International Journal of the Cardiovascular Academy

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Background: The use of intravenous nitroglycerin by intermittent bolus doses in hypertensive acute heart failure patients (AHF) is still unclear. Aim and Objectives: This study aimed to determine intermittent bolus nitroglycerin's effect on the use of resources, admissions to intensive care unit (ICU), hospital length of stay (LOS), and safety. Patients and Methods: This prospective, randomized, parallel, single-blind clinical study, which included patients diagnosed with hypertensive AHF, was conducted from May 2019 to October 2020 at Benha University Hospital. Two hundred patients were recruited and randomly allocated into two groups, each composed of 100 patients. Results: The prevalence of hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients was significantly higher in patients given intermittent boluses of nitroglycerin than in standard therapy (88.0 vs. 77.0%, P = 0.041) and (27.0 vs. 15.0%, P = 0.037), respectively. Dyslipidemia was significantly lower in patients on intermittent doses of nitroglycerin than those on standard infusion therapy (30 vs. 66%, P < 0.001). The median initial troponin was significantly higher in group I compared to group II (0.145 vs. 0.065 ng/ml, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Nitroglycerin intravenous boluses were associated with fewer ICU admissions and a shorter LOS in the hospital as opposed to ordinarily infusion therapy. In addition, the mean mechanical ventilation duration was slightly shorter. Finally, continuous nitroglycerin infusion use in AHF management is being questioned.

Background and Aim: Acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is one of the fatal emergencies. Imaging methods are not available to all physicians as an emergency and depend on the individual. For this reason, besides imaging methods, more easily applicable and individual-independent parameters are investigated to help the diagnosis. Some scoring systems are also used according to the patient's current disease status. R₂CHADS₂ score is used more in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). The aim of the study was to compare CHA₂DS₂-VASc and R₂CHADS₂ scores in patients with APE and right ventricular dysfunction (RVD). Methods: The study was conducted retrospectively. The patient group of the study consisted of 392 patients diagnosed with APE. Patients with nonmassive pulmonary embolism and submassive pulmonary embolism (SPE) without RVD were defined as Group 1 (n = 213) and massive pulmonary embolism and SPE with RVD were defined as Group 2 (n = 179). CHA₂DS₂-VASc and R₂CHADS₂ scores were compared as a scoring system in patients. Results: CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores and R₂CHADS₂ scores were evaluated in the two groups. The R₂CHADS₂ score was statistically significant in Group 2 (P < 0.001). There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of CRF and estimated glomerular filtration rate (15 [7.2%] vs. 29 [16.4%], P < 0.001, and 57.6 vs. 46.4 mL/min/1.73 m², P < 0.001). Conclusions: Our findings show that the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score and R₂CHADS₂ are independent predictors of RVD in patients with APE. However, the R₂CHADS₂ scoring system is observed better than the CHA₂DS₂-VASc scoring system in patients with APE and RVD.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the association of interleukin (IL)-10 and adiponectin (Ad) levels with the angiographic severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: In this case–control study, the study population included 50 patients with angiographically proven CAD as the case group and 50 apparently healthy age and sex-matched adults as a control group. The severity of CAD was assessed by SYNTAX scores. Serum Ad levels and IL-10 were measured using ELISA-based kits. The levels of Ad and IL-10 were associated with angiographic severity of CAD. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Cases had significantly lower Ad level (1.89 ± 1.18 vs. 2.59 ± 1.48, P = 0.0003) and significantly higher IL-10 level (8.96 ± 6.84 vs. 3.5 ± 3.57, P < 0.0001) as compared to controls. There was a significant correlation between the levels of Ad and IL-10 (r = 0.315, P = 0.026). There was a significant negative correlation between the Ad and angiographic stenosis of CAD (r = ‒0.939, P < 0.001). Both Ad and IL-10 showed a significant association with the severity of CAD in terms of SYNTAX score. Conclusion: Patients with CAD had lower Ad levels and higher IL-10 levels. Ad levels showed a significant decrease with increasing coronary artery stenosis. Both the markers (Ad and IL-10) showed significant association with the severity of CAD, thereby signifying their role as a marker for CAD.

Introduction: Patients receiving anticoagulant therapy experience a serious problem at a time when the rates of outpatient visits for the international normalized ratio (INR) monitoring are gradually decreasing owing to the risk of virus transmission during the pandemic. The aim of this multicenter study was to investigate how the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic affected the time in therapeutic range (TTR) value, which shows the use of effective doses of warfarin, and its monitoring in patients using warfarin. Materials and Methods: A total of 158 patients with 3 consecutive prepandemic INR levels and at least 3 postpandemic INR levels without time limitation were retrospectively evaluated. TTR values were calculated and the preepidemic and postepidemic values were compared. TTR was obtained using the conventional method. Results: The mean preepidemic and postepidemic TTR values were found to be 64.4 (61.8%–67.0%) and 34.9 (30.8%–39.0%), respectively. TTR rate was statistically significantly lower in the postpandemic period than in the prepandemic period (P < 0.001). While the prepandemic TTR of 68 (43%) patients was <60, the postpandemic TTR of 125 (79%) patients was <60. Discussion and Conclusion: Patients using warfarin were found to have lower TTR values during the pandemic. One of the most important reasons for this result is patients' delayed admission to the hospital due to fear of infection. The importance of regular follow-ups and alternative solutions should be emphasized for the effective treatment of these patients.

We report an extremely rare co-occurrence of focal lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum (LHIS) with patent foramen ovale (PFO) in a neonate and electrocardiogram evidence of Lown-Ganong-Levine syndrome (LGL). Although atrial arrythmias in the form of supraventricular tachycardia like atrial premature contractions, atrial fibrillation, and atrioventricular block have been described in lipomatous hypertrophy interatrial septum, co-occurrence of LGL syndrome with LHIS has not been described in literature so far. Baby presented in the cardiology outpatient department for presurgical cardiological evaluation of congenital hydrocephalus. Typically, LHIS spares fossa ovalis and affects both side of the interatrial septum making interatrial septum dumbbell shaped. There is even no literature description of focal hypertrophy of interatrial septum in early infancy and child hood including neonatal period. Our case is a unique illustration of a rare co-occurrence of LGL syndrome in focal lipomatous hypertrophy of interatrial septum in a neonate with PFO.

Radial loops are the most common radial anatomical entity for deferring or failure of transradial approach. Complex loops may not straighten immediately after traversing the loop and may take a few minutes to straighten out. Here, we describe a case of a complex radial artery loop encountered during transradial percutaneous coronary intervention. We furthermore present a literature review and outline tips and techniques to successfully traverse the radial loop.

Online since 14^th February 2018.