We evaluated the predictive value of admission systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) for the risk of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and SII (platelet × NLR) levels were calculated in 1621 consecutive patients with STEMI. The relationship of these parameters with CIN development within 72 hours of pPCI was analyzed. Of the study population, 343 (21.1%) cases developed CIN. The frequency of CIN was 11.1% in the first SII quartile, 11.6% in the second SII quartile, 26.8% in the third SII quartile, and 35% in the fourth SII quartile, which differed significantly between groups (P < .01). Age, baseline glomerular filtration rate, contrast media volume, hypertension, C-reactive protein levels, and the quartiles of SII were independent predictors of CIN. Patients in the third SII quartile versus first SII quartile (OR: 2.906, 95% CI, 1.903-4.437; P < .001), and fourth SII quartile versus first SII quartile (OR: 4.168, 95% CI, 2.754-6.313; P < .001) had a significantly higher risk for CIN in the multivariable model. The SII may be a promising inflammatory parameter to predict CIN after pPCI.

Background and Objectives: In this study, we aimed to investigate the prognostic value of the C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) for all-cause mortality in patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Materials and Methods: In total, 404 chronic HFrEF patients were included in this observational and retrospective study. The CAR value of each patient included in this analysis was calculated. We stratified the study population into tertiles (T1, T2, and T3) according to CAR values. The primary outcome of the analysis was to determine all-cause mortality. Results: The median follow-up period in our study was 30 months. In the follow-up, 162 (40%) patients died. The median value of CAR was higher in patients who did not survive during the follow-up [6.7 (IQR = 1.6–20.4) vs. 0.6 (IQR = 0.1–2.6), p < 0.001]. In addition, patients in the T3 tertile (patients with the highest CAR) had a higher rate of all-cause mortality [n = 90 cases (66.2%), p < 0.001]. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that CAR was an independent predictor of mortality in patients with HFrEF (hazard ratio: 1.852, 95% confidence interval: 1.124–2.581, p = 0.005). In a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the optimal cut-off value of CAR was >2.78, with a sensitivity of 66.7% and specificity of 76%. Furthermore, older age, elevated N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels, and absence of a cardiac device were also independently associated with all-cause death in HFrEF patients after 2.5 years of follow-up. Conclusions: The present study revealed that CAR independently predicts long-term mortality in chronic HFrEF patients. CAR may be used to predict mortality among these patients as a simple and easily obtainable inflammatory marker.

This study aimed to explore the potential association between the triglyceride–glucose index (TyG) and the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP)—both considered surrogate markers for atherosclerosis—and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients diagnosed with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS). We conducted a retrospective analysis, encompassing 715 consecutive patients with intermediate CCS risk, who presented at the outpatient clinic between June 2020 and August 2022. MACEs included non-fatal myocardial infarction, hospitalization for heart failure, cerebrovascular events, non-cardiac mortality, and cardiac mortality. The primary outcome was the composite occurrence of MACEs during the follow-up period. For time-to-event analysis of the primary outcome, we employed Kaplan–Meier plots and Cox proportional hazard models. The median age of the overall study population was 55 years, with a median follow-up duration of 17 months. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified age, hypertension, Coronary Artery Disease–Reporting and Data System score, and TyG index as independent predictors of the primary outcome. Notably, individuals with high TyG levels exhibited a significantly higher primary outcome rate compared to those with low TyG levels (18.7% vs. 3.8%, p < 0.001). Similarly, patients with elevated TyG values demonstrated statistically higher rates of cerebrovascular events, hospitalizations for heart failure, non-fatal myocardial infarctions, non-cardiac mortality, and cardiac mortality. These findings suggest that TyG may serve as a predictive marker for adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with CCS.

Introduction: In-stent restenosis (ISR) still constitutes a major problem after percutaneous vascular interventions and the inflammation has a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of such event. The C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR) is a newly identified inflammatory biomarker, and it may be used as an indicator to predict ISR in subjects with coronary artery stenting. In light of these data, our main objective was to investigate the relationship between the preprocedural CAR and ISR in patients undergoing successful iliac artery stent implantation. Methods: In total, 138 consecutive patients who had successful iliac artery stent implantation in a tertiary heart center between 2015 and 2018 were enrolled in the study. The study population was categorized into two groups; patients with ISR and those without ISR during follow-up. The CAR was determined by dividing CRP by serum albumin. Results: In the multivariable regression analysis; the CAR (HR: 2.66, 95% CI: 1.66-4.25, P0.29 predicted ISR with sensitivity of 97.5% and specificity of 88.8% (AUC 0.94, P<0.01). Conclusion: Our findings provide evidence that the CAR may be an applicable inflammatory biomarker in predicting ISR in subjects undergoing iliac artery stenting for the treatment of peripheral artery disease (PAD). Also, the stent length and poor glycemic control were found to be associated with ISR.

Aims: Heart failure (HF) and stroke often coexist and share common risk factors, including atrial fibrillation. Whole blood viscosity (WBV), one of the most significant indicators of endothelial stress, is a fundamental determinant of blood flow and is involved in the aetiology of atherosclerosis and thrombosis. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between estimated WBV and long-term ischemic stroke (IS) risk in patients hospitalized for acute HF. Methods: A total of 409 patients with reduced ejection fraction HF hospitalized with acute HF were included. The primary outcome was IS post-discharge follow-up. Results: IS occurred in 26 (6%) patients during a follow-up. In the IS group, older age, diabetes mellitus frequency and WBV were higher, left ventricular end-diastolic and left atrial anteroposterior diameter were increased and left ventricular ejection fraction was lower. In multivariate regression analysis, WBV was found to be a predictor of long-term IS (OR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.96-3.12, p=0.008). In the receiver operating characteristic curve, the optimal cut-off value of WBV for one-year IS was 6.28 with 61.5% sensitivity and 70.2% specificity (area under the curve: 0.748). Conclusion: WBV is a novel, easily measurable, cost-effective, non-invasive risk marker for the prediction of long-term IS in patients with HF, independent of traditional risk factors.