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Background: Endocan is a recently introduced marker of endothelial dysfunction and is also associated with inflammation and atherosclerosis. To date, the relationship between cardiac syndrome X (CSX) and endocan has not been studied. The objective of this study was to compare the serum endocan levels of patients with CSX with those of control subjects.Patients and methods: In this study, 50 patients were included in the CSX group and 28 patients in the control group. Patients with pathological conditions that could potentially influence endothelial functions were excluded. Endocan serum concentrations were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results: The mean endocan level of the CSX group was significantly higher than that of the control group (3051.3 ± 1900.5 ng/l vs. 2088.1 ± 522.2 ng/l; p = 0.002). There was no difference between the two groups in terms of age, gender, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and smoking status. In receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, endocan levels greater than 2072 ng/l had a 72% sensitivity and 54% specificity (p = 0.002) for accurately predicting a diagnosis of CSX.Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that patients with CSX have higher endocan levels. Therefore, endocan may be valuable in helping uncover the underlying pathogenesis of CSX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Tongxinluo Capsule (通心络胶囊, TXL) for patients with cardiac syndrome X (CSX).Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding TXL in the treatment of CSX were searched in Chinese Biomedicine Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Scientific Journal Database, Wanfang Database, PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trial, websites of the Chinese and International Clinical Trial Registry platform up to June 30, 2015. The intervention was either TXL alone or TXL combined with conventional treatment, while the control intervention was conventional treatment with or without placebo. Data extraction, methodological quality assessment and data analyses were performed according to the Cochrane criteria. The primary outcome was a composite event of death, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), angina requiring hospitalization, revascularization, and heart failure. The secondary outcome measures were angina symptom improvement, electrocardiograph (ECG) improvement, and serum endothelin-1 (ET-1) level. The adverse events were also recorded. RevMan 5.3 software was applied for data analyses.Results: Twelve RCTs (696 patients) were included. Compared with conventional treatment, the addition of TXL to conventional treatment showed some benefits on relieving angina symptoms [risk ratio (RR): 1.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.25, 1.71), P<0.01], and improving ECG [RR: 1.45, 95% CI (1.21, 1.74), P<0.01]. The pooled result did not support a benefit of TXL on reducing the incidence of primary outcome [RR: 0.20, 95% CI (0.02, 1.61), P=0.13]. In addition, TXL decreased serum ET-1 concentration of CSX patients [standardized mean number:-1.63, 95% CI (-2.29,-0.96), P<0.01]. No serious adverse events were reported.Conclusions: TXL documents potential benefits on attenuating angina symptoms, improving ECG and decreasing serum ET-1 level for CSX patients. However, more rigorous RCTs with high quality are needed to confirm its efficacy and safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The role of endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of cardiac syndrome X has recently been recognized. Allopurinol has previously been shown to improve endothelial dysfunction, reduce oxidative stress burden, and improve myocardial efficiency. In this “proof of concept” study, we investigated the effect of allopurinol on exercise capacity, coronary and peripheral endothelial function, and serum B‐type natriuretic peptide (BNP: a marker of cardiac function and myocardial ischemia) in patients with cardiac syndrome X. Methods and Results: This study was a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐control crossover trial. Nineteen patients (mean age 59 ± 10 years, 11 women and 8 men) with cardiac syndrome X were randomized to a 6‐week treatment with either allopurinol (600 mg/day) or placebo. After 4 weeks of washout period, they were crossed over to the other arm. Outcomes measured at baseline and after treatment were maximum exercise time (ET) derived from Bruce protocol exercise treadmill test, serum BNP measurement, coronary flow reserve (CFR) as assessed by measuring the response of flow velocity in the left anterior descending artery to adenosine, and flow‐mediated vasodilatation of the brachial artery (FMD). Allopurinol significantly reduced serum uric acid levels when compared with placebo (−48 ± 24% vs 1.9 ± 11%, P < .001). There was no significant difference in maximum ET, CFR, and FMD between allopurinol and placebo. However, there was a trend that allopurinol reduced serum BNP when compared to placebo (−8% [interquartile range −22% to 65%] vs 44% [interquartile range −18% to 140%]; P = .07). Conclusion: In patients with cardiac syndrome X, high‐dose allopurinol did not improve exercise capacity, and coronary or peripheral endothelial function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Nearly 40% of women with typical angina and a positive exercise tolerance test (ETT) have normal or near normal coronary angiography (CAG) labeled as cardiac syndrome X (CSX). Objective: We performed this study to evaluate the power of common cardiovascular risk calculators to distinguish patients with CSX from those with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: 559 women participated in the study. Three risk scores, including (1) newly pooled cohort equation of American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) to predict 10 years risk of first atherosclerotic cardiovascular hard event (ASCVD), (2) Framingham risk score (FRS) for the prediction of 10 years coronary heart disease, and (3) the SCORE tool to estimate 10-year risk of cardiovascular mortality (SCORE), were applied. Results: CAD was diagnosed in 51.5% of the patients. 11.6% of the population had ASCVD < 2.5%, and only 13.8% of these patients had CAD on their CAG. By choosing FRS, 14.4% of patients had FRS < 7.5%, and only 11.3% of these patients had recorded CAD on CAG, while the rest of the patients were diagnosed as CSX. Using the SCORE model, 13.8% of patients had the least value (

Context:Inflammation is one of the mechanisms underlying cardiac syndrome X (CSX). Objectives:Few studies have compared the expression of inflammatory or adhesion molecules between coronary artery disease (CAD) versus CSX. Materials and methods:Ninety-two CSX and 145 CAD subjects without known diabetes mellitus underwent coronary angiogram for angina. Results:Vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 (median, 507 versus 431 ng/ml,p = 0.001) was significantly higher in the CAD group. In the binary regression, VCAM-1 was a significant differential factor for CAD versus CSX. Discussion and conclusion:Adhesion molecules might be implicated in the differential expression of macro versus microvascular coronary disease. Trial registration number:NCT01198730 athttps://clinicaltrials.gov [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:Cardiac syndrome X consist of anginal-like typical chest pain with positive cardiovascular stres test or presence of ischemia on myocardial perfusion scintigraphy but no flow-limiting stenosis on coronary angiography. The more likely pathophysiologic mechanisms for patients with cardiac syndrome X are subsequent microvascular ischemia, endothelial dysfunction and inflammation which may be the explanation of their anginal-like chest pain. Platelet to lymphocyte ratio is a potential biomarker for inflammation, and associated with endothelial dysfunction. We aimed to compare the role of platelet to lymphocyte ratio in patients with cardiac syndrome X and control subjects in this study. Method:The study group consist of 100 patients who underwent coronary angiography and were diagnosed as cardiac syndrome X according to the presence of exercise-induced typical angina pectoris and ischemia on myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with angiographically normal coronary arteries. For control subjects, we recruited 100 healthy gender- and age-matched individuals who were seen for health check-ups. Results:According to comparison of the hematological indices, mean value of the platelet to lymphocyte ratio in study population was higher than control group (260±16 vs 217±14, respectively; p=0.04)whereas the other hematological parameters did not differ between groups significantly. Conclusions:The platelet to lymphocyte ratio, which is easily calculated from routinely studied compete blood count and therefore requires no additional cost might be usefull for the evaluation of cardiac syndrome X based on the results of our study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although ventricular late potential (VLP) was extensively studied in risk stratification of myocardial infarction (MI) patients, comparable researches evaluating presence of VLP in MI-free coronary artery disease (CAD) and cardiac syndrome X (CSX) subjects are scarce. This study aimed to compare presence of VLP between CSX and CAD patients.Methods: Signal average ECG (SAECG) was performed to 49 patients with a history of typical cardiac pain before undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography (DCA) in Al-Shaab cardiac center, Khartoum, Sudan. QRS duration, duration of the terminal part of the QRS complex with amplitude less than 40 microvolts (LAS40) and the root mean square voltage of the terminal 40 milliseconds (RMS40) of the filtered QRS complex were identified for each patient. Presence of two or more of QRS duration > 120 ms, RMS40 > 38 ms and LAS40 < 20 μV was considered indicative of VLP. Associations between VLP and patients grouped according to DCA results were assessed using appropriate statistical tests.Results: VLP was present in 11.11% (3.63%-24.66%) and 15.38% (2.66%-42.23%) of patients with CAD and CSX respectively. Presence of VLP was comparable in patients with CAD and CSX (OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.11-6.05, P = 0.692), even after controlling for the possible variations in gender, age, body mass index (BMI), hypertension and diabetes mellitus in the studied groups.Conclusion: Presence of VLP is comparable among CSX and CAD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The role of elevated whole blood viscosity (WBV) in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is well known. We sought to investigate the gender differences in the association between WBV, coronary blood flow and tissue oxygen delivery index (TODI) in cardiac syndrome X (CSX). Methods: Forty-six CSX patients and 14 healthy volunteers were enrolled. The coronary flow parameters were obtained with transthoracic Doppler echocardiography and WBV was measured (at high-shear and low-shear rates of 300s-1 and 5s-1, respectively) using a scanning capillary tube viscometer. TODI was determined from the ratio of hematocrit to WBV measured at a low-shear rate of 5s-1. Results: In male patients, the mean diastolic coronary flow velocity (CFV) and diastolic velocity time integral (VTI) were significantly decreased compared to control group (all p<0.05) and the WBV showed significant negative correlation with peak systolic CFV (r = -0.559 at 300s-1, r = -0.438 at 5s-1), mean systolic CFV (r = -0.577 at 300s-1, r = -0.488 at 5s-1), systolic VTI (r = -0.576 at 300s-1, r = -0.530 at 5s-1) and diastolic VTI (r = -0.553 at 300s-1, r = -0.551 at 5s-1) (all p<0.01). Meanwhile, although female patients showed no significant relationships between WBV and coronary flow parameters, TODI were significantly decreased compared to the control group (3.64 ± 0.34 vs. 4.07 ± 0.38%/centipoises (cP), respectively, p=0.008). Conclusion: Our study suggests that there are gender-related differences in the pathogenesis of microvascular angina and gender-specific approaches for CSX patients might be needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Cardiac syndrome X (CSX) is a clinical entity that is defined as normal coronary arteries with angina pectoris and objective sins of ischemia. The correlation between CSX and inflammatory markers such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is well established, however an association with pentraxin- 3 (PTX-3) has not been examined. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between PTX-3 and CSX. Study design: A total of 122 patients (58 female, 64 male, mean age 49.6+-5.8 years) with suspected of coronary artery disease (CAD) were included in the study. Those with evidence of ischemia (50 patients with positive treadmill tests, 32 patients with positive myocardial perfusion scintography) underwent coronary angiography (82 patients). Patients with a normal angiogram were considered the CSX group (n=41) and patients with coronary lesions were referred to as the CAD group (n=41). Patients without signs of ischemia served as the control group. Serum PTX-3 and hs-CRP levels were measured in all patients. Results: The CSX group had significantly increased PTX-3 levels relative to the control group (0.46+-0.16 vs. 0.23+-0.09 ng/ml, p

Resumen: El término síndrome X o angina microvascular se emplea habitualmente para definir a un grupo de pacientes que presentan dolor torácico característico, depresión del segmento ST durante el esfuerzo y arterias coronarias angiográficamente normales. Muchos datos apuntan a un posible origen isquémico de los síntomas. Es más frecuente en mujeres y en casi el 50 % de ellas, el dolor anginoso se atribuye específicamente a cambios en la microvasculatura coronaria. Debido a que el pronóstico no es tan benigno como se creía hace años, en pacientes con angina y coronarias epicárdicas normales, se impone una evaluación clínica (incluyendo un cuidadoso análisis de los factores de riesgo) e imagenológica, con el propósito de detectar isquemia funcionalmente significativa. La enfermedad coronaria microvascular es, por tanto, una enfermedad que requiere atención por parte del médico de asistencia. En este artículo se presenta una paciente con este diagnóstico, y se muestran las imágenes electrocardiográficas, ecocardiográfica, ergométricas y angiográficas. / Abstract: The term cardiac syndrome X or microvascular angina is commonly used to describe a group of patients who show a typical chest pain, ST segment depression during exercise and angiographically normal coronary arteries. Many data suggest the symptoms may have an ischemic origin. It is more common in women, and, in almost 50% of them, anginal pain is specifically attributed to changes in the coronary microvasculature. The prognosis is not as benign as it was believed for years; therefore, in patients with angina and a normal epicardial coronary, a clinical and imaging assessment is necessary (including a careful analysis of risk factors) in order to detect a functionally significant ischemia. Therefore, coronary microvascular disease is a condition that requires attention by the attending physician. A patient with this diagnosis is reported in this article, and electrocardiographic, echocardiographic, ergometric and angiographic images are shown.

Objective: Cardiac syndrome x (CSX) is defined as typical exertional angina, one or more abnormal cardiac stress test(s), and normal coronary arteries after exclusion of spontaneous or inducible epicardial coronary spasm. The aim of this study was to investigate cardiovascular adverse events risks in patients with CSX. For this purpose, spatial QRS-T angle that is predictor of these risks was evaluated in patients with CSX and control subjects. Methods: In a retrospective study, a total of 179 subjects (95 patients with CSX, 84 control) were examined. Control subjects had a normal coronary computed tomography. Spatial QRS-T angle value was calculated and compared in patients with CSX and control group, p values <0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of spatial QRS-T angle values [control group spatial QRS-T angle value median 35 (12.5 - 60), CSX group spatial QRS-T angle value median 51 (27 - 115), p<0.001]. Conclusion: According to our results, spatial QRS-T angle value was elevated in patients with CSX than in normal population. Furthermore, these results may indirectly suggest that the risk of adverse cardiac events may be increased in patients with CSX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies assessing effect of ischemia on ventricular repolarization are mostly directed towards patients with coronary artery disease (CAD); however, similar reports on cardiac syndrome X (CSX) are scarce. Whether microvascular dysfunction of CSX and ischemia induced by CAD produce comparable effect on ventricular repolarization is unclear and deserve further studies. In the present study, ECG measures of ventricular repolarization were compared between CAD and CSX patients (40 subjects in each group). Following evaluation of sociodemographic characteristics, medical and past medical history, a resting ECG was used to assess measurements of ventricular repolarization in each patient, namely, QT interval (QT), corrected QT interval (QTc), QT dispersion (QTd), corrected QT dispersion (QTcd), adjacent QT dispersion (AdQTd), QT dispersion ratio (QTdR), JT dispersion (JTd) and Corrected JT dispersion (JTcd). Results showed comparable QT intervals and QTd in CAD and CSX patients even after adjustment for the possible variations in gender, age and body mass index of the studied groups. Although JTd was increased in CSX subjects (26.6±7.2 ms) compared with CAD patients (22.7±6.5 ms, p = 0.019), statistical significance disappeared after correcting JT for variations in heart rate. QT and QTc were significantly below 440 ms in CAD as well as CSX patients (p < 0.001). In contrast, maximum QTd, maximum QTcd and AdQTd of CAD and CSX patients were significantly above 440 ms (p < 0.001). The means of JTd and JTcd were significantly above 22 ms and 24 ms respectively (p < 0.001, p = 0.001) in CSX but not CAD patients (p = 0.529, p = 0.281). The present findings clearly demonstrate comparable measures of ventricular repolarization in CAD and CSX patients and consequently the risk of cardiac events.

OBJECTIVE: Cardiac syndrome X is characterized by angina-lke chest pain, a positive stress test, and normal coronary arteries. A patient's mean platelet volume, which potentially reflects platelet function and activity, is associated with coronary atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the mean platelet volumes of patients with cardiac syndrome X, those with coronary artery disease and normal subjects. METHODS: Two hundred thirty-six subjects (76 patients with cardiac syndrome X, 78 patients with coronary artery disease, and 82 controls) were enrolled in the study. All of the subjects were evaluated with a detailed medical history, physical examination, and biochemical analyses. The mean platelet volumes were compared between the three groups. RESULTS: The mean platelet volumes in the patients with cardiac syndrome X and with coronary artery disease were significantly higher than those that were observed in the control group. There were no significant differences in the mean platelet volumes between the cardiac syndrome X and the coronary artery disease groups. CONCLUSION: We have established that patients with cardiac syndrome X and coronary artery disease exhibit higher mean platelet volumes compared to controls. Patients with cardiac syndrome X exhibited higher mean platelet volumes compared to the controls, reflecting the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis. These findings suggest that, in addition to endothelial dysfunction, the presence of atherosclerosis may also contribute to the etiopathogenesis of cardiac syndrome X.

The Cardiac syndrome X includes patients, mainly women, with the triad of angina pectoris, a positive exercise electrocardiogram for myocardial ischemia and angiographically smooth coronary arteries. The most common manifested clinical symptom in those patients is chest pain. In most cases, the syndrome is associated with debilitating symptomology, increased psychological morbidity and a poor quality of life. All the heterogeneity of the syndrome makes the treatment approaches to those patients unclear and uncertain.

Objective: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with coronary artery disease, hypertension, heart failure, endothelial dysfunction, and metabolic syndrome. The pathophysiology of cardiac syndrome X (CSX) involves many pathways that are influenced by vitamin D levels. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and abnormal blood pressure response to exercise in patients with CSX. Methods: This was a cross-sectional and observational study. Fifty females with normal epicardial coronary arteries who presented with typical symptoms of rest or effort angina and 41 healthy age-matched female controls, were included. Patients with cardiomyopathy, severe valvular disease, congenital heart disease, and left ventricular hypertrophy were excluded. All patients underwent stress electrocardiography examination and 25-hydroxy (OH) vitamin D level measurements. Results: Levels of 25-OH vitamin D were significantly lower in CSX patients (9.8±7.3 ng/mL vs. 18.1±7.9 ng/mL; p<0.001). Systolic blood pressure (SBP) (188±15 mm Hg vs. 179±17 mm Hg; p=0.013) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (98±9 mm Hg vs. 88±9 mm Hg; p<0.001) during peak exercise were higher in CSX patients. Levels of 25-OH vitamin D were negatively correlated with peak SBP (r=-0.310, p=0.004) and peak DBP (r=-0.535, p<0.001) during exercise. To discard the multicollinearity problem, two different models were used for multivariate analyses. In the first model, metabolic equivalents (METs) (p=0.003) and 25-OH vitamin D levels (p=0.001) were independent predictors. METs (p=0.007), 25-OH vitamin D levels (p=0.008), and peak DBP were determined as independent predictors in the second multivariate model. Conclusion: In patients with CSX, 25-OH vitamin D levels were lower than those in controls; moreover, 25-OH vitamin D deficiency was also associated with higher levels of peak DBP during exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies assessing effect of ischemia on ventricular repolarization are mostly directed toward patients with coronary artery disease (CAD); however, similar reports on cardiac syndrome X (CSX) are scarce. Whether microvascular dysfunction of CSX and ischemia induced by CAD produce comparable effect on ventricular repolarization is unclear and deserve further studies. In the present study, ECG measures of ventricular repolarization were compared between CAD and CSX patients (40 subjects in each group). Following evaluation of sociodemographic characteristics, medical and past medical history, a resting ECG was used to assess measurements of ventricular repolarization in each patient, namely, QT interval (QT), corrected QT interval (QTc), QT dispersion (QTd), corrected QT dispersion (QTcd), adjacent QT dispersion (AdQTd), QT dispersion ratio (QTdR), JT dispersion (JTd), and Corrected JT dispersion (JTcd). Results showed comparable QT intervals and QTd in CAD and CSX patients even after adjustment for the possible variations in gender, age and body mass index of the studied groups. Although JTd was increased in CSX subjects (26.6 ± 7.2 ms) compared with CAD patients (22.7 ± 6.5 ms, p = 0.019), statistical significance disappeared after correcting JT for variations in heart rate. QT and QTc were significantly below 440 ms in CAD as well as CSX patients (p < 0.001). In contrast, maximum QTd, maximum QTcd and AdQTd of CAD and CSX patients were significantly above 440 ms (p < 0.001). The means of JTd and JTcd were significantly above 22 ms and 24 ms respectively (p < 0.001, p = 0.001) in CSX but not CAD patients (p = 0.529, p = 0.281). The present findings clearly demonstrate comparable measures of ventricular repolarization in CAD and CSX patients and consequently an equal risk of cardiac events in both groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Cardiac syndrome X (CSX) is characterised by typical exertional chest pain, a positive response to exercise testing, and a normal coronary angiography. The relationship of CSX with myocardial fibrosis and ischemia has been clearly demonstrated in previous studies. In addition, fragmented QRS (fQRS) has been reported in the literature as an indicator of myocardial fibrosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of fQRS in patients with CSX. Methods: This prospective case-control study included 37 patients (CSX group) with typical complaints of angina, ischemia on an exercise test, and normal coronary arteries as detected by angiography and 47 patients (control group) with normal coronary arteries. Echocardiographic examinations were performed according to the recommendations of the American Society of Echocardiography. Continuous variables were expressed as mean±standard deviation (SD), and the qualitative variables were expressed as a percentage or ratio. Data were compared statistically with Shapiro-Wilk test, Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U, chi-square and Fisher exact test. Results: There was no significant difference between the CRX and control groups with respect to basic characteristics such as age and sex. fQRS and the frequency of its presentation with stable angina pectoris at the clinic were significantly higher in the CSX group than in the control group (p values: 0.001 and <0.001, respectively). Conclusion: A close follow-up would be useful in CSX patients in whom fQRS is detected in an electrocardiogram (ECG) because of the association between fQRS and poor prognosis with respect to the prevention of late complications. We believe that the presence of fQRS in the ECG aids in the diagnosis of CSX in clinical practice and in the recognition of this group of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate in patients with cardiac syndrome X (CSX), using validated angiography indices, coronary blood flow and myocardial perfusion of the microcirculation to assess whether there is greater microvascular dysfunction in patients with increase of carotid intima media thickness (C-IMT), compared to those who do not have. Methods Our study was performed on a population 124 patients with CSX that underwent coronary angiography and carotid ultrasound. We divided the sample into two categories: patients with increase of C-IMT and those without increase. We calculated Gibson and Yusuf indices for each patient based on angiographic images, including TIMI Frame Count (TFC), Myocardial Blush Grade (MBG) and Total Myocardial Blush Score (TMBS). Results Our sample compared two groups: patients with increase of C-IMT (n-63) and patients without increase of C-IMT (n-61). We showed that patients with increase C-IMT had a longest TFC of three major coronary arteries (TFC LAD 44.7 ± 12.5; TFC RCA 26.2 ± 6.9; TFC CX 27 ± 5.9), than control group. We found lower MBG on three coronary arteries (MBG LAD 2.5 ± 0.3; MBG RCA 2.3 ± 0.3; MBG CX 2.1 ± 0.32) in patients with increase of C-IMT than control group, with good statistical significance. Conclusion Analysis of microcirculation trough angiography indexes in patients with CSX with increase of C-IMT and without has led to asses that patients with increase of C-IMT population has a greater involvement of microcirculation than patients without. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endothelial dysfunction which is manifested by the loss of nitric oxide bioavailability, is an increasingly recognized cause of cardiac syndrome X (CSX) and beta blockers are used for the treatment of this syndrome. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate effects of metoprolol, as a beta blocker, on endothelial function in CSX patients. The study included 25 CSX patients (20 female/ 5 male, mean age: 55.36± 10.31 years) who received metoprolol (50 mg BID) for one month. In addition, 25 healthy controls (20 female/ 5 male, mean age: 54.32 ± 9.27 years) were enrolled. Levels of endothelin-1, E-selectin, and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in controls and CSX patients were measured, both at the baseline and after the treatment, by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In CSX patients, at the baseline, levels of E-selectin and VCAM-1 were significantly higher than those of the controls. In addition, levels of these biomarkers in CSX patients after the treatment significantly decreased compared to the baseline. In spite of similar tendency, these differences were not significant for endothelin-1. In conclusion, metoprolol therapy improves endothelial function. Thus, it may be a suggested choice for CSX treatment. However, further studies are needed to confirm the clinical significance of metoprolol therapy for CSX patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate left ventricular (LV) systolic strain by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) and real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (3-DE) for the early detection of myocardial dysfunction in patients with cardiac syndrome X (CSX). Methods: We compared 34 patients with CSX (18 females, mean age 47.9±10.0 years) with 41 healthy persons as a control group (23 females, mean age 50.6±9.9 years). Inclusion criteria for CSX were typical angina, a positive exercise ECG stress test, and angiographically documented normal coronary arteries. Exclusion criteria for both groups were hypertension, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathies, inflammatory diseases, myocarditis, vasculitis, arthropathies, Tietze's syndrome, gastrointestinal diseases, aortic diseases, hormone replacement therapy, arrhythmias, liver diseases, and alcohol use. All subjects underwent two-dimensional STE and 3-DE to assess resting LV function. STE measures were taken from the basal septum, mid-septum, apical septum, apex, apicolateral, mid-lateral, basal lateral, anteroseptal, anterior, anterolateral, inferolateral, inferior, and inferoseptal walls. Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and chi-square test were used to statistically analyze data. Results: LV echo ejection fraction (EF) and systolic wave peak velocity were similar for both groups. Regional mean longitudinal strain (-17.7±2.5% vs. -19.8±1.8%; p<0.0001) was significantly lower in patients with CSX than in healthy control patients. However, regional mean circumferential strain values (-22.0±1.6% vs. -22.2±2.3%; p=0.78) did not differ significantly between the two groups. Conclusion: Significant impairment of LV longitudinal myocardial systolic function was detected with STE in patients with CSX, although normal 3-D EF and tissue Doppler imaging systolic parameters were observed. Arteriosclerosis of small coronary arteries and microvascular dysfunction may affect myocardial longitudinal strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared Turkish patients with cardiac syndrome X (CSX) and controls with respect to serum pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels, as well as the single-nucleotide polymorphisms located in the promoter regions of their related genes. This study included 111 consecutive patients angiographically diagnosed with CSX and 111 healthy controls with similar demographic characteristics. Serum interleukin (IL) 6, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and IL-10 levels were measured, and the genotypes of the patients and controls were determined using standard methods. Serum IL-6 and IL-10 levels were significantly higher in the CSX group than in the control group (P < .01, respectively). Serum TNF-α level was lower in the CSX group than in the control group (P < .001). On the other hand, participants with CSX and healthy controls were not significantly different with respect to the genotype distributions of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-10 genes. As a result of our study, both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines may play a role in the pathogenesis of CSX. In contrast, the studied gene polymorphisms did not influence CSX pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Up to half of patients with signs and symptoms of stable ischemic heart disease have non-obstructive coronary artery disease (NoCAD). Recent evidence demonstrates that two-thirds of patients with NoCAD have demonstrable coronary endothelial dysfunction represented by microvascular or diffuse epicardial spasm following acetylcholine challenge. Patients with coronary endothelial dysfunction are recognized to have significant health services use and morbidity as well as increased risk of developing flow-limiting coronary artery disease and myocardial events, including death. Currently, there are few centers that test for this etiology owing to lack of knowledge, limited evidence for treatment options and invasive diagnostic strategies. This article reviews the pathophysiology, epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of coronary endothelial dysfunction as a subgroup of NoCAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Cardiac X syndrome is defined in patients with normal coronary angiogram who has typical chest pain and objective myocardial ischemia evidence. Recent studies have evaluated the association between vitamin D deficiency (vit D def) and cardiovascular diseases. Our aim of this study was to compare serum vit D levels in patients with syndrome X and controls. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included 66 patients (49 women, 17 men) with syndrome X and 47 (30 women, 17 men) healthy controls. All of the patients' demographic features, laboratory analysis and medications are recorded. Vit D is measured quantitatively by paramagnetic particle chemiluminescence method. RESULTS: Mean age of the syndrome X group was higher than controls (56 ± 9.2 vs. 49 ± 9.6 years p < 0.001). Body mass index was higher in the patient group than controls (31.2 ± 5.6 vs. 29.1 ± 4.7 kg/m2 p: 0.011). Vit D levels were significantly lower in the syndrome X group than controls (6 ± 5.2 vs. 11.9 ± 7 ng/ml, p < 0.001). Parathormone levels were significantly higher in the syndrome X group than the control group (38.3 ± 23.4 vs. 28 ± 17.2 pg/ml, p: 0.014). hsCRP levels were higher in the syndrome X group than controls (3.1 ± 5.4 vs. 1.8 ± 2.4 mg/L, p: 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated significantly lower vit D levels in patients with CSX. This finding is correlated with previous studies showing an inverse correlation with lower serum vit D levels and different types of cardiovascular diseases. Vit D def may be a risk factor for syndrome X. Vit D def related increased inflammation may lead to the development of endothelial dysfunction and microvascular angina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]