Background Nitric oxide (NO) functions as a negative regulator of platelet aggregability, predominantly via activation of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC); this is also relevant to the clinical efficacy of NO donors in management of acute coronary syndromes. However, we have discovered that acute coronary syndromes are associated with attenuation of platelet responsiveness to NO donors, independ...

Background/Aim. Inflammation due to infection could be associated with the development of acute coronary syndromes, clinical manifestations of ongoing atherosclerosis in vessel walls. Our aim was determine whether interleukin 6, C-reactive protein and Chlamydia pneumoniae IgG antibodies are connected with the development of acute coronary syndromes, to evaluate their interrelationship and to ex...

We present the case of a 65-year-old man with type 2 diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, salicylate allergy and diagnosed ischemic heart disease since 2000. The patient, despite intensive pharmacotherapy according to European Society Cardiology guidelines insertion as many 11 stents into coronary arteries, had persistent recurrent acute syndromes, including 4 myocard...

Current treatment modalities for patients with acute coronary syndromes center on early diagnosis, risk stratification and, increasingly, early treatment including invasive approaches. The appropriate timing of these invasive modalities in the context of the overall treatment program remains an area of controversy. Specifically, studies in the past recommended a period of medical 'stabilization...

Background- Adaptive immune-response is associated with a worse outcome in acute coronary syndromes. Statins have anti-inflammatory activity beyond lowering lipid levels. We investigated the effects of ex-vivo and in-vivo atorvastatin treatment in acute coronary syndromes on CD4+T-cells, and the underlying molecular mechanisms.Approach and results- Blood samples were collected from 50 statin-na...

Introduction: Recent studies showed relation between mortality and bleeding in acute coronary syndromes. Objective: The objective is to analyze the prognosis of patients with acute coronary syndromes with or without in-hospital major and/or minor bleedings. Methods: This was a prospective data bank analysis study with 546 patients (39 with bleeding (group I) and 507 without bleeding (group II))...

BACKGROUND Some small studies have related higher levels of thyrotropin (TSH) to potentially worse prognosis in acute coronary syndromes. However, this relationship remains uncertain. OBJECTIVE To analyze the outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndromes in relation to the value of TSH at admission. METHODS Observational and retrospective study with 505 patients (446 in group I [TSH ≤ ...

OBJECTIVE Patients with acute coronary syndromes have an increased risk of stroke. We measured markers of inflammation in the MIRACL study, a randomized trial of atorvastatin versus placebo in acute coronary syndromes, to assess the relationship of inflammation to stroke. METHODS AND RESULTS Baseline C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were collected in 2...

Microvascular damage is frequently observed in the setting of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Imaging of the microcirculation is playing an increasingly important role in the risk stratification of patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes, furthering our understanding about coronary microcirculatory patho-physiology in this setting. Of the available imaging methods, cardiac magnetic re...

The wide variety of anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents available for clinical use has made choosing the optimal antithrombotic regimen for patients with acute coronary syndromes undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention a complex task. While there is no single best regimen, from a risk-benefit ratio standpoint, particular regimens may be considered optimal for different patients. We revi...