Ischemia Possibly Associated with High Degree Atrioventricular Block.

Conduction restoration in second- and third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block after revascularization in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) setting is well established, however this is not the case in non-ACS setting. We present a case of a patient referred for permanent pacemaker implantation, due to high degree AV block (HAVB), who restored his conduction possibly due to targeted revascularization. Thus, this case sheds insight in the reversibility potential of HAVB after revascularization in non-ACS patients, which although signified in current literature, is still far from being a recommendation, due to lack of robust scientific confirmation.

A Rare Case of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor with a Liver Metastasis Infiltrating the Inferior Vena Cava and Extending to the Right Atrium with an Early Recurrence after Surgical Extraction.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. The major cause of GIST is the presence of an abnormal form of tyrosine protein kinase (KIT) protein also known as CD117, which causes uncontrollable growth of the gastrointestinal cells. Most studies report incidences between 10 and 15 cases of GISTs per million. Metastases to the liver and peritoneum are the most frequent. We report a case of advanced GIST with a liver metastasis infiltrating the inferior vena cava (IVC) and extending to the right atrium in the form of a large, floating, isolated intracardiac liver metastasis with diastolic prolapsing through the tricuspid valve. This is a very rare manifestation. One week after heart surgery and removal of a 5 × 6 cm tumor mass from the right atrium and the IVC, echocardiography depicted an early recurrence.

[Systolic hypertension-treat or not to treat?]. / Systolische Hypertonie-Treat or Not to Treat?

UNLABELLED: HEMODYNAMICS: Elevated diastolic as well as elevated systolic blood pressure substantially contribute to the increase of cardiovascular risk. Conclusive results have proven that lowering diastolic and/or systolic blood pressure can reduce cardiovascular risk. There is evidence that not only the absolute values for diastolic and systolic blood pressure alone but also the pulse pressure as an additional indicator of cardiovascular risk have to be considered. The prevalence of isolated systolic hypertension increases with age. Remodeling of the arterial wall with increase of collagen and decrease of elastic fibers are leading to an impaired arterial compliance. Decreased compliance and acceleration of the pulse wave velocity can elevate systolic and lower diastolic blood pressure. In consequence cardiac stress and pulse pressure will rise. CONCLUSION: There is a strong correlation in elderly patients between cardiovascular mortality and morbidity and systolic blood pressure. Antihypertensive therapy is able to lower cardiovascular event rate in elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension with a predominant risk reduction for stroke.

[Compliance problems in therapy resistant hypertension]. / Complianceprobleme bei therapierefraktärer Hypertonie.

DEFINITION AND FREQUENCY: Hypertension may be termed refractory, when a therapeutic plan that has included nonpharmacologic treatment and the prescription of a triple drug combination in adequate doses including a diuretic, has failed to lower the blood pressure < 140/90 mmHg. True resistance can only be found in 2-5% of all hypertensive patients. CAUSES AND DIAGNOSIS: Pseudoresistance to antihypertensive therapy is common and often due to a suboptimal drug regime, interactions with other drugs or a secondary form of hypertension. It is estimated that in more than two thirds of patients with hypertension, poor compliance is at least part of the problem. Poor compliance is not easily detected by the physicians, and studies showed that they could not predict compliance with any more accuracy than if they were guessing. Factors for a poor compliance are lack of patient information about hypertension and its treatment, side effects of prescribed drugs, lack of teaching in the self-measurement of blood pressure and patient's dissatisfaction with the disease. Improvement of compliance can be achieved by selecting long-acting drugs or drug combinations. Structured teaching programs, as they become part of the Disease Management Programs (DMPs) in Germany can improve compliance as well. THERAPY: If noncompliance can be excluded, the dosage of antihypertensive drugs should be increased to a maximum if tolerated, or combinations of four or more drugs can be used, including drugs like minoxidil.