High prevalence of pulmonary hypertension in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Objective: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a vascular disorder causing mucocutaneous telangiectases and visceral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is considered an uncommon complication of HHT whose impact on the survival of these patients is currently unknown.

Methods: From January 1995 to December 2008, 29 hospitalized patients with definite HHT were included and followed until January 2011.

Clinical significance of "anti-HBc alone" in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients.

Aim: To determine the prevalence and clinical relevance of isolated antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen as the only marker of infection ("anti-HBc alone") among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type-1 infected patients. Occult hepatitis B infection frequency was also evaluated.

Methods: Three hundred and forty eight histories from 2388 HIV-positive patients were randomly reviewed.

An unusual cause of pulmonary hypertension and refractory edema.

Refractory edema is defined as peripheral edema that does not respond to dietary sodium restriction and combined diuretic treatment including a loop diuretic, often caused by an evident underlying cardiac or pulmonary condition. We present a case of refractory edema, which remained unexplained until a hidden intrarenal arteriovenous malformation was discovered.