BackgroundNeurogenic mechanism is believed to contribute to left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction in acute coronary syndromes (ACS); its extreme form is known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy. However, the magnitude of neurogenic contribution to LV dysfunction in all-comer first-time ACS remains unknown.Material/MethodsIn 120 consecutive patients with first-time ACS (age 66.3±12.3years, 40 women) coronary angiograms were individually matched to the echocardiographic left ventricular (LV) segments (17-segment model). Baseline contractility impairment was classified as ischemic (I): confined to the stenotic artery(ies) supply area(s), neurogenic (N): in absence of attributable coronary stenosis, or partially ischemic/partially neurogenic (I&N). Echocardiography was repeated at 6 months to determine LV systolic function recovery.ResultsNeurogenic component (NC) contribution to myocardial contractility impairment was present in 24.2% of ACS patients, with pure N in 6.7% and I&N in 17.5%. Diabetes/pre-diabetes was present in 38.5% vs. 33.5% vs. 0% (I vs. I&N vs. N; p=0.02). Major stressor preceding symptom onset was reported in 3.3% in I, 9.5% in I&N, and 25.0% in N (p=0.03). The number of LV segments with contractility impairment was 2±4 in I, 17±11 in I&N, and 3±16 in N (p<0.05). NC presence was independently associated with better recovery of global LV systolic function (OR 2.99, 95% CI: 1.16–7.76; p=0.024).ConclusionsNovel findings from this study are: (1) NC may contribute to myocardial contractility impairment in 1 in every 4 first-time ACS patients, (2) NC contribution to contractility impairment in ACS is blunted in diabetes or pre-diabetes, and (3) LV systolic function recovery is better in patients with NC.
Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and coronary atherosclerosis share common risk factors. In this study, a single-center management experience of patients with a coexistence of AAA and coronary artery disease (CAD) is presented. Methods: 271 consecutive patients who underwent elective AAA repair were reviewed. Coronary imaging in 118 patients was considered suitable for exploration of AAA coexistence with CAD. Results: Significant coronary stenosis (> 70%) were found in 65.3% of patients. History of cardiac revascularization was present in 26.3% of patients, myocardial infarction (MI) in 31.4%, and 39.8% had both. In a subgroup analysis, prior history of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (OR = 6.9, 95% CI 2.6-18.2, p < 0.001) and patients' age (OR = 1.1, 95% CI 1.0-1.2, p = 0.007) were independent predictors of significant coronary stenosis. Only 52.0% (40/77) of patients with significant coronary stenosis underwent immediate coronary revascularization prior to aneurysm repair: PCI in 32 cases (4 drug-eluting stents and 27 bare metal stents), coronary artery bypass graft in 8 cases. Patients undergoing revascularization prior to surgery had longer mean time from coronary imaging to AAA repair (123.6 vs. 58.1 days, p < 0.001). Patients undergoing coronary artery evaluation prior to AAA repair had shorter median hospitalization (7 [2-70] vs. 7 [3-181] days, p = 0.007) and intensive care unit stay (1 [0-9] vs. 1 [0-70] days, p = 0.014) and also had a lower rate of major adverse cardiovascular events or multiple organ failure (0% vs. 3.9%, p = 0.035). A total of 11.0% of patients had coronary artery aneurysms. Conclusions: Patients with AAA might benefit from an early coronary artery evaluation strategy.
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