Challenges Regarding the Value of Routine Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography in Mitral Valve Surgery.

Background And Objectives: Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is considered an indispensable tool for perioperative evaluation in mitral valve (MV) surgery. TEE is routinely performed by anesthesiologists competent in TEE; however, in certain situations, the expertise of a senior cardiologist specializing in TEE is required, which incurs additional costs. The purpose of this study is to determine the indications for specialized perioperative TEE based on its utility and the correlation between intraoperative TEE diagnoses and surgical findings, compared with routine TEE performed by an anesthesiologist.

Genotype-Phenotype Correlations in Alport Syndrome-A Single-Center Experience.

Background: Alport syndrome (AS) is a common and heterogeneous genetic kidney disease, that often leads to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD).

Methods: This is a single-center, retrospective study that included 36 adults with type IV collagen (COL4) mutations. Our main scope was to describe how genetic features influence renal survival.

Hantavirus infections in the South‑Eastern European countries: A study of two cases and literature review.

Hantavirus infection is a rare zoonosis in South-Eastern Europe. Depending on the serotype involved, the virus can cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome which is also known as endemic nephropathy, and cardiopulmonary syndrome. Prompt diagnosis of the disease is essential for reducing the risk of severe manifestations and complications like chronic kidney disease, secondary hypertension or even death because there is no specific treatment or vaccine approved.

Challenges in Caring for People with Cardiovascular Disease through and beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Advantages of Universal Access to Home Telemonitoring.

(1) Background: Cardiovascular prevention was left in second place during the COVID-19 pandemic and the use of telemedicine turned out to be very useful. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a telemedicine application for remote monitoring and treatment adjustments in terms of improving cardiovascular prevention. (2) Methods: A prospective study of 3439 patients evaluated between the 1st of March 2019 and the 1st of March 2022, in the pre-pandemic period by face-to-face visits and during the pandemic by teleconsultations or hybrid follow-up.

Telemedicine for Optimizing Secondary Prevention in Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Patients during COVID-19 Pandemic.

(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced a major disruption to the delivery of secondary prevention measures in patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). It required a rapid and widespread adoption of new medical services, including the use of telemedicine. This study aimed to examine the impact of COVID-19 on secondary prevention in patients with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and to evaluate the effectiveness of the telemedicine application for the implementation of lifestyle change measures, remote monitoring, and treatment regimen adjustment; (2) Methods: This prospective study on 194 CABG patients evaluated three consecutive years between 2019 and 2022 in the pre-pandemic period by face-to-face visits and during the pandemic by teleconsultations or hybrid follow-up.

Incidence and Risk Factors for Long-Term Persistence of Diastolic Dysfunction after Aortic Valve Replacement for Aortic Stenosis Compared with Aortic Regurgitation.

(1) Background: Severe left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction with a restrictive diastolic pattern (LVDFP) is generally associated with a worse prognosis. Its evolution and reversibility in the short- and medium-term after aortic valve replacement (AVR) has been little-studied. We aimed to evaluate the evolution of LV remodeling and LV systolic and diastolic function after AVR in aortic stenosis (AS) patients compared to aortic regurgitation (AR).

Challenges for Management of Dilated Cardiomyopathy during COVID-19 Pandemic-A Telemedicine Application.

Background And Objectives: The 2019 coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) represented a significant challenge for the medical community. The first aim of this study was to examine the COVID-19 impact on the follow-up of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and to establish the advantages of multiparametric home monitoring. Also, we tried to establish the main prognostic predictors at 2-years follow-up and the value of LV diastolic filling pattern (LVDFP) in increasing mortality and morbidity.

Diastolic versus Systolic Left Ventricular Dysfunction as Independent Predictors for Unfavorable Postoperative Evolution in Patients with Aortic Regurgitation Undergoing Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background and Objectives: Chronic severe aortic valve disease is associated with important changes in left ventricle (LV) performance associated with eccentric or concentric LV hypertrophy. We aimed to assess the immediate prognostic implications of the type of the LV diastolic filling pattern (LVDFP) compared with LV systolic performance in patients with severe aortic regurgitation (AR) undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) and to define the independent echographic predictors for the immediate and long-term prognoses. Materials and Methods: We performed a prospective study enrolling 332 AR patients undergoing AVR, divided into two groups: Group A—201 pts with normal LV systolic function, divided into two subgroups (A1: 129 pts with a nonrestrictive LVDFP and A2: 72 pts with restrictive LVDFP), and Group B—131 pts with LV systolic dysfunction (LV ejection fraction LVEF < 50%), divided into two subgroups (B1: 83 pts with a nonrestrictive LVDFP and B2: 48 pts with restrictive LVDFP).

Additional Prognostic Value of Tissue Doppler Evaluation in Patients with Aortic Stenosis and Left-Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction Undergoing Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background and Objectives: Patients with surgical aortic stenosis (AS) show impaired diastolic filling, which is a risk factor for early and late mortality after aortic valve replacement (AVR). There is a paucity of information concerning the impact of restrictive diastolic filling and the evolution of diastolic dysfunction in the early and medium terms post-AVR. We aimed to determine the prognostic value of the presence of a restrictive left-ventricular (LV) diastolic filling pattern (LVDFP) and dilated left atrium (LA) in patients with AS and LV systolic dysfunction (LVEF < 40%) who underwent AVR, and to define the independent predictors for immediate and long-term prognosis and their value for preoperative risk estimation.

Successful Treatment of Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome Using Rituximab: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Background: Kidney involvement is a frequent complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and kidney biopsy is essential in differentiating lupus nephritis (LN) from thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) secondary to antiphospholipid autoantibodies (aPL). Association between antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and acquired hemophilia due to inhibitors was very rarely described in SLE patients.

Case Presentation: We present the case of a 61-year-old male diagnosed with SLE who acquired deficiency of clotting factor VIII due to circulating inhibitors, admitted for acute kidney injury (AKI), microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and diplopia.

Incidence and risk factors for acute kidney injury following autologous stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication after allogeneic stem cell transplantation; however, its incidence and outcome in patients transplanted for multiple myeloma (MM) is unknown. We evaluated the incidence, severity, and risk factors for AKI within the first 30 days after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for MM. We prospectively followed 185 consecutive patients with MM, without chronic renal replacement therapy, who underwent ASCT; 12.

Familial Mediterranean fever-associated renal amyloidosis: case report and review of the literature.

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a hereditary autoinflammatory disease, which is diagnosed especially in Mediterranean patients, but is a rare disorder in our geographical area. Due to its rarity and symptoms consisting mainly in recurrent episodes of fever and serositis, it may be mistaken with other, more frequent diseases, especially acute abdomen and systemic rheumatic diseases. The most important life-threatening complication is secondary amyloidosis, which usually affects kidneys, with proteinuria up to nephrotic syndrome and chronic kidney disease progressing to end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis or transplantation.

Nephrotic syndrome after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a case report.

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is a rare complication of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and is thought to represent a renal manifestation of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). Glomerulopathies occur less often in recipients of autologous as compared to allogeneic HCT and, in this setting, renal pathology is less well characterized. This case report describes a 54-year-old man admitted for the evaluation of a nephrotic-range proteinuria.

Smoking-associated nodular glomerulosclerosis, a rare renal pathology resembling diabetic nephropathy: case report.

Introduction: Smoking is an important risk factor not only for cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, but also for the progression of chronic kidney disease of different etiologies. Nodular glomerulosclerosis is a renal pathology pattern, which was described in different kidney conditions, especially diabetic nephropathy. A very rare association among smoking, hypertension and nodular mesangial glomerulosclerosis has been recently described.