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SYNTAX Score and Outcomes of Coronary Revascularization in Diabetic Patients

  • Ischemic Heart Disease (D Mukherjee, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Cardiology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review describes the dynamic relationship between diabetes mellitus (DM) and coronary artery disease (CAD) with respect to different revascularization strategies and how angiographic tools such as the Synergy between PCI with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score can supplement clinical decision-making.

Recent Findings

The SYNTAX score characterizes the anatomical extent of CAD in terms of the number of lesions, functional importance, and complexity. Studies not limited to patients with DM suggest that percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a reasonable alternative to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with low-medium SYNTAX scores, while patients with high SYNTAX scores should be revascularized with CABG if operable. Similar findings were also observed for diabetes patients with multivessel disease in retrospective pooled analysis. The SYNTAX II score combines anatomical and clinical risk to improve upon the decision regarding the optimal revascularization strategy. The SYNTAX II score can be applied to patients with DM.

Summary

The SYNTAX scores provide guidance to clinicians faced with determining the optimal revascularization strategy in patients with DM and advanced CAD. Using a heart team approach, the information can be considered along with other factors that influence PCI or CABG risk.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA

    Amartya Kundu

  2. Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Utah Health Science Center, 30 North 1900 East, Room 4A100 SOM, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA

    Partha Sardar & Theophilus Owan

  3. Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA

    Kevin O’Day

  4. Department of Cardiology, Saint Francis Hospital, Teaching Affiliate, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Hartford, CT, USA

    Saurav Chatterjee

  5. Division of Cardiology, Brown Medical School, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA

    J. Dawn Abbott

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  1. Amartya Kundu
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Correspondence to Partha Sardar.

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Conflict of Interest

Amartya Kundu, Partha Sardar, Kevin O’Day, Saurav Chatterjee, and Theophilus Owan declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Dr. J. Dawn Abbott reports clinical trial consulting for Pfizer (antihyperlipidemic therapy) and Recor (renal denervation).

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Ischemic Heart Disease

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Kundu, A., Sardar, P., O’Day, K. et al. SYNTAX Score and Outcomes of Coronary Revascularization in Diabetic Patients. Curr Cardiol Rep 20, 28 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11886-018-0971-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11886-018-0971-1

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