Browsing by Author "Kovacevic-Kostic, Natasa (15728235800)"

Background: The aim of our study was to evaluate the degree of genetic homozygosity in the group of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), as well as to evaluate morphogenetic variability in CAD patients regarding the presence of investigated risk factors (RF) compared to a control sample of individuals. Additionally, we aimed to evaluate the distribution of ABO blood type frequencies between tested samples of individuals. Methods: This study analyzed individual phenotype and morphogenetic variability of 17 homozygously-recessive characteristics (HRC), by using HRC test in a sample of 148 individuals in CAD patients group and 156 individuals in the control group. The following RF were analyzed: hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and smoking. Results: The mean value of HRC in CAD patients is significantly higher, while variability decreases compared to the control sample (CAD patients: 4.24 ± 1.59, control sample: 3.75 ± 1.69; VCAD-patients = 37.50%, VC = 45.07%). There is a significant difference in individual variations of 17 HRC between control sample and CAD patients (χ2 = 169.144; p < 0.01), which points out to different variability for tested genes. Mean values of HRC significantly differed in CAD patients in regard to the number of RF present. A blood type (OR = 1.75) is significant predictor for CAD, while O blood type (OR = 0.43) was significantly associated with controls. Conclusion: There is a higher degree of recessive homozygosity in CAD patients versus individuals in the control sample, and the presence of significant variations in the degree of recessive homozygosity as the number of tested RF increases. © 2018 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

In the current article, 3 cases of aortic aneurysm and dissection in pregnant patients with Marfan's syndrome are reported. It is well known that pregnancy is a risk factor for the development of aortic aneurysm and dissection in women with Marfan's syndrome since it is shown that dissection can develop both before and after labor. Marfan patients with an aortic root diameter greater than 4 cm should undergo preconceptual counseling for surgical aortic repair before pregnancy. Pregnant Marfan patients with an aortic aneurysm should be closely and continuously evaluated by multidisciplinary specialists in order to prevent possible aortic dissection that could be fatal for both the mother and the fetus.

Aims: To determine the frequency of asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis in patients with coronary artery disease and to what degree the extent of coronary artery disease and presence of certain risk factors can be indicators of carotid artery stenosis in asymptomatic patients. Material and methods: Retrospective evaluation of consecutive patients that underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) during one year without symptoms or signs of carotid artery stenosis. The pre-operative Doppler ultrasonography in color and B-mode, using Siemens Accuson Antares machine, was used to determine the presence and the degree of carotid artery stenosis. Patients were divided according to the presence of significant (≥50%) carotid artery stenosis. The same doctor performed all examinations. Following variables were analysed: Age, gender, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, cholesterol, triglycerides and echocardiographic variables obtained from transthoracic echocardiography - the presence of aortic wall sclerosis, aortic valve sclerosis and mitral valve calcification. Results: We have demonstrated that in 18/272 (7.1%) of patients referred to CABG with hemodynamically significant carotid artery stenosis had asymptomatic stenosis. The risk of presence of carotid artery stenosis was more significant in those older than 60 years (OR 2.58; 95% CI 0.98-6.77, p=0.047) and in patients with left main coronary artery stenosis (OR 8.92; 95% CI 3.2-24.83, p < 0.001). Other investigated variables had no significant influence (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The presence of asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis is strongly associated with the presence of left main coronary artery stenosis and with age older than 60 years. Noninvasive screening for carotid disease is reasonable in these subgroups of patients referred to CABG.

We analyzed morphogenetic variability and degree of genetic homozygosity in male and female individuals with coronary artery disease (CAD) versus unaffected controls. We have tested 235 CAD patients; 109 were diagnosed also with diabetes mellitus (DM) and 126 with hypertension (HTN). We additionally evaluated 152 healthy individuals without manifested CAD. For the evaluation of the degree of recessive homozygosity, we have performed the homozygously recessive characteristics (HRC) test and tested 19 HRCs. In controls, the frequency of HRC for males was 2.88 ± 1.89, while for females, it was 3.65 ± 1.60. In the CAD group, the frequency of HRC for males was 4.21 ± 1.47, while for females, it was 4.73 ± 1.60. There is significant difference in HRC frequencies between controls and CAD separately for males (p < 0.001) and females (p < 0.001). The same applies between controls and CAD with DM (males: p < 0.001 and females: p = 0.004), and controls and CAD with HTN (males: p < 0.001 and females: p < 0.001). There is no significant difference in HRC frequencies between the group of CAD with DM and the group of CAD with HTN (males: p = 0.952 and females: p = 0.529). Our findings point to the increased degree of recessive homozygosity and decreased variability in both genders of CAD patients versus controls, indicating the potential genetic predisposition for CAD. © 2018 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.