The Role of CT Angiography of Coronaries in Early Diagnosis of Coronary Artery Plaques in Albanian People with No History of Cardiovascular Disease in Correlation with Traditional Risk Factors.

Objective: To evaluate the role of CT angiography of coronaries (CTAC) in the diagnosis of subclinical atherosclerosis by detection of coronary artery plaques (CAP) in a group of consecutive albanian individuals with no history of coronary artery disease (CAD) or acute coronary syndrome and to investigate the relation between the prevalence of CAP, traditional risk factors and the expected 10-year risk of fatal cardiovascular event (CVE) based on our own experience.

Method And Technique: This is a prospective study including 456 patients with no history of CAD who underwent CTAC in our hospital from September 2009 to March 2013. Risk estimation of fatal CVE was assessed using Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) and then CT scan was performed with a 64 detector CT, including Ca Score and angiography of coronaries with iv contrast.

The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio was associated with impaired myocardial perfusion and long term adverse outcome in patients with ST-elevated myocardial infarction undergoing primary coronary intervention.

Objectives: In the present study we aimed to reveal any probable correlation between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (N/L ratio) and the occurrence of no-reflow, along with assessment of the prognostic value of N/L ratio in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Background: The N/L ratio stands practically for the balance between neutrophil and lymphocyte counts in the body, which can also be utilized as an index for systemic inflammatory status.

Methods: In our study, we included 204 consecutive patients suffering from STEMI who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Effect of serum gamma-glutamyl transferase levels on myocardial perfusion and long-term prognosis after primary angioplasty in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) level was found to be elevated in plasma of patients with cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of our study was to assess the relationship between serum GGT levels and the occurrence of no-reflow as well as to evaluate the prognostic value of GGT in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) population.

Methods And Results: One hundred sixty-eight consecutive patients with STEMI who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were enrolled in the study.

The relationship between saphenous coronary bypass graft occlusion and serum gamma-glutamyltransferase activity.

Objectives: Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity has been shown to be associated with progression of atherosclerosis. We evaluated the relationship between serum GGT levels and saphenous vein bypass graft disease at least one year after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

Study Design: The study included 125 consecutive patients who had undergone CABG surgery with at least one saphenous vein graft (SVG) and were referred to cardiac catheterization for stable anginal symptoms or positive stress test results at least one year after CABG surgery.