Left bundle branch block and myocardial infarction, a diagnosis not always easy: Our experience and review of literature

The occurrence of left bundle branch block (LBBB) is quite common in clinical practice. The changes in cardiac repolarization, caused by this disorder of electric conduction, may mask the presence of an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), delaying the diagnostic-therapeutic iter, with an important impact on prognosis. We describe the case of a woman of 59 years with LBBB, came to our observation for a constrictive chest pain associated with dyspnea. The diagnostic workup for suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS), initially conducted only on the analysis of the electrocardiogram (negative TnI at entry), showed the presence of coronary arteries free of stenosis. However, the diagnostic confi…

C-REACTIVE PROTEIN AND FIBRINOGEN TO EVALUATE THE REAL RISK OF CEREBRO AND CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS IN PATIENTS WITH DIEBETES MELLITUS

Behavior of patients at high risk of developing contrast induced nephropathy after coronary procedures

ATHEROSCLEROSIS AND MARKERS OF INFLAMMATION IN PATIENTS WITH METABOLIC SYNDROME

RUOLO DELL’ECOCOLOR DOPPLER TISSUTALE NELLA VALUTAZIONE DELLA CARDIOTOSSICITÀ DA CHEMIOTERAPICI

INFLUENCE OF CAROTID AND PERIPHERAL ATHEROSCLEROSIS ON THE OUTCOME OF PATIENTS WITH ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME

Markers of Inflammation and Infection Influence the Outcome of Patients With Baseline Asymptomatic Carotid Lesions

Background and Purpose— It is still in debate whether the evaluation of markers of infection and inflammation may be of importance for cerebrovascular and cardiovascular prevention, and we aimed to investigate this field in a prospective 5-year clinical follow-up study in patients with early stages of atherosclerosis. Methods— We studied 668 subjects divided in 3 groups according to the results of carotid ultrasound examination: (1) normal subjects, if intima-media thickness (IMT) was <0.9 mm; (2) with IMT, if IMT was between 0.9 and 1.5 mm; and (3) with asymptomatic carotid plaque, if IMT was >1.5 mm. Traditional cardiovascular risk factors were investigated, and laboratory analysis…

IL PROCESSO INFIAMMATORIO E LA FIBRILLAZIONE ATRIALE: RELAZIONE FRA I LIVELLI EMATICI DI PCR, FIBRINOGENO C E MMP-9 E DIFFERENTI PATTERN CLINICI DELL’ARITMIA

L’ATEROSCLEROSI PERIFERICA COME MARKER DI MALATTIA CORONARICA

COMPORTAMENTO DEI PAZIENTI AD ALTO RISCHIO DI SVILUPPARE NEFROPATIA INDOTTA DA MEZZO DI CONTRASTO DOPO CORONAROGRAFIA/ANGIOPLASTICA PERCUTANEA

Timely recognition of cardiovascular toxicity by anticancer agents: a common objective of the pharmacologist, oncologist and cardiologist.

Both conventional and new anticancer drugs can frequently cause adverse cardiovascular effects, which can span from subclinical abnormalities to serious life-threatening and sometimes fatal events. This review examines the principal basic and clinical elements that may be of profit to identify, prevent and treat such toxicities. Clearly, the accomplishment of such objectives requires the strong commitment and cooperation of different professional figures including, but not limited to, pharmacologists, oncologists and cardiologists. The aspect of anticancer drug cardiotoxicity seems to be somehow underestimated, mainly due to inadequate reporting of adverse reactions from oncology drugs in t…

ATHEROGENETIC MECHANISM AND MORPHOLOGIC CHARACTERISTIC OF ATHEROSCLEROTIC LESIONS IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS-ARE THEY IDENTICAL?

MARKERS OF INFLAMMATION AND RISK OF VASCULAR EVENTS IN PATIENTS WITH NON-INSULIN DEPENDANT DIABETES

L’IPERTENSIONE ARTERIOSA E ALTRI FATTORI DI RISCHIO TRADIZIONALI ED EMERGENTI INFLUENZANO LA FUNZIONE ENDOTELIALE.

ROLE AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE OF NEW RISK FACTORS OF ATS

DIABETE

RUOLO DELLA SINDROME METABOLICA NELLA FIBRILLAZIONE ATRIALE

FIBRILLAZIONE ATRIALE E DETERIORAMENTO COGNITIVO CEREBRALE

RUOLO DELLA SINDROME METABOLICA NELLE SINDROMI CORONARICHE ACUTE

CORONARY AND PERIPHERAL ATHEROSCLEROSIS AND MARKERS OF INFLAMMATION IN PATIENTS WITH METABOLIC SYNDROME.

NUOVI FATTORI DI RISCHIO CARDIOVASCOLARE E ALIMENTAZIONE

Chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity: role of the tissue Doppler in the early diagnosis of left ventricular dysfunction.

Cardiotoxicity is a common complication of chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to assess the cardiotoxicity of anticancer drugs using tissue Doppler imaging. A prospective study was carried out using patients with early breast cancer (72 women, median age: 57 ± 12 year) and other inclusion and exclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria were treatment with epirubicin, trastuzumab, fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide, taxotere, and taxolo; left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of more than 50%; and absence of important pathologies. Exclusion criteria were presence of known heart disease, earlier exposure to mediastinal irradiation, and earlier chemotherapy. On the basis of treatment, patients …

Cardiotossicità da chemioterapici: considerazioni farmacologiche e ruolo dell’ecocardiografia nella sua valutazione clinica

VALORE PROGNOSTICO E DECISIONALE DEL VO2 DI PICCO PER L'INDICAZIONE AL TRAPIANTO DI CUORE IN PAZIENTI CON SCOMPENSO CARDIACO CRONICO E TERAPIA BETABLOCCANTE

ASSOCIATION OF ELEVATED FIBRINOGEN AND C-REACTIVE PROTEIN LEVELS WITH CAROTID LESIONS IN PATIENTS WITH EARLY ONSET OF HYPERTENSION OR TYPE II DIABETES.

SINDROME METABOLICA ED ATEROSCLEROSI PRECLINICA CAROTIDEA IN UNA POPOLAZIONE GIOVANE CON ALTERATO STILE DI VITA

LINEE GUIDA NEL DOLORE TORACICO ACUTO.

RELAZIONE FRA I LIVELLI EMATICI DI PCR, FIBRINOGENO C E MMP-9 E DIFFERENTI PATTERN CLINICI DELL'ARITMIA

ELEVATED C-REATIVE PROTEIN LEVELS ARE STRONG PREDICTOR OF CLINICAL EVENTS IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS WITH EARLY STAGES OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS

LA PROTEINA C REATTIVA ED IL FIBRINOGENO NELLA VALUTAZIONE DEL RISCHIO REALE DI EVENTI VASCOLARI IN PAZIENTI CON DIABETE MELLITO TIPO II.

INFLUENZA PROGNOSTICA DELL’ATEROSCLEROSI CAROTIDEA O PERIFERICA IN PAZIENTI CON SINDROMI CORONARICHE ACUTE.

DIAGNOSTIC APPROACH TO THE PATIENTS WITH SUSPICION OF MULTIFOCAL DISEASE

[Cardiovascular risk profile of patients with psoriasis].

The aim of this study was to assess the cardiovascular risk profile of patients with psoriasis compared to patients without psoriasis. A case-control assay was performed using 143 cases (psoriasis patients) and 104 controls (patients without psoriasis). We assessed the presence of hypertension, lipid profile (HDL, triglycerides), diabetes, and body mass index in both cases and controls. Psoriasis patients showed an unfavorable cardiovascular risk profile and a higher risk of cardiovascular events and metabolic syndrome than patients without psoriasis.

Risk factors for contrast induced nephropathy: A study among Italian patients

This study aimed to make a profile of patients at highest risk of developing contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) in order to take appropriate prevention measures. 591 patients undergoing coronary procedures were divided into two groups: patients with (CIN-group) and without (no-CIN) an increase in creatinine level equal or more than 25% from baseline values within 24-48 h after the coronary procedure. All patients underwent an accurate anamnesis, objective exam, hematochemical measurements, and diagnostic exams. The results of this study while confirming that, average age (p = 0.01), diabetes mellitus (p < 0.0001), base line renal insufficiency (p = 0.0001), diuretic therapy (p = 0.002), hig…

The treatment of venous leg ulcers: a new therapeutic use of iloprost

Background: We conducted a study using an intravenous (i.v.) infusion of iloprost in the treatment of venous ulcers to verify whether the association of i.v. iloprost + local therapy + elastic compression has a favorable effect when compared with traditional treatment with local therapy and elastic compression. Study Design: We evaluated the effects of iloprost in 98 consecutive patients with noncomplicated venous ulcers of lower limbs subdivided into 2 groups: the first group (48 patients) received iloprost in saline solution for 3 weeks and the second group (50 patients) received a venous infusion of a saline solution. The patients were examined at baseline time 0 (first visit) and then a…

Significato clinico e prognostico dell'aterosclerosi carotidea nella valutazione del rischio cardiovascolare globale

Chemotherapy cardiotoxicity: cardioprotective drugs and early identification of cardiac dysfunction.

Background: Chemotherapy cardiotoxicity is an emerging problem and it is very important to prevent cardiac dysfunction caused by anticancer drugs. The aim of this study was to assess the alterations of the cardiac function induced by chemotherapy in a follow-up of 2 years and to evaluate the cardioprotective role of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) in the prevention of cardiac dysfunction. Methods: A prospective study was carried out using patients with breast cancer (85 women; median age 57W12years) and other inclusion and exclusion criteria. On the basis of treatment, patients were divided into six groups: fluorouracil-epirubicincyclophosphamide, FEC (group A); FEC and tra…

DO MARKERS OF PRECLINICAL ATHEROSCLEROSIS INFLUENCE GLOBAL CARDIOVASCULAR RISK?

DO MARKERS OF PRECLINICAL ATHEROSCLEROSIS INFLUENCE GLOBAL CARDIOVASCULAR RISK?