[Microthrombi in coronary heart disease]

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Hematology
• Microcirculation Research

Context:

• Coronary heart disease (CHD) affects a significant portion of the population, with microvascular dysfunction playing a critical role.
• The presence and significance of microthrombi in the conjunctival microcirculation of CHD patients have not been fully elucidated.
• Understanding microthrombi formation is crucial for assessing disease severity and therapeutic response in CHD.

Purpose:

• To investigate the prevalence of microthrombi in the conjunctival microcirculation of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).
• To correlate microthrombi formation with clinical symptoms, electrocardiogram (ECG) findings, hemodynamic parameters, and specific biochemical markers (TXB2, 6-kero-PGF1a).
• To evaluate the prognostic value of microthrombi in CHD patients, including their impact on mortality and the efficacy of treatments like heparin.

Summary:

• A study of 180 CHD patients found microthrombi in the conjunctival microcirculation in 23.9% of cases.
• Microthrombi formation and number correlated significantly with CHD symptoms, ECG abnormalities, hemodynamic indices, and plasma levels of TXB2 and 6-kero-PGF1a.
• Patients with microthrombi exhibited a higher mortality rate, particularly sudden deaths, compared to those without microthrombi.

Impact:

• Microthrombi serve as a critical indicator for assessing the current state, treatment effectiveness, and prognosis of coronary heart disease patients.
• The findings support the use of conjunctival microthrombi assessment to guide therapeutic decisions, such as the administration of heparin.
• This research highlights the importance of microvascular assessment in the comprehensive management of coronary heart disease.