The role of chemokine CCL5/RANTES and metalloproteinase-9 as inflammatory modulators in symptomatic internal carotid artery stenosis.

Up to 80% of all ischemic strokes (IS) attributed to internal carotid athero-occlusive artery stenosis (ICAS) are related to a thromboembolic mechanism. One athero-occlusive ischemic event increases the risk for ischemia in another vascular territory, resulting from inflammation within the atherosclerotic plaque induced by cytokines. Thus, ultrasonographic characteristics of vulnerable plaques in ICAS, including plaque echolucency and ulceration might correspond to cytokine activity.

Serum rantes, transforming growth factor-β1 and interleukin-6 levels correlate with cardiac muscle fibrosis in patients with aortic valve stenosis.

Regulated on Activation Normal T Expressed and Secreted (RANTES) chemokine is involved in the initiation of inflammation and immune-cell recruitment. Interleukin -6 (IL-6) is used as a general index of severity of the chronic inflammatory process. Finally, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is an immune biomarker potentially involved in the regulation of valve fibrosis and calcification.

Antithrombotic medications and their impact on fibrin clot structure and function.

Fibrin constitutes a major protein component of intravascular thrombi in all locations. Fibrin formation and its functions are essential for physiological hemostasis and the pathologic thrombosis. Formation of dense fibrin networks which are relatively resistant to lysis is observed in patients with venous or arterial thromboembolism, including myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke and venous thromboembolism.

Prothrombotic Fibrin Clot Phenotype in Patients with Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism: A New Risk Factor for Recurrence.

Prothrombotic fibrin clot phenotype, involving faster formation of dense meshwork composed of thinner and highly branched fibers that are relatively resistant to plasmin-induced lysis, has been reported in patients with not only myocardial infarction or stroke, but also venous thromboembolism (VTE), encompassing deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and/or pulmonary embolism (PE). Prothrombotic fibrin clot phenotype, in particular prolonged clot lysis time, is considered a novel risk factor for VTE as well as venous thrombosis at unusual location, for example, cerebral sinus venous thrombosis, retinal vein obstruction, and Budd-Chiari syndrome. Growing evidence from observational studies indicates that abnormal fibrin clot properties can predict recurrent DVT and PE and they are involved in serious complications of VTE, for example, thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and postthrombotic syndrome.

Effect of Evolocumab on Progression of Coronary Disease in Statin-Treated Patients: The GLAGOV Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Reducing levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) with intensive statin therapy reduces progression of coronary atherosclerosis in proportion to achieved LDL-C levels. Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors produce incremental LDL-C lowering in statin-treated patients; however, the effects of these drugs on coronary atherosclerosis have not been evaluated.

Objective: To determine the effects of PCSK9 inhibition with evolocumab on progression of coronary atherosclerosis in statin-treated patients.

Fibrin clot properties in women heterozygous for factor V Leiden mutation: effects of oral contraceptives.

Introduction: Oral contraceptives (OC) in the presence of factor V Leiden mutation (FVL) markedly increase the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Little is known about the OC and FVL-related alterations in fibrin clot properties.

Subjects And Methods: Plasma fibrin clot permeability (K(s)) and efficiency of lysis, reflected by clot lysis time (CLT) and the rate of D-dimer release from clots (D-D(rate)) induced by recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) were determined in 25 women with a family history of VTE who were heterozygous for FVL [FVL(+/-) - twice, on third-generation OC and after their discontinuation.