Bleeding on probing, increased probing pocket depth, caries or fillings in childhood were associated with increased IMT 27 years later, independent of cumulative exposure to CV risk factors.

This observational study showed prognostic value of IL-1β for acutely decompensated HF (ADHF) in those with high sST2 (IL-1 receptor) levels, and a meaningful correlation between IL-1β and sST2.

In a secondary analysis of the VISTA-16 trial, hsCRP levels measured at the time of ACS and increases of hsCRP in the 16 weeks after, were correlated with MACE, all-cause and CV death.

Large population-based study with 10 years follow-up showed that frequent tooth brushing and regular dental visits lower the risk of CV events associated with oral health problems.

In the ANITSCHKOW study, 16 weeks of treatment with evolocumab in patients with elevated Lp(a) levels, did not significantly alter arterial wall inflammation, despite lowering Lp(a) by 14%.

AHA 2018 In the ANITSCHKOW study, patients with very high Lp(a) were treated with evolocumab 420 mg once monthly. The 14% lowering in Lp(a) was not sufficient to eliminate the inflammatory stimulans induced by Lp(a).

Patients with HF with LVEF >40% showed greater total epicardial fat content, which was not related to BMI. Epicardial fat volume was associated with the presence of AF and T2DM.

AHA 2018 Paul Ridker outlines how the new CIRT results add to our understanding of inflammation biology in relation to CV risk and how this directs future studies of inflammation.

AHA 2018 Low-dose methotrexate did not lower IL-1β, IL-6 and CRP levels, nor did it reduce atherosclerotic events in patients with stable CAD, suggesting that the IL-1β to IL-6 to CRP pathway is important for atheroprotection.

A retrospective study showed that a high percentage of patients undergoing PCI have persistent high residual inflammatory risk, which results in a higher one year rate of all-cause death and myocardial infarction.

A retrospective study showed better SBP during antihypertensive therapy and lower risk of antihypertensive treatment failure in hypertensive patients with good oral health, as compared with those with periodontitis.

ESC 2018 Biomarkers play an important role in CV risk prediction. Nina Paynter, PhD, presents the definition of a good biomarker and explains how deep learning can improve CV risk assessment.