Anticoagulation in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction and sinus rhythm: when?

Left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction and chronic systolic heart failure (HF) predispose to intraventricular thrombus formation and embolization resulting in stroke. Current guideline recommends the use of oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation and history of previous thromboembolism. However, anticoagulant treatment in patients with LV systolic dysfunction with sinus rhythm and without history of previous thromboembolism is still on debate.

Evaluation of cardiovascular risk factors and bone mineral density in post menopausal women undergoing coronary angiography.

Background: The underlying mechanism by which osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease may be linked is not fully understood. However studies mainly focused on the association between bone mineral density (BMD) and cardiovascular risk factors or atherosclerosis itself by only assessing the presence of vascular calcification. In this study we aimed to evaluate both cardiovascular risk factors, and presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in post-menopausal women patients with and without low BMD.

Evaluation of cardiovascular risk factors and bone mineral density in patients undergoing coronary angiography and relation of findings to mitral annular calcium.

Prevalences of mitral annular calcium (MAC), osteoporosis, and coronary artery disease (CAD) increase with aging and often usually coexist. Correlates of MAC including cardiovascular risk factors and bone mineral density (BMD) have never been evaluated in men and women undergoing coronary angiography. Accordingly, we assessed the association between cardiovascular risk factors, BMD, and MAC in patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Aortic valve calcification: association with bone mineral density and cardiovascular risk factors.

Background: Cardiovascular risk factors are reported to increase the incidence of aortic valve calcification. Among older women, low bone mineral density appears to be associated with increased prevalence of aortic calcification. We aimed to assess and compare cardiovascular risk factors and bone mineral density of patients with and without aortic valve calcification.