Association of mitral annulus calcification with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, which is a marker of inflammation.

Objectives: There are limited clinical data revealing the relationship between mitral annular calcification (MAC) and systemic inflammation. The goal of the present study was to compare high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in patients with and without MAC and investigate the relationship between MAC and hs-CRP.

Methods: One hundred patients with MAC who underwent transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and 100 age-matched controls without MAC who underwent TTE were included in our study.

Evaluation of cardiovascular risk factors and bone mineral density in post menopausal women undergoing coronary angiography.

Background: The underlying mechanism by which osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease may be linked is not fully understood. However studies mainly focused on the association between bone mineral density (BMD) and cardiovascular risk factors or atherosclerosis itself by only assessing the presence of vascular calcification. In this study we aimed to evaluate both cardiovascular risk factors, and presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in post-menopausal women patients with and without low BMD.

Diagnostic potential of serum N-terminal pro-B-type brain natriuretic peptide level in detection of cardiac wall stress in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a cross-sectional comparison study.

Background: In addition to the negative effect on fertility, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been associated with cardiac pathology. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a possible marker for cardiac risk, therefore we investigated whether N-terminal pro-B-type BNP (NT-proBNP) increases in women with PCOS compared with healthy women of comparable age and body mass index.

Methods: Thirty women with PCOS and 30 healthy women not suffering from overt cardiac disease were involved in the study.

Evaluation of cardiovascular risk factors and bone mineral density in patients undergoing coronary angiography and relation of findings to mitral annular calcium.

Prevalences of mitral annular calcium (MAC), osteoporosis, and coronary artery disease (CAD) increase with aging and often usually coexist. Correlates of MAC including cardiovascular risk factors and bone mineral density (BMD) have never been evaluated in men and women undergoing coronary angiography. Accordingly, we assessed the association between cardiovascular risk factors, BMD, and MAC in patients undergoing coronary angiography.