Endothelial Markers in Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Acute Decompensated Heart Failure: A Pilot Study.

Background: Impaired endothelial function has been associated with vascular complications in type 2 diabetes (T2D), but its role in T2D-related heart failure (HF) remains indeterminate. The aim of this study was to assess selected markers of endothelial function in T2D patients with acute decompensated HF.

Methods: A pilot prospective study on patients with acute decompensated HF requiring in-hospital admission was carried out.

Evaluating Thromboprophylaxis Strategies for High-Risk Pregnancy: A Current Perspective.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) represents one of the leading causes of death during pregnancy. The greatest risk for it is the presence of medical or family history of VTE, stillbirth, cesarean section and selected thrombophilia. Appropriate thromboprophylaxis has the potential to decrease the risk of VTE in at-risk pregnant patients by 60-70%.

A Rare Early-Onset Fatal Complication after Transarterial Chemoembolization: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a minimally invasive treatment for liver cancer, often employed as a bridging therapy or destination treatment for non-operable cases. This case report discusses an 82-year-old woman with a large hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent elective TACE due to the high surgical risk associated with her tumor size. Unexpectedly, the patient experienced liver rupture 20 h post-procedure, leading to acute surgical intervention.

Unilateral upper and lower limb ischemia mimics stroke: a case report.

Background: Although stroke and acute limb ischemia seem easily distinguishable by anamnesis and physical examination, symptoms may overlap and sometimes mislead the examiner. Such a situation can arise in the occurrence of unilateral neurological symptoms affecting the upper and lower limbs at the same time. As timely diagnosis and a correct therapeutic intervention are crucial to prevent irreversible damage in both diseases, knowledge of the possibility of one disease mimicking the other is essential.

Role of Platelets in Rheumatic Chronic Autoimmune Inflammatory Diseases.

Platelets are essential in maintaining blood homeostasis and regulating several inflammatory processes. They constantly interact with immune cells, have immunoregulatory functions, and can affect, through immunologically active substances, endothelium, leukocytes, and other immune response components. In reverse, inflammatory and immune processes can activate platelets, which might be significant in autoimmune disease progression and arising complications.

A Functional Assay for the Determination of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia via Flow Cytometry.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a life-threatening complication of heparin therapy (both unfractionated heparin and low-molecular-weight heparin). In our study, we examined a group of 122 patients with suspected HIT. The samples of all patients were analyzed in the first step using an immunoassay (ID-PaGIA Heparin/PF4, Hemos1L-Acustar HIT IgG, ZYMUTEST HIA Monostrip IgG) to detect the presence of antibodies against heparin-PF4 complexes (platelet factor 4).

Complement Inhibition in Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH): A Systematic Review and Expert Opinion from Central Europe on Special Patient Populations.

Introduction: Hemolysis in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is complement-mediated due to the lack of complement inhibitors in the hemopoietic cell membranes, making complement inhibition the best approach to manage PNH. Three complement inhibitors are approved by the European Medicines Agency as targeted therapy for PNH: eculizumab and ravulizumab, two humanized monoclonal antibodies targeting the same complement 5 (C5) epitope, approved in 2007 and 2019, respectively, and the more recently approved cyclic peptide, the complement 3 (C3) inhibitor pegcetacoplan. Although national and international PNH treatment guidelines exist, they do not take into consideration the latest clinical trial evidence.

Antithrombotic and antiplatelet effects of plant-derived compounds: a great utility potential for primary, secondary, and tertiary care in the framework of 3P medicine.

Thromboembolism is the third leading vascular disease, with a high annual incidence of 1 to 2 cases per 1000 individuals within the general population. The broader term venous thromboembolism generally refers to deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and/or a combination of both. Therefore, thromboembolism can affect both - the central and peripheral veins.

Multimer Analysis of Von Willebrand Factor in Von Willebrand Disease with a Hydrasys Semi-Automatic Analyzer-Single-Center Experience.

von Willebrand disease (VWD) is reportedly the most common inherited bleeding disorder. This disorder develops as a result of defects and/or deficiency of the plasma protein von Willebrand factor (VWF). Laboratory testing for VWF-related disorders requires the assessment of both VWF level and VWF activity, the latter requiring multiple assays.

Ixazomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone combination in "real-world" clinical practice in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Ixazomib is approved for use in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone (IRd) for patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who received at least one previous therapy. Registration study "TOURMALINE MM-1" was published in 2016. Nevertheless, clinical trials are significantly different from real-world use.

COVID19 infection in a patient with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: A case report.

Introduction: Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is an acquired, life-threatening hemopoietic stem cell disorder characterized by the triad of hemolytic anemia, thrombosis, and impaired bone marrow function. Evidence suggests that severe outcomes in COVID19 infection are attributed to the excessive activation of the complement cascade leading to acute lung injury and associated is with an increased prothrombotic state.

Patient Concerns: A 27-year-old Caucasian man with PNH presented to the Emergency Department of our hospital with acute onset shortness of breath, cough and blood in urine.

Impact of Dabigatran Treatment on Rotation Thromboelastometry.

A rapid and reliable assessment of the dabigatran effect is desirable in dabigatran treated patients with uncontrolled bleeding or before acute surgery. The aim of this study was to study the anticoagulant effects of dabigatran in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) as assessed by the whole blood assays ROTEM, and how data from these methods correlate to plasma dabigatran concentrations measured by Hemoclot. ROTEM was performed with ROTEM Gamma (Pentapharm GmbH, Munich, Germany).

Impact of Edoxaban on Thrombin-Dependent Platelet Aggregation.

Edoxaban, a direct factor Xa inhibitor (FXa), is the fourth direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) approved for clinical use. As the main adverse event is bleeding, it is relevant whether edoxaban has additional effects on platelet function. We aimed to assess in vitro aggregation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) receiving edoxaban.

Edoxaban affects TRAP-dependent platelet aggregation.

Edoxaban is an oral anticoagulant drug and a direct factor Xa inhibitor. However, it is still not fully understood if and how edoxaban impacts platelet function. This prospective study aimed to assess in vitro platelet function in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) receiving edoxaban.

[Heparin induced thrombocytopenia and up to date options of treatment - review of literature].

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a profoundly dangerous, potentially lethal, immunologically mediated adverse drug reaction to unfractionated heparin or, less commonly, to low-molecular weight heparin. Some patients with HIT develop serious thrombotic complications like limb ischemia and gangrene, while others may not develop such complications. Current laboratory diagnostic tools incur significant time delays before confirming HIT, therefore upon clinical suspicion, treatment of HIT should start immediately.

Genetic Background of von Willebrand Disease: History, Current State, and Future Perspectives.

Sequencing of the gene encoding for von Willebrand factor (VWF) has brought new insight into the physiology of VWF as well as its pathophysiology in the context of von Willebrand disease (VWD). Molecular testing in VWD patients has shown high variability in the overall genetic background of this condition. Almost 600 mutations and many disease-causing mechanisms have been described in the 35 years since the gene was identified.

Plasma Levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Selected Hemostatic Parameters in Association With Treatment Response in Multiple Myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a neoplastic plasma cell disorder characterized by the clonal proliferation of plasma cells in the bone marrow and presence of monoclonal protein in the blood or urine. Diverse hemostatic abnormalities have been reported in patients with myeloma which predispose the patient to bleeding and also thrombosis. The aim of this study was to measure the concentrations of serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor, D-dimer, and von Willebrand factor in patients with newly diagnosed or relapsed multiple myeloma before treatment, during therapy, and after successful therapy.

[Direct oral anticoagulants in oncology in clinical praxis].

Relation between oncological diseases and venous thrombo-embolism (VTE) is well known for almost 2 centuries. In 1823 Bouillaud assumed by three patients with tumor and recent deep vein thrombosis (DVT), that peripheral edema of lower limbs emerges as a result of „obturation“ of veins by „fibrinous coagulum“ (caillot fibrineux), which was induced by oncological disease. French physician Armand Trousseau wrote about this relation in his book „Phlegmasia alba dolens” again in the year 1865.

Glycoprotein VI Gene Variants Affect Pregnancy Loss in Patients With Platelet Hyperaggregability.

The aim of our study was to evaluate GP6 gene in patients with sticky platelet syndrome (SPS) and fetal loss. Platelet aggregability was tested with platelet-rich plasma using PACKS-4 aggregometer (Helena Laboratories). High-resolution melting analysis on LightCycler 480 II (Roche Diagnostics) was used for single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping.

Effect of Bisoprolol on the Level of Dabigatran.

Background: Many patients receiving dabigatran treatment might also require bisoprolol therapy. However, there is a possibility that bisoprolol as significant P-glycoprotein inhibitor might interact with dabigatran.

Study Question: To investigate the impact of concomitant bisoprolol therapy on dabigatran plasma level in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

First evidence: rivaroxaban and apixaban reduce thrombin-dependent platelet aggregation.

Rivaroxaban and apixaban are direct oral anticoagulants whose target specificity is to activate factor X (FXa). It is still not fully understood how xabans impact platelet function. This single-center observational study aimed to assess in vitro platelet function in patients with atrial fibrillation receiving rivaroxaban or apixaban.