Relationship between nocturnal blood pressure profiles and the presence and severity of hypertensive retinopathy.

Introduction: Non-dipper and extreme dipper blood pressure (BP) profiles are associated with a worse cardiovascular prognosis. The relationship between nocturnal BP profile and hypertensive retinopathy (HR) is not fully established.

Aim: To assess the association between the prevalence and severity of HR and nocturnal BP.

Impact of HIV infection on cardiac deformation.

Aim: The aim of this study was to detect abnormalities in left ventricular myocardial function due to HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection without established cardiovascular disease.

Methods: An echocardiogram was performed in 50 asymptomatic HIV-infected patients (age 41 ± 6 years, 64% male) and in 20 healthy individuals. Conventional echocardiography and pulsed tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) were performed according to the guidelines.

Acute myocardial infarction in patients aged under 45 years.

Introduction: Coronary artery disease (CAD) becomes an important cause of morbidity and mortality after the age of 45 years.

Objective: To evaluate the epidemiology and clinical features of all patients under 45 years old admitted with myocardial infarction.

Methods: We studied 595 patients admitted with myocardial infarction between January 2000 and December 2002.

Transesophageal echocardiography-guided cardioversion of atrial fibrillation. Selection of a low-risk group for immediate cardioversion.

Introduction: In patients (pts) with atrial fibrillation (AF) of more than 48 hours' duration, electrical cardioversion (ECV) should only be performed after 3 weeks of effective anticoagulation. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) allows earlier ECV; however, despite exclusion of thrombi in the atrium and left atrial appendage (LAA), cases of thromboembolism related to ECV have been documented in AF. To define a low-risk group for cardioversion without previous anticoagulation, pts were selected for immediate ECV if no thrombi or dynamic spontaneous echo contrast (auto-contrast) were found after TEE and if LAA velocity was more than 0.

Hyperhomocysteinemia--case report.

The authors present the case of a 25-year-old female patient, white, with mental retardation and proptosis, and a history of repeated cerebrovascular events. During investigation elevated levels of homocysteinemia and homocystinuria were demonstrated. The authors present a review of related literature.

Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava--a very rare case report.

The authors present a case report of a patient with abdominal pain that began 6 months before hospital admission. Ambulatory abdominal echography and computed tomography (CT) revealed partial thrombosis of the inferior vena cava (IVC) with right atrial extension. During hospitalization, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed aspects suggesting a tumoral lesion of the right atrium, rather than a thrombus, with tumoral extension to the IVC.