A rare presentation of an elderly patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia and platelet count of zero associated with ST-elevation myocardial infarction, pulmonary thromboembolism in the setting of SARS-CoV 2: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is known to lead not only to severe acute respiratory syndrome, but also can result in thromboembolic events in both the venous and the arterial circulation by inducing coagulation disorders. The potential causes of coagulopathy are inflammation, platelet activation, endothelial dysfunction, and stasis. The thrombotic events including pulmonary embolism, deep venous thrombosis as well as intracatheter thrombosis are more likely to develop in patients infected with severe form of SARS-CoV-2 who are admitted to ICU. Furthermore, these events contribute to multi-organ failure. CASE PRESENTATION: Herein, we report a case of an immunocompromised COVID-19 elderly patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia who developed myocardial infarction with ST elevation in the setting of acute pulmonary thromboembolism in the presence of zero platelet count. Despite successful urgent coronary revascularization and platelet transfusion, the patient eventually died after failed resuscitation efforts. CONCLUSION: Patients with COVID-19 infection are at a greater risk of developing cardiovascular complications, but their appropriate management can decrease the risk of fatal events. Coronary thrombosis associated with pulmonary thromboembolism in the setting of thrombocytopenia is a rare and a complex to manage condition. Significance of single antiplatelet agent in STEMI with thrombocytopenia merits further studies. According to expert opinions and literature reviews, we must avoid dual antiplatelet therapy in these patients and keep platelet transfusion as a standard therapy to avoid drastic bleeding complications.

Women leaders in Cardiology. Contemporary profile of the WHO European region.

Aims: Women's participation is steadily growing in medical schools, but they are still not sufficiently represented in cardiology, particularly in cardiology leadership positions. We present the contemporary distribution of women leaders in cardiology departments in the World Health Organization European region. Methods and results: Between August and December 2020, we applied purposive sampling to collect data and analyse gender distribution of heads of cardiology department in university/third level hospitals in 23 countries: Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, North Macedonia, Morocco, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, and the UK. Age, cardiology subspecialty, and number of scientific publications were recorded for a subgroup of cardiology leaders for whom data were available. A total of 849 cardiology departments were analysed. Women leaders were only 30% (254/849) and were younger than their men counterpart (♀ 52.2 ± 7.7 years old vs. ♂ 58.1 ± 7.6 years old, P = 0.00001). Most women leaders were non-interventional experts (♀ 82% vs. ♂ 46%, P < 0.00001) and had significantly fewer scientific publications than men {♀ 16 [interquartile range (IQR) 2-41] publications vs. ♂ 44 (IQR 9-175) publications, P < 0.00001}. Conclusion: Across the World Health Organization European region, there is a significant gender disparity in cardiology leadership positions. Fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace is a priority to achieve the full potential and leverage the full talents of both women and men.

Women's perspective on the COVID-19 pandemic: Walking into a post-peak phase.

The pandemic of Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has provoked hundreds of thousands of deaths, resulting in catastrophe for humans. Although some insights have been garnered in studies on women, children and young adults infected with COVID-19, these often remain fragmented in literature. Therefore, we discussed the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on women, children and young patients, particularly those with underlying cardiovascular comorbidities or congenital heart disease. Furthermore, we gathered and distilled the existing body of literature that describes their cardiovascular complications and the recommended actions in favour of those patients toward the post-peak pandemic period. Although many questions still require answers, this article is sought to help the practicing clinician in the understanding and management of the threatening disease in special populations.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Catheterisation Laboratory Considerations: "Looking for Essentials".

The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is a significant health crisis that impacts every healthcare system worldwide, and has led to a dramatic change in dealing with different diseases during the pandemic. Interventional cardiologists are frontline workers who deal with many cardiovascular emergencies, either in patients with proven COVID-19 or in suspected cases. Many heart associations worldwide are currently setting appropriate recommendations for the management of emergency cardiac interventions. In this expert opinion, the authors highlight the essential requirements in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Diffuse Arterial Thrombosis as a First Manifestation of Occult Malignancy.

Aim. To raise the awareness of a hypercoagulability state as it is often associated with the different types of malignancies. Venous thromboembolism is a frequent complication in these patients, and usually it happens after the diagnosis of cancer is confirmed. However, hypercoagulability disorders presenting as the first symptoms or signs in the cancer patients have rarely been reported. Furthermore, arterial thrombosis is extremely rare even in cancer patients. Method. Review of the case characteristics and literature review. Results. We present a case of 39-year-old woman who was admitted to our hospital because of intermittent claudication in the right lower extremity. CT angiography revealed multiple thrombi in the arterial system starting from the left ventricle, followed by a thrombus in the distal part of the descending aorta, in the superior mesenteric artery, and in the right popliteal artery. Further investigation of this young patient with no risk factors for hypercoagulable state and no other comorbidities led to complete work-up including diagnostic evaluation for malignancy. The suspicion was confirmed after performing upper endoscopy with biopsy, which revealed malignant neoplasm of the stomach. Conclusion. Whenever a patient suffers hypercoagulability disorders, even arterial thrombosis, we should always consider the possibility of a cancer.

Antiphospholipid Syndrome - A Case Report of Pulmonary Thromboembolism, Followed with Acute Myocardial Infarction in Patient with Systemic Sclerosis.

AIM: We are presenting an uncommon case of pulmonary embolism, followed with an acute myocardial infarction, in a patient with progressive systemic sclerosis. CASE PRESENTATION: A female 40 years of age was admitted with signs of pulmonary embolism, confirmed with CT scan, which also reviled a thrombus in the right ventricle. The patient had medical history of systemic sclerosis since the age of 16 years. She suffered an ischemic stroke 6 years ago, but she was not taking any anticoagulant or antithrombotic medications ever since. She received a treatment with thrombolytic therapy, and subsequent UFH, but, on the second day after receiving fibrinolysis, she felt chest pain accompanied with ECG changes consistent for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Urgent coronary angiography was undertaken, which reviled cloths causing total occlusion in 4 blood vessels, followed with thromboaspiration, but without successful reperfusion. Several hours later the patient developed rapid deterioration with letal ending. During the very short hospital course, blood sampling reviled presence of antiphospholipid antibodies. CONCLUSION: The acquired antiphospholipid syndrome is common condition in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases, but relatively rare in patients with systemic sclerosis. Never the less, we have to be aware of it when treating the patients with systemic sclerosis.