Hematologic parameters have prognostic importance in cardiovascular disease. However, the relation between atherosclerosis progression and hematologic parameters is not well defined. A total of 394 patients requiring repeat coronary angiography were included in the study. According to angiography, patients were divided into 2 groups, progressive (n = 196) and nonprogressive (n = 198) diseases. Hematologic parameters including mean platelet volume (MPV) and neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratio were measured. Glucose, creatinine, and cholesterol were significantly higher in the progressive group. Mean platelet volume count was similar in both groups. The N/L ratio was significantly higher in the progressive group (5.0 ± 5.1 vs 3.2 ± 3; P = .001). In multivariate analysis, the N/L ratio was significantly related with progression (relative risk [RR]: 2.267, 95% CI: 1.068-4.815, P = .03). Progression rate was significantly high in patients with high N/L ratio (39% vs 56%). Our results suggest that the N/L ratio is a predictor of progression of atherosclerosis.

Sympathovagal imbalance, detected by HRV and HRT parameters, is related to EAT thickness. As sympathovagal imbalance is a predictor of arrhythmic events, EAT may play an important arrhythmogenic role not limited to atrial fibrillation.

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SUMMARYCoronary artery anomalies are found in 0.6% to 1.5% of coronary angiograms. Angiographic recognition of these vessels is important because of their clinical significance and importance in patients undergoing coronary angioplasty or cardiac surgery.We reviewed the database of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory of Uludag Medical University in Bursa, Turkey. All patients who were subjected to coronary angiography from 1994 to 2001 were included.The study included 12,059 patients who underwent diagnostic coronary arteriography during the 8 year period. One hundred patients had primary congenital coronary anomalies. Ninty-five (95%) of the patients had anomalies of origin and distribution while five (5%) had coronary artery fistulae. The left main coronary artery (LMCA) was the most common anomalous vessel involved (forty-eight (48%) of the patients). An LMCA distribution anomaly was observed in these 48 patients. An anomalous right coronary artery (RCA) was the second most common anomaly, seen in twenty-two (22%) of the patients. An anomalous circumflex artery (Cx) was the third most common anomaly, seen in seventeen. Five patients had a coronary artery fistulae. The fistulae in our series were small without significant shunt circulation.Primary congenital coronary anomalies are isolated lesions and generally have no relation with other congenital heart diseases. They do not appear to be associated with an increased risk for development of coronary atherosclerosis. Angiographic recognition of these vessels is important because of their clinical significance and importance in patients undergoing coronary angioplasty or cardiac surgery. (Int Heart J 2005; 46: 97-103)

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