Adding colchicine to tocilizumab in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia: An open-label randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Colchicine acts upstream in the cytokines cascade by inhibiting the nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome while interleukin 6 (IL-6) receptor antagonists, such as tocilizumab, block the end result of the cytokines cascade. Hence, adding colchicine to tocilizumab with the aim of blocking the early and end products of the cytokines cascade, might reduce the risk of developing cytokine storm.

Methods And Analysis: We aim to conduct an open-label randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adding colchicine to tocilizumab among patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia to reduce the rate of invasive mechanical ventilation and mortality.

Successful Use of Intravenous B-blocker Therapy in Cardiogenic Shock Supported With Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Case Series.

Tachycardia in cardiogenic shock (CS) might reduce the cardiac output (CO) by decreasing the ventricular filling time. Nevertheless, heart rate (HR) control with agents that possess negative inotropy might decrease the CO. Therefore, controlling the tachycardia in the setting of CS remains controversial.

Prolonged ventricular pause associated with ticagrelor use: A case report.

Case: We report a case of a 76-year-old female who presented with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction and developed a 22-second ventricular pause with ticagrelor that did not recur after shifting to clopidogrel. Based on the Naranjo algorithm, the likelihood that our patient's prolonged ventricular pause was due to ticagrelor exposure was probable.

Conclusion: Ticagrelor use is associated with prolonged ventricular pauses, warranting close monitoring, particularly during the first week of therapy.

A Comparative Study of Safety Outcomes of Sodium Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors and Loop Diuretics Among Diabetic Patients Using Real-world Data.

Sodium glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and loop diuretics can cause volume depletion. However, the long-term safety of the concurrent use of both agents has not been widely evaluated. We conducted a retrospective observational cohort study to evaluate the safety of SGLT2 inhibitors with loop diuretics vs SGLT2 inhibitors alone among diabetic patients.

A Comparative Study of High-intensity Rosuvastatin Versus Atorvastatin Therapy Post-acute Coronary Syndrome Using Real-world Data.

A high-intensity statin is recommended for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). However, real-world evidence of the effectiveness of rosuvastatin following acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is scarce. This retrospective cohort study included patients diagnosed with ACS to compare between the 2 high-intensity statin therapies (rosuvastatin vs atorvastatin) in terms of a primary composite outcome of CVD-associated death, non-fatal ACS, and non-fatal stroke at 1 month and 12 months post discharge.

Prevalence and clinical significance of antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 admitted to intensive care units: a prospective observational study.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) increases the risk of coagulopathy. Although the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) has been proposed as a possible mechanism of COVID-19-induced coagulopathy, its clinical significance remains uncertain. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and clinical significance of aPLs among critically ill patients with COVID-19.

Medications adherence post-primary percutaneous coronary intervention in acute myocardial infarction: A population-based cohort study.

What Is Known And Objective: The use of medications for secondary prevention is the cornerstone in the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, adherence to these medications is still suboptimal worldwide. This retrospective observational study aimed to assess the adherence to post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) medications, along with predictors of non-adherence.

Clinical outcomes of high-intensity doses of atorvastatin in patients with acute coronary syndrome: A retrospective cohort study using real-world data.

Aims: To compare the effectiveness and safety of 2 high-intensity atorvastatin doses (40 mg vs 80 mg) among acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients.

Methods: This retrospective observational cohort study using real-world data included patients admitted with ACS to the Heart Hospital in Qatar between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2018. The primary endpoint was a composite of cardiovascular disease-associated death, nonfatal ACS and nonfatal stroke.

Acute Stent Thrombosis Associated with Eptifibatide-Induced Profound Thrombocytopenia.

Background: Eptifibatide is an inhibitor of the platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor that is commonly used in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Case: We describe a case of a 62-year-old female patient admitted with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated by primary coronary intervention (primary PCI) with a drug-eluting stent placement. She developed profound thrombocytopenia within 8 hours of first administration of eptifibatide and subsequent acute stent thrombosis next day.

Low dose combined oral contraceptives induced thrombotic anterior wall myocardial infarction: a case report.

Background: Combined oral contraceptive pills are associated with an established risk for venous thrombosis; however, their risk for arterial thrombosis remains uncertain, especially with the development of low dose new generations of combined oral contraceptive. Arterial thrombosis is less likely to occur with the use of oral contraceptive pills in the absence of cardiovascular risk factors.

Case Presentation: We report a 35-year old female with no cardiovascular risk factors who presented with thrombotic anterior wall myocardial infarction 6 months after using a third generation low dose combined oral contraceptive pills (Marvelon; ethinylestradiol 30 mcg and desogestrel 150 mcg).

Mobitz Type II Atrioventricular Block following Tramadol and Fentanyl in a Patient with Acute Coronary Syndrome and Systolic Heart Failure.

Serotonin syndrome is a potentially fatal condition allied with increased serotonergic activity in the central nervous system. There are published data reporting serotonin syndrome induced by either tramadol or fentanyl in combination with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in adult patients; however, there are no reports of serotonin syndrome resulting from the combination of tramadol and fentanyl. We report a case of a 52-year-old woman who was admitted to cardiology service and who developed Mobitz Type II atrioventricular (AV) block after administration of oral tramadol and intravenous fentanyl.

Anticoagulation control among patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: A single tertiary cardiac center experience.

There is a limited knowledge about the predictors of anticoagulation control in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Furthermore, few reports addressed the role of time in therapeutic range (TTR) that could reflect the safety and efficacy of anticoagulation therapy. We aimed to assess factors that affect the quality of anticoagulation therapy utilizing TTR in patients with NVAF.

Inotropic agents use in patients hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure: a retrospective analysis from a 22-year registry in a Middle-Eastern Country (1991-2013).

Background: Data about the use of positive inotropic agents in patients hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is limited.

Methods: The records of 8066 patients with ADHF who were hospitalized at Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar from 1991 to 2013 were analyzed to explore demographics and clinical characteristics of the patients according to inotropic agents use.

Results: Eight hundred fifty eight patients [10.