Acute coronary syndrome in young (≤45 years) patients: a multi-centre observational study.

Introduction: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in young individuals (≤45 years) is increasingly recognized as a significant health concern, yet research in this demographic remains limited, particularly within the Palestinian context. This study aims to bridge this gap by comprehensively investigating the clinical characteristics, age-specific profiles, gender disparities, treatment modalities, and angiographic patterns of ACS in young patients compared to their older counterparts. Materials and methods: A multi-centre observational study was conducted, enroling 468 participants aged 18-55 diagnosed with ACS and admitted to three prominent Palestinian hospitals. Data were collected from medical records, and statistical analysis was performed to assess demographic characteristics, clinical presentations, risk factors, treatment strategies, and outcomes. Results: The majority of participants were male (87%), with a higher proportion in the older age group (>45 years). Clinical presentations varied, with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) being the most common diagnosis (48%). Risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, and diabetes were prevalent, with notable gender and age-specific differences. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was the predominant treatment strategy (83%), with consistent medication use across age groups. Conclusion: ACS in young patients poses a significant public health challenge in Palestine, necessitating tailored preventive strategies and comprehensive management approaches. Understanding the unique demographic and clinical characteristics of young ACS patients is crucial for informing targeted interventions and policies aimed at reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease in this population. These findings contribute valuable insights to the existing literature and underscore the importance of further research in this area to improve outcomes and mitigate the impact of ACS in young individuals globally.

A Rare Case of Congenital Left Ventricular Diverticulum With Apical Thrombus: Diagnostic Challenges and Management Insights.

A myocardial diverticulum is a rare congenital anomaly characterized by pouch-like protrusions within the myocardial wall, which can potentially lead to various cardiac complications. This case report describes a unique presentation of a left ventricular diverticulum (LVD) with an associated apical thrombus, highlighting the diagnostic and management challenges posed by this condition. A 58-year-old man presented to the emergency department with left arm weakness, wrist drop, and chest pain, initially raising concerns for a stroke. Diagnostic evaluations, including echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), revealed a small focal outpouching at the left ventricular apex, consistent with a congenital LVD containing a thrombus. This diagnosis was supported by the patient's historical imaging dating back to 2007, which had similarly identified this outpouching. The patient was managed with anticoagulation therapy, transitioning from heparin to warfarin, alongside standard cardiac care. This case underscores the importance of considering myocardial diverticulum in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with cardiac symptoms that might initially suggest more common conditions, such as stroke. It also highlights the essential role of echocardiography and MRI in diagnosing and managing myocardial diverticula.

An Undiagnosed Shone Complex in a 52-Year-Old Female: A Case Report.

Shone complex (SC) is a rare congenital heart disease characterized by four obstructive anomalies, including parachute mitral valve (PMV), left atrial supra-valvular ring, subaortic stenosis, and coarctation of the aorta. Typically, SC manifests early in life. However, we encountered a 52-year-old female with a history of hypertension diagnosed at 26 years and left-sided weakness poststroke. She presented with worsening dyspnea and palpitations, prompting a thorough investigation. Echocardiography revealed a heavily calcified bicuspid aortic valve with severe aortic stenosis and parachute mitral valve with severe mitral stenosis and preserved ejection fraction, raising suspicions regarding the presence of SC. Cardiac catheterization, aortic-angiography, and noncontrast chest computed tomography (CT) revealed abrupt occlusion of the postductal aorta, giving a picture of aortic coarctation with well-established collateral vessels including prominent right and left internal mammary arteries. So, she was diagnosed with an incomplete SC at the age of 52. Shone complex is a rare congenital heart disease that typically presents in early childhood, but late presentations due to misdiagnosis or incomplete work up are possible. This case emphasizes the rarity of late presentations of SC and highlights the importance of early diagnosis and intervention to improve outcomes. An incomplete SC should be considered in adult patients presenting with left-sided obstructive lesions.

Gonococcal endocarditis in a 32-year-old male: a rare presentation of an underrecognized disease - case report.

Introduction and importance: Disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI) is an infrequent but serious complication of gonorrhea that can exhibit atypical symptoms. While rare, it can lead to infective endocarditis (IE), a condition that affects the heart valves and can result in severe and potentially life-threatening outcomes. Case presentation: We present a case of Neisseria gonorrhoeae-caused IE confirmed by blood culture and direct isolation from the aortic valve vegetation. Our patient experienced complications, including glomerulonephritis, respiratory failure, and positive troponin. Urgent surgery successfully removed a large vegetation, replaced the aortic valve, and improved cardiac function. Follow-up showed symptom resolution. Clinical discussion: DGI can present atypically with a triad of tenosynovitis, polyarthralgia, and rash, even without genitourinary symptoms. However, it can also present with nonspecific symptoms, leading to a later diagnosis of IE, as observed in our patient, who developed an aortic valve abscess and aortic regurgitation. Conclusion: This case provides important insights into the diagnosis and management of gonococcal endocarditis, emphasizing the significance of early recognition, timely intervention, and multidisciplinary collaboration in improving patient outcomes. It is imperative to have a high level of suspicion for this rare entity, given its high virulence and potential for severe complications.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy prevalence and associated factors in patients presenting with a clinical picture of acute myocardial infarction in Palestine.

BACKGROUND: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is a transient cardiac syndrome that manifests with symptoms resembling acute myocardial infarction (MI). It is characterized by temporary wall-motion abnormalities predominantly affecting the apical and mid-portions of the left ventricle, despite the absence of significant obstructive coronary disease. TC poses diagnostic challenges due to its resemblance to ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Our study aimed to determine the prevalence of TC and identify the factors associated with its occurrence in patients presenting with acute MI in Palestine. RESULTS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of patients diagnosed with TC at Al-Makassed hospital. Women accounted for 90.7% of TC cases (95% CI 88.2-93.2%). The mean age of affected individuals ranged from 62 to 76 years. The most common presenting symptoms were chest pain (83.4%, 95% CI 80.0-86.7%) and dyspnea (20.4%, 95% CI 16.3-24.5%), often following an emotionally or physically stressful event. Electrocardiography (ECG) on admission indicated ST-segment elevations in 71.1% of cases (95% CI 67.2-75.1%), accompanied by mild elevations of Troponins in 85.0% of cases (95% CI 80.8-89.1%). Despite the initial severity, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) improved from 20-49.9 to 59-76% within a mean time of 7-37 days. The in-hospital mortality rate was 1.7% (95% CI 0.5-2.8%), with complete recovery observed in 95.9% of cases (95% CI 93.8-98.1%) and rare recurrence. The underlying etiology is believed to involve exaggerated sympathetic stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: TC should be considered as a significant differential diagnosis in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) cases, particularly among postmenopausal women with a preceding stressful event. Our study provides insights into the prevalence and characteristics of TC in the Palestinian population. While stress has been recognized as a potential trigger for TC, further research is needed to explore if there are specific associations between occupation and other unique stressors in the Palestinian context and the prevalence of TC. The study's results can raise awareness among healthcare professionals in Palestine about the prevalence and characteristics of TC in their patient population.

Rosai-Dorfman disease presenting as autoimmune hemolytic anemia in a male child in Palestine: a case report.

Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) is a rare, benign non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis predominantly affects lymph nodes and skin. Despite its benign nature, RDD can cause serious hematological complications. A 14-year-old male, presented with 3-month history of hemolytic anemia, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly and rash. After thorough investigation, RDD was diagnosed by mediastinal lymph node biopsy that revealed presence of S100 and CD68-positive cells with absence of CD1a confirming the diagnosis of RDD. Treatment involved combination of steroids and Rituximab, which proved to be highly effective. The patient had dramatic improvement and entered remission, with follow-up period of 2 years. It is important to note that although RDD is a rare disease, it causes severe complications, as evidenced by the patient's parameters. Thus, prompt diagnosis and treatment are paramount. Histological diagnosis is of great value, as it helps confirming and guiding treatment decisions. With the right treatment, patients can experience great recovery and quality of life.

Cardiac Metastasis Presenting As Right Ventricular Outflow Obstruction.

Right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (RVOTO) is characterized by an increased systolic pressure gradient between the right ventricle (RV) and the pulmonary artery. This rare condition can be diagnosed via echocardiography and may arise from various causes, including cardiac masses, pulmonary atresia with a ventricular septal defect, tricuspid valve thrombus, graft or wire calcification, or a cardiac tumor. We present the case of a 73-year-old male who was hospitalized after a syncope episode. Telemetry detected ventricular arrhythmia. Imaging identified a mass compressing the RV, causing RVOTO. A biopsy of the mass confirmed it as squamous cell carcinoma, which likely originated from the lung as a distant metastasis.