Total cholesterol content of erythrocyte membranes is increased in patients with acute coronary syndrome: a new marker of clinical instability?

Objectives: We hypothesized that cholesterol content is increased in the circulating erythrocytes of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and may be a marker of clinical instability. We therefore sought to investigate whether cholesterol content differs in erythrocyte membranes of patients presenting with ACS compared to patients with chronic stable angina (CSA).

Background: Plaque rupture in ACS depends at least partly on the volume of the necrotic lipid core.

Apolipoprotein E genotype and circulating interleukin-10 levels in patients with stable and unstable coronary artery disease.

Objectives: This study was designed to assess the relation between apolipoprotein E (apoE) genotype and serum interleukin (IL)-10 levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and chronic stable angina (CSA).

Background: Genetic variations in the apoE gene affect the risk for coronary artery disease (i.e.

Interleukin-18/interleukin-10 ratio is an independent predictor of recurrent coronary events during a 1-year follow-up in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Background: The pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-18 has been suggested to play a role in atherogenesis and atheromatous plaque rupture leading to the acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Conversely, the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 seems to have an atheroprotective role. Patients with unstable coronary artery disease show an imbalance between serum levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and studies have shown that IL-18/IL-10 ratio is an independent predictor of adverse in-hospital events in patients with ACS.

Inflammatory and anti-inflammatory variable clusters and risk prediction in acute coronary syndrome patients: a factor analysis approach.

Background: Numerous inflammatory mediators such as C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, interleukin-18 (IL-18), and inter-cellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) have been proposed for risk stratification in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. However, interactions between these markers have made it difficult to assess their true role in risk prediction. Factor analysis is a multivariable statistical technique that reduces a large number of intercorrelated variables to a smaller set of independent clusters, underlining physiological relationships.

Relation of C-reactive protein to the first onset and the recurrence rate in lone atrial fibrillation.

The presence of systemic inflammation determined by elevations in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) has been associated with persistence of atrial fibrillation (AF). The influence of inflammation markers, such as hs-CRP, on the recurrences of lone AF, however, has not been clarified. We tested the hypothesis of whether, in patients with a first paroxysmal episode of lone AF, the hs-CRP levels were elevated, and whether elevated hs-CRP could predict the recurrence rate of lone AF in patients without antiarrhythmic drugs.

Levosimendan use reduces matrix metalloproteinase-2 in patients with decompensated heart failure.

Background: Extracellular matrix metabolism (ECM) has an important role in left ventricular (LV) remodeling in chronic heart failure (CHF). Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in the regulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) metabolism. We investigated the effect of levosimendan, a novel calcium sensitizer, on serum levels of MMP-2.

The potential of D-dimer levels as a useful clinical marker of clotting state after the return of sinus rhythm.

Fibrin D-dimers levels have been advocated as a useful clinical marker of thrombogenesis. It is accepted that patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are characterized by increased levels of plasmatic d-dimers. AF is a high risk factor for hypercoagulability, with a substantial risk of thromboembolism.

Comparison of levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -3 in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy versus nonischemic cardiomyopathy.

It has been reported that circulating matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) levels are upregulated in patients with chronic heart failure. However, experimental studies indicate that differences in the profiles of MMPs and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMPs) may exist in ischemic compared with nonischemic cardiomyopathy. This study examined whether circulating levels of MMPs and TIMP-1 are related to the pathogenesis of heart failure.

Alteplase treatment affects circulating matrix metalloproteinase concentrations in patients with ST segment elevation acute myocardial infarction.

Introduction: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are expressed in atherosclerotic plaques. Acute coronary syndromes may be precipitated by MMPs through degradation of the fibrous cap and subsequent plaque disruption. Serine proteases such as plasmin activate MMPs and may contribute to plaque events.

Interleukin-18: interleukin-10 ratio and in-hospital adverse events in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Introduction: Inflammatory mechanisms contribute to the development of acute coronary syndromes (ACS), and it has been suggested that an imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory responses may be an important determinant of recurrent cardiac events in this setting. Both increased serum levels of interleukin (IL)-18 and reduced concentrations of IL-10 have been shown to have prognostic significance in ACS. We sought to assess whether the ratio of serum IL-18/IL-10 levels has higher positive predictive value than the individual measurement of IL-10 and IL-18 in patients admitted to hospital with ACS.

N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and matrix metalloproteinases in early and late left ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction.

N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) is a predictor of left ventricular remodeling. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) contribute to collagen breakdown that is associated with ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We assessed the association between circulating levels of NT-pro-BNP, MMP-2, and MMP-9 and their inhibitor (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1) early (24 and 72 hours) and late (7 and 30 days) after AMI in 108 patients who had ST-elevation AMI (90 men; mean age 60 years).

Clotting state after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation: a haemostasis index could detect the relationship with the arrhythmia duration.

BACKGROUND: Fibrin D-dimer levels have been advocated as an useful clinical marker of thrombogenesis. HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that i) there is a hyperclotting state after the return of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm, ii) the measurement of plasma D-Dimer levels might be a good screening tool of this clotting status, and iii) the duration of arrhythmia influences the haemostasis measured by plasma D-Dimer levels. METHODS: Forty-two patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing cardioversion were divided into two groups: in Group A (n = 24,14 male, 56 +/- 11 years) the duration of atrial fibrillation was 72 hours or more (142.

Atrial fibrillation and hypercoagulability: dependent on clinical factors or/and on genetic alterations?

Unlabelled: It is well known that atrial fibrillation is associated with high incidence of thromboembolic events, propably due to a prothrombotic or hypercoagulable state. However, it is unclear whether or not there is any difference of this prothrombotic state in the clinical subgroups of atrial fibrillation patients, that is, in those with paroxysmal, persistent or permanent atrial fibrillation. From the other side the role of the arrhythmia duration on the changes of coagulative variables in atrial fibrillation patients is not clearly enough.

Anti-inflammatory cytokine profile in acute coronary syndromes: behavior of interleukin-10 in association with serum metalloproteinases and proinflammatory cytokines.

Background: The anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) downregulates the production of metalloproteinases (MMPs) and upregulates the production of their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs). The aim of this study was to assess the levels of IL-10 in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and unstable angina (UA), as well as to investigate the relationship of circulating IL-10 with the levels of MMPs (MMP-1, -2, -9), their tissue inhibitor (TIMP-1), pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha) and serum lipids in the same patient population.

Methods: Serum MMP-1, -2, -9, TIMP-1, IL-6, TNF-alpha and IL-10 were measured by ELISA assays in 23 patients with AMI and 20 patients with UA after their hospital admission, as well as in 16 healthy controls subjects.