Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a measure of variation in the size of circulating red blood cells. Recent studies have reported a strong independent relation between elevated RDW and short- and long-term prognosis in various disorders. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between admission RDW-to-platelet ratio (RPR) and in-hospital and long-term prognosis in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). A total of 470 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of STEMI who underwent primary PCI were included in this prospective study. The patients were divided into two groups based on their admission RPR: high (>0.061) RPR group and low (≤0.061) RPR group. The patients were followed for adverse clinical outcomes in-hospital and for up to one year after discharge. In-hospital cardiovascular mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), advanced heart failure and cardiogenic shock were significantly higher in the high RPR group (p<0.05). All-cause and cardiovascular mortality, MACE, fatal reinfarction, advanced heart failure, and rehospitalization for cardiac cause were more frequent in the high RPR group in one-year follow-up (p<0.05). High RPR was found to be a significant independent predictor of one-year cardiovascular mortality in multivariate analysis (p=0.003, OR: 3.106, 95% CI: 1.456-6.623). RPR is an inexpensive and readily available biomarker that provides an additional level of risk stratification beyond that provided by conventional risk parameters in predicting long-term MACE and cardiovascular mortality in STEMI.

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing a primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Background The prognostic value of sCD40L has been documented in patients with acute coronary syndrome; however, its value in acute STEMI remains unclear. Materials and methods We prospectively enrolled 499 consecutive STEMI patients (397 men, 102 women) undergoing primary PCI. The study population was divided into tertiles on the basis of admission sCD40L values. The high sCD40L group (n=168) included patients with a value in the third tertile (≥0.947 mg/l) and the low sCD40L group (n=331) included patients with a value in the lower two tertiles (<0.947 mg/l). Clinical characteristics and in-hospital and 1-year primary PCI outcomes were analyzed. Results The patients in the high sCD40L group were older (mean age 57.3±12.7 vs. 54.8±11.9, P=0.029). Higher in-hospital and 1-year all-cause mortality rates were observed in the high sCD40L group (7.7 vs. 3.3%, P=0.029; 16.1 vs. 4.8%, P0.947 mg/l) is a powerful independent predictor of 1-year all-cause mortality (odds ratio: 3.68; 95% confidence interval: 1.54–8.77; P=0.003). Conclusion The results of this study suggest that a high sCD40L level at admission is associated with increased in-hospital and 1-year all-cause mortality rates in patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is reported to be associated with hypertension, coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure. Galectin-3 plays an important role in the regulation of inflammation, development of cardiac fibrosis and remodeling. A significant relationship between galectin-3 and the total number of coronary plaques and the macrocalcified plaque structures of patients with type 2 DM has been reported. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between galectin-3 level and coronary plaque burden as well as OSAS severity in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Methods: A total of 87 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of OSAS and 21 age and gender-matched control subjects were recruited for the present study. The patients with OSAS were also categorized according to their apnea hypopnea index (AHI) as follows: mild (AHI=5-15), moderate (AHI=15-30), and severe (AHI >30). All study subjects underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) to detect coronary atherosclerosis. Also all participants of serum galectin-3 concentrations were measured. Results: Mean galectin-3 level was significantly higher in patients with OSAS compared to control subjects (p<0.001) and in the severe OSAS group compared to the moderate and mild OSAS groups (p<0.001). Correlation analysis indicated significant positive relationships between galectin-3 concentrations and the total number of coronary plaques (p<0.001), hs-CRP (p=0.001) and severity of OSAS (p<0.001). In multivariate analysis, galectin-3 (p=0.01) and age (p=0.025) were significant independent predictors of coronary atherosclerosis, after adjusting for other risk factors. Also it has been found that Galectin-3 concentrations is predictor of OSAS severity (p=0.001). Conclusions: Galectin-3 is associated with coronary atherosclerosis and OSAS severity in OSAS patients. Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is reported to be associated with hypertension, coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure. Galectin-3 plays an important role in the regulation of inflammation, development of cardiac fibrosis and remodeling. A significant relationship between galectin-3 and the total number of coronary plaques and the macrocalcified plaque structures of patients with type 2 DM has been reported. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between galectin-3 level and coronary plaque burden as well as OSAS severity in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Methods: A total of 87 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of OSAS and 21 age and gender-matched control subjects were recruited for the present study. The patients with OSAS were also categorized according to their apnea hypopnea index (AHI) as follows: mild (AHI=5-15), moderate (AHI=15-30), and severe (AHI >30). All study subjects underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) to detect coronary atherosclerosis. Also all participants of serum galectin-3 concentrations were measured. Results: Mean galectin-3 level was significantly higher in patients with OSAS compared to control subjects (p<0.001) and in the severe OSAS group compared to the moderate and mild OSAS groups (p<0.001). Correlation analysis indicated significant positive relationships between galectin-3 concentrations and the total number of coronary plaques (p<0.001), hs-CRP (p=0.001) and severity of OSAS (p<0.001). In multivariate analysis, galectin-3 (p=0.01) and age (p=0.025) were significant independent predictors of coronary atherosclerosis, after adjusting for other risk factors. Also it has been found that Galectin-3 concentrations is predictor of OSAS severity (p=0.001). Conclusions: Galectin-3 is associated with coronary atherosclerosis and OSAS severity in OSAS patients.

Introduction : Many studies have reported the diagnostic and prognostic value of haemoglobin A 1c (HbA 1c ) levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome. However, the short- and long-term prognostic value of HbA 1c level in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing...

Introduction: Both end-organ damage and high red cell distribution width (RDW) values are associated with adverse cardiovascular events, inflammatory status, and neurohumoral activation in hypertensive disease and in the general population. In this study, we investigated the relationship...

Isolated systolic hypertension (ISHT) is a subtype of hypertension (HT) that often exhibits wide pulse pressure, and pulse pressure has a strong predictive value for future adverse cardiovascular events. Previous studies have shown the effects of leukocyte count on the prognosis of ischaemic heart disease and HT. Thus, in this cross-sectional study, we analysed the relationship between leukocyte counts and subtypes in HT and non-HT groups. The study population consisted of 960 consecutive patients who were admitted to the outpatient clinic of our hospital. After ambulatory blood pressure values were assessed, the participants were divided into three groups: ISHT (n = 98), systo-diastolic hypertensives (SDHT, n = 405), and non-hypertensives (non-HT, n = 457). The subjects in the ISHT group were older than those in the SDHT and non-HT groups (64 ± 10, 53 ± 12, and 52 ± 13, respectively; p < 0.001). The leukocyte and neutrophil counts and neutrophil/lymphocyte (NL) ratios were significantly different in all groups. In subgroup analysis, the leukocyte count, neutrophil count, and N/L ratio were higher in the ISHT and SDHT groups than in the non-HT group (p < 0.001 for all). The leukocyte count, neutrophil count, and N/L ratio were significantly higher in the ISHT group than in the SDHT group (p = 0.023, p = 0.007, p = 0.010, respectively). Neutrophil count (p = 0.012; OR = 1.229, 95% CI 1.046-1.444) was an independent risk factor for ISHT in multivariate logistic regression analysis. The leukocyte and neutrophil counts and N/L ratios were higher in the ISHT group than in the SDHT and non-HT groups. High neutrophil count was an independent predictor of ISHT.