SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Intervention in chronic total occlusion lesions involves long procedure time, a serious contrast load, and complex procedures. In this study, we aimed to investigate mortality rate of patients who had procedural coronary angiography done for chronic total occlusion lesions in coronary angiography series and who developed contrast-induced nephropathy. METHODS: A total of 218 patients with chronic total occlusion lesion in at least one coronary artery, from three different medical centers, who underwent procedural coronary angiography were recruited for the study. Patient population was divided into two groups: those who developed contrast-induced nephropathy and those who did not. Mortality due to all causes was investigated between both groups throughout a 100-month follow-up. RESULTS: Mean age of patients with incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy was 66.7±11.8, and 23.8% of them were comprised by female. We found a significantly higher mortality in long-term follow-up in the patient group with contrast-induced nephropathy (42.9 vs. 57.1%, p≤0.001). According to Kaplan-Meier analysis performed additionally, survival during follow-up was significantly shorter in this group and, in logistic regression analysis, it was an independent predictor of mortality (OR 3.02; 95%CI 1.41–6.45, p=0.004). CONCLUSION: We identified that the development of contrast-induced nephropathy is associated with long-term mortality. It might be possible to reduce adverse events with prophylactic approaches before the procedure and close follow-up of such patients after the procedure.

OBJECTIVES: The red blood cell distribution width has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. In the present study, we assessed the relationship between red cell distribution width values and cardiac troponin I levels in patients admitted with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome. METHODS: We analyzed blood parameters in 251 adult patients who were consecutively admitted to the intensive coronary care unit with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome over a 1-year period. For all patients, a baseline blood sample was collected for routine hematological testing. Cardiac troponin I was measured at baseline and after 6 h. The patients were diagnosed with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction or unstable angina based on the elevation of cardiac troponin I levels. RESULTS: The red cell distribution width was higher in the group with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction compared with the patient group with unstable angina (14.6±1.0 vs 13.06±1.7, respectively; p = 0.006). Coronary thrombus was detected more frequently in the group of patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction than in the patients with unstable angina (72% vs 51%, respectively; p = 0.007). Using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for the prediction of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction based on the red cell distribution width, the area under the curve was 0.649 (95% confidence interval: 0.546-0.753; p = 0.006), suggesting a modest model for the prediction of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction using the red cell distribution width. At a cut-off value of 14%, the sensitivity and specificity of the red cell distribution width were 73% and 59%, respectively. Additionally, the red cell distribution width was positively correlated with cardiac troponin I (r = 0.19; p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: A greater baseline red cell distribution width value was associated with myocardial injury and elevated cardiac troponin I levels in non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome. Therefore, the red cell distribution width could be considered for risk stratification of acute coronary syndrome patients admitted to emergency departments.