Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in patients treated with unfractionated heparin: prevalence of thrombosis in a 1 year follow-up.

Background: Patients with unstable angina are usually treated with unfractionated heparin and aspirin, but very little is known about the prevalence of heparin-induced antibodies and their relation to thrombotic complications some time after the acute phase of unstable angina. The aim of the present study was to establish the prevalence of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and the prevalence of heparin-dependent platelet-reactive antibodies in patients treated with unfractionated heparin and the occurrence of thrombosis in a 1 year follow-up.

Methods: Patient population included 124 consecutive patients with unstable angina treated with unfractionated heparin for almost 5 days.

[Restoring the mechanical atrial function after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation: clinical and echocardiographic predictive factors].

Background: A delay in the recovery of effective mechanical atrial function after cardioversion for atrial fibrillation can predispose to thromboembolism. The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of clinical and echocardiographic parameters on the recovery of left atrial contraction after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation.

Methods: One hundred and 36 consecutive patients were evaluated and 80 were randomly cardioverted using either DC shock or i.

Doppler sonographic evaluation of left atrial function after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation.

Restoration of sinus rhythm is not always followed by immediate return of effective atrial contraction. Left atrial mechanical function can be assessed by Doppler echocardiography; in the present study we measured the atrial ejection force, which is a noninvasive Doppler-derived parameter that measures the strength of atrial contraction. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of clinical and echocardiographic parameters: duration and cause of atrial fibrillation, different modality of cardioversion, and left atrial size with respect to the delay in the return of effective atrial contraction after cardioversion.

Efficacy and tolerability of a very low molecular weight heparin compared with standard heparin in patients with unstable angina: a pilot study.

Background: Unstable angina is an active thrombotic process that involves thrombus formation and platelets. It requires a rapid and intensive treatment with anticoagulants and antiplatelets.

Hypothesis: The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of a very low molecular weight heparin, OP 2000, with standard heparin in the treatment of unstable angina.

Analgesic drug taking: beliefs and behavior among headache patients.

Objective: To explore beliefs and behavior with respect to analgesic drug taking in headache patients. To compare episodic headache to chronic headache sufferers.

Methods: A consecutive series of 280 headache patients, newly admitted to the Headache Center of the University of Modena, all referred by their general practitioner, were asked to fill out a brief questionnaire, specially compiled for this survey.