5, 53.4, 19.8, 20.4 and 12.6% of cases. The overall SCAD de novo recurrence was 7% (ES 0.07, 95% confidence interval, 0.04-0.10, I2 = 65.3%). On meta-regression, we found discharge medications at index admission, including β-blockers, ACE inhibitors, statins, as well as baseline cardiac risk factors, did not correlate with recurrence.

SCAD recurrence is common, occurring in 7% of patients over medium-term follow up. No specific medications at discharge were found to reduce recurrence. Further long-term and prospective data are required.

SCAD recurrence is common, occurring in 7% of patients over medium-term follow up. No specific medications at discharge were found to reduce recurrence. Further long-term and prospective data are required.Chest pain and dyspnea are common presentations for symptomatic individuals with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) in the primary care office and cardiology clinics. However, it is imperative to properly diagnose who should undergo further evaluation for cardiac etiologies of chest pain, with either noninvasive or invasive imaging tests. The purpose of this review is to highlight the role of coronary artery calcium (CAC) score as a screening tool for symptomatic patients to detect CAD. The purpose of CAC scoring is to establish the presence and severity of coronary atherosclerosis that can play a vital role in symptomatic patients. The use of CAC testing in symptomatic patients has traditionally been limited due to fundamental concerns, including the occurrence of coronary calcification relatively late in the atherosclerotic process and high prevalence of CAC in the population. Further issue relates to its low specificity for obstructive CAD, as well as demonstration of significant ethnic variability in plaque composition and calcification patterns. CAC testing gained attention as an inexpensive, rapid, reproducible and a well-tolerated alternative to exclude CAD in symptomatic patients and defer further invasive imaging tests. This article will review the available literature in regard to the use of CAC in symptomatic populations.

Coronary artery perforation (CAP) is an uncommon but serious complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The aim of this study was to compare early and late clinical outcomes of CAP in patients with or without acute coronary syndromes (ACS).

A retrospective review was made of the procedural records of 15 878 patients who underwent PCI at two large tertiary centers between January 2012 and December 2018. A total of 51 (0.32 %) CAP cases were identified.

Of the 51 CAP cases, 26 (51.0%) patients had ACS and 25 (49%) patients had stable coronary artery disease (CAD). The major cause of perforation was stenting (43%). Cardiac tamponade was more frequent in the ACS group than stable CAD group (34.6 vs. 8%; P = 0.024). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the overall 30-day cardiovascular mortality rate was higher in patients with ACS than stable CAD (23.1 vs. 0%; P = 0.011). At the 3-year follow-up examination, no statistically significant difference was determined between the two groups in respect of all-cause mortality (36.1 vs. 28.4%; P = 0.262). Multivariable Cox regression analysis demonstrated left ventricular ejection fraction (hazard ratio, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.89-0.99; P = 0.033) but not ACS at presentation (hazard ratio, 1.39; 95% CI, 0.37-5.20; P = 0.628) as a predictor of mortality at 3 years.

Early clinical outcomes following CAP, including cardiac tamponade and 30-day cardiovascular mortality, were significantly worse in patients with ACS compared to stable CAD.

Early clinical outcomes following CAP, including cardiac tamponade and 30-day cardiovascular mortality, were significantly worse in patients with ACS compared to stable CAD.

Functional assessment of coronary stenoses is crucial for determining the correct therapeutic strategy. Age-related modifications in cardiovascular function could alter the functional significance of an intermediate coronary lesion. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of age on fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurements in patients with intermediate coronary artery disease.

We included patients undergoing coronary angiography at our Division of Cardiology from June 2008 to February 2019 for elective indication or recent acute coronary syndrome and receiving FFR assessment for an intermediate coronary stenosis (angiographic 40-70% stenoses). FFR measurement was performed by pressure-recording guidewire (Prime Wire; Volcano Imaging System Philips Healthcare, San Diego, California, USA), after induction of hyperemia with intracoronary boluses of adenosine (from 60 to 720 μg, with dose doubling at each step).

We included in our study 276 patients, undergoing FFR evaluation ate CAD are more likely to have higher FFR values and lower duration of hyperemia after adenosine boluses, as compared with younger patients.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between Nutritional Risk Index (NRI), a simple tool to assess nutritional status, and coronary artery disease severity and complexity in patients undergoing coronary angiography.

This study is a retrospective analysis of 822 patients undergoing coronary angiography. Patients with previous revascularization were excluded. Gensini and SYNTAX scores were calculated according to the angiographic images to determine atherosclerosis severity. NRI was calculated as follows NRI = [15.19 × serum albumin (g/dl)] + [41.7 × (body weight/ideal body weight)]. In patients ≥65 years of age, Geriatric NRI (GNRI) was used instead of NRI. GNRI was calculated as follows GNRI = [14.89 × serum albumin (g/dl)] + [41.7 × (body weight/ideal body weight)]. Patients were then divided into three groups as previously reported NRI < 92, NRI 92-98 and NRI > 98. Gensini and SYNTAX scores were compared between three groups.

The mean age of study population was 61.9 ± 11.1 years. NRI < 92, 92-98, and >98 was measured in 212, 321 and 289 patients, respectively. There was no difference regarding to sex, BMI, smoking, hypertension and diabetes mellitus between three groups. Patients with NRI < 92 had the highest mean Gensini score than the patients with NRI 92-98 and NRI > 98 (38.0 ± 40.6 vs. 31.17 ± 42.4 vs. Saracatinib 25.8 ± 38.4, P = 0.005). Also patients with NRI < 92 had the highest mean SYNTAX score than the patients with NRI 92-98 and NRI > 98 (11.8 ± 12.9 vs. 9.3 ± 12.4 vs. 7.7 ± 11.8, P = 0.001). Also, Gensini score of ≥20 and high SYNTAX score of ≥33 were associated with lower NRI (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively).

In our study, nutritional status evaluated by the NRI was associated with more extensive and complex coronary atherosclerosis in patients undergoing coronary angiography.

In our study, nutritional status evaluated by the NRI was associated with more extensive and complex coronary atherosclerosis in patients undergoing coronary angiography.