COVID-19 myopericarditis: It should be kept in mind in today's conditions

A 78-year-old patient with acute respiratory distress was transferred to our hospital with ST segment elevation on electrocardiography. Coronary angiography revealed normal coronary arteries. Thorax computerized tomography showed ground glass opacification with consolidation in the lungs and mild pericardial effusion demonstrating myopericarditis associated with COVID-19. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Patients with HFpEF and HFmrEF have different clinical characteristics in Turkey: A multicenter observational study

Mert, Kadir Ugur/0000-0002-1331-5365WOS: 000459940500024PubMed: 30446354Background: To determine and compare the demographic characteristics, clinical profile and management of patients with heart failure with mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in a Turkish cohort. Methods: The APOLLON trial (A comPrehensive, ObservationaL registry of heart faiLure with mid-range and preserved ejection fractiON) is an observational and multicenter study conducted in Turkey. Consecutive patients admitted to the cardiology clinics who were at least 18 years of age and had HFmrEF or HFpEF were included (NCT326114). Results: The study population included 1065 (mean age of 67.1 +/- 10.6 years, 54% women) patients from 12 sites in Turkey. Among participants, 246 (23.1%) had HFmrEF and 819 (76.9%) had HFpEF. Compared to patients with HFpEF, those with HFmrEF were more likely to be male (57.7 vs 42.2%; p < 0.001), had higher N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels (853 vs 528 pg/ml, p < 0.001), were more likely to have ECG abnormalities (72.4 vs 53.5%, p < 0.001) and hospitalization history for heart failure (28 vs 18.6%; p = 0.002). HFmrEF patients were more likely to use beta-blockers (69.9 vs 55.2%, p < 0.001), aldosterone receptor antagonists (24 vs 14.7%, p = 0.001), statins (37 vs 23%, p < .001), and loop diuretics (39.8 vs 30.5%, p = 0.006) compared to patients with HFpEF. Conclusions: The results of APOLLON study support that the basic characteristics and etiology of HFmrEF are significantly different from HFpEF. This registry also showed that the patients with HFmrEF and HFpEF were younger but undertreated in Turkey compared to patients in western countries

INCREASED ARTERIAL STIFFNESS MEASURED BY CAROTID FEMORAL (AORTIC) PULSE WAVE VELOCITY IN PATIENTS WITH INACTIVE BEHCET'S DISEASE

Introduction Behcet's disease (BD) is a chronic, multisystemic disease characterised by vascular involvement. Acute and chronic inflammatory processes associated with BD may cause endothelial dysfunction, which can then lead to a subsequent increase of arterial stiffness and altered pressure wave reflections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurements in patients with inactive BD and control subjects

Successful treatment of massive pulmonary embolism with low-dose tissue plasminogen activator after meniscus surgery

Pulmonary embolism is a life-threatening disease which represents with high mortality and morbidity. Systemic fibrinolysis is the first-line recommended therapy in hemodynamically instable patients with massive pulmonary embolism. Systemic fibrinolytic treatment remains controversial for pulmonary embolism after surgery due to high risk of hemorrhage. Herein, we report a 49-year-old man with massive pulmonary embolism after meniscus surgery, successfully treated with low-dose prolonged infusion of tissue type plasminogen activator

Gender disparities in heart failure with mid-range and preserved ejection fraction: Results from APOLLON study

Mert, Kadir Ugur/0000-0002-1331-5365WOS: 000468584800003PubMed: 31062760Objective: This study aimed to examine gender-based differences in epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and management of consecutive patients with heart failure with mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Methods: The APOLLON trial (A comPrehensive, ObservationaL registry of heart faiLure with mid-range and preserved ejection fractiON) is a multicenter, cross-sectional, and observational study. Consecutive patients with HFmrEF or HFpEF who were admitted to the cardiology clinics were included (NCT03026114). Herein, we performed a post-hoc analysis of data from the APOLLON trial. Results: The study population included 1065 (mean age of 67.1 +/- 10.6 years, 54% women) patients from 11 sites in Turkey. Compared with men, women were older (68 years vs. 67 years, p<0.001), had higher body mass index (29 kg/m(2) vs. 27 kg/m(2), p<0.001), and had higher heart rate (80 bpm vs. 77.5 bpm, p<0.001). Women were more likely to have HFpEF (82% vs. 70.9%, p<0.001), and they differ from men having a higher prevalence of hypertension (78.7% vs. 73.2%, p=0.035) and atrial fibrillation (40.7% vs. 29.9%, p<0.001) but lower prevalence of coronary artery disease (29.5% vs. 54.9%, p<0.001). Women had higher N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (691 pg/mL vs. 541 pg/mL, p=0.004), lower hemoglobin (12.7 g/dL vs. 13.8 g/dL, p<0.001), and serum ferritin (51 ng/mL vs. 64 ng/mL, p=0.001) levels, and they had worse diastolic function (E/e'=10 vs. 9, p<0.001). The main cause of heart failure (HF) in women was atrial fibrillation, while it was ischemic heart disease in men. Conclusion: Clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, and etiological factors are significantly different in female and male patients with HFmrEF and HFpEF. This study offers a broad perspective for increased awareness about this patient profile in Turkey

Comparison of clinical characteristics of patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction with atrial fibrillation versus sinus rhythm: Insights from the APOLLON registry

WOS: 000526091700003PubMed: 32281959Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the clinical characteristics of patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) and compare them with those of HFpEF patients without AF. Methods: This study was a sub-group analysis of a multicenter, observational, and cross-sectional registry conducted in Turkey (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03026114). Patients with HFpEF were divided into 2 groups: HFpEF with AF and HFpEF with sinus rhythm (SR), and the clinical characteristics of the groups were compared. Results: In a total of 819 HFpEF patients (median age: 67 years; 58% women), 313 (38.2%) had AF. Compared to the patients with SR, those with AF were older (70 years vs 66 years; p<0.001) and more symptomatic, with a higher rate of classification as New York Heart Association functional class III IV, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, orthopnea, palpitations, fatigue, pulmonary crepitations, and peripheral edema. The hospitalization rate for heart failure was higher (28.4% vs 12.6%; p<0.001) in patients with AF, and participants with AF had higher level of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (887 pg/mL vs 394.8 pg/mL; p<0.001) and higher left atrial volume index level. Patients without AF had a higher burden of diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, and coronary artery disease. The prescription rate of nondihydropyridine calcium blockers, digoxin, loop diuretics, and anticoagulant drugs was higher in the AF group. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that in a large Turkish cohort with HFpEF, significant clinical differences were present between those with and without AF and. Further prospective studies are needed to clarify the prognostic implications of AF in this growing heart failure population in our country

Systemic immune-inflammation index predicts mortality in infective endocarditis

© 2019 The AuthorsObjectives: The aim of our study was to evaluate the usefulness of systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) at admission in predicting in-hospital mortality in patients with infective endocarditis. Methods: 133 definite IE patients (≥18 years) according to modified Duke criteria, treated in our tertiary care hospital between December 2009 and May 2019, were retrospectively analysed. Symptoms, comorbidities, predisposing valvular diseases, prosthetic valve, device, history of injectable drug use, blood culture results, echocardiography findings, and complications were collected. We calculated the SII as follows: SII = platelet count × neutrophil count/lymphocyte count at admission. Results: The median age of the patients was 56 (40–66) years. Prosthetic valve disease was the most frequent predisposing valve lesion. Staphylococcus species were the most common microorganisms. The most frequent complication was in-hospital mortality (22%) followed by renal failure. Older population, syncope, increased inflammatory markers, high systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAPs), heart failure, renal failure, and septic shock were associated with high mortality. However age, syncope, hypocalcemia, not going to surgery, and SII were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. According to receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the optimal SII cut-off value for predicting mortality was 2314 (area under the curve 0.641; P = 0.019). Conclusion: We demonstrated that high SII levels are independently associated with in-hospital mortality. The SII may be a promising prognostic predictor for patients with infective endocarditis

Systemic immune-inflammation index predicts mortality in infective endocarditis

© 2019 The AuthorsObjectives: The aim of our study was to evaluate the usefulness of systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) at admission in predicting in-hospital mortality in patients with infective endocarditis. Methods: 133 definite IE patients (≥18 years) according to modified Duke criteria, treated in our tertiary care hospital between December 2009 and May 2019, were retrospectively analysed. Symptoms, comorbidities, predisposing valvular diseases, prosthetic valve, device, history of injectable drug use, blood culture results, echocardiography findings, and complications were collected. We calculated the SII as follows: SII = platelet count × neutrophil count/lymphocyte count at admission. Results: The median age of the patients was 56 (40–66) years. Prosthetic valve disease was the most frequent predisposing valve lesion. Staphylococcus species were the most common microorganisms. The most frequent complication was in-hospital mortality (22%) followed by renal failure. Older population, syncope, increased inflammatory markers, high systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAPs), heart failure, renal failure, and septic shock were associated with high mortality. However age, syncope, hypocalcemia, not going to surgery, and SII were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. According to receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the optimal SII cut-off value for predicting mortality was 2314 (area under the curve 0.641; P = 0.019). Conclusion: We demonstrated that high SII levels are independently associated with in-hospital mortality. The SII may be a promising prognostic predictor for patients with infective endocarditis

Adding lipoprotein(a) levels to the GRACE score to predict prognosis in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome

WOS: 000322659700006PubMed ID: 23907902Background: High levels of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] are known to be a cardiovascular risk factor associated with premature coronary artery disease. In predicting the long term prognosis in acute coronary syndromes (ACS), the relationship between Lp(a) and risk scoring systems remains unclear. Aim: We investigated whether adding Lp(a) to the GRACE scoring system has an incremental value in predicting prognosis in ACS. Methods: 115 patients (mean age 64 +/- 11 years) with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS) were enrolled in this prospective study. Patients were categorised into quartiles according to the Lp(a) levels. Statistically significant variables in the univariate analysis (haemoglobin, creatinine, age, left ventricular ejection fraction, previous myocardial infarction (MI) history, Killip class) were included in the multivariate analysis to determine the independent predictors of cardiovascular outcomes (mortality, rehospitalisation) with and without Lp(a) quartiles for one year follow-up. Results: Previous MI history and Lp(a) quartile were detected as independent predictors of combined cardiovascular events (OR: 2.969 [95% CI 1.413-6.240] and OR: 6.279 [95% CI 1.363-28.927] respectively). Lp(a) quartile also remained as an independent predictor for prognosis when added to a model based on GRACE risk score (OR: 2.589 [95% CI 1.402-4.780]). Serum Lp(a) levels were moderately correlated with GRACE risk score (r = 0.371; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Lipoprotein(a) has an additional prognostic value over GRACE risk score in predicting one-year adverse outcomes in NSTE-ACS. The combination of serum Lp(a) with GRACE risk score could provide enhanced risk stratification in patients with ACS