High prevalence of cardiac post-acute sequelae in patients recovered from Covid-19. Results from the ARCA post-COVID study.

Background: Many data were published about Long-Covid prevalence, very few about the findings of new cardiac alterations (NCA) in COVID-19-recovered people. is an observational study designed to investigate the prevalence of NCA in patients recovered from Covid-19.Methods: from June 2020 to December 2022, we enrolled 502 patients with a positive nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV2 and a subsequent negative one.

Alert-LDL-2: adherence to guidelines and goals attainment in the treatment of diabetic patients with dyslipidemia.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with a cluster of lipid and apolipoprotein abnormalities which increase the risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the adherence to guidelines-oriented dyslipidemia treatment in diabetic patients and to assess the efficacy of a territorial goal-oriented program.

Methods: One thousand seventy-one diabetic patients at very high cardiovascular risk were enrolled in this prospective study.

Effects of three-months folate supplementation on early vascular abnormalities in hyperhomocysteinemic patients with epilepsy.

Background: Epilepsy has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Anti-seizure medication (ASM) may contribute to vascular risk by several mechanisms, including increased homocysteine levels. This study aims to assess the global vascular burden in hyperhomocysteinemic people with epilepsy (PWE) on long-term ASM before and after folic acid supplementation and in subgroups of PWE treated with single enzyme-inducing or single non-enzyme inducing ASM.

Clinical outcomes of newly diagnosed, stable angina patients managed according to current guidelines. The ARCA (Arca Registry for Chronic Angina) Registry: A prospective, observational, nationwide study.

Background: Clinical outcomes of stable angina patients treated according to guidelines recommendations (medical therapy first, selective revascularization in high risk or unresponsive patients) are not fully known.

Methods And Results: Eight hundred thirty-three patients with newly diagnosed, stable angina were enrolled in a prospective, observational, nationwide registry and followed for 1 year. Symptoms and quality of life were evaluated with the CCS angina grading, with a self-assessment scale and with the SAQ-7.

ALERT-LDL: adherence to guidelines in the treatment of patients with dyslipidemia.

The association between LDL-c levels and cardiovascular outcomes suggests tailoring lipid-lowering therapies according to total cardiovascular risk. We aimed to evaluate the adherence to guidelines-oriented dyslipidaemia's treatment in an outpatient population referring to ARCA cardiologists, and assess the efficacy of treatment's optimization for each specific level of risk. Three thousand seventy-five patients enrolled in this prospective study were classified according to cardiovascular risk category, and their therapies were optimized.

Can pulse wave velocity (PWV) alone express arterial stiffness? A neglected tool for vascular function assessment.

Arterial stiffness, defined as the rigidity of the arterial wall, is the consequence of vascular aging and is associated with the full spectrum of cardiovascular diseases. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) is the gold standard method for arterial stiffness evaluation: it measures the velocity of the arterial pulse along the thoracic and abdominal aorta alongside arterial distensibility. Its value rises as stiffness progresses.

Management of patients with chronic heart failure and type 2 diabetes mellitus: the SCODIAC-II study.

SCODIAC was a pilot study which revealed an increasing use of SGLT2i in 123 outpatients affected with Heart Failure (HF) and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. SCODIAC-II study, the second phase of the program, has been carried out to determine diagnostic and therapeutic pathways in a larger group of patients and to verify whether the use of innovative antidiabetic therapies could modify echocardiographic parameters and cardiovascular therapies. 406 HF-diabetic patients, referred to Cardiologists and Diabetologists of pertaining healthcare districts in Campania, were enrolled in this retrospective study and divided in Group A, composed of 136 patients with preserved Ejection Fraction (HF-pEF)(> 45%) and Group B, formed of 270 patients with reduced EF (HF-rEF)(≤ 45%).

Atorvastatin-linked rhabdomyolysis caused by the simultaneous intake of amoxicillin clavulanic acid.

Objectives Rhabdomyolysis is a rare syndrome in which a serious muscle damage suddenly appears, with the possible occurrence of severe complications such as kidney failure, electrolyte imbalances and death, and represents the most severe form of statin-induced muscle injury. Case presentation Here we present the case of a 55-year-old woman who started therapy with amoxicillin clavulanic acid on a background of atorvastatin therapy, resulting in rhabdomyolysis. Conclusions This case highlights the importance of evaluating potential drug interactions in patients taking statin and the need of monitoring clinical and laboratory findings suggestive of rhabdomyolysis.

Peripheral Vascular Function in Dilated Cardiomyopathy of Different Etiology.

Vascular function in dilated cardiomyopathy of different etiology has been poorly investigated. Moreover, reference values of flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in chronic heart failure (CHF) need to be updated according to the new standardized protocols. We characterized the vascular impairment in different stages of post-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (PI-DC) or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (I-DC).

Adherence to guidelines in the management of patients with chronic heart failure follow-up: role of periodic echocardiographic examinations.

Background And Aim: The Adherence to Guidelines in the Treatment of patients with Chronic Heart Failure trial showed a poor adherence to the current therapeutic guidelines in 660 chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. The second phase, Adherence to Guidelines in the Treatment of patients with Chronic Heart Failure follow-up, was aimed to determine if periodic echocardiographic evaluations could improve the prognosis of CHF patients and/or increase the adherence to the guidelines.

Material And Methods: Among 528 CHF patients with reduced ejection fraction from the ALERT registry, 436 patients accepted to participate in the second phase of the study between February and September 2013 and completed the 3-year follow-up phase between February and September 2016.

Long-term follow-up in high risk hypertensive patients with carotid dolicoarteriopathies.

Background: Carotid dolicoarteriopathies (CDA) are a common finding during the carotid ultrasound or angiography, but their potential role in the development of cerebrovascular diseases is still unclear. Aim of this study is to clarify the possible relationship between CDA and the occurrence of cerebral events.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis on 2124 hypertensive patients with high cardiovascular risk that underwent carotid ultrasound from January 2000 to December 2008.

Effects of L-thyroxine treatment on early markers of atherosclerotic disease in children with subclinical hypothyroidism.

Objective: To investigate the effect of levothyroxine (L-T4) treatment on early markers of atherosclerotic disease in children with mild idiopathic subclinical hypothyroidism (SH).

Design: Two-year, open, case-control prospective study.

Methods: A total of 39 children, aged 9.

Mesoglycan improves vascular reactivity and insulin sensitivity in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute and chronic effects of mesoglycan on the endothelial function and arterial elastic properties in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Background: MetS is defined by a clustering of vascular risk factors that demand both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions, including body weight reductions and physical activity. The correction of endothelial dysfunction and arterial wall distensibility associated with MetS have lately received increasing interest.

ALERT-HF: adherence to guidelines in the treatment of patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: The prognosis of chronic heart failure (CHF) may be substantially improved by strict adherence to current therapeutic guidelines.

Aim And Methods: To assess the adherence to current guidelines, 660 CHF patients consecutively referred to the ARCA (Associazioni Regionali Cardiologi Ambulatoriali Campania) cardiologists were evaluated. As indicators of adherence to the guidelines, we considered use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and/or angiotensin receptor blockers, beta-blockers, loop diuretics, aldosterone antagonists, digoxin, anticoagulant therapy, and implantation of cardiac devices.

[Healthcare networks for chronic heart failure management].

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is one of the leading causes of disability in the older population. In addition, the management of older CHF patients is particularly complex not only in cases of exacerbations, usually treated in the emergency department, but also in daily clinical practice, where a large commitment from the family and the presence of an accessible competent healthcare district are required. The management of CHF should include a network providing adequate follow-up of older patients and implement the continuity of care from hospital to territory.

Management of chronic heart failure: Role of home echocardiography in monitoring care programs.

Aim: To identify a possible role of home echocardiography for monitoring chronic heart failure (CHF) patients.

Methods: We prospectively investigated 118 patients hospitalized during the last year for CHF who could not easily reach the pertaining District Healthcare Center. The patients were followed up with 2 home management programs: one including clinical and electrocardiographic evaluations and also periodic home echocardiographic examinations (group A), the other including clinical and electrocardiographic evaluations only (group B).

Impaired diastolic function in naïve untreated human immunodeficiency virus infected patients.

Aim: To evaluate cardiac function and structure in untreated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients without clinical evidence of cardiovascular disease.

Methods: Fifty-three naïve untreated HIV-infected patients and 56 healthy control subjects underwent clinical assessment, electrocardiography (ECG) and echocardiography, including tissue doppler imaging. Moreover, a set of laboratory parameters was obtained from all subjects, including HIV-RNA plasma levels, CD4 cell counts and tumor necrosis factor-α levels.

Effects of long-term L-thyroxine treatment on endothelial function and arterial distensibility in young adults with congenital hypothyroidism.

Objective: Patients with congenital hypothyroidism (CH) display subclinical abnormalities of the cardiovascular system that are related to unphysiological fluctuations of TSH levels and occur despite careful replacement therapy.

Design: The aim of the present case-control study was to evaluate the effects of long-term levothyroxine (l-T(4)) replacement therapy on the vascular district in CH patients by assessing endothelial function with flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and brachial artery distensibility with the measurement of the coefficient of distensibility (DC).

Methods: Thirty-two young adults with CH aged 18.

Growth hormone deficiency in patients with chronic heart failure and beneficial effects of its correction.

Context: A reduced activity of the GH/IGF-I axis in chronic heart failure (CHF) has been described by several independent groups and is associated with poor clinical status and outcome.

Objective: The aim of the current study was to investigate the prevalence of GH deficiency in a patient population with CHF and evaluate the cardiovascular effects of GH replacement therapy.

Design And Setting: The randomized, single-blind, controlled trial was conducted at the Federico II University.

Impaired endothelial- and nonendothelial-mediated vasodilation in patients with acute or chronic hypothyroidism.

Objective: Vascular dysfunction and accelerated atherosclerosis are prominent features of hypothyroidism. The relative roles of thyroid hormone (TH) deficiency and the associated vascular risk conditions are still unclear. We studied the impact of acute and chronic hypothyroidism on vascular reactivity.

Recombinant human thyrotropin enhances endothelial-mediated vasodilation of conduit arteries.

Context: Endothelial cells possess receptors to TSH. Their role is largely unknown.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to determine whether elevated serum TSH levels, as occur in hypothyroidism, affect endothelial function of large arteries and vascular risk biomarkers.

Human immunodeficiency virus per se exerts atherogenic effects.

Objective: Premature atherosclerosis in HIV-infected patients has been attributed to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and the associated metabolic complications. Whether HIV per se plays a role is an unresolved issue. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether HIV per se exerts atherogenic effects.

Long-term cardiovascular effects of levothyroxine therapy in young adults with congenital hypothyroidism.

Context: Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is the most prevalent endocrine disorder in the newborn and is routinely treated with life-long levothyroxine replacement therapy. Although several studies have demonstrated that such therapy may impact on the cardiovascular system, little is known with regard to the effects of long-term levothyroxine administration in patients with CH.

Objective: The aim of the current study was to evaluate whether long-term levothyroxine replacement therapy in young adults with CH is associated with cardiovascular abnormalities.