Treatment efficiency of resistant hypertension in cardiologist's office.

BACKGROUND: The target values of blood pressure have not been achieved in our population of patients sufficiently. The most difficult is a control of patients with resistant hypertension. We do not have data about efficiency treatment of these patients today. OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to assess current treatment status and by antihypertensive treatment modification we tried to reach an adequate blood pressure control. METHODS: Fifty two patients suffering from resistant hypertension 2-3 degree ESC/ESH with high cardiovascular risk have been observed. Reaching of the target blood pressure values was verified by 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. RESULTS: The target blood pressure values were achieved in 50 % of patients during 18 months. We noticed a statistically significant difference (p<0.001) in a decrease of casual and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure in the group of controlled hypertensive patients in comparison with a group where blood pressure did not decrease sufficiently. In case of 50 % patients, the target blood pressure values have not been reached in spite of more antihypertensive drugs and a higher dose. CONCLUSION: Adequately and systematically controlled patients were treated less intensively in comparison with an inadequately controlled group. 24-hour blood pressure monitoring analysis confirmed correction of the patological diurnal rhythm mostly in adequate blood pressure controlled group. In this group, we have noticed a statistically significant decrease of blood urea and creatinin levels and albumin/creatinin ratio in urine. Resistant hypertension needs multi-faceted approach with consistent control of all comorbidities in a case of problematic blood pressure control (Tab. 6, Fig. 1, Ref. 21).

Effect of growth hormone on bone status in growth hormone-deficient adults.

BACKGROUND: Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is associated with reduced bone mineral content and increased risk of osteoporotic fractures. Reduced peak bone mass might explain the low bone mineral density (BMD) among patients with childhood onset GHD (CO-GHD) whilst the cause of osteopenia in adult-onset GHD (AO-GHD) is not fully understood. OBJECTIVES: Prospective multicentric study to asses bone status in GHD adults after two years of recombinant growth hormone replacement treatment. METHODS: In 94 GHD adults (49 men; Ø 34.5 yrs) we have measured BMD and bone markers (CTX, osteocalcin) during two years of rhGH treatment (at baseline, after 3 and 6 months, and after 1 and 2 years). Patients were adequately substituted for GHD and other pituitary deficiencies. RESULTS: We have observed an increase in BMD-lumbar spine: n=42, 0.8155 →0.9418 g/cm2, p<0.0001; femoral neck n=41; 0.8468 →0.9031; p= 0.0004; BMD-whole body 1.0179 →1.0774; p=0.0003. We have compared gender difference: BMD-L-spine by 15.8 % in men (n=21) and by 5.6 % in women (n=19) (p= 0.008); BMD-femoral neck increased by 11.03 % in men and by about 3.0 % in women (p=0.032). In women, the initial decrease in BMD was recorded after 3 months. CO-GHD adults yielded a higher increase in BMD -L-spine (16.6 %, p=0.022). A correlation exists between IGF-I levels and BMD in lumbar spine (1st year: R=0.348, p=0.026; 2nd year: R= 0.33, p=0.0081) and between IGF-I and osteocalcin (1st year: R=0.383; p=0.0038). CONCLUSION: Two-year therapy with recombinant human growth hormone improved bone status. IGF-I appears to be a good indicator of rhGH effect on bone (Tab. 3, Fig. 9, Ref. 36). Text in PDF www.elis.sk.

Vitamin D deficiency - a possible link between osteoporosis and metabolic syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between bone mineral density (examined by DXA - dual energy x-ray absorptiometry), vitamin D3 levels and the signs of metabolic syndrome. METHODS: We examined 55 subjects (37 women, 18 men, age median 67.8 years) with no history of osteoporosis, suffering from metabolic syndrome (defined as abdominal obesity and more than 2 of other components - arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus or impaired glucose tolerance, according to IDF, 2006). RESULTS: Osteoporosis (T-score less than - 2.5) was found in 32.7 % (15 women and 3 men) and osteopenia (T-score between - 1.5 and - 2.5) in 29 % (13 women and 3 men) of patients. We observed a negative correlation between BMI and fat percentage (examined by DXA) and vitamin D3 levels. Low concentration of vitamin D3 was found in 90 % of patients with median 19.36 ug/l (64 % measured in winter, 36 % in summer, no relationship between vitamin D3 levels and season). We also observed a negative correlation between the low concentration of vitamin D3 and presence of diabetes mellitus as a part of metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSION: The link between osteoporosis and metabolic syndrome could influence the therapeutic approach in both disorders and vitamin D supplementation may play an important role in prevention of these severe conditions (Tab. 5, Fig. 1, Ref. 29).

Diagnostic dilemma for the 1990s: Lyme disease versus rheumatic fever.

A 15-year-old boy developed an annular erythematous skin rash, fever, knee pain, syncope, and was found to be in complete heart block requiring temporary transvenous pacing. His recovery was complete following therapy with high dose steroids, aspirin, and IV ceftriaxone followed by oral penicillin. Serologic tests documented diagnostic levels of antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi as well as to Group A streptococcal DNase B. Diagnoses of both Lyme disease and rheumatic fever are based on clinical presentation and serologic confirmation. Our patient had a clinical presentation compatible with either diagnosis and serologic test results suggestive of infection by both B burgdorferi and Group A streptococci. The patient's management was aimed at preventing complications of both diseases, since clinicians involved with the patient's case could not agree on the most likely diagnosis. We present this case to emphasize the following: both rheumatic fever and Lyme disease should be considered in patients presenting with annular skin rashes and complete heart block; serologic studies may be confusing in both Lyme disease and rheumatic fever since neither is entirely sensitive nor specific and efforts should be made to document the causative organism by appropriate cultures, biopsies, and stains when possible; and improved immunoserologic testing for Lyme disease, in particular, is highly needed.

Frequency and clinical significance of Lyme seropositivity in patients with isolated optic neuritis.

We evaluated antibody reactivity against Borrelia burgdorferi in 20 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed isolated optic neuritis who resided in a region endemic for Lyme disease. Four (20%) patients had positive serology. All three patients who had follow-up serologies showed rising convalescent levels of Borrelia-specific IgM. One patient refused lumbar puncture, one had normal CSF constituents except for an elevated Lyme antibody index, and two had CSF lymphocytic pleocytosis that remained unexplained after extensive evaluations for causes other than Lyme disease. We treated both patients who had CSF pleocytosis with intravenous ceftriaxone; the pleocytosis and optic nerve function improved. The other two patients received oral antibiotics and showed excellent recovery of visual acuity. We believe that serologic testing for Lyme disease is warranted for individuals with optic neuritis who reside in an endemic region, and patients with rising convalescent antibody levels or unexplained CSF pleocytosis should receive antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease.

Perforated stomach following the Heimlich maneuver.

The use of infradiaphragmatic abdominal pressure for relief of airway obstruction caused by food was first described by Henry Heimlich in 1974. Since that time, several complications have been reported. We report a case of gastric perforation occurring in a choking victim following the application of the Heimlich maneuver.

Early rheumatoid arthritis. Approach to diagnosis and treatment.

Early rheumatoid arthritis is a diagnosis most often made by history and physical examination and is frequently a diagnosis of exclusion. Differential diagnosis can be difficult because of the wide variation in age, sex, constitutional symptoms, physical findings, and joint distribution. Early, aggressive therapy should include patient education, rest, graded exercise, counseling, and appropriate medication. Absence of subcutaneous nodules and joint erosion may indicate a better prognosis in rheumatoid arthritis. Presence of rheumatoid factor, eosinophilia, thrombocytosis, and/or vasculitis suggests a less favorable course.

Weber-Christian disease. Analysis of 15 cases and review of the literature.

We report 15 patients encountered over 13 years who presented with inflammation of subcutaneous fat and were given clinical and pathologic diagnoses of Weber--Christian disease (WCD). Prominent clinical features included female predominance, lower extremity nodules, fevers, arthritis/arthralgias, and myalgias. Notable laboratory features were elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, anemia, leukopenia, and hypocomplementemia, frequently with circulating 7S IgM or immune complexes at times of active symptoms. Histologic findings were lobular--together with frequent septal--panniculitis, fat-laden macrophages, variable cellular infiltrates, necrosis, and occasional vasculitis. Follow-up revealed the death of 2 patients and disease stabilization or improvement in 13 patients. Six patients developed features of other diseases (factitial disease, erythema nodosum, acute myelogenous leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and sarcoid) and a seventh may have had erythema induratum. We suggest that classic WCD, as originally described, reflects an increasingly recognized spectrum of panniculitides. These are syndromes of diverse etiology that share many clinical, inflammatory, and immunologic features.

Factitial Weber-Christian disease: a case report.

A 28 yr old white woman with fevers, arthralgias, and panniculitis was found to have factitial Weber-Christian disease induced by repeated subcutaneous injections of paint. The characteristics of self-induced dermatoses, various agents used in their production, and the psychodynamics of patients with self-induced illnesses are discussed. It is important that this diagnostic possibility be considered in patients presenting with obscure constitutional, musculoskeletal, and cutaneous findings.