All patients with heart diseases should undergo risk stratification to predict those who are at high risk for short- and long-term adverse outcomes. Carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) is a glycoprotein produced by mesothelium that has clinical role in ovarian cancer monitoring. However, as it is not specific for ovarian cells, CA125 could also be used in heart diseases to monitor congestion and inflammation. Pericarditis, atrial fibrillation, heart failure and coronary artery disease are some scenarios in which this biomarker was studied.CA125 identifies patients at high risk of rehospitalizations and death, in addition to being associated with hemodynamic data (ejection fraction and right atrial pressure). Hence, CA125 is a tool for risk stratification in heart diseases.

Apart from their role in hemostasis and thrombosis, platelets are involved in many other biological processes such as wound healing and angiogenesis. Percutaneous coronary intervention is a highly thrombogenic procedure inducing platelets and monocytes activation through endothelial trauma and contact activation by intravascular devices. Platelet P2Y12 receptor activation by adenosine diphosphate facilitates non-ADP agonist-mediated platelet aggregation, dense granule secretion, procoagulant activity, and the phosphorylation of several intraplatelet proteins, making it an ideal drug target. However, not all compounds that target the P2Y12 receptor have similar efficacy and safety profiles. Despite targeting the same receptor, the unique pharmacologic properties of each of these P2Y12 receptor-directed compounds can lead to very different clinical effects.

BackgroundIn the elderly, the ankle-brachial index (ABI) has greater than 90% sensitivity and specificity for peripheral artery disease identification. A well-known relation exists between peripheral artery disease and the number of diseased coronary vessels. Yet, other anatomical characteristics have important impacts on the type of treatment and prognosis.PurposeTo determine the relation between ABI and the complexity of coronary artery disease, by different anatomical classifications.MethodsThis study was a prospective analysis of patients ≥65 years old who were undergoing elective coronary angiography for ischemic coronary disease. The ABI was calculated for each leg, as the ratio between the lowest ankle pressure and the highest brachial pressure. The analysis of coronary anatomy was performed by three interventional cardiologists; it included classification of each lesion with >50% diameter stenosis, according to the American Heart Association criteria, and calculation of the SYNTAX score.ResultsThe study recruited 204 consecutive patients (median age: 72.5 years). Stable angina was present in 51% of patients. Although only 1% of patients reported peripheral artery disease, 45% exhibited an abnormal ABI. The number of lesions per patient, the number of patients with complex lesions, and the median SYNTAX scores were greater in the group with abnormal ABI. However, among 144 patients with obstructive coronary artery disease, despite abnormal ABI being able to identify a higher rate of patients with B2 or C type lesions (70.9% versus 53.8%; P=0.039), the mean SYNTAX scores (13 versus 9; P=0.14), and the proportion of patients with SYNTAX score >16 (34.2% versus 27.7%; P=0.47), were similar, irrespective of ABI.ConclusionIn patients ≥65 years old the presence of peripheral artery disease could discriminate a group of patients with greater occurrence of B2 and C type lesions, but similar median SYNTAX score.

Carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) is a congestion and inflammation biomarker and has been proved to be related to a worse prognosis in heart diseases. However, the precise relationship between elevated CA125 in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has not yet been sufficiently studied. We set out to determine the association of CA125 with all-cause mortality at 6 months in STEMI. CA125, N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured in 245 patients admitted consecutively with STEMI undergoing coronary angioplasty. The mean age in our sample was 63.7 years, 64.9% were males, 28.3% had diabetes and 17.7% presented with acute heart failure (Killip ≥ 2). The median serum level of CA125 was 8.1 U/ml. At 6 months, the rate of all-cause mortality was 18% (44 patients). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that CA125 presented similar performance to predict mortality as NTproBNP and hs-CRP. Patients with CA125 ≥ 11.48 had a higher rate of mortality (Hazard Ratio = 2.07, 95% confidence interval = 1.13-3.77, p = 0.017) than patients with CA125 < 11.48. This study suggests that elevated CA125 levels might be used to identify patients with STEMI with a higher risk of death at 6 months. CA125 seems to be a similar predictor of mortality compared to NTproBNP and hs-CRP. Myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation (STEMI) is a life-threatening disorder with high morbidity and mortality despite advances in treatment. Patients presenting with STEMI tend to be heterogeneous and immediate risk stratification at the time of presentation is essential for optimal management 1-4. Markers of congestion and inflammation, such as natriuretic peptides (NP) and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), have been shown to be prognostic markers. However, the biomarkers currently available are not perfect, and their correct interpretation requires careful consideration of the specific clinical scenario 5. Carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) is a congestion and inflammation biomarker. It has been studied in patients with heart diseases, especially heart failure 6. However, the precise relationship between elevated CA125 in patients with STEMI and cardiovascular events has not yet been sufficiently studied. This study set out to evaluate the relationship between CA125 and mortality in STEMI patients in comparison with N-Terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) and hs-CRP. Methods patients and study design. This was a prospective cohort at a single center. Patients consecutively admitted with STEMI undergoing primary angioplasty were included. The diagnosis of STEMI was made based on the third universal definition 7. Two hundred and seventy one patients were considered to be included. Patients were excluded if they had chronic heart failure (n = 3), previous coronary revascularization (n = 11), kidney failure (n = 8), absence of severe coronary disease (n = 4), end-stage liver disease, ongoing infection or malignancy.