Tuberculosis Complications After BCG Treatment for Urinary Bladder Cancer

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is an attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis that has been effectively used in the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder carcinoma. The complications of this treatment are uncommon, and the causes of dissemination are still discussed. We report a case of disseminated tuberculosis in a 66-year-old smoking man without a history of pulmonary diseases, who underwent immunotherapy with BCG after the initial surgical treatment of bladder cancer. After the last BCG instillation, he developed a fever. The diagnosis of sepsis was not confirmed, and miliary pulmonary tuberculosis was suspected. The diagnosis was confirmed by clinical manifestation, computed tomography of the lungs, and histological examination

Peripheral arterial disease – an underappreciated clinical problem

Peripheral artery disease is a common vascular disorder. In contrast to coronary and cerebral artery disease, peripheral arterial disease remains an underappreciated condition that despite being serious and extremely prevalent is rarely diagnosed and even less frequently treated. Early diagnosis of peripheral artery disease and individual assessment of risk factors are important in preventing further cardiovascular complications. The ankle-brachial index is a simple, reliable tool for diagnosing peripheral artery disease. Many studies underscore the importance of using the ankle-brachial index to identify persons with peripheral artery disease, since peripheral artery disease is frequently undiagnosed or asymptomatic. Measurement of the ankle-brachial index is simple enough to be performed in any doctor’s office, and it is one of the most reliable indices of peripheral artery disease

Comparison of Ankle-Brachial Index in Patients With and Without Atrial Fibrillation

The aim of this study was to compare the ankle-brachial index between patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and those without atrial fibrillation. Material and Methods. A total of 286 patients admitted to the Departments of Neurology or Cardiology, Kaunas Clinical Hospital, during 2008–2010 and referred for a consultation with an internist and/or a cardiologist were included in this study. All patients had at least one prevalent cardiovascular disorder and were screened for diagnosis of permanent AF based on medical records and electrocardiogram and evaluated for the ankle-brachial index (ABI). Peripheral artery disease (PAD) was defined as an ABI of <0.9 assessed by using a 5-MHz Doppler ultrasound device. Results. The patients with permanent AF had a significantly lower ABI compared with the patients without AF (P<0.001). Binary regression analysis revealed that permanent AF was associated with PAD (OR, 2.5; 95% 1.5–4.2). The likelihood of having an ABI of <0.9 increased with each additional risk factor: AF (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.3–3.8), stroke (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.3–4.2), age of >69 years (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.3–4.7), and myocardial infarction (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.1–5.5). Nearly one-fourth (24.5%) of all patients with an ABI of <0.9 did not report any PAD-specific symptoms. Conclusions. The patients with cardiovascular disorders and permanent atrial fibrillation were found to have a significantly lower mean ankle-brachial index and higher prevalence of peripheral artery disease compared with cardiovascular patients without atrial fibrillation. The patients who were found to have a lower ankle-brachial index and permanent atrial fibrillation were older and often had several cardiovascular diseases (angina pectoris, stroke, myocardial infarction, or hypertension)

Comparison of the improvement in myocardial perfusion and function in cases of rapid and slow electrocardiographic stage dynamics between patients with TIMI-3 flow after primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction

Background and objective: Post-PCI TIMI flow grade 3 in infarct-related artery not always is associated with follow-up improvement in myocardial perfusion and function. We compared the improvement in myocardial perfusion and function in cases of rapid and slow electrocardiographic (ECG) stage dynamics between patients with TIMI-3 flow after primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction (MI). Materials and methods: Ten patients with post-PCI TIMI-3 flow were divided into group A (n = 50, no rapid change of ECG stages) and group B (n = 50, with a ≥2 ECG stages per 2 days change rate). Results: There were no significant changes after 3 months in scintigraphic (ejection fraction 44.6 ± 9.3% vs. 42.0 ± 3.4%, P = 0.4; perfusion deficit severity 3.0 ± 0.7 vs. 2.3 ± 0.8, P = 0.1) and echocardiographic (dysfunction score 1.9 ± 0.2 vs. 1.6 ± 0.5, P = 0.2) data in group A. Scintigraphic data improved (ejection fraction 34.6 ± 3.9% vs. 52.0 ± 7.3, P = 0.03; perfusion deficit severity 2.8 ± 0.6 vs. 1.5 ± 0.8, P = 0.03) and changes in echocardiographic data were of borderline significance (dysfunction score 1.8 ± 0.2 vs. 1.4 ± 0.4, P = 0.06) in group B. Conclusions: There was not any change in myocardial perfusion and function in a case of slow change of ECG stages after reached post-PCI TIMI flow grade 3, while myocardial perfusion improved and function tended to improve in a case of the rate at least two ECG stages in 2 days after primary angioplasty for acute MI

Leideno faktorius ir potromboembolinė plaučių arterijos hipertenzija

Literature review and original data concerning the most common cause of inherited thrombophilia – activated protein C resistance have been presented. One hundred and three patients with confirmed venous thromboembolism have been investigated for activated protein C resistance with 2nd generation “Diagnostica Stago” test. Activated protein C resistance has been found in 22.3 % cases. In the group of 70 healthy unselected men and women, matched by sex and age, this mutation has been found in 7.1% cases. Out of 101 patients with pulmonary thromboembolism confirmed by pulmoangiography or perfusion lung scan, 78 have been investigated by Doppler echocardioscopy in order to detect pulmonary hypertension after 1.5 months. Statistically significant correlation between age and pulmonary artery pressure has been found. No correlation between pulmonary artery pressure and activated protein C resistance has been detected

Relationship of renal cell carcinoma and hypertension

The morbidity and mortality due to renal cell carcinoma has increased worldwide over the last 30 years. Renal cell carcinoma accounts for about 90–95% of all renal tumors. The mean age of patients with this type of tumor ranges between 50 and 70 years. It is important to note that primary arterial hypertension as well as obesity and smoking are considered as independent risk factors for renal cell carcinoma. The increase in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as the severity of arterial hypertension may have an impact on development of renal cell carcinoma. We describe the case of a 45-year-old male patient with hypertensive crisis. Computed tomography scan revealed renal cell carcinoma, which was confirmed histologically after surgical treatment

Impedance plethysmography as an alternative method for the diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease

Background and objective: In the diagnosis of peripheral artery disease (PAD), the ankle-brachial index (ABI) is considered as the standard, and other noninvasive methods have received too little attention. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of impedance plethysmography in diagnosing PAD and to compare this method with other methods. Materials and methods: A total of 66 patients with a mean age of 76.1 ± 9.6 years who had been treated for various cardiovascular diseases at Kaunas Clinical Hospital during 2011–2012 were enrolled into the study. All the patients were screened for PAD. Impedance plethysmography was performed with a new-generation Niccomo™ device. The receiver operating characteristic analysis was employed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of 4 parameters of impedance plethysmography: crest time (CT), crest width (CW), pulse amplitude (Pampl), and alternating blood flow (ABF). Results: There were a significant correlation between the ABI and the CT (r = −0.699, P < 0.001), between the ABI and the ABF (r = 0.552; P < 0.001), and between the ABI and the Pampl only among men (r = 0.652; P < 0001). No correlation was found between the ABI and the CW. Among all the parameters, the CT had the highest sensitivity and specificity (73.2% and 96.0%, respectively). Other parameters had the following sensitivities and specificities: ABF, 61.0% and 96.0%; and Pampl, 90.0% and 20.0%, respectively. Conclusions: Impedance plethysmography, especially its parameter CT, is an alternative noninvasive method in diagnosing PAD and could be used for the screening of patients with PAD

Differences in the Selvester QRS score after primary PCI strategy and conservative treatment for STEMI patients with negative T waves

BACKGROUND: According to current guidelines, the main indications for PCI in patients with STEMI are ST-segment deviations and defined time from the onset of symptoms. Negative T wave at admission can be a sign of prolonged ischemia or spontaneous reperfusion. In both situations, the urgent intervention is questionable. We evaluated the infarct size and in-hospital mortality in STEMI patients with negative T wave in cases of primary PCI strategy compared with conservative treatment. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 116 STEMI patients with negative T wave at the presenting ECG was performed. Sixty-eight patients (59%) underwent primary PCI strategy (PCI group), and 48 (41%) were treated conservatively (non-PCI group). The infarct size estimated by using the Selvester score, and in-hospital mortality were evaluated. RESULTS: The difference between Selvester score values at admission and at discharge in the non-PCI group was statistically significant (1.48; 95% CI 0.694-2.27), while no significant difference was observed in the PCI group (-0.07; 95% CI -0.546-0.686). The in-hospital mortality was higher in the non-PCI group; however, the numbers were relatively small: PCI 2 (2.9%) and non-PCI 5 (10.4%). CONCLUSION: In this study, we showed a reduction in the infarct size estimated by Selvester score in STEMI patients with negative T wave who were treated conservatively, while there was no significant change in the infarct size after primary PCI strategy. The higher mortality in patients treated conservatively could be attributed to higher age and comorbidities in the non-PCI group. It seems that conservative treatment strategy might be an option in STEMI patients with negative T wave

A Comparison of Electronic and Traditional Stethoscopes in the Heart Auscultation of Obese Patients

Background and objectives: As the prevalence of obesity is increasing in a population, diagnostics becomes more problematic. Our aim was to compare the 3M Littmann 3200 Electronic Stethoscope and 3M Littman Cardiology III Mechanical Stethoscope in the auscultation of obese patients. Methods. A total of 30 patients with body mass index &gt;30 kg/m2 were auscultated by a cardiologist and a resident physician: 15 patients by one cardiologist and one resident and 15 patients by another cardiologist and resident using both stethoscopes. In total, 960 auscultation data points were verified by an echocardiogram. Sensitivity and specificity data were calculated. Results. Sensitivity for regurgitation with valves combined was higher when the electronic stethoscope was used by the cardiologist (60.0% vs. 40.9%, p = 0.0002) and the resident physician (62.1% vs. 51.5%, p = 0.016); this was also the same when stenoses were added (59.4% vs. 40.6%, p = 0.0002, and 60.9% vs. 50.7%, p = 0.016, respectively). For any lesion, there were no significant differences in specificity between the electronic and acoustic stethoscopes for the cardiologist (92.4% vs. 94.2%) and the resident physician (93.6% vs. 94.7%). The detailed analysis by valve showed one significant difference in regurgitation at the mitral valve for the cardiologist (80.0% vs. 56.0%, p = 0.031). No significant difference in specificity between the stethoscopes was found when all lesions, valves and both physicians were combined (93.0% vs. 94.4%, p = 0.30), but the electronic stethoscope had higher sensitivity than the acoustic (60.1% vs. 45.7%, p &lt; 0.0001). The analysis when severity of the abnormality was considered confirmed these results. Conclusions. There is an indication of increased sensitivity using the electronic stethoscope. Specificity was high using the electronic and acoustic stethoscope

Erysipelas complicated with acute exudative pericarditis

Erysipelas is a common skin infection of the upper dermis. Its most common complications are local; these include abscess formation, skin necrosis, etc. In the present article, we introduce a case of a 75-year-old patient with erysipelas of the face complicated with acute exudative pericarditis. The patient came to Kaunas Clinical Hospital complaining of extreme fatigue and fever, oedema of the left side of the face, and erythema typical for erysipelas. The patient also felt sternum and epigastric pain, especially during breathing, and dyspnoea. Heart work was rhythmic 100 bpm; blood pressure was 142/70 mmHg. Pericardial friction rub was heard over the left sternal border. There were no alterations in other systems. In the electrocardiogram, concave ST segment elevation in leads II, III, and aVF was identified. In addition, during hospitalisation, the patient experienced atrial fibrillation paroxysm, which was treated with amiodarone intravenously. [...]