Acute myocardial infarction associated with heavy alcohol intake in an adolescent with normal coronary arteries

Acute ingestion of large quantities of alcohol is known to be able to trigger acute myocardial infarction. A 19-year-old boy presented at the emergency department of our hospital with complaints of severe retrosternal chest pain. One night before this event, he had drunk large amounts of alcohol. The level of alcohol in his blood was measured at 0.59 grams per litre,. A 12-lead electrocardiogram showed elevations of the ST segment, averaging from 2 to 10 millimetres, in leads V1-6, DI and aVL. Since consumption of alcohol is very common in the community, the triggering effect of binge-drinking and consumption of large amounts of alcohol on acute myocardial infarction should be considered as a crucial subject for public health so as to raise the consciousness of the population, especially young persons

Brucella pancarditis with dissecting aortic root abscess, left ventricular pseudoaneurysm and ventricular septal defect

A rare case of Brucella pancarditis is reported in a 38-year-old male farmer who presented with heart failure. Brucella pancarditis was diagnosed with positive serology, and echocardiographic examination showed pericardial effusion, vegetation and mycotic aneurysms on the aortic root. The development of a fistula between the aorta and right ventricle, aortic dissection, a subaortic ventricular septal defect, and left ventricular pseudoaneurysm were observed. This case illustrates that life-threatening cardiac complications may develop, even under aggressive antibiotic therapy. It is recommended that echocardiographic follow-up and close collaboration between colleagues working in infectious disease, cardiology and cardiovascular surgery are crucial in the treatment of Brucella pancarditis

Ocular bleeding related to warfarin anticoagulation on patients with mechanical heart valve and atrial fibrillation

We investigated the incidence of ocular bleeding in patients taking anticoagulant therapy (warfarin) and its association with other related factors. We examined 210 patients taking warfarin and 210 gender- and age-matched controls for ocular bleeding. Patients and controls were examined by external ocular examination and fundoscopic examination. The incidence of ocular bleeding was 11.4% in patients and 3.8% in controls. It was five times higher in patients with hypertension than in other patients. The incidence of ocular bleeding was higher in older than in younger patients. No association was found between ocular bleeding and factors such as gender, international normalized ratio, duration of warfarin therapy, concomitant aspirin use and diabetes mellitus. Thus, warfarin therapy increases the frequency of ocular bleeding. The higher incidence of ocular bleeding in the patients with hypertension and advanced age should be kept in mind and this subgroup of patients taking warfarin should be monitored closely

Late ventricular arrhythmias in patients with mechanical heart valves and their relation to associated factors

Aim. Sudden death is a well known complication of prosthetic heart valve disease. Complex ventricular arrhythmias have been suggested as the cause of this event in part. in this study, we aimed to investigate the incidence and severity of complex ventricular arrhythmias in patients with mechanical heart valves and the relations between complex ventricular arrhythmias and patient and prosthetic valves related factors

Ocular Bleeding Related to Warfarin Anticoagulation in Patients with Mechanical Heart Valve and Atrial Fibrillation

We investigated the incidence of ocular bleeding in patients taking anticoagulant therapy (warfarin) and its association with other related factors. We examined 210 patients taking warfarin and 210 gender- and age-matched controls for ocular bleeding. Patients and controls were examined by external ocular examination and fundoscopic examination. The incidence of ocular bleeding was 11.4% in patients and 3.8% in controls. It was five times higher in patients with hypertension than in other patients. The incidence of ocular bleeding was higher in older than in younger patients. No association was found between ocular bleeding and factors such as gender, international normalized ratio, duration of warfarin therapy, concomitant aspirin use and diabetes mellitus. Thus, warfarin therapy increases the frequency of ocular bleeding. The higher incidence of ocular bleeding in the patients with hypertension and advanced age should be kept in mind and this subgroup of patients taking warfarin should be monitored closely