[Systemic inflammatory response syndrome associated with use of ticagrelor].

Ticagrelor is anantiplatelet agent which acts through reversible binding to the P2Y12 adenosine-diphosphate receptors. In acute coronary syndromes it has been shown to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction, stroke and death. Although some hemorrhagic, kidney, liver and respiratory complications have been described in detail with the use of ticagrelor, other less frequent adverse effects are not so well clarified.

The systolic index: a noninvasive approach for the assessment of cardiac function: implications for patients with DDD and CRT devices.

Background: Our objective was to evaluate the systolic index (SI), the ratio between rate-corrected left ventricular ejection time (LVETc), and a preejection period surrogate (PEPsu), to assess cardiac function in patients with DDD and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) pacemakers.

Methods: LVETc and PEPsu were automatically measured from electrocardiogram and finger photoplethismography. Atrioventricular (AV) and mode switch (CRT to DDD) were used as hemodynamic challenges.

[Echocardiographic detection of heart valvular disease in cocaine addict patients].

Intravenous drug-addiction is one of the susceptible factors for the development of infectious endocarditis and cocaine, especially when administered intravenously, can produce damage at the level of the valvular endothelium. We have studied a group of cocaine addicts to evaluate the possible existence of valvular alterations. Ninety-eight patients, addicts to intravenous injection and/or nasal insufflation, have been studied with Doppler and echocardiography and they were compared with a non-addict group of fifty persons.