European journal of internal medicine
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Apr 2024
ReviewNatural history of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which has been the term for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) since June 2023, represents the most common liver disease worldwide and is a leading cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality. A thorough knowledge of the disease's natural history is required to promptly stratify patients' risks, since MASLD is a multifaceted disorder with a broad range of clinical phenotypes. The histological disease spectrum ranges from isolated hepatic steatosis, currently named as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver (MASL), to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and eventually may accumulate hepatic fibrosis and develop cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). ⋯ The mortality attributed to MASLD predominantly stems from issues linked with the liver and cardiovascular system, as well as HCC and extrahepatic cancers. In light of the disease natural course, it is crucial to prioritize the identification of at-risk patients for disease progression in order to effectively address and change modifiable risk factors, hence mitigating disease complications. Further investigation is required to define the phenotype of rapid progressors more precisely as well as to improve risk stratification for HCC in non-cirrhotic individuals.
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Apr 2024
ReviewNon-invasive testing and risk-stratification in patients with MASLD.
The development and validation of non-invasive fibrosis tests (NITs) has changed clinical practice in Hepatology over the last 15 years. Metabolic associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is the most prevalent liver disease in western countries, with up to a third of the unselected adult population affected. ⋯ These NITs include a variety of approaches, such as serum markers like FIB-4, pro-C3 and ELF, imaging techniques like Fibroscan® and MRE, and combined scores like Agile 3+ and Agile 4, offering a range of options for healthcare providers. Furthermore, these non-invasive tests also serve as valuable prognostic tools, allowing for better risk assessment and improved patient management, particularly in predicting liver-related events and overall mortality.
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Apr 2024
Multicenter StudyECG/echo indexes in the diagnostic approach to amyloid cardiomyopathy: A head-to-head comparison from the AC-TIVE study.
The discordance between QRS voltages on electrocardiogram (ECG) and left ventricle (LV) wall thickness (LVWT) on echocardiogram (echo) is a recognized red flag (RF) of amyloid cardiomyopathy (AC) and can be measured by specific indexes. No head-to-head comparison of different ECG/echo indexes among subjects with echocardiographic suspicion of AC has yet been undertaken. The study aimed at evaluating the performance and the incremental diagnostic value of different ECG/echo indexes in this subset of patients. ⋯ Among patients with non-dilated hypertrophic ventricles with normal ejection fraction and echocardiographic RF of AC, easily-measurable ECG/echo indexes, mainly when added to few clinical variables, can help the physician orient second level investigations. External validation of the results is warranted.
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Apr 2024
Meta AnalysisRisk of subclinical atherosclerosis in primary Sjogren's syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Currently, the guidelines for prevention and management of atherosclerosis in patients with Sjogren's syndrome (SS) do not differentiate from those concerning the general population. ⋯ Patients with pSS have an increased risk of subclinical atherosclerosis compared to healthy population and thus possibly require early and disease-specific intervention. Further research is warranted for more accurate cardiovascular risk management in SS.
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · Apr 2024
Deferring diagnostic evaluation for suspected deep venous thrombosis using a single dose of anticoagulant: Real-world data from a regionwide care pathway.
Patients with suspected deep venous thrombosis (DVT) are typically referred to the emergency department (ED) for immediate evaluation. However, this often contributes to ED overcrowding and necessitates round-the-clock sonographic examinations. Therefore, we implemented a regionwide care pathway for deferring diagnostic workup of suspected DVT until the following day. Patients receive a single anticoagulant dose from their general practitioner (GP) to prevent progression of DVT in the interval between referral and diagnostic evaluation. The next day, patients undergo comprehensive evaluation at our outpatient DVT clinic, including venous ultrasound. This retrospective study aims to provide real-world data on the safety of this care pathway regarding the occurrence of bleeding complications and pulmonary embolism (PE). ⋯ This real-world study observed a very low incidence of bleeding complications and PE events, indicating that this care pathway of deferred DVT workup is safe and may offer a more streamlined diagnostic approach for patients with suspected DVT.