Objective: In this study we aimed to investigate whether serum C- reactive protein (CRP) levels are related with the incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and selection of management approaches in stable angina pectoris (SAP). Methods: Overall 134 patients (pts) with SAP and positive exercise stress test were investigated. All pts were divided into two groups according to the baseline levels of CRP. In group 1 (mean age 57.8±10.3 years) there were 41 pts with the level of CRP >0.50mg/dl (high levels of CRP) and group 2 consisted of 93 pts (mean age 56.0±11.7 years) with the CRP levels <0.50mg/dl (normal levels of CRP). We investigated the relationship between CRP levels with coronary artery disease and treatment strategies. Results: There were no significant differences in age, sex, hypertension and hyperlipidemia between groups. In group 1 (n=41 pts) 36 pts, and in group 2 (n=93) 58 pts had CAD (p= 0.004). We found statistically significant relationship between high levels of CRP and smoking and diabetes mellitus. After adjustment of these risk factors by multivariate regression analyses the CRP association with CAD become attenuated but was still statistically significant (p=0.03). Conclusion: In this study we found that high level CRP is an independent strong marker of CAD in middle-aged patients with stable angina and positive treadmill exercise test. There was no correlation between CRP levels and interventional procedures.

Objective: Surgical treatment of rheumatic valvular disease still constitutes a significant number of cardiac operations in developing countries. Despite improvements in myocardial protection and cardiopulmonary bypass techniques, triple valve operations (aortic, mitral and tricuspid valves) are still challenging because of longer duration of cardiopulmonary bypass and higher degree of myocardial decompensation. This study was instituted in order to assess results of triple valve surgery. Methods: Between 1977 and 2002, 34 patients underwent triple valve surgery in our clinic by the same surgeon (EB). Eleven patients underwent triple valve replacement (32.4%) and 23 underwent tricuspid valve annuloplasty with aortic and mitral valve replacements (67.6%). Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups of patients who underwent triple valve replacement and aortic and mitral valve replacement with tricuspid valve annuloplasty. There were 4 hospital deaths (11.8%) occurring within 30 days. The duration of follow-up for 30 survivors ranged from 6 to 202 months (mean 97 months). The actuarial survival rates were 85%, 72%, and 48% at 5, 10, and 15 years respectively. Actuarial freedom from reoperation rates at 5, 10, and 15 years was 86.3%, 71.9%, and 51.2%, respectively. Freedom from cerebral thromboembolism and anticoagulation-related hemorrhage rates, expressed in actuarial terms was 75.9% and 62.9% at 5 and 10 years. Major cerebral complications occurred in 10 of the 30 patients. Conclusions: We prefer replacing, if repairing is not possible, the tricuspid valve with a bileaflet mechanical prosthesis in a patient with valve replacement of the left heart who will be anticoagulated in order to avoid unfavorable properties of bioprosthesis like degeneration and of old generation mechanical prosthesis like thrombosis and poor hemodynamic function. In recent years, results of triple valve surgery either with tricuspid valve conservation or valve replacement in suitable cases have become encouraging with improvements in surgical techniques and myocardial preservation methods.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to examine the levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) and binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and their relationship with prognosis. Methods: Thirty patients with ACS (22 male, 8 female) were included in our study. Patient’s population included 20 patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and 10 with non-ST-elevation ACS. Death, re-infarction, revascularization and malignant arrhythmia were monitored during 3 months. Study group was compared with 20 healthy subjects (Controls). Blood samples were collected in the first 24 hours and at the end of third month. Serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels were determined by radioimmunoassay method. Results: We found decreased level of IGF-I only in the STEMI group (105±84 ng/ml vs. 715±150 ng/ml, p<0.0001). There were no significant differences in IGFBP-3 levels between two groups. Serum IGF-I levels were significantly increased after 3rd month in the STEMI group (356±72 ng/ml vs. 105±84 ng/ml, p=0.025). There was no relationship between IGF-I, IGFBP-3 levels and cardiovascular events occurred during 90 days of follow-up. Conclusion: These data allows to suggest that significantly decreased level of IGF-I in STEMI group of ACSs can be used as a marker of myocardial necrosis. There was no relationship between IGF-I level and cardiovascular events occurred in 90 days, so this parameter can not be used as a negative prognostic factor.

Objective: The assessment of short duration early clarithromycin treatment on major cardiac events in acute coronary syndrome patients Methods: One hundred and thirteen patients with acute coronary syndrome had been enrolled in the study in a prospective manner. Fifty-seven of 113 patients received peroral clarithromycin 1g/day for 14 days in addition to standard therapy. The remaining 56 patients were considered as control group. The treatment and control groups had similar major cardiac risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and smoking habits. The occurrence of unstable angina pectoris, non-ST elevation myocardial infarction and ST elevation myocardial infarction was comparable in both groups. The use of thrombolytic therapy and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor blockers administration was also similar in both groups. The patients were followed for major cardiac events for 6 months. Results: During the follow-up, no difference was observed between groups in the occurrence of unstable angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, the need for revascularization with percutaneous coronary intervention or cardiac surgery and cardiac death. We observed a reduction of myocardial infarction and cardiac death occurrence and an increase in the necessity of percutaneous interventions in the treatment group even though this difference did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: No benefit of short duration early clarithromycin therapy was observed in the occurrence of major cardiac events in acute coronary syndromes. Studies with longer treatment and follow-up period using different antibiotics are necessary to elucidate the possible effect of antibiotics on major cardiac events in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the myocardial performance index (MPI) and left ventricular (LV) geometry in hypertensive patients. Methods: The MPI, which is a marker of systolic and diastolic ventricular function, was measured in 64 hypertensive patients and in 15 healthy persons (Control). According to the value of relative wall thickness (RWT) and LV mass index (LVMI), hypertensive patients were subdivided into four groups: normal (N), 17 patients (26.6%); concentric remodeling (CR), 21 patients (32.8%); concentric hypertrophy (CH), 16 patients (25%); and eccentric hypertrophy (EH), 10 patients (15.6%). Results: A higher MPI was found in all patient groups (N, 0.56 ± 0.11; CR, 0.59 ± 0.11; CH, 0.68 ± 0.19; EH, 0.57 ± 0.10) compared with the controls (0.44 ± 0.09) (p = 0.004, p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). In the CH group, the MPI was also higher than in N, CR and EH groups (p = 0.006, p < 0.03 and p = 0.009, respectively). No significant difference was found among N, CR and EH groups. The MPI was correlated with LVMI (r = 0.28, p = 0.014), RWT (r = 0.24, p = 0.035) and interventricular septum diastolic thickness (r = 0.32, p = 0.004). Conclusion: The systolic and diastolic LV functions are impaired in all subgroups of hypertensive patients according to their LV geometry compared to control group. This impairment is more advanced in patients with concentric hypertrophy than in those with the other LV geometric patterns.

Objective: Rheumatic heart disease is still a major health problem in developing countries. The impact of coronary artery disease (CAD) on or its relation to rheumatic fever is not well established. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of CAD and atherosclerotic risk factors in patients who underwent valvular surgery due to rheumatic heart disease. Methods: The records of 346 patients who had undergone rheumatic valvular surgery in a university hospital between 1996 and 2002 were evaluated. Results: Coronary angiography was performed in 218 (63%) patients, of whom 41 (18.8%) had CAD. The mean age of the patients having CAD and normal coronary arteries were 57.3 and 50.5 years respectively (p<0.001). In the study population patients with CAD had significantly increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus (14.6% vs. 4.5%; p=0.02), hypertension (36.6% vs. 16.4%; p=0.003), smoking (51.2% vs. 23.2%; p=0.001) and family history of CAD (39.5% vs. 20.0%; p=0.01) compared to patients with normal coronary arteries. However, the prevalence of dyslipidemia was similar in both groups (45.9% vs. 36.4%; p=0.1). Conclusion: These findings suggest that coronary artery disease prevalence in rheumatic valvular disease patients is similar to the normal population of same age. In cases where invasive assessment of valvular lesions is not indicated we suggest coronary angiography to be performed only in patients having clinical suspicion of CAD or multiple risk factors.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of low dose dobutamine (LDD) on various diastolic function parameters in patients without wall motion abnormality. Methods: Thirty-one volunteer patients who had no regional wall motion abnormality were included in the study. Echocardiographic measurements were taken both at pre-dobutamine and during LDD infusion. The peak E velocity, A velocity, the E/A ratio, deceleration time (DT), isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT), myocardial performance index (MPI) and flow propagation velocity (FPV) were assessed as left ventricular diastolic function parameters. Tissue Doppler velocities were also obtained in order to calculate the E/Em and Em/Am ratios. Results: No significant changes were observed in heart rate, E velocity, A velocity, E/A ratio, E/Em ratio, Em/Am ratio, systolic and diastolic blood pressure with LDD. With LDD, DT (239±40 msec vs. 201±31 msec, p<0.001), IVRT (109±12 msec vs. 94±11 msec, p<0.001) and MPI (0.57±0.15 vs. 0.44±0.22 p<0.001) were found to be decreased, while there was an increase in FPV (45±8 cm/s vs. 59±10 cm/s, p<0.001) and ejection fraction (64±6% vs. 66±7%, p<0.05). Conclusion: Low dose dobutamine (5mcg/kg of body weight) improves left ventricular relaxation in patients with normal wall motion, while it has no effect on left ventricular filling pressure index.

Multi-organ failure may occur due to activation of systemic inflammatory process with many other factors in open-heart procedures when cardiopulmonary bypass is used. Activation of systemic inflammatory process may cause postoperative complications. Surgical trauma, contact of blood with foreign surface, endotoxemia and ischemia-reperfusion injury are major factors that contribute to activation of inflammatory response. In this review we purposed to investigate the factors which contribute to the systemic inflammatory process, multiorgan dysfunction and the therapeutic modalities during open heart surgery.

Serum concentrations of lipids, lipoproteins, and apolipoproteins (apo) among Turkish adults have been reviewed in this paper whereby stratification by gender and age groups was provided, together with a description of differences by geographic regions and urban-rural areas. Most of the knowledge was derived from the prospective population-based Turkish Adult Risk Factor (TEKHARF) Study, having already a 13 years’ follow-up, but data contributed by the Turkish Heart Study were also outlined. In the setting of a prevalence of metabolic syndrome in 3 out of 8 Turkish adults, Turks have low levels of total cholesterol (mean 185 mg/dl), LDL-cholesterol (mean 116 mg/dl), and HDL-cholesterol (mean 37 and 45 mg/dl in men and women). The latter is associated with comparatively high concentrations of triglycerides (mean 143 mg/dl) and of apo B (mean 115 mg/dl). This suggests that small, dense LDL particles (pattern B) prevail in this population though studies are missing in this regard. In line with this notion are the high levels of total/HDLcholesterol ratio (mean 5.3 in men, 4.5 in women). It is remarkable that women exhibit identical LDL-cholesterol levels as men. The lipid parameter that has changed strikingly since 1990 are the rising triglycerides, accompanying a similar trend in (abdominal) obesity. On multivariate analysis, the best independent lipid predictor of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk among Turks is the TC/HDL-C ratio. A 2-unit increment of TC/HDL-C adds an excess of 68% to both the nonfatal and fatal CHD event risk. When ratios of ≥5.5 in men and ≥5 in women are considered as high risk, slightly more than one-third of Turkish adults, corresponding to 12 million adults, are included by these criteria into high-risk group. A major portion of Turkish adults harbouring total cholesterol concentrations in the 180-200 mg/dl range are at high risk, and we stress the opinion that the upper normal limit of total cholesterol be reduced to 180 mg/dl in Turks, at least in men.