Association between Hypertension and Atrial Fibrillation in Patients on Hemodialysis.

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and the association between hypertension (HTN) and atrial fibrillation (AF) in hemodialysis (HD) patients. A chart review-based, cross-sectional study was conducted on HD patients who had received HD for at least 6 months. Demographic, hemodynamic, and laboratory data were retrieved from the BestCare system, and the main outcomes were blood pressure before and after dialysis, and the presence of AF. Our sample consisted of 304 HD patients; 162 (53%) were male, and the mean age was 63 ± 18 years. Sixty-eight (20%) had AF, of whom 44 (64.7%) were male, with a mean age of 73 ± 12 years. The risk of AF increased by 0.4 [odds ratio: 1.04; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02-1.06; P <0.001] for every year of age. Almost the entire sample (66.45%, n = 202) was hypertensive, and those patients had a mean age of 64 ± 17 years, and nearly one-third had a body mass index in the obese category (28.7%, n = 58). In addition, with every increase in the Charlson comorbidity index score by two points, there was a 40% increased risk of developing HTN (OR: 2.47; 95% CI: 1.17-5.18; P = 0.017). The risk factors for the development of HTN and AF in HD patients were found to be increasing age for AF and female sex for HTN. The presence of HTN and diabetes increased the risk of developing AF seven-fold after HD.

A Forme Fruste of Marfan Syndrome: A Case Report.

Marfan syndrome (MFS), an inherited connective tissue disorder, is caused by a mutation in the FBN1 gene. MFS is characterized by manifestations in the musculoskeletal system (joint laxity, scoliosis), the cardiovascular system (aortic dilation), and the ocular system (ectopic lens). We report a case of a 37-year-old male with a genetically confirmed MFS. His mother and brother were also both confirmed cases of MFS. While the patient exhibited the characteristic physical features of MFS in general appearance, he did not show any cardiac manifestations of the disease. This report highlights a case of the familial occurrence of MFS and emphasizes the importance of recognizing the forme fruste of MFS.