Conservative management of pneumopericardium: A case of unexpected success.

A 79-year-old male with severe aortic stenosis was admitted with syncope and cranioencephalic traumatism with major nasal hemorrhage. While being prepared for surgical aortic valve replacement, a high-degree atrioventricular block was detected and a definite pacemaker was implanted.

Global warming and heat wave risks for cardiovascular diseases: A position paper from the Portuguese Society of Cardiology.

Global warming is a result of the increased emission of greenhouse gases. The consequences of this climate change threaten society, biodiversity, food and resource availability. The consequences include an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease and cardiovascular mortality.

Air pollution and cardiovascular diseases: A position paper.

Air pollution is one of the main environmental risk factors for health and is linked to cardiovascular diseases, which are the leading cause of mortality worldwide. In this position paper, we discuss the main air pollutants and how they can promote the development of cardiovascular disease or cardiovascular events. We also summarise the main evidence supporting the association between air pollution and cardiovascular events, such as coronary events (acute coronary syndromes/myocardial infarction; chronic coronary syndromes), stroke, heart failure and mortality.

Diagnostic approach to cardiac amyloidosis: A case report.

The authors present a case of systemic amyloidosis with cardiac involvement. We discuss the need for a high level of suspicion to establish a diagnosis, diagnostic techniques and treatment options. Our patient was a 78-year-old man with chronic renal disease and atrial fibrillation admitted with acute decompensated heart failure of unknown cause.

When what appears to be mitral stenosis is not: diagnostic and therapeutic implications.

The authors report the case of a 53-year-old man, with a long-standing history of mild mitral stenosis, admitted for worsening fatigue. Transthoracic echocardiography (limited by poor image quality) showed mitral annular calcification, leaflets that were difficult to visualize and an estimated mitral valve area of 1.8 cm(2) by the pressure half-time method.

[Hypertension in pregnancy: the current state of the art].

Hypertension complicates 6-8% of pregnancies and includes the following four conditions: hypertension preceding pregnancy or documented before the 20th week of gestation; pre-eclampsia (PE)/eclampsia; chronic hypertension with superimposed pre-eclampsia; and gestational hypertension. The latter is defined as a significant rise in blood pressure after the 20th week of pregnancy in previously normotensive women, to over 140/90 mmHg. When blood pressure remains above 160/110 mmHg, it is considered severe.

Secondary hypertension to rare adrenal gland tumor.

The ganglioneuroma is a tumor of the sympathetic nervous system and may be associated with hypersecretion of vasoactive substances responsible for various symptoms and signs such as hypertension. The authors report a case of ganglioneuroma and a literature review, focusing on the most important aspects of diagnosis and therapy. The patient had recurrent symptomatic hypertensive crises, having performed an imaging study that found a nodule in the right adrenal gland.

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: rare cause of pulmonary hypertension?

A 73-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency room with predominantly right-sided heart failure and anemia. Following clinical and imagiological evaluation, a diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) was confirmed. The initial response to bosentan plus sildenafil was good, including improvement in functional class and reduction of edema, allowing her to be discharged.

Viral myocarditis--new advances.

The role of viruses in cardiovascular disease has been increasingly recognized in recent years. They are now thought to be the main agent in acute myocarditis and inflammatory cardiomyopathy in the western world. We describe new perspectives on the part viral agents play in heart disease, from molecular mechanisms to recently available diagnostic and therapeutic options.