Latin-American guidelines of recommendations at discharge from an acute coronary syndrome.

The diagnostic criteria, treatments at the time of admission, and drugs used in patients with acute coronary syndrome are well defined in countless guidelines. However, there is uncertainty about the measures to recommend during patient discharge planning. This document brings together the most recent evidence and the standardized and optimal treatment for patients at the time of discharge from hospitalization for an acute coronary syndrome, for comprehensive and safe care in the patient's transition between care from the acute event to the outpatient care, with the aim of optimizing the recovery of viable myocardium, guaranteeing the most appropriate secondary prevention, reducing the risk of a new coronary event and mortality, as well as the adequate reintegration of patients into daily life.

Basal natriuresis as a predictor of diuretic resistance and clinical evolution in acute heart failure.

Background: Some clinical guidelines recommend serial measurement of natriuresis to detect diuretic resistance (DR) in acute heart failure (AHF) patients, but it adds complexity to the management.

Objectives: To correlate a single measurement of basal natriuresis (BN) on admission with the development of DR and clinical evolution in AHF hospitalized patients.

Methods: Prospective and multicenter study included AHF hospitalized patients, without shock or creatinine >2.

[Characteristics of cardiologist training in Latin America: a survey of the Interamerican Society of Cardiology].

Objectives: Describe the characteristics of the different cardiology medical residencies in Latin America.

Method: Cross-sectional study that aims to evaluate the characteristics of cardiology residencies in Spanish-speaking countries of Latin America, through self-administered electronic surveys.

Results: Three hundred seven residents of 147 residences were surveyed.

Endomyocardiofibrosis in the Americas Collaborative Study: The EMF-SIAC Registry.

Endomyocardiofibrosis (EMF) is a restrictive cardiomyopathy characterized by subendocardial fibrosis due to eosinophilic myocardial infiltration. EMF may commonly present with heart failure (HF) or atrial fibrillation (AF). Immunosuppression can be effective in early stages, but not in the chronic phase.

Atrial myxoma and associated Cushing syndrome: Carney complex.

A 33-year-old woman with a history of high blood pressure since she was 8 years old, hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome, metabolic syndrome, multiple nevi, and a maternal family history of death at age 50 due to malignant high blood pressure and heart failure. Cushing's syndrome secondary to a secretory pituitary microadenoma was diagnosed, being the cause of secondary arterial hypertension, and ruling out other causes such as renal stenosis and coarctation of the aorta. A transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiogram was performed, which detected a left atrial myxoma.

Predictors of use of direct oral anticoagulants in acute pulmonary embolism.

Introduction: In the last decade, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have been incorporated as an anticoagulation tool in patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). Although they have a better pharmacological profile than vitamin K antagonists (VKA), the use of these drugs is not massive. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of DOACs in patients with acute PE and to detect determinants of its use.

Impact of Reperfusion on Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Intermediate-High Risk Pulmonary Embolism.

The prognosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) depends on its correct stratification, and reperfusion in intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism is controversial yet. Our aim is to explore variables associated with the decision of reperfusion in patients with intermediate-high risk PE and its impact on clinical outcomes. An analysis of a multicenter PE registry was performed.

Cysticercosis & Heart: A Systematic Review.

Cysticercosis is a parasitic tissue infection caused by larval cysts of the tapeworm Taenia solium. These larval cysts infect brain, muscle, or other tissue, and are a major cause of adult-onset seizures in most low-income countries with tropical climate. Prevalence it's around 50 million people.

[Predictors of major depression and generation of a screening score in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: Subanalysis of the survey ImPPaCTS-SAC.20].

Objectives: to describe predictors of depression in health workers in Argentina during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and to generate a score for their screening.

Methods: Subanalysis of the Argentine ImPPaCTS-SAC.20 Survey, including health workers with major depression according to PHQ 9 (Patient Health Questionnaire 9).

Dengue and the heart.

Dengue is a neglected viral arthropod-borne tropical disease transmitted by the bite of infected spp. mosquitoes. It is responsible for a significant global burden of disease and corresponding socio-economic implications.

The addition of echocardiographic parameters to PESI risk score improves mortality prediction in patients with acute pulmonary embolism: PESI-Echo score.

Aims: Pulmonary embolism severity index (PESI) has been developed to help physicians make decisions about the treatment of patients with pulmonary embolism (PE). The combination of echocardiographic parameters could potentially improve PESI's mortality prediction. To assess the additional prognostic value of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) when combined with the PESI score in patients with PE to predict short-term mortality.

[Acute pulmonary embolism in times of SARS-CoV-2: Diagnostic and therapeutic management].

There is a clear association between novel coronavirus 2 infection and the diagnosis of venous thromboembolic disease, as a cosequence of the development of a systemic inflammatory response syndrome due to the activation of the coagulation cascade. It occurs in 90% of patients with severe forms of the infection, evidencing the presence of pulmonary endovascular micro and macro thrombosis. This suggests a possible clinical benefit of thromboprophylaxis according to the patient’s clinical risk.

Endomyocardiofibrosis: A Systematic Review.

Endomyocardiofibrosis was described first time in Uganda as an infrequent restrictive cardiomyopathy with a poor prognosis, characterized by fibrosis of the ventricular subendocardium and severe restrictive physiology leading to difficult therapeutic management and frequently associated with hypereosinophilic syndrome. Its higher prevalence in the tropics and its relationship in some cases with hypereosinophilic endocarditis has led to the search for genetic, infectious, autoimmune and nutritional causes, but its etiology remains unclear. It is a rare cardiomyopathy, difficult to diagnose and with a nonexistent effective treatment.

Zika & heart: A systematic review.

Zika virus infection affects more than 80 countries in the world, mainly those with a tropical climate. Although the most frequent clinical presentation is characterized by rash, conjunctivitis, myalgia, arthralgia and fever, in some cases it is associated with cardiovascular manifestations, such as myocarditis, pericarditis, heart failure and arrhythmias. Furthermore, maternal transmission of the virus generates congenital Zika syndrome, which is associated with cardiac septal defects.

[External validation of prognostic scores for in-hospital and 30-day mortality in patients with pulmonary embolism in Argentina].

Prognostic models have been developed to help make decisions in the treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE). Among them, the Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (PESI) and simplified PESI (sPESI), however they have not been validated in our setting. The objective was to evaluate PESI and sPESI scores ability to predict in-hospital mortality in patients with PE in Argentina.