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Objective: Previous studies show that serum fibrinogen levels are established risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) and that serum albumin levels are of a higher specificity and sensitivity in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). In this study, we sought to evaluate the association between fibrinogen to albumin ratio (FAR) and the extent and severity of CAD evaluated by TAXUS Drug-Eluting Stent Versus Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery for the Treatment of Narrowed Arteries (SYNTAX) Score (SS) in patients with STEMI.Methods: A total of 278 patients with STEMI were included in the study. FAR was calculated using specified variables. The extent and severity of CAD were evaluated using the SS. The patients were divided into low- (SS <22) and high- (SS ≥22) risk groups. A Spearman rank correlation coefficient analysis was used for the relationship between FAR and SS. The cutoff points for sensitivity and specificity of FAR in predicting SS were estimated by performing a receiver operator characteristic curve analysis.Results: There were significant differences in the mean age (P=.016), admission serum albumin (P=.041), serum fibrinogen (P<.001), FAR (P<.001), and SS risk groups. Positive correlation was detected between FAR and SS (r=0.458, P<.001). A cutoff level of >87 FAR predicted SS (sensitivity, 70%; specificity, 70%), and an area under the curve of 0.758 serum fibrinogen and albumin level was an independent predictor for SS in patients with STEMI (b=0.039; 95% confidence interval, 0.016-0.062; P=.001 and b=-6.906; 95% confidence interval, -12.284 to -1.527; P=.013, respectively).Conclusion: In the present study, we showed that FAR is significantly related to SS in predicting the severity of CAD in patients with STEMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the presence of a statistical association between epicardial fat thickness (EFT) and coronary artery disease (CAD) and between flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) and CAD. Methods: We measured the EFT and FMD in 64 subjects with suspected stable angina pectoris. The patients were separated into two groups according to their coronary angiography results: 34 patients with CAD and 30 patients with normal coronary arteries (NCA). Results: EFT was significantly higher in the patients with CAD than the NCA group (6.43 d:0.90mm vs. 5.35 ± 0.75 mm, p < 0.001 ) while FMD was significantly lower in the patients with CAD than those in the NCA group (6.41 ±2.51% vs. 8.33±3.45%, p = 0.015). No significant correlation was found between EFT and FMD. After adjustment for EFT, FMD, age, sex, ejection fraction, glucose, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol through multivariate logistic regression analysis, EFT (odds ratio: 6.325,95% confidence interval 2.289-17.476, p < 0.001 ) and age (odds ratio: 1.093, 95% confidence interval 1.008-1.185, p = 0.032) remained significant predictors of CAD. A cut-off value of EFT ≥ 5.8 mm predicted the presence of CAD with 77% sensitivity and 70% specificity. Conclusion: An echocardiographic EFT assessment is independently associated with the presence of CAD. Thus, EFT may be helpful in cardiometabolic risk stratification and therapeutic interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We report a case of isolated pericardial hydatidosis as a cause of chest pain. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]