Journal of internal medicine
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Patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) secondary to transient risk factors may develop VTE recurrences after discontinuing anticoagulation. Identifying at-risk patients could help to guide the duration of therapy. ⋯ Patients with raised d-dimer levels after discontinuing anticoagulant therapy for VTE provoked by a minor transient risk factor were at an increased risk for recurrences.
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Despite extensive research in atherosclerosis, the mechanisms of coronary atherothrombosis in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients are undetermined. ⋯ We found seven genes involved in STEMI. The study is unique regarding the blood sampling in the acute phase and omission of secondary expressed genes from innate immunity. However, the results need to be replicated by future studies.
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There is compelling evidence that the elevated plasma lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels increase the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in the general population. Like low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles, Lp(a) particles contain cholesterol and promote atherosclerosis. In addition, Lp(a) particles contain strongly proinflammatory oxidized phospholipids and a unique apoprotein, apo(a), which promotes the growth of an arterial thrombus. ⋯ Emerging therapies effectively lower Lp(a) by as much as 90% using RNA-based approaches that target the transcriptional product of the LPA gene. We are now approaching the dawn of an era, in which permanent and significant lowering of the high cholesterol burden of HeFH patients can be achieved. If outcome trials of novel Lp(a)-lowering therapies prove to be safe and cost-effective, they will provide additional risk reduction needed to effectively treat HeFH and potentially lower the CVD risk in these high-risk patients even more than currently achieved with LDL-C lowering alone.