Vascular health and risk management
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Vasc Health Risk Manag · Jan 2009
ReviewThe prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism with LMWHs and new anticoagulants.
As the risk factors for thrombosis are becoming better understood, so is the need for anticoagulation. The inherent difficulties with warfarin are such that a low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is often the key therapeutic. ⋯ The current report will review the biochemistry and pharmacology of different LWMHs and identify which are more suitable for the different presentations of venous thromboembolism. It will conclude with a brief synopsis of new agents which may supersede warfarin and heparin.
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Vasc Health Risk Manag · Jan 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialEffects of allopurinol and vitamin E on renal function in patients with cardiac coronary artery bypass grafts.
Acute renal failure is a common complication of cardiac surgery, with oxidants found to play an important role in renal injury. We therefore assessed whether the supplemental antioxidant vitamin E and the inhibitor of xanthine oxidase allopurinol could prevent renal dysfunction after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. ⋯ Prophylactic treatment with vitamin E and allopurinol had no renoprotective effects in patients with pre-existing renal failure undergoing CABG surgery. Treatment with these agents, however, reduces the duration of ICU stay.
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Vasc Health Risk Manag · Jan 2009
Case ReportsAlveolar dead space and capnographic variables before and after thrombolysis in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common condition. The central aim of this study was to describe the use of volumetric capnography (VCap) before and after fibrinolytic treatment of major PE. Lung scintigraphy was used as a base of comparison for the results of this treatment. ⋯ Parameters also calculated were: P(a-et)CO(2) gradient, alveolar dead space fraction (AVDSf ), late dead space fraction (fDlate), and slope phase III (Slp III). The VCap results before and after thrombolysis for patients 1 and 2 were, respectively, P(a-et)CO(2): 12.6 to 5.8 and 7.9 to 1.6 (mmHg); AVDSf: 0.46 to 0.18 and 0.25 to 0.05; fDlate: 0.46 to 0.21 and 0.24 to 0.04; Slp III: 1.75 to 5.10 and 1.21 to 5.61 (mmHg/L). Lung scintigraphy was used to compare VCap results from the two subjects with VCap results from healthy volunteers and pigs before and after treatment associated with arterial blood gas, D-dimer, and showed satisfactory agreement.
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Vasc Health Risk Manag · Jan 2009
Protein C preserves microcirculation in a model of neonatal septic shock.
Sepsis remains a disease with a high mortality in neonates. Microcirculatory impairment plays a pivotal role in the development of multiorgan failure in septic newborns. The hemodynamic effects of recombinant activated protein C (rhAPC) were tested in an animal model of neonatal septic shock focusing on intestinal microcirculation. ⋯ Recombinant activated protein C protects macro- and microcirculation from endotoxic shock.
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Vasc Health Risk Manag · Jan 2009
ReviewTreatment of congenital fibrinogen deficiency: overview and recent findings.
Afibrinogenemia is a rare bleeding disorder with an estimated prevalence of 1:1,000,000. It is an autosomal recessive disease resulting from mutations in any of the 3 genes that encode the 3 polypeptide chains of fibrinogen and are located on the long arm of chromosome 4. Spontaneous bleeding, bleeding after minor trauma and excessive bleeding during interventional procedures are the principal manifestations. ⋯ Secondary prophylactic treatment may be considered after life-threatening bleeding whereas primary prophylactic treatment is not currently recommended. We also discuss alternative treatment options and the management of surgery, pregnancy and thrombosis in these patients. The development of new tests to identify higher risk patients and of safer replacement therapy will improve the management of afibrinogenemia in the future.