Role of cardiovascular magnetic resonance in the prognosis of patients with myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries.

Background: It is estimated that 5% to 10% of patients with myocardial infarction (MI) present with no obstructive coronary artery lesions. Until now, most studies have focused on acute coronary syndrome, including different clinical entities with a similar presentation encompassed under the term MINOCA (MI with non-obstructive coronary arteries). The aim of this study is to assess the prognosis of patients diagnosed with true infarction, confirmed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), in the absence of significant coronary lesions.

Inflammatory status and uricaemia determine HDL-cholesterol levels in hypertensive adults over 65: an analysis of the FAPRES register.

In inflammatory disease, the levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) decrease, and the composition of HLD-C changes. Data from the "non-inflammatory" general population indicate the presence of the same phenomenon, albeit to a smaller extent. Levels of uricaemia contribute to the overall inflammatory state of patients.

[Use of the CHADS2 score as a predictor of the risk of mortality in hypertensive patients. The FAPRES study].

Foundations And Aim: The aim of this study is to analyze the CHADS2 score as a marker of the risk of mortality in hypertensive patients, with and without the presence of atrial fibrillation.

Methods: We included 1,003 hypertensive patients≥65 years. Risk factors, and CHADS2 score were recorded among other factors, as well as clinical follow-up of number and type of deaths.

Reconstruction after pancreatic trauma by pancreaticogastrostomy.

Introduction: Pancreatic lesions are very infrequent after closed abdominal trauma (5% of cases) with a complication rate that affects 30-40% of patients, and a mortality rate that can reach 39%. In our experience, closed abdominal traumatisms occurring at typical popular horse-riding festivals in our region constitute a high risk of pancreatic trauma. The purpose of the present paper is to raise awareness about our experience in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic lesions secondary to closed abdominal traumatism.

The CHADS2 Score to Predict Stroke Risk in the Absence of Atrial Fibrillation in Hypertensive Patients Aged 65 Years or Older.

Introduction And Objectives: The CHADS2 score is a proven, essential tool for estimating cardioembolic risk (mainly stroke) in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, with the purpose of determining the indication for anticoagulant therapy. In this study we analyzed the use of CHADS2 in hypertensive patients without known atrial fibrillation in a Mediterranean population.

Methods: The study included 887 hypertensive patients aged 65 years or older without atrial fibrillation or anticoagulant therapy, who attended a medical consultation.

Gender differences related to the presence of atrial fibrillation in older hypertensive patients.

Aim: To determine whether there are gender differences in the epidemiological profile of atrial fibrillation (AF) and to characterise the clinical, biochemical, and therapeutic factors associated with AF.

Methods: Each investigator (primary care physicians or physicians based in hospital units for hypertension treatment) recruited the first 3 patients with an age of ≥ 65 years and a clinical diagnosis of hypertension (ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and an electrocardiogram, were performed) on the first working day of the week for 5 wk and identified those individuals with atrial fibrillation. A binary logistic regression was performed, including all of the variables that were significant in the univariate analysis, to establish the variables that were associated with the presence of arrhythmia.

Circulating biomarkers of collagen metabolism in arterial hypertension: relevance of target organ damage.

Objective: Increasing experimental evidence indicates that alterations in the extracellular matrix are implicated in hypertension and its chronic complications. Selected markers of extracellular matrix metabolism were investigated as potential biomarkers for hypertensive remodelling and correlated with the severity and extent of target organ damage (TOD) in patients with essential hypertension.

Methods: We studied 159 consecutive patients being treated for essential hypertension.

Inflammation and apoptosis in hypertension. Relevance of the extent of target organ damage.

Introduction And Objectives: To investigate the relationship between inflammatory and apoptotic parameters and the severity and extent of target organ damage in patients with essential hypertension.

Methods: We studied 159 consecutive patients with treated essential hypertension. An exhaustive evaluation of damage to heart, kidney, and blood vessels was performed and plasma levels of inflammatory (interleukin 6 and soluble receptor of tumor necrosis factor-alpha type 2) and apoptotic markers (soluble receptor of tumor necrosis factor-alpha type 1 and soluble Fas receptor) were determined.

Carotid resistive index in treated hypertensive patients: relationship with target organ damage.

Aim: The resistive index (RI) is a hemodynamic parameter that reflects local wall extensibility and related vascular resistance. We analyze the relationship between common carotid RI and target organ damage in treated hypertensive patients.

Methods: We analyzed 265 consecutive hypertensive patients.

[Impact of blood pressure control on the ankle-brachial index in hypertensive patients].

Background And Objective: The guidelines for arterial hypertension recommend a systematic determination of ankle-brachial index (ABI) in the initial risk stratification in hypertensive patients, while not indicating whether controls should be evolutionary. Our aim was to analyze the evolution of the ABI value in hypertensive patients in terms of control of blood pressure (BP) after one year follow-up.

Patients And Methods: We included 209 hypertensive patients, in whom ABI was determined at baseline and after one year of antihypertensive treatment.

Variability of NT-proBNP and its relationship with inflammatory status in patients with stable essential hypertension: a 2-year follow-up study.

Background: The variability of NT-proBNP levels has been studied in heart failure, yet no data exist on these changes over time in hypertensive patients. Furthermore, studies on the relationship between natriuretic peptides and inflammatory status are limited.

Methodology/principal Findings: 220 clinically and functionally asymptomatic stable patients (age 59 ± 13, 120 male) out of 252 patients with essential hypertension were followed up, and NT-proBNP was measured at baseline, 12 and 24 months.

Prognostic significance of heart rate in hospitalized patients presenting with myocardial infarction.

Aim: To investigate the prognostic significance of resting heart rate in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), independent of other known factors.

Methods: Patients 40 years of age or older who had been admitted with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) to one of the 94 hospitals participating in the Prevalence of Peripheral Arterial Disease in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome (PAMISCA) study were included. Patients were divided into two groups based on their resting heart rate (HR ≥ or < 70 bpm).

Impact of cardiovascular risk factors and inflammatory status on urinary 8-OHdG in essential hypertension.

Background: The urinary concentrations of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) reflect the oxidation status of hypertensive subjects and it can be used for monitoring oxidative stress changes. However, the influence of cardiovascular risk factors and inflammation on the urinary levels of this marker in hypertension (HT) has never evaluated. The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of cardiovascular risk factors, and established inflammatory markers on 8-OHdG in essential HT.

[Diagnostic accuracy of NT-proBNP compared with electrocardiography in detecting left ventricular hypertrophy of hypertensive origin].

Electrocardiography (ECG) is the most widely used method for diagnosing left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in hypertensive patients. We assessed the value of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) determination compared with ECG for detecting LVH in 336 consecutive hypertensive patients with preserved systolic function. We found a significant correlation between NT-proBNP levels and left ventricular mass adjusted for body surface area (r=.

Pathological ankle-brachial index is equivalent of advanced age in acute coronary syndromes.

Background: Age is one the factors associated with poor prognosis in acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and elderly patients are a high-risk collective with few parameters for mid-term cardiovascular stratification. We aimed to assess the predictive value of ankle-brachial index (ABI) in patients (> 75 years) for 1-year mortality after an ACS.

Materials And Methods: Prospective, observational and multicentre study of ACS patients in whom ABI was assessed during hospitalization.

[What measure of carotid wall thickening is the best atherosclerotic loading score in the hypertensive patient: maximum or mean value?].

Recent guidelines on arterial hypertension regard increased carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) as a marker of end-organ damage. However, these guidelines do not specify whether the maximum or mean IMT should be used as an indicator. The aim of this study was to compare these two measures and their relationship to atherosclerotic burden.

[Differences in the degree of control of arterial hypertension according to the measurement procedure of blood pressure in patients ≥ 65 years. FAPRES study].

Background And Objectives: Control of arterial blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive patients differs based on the evaluation procedure. This fact can be enhanced in subjects over 65 years of age. We have studied the degree of BP control with determinations in the office or ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM).

Clustering of target organ damage increases mortality after acute coronary syndromes in patients with arterial hypertension.

The impact of target organ damage (TOD) clustering in hypertensive patients with established cardiovascular disease has not been clearly defined. Multicentre, observational and prospective study of 1054 consecutive patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACSs). The objective was describing the impact of TOD on first-year mortality.

Prevalence of atrial fibrillation and use of antithrombotics in hypertensive patients aged >or=65 years. The FAPRES trial.

Introduction And Objectives: Age and arterial hypertension are two of the main factors associated with atrial fibrillation and an increased risk of embolism. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of atrial fibrillation and the extent of antithrombotic use in hypertensive patients aged >or=65 years in the Spanish region of Valencia.

Methods: Each study investigator enrolled the first three hypertensive patients aged >or=65 years who came for a consultation on the first day of each week for 5 weeks.

Prevalencia de fibrilación auricular y uso de fármacos antitrombóticos en el paciente hipertenso ≥ 65 años. El registro FAPRES.

Introduction And Objectives: Age and arterial hypertension are two of the main factors associated with atrial fibrillation and an increased risk of embolism. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of atrial fibrillation and the extent of antithrombotic use in hypertensive patients aged ≥65 years in the Spanish region of Valencia.

Methods: Each study investigator enrolled the first three hypertensive patients aged ≥65 years who came for a consultation on the first day of each week for 5 weeks.

Combination of ankle brachial index and diabetes mellitus to predict cardiovascular events and mortality after an acute coronary syndrome.

Objective: Diabetes mellitus and low ankle brachial index (ABI) are both conditions associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. In the setting of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), diabetes is associated with increased mortality, but little is known regarding a low ABI. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of diabetes and low ABI in patients after an ACS and their prognostic value.

Plasma aldosterone and glomerular filtration in hypertensive patients with preserved renal function.

There is increasing interest in the role of aldosterone in the pathophysiology of hypertension, cardiovascular disease and deteriorating renal function. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between aldosterone and the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in hypertensive patients with preserved renal function. The study involved 186 consecutive hypertensive patients with a GFR >60 mL/min.

Usefulness of an abnormal ankle-brachial index for detecting multivessel coronary disease in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Introduction And Objectives: The presence of peripheral arterial disease in patients with coronary artery disease is associated with a poor cardiovascular outcome. However, the majority of affected patients are asymptomatic and the condition is underdiagnosed. The ankle-brachial index (ABI) provides a simple method of diagnosis.