Polskie Archiwum Medycyny Wewnętrznej
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Plant‑based diets are considered to improve cardiometabolic health and to protect against cardiovascular disease. Although they center around plant‑based foods, they do not necessarily exclude all animal products and comprise of a range of intakes that vary according to the type and the proportion of animal products included. Numerous metabolic pathways have been identified through which plant‑based diets can exert beneficial effects including improved body composition, lipid profile, and glucose metabolism and decreased inflammation and blood pressure. ⋯ Ample evidence for the effects of individual dietary components of plant‑based diets on thrombotic risk factors exists, but the effect of whole diets and / or dietary patterns remains less‑well explored with the existing literature reporting inconsistent and inconclusive findings. Here we aim to review the literature describing the effect of different plant‑based diets (vegan, lacto‑vegetarian, lacto‑ovo‑vegetarian, pescatarian, and flexitarian) and dietary patterns (Mediterranean, Nordic, Portfolio, and DASH) on specific thrombotic risk factors (fibrinogen, platelets, factor VII, fibrinolysis) in order to better clarify these relationships and to try to explain the apparent discrepant findings. We demonstrate that a one‑size‑fits-all conclusion cannot be drawn and that the potential antithrombotic effect of different plant‑based diets depends on the nutrient composition, the content of active antithrombotic dietary components, the relative absence of prothrombotic dietary factors as well as the degree of total caloric restriction.
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Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Oct 2021
Computed tomography assessment of the aortic root morphology in predicting the development of paravalvular leak following transcatheter aortic valve implantation.
Introduction: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an effective treatment of significant aortic stenosis. Paravalvular leaks (PVLs) are one of the most common complications after the procedure. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess whether the aortic root morphology affects the occurrence of PVL after TAVI. Patients and methods: We enrolled 50 patients with bicuspid and 50 patients with tricuspid aortic valve who underwent multislice computed tomography (MSCT) and transthoracic echocardiography prior to TAVI. ⋯ Patients were divided in 2 groups according to the PVL severity: less than moderate PVL (n = 80) and moderate or worse PVL (n = 20), and comparisons between the groups were performed. Results: Patients with at least moderate PVL, compared with those with less than moderate PVL, had greater mean (SD) area (5.2 [1.1] cm2 vs 4.7 [0.8] cm2; P = 0.02), perimeter (8.4 [0.9] cm vs 7.9 [0.7] cm; P = 0.01), and long axis (29.5 [2.7] mm vs 28 [2.7] mm; P = 0.04) of the aortic annulus and greater mean (SD) area (5.3 [1.3] cm2 vs 4.7 [1.1] cm2; P = 0.04) and perimeter (8.6 [1.1] cm vs 8.1 [0.9] cm; P = 0.02) of the left ventricular outflow tract. In multivariable analysis, bicuspid aortic valve disease, interventricular septum hypertrophy, greater left ventricular outflow tract, and postdilatation were significant predictors of moderate PVL following TAVI. Conclusions: The assessment of the aortic root morphology with MSCT can be helpful in predicting PVL after TAVI.
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Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Oct 2021
Acidic urine as a novel risk factor for diuretic resistance and worse in-hospital prognosis in acute heart failure.
Introduction: Loop diuretic resistance (LDR) is a risk factor for poor prognosis in patients with acute heart failure (AHF). Acidic urine (pH <6) might be associated with diminished effect of diuretics and worse in-hospital course in this patient population. Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the influence of acidic urine on in-hospital prognosis and diuretic efficacy in patients with AHF. Patients and methods: This was a retrospective analysis of hospitalizations due to AHF in patients with ejection fraction of 50% or less. Analyzed end points were: in-hospital death and composite end point (death, myocardial infarction, stroke, unplanned revascularization, or catecholamine infusion). ⋯ Acidic urine was found to be an independent risk factor for the composite end point. The threshold for LDR was set at 691.45 ml of diuresis/40 mg of intravenous furosemide. Low urine pH was found to be an independent risk factor for LDR. Conclusions: Low urine pH might be a useful marker identifying patients at high risk for LDR and adverse in-hospital outcome.
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Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Oct 2021
Thromboprophylaxis in hospitalized COVID-19 patients: the efficacy and safety of the approved hospital protocol.
Introduction: Prothrombotic coagulopathy in COVID-19 has led to a strong recommendation for thromboprophylaxis in all hospitalized patients, although there are large differences in the dosage regimens among hospitals and their outcomes remain uncertain. Objectives: We aimed to determine the incidence of thrombotic events and bleeding in patients with COVID-19 using the approved local thromboprophylaxis protocol. Patients and methods: We adapted a self-developed pharmacological thromboprophylaxis protocol based on clinical and laboratory risk assessment of thrombosis in 350 consecutive patients (median age, 67 years) with confirmed COVID-19, treated in designated wards at a single center in Kraków, Poland from October 10, 2020, to April 30, 2021. We recorded in-hospital venous and arterial thromboembolic events, major or clinically relevant bleeding, and deaths along with other complications related to heparin administration. Results: Thromboprophylaxis with low-molecular-weight heparin was administered in 99.7% of patients, 57 (16%) were treated in the intensive care unit. As many as 92% of patients followed the protocol for more than 85% of hospitalization time. ⋯ Hemorrhagic complications were observed in 31 patients (9%), including fatal bleeds (n = 3; 0.9%). The overall mortality was 13.4%. The prophylactic, intermediate, and therapeutic anticoagulation preventive strategies with heparin were not related to any of the outcomes. Conclusions: The thromboprophylaxis protocol approved in our institution was associated with a relatively low risk of thromboembolism and bleeding, which provides additional evidence supporting the adoption of institutional strategies to improve outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.
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Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Oct 2021
Fetuin-A and sodium concentrations are independently associated with all-cause mortality in patients awaiting heart transplantation.
End‑stage heart failure (HF) is a clinical condition with complex pathophysiology and poor prognosis. ⋯ Lower levels of CS and PB fetuin‑A, as well as lower sodium levels, are associated with an increased risk of death in patients with end‑stage HF.