Effects of increasing particle size of low-density lipoprotein on restenosis after coronary stent implantation

Atherogenic Index of Plasma and the Risk of In-Stent Restenosis in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome beyond the Traditional Risk Factors

AIM

Recently, the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) has been proposed as a novel, reliable plasma atherogenicity marker. This study aimed to investigate the association of AIP with the risk of in-stent restenosis (ISR) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

METHODS

This study retrospectively enrolled patients with ACS followed by angiography within 6 to 18 months after successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with a drug-eluting stent (DES). And the participants were divided into ISR or non-ISR groups based on the angiographic follow-up results. AIP was defined as the base 10 logarithm of the ratio of serum triglyceride (mmol/L) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (mmol/L).

RESULTS

This study recruited 1319 patients with ACS, 199 of which had ISR. Compared with the non-ISR group, patients in the ISR group had higher level of AIP (0.199±0.290 vs 0.131±0.282, p=0.002). In the multiple logistic regression analysis, AIP was an independent risk factor for DES-ISR (OR=2.100, 95% CI 1.134 to 3.891, p=0.018). When we modulated AIP as a categorical variable, the risk of DES-ISR increased in quartile 4 compared to quartile 1 (OR=1.713, 95% CI 1.040 to 2.822, p=0.034). Furthermore, this association remains stable in various subgroups. Unexpectedly, the subgroup analysis suggested AIP and DES-ISR had a stronger positive association in individuals with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ＜1.8 mmol/L.

CONCLUSIONS

AIP and the risk of DES-ISR were positively and independently correlated in patients with ACS, especially in those with an LDL-C ＜1.8 mmol/L.

Small Dense LDL: Scientific Background, Clinical Relevance, and Recent Evidence Still a Risk Even with 'Normal' LDL-C Levels

Residual cardiovascular disease event risk, following statin use and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction, remains an important and common medical conundrum. Identifying patients with significant residual risk, despite statin drug use, is an unmet clinical need. One pathophysiologic disorder that contributes to residual risk is abnormal distribution in lipoprotein size and density, which is referred to as lipoprotein heterogeneity. Differences in low density lipoprotein (LDL) composition and size have been linked to coronary heart disease (CHD) risk and arteriographic disease progression. The clinical relevance has been investigated in numerous trials since the 1950s. Despite this long history, controversy remains regarding the clinical utility of LDL heterogeneity measurement. Recent clinical trial evidence reinforces the relevance of LDL heterogeneity measurement and the impact on CHD risk prediction and outcomes. The determination of LDL subclass distribution improves CHD risk prediction and guides appropriate treatment.

Incidence and risk factors of in-stent restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients from southern China

Background

In-stent restenosis (ISR) remains a challenge for coronary artery disease (CAD) patients who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stents, and risk factors for ISR are controversial. This study aimed to investigate the incidence and risk factors of ISR in patients from southern China.

Methods

In this retrospective study, patients diagnosed as acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and underwent successful PCI with drug-eluting stent (DES) and conducted a follow-up coronary angiography in Center for Cardiovascular Diseases of Meizhou People’s Hospital at the period of January 1st, 2016 to January 1st, 2021 were included for analysis. The clinical and angiographic factors were compared between patients in ISR ( +) and ISR (−) groups. The association between variables and ISR was evaluated by multivariate logistic regression model.

Result

A total of 341 ACS patients who had been installed at least 1 stent were included in this study. The follow-up time was 34.2 ± 17.2 months. During the follow-up period, 62 (18.2%) patients experienced ISR, and the average time for ISR was 32.8 months; the incidence of ISR for left main coronary artery, left anterior descending coronary artery, left circumflex artery coronary artery and right coronary artery were 6.7%, 20.9%, 19.4% and 14.4%, respectively; left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), stent number, stent type, statin therapy, antiplatelet therapy were significantly different between patients in ISR ( +) and ISR (−) group. Multivariate logistic analysis suggested that LVEF and stent number were significantly correlated with ISR.

Conclusion

Our study revealed the incidence and risk factors of ISR in patients from southern China. Our data suggested that LVEF and stent number were independent risk factors associated with ISR.

Diagnostic value of microRNA-143 in predicting in-stent restenosis for patients with lower extremity arterial occlusive disease

Purpose

This study was conducted to explore the diagnostic value of microRNA-143 (miRNA-143) in predicting in-stent restenosis (ISR) of lower extremity arterial occlusive disease (LEAOD).

Methods

From February 2012 to March 2015, 165 patients (112 males and 53 females) with LEAOD undergoing interventional treatment were enrolled in this study. Serum miRNA-143 expression was detected using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Patients were assigned into the restenosis and non-restenosis groups according to routine surveillance postoperative angiography. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the risk factors for ISR in LEAOD patients. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to evaluate the diagnostic value of miRNA-143 in predicting ISR for LEAOD patients.

Results

There were 74 and 91 patients in the restenosis and non-restenosis groups, respectively. Before the treatment, there were significant differences in history of diabetes, smoking status, blood sugar level (BSL) at admission, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level, and stent diameter between the restenosis and non-restenosis groups (all P < 0.05). Serum miRNA-143 expression was lower in the restenosis group than in the non-restenosis group (P < 0.05). Serum miRNA-143 expression in the restenosis group was correlated with smoking status, history of diabetes, BSL, and LDL-C (all P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that miRNA-143, LDL-C, and smoking status were correlated with the postoperative ISR (all P < 0.05). ROC curve analysis revealed that the area under the curve (AUC) of miRNA-143 in predicting ISR for LEAOD patients was 0.866.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that miRNA-143 can be a promising tool for predicting the ISR in LEAOD patients.

Thrombin-Induced Platelet-Fibrin Clot Strength Identified by Thrombelastography: A Novel Prothrombotic Marker of Coronary Artery Stent Restenosis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

In-stent restenosis (ISR) is a limitation of percutaneous coronary intervention and has been linked to specific clinical and angiographic variables. We aimed to simultaneously assess thrombosis biomarkers and lipid levels in patients with and without ISR.

METHODS

Consecutive patients (n = 170) with a history of coronary stenting undergoing elective angiography were studied. Blood samples for thrombelastography, light transmittance aggregometry, and lipid levels were obtained prior to cardiac catheterization.

RESULTS

Sixty-nine patients (41%) had ISR (>50% luminal diameter stenosis). Among patients with ISR, 40 (58%) had ISR in more than one stent bed. Patients with ISR were more often female (37.7% vs. 21.8%, P = 0.04), had higher thrombin-induced platelet-fibrin clot strength (TIP-FCS) (69.9 mm vs. 65.6 mm, P < 0.001), and a higher ApoB/A1 ratio (0.65 vs. 0.59, P = 0.03). In patients on dual antiplatelet therapy (n = 86), there were no differences in ADP-, arachidonic acid-, and collagen-induced platelet aggregation between groups. The frequency of patients with ISR increased with TIP-FCS quartiles and by ROC analysis, TIP-FCS = 67.0 mm was the cutpoint for identification of ISR (AUC = 0.80 (95%CI 0.73-0.87, P < 0.0001). By multivariate analysis, TIP-FCS ≥67.0 mm strongly associated with ISR (OR = 7.3, P = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

Patients with ISR identified at the time of cardiac catheterization have a prothrombotic phenotype indicated by high TIP-FCS, a novel marker. Studies to confirm the prognostic utility of high TIP-FCS for the development of ISR are ongoing.

Small dense low density lipoprotein particles are associated with poor outcome after angioplasty in peripheral artery disease

Purpose

In patients suffering from symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD), percutaneous revascularization is the treatment of choice. However, restenosis may occur in 10 to 60% in the first year depending on a variety of factors. Small dense low density lipoprotein (sdLDL) particles are associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular events, but their role in the process of restenosis is not known. We conducted a prospective study to analyze the association of sdLDL particles with the outcome of balloon angioplasty in PAD. The composite primary endpoint was defined as improved walking distance and absence of restenosis.

Methods

Patients with angiographically documented PAD of the lower extremities who were scheduled for lower limb revascularization were consecutively recruited for the study. At baseline and at three month follow-up triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL size and subclasses and HDL cholesterol and ankle-brachial index (ABI) were measured. Three months after the intervention duplex sonography was performed to detect restenosis.

Results

Sixty-four patients (53% male) with a mean age of 68.6±9.9 years were included. The proportion of small- dense LDL particles (class III and IV) was significantly lower (33.1±11.0% vs. 39.4±12.1%, p = 0.038) in patients who reached the primary end-point compared with those who did not. Patients with improved walking distance and without restenosis had a significantly higher LDL size at baseline (26.6±1.1 nm vs. 26.1±1.1 nm, p = 0.046) and at follow-up (26.7±1.1 nm vs. 26.2±0.9 nm, p = 0.044) than patients without improvement.

Conclusions

Small-dense LDL particles are associated with worse early outcome in patients undergoing percutaneous revascularization for symptomatic PAD.

Cholesterol forms and traditional lipid profile for projection of atherogenic dyslipidemia: lipoprotein subfractions and erythrocyte membrane cholesterol

Atherogenic dyslipidemia characterized by abnormal changes in plasma lipid profile such as low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and increased triglyceride (TG) levels is strongly associated with atherosclerotic diseases. We aimed to evaluate the levels of pro- and antiatherogenic lipids and erythrocyte membrane cholesterol (EMC) content in normo- and dyslipidemic subjects to investigate whether EMC content could be a useful marker for clinical presentation of atherogenic dyslipidemia. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), HDL and their subfraction levels and erythrocyte lipid content were determined in 64 normolipidemic (NLs), 42 hypercholesterolemic (HCs) and 42 mixed-type dyslipidemic subjects (MTDs). Plasma atherogenic lipid indices [small–dense LDL (sdLDL)/less-dense HDL (LHDL), TC/HDL-C, TG/HDL-C and Apo B/AI] were higher in MTDs compared to NLs (p < 0.001). The highest sdLDL level was observed in HCs (p < 0.01). Despite a slight increase in EMC level in dyslipidemic subgroups, the difference was not statistically significant. A significant negative correlation, however, was observed between EMC and sdLDL/LHDL in HCs (p < 0.035, r = −0.386). Receiver operating characteristic curves to predict sdLDL level showed that TG and EMC levels had higher area under curve values compared to other parameters in HCs. We showed that diameters of larger LDL and HDL particles tend to shift toward smaller values in MTDs. Our results suggest that EMC content and TG levels may be a useful predictor for sdLDL level in hypercholesterolemic patients.