New heart bypass surgery study findings recently were published by A.H.M. Vanstraten and co-researchers.

"There is limited evidence that increased preoperative levels of C-reactive protein are associated with increased mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting. We retrospectively investigated in 5669 patients the predictive value of preoperative C-reactive protein levels for early and late mortalities after coronary artery bypass grafting," scientists writing in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery report (see also Heart Bypass Surgery).

"Patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting between January 2000 and December 2007 (n = 8500) were studied. Preoperative demographic data and risk factors and outcome data (mortality data) were prospectively collected in a database. Preoperative C-reactive protein levels were retrieved from the laboratory data. In 5669 of 8500 cases, the preoperative C-reactive protein level could be retrieved. Seventy-five patients were unavailable for follow-up. A preoperative C-reactive protein level greater than 10 mg/L was an independent risk factor for early mortality, whereas a level greater than 5 mg/L was a risk factor for late mortality. Other risk factors were age, sex, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, left ventricular ejection fraction less than 35%, peripheral vascular disease, and previous cardiac surgery. We found a higher mean C-reactive protein value in patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction less than 35%(18.5 +/- 33 mg/L) than in those with an ejection fraction greater than 35% (P < .0001). Preoperative C-reactive protein levels can be used in risk stratification in coronary artery bypass grafting surgery," wrote A.H.M. Vanstraten and colleagues.

The researchers concluded: "A C-reactive protein level greater than 10 mg/L is a risk factor for early mortality, whereas a level greater than 5 mg/L is a risk factor for late mortality."

Vanstraten and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (Preoperative C-reactive protein levels to predict early and late mortalities after coronary artery bypass surgery: Eight years of follow-up. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 2009;138(4):954-958).

Additional information can be obtained by contacting M.A.S. Hamad, Catharina Hospital, Dept. of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Brabant Medical School, Michelangelolaan 2, Postbus 1350, NL-5602 ZA Eindhoven, Netherlands.

The publisher of the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery can be contacted at: Mosby-Elsevier, 360 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010-1710, USA.

Keywords: Netherlands, Biotechnology, C Reactive Protein, Cardiology, Cardiovascular, Coronary Artery Bypass Graft, Coronary Artery Disease, Coronary Disease, Heart Bypass Surgery, Heart Disease, Medical Device, Proteomics, Surgery, Surgical Technology.

This article was prepared by Heart Disease Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Heart Disease Weekly via NewsRx.com.

Source Citation
"New heart bypass surgery study findings recently were published by A.H.M. Vanstraten and co-researchers." Heart Disease Weekly 8 Nov. 2009: 78. Academic OneFile. Web. 3 Nov. 2009. .

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