Pleural effusion in acute pulmonary embolism: characteristics and relevance.

Introduction: The characteristics and clinical relevance of pleural effusion (PLEF) in acute pulmonary embolism (APE) are not fully understood.

Methods: A single-centre, retrospective study was performed of patients admitted with APE classified according to the subsequent development or not of PLEF. A model was built to predict PLEF and its impact on 30-day all-cause mortality was investigated.

Non-specific pleuritis: long-term follow-up outcomes.

Background: The definitive etiology of nonspecific pleuritis (NSP), the influence of the type of pleural biopsy on clinical results and the minimum duration of follow-up is controversial.

Research Design And Methods: A retrospective, observational study of patients ≥ 18 years with NSP confirmed by closed pleural biopsy (CPB), local anesthesia pleuroscopy (LAP), or video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS).

Results: A total of 167 patients were included (mean follow-up, 14.

Aortic Valve Replacement In Alkaptonuric Ochronosis.

Alkaptonuria is an autosomal recessive inborn error of metabolism of the aromatic amino acids. Deficiency of the homogentisate1,2-dioxygenase leads to an increased blood and urinary concentration of homogentisc acid resulting in a slow accumulation of its oxidation products in the connective tissues (ochronosis). The most common clinical manifestation of ochronosis is arthropathy whereas cardiac involvement is very infrequent.