Does Sotalol Still Have a Role in the Management of Arrhythmias?

Despite proven effectiveness in treating tachyarrhythmias, sotalol is proarrhythmic and can cause torsades de pointes. Given the emergence of studies that show no benefit from rhythm control strategies in managing atrial fibrillation, as well as the introduction of nonpharmacological approaches to treating arrhythmias, we felt it necessary to ascertain if there was any role for sotalol given its side effects. Review of the literature regarding sotalol use in the prevention and treatment of supraventricular and ventricular tachyarrhythmias seems to show that more effective and safer agents and nonpharmacological alternatives are currently available. However, sotalol still seems to be useful in preventing supraventricular tachyarrhythmias postcardiac surgery and in reverting hemodynamically stable sustained ventricular tachycardias in the setting of coronary artery disease. Its role in the prevention of tachyarrhythmias in the setting of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy requires further investigation.

A case of mobile aortic arch thrombus with systemic embolisation--a management dilemma.

We report the case of splenic infarct secondary to embolisation from a polypoid 17 mm×10 mm thoracic aorta thrombi in a 60 year-old female. The management and prognostic value of thoracic aorta thrombi are poorly defined in literature. This patient was successfully treated with oral anticoagulation as opposed to surgical intervention. Repeat transoesophageal echocardiography and computed tomography have demonstrated marked reduction in thrombi size with no further embolic event.

Inflammatory bowel disease patients have an increased risk of acute coronary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Systemic inflammation is increasingly being recognised as a possible mechanism for acute arterial thrombotic events, including acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Despite this, there is conflicting data on the risk of ACS in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We performed a contemporary systematic review and meta-analysis to identify the risk of ACS in patients with IBD. METHODS: PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL and Web of Science were searched up to 27 October 2022. Multivariable-adjusted or propensity matched studies with a non-IBD control cohort were included. HRs were pooled using a random-effects model. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were conducted in order to explore sources of heterogeneity. RESULTS: Twelve retrospective cohort studies were included (225 248 IBD patients). Patients with IBD were associated with an increased risk of ACS in both adjusted (HR 1.23; 95% CI 1.08 to 1.41) and unadjusted analyses (HR 1.50; 95% CI 1.16 to 1.92). Substantial heterogeneity was observed (i2=88, p=0.002 and i2=98%, p=0.002, respectively). Subgroup analysis of age revealed a greater association of ACS in IBD patients <40 years of age (relative HR 1.50; 95 CI 1.15 to 1.96). CONCLUSION: Patients with IBD demonstrated an independently increased risk of ACS. Prospective studies are required to explore the relationship with disease activity and duration, concomitant medication use and angiographic characteristics and outcomes. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42022367846.

Thyrotoxic hypokalemic periodic paralysis due to dietary weight-loss supplement.

Herbal and dietary supplements for weight loss and in treatment of obesity are growing in popularity and acceptance in the United States. Most of these supplements can be obtained over the counter and can have serious adverse effects associated with their consumption. We describe 2 patients who developed thyrotoxic hypokalemic periodic paralysis 2-3 weeks after consuming thyroxine-containing weight-loss supplements. This is the first known case of thyrotoxic hypokalemic periodic paralysis secondary to dietary supplements. It is important that patients and physicians are aware of the severe adverse reactions associated with dietary supplements. Physicians should as a routine inquire about herbal and dietary supplement consumption during all patient encounters.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced takotsubo syndrome and diabetic ketoacidosis: rare reactions.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are increasingly used to treat certain malignancies due to their higher efficacy compared with conventional chemotherapy. As familiarity with these agents increases, it is becoming apparent that a significant number of patients treated with ICIs experience adverse events. With time, more immune-related adverse events (IRAEs) are being recognised. It is important to be vigilant for IRAEs and recognise that a patient may have multiple IRAEs affecting multiple organ systems. Common cardiovascular adverse events associated with ICIs include myocarditis, arrhythmias and pericarditis. This case report identifies a patient presenting with takotsubo syndrome followed by ketoacidosis (associated with sodium-glucose transport protein 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor) in the setting of combination ipilimumab and nivolumab therapy for metastatic melanoma.

A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to compare long-term clinical outcomes of bioabsorbable polymer and durable polymer drug-eluting stents.

AIMS: The durable polymer (DP) of a drug-eluting stent (DES) serves no function once drug elution is complete. To ascertain the benefits of bioabsorbable polymer (BP) over DP-DESs requires a longer follow-up period, to overcome the time taken for polymer absorption. The primary aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the safety and efficacy of BP-DES with the DP-DES over mid (2 years) to long-term (3-5 years) follow-up. METHODS AND RESULTS: A thorough computer-based search was performed using Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and PubMed databases. We only included randomized controlled studies comparing clinical outcomes between BP-DESs and DP-DESs. Only studies where data were available for a minimum of 2 years were included. A separate analysis of 2-year outcomes and 3- to 5-year outcomes were conducted. Data from 6 and 8 studies were included in 3- to 5-year and 2-year follow-up, respectively. There were no differences between stent groups in cardiac mortality, stent thrombosis (ST), target lesion revascularization, target vessel failure, and reinfarction rates for either 2-year or 3- to 5-year follow-up. Subgroup analysis according to strut thickness (<100 µm, >100 µm) of BP-DES demonstrated similar results. The analyses of ST and very late ST favoured BP-DESs but did not reach statistically significant level. CONCLUSION: There were no differences in clinical outcomes between BP-DESs and DP-DESs over mid- and long-term follow-up.

Rare case of breast tumor secondary to rectal adenocarcinoma.

Primary breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women. Metastatic cancer to the breast is very rare. Colorectal cancers usually metastasize to the liver and the lung; other sites of metastasis from colon cancer are uncommon and are usually found in association with extensive liver and/or lung metastases. This is a report of a rare case of aggressive rectal cancer with metastasis to the breast without liver or lung metastases.

Increased QT dispersion is associated with reduced overall survival in patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), especially acute exacerbations of COPD, are associated with increased cardiovascular mortality, including sudden cardiac death. Previous studies have reported that ECG abnormalities are common in stable COPD patients. However, the prognostic utility of ECG taken at the time of AECOPD is not known. In this study we sought to address this gap in knowledge pertaining to ECG parameters at time of AECOPD and overall survival. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients admitted to our institution with a primary diagnosis of AECOPD. Standard 12-lead ECG obtained at the time of initial presentation was evaluated. The primary outcome was overall survival. RESULTS: Two hundred and eleven AECOPD patients were considered for the study. Death had occurred in 42 (20%) patients at follow-up. Among the different ECG parameters evaluated, the QT Dispersion (QTD) and corrected QT Dispersion (QTcD) were significantly associated with increased mortality. Receiver Operator Characteristic analysis identified QTcD >48msec had a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 55% in predicting death and QTcD >48msec was also associated with worse overall survival (months) (mean ± SD: 26 ± 1.0 vs. 30 ± 0.7, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: QTcD ≥48msec is associated with increased mortality. Further research is required to better understand this association and potentially identify reversible factors that if appropriately addressed, may ultimately improve the prognosis of patients with COPD.

Incidence of pulmonary hypertension in patients with chronic myeloproliferative disorders.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with chronic myeloproliferative disorders (CMPD). METHOD: Twenty-seven patients with a diagnosis of CMPD were included in the study. Patients were excluded if they had a secondary cause of PH. Diagnosis of PH was established if right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was >35 mmHg. RESULTS: Diagnosis of PH was established in 14 out of 27 patients. Two patients were excluded from analysis because of poor ejection fraction on TTE, resulting in a final diagnosis of PH in 12 of 25 (48%) patients. Of these 25 patients, seven of nine with essential thrombocytosis (ET), five of 14 with polycythemia vera (PV), and 0 out of two with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) had PH. All patients were asymptomatic at the time of their most recent visit. There was no relationship between PH and age at diagnosis, duration of disease, platelet count and hematocrit at diagnosis or during follow-up, both for the entire cohort or for specific diagnosis of ET or PV. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary hypertension appears to be common in patients with CMPD. Further studies are needed to evaluate the impact of treatment on PH and long-term survival in these patients.

Utilisation of echocardiography and application of the appropriate use criteria at a large tertiary hospital in Queensland.

BACKGROUND: Medical imaging, including echocardiogram, is a major driver of escalating health-care costs. AIMS: To examine the utilisation of transthoracic echocardiograms (TTEs) at a large tertiary hospital in Australia (Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service). METHODS: We retrospectively looked at 500 transthoracic echocardiograms ordered sequentially. The stated reason for requesting the TTE was then classified into one of 98 indications constructed by the ACCF. These requests were then determined to be 'appropriate', 'inappropriate', or 'uncertain' as per the appropriate use criteria (AUC). RESULTS: Overall, 443 TTEs were ordered appropriately (88.60%), 50 inappropriate (10.00%), and 8 met the criteria for uncertain. TTEs ordered by the cardiology team comprised of 131 appropriate (91.61%), 6 inappropriate (4.20%), and 6 uncertain (4.20%) indications. There were a higher percentage of appropriate TTE (93.23%) when performed on inpatients then when compared to those performed as an outpatient (82.91%). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service shows a good adherence to the AUC in keeping with similar studies in large hospitals overseas.

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Associated with Primary Hyperthyroidism Secondary to Toxic Multinodular Goiter.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is increasingly recognized as a distinct clinical entity. An association with thyroid disease has been identified in several case reports, mostly in the context of Grave disease. We report the case of a 67-year-old woman presenting with takotsubo cardiomyopathy and thyrotoxicosis secondary to toxic multinodular goiter. Previously unreported, this suggests that this association is related to the direct effects of thyroid hormone, rather than an autoimmune mechanism. Thyroid disease should be considered in patients presenting with takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Recurrent myocardial infarction secondary to Prinzmetal's variant angina.

Prinzmetal's variant angina describes chest pain secondary to reversible coronary artery vasospasm in the context of both diseased and non-diseased coronary arteries. Symptoms typically occur when the patient is at rest and are associated with transient ST-segment elevation. Acute episodes respond to glyceryl trinitrate, but myocardial infarction and other potentially fatal complications can occur, and long-term management can be challenging. Although it is not well understood, the underlying mechanism appears to involve a combination of endothelial damage and vasoactive mediators. In this case, a 35-year-old woman with myocardial infarction secondary to coronary artery vasospasm experienced recurrent chest pain. Coronary angiography revealed severe focal stenosis in the mid left anterior descending artery, which completely resolved after administration of intracoronary glyceryl trinitrate. The patient was discharged on nitrates and calcium channel blockers. The patient re-presented with another myocardial infarction, requiring up-titration of medical therapy.

Thrombocytopenia in malaria.

Malaria continues to be a cause of high mortality and morbidity. Imported cases of malaria are increasing in New York City. Yet, New York physicians, when evaluating patients for fever, frequently missed the diagnosis of malaria. We evaluated the role of platelet count for predicting malarial infection. The study included patients seen between 1996 and 2000 in a New York community hospital for fever who had traveled to a malaria-endemic area. Forty patients with malaria were identified. Our study found the sensitivity of platelet count for diagnosing malaria was 100%, and the specificity was 70%. The negative predictive value was 100% and the positive predictive valve was 86%. Hence, we propose that in any patient with fever and recent travel history, platelet count is an important clue to the diagnosis of malaria. A finding of thrombocytopenia should increase the suspicion of malaria and lead to performance of more specific tests, including multiple peripheral smears and ELISA for parasite-specific antigen, etc.

Hyperkalaemic paralysis presenting as ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Hyperkalaemic paralysis due to renal failure is a rare but potentially life threatening event. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a patient who had sudden onset ascending flaccid paralysis. The EMS first diagnosis was acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction based on an EKG. In the emergency room (ER) due to careful history taking, serum electrolytes and repeat EKG a correct diagnosis was made and both hyperkalemia and paralysis were treated on time. CONCLUSION: Hyperkalaemic paralysis is rare. One must keep it in the back of the mind especially in the case of renal failure patients to avoid misdiagnosing a rapidly fatal but yet completely reversible condition.

Aripiprazole-induced syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH).

Aripiprazole is a newer atypical antipsychotic agent used for effective treatment of schizophrenia. It significantly reduces unwanted side effects of older typical antipsychotics by targeting, with high affinity, dopamine D2/D3 and serotonin 5-HT1A/5-HT-2A receptors. Its documented mechanism of action makes it an unlikely agent to cause syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH). We present the first reported case of SIADH caused by aripiprazole in a patient with history of schizophrenia without other precipitating factors to explain hyponatremia or SIADH.