical course during hospitalization was good, with no systolic dysfunction at discharge. During follow-up, he has so far had no new cardiovascular events.     

Air pollution and cardiovascular disease in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Research to date demonstrates a relationship between exposure to ambient air pollutants and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Many studies have shown associations between short-term exposures to elevated levels of air pollutants and CVD events, and several cohort studies suggest effects of long-term exposure on cardiovascular mortality, coronary heart disease events, and stroke. The biologic mechanisms underlying this long-term exposure relationship are not entirely clear but are hypothesized to include systemic inflammation, autonomic nervous system imbalance, changes in vascular compliance, altered cardiac structure, and development of atherosclerosis. The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis provides an especially well-characterized population in which to investigate the relationship between air pollution and CVD and to explore these biologic pathways. This article reviews findings reported to date within this cohort and summarizes the aims and anticipated contributions of a major ancillary study, the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and Air Pollution.     

Psoriasis: The visible killer

Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory disease associated with serious comorbidities. In recent years, increased mortality due to cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction and stroke) has been documented in patients with severe psoriasis. Patients with psoriasis have a higher prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and obesity, but it has been suggested that the chronic inflammatory nature of psoriasis is also a contributing and potentially an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease.The authors highlight the need for early identification and treatment of psoriasis‐related comorbidities and cardiovascular disease, as well as effective treatment of psoriasis, in order to reduce the underlying systemic inflammation, and also the importance of a multidisciplinary approach of severe psoriasis patients to optimize the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of various comorbidities, so as to prevent cardiovascular events.     

空气污染与心血管疾病发病及预后的研究进展

近年来以细颗粒物（PM2.5）为代表的可吸入颗粒物（PM）日益被视为全球空气污染相关死亡率升高的主要原因。有确凿的证据支持炎症、氧化应激、动脉粥样硬化、血栓形成以及自主调节异常等多种机制的相互作用,最终可增加短期及长期接触污染空气人群心血管疾病发病率与死亡率。空气污染带来的心血管风险是可以部分规避的。     

Finding the High-Risk Patient in Primary Prevention Is Not as Easy as a Conventional Risk Score!

Patients with coronary artery disease or its equivalent are an appropriate target for guideline-directed therapy. However, finding and treating the individuals at risk for myocardial infarction or sudden death in primary prevention has been problematic. Most initial cardiovascular events are acute syndromes, and only a minority of these occurs in those deemed high risk by contemporary algorithms. Even newer noninvasive modalities cannot detect a majority of those at risk. Furthermore, accurate and early detection of high risk/vulnerability does not guarantee event prevention. Until new tools can be identified, one should consider a few simplistic solutions. In addition to a greater emphasis on lifestyle, earlier use of statins than currently recommended and a direct assault on tobacco could go a long way in reducing acute syndromes and cardiovascular mortality. To achieve the tobacco goal, the medical community would have to be directly and communally engaged.     

空气污染与心律失常的相关性研究

常见的空气污染物主要包括颗粒物、臭氧、二氧化氮和二氧化硫、一氧化碳等.吸入污染的空气不仅诱发呼吸系统疾病,同时还会诱发心血管疾病.流行病学调查发现人体暴露于污染物中可促进缺血性心脏病、心力衰竭、心律失常和心脏骤停在内的心脏事件的发生,增加心血管病发病率和病死率.现对国内外空气污染与心律失常的相关文献进行综述.     

The relationship between lung inflammation and cardiovascular disease

Acute and chronic lung inflammation is an underrecognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Yet, there are compelling epidemiological data to indicate that airway exposures to cigarette smoke, air pollution particles, and viral and bacterial pathogens are strongly related to acute ischemic events. Over the past 10 years, there have been important human and animal studies that have provided experimental evidence to support a causal link. In this article, we review the epidemiological data for the relationship between lung inflammation and cardiovascular disease and provide plausible mechanistic pathways by which acute and chronic inflammation contributes to the development of acute cardiovascular syndromes.     

空气污染与心血管疾病专家共识

空气污染是全球性的严重公共卫生问题,也是对我国民众健康的严峻挑战。空气污染可增加心血管疾病发病及死亡风险,已成为一项重要且可干预的心血管疾病危险因素。空气污染导致的死亡主要为心血管疾病死亡。本共识汇总了国内外关于空气污染与心血管疾病的最新流行病学及临床研究证据,推荐室内使用清洁能源烹饪及采暖、在重污染天气佩戴符合国家标准的N95防护口罩等措施以降低个体对空气污染物的暴露水平。该共识为进一步加强医疗卫生人员对空气污染危害心血管健康的认识,帮助其开展健康宣教和确定未来科研方向,并为相关部门制定公共卫生政策提供参考。     

Coronary artery bypass grafting in a child with Kawasaki disease

Kawasaki disease (KD) with cardiac involvement can result in the development of coronary aneurysm, stenosis or thrombosis with significant cardiovascular implications. We report the case of a 23-month-old male with a late diagnosis of KD, in whom intravenous immunoglobulin treatment was not feasible. The patient's course was assessed by routine echocardiography. At the age of five years, angiographic assessment revealed an aneurysm of the anterior descending coronary artery measuring 17 mm×7 mm involving the first diagonal branch, 90% post-aneurysmal stenosis, and an aneurysm of the right coronary artery measuring 32 mm×6 mm. Due to the critical anatomy of the anterior descending artery the revascularization method of choice was coronary artery bypass surgery with an internal mammary artery graft, under cardiopulmonary bypass. There were no significant intraoperative or postoperative complications. This confirms coronary artery bypass grafting as a reliable treatment option for patients who present with coronary sequelae from KD, even at a very young age.     

Coronary atherosclerotic burden in veteran male recreational athletes with low to intermediate cardiovascular risk

IntroductionAlthough there is evidence that a significant proportion of veteran athletes have coronary atherosclerotic disease (CAD), its prevalence in recreational athletes with low to intermediate cardiovascular (CV) risk is not established. This study aimed to characterize the coronary atherosclerotic burden in veteran male recreational athletes with low to intermediate CV risk.MethodsAsymptomatic male athletes aged ≥40 years with low to intermediate risk, who exercised >4 hours/week for >5 years, underwent cardiac computed tomography (CT) for coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring and CT angiography. High coronary atherosclerotic burden was defined as at least one of the following: CAC score >100; CAC score ≥75th percentile; obstructive CAD; disease involving the left main, three vessels or two vessels including the proximal left anterior descending artery; segment involvement score >5; or CT Leaman score ≥5. Athletes were categorized by tertiles of exercise volume, calculated by metabolic equivalent of task (MET) scores.ResultsA total of 105 athletes were included, all with SCORE <4%, mainly engaged in high-dynamic sports. Median exercise volume was 66 (44-103) METs/hour/week, with 8±5 hours training/week and 17±10 years of exercise. A high coronary atherosclerotic burden was present in 27 (25.7%) athletes. Ten (9.5%) athletes had CAC score >100, 13 (12.4%) had CAC score ≥75th percentile and six (5.7%) had obstructive lesions. The extent and severity of coronary plaques did not differ according to exercise volume.ConclusionsThe prevalence of subclinical CAD detected by cardiac CT in veteran male recreational athletes with low to intermediate CV risk was high. Up to a quarter of our cohort had a high coronary atherosclerotic burden.     

Quinze anos de ecografia intravascular coronária em intervenção coronária percutânea em Portugal

IntroductionCoronary intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is increasingly important in catheterization laboratories due to its positive prognostic impact. This study aims to characterize the use of IVUS in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in Portugal.MethodsA retrospective observational study was performed based on the Portuguese Registry on Interventional Cardiology of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology. The clinical and angiographic profiles of patients who underwent PCI between 2002 and 2016, the percentage of IVUS use, and the coronary arteries assessed were characterized.ResultsA total of 118 706 PCIs were included, in which IVUS was used in 2266 (1.9%). Over time, use of IVUS changed from none in 2002 to generally increasing use from 2003 (0.1%) to 2016 (2.4%). The age of patients in whom coronary IVUS was used was similar to that of patients in whom IVUS was not used, but in the former group there were fewer male patients, and a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes), previous myocardial infarction, previous PCI, multivessel coronary disease, C‐type or bifurcated coronary lesions, and in‐stent restenosis. IVUS was used in 54.8% of elective PCIs and in 19.15% of PCIs of the left main coronary artery.ConclusionCoronary IVUS has been increasingly used in Portugal since 2003. It is used preferentially in elective PCIs, and in patients with higher cardiovascular risk, with more complex coronary lesions and lesions of the left main coronary artery.     

Sex Differences in Percutaneous Coronary Interventions

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in women, and women have a higher cardiovascular mortality and morbidity associated with the treatment of cardiovascular disease compared to men. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is an important therapy for women with coronary artery disease particularly in acute coronary syndromes; however, only 33% of all PCIs are performed in women. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the evidence for PCI in women and demonstrate the unique aspects of therapy in regard to sex.     

Cadmium and cardiovascular disease: An overview of pathophysiology,epidemiology, therapy,and predictive value

Cadmium is a widely distributed toxic heavy metal that has been associated with many diseases including chronic renal dysfunction, osteomalacia, acute heart failure, secondary hypertension, and atherosclerosis. Although several studies have suggested that cadmium may affect multiple systems by inducing lipid per oxidation in cells and disturbing the antioxidant system, the mechanism by which cadmium affects the cardiovascular system remains unclear. Recent studies on heart failure and acute myocardial infarction have shown that cadmium has good predictive ability for mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease. In this study, we briefly review the role of cadmium in cardiovascular disease, which may prompt further studies to investigate the potential association between cadmium and mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease.     

Air Pollution-Induced Vascular Dysfunction: Potential Role of Endothelin-1 (ET-1) System

Exposure to air pollution negatively impacts cardiovascular health. Studies show that increased exposure to a number of airborne pollutants increases the risk for cardiovascular disease progression, myocardial events, and cardiovascular mortality. A hypothesized mechanism linking air pollution and cardiovascular disease is the development of systemic inflammation and endothelium dysfunction, the latter of which can result from an imbalance of vasoactive factors within the vasculature. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent peptide vasoconstrictor that plays a significant role in regulating vascular homeostasis. It has been reported that the production and function of ET-1 and its receptors are upregulated in a number of disease states associated with endothelium dysfunction including hypertension and atherosclerosis. This mini-review surveys epidemiological and experimental air pollution studies focused on ET-1 dysregulation as a plausible mechanism underlying the development of cardiovascular disease. Although alterations in ET-1 system components are observed in some studies, there remains a need for future research to clarify whether these specific changes are compensatory or causally related to vascular injury and dysfunction. Moreover, further research may test the efficacy of selective ET-1 pharmacological interventions (e.g., ET_A receptor inhibitors) to determine whether these treatments could impede the deleterious impact of air pollution exposure on cardiovascular health.     

Coronary artery disease in athletes: An adverse effect of intense exercise?

Regular physical exercise is responsible for various health benefits, and is recommended for primary and secondary cardiovascular (CV) prevention. Despite these recognized benefits, various clinical events can occur in athletes, including acute myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death (SCD); the main cause of SCD in veteran athletes is coronary artery disease (CAD). The relationship between intense exercise training and CAD is controversial, and a U-shaped association has been hypothesized. If this is the case, screening for subclinical CAD in older athletes may be justified, and various different methodologies have been proposed. However, the methodology for screening veteran athletes is not consensual, and several markers of CAD, in addition to clinical CV risk factors, could improve risk stratification in this population. In the present paper we review the published data on CAD in athletes, focusing on the relationship between the dose of exercise and CAD, as well as the implications for pre-participation screening of veteran athletes.     

Meta-analysis of cardiovascular outcomes trials comparing intensive versus moderate statin therapy.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis that compares the reduction of cardiovascular outcomes with high-dose statin therapy versus standard dosing. BACKGROUND: Debate exists regarding the merit of more intensive lipid lowering with high-dose statin therapy as compared with standard-dose therapy. METHODS: We searched PubMed and article references for randomized controlled trials of intensive versus standard-dose statin therapy enrolling more than 1,000 patients with either stable coronary heart disease or acute coronary syndromes. Four trials were identified: the TNT (Treating to New Targets) and the IDEAL (Incremental Decrease in End Points Through Aggressive Lipid-Lowering) trials involved patients with stable cardiovascular disease, and the PROVE IT-TIMI-22 (Pravastatin or Atorvastatin Evaluation and Infection Therapy-Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction-22) and A-to-Z (Aggrastat-to-Zocor) trials involved patients with acute coronary syndromes. We carried out a meta-analysis of the relative odds on the basis of a fixed-effects model using the Mantel-Haenszel method for the major outcomes of death and cardiovascular events. RESULTS: A total of 27,548 patients were enrolled in the 4 large trials. The combined analysis yielded a significant 16% odds reduction in coronary death or myocardial infarction (p < 0.00001), as well as a significant 16% odds reduction of coronary death or any cardiovascular event (p < 0.00001). No difference was observed in total or non-cardiovascular mortality, but a trend toward decreased cardiovascular mortality (odds reduction 12%, p = 0.054) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Intensive lipid lowering with high-dose statin therapy provides a significant benefit over standard-dose therapy for preventing predominantly non-fatal cardiovascular events.     

Prognostic usefulness of free fatty acids in patients with stable coronary heart disease

Circulating nonesterified or free fatty acids (FFAs) may contribute to the development of cardiovascular pathology and correlate with ischemia in acute cardiovascular conditions. The aim of this study was to assess whether serum levels of FFAs are associated with long-term prognosis in subjects with stable coronary heart disease. This observational prospective cohort study included 1,206 participants in 3-weeks inpatient rehabilitation programs after acute myocardial infarction, coronary syndromes, or coronary intervention at 2 rehabilitation clinics in Germany (1999 to 2000). Eight-year prognosis (time to a secondary fatal or nonfatal cardiovascular disease event including myocardial infarction and stroke [n = 153] and time to death from any cause [n = 124]) was examined according to FFA quartiles and in spline regression. FFAs were correlated with established serum markers of cardiovascular risk and strongly related to secondary cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in age- and gender-adjusted analysis. When additionally controlling for multiple established risk factors and risk markers, the hazard ratio in the fourth versus first quartile was 1.34 (95% confidence interval 0.79 to 2.24) for secondary cardiovascular events and 1.09 (95% confidence interval 0.62 to 1.91) for all-cause mortality. Dose-response modeling suggested that very high FFAs might predict an increased risk for mortality (hazard ratio 1.98, 95% confidence interval 0.98 to 4.02, for 95th percentile vs first quartile). In conclusion, FFAs are closely correlated with cardiovascular risk markers, and in particular, very high FFA might identify patients with stable coronary heart disease with worse prognoses.