Peripheral Vascular Disease and Carotid Artery Disease Are Associated with Decreased Bile Acid Excretion.

Low bile acid excretion (BAE) is associated with a higher risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and cerebrovascular disease (stroke). This study investigated BAE in patients with peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and carotid artery disease (CA) and those without these diseases, compared to patients with CAD, stroke, or no evidence of atherosclerosis. Patients with complaints of chest pain-suspected CAD, syncope, stroke/TIA, severe headache, intermittent claudication, or falls were enrolled.

Low Cholesterol Levels in Younger Heart Failure Patients May Predict Unfavorable Outcomes.

Hypercholesterolemia is a main risk-factor leading to ischemic heart disease (IHD). However, among patients with heart failure, the use of lipid lowering drugs in the presence of low cholesterol might be dangerous. This 18-year longitudinal study of patients ≤51 years old investigated the relationship between baseline total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and triglyceride levels, and survival among patients with severe HF.

Apolipoprotein E (APOE) Genotypes in the Israeli population.

Background: APOE genotype strongly affects plasma lipid levels and risk for cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline. Studies of apo-e allelic and APOE genotype frequencies among several populations have revealed interesting ethnic variations that might affect cardiovascular morbidity and cognition deterioration.

Objectives: To evaluate apo-e allelic frequency among Israeli newborns based on known variances in apo-e allelic frequencies in different countries.

Usefulness of cardiac biomarkers for prognosis of better outcomes in chronic heart failure: Retrospective 18-year follow-up study.

Brain natriuretic peptide is an established, surrogate follow-up marker, strongly correlated with heart failure severity. Several other biomarkers and tests are useful for assessing the prognosis of patients with HF, such as oxidized low-density lipoprotein antibodies and C-reactive protein. Some inflammatory cells, including monocytes, lymphocytes, and neutrophils, are involved in coronary heart disease and may be useful for prognosis also.

Reduced bile acid excretion is an independent risk factor for stroke and mortality: A prospective follow-up study.

Background And Aims: Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis, which is a cornerstone of coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke, peripheral vascular disease, aortic aneurysm and renal artery stenosis. This study investigated the association of bile acid excretion (BAE) with stroke incidence and mortality.

Methods: Patients admitted to Internal Medicine due to chest pain and suspected CAD were enrolled and followed from 1/1998 to 12/2018.