Coeliac and cardiovascular disease: a possible relationship between two apparently separate conditions.

Coeliac disease (CD) is an autoimmune condition with a high prevalence among general population and multisystemic involvement: a more complex scene than a merely gastrointestinal disease. Therefore, an early diagnosis and treatment with a gluten-free diet is mainly important to reduce mortality and comorbidities. Together with autoimmune diseases (as Hashimoto thyroiditis, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, autoimmune liver disease and connective tissue diseases), also an accelerated progression of atherosclerosis and a higher prevalence of heart disease have been reported in coeliacs.

Endothelial dysfunction in COVID-19 patients assessed with Endo-PAT2000.

It has been widely reported that the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) attaches human cells by using the Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, but vascular impairment described during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection is primarily due to the direct involvement of the endothelial cells by the virus or secondarily to the inflammatory host response is currently unknown. We therefore aimed to demonstrate in vivo the presence of endothelial dysfunction in six COVID-19 patients without cardiovascular risk factors or pre-existing cardiac condition, using the Endo-PAT 2000, a device able to measure endothelial vasodilation function in a rapid and non-invasive way. Four patients were positive for endothelial dysfunction, with RHI values between 1.

Lipoprotein(a) and aortic valve stenosis: A casual or causal association?

Aims: This review aims to provide an update of available methods for imaging calcification activity and potential therapeutic options.

Data Synthesis: Aortic valve calcification represents the most common heart valve condition requiring treatment among adults in Western societies. No medical therapies are proven to be effective in treating symptoms or reducing disease progression.

Unusual intracardiac thrombosis in two patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): case series.

Background: COVID-19 may induce a coagulation dysregulation resulting in a prothrombotic state with a higher risk of arterial and venous thrombosis. This abnormal thrombotic diathesis can lead to pulmonary embolism, stroke, and intracardiac thrombosis.

Case Summary: We present two cases of unusual intracardiac thrombosis in patients hospitalized for COVID-19.

Cardiogenic Shock due to COVID-19-Related Myocarditis in a 19-Year-Old Autistic Patient.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is mainly responsible for respiratory involvement but cardiac complications are also reported. Nevertheless, potential life-threatening conditions in young people have not been described. A 19-year-old male autistic patient was admitted with fever and cough.

[Bempedoic acid: clinical data].

The efficacy and safety of bempedoic acid, including the occurrence of muscle-related adverse events, have been addressed by phase 2 and phase 3 clinical trials. Phase 3 clinical trials demonstrated that in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and/or familial hypercholesterolemia who were treated with statins at maximum tolerated dose, with or without further lipid-lowering drugs, bempedoic acid treatment was associated with a significant reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in different groups of patients with a favorable safety profile. An ongoing phase 3 study is currently evaluating the effect of longer-term (median duration of 3-4 years) treatment with bempedoic acid on the incidence of cardiovascular events.

Stage A Heart Failure: Modern Strategies for an Effective Prevention.

Stage A heart failure (HF) patients do not show HF symptoms or any structural heart disease but are at risk of HF development. Cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, and exposure to cardiotoxic agents) characterize subjects affected by stage A HF. It is essential to identify these subjects early and ensure that, despite being asymptomatic, they grasp the importance of undertaking correct lifestyle and therapeutic interventions.

Right ventricular deformation and right ventricular-arterial coupling in patients with heart failure due to severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVI: long-term results.

Aim: To evaluate the long-term prognostic significance of right ventricular (RV) deformation and RV-arterial coupling in a cohort of patients with heart failure (HF) due to severe aortic stenosis (AS) candidate for trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Methods: The study is a retrospective analysis of 56 patients undergoing echocardiography before TAVI execution. RV function was defined by tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), fractional area change (FAC), peak systolic myocardial velocity by tissue Doppler imaging (RVSm) and RV longitudinal strain (RVLS).

COVID-19 Pneumonia, Takotsubo Syndrome, and Left Ventricle Thrombi.

Left ventricle thrombus is considered a rare complication of Takotsubo syndrome. However, both a stress condition predisposing to Takotsubo syndrome and coagulation abnormalities coexist in COVID-19. We describe a case of a patient with COVID-19 with Takotsubo syndrome.

Sinus Node Dysfunction in a Young Patient With COVID-19.

A 34-year-old man was admitted with acute lung injury and COVID-19 pneumonia. In the intensive care unit, he experienced episodes of prolonged asystole accompanied by hypotension without loss of consciousness. Once reversible causes were excluded, symptoms were related to dysfunction of the sinus node, and the patient underwent implantation of a pacemaker.

Acute pulmonary embolism in COVID-19 disease: Preliminary report on seven patients.

There is some evidence that Covid 19 pneumonia is associated with prothrombotic status and increased risk of venous thromboembolic events (deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism). Over a two-week period we admitted in our Unit 25 patients with Covid-19 pneumonia, of these pulmonary embolism was diagnosed using computed tomography angiography in 7. We report on clinical and biochemical features of these patients.

Evaluation of systo-diastolic cardiac function and arterial stiffness in subjects with new diagnosis of coeliac disease without cardiovascular risk factors.

In literature, there are conflicting opinions on the development of cardiovascular disease risk in patients with coeliac disease (CD). The aim of the research was to identify in young subjects without cardiovascular risk factor and newly diagnosed CD, alterations in different instrumental parameters that are associated with an augmented cardiovascular risk. Twenty-one consecutive young adults with a new diagnosis of CD and without cardiovascular risk factors were prospectively enrolled and underwent transthoracic echocardiography to analyse ascending aorta elastic properties [including tissue Doppler imaging strain (TDI-ε)] and left ventricular 2D strains (global longitudinal, radial and circumferential), and applanation tonometry by SphygmoCor.