We report the findings on selective coronary angiography in nine patients with atrial myxomas. The angiograms were obtained because the patients were suspected of having coronary artery disease. In each case, the diagnosis of myxoma had been made earlier by echocardiography. Coronary angiography in five (55%) of the nine patients showed neovascularity in the tumor without calcification. In one ...

BACKGROUND Vitamin D deficiency, as a predisposing factor for coronary artery disease (CAD), is a subject of increasing interest. However, its role as a risk factor has not been proven. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and CAD. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using a cross-sectional design, 180 patients who were candidates for coronary computed tomography ...

Coronary atherosclerosis is frequently associated with calcification of arterial plaque. To understand the mechanisms responsible for the formation of atherosclerotic calcification, we examined human coronary arteries for the presence and extent of mineral. In sections stained specifically for mineral, staining was diffuse and present in all atherosclerotic plaques. Hydroxyapatite was not detec...

BACKGROUND The purpose of the present study was to determine the natural history of coronary artery and aorta calcification by spiral computed tomography (CT) in patients who undergo a renal transplant and patients on haemodialysis. METHODS Two cohorts were evaluated for the natural history of vascular calcification: (i) 23 patients who underwent a baseline CT scan at the time of renal transp...

OBJECTIVES This study was designed to evaluate whether calcium deposition in the coronary arteries is related to atherosclerotic plaque burden and narrowing of the arterial lumen. BACKGROUND Many studies have recently documented the feasibility of electron beam computed tomography to detect and quantify coronary artery calcification in patients. Although these studies suggest a general relati...

AIMS Available data are insufficient to determine the relation between coronary calcification and coronary events in the general population. We cross-sectionally examined the association between coronary calcification and myocardial infarction in the prospective Rotterdam Coronary Calcification Study. METHODS AND RESULTS From 1997 onwards, subjects were invited for electron-beam computed tomo...

Vascular calcification in coronary artery disease is gaining importance, both in scientific research and in clinical and imaging applications. The calcified plaque is considered the most relevant form of atherosclerosis within the coronary artery tree and is frequently a challenge for percutaneous intervention. Recent studies showed that plaque calcification is dynamic and is strictly related t...

The role of calcification in coronary artery disease is gaining importance, both in research studies and in clinical application. Calcified plaque has long been considered to be the most important atherosclerotic plaque within the arterial tree and frequently presents a challenge for percutaneous intervention. Current investigations have shown that plaque calcification has a dynamic course that...

Recently, the pathogenic role of uric acid (UA) in both systemic metabolic and atherosclerotic diseases has been investigated. We sought to determine the independent correlation between serum UA levels and coronary artery calcification, as a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis. A total of 4188 individuals without prior coronary artery disease or urate-deposition disease were included. All of ...