Haematologica 2004;89: supplement no. 8 - Supplements ...

XVIII Congress of the Italian Society for Hemostasis and Thrombosis Research, Rome, Sept. 30-Oct. 3, 2004153This work was supported by Grants from the Ministerodell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca,Rome, Italy.PO-116MICROCIRCULATORY ALTERATIONS AND ENDOTHELIALDYSFUNCTION IN HEART FAILURETurchetti V, Boschi L, Mastronuzzi VMA, Coppola D,Dragoni S, Donati G, Trabalzini L, Forconi SDepartment of Vascular and Geriatric InternalMedicine, University of Siena, ItalyThe aim of our study was to evaluate endotheliumdependentdilatation induced by an ACE-inhibitor,Ca++ antagonist and β-blocker in patients sufferingfrom heart failure (NYHA class II and III). We studied34 patients (19M, 15F, mean age 76,96±8,82) inpharmacological wash-out for at least one week,divided into 3 groups: Group A (15 patients, 9M and6F) taking ramipril (5 mg/die); Group B (10 patients,6M and 4F) taking amlodipine (10 mg/die), Group C:(9 patients, 4M and 5F) taking carvedilole (25mg/die). The groups were homologous for NYHA classand instrumental echographic parameters (mean EF= 22,5±6,7 and mean sAPP 38,4±8,7). At the beginningand after 3 weeks of therapy, we performed aclinical and instrumental assessment; we studiedendothelial function by determination of L-Arginineand L-Citrulline (amino acids of the Nitric Oxidemetabolic pathway), the L-Citrulline/L-Arginine ratio(an index of NOS activity) and VCAM-1 (endothelialdysfunction index); hemorheological parameters(blood viscosity, plasma fibrinogen and erythrocytemorphology); coagulative/fibrinolytic parameters (PT,aPTT, fibrinogen and PAI-1). The results show that L-Citrulline and L-Arginine increase, while VCAM-1decreases. The L-Citrulline/L-Arginine ratio increasesin a statistically significant way. This trend ismaintained in each group. These results demonstratethat the drugs used induce an improvement ofendothelium-dependent dilatation. In addition, thereis progressive haemorheological and fibrinolyticimprovement, with a reduction of PAI-1 and bloodviscosity.PO-117INFLAMMATORY MARKERS AND C-IMT IN PATIENTS WITHPREVIOUS MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION. THE ATORVASTATINEFFECT. MIAMI STUDYArquati M,* Porta B, Camera M,° Tremoli E,°Cortellaro M,* On Behalf Of The Miami StudyGroup*Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, IstitutoPoliclinico San Donato, Milan University, Italy; °Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche, MilanUniversity, ItalyIntroduction: Plasma levels of Hs-CRP may be usefulto select subjects at high risk of cardiovascularevents. This inflammatory marker also helps identifypatients most likely to respond to statins. Aim: Aprospective clinical study was designed to investigate:(i)the regression of CRP levels and other solubleinflammatory markers; (ii)the correlationsbetween levels of Carotid Intima Media Thickness(C-IMT) and soluble markers at different times;(iii)the influence of Hs-CRP levels on C-IMT regression;(iv)the utility of C-IMT as an additional markerto identify patients likely to respond to statins.Materials and Methods: MIAMI is an open, multicenter,independent study. In 100 patients with previousMI (> two months), in stable clinical conditions,with normal cholesterol and blood glucose,receiving atorvastatin (20 mg/daily) for 24 months,the following variables were measured at 0, 12 and24 month: VCAM, ICAM, E-selectins, IL-6, -8, -10, -18, TNF-α, hs-CRP, MMP-9, TF, TFPI, Fg, TC, HDL, LDL,TG, urinary isoprostanes. C-IMT was measured blindlyby computerised determination of images recordedin three examinations. The study started in January2003 and is scheduled to end in December 2005.PO-118EMERGING PROGNOSTIC FACTORS IN ISCHEMIC HEARTDISEASEBrogi D,* Sofi F,* Marcucci R,* Gori AM,*Bandinelli B,* Valente S,° Giglioli C,° Comeglio M,°Margheri M,° Prisco D,* Abbate R,* Gensini GF**Dipartimento di Area Critica Medico-Chirugica,Università degli Studi di Firenze; °DipartimentoCardiologico e dei VasiDifferent studies investigated the role of emerginghaemostasis-related factors on the pathogenesis ofcoronary artery disease but their prognostic valuehave not yet been defined. Aim of our study was toevaluate the prognostic value of emerging geneticand metabolic haemostasis-related risk factors in agroup of consecutive patients referred to the Coro-haematologica vol. 89(suppl. n. 8):september 2004