Does Sulfur Mustard (HD) have an accelerating effect on CABG in HD-exposed people? Is it a link?

Introduction: Sulfur mustard or HD is a chemical warfare agent that causes extensive incapacitating injuries to the skin, respiratory tract and eyes. Cardiac dysrhythmias occurs only in high dose early exposure to HD. Searching medical Databases; no more documents were found addressing cardiac complications of HD. There is only one report concerning long-term cardiac effects of HD. Material and Methods: Nine war-time (1980s) HD-exposed and 113 non-exposed male patients (aged 39-88 years) have been candidate for CABGs were randomly selected. Data were collected through interview and reviewing of individual patient's documents and then analyzed using SPSS version 11.5 with application of T-test, Chi-square and Fisher’s exact test. Results: Mean age was 47.78 (SD±7.26) and 60.48 (SD±9.67) for HD-exposed and non-exposed group respectively. Statistically; there was a significant (P<0.001) differentiation between the two groups. HD-exposed also showed significantly (P<0.001) less physicalactivities than non-exposed. Relative Risks (RR) for hypercholesterolemia in HD-exposed group were 1.13 (CI 95%: 1.06-1.21). Despite minimal differentiations, we didn't statistically find any significant differentiation in other risk factors of CAD. Discussion: HD exposed subjects suffer from respiratory complications can lower their physical activities. Sedentary lifestyle and hypercholesterolemiawe found in HD-exposed group may associate with some degrees of coronary complications. More studies in the fieldare needed for role out or accepting coronary arteries complications of HD. (Clin Exp Med Lett 2007; 48(1):11-13)

Keywords: revascularization, CAD, ihd, coronary