Cardiovascular Comorbidity in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Echocardiography Changes and Their Relation to the Level of Airflow Limitation.

Aim: To compare the frequency of echocardiographic changes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and non-COPD controls and to assess their relation to the level of airflow limitation.

Methods: Study population included 120 subjects divided into two groups. Group 1 included 60 patients with COPD (52 male and 8 females, aged 40 to 80 years) initially diagnosed according to the actual recommendations.

Special Conditions in Venous Thrombembolism - Case Series.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is a preventable cause of in-hospital death, and one of the most prevalent vascular diseases. There is a lack of knowledge with regards to contemporary presentation, management, and outcomes of patients with VTE. Many clinically important subgroups (including the elderly, those with recent bleeding, renal insufficiency, disseminated malignancy or pregnant patients) have been under-represented in randomized clinical trials.

Carotid Artery Disease and Lower Extremities Artery Disease in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Aim: To assess the frequency of carotid artery disease (CAD) and lower extremities artery disease (LEAD) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and their relation to the severity of airflow limitation and the level of C-reactive protein (CRP).

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study including 60 patients with COPD (52 male, 8 female), aged 40 to 80 years, initially diagnosed according to the actual criteria. Also, 30 subjects in whom COPD was excluded, matched to COPD patients by sex, age, body mass index and smoking status, served as controls.