[Use of oral anticoagulants in patients discharged with atrial fibrillation in 2000].

Introduction And Objectives: Although there is consensus about the use of oral anticoagulants to prevent thrombi and embolisms in most patients with atrial fibrillation, this treatment is underused in actual practice. Our objective was to determine and analyze the use of acenocoumarol in patients diagnosed as having atrial fibrillation at discharge.

Patients And Method: Between January and July 2000, we retrospectively studied 501 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation.

[Identification of factors responsible for oral over-anticoagulation in outpatients with heart disease].

Background: Few studies have attempted to investigate the clinical course or identify factors responsible for excessive anticoagulation in patients with heart disease.

Objectives: To determine the incidence of excessive anticoagulation in outpatients with heart disease treated with acenocoumarol, analyze the factors related with over-anticoagulation, and identify bleeding complications.

Patients And Method: This 7-month prospective observational study included consecutive outpatients anticoagulated with acenocoumarol.

[Infection and coronary atherosclerosis: the role Chlamydia pneumonia].

The role of inflammatory reactions in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is widely accepted. Recently, an increasing body of evidence has linked infections to atherosclerosis. It is hypothesized that infections could interact with other risk factors of vascular disease, enhancing the endothelial damage and the production of atherosclerotic plaques.

[Physical exercise and serum potassium in renal insufficiency].

In order to study the effect of physical exercise on serum potassium in renal failure, twelve patients currently on chronic dialysis were subjected to physical exercise by means of an ergometric bicycle. The initial serum potassium was 5.2 +/- 0.