Postpericardiotomy syndrome incidence, diagnostic and treatment strategies: experience AT two collaborative centers.

Postpericardiotomy syndrome (PPS) is worsening or new formation of pericardial and/or pleural effusion mostly 1 to 6 weeks after cardiac surgery, as a result of autoimmune inflammatory reaction within pleural and pericardial space. Its incidence varies among different studies and registries (2% to 30%), as well as according to the type of cardiac surgery performed. We conducted this retrospective analysis of PPS incidence and diagnostic and treatment strategies in patients referred for cardiac surgery for revascularization, valvular and/or aortic surgery. We retrospectively analyzed 461 patients referred for an urgent or elective cardiac surgery procedure between 2009 and 2015. PPS diagnosis was established using well defined clinical criteria. Demographic and clinical characteristics were used in regression subanalysis among patients having undergone surgery of aortic valve and/or ascending aorta. Within 6 weeks after cardiac surgery, 47 (10.2%) patients had PPS. The median time from the procedure to PPS diagnosis was 14 days. The incidence of PPS was 26% after aortic valve and/or aorta surgery, and 7.9% and 8.3% after coronary bypass and mitral valve surgery, respectively. Among patients subjected to aortic valve and/or aortic surgery, regression analysis showed significant association of fever, C-reactive protein (CRP) elevation between 5 and 100 mg/L, urgent procedure and postoperative antibiotic use with PPS diagnosis, whereas younger age showed near-significant association. All patients had complete resolution of PPS, mostly after corticosteroid therapy, with only 2 cases of recurrent PPS that successfully resolved after colchicine therapy. Pleural drainage was indicated in 15 (32%) patients, whereas only one patient required pericardial drainage. In conclusion, PPS incidence in our retrospective analysis was similar to previous reports. Patients having undergone aortic valve and/or aortic surgery were most likely to develop PPS. The most relevant clinical criteria for diagnosis in these patients were fever, CRP elevation between 5 and 100 mg/L, and pericardial and/or pleural effusion formation or worsening 2 weeks after cardiac surgery.

Vitamin D Deficiency in Acute Coronary Syndrome - Clinically Relevant or Incidental Finding?

OBJECTIVE: Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to determine serum concentration of 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and to assess the prognostic role of serum vitamin D level in ACS patients during 3-year follow up. METHODS: The study included 60 ACS patients hospitalized at cardiology department for ACS between March 2012 and October 2012, and 60 age- and sex-matched control patients without ACS. Standard laboratory testing and vitamin D determination were performed in all study patients. In addition, ACS patients underwent coronarography and were followed-up for 36 months of ACS for major adverse cardiac events (MACE). RESULTS: Patients with ACS had a statistically significantly lower mean 25(OH)D level as compared with control group (35.19 nmol/L vs. 58.08 nmol/L, p<0.001). The lowest mean level of 25(OH)D was recorded in diabetic patients with ACS (30.45 nmol/L). ACS patients were divided into three subgroups according to coronarography findings: single vessel, double vessel and triple vessel coronary artery disease (CAD) with respective serum levels of 25(OH)D of 36.44 nmol/L, 33.65 nmol/L and 31.70 nmol/L. During 36-month follow up, the event-free survival rate was 60% in the ACS group. The ACS patients having sustained MACE during follow up had low serum level of 25(OH)D in the acute phase; however, the difference from ACS patients without MACE during follow up did not reach statistical significance (32.64 nmol/L vs. 37.01 nmol/L). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ACS have low vitamin D level, which is lowest in diabetic patients with ACS. However, during 3-year follow up, vitamin D failed to prove useful as a prognostic biomarker in ACS patients.

Association Between Serum Vitamin D Level and Glaucoma in Women.

The aim of the study was to determine whether serum vitamin D level is lower in female patients with glaucoma as compared with control group. The mechanism by which vitamin D reduces intraocular pressure is not fully clarified. Almost all tissues possess vitamin D receptor (VDR). The mice lacking VDR (VDR knockout mice) have greatly contributed to the understanding of the general vitamin D physiologic function. VDR has been found in some ganglion layer cells, external and internal nuclear layers of retina, and in retinal pigment epithelium, while VDR epitopes have also been found in the ciliary body epithelium, pointing to the role of this protein in eye physiology. The 1,25(OH)2D3 modulates expression of the genes involved in the regulation of intraocular pressure in non-human primates. Extracellular matrix can be remodeled by 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment. Actin disruption can lead to cell morphology alteration, trabecular meshwork relaxation and intraocular pressure reduction. This observational cross-sectional study included 90 female glaucoma subjects aged 45-55 and 50 glaucoma free female subjects as control group. Results of a pilot study conducted in 20 glaucoma subjects and 20 control subjects are presented below. All study subjects underwent history taking, complete ophthalmologic examination and serum vitamin D determination. The mean serum vitamin D level was 32.31 nmol/L in glaucoma patients and 64.17 nmol/L in control subjects. Serum vitamin D level was statistically significantly lower in glaucoma patients as compared with control group (p<0.05).

Diagnostic complexity of rifampicin-induced coagulopathy in a patient with spontaneous muscle bleeding: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Rifampicin is currently used to treat various bacterial infections, with the most significant application in the treatment of tuberculosis. Dose-independent side effects of the drug can lead to the development of various coagulation disorders, among which disseminated intravascular coagulation is the most dangerous. The mechanism of coagulopathy itself is multifactorial, but it is thought to be mediated by an immune response (formation of antigen-antibody complexes) and consequent damage to platelets and the vascular endothelium. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 66-year-old woman, with numerous comorbidities including chronic renal failure, condition after implantation of a permanent pacemaker, and a positive blood culture for Staphylococcus aureus, presented with spontaneous bleeding in the muscle wall, and in the clinical picture of hemorrhagic shock. DIAGNOSIS: Knowing the multifactorial mechanism of rifampicin-induced coagulopathy, possible factors were considered, such as infections, comorbidities, drug use and drug-drug interactions, pathological laboratory parameters, and coagulograms. Clinical presentation of abdominal pain and intra-abdominal mass, with laboratory verification of prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time and computed tomography-proven hematoma suspected of acute bleeding, redirects clinical suspicion of drug-induced coagulopathy. INTERVENTIONS: By discontinuing rifapicin and administering vitamin K and fresh frozen plasma, normalization of laboratory coagulation parameters was achieved. Bleeding from the muscle wall required correction of acute anemia with red cell concentrates, surgical intervention, and additional antibiotic therapy for secondary infection of the operative wound. OUTCOMES: At the end of 6 weeks of antibiotic (antistaphylococcal) therapy (due to the basic suspicion of possible infectious endocarditis), the normalization of inflammatory parameters occurred with a sterile control blood culture and a normal coagulogram. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should be aware of the possible side effects of the administered drugs, especially taking into account the overall clinical picture of a patient, including comorbidities and possible drug interactions.

Optic nerve sheath meningioma: a case report with 15-year follow-up.

Meningiomas are benign neoplastic lesions of arachnoidal cells of the meninges. These tumors may arise wherever meninges exists, such as in the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, middle ear, and mediastinum. Optic nerve sheath meningiomas (ONSMs) are usually unilateral and occur predominantly in middle-aged females, although they may be present at any age. We present a case of a 55-year-old female with ONSM diagnosed when she was 40 years old. Diagnosis and follow-up was based on the clinical picture, CT orbit scan, and magnetic resonance imaging.

Pericardial effusion complicating swine origin influenzae A (H1N1) infection in a 50-year-old woman.

Acute pericarditis is a well-recognized but rare complication of numerous viral infections. We report a case of a 50-year-old woman with novel influenza A (H1N1) infection complicated by pericardial effusion. Resolution of both symptoms and pericardial effusion occurred after a treatment with oseltamivirin and ibuprofen. There were no signs of acute left or right ventricle dysfunction. Pericarditis and pericardial effusion are occasionally associated with influenza A infections. To our knowledge, this is a rare case of pericardial effusion associated with influenza A (H1N1) reported during the current novel influenza A (H1N1) pandemic that responded well to conservative management.