N-Terminal Prohormone of Brain Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) as a Diagnostic Biomarker of Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction in Patients with Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (AECOPD).

Introduction: Left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and cardiac decompensation often accompany AECOPD. Differentiation between the two is difficult and mainly relies on clinical and echocardiographic diagnostic procedures. The value of biomarkers, such as NT-proBNP, as diagnostic tools is still insufficiently investigated.

Association Between the Inflammatory Biomarkers and Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction in Patients with Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. The increased inflammatory biomarker levels predict exacerbations and are associated with cardiovascular diseases in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients but their role in the settings of acute chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations has not been determined.

Aims: To analyse the association between inflammatory biomarkers and heart failure and also to determine the predictors of mortality in patients with exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

[Treatment effects of co-amoxiclav (Amoxiclav 2x) in acute exacerbation of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: clinical evaluation].

Introduction: The exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is most often induced by an infection of bacterial origin in over 50% of the cases (or mixed bacterial and viral infection). This study was aimed at evaluating clinical effects of antibiotics co-amoxiclav. Amoxiicillin with clavulanic acid in the treatment of patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation.

The frequency of sensitization to inhalatory allergens and concomitant rhinitis in asthmatic patients.

Background/aim: Asthma is one of the most common chronic pulmonary diseases. The number of asthmatics has been continuously increasing all over the world. Depending on its causing agent, asthma is classified as allergic and nonallergic.

A postmortem analysis of major causes of early death in patients hospitalized with COPD exacerbation.

Background: Mortality from COPD is increasing worldwide, but detailed causes of death are rarely assessed, particularly in low-income countries.

Methods: In a retrospective study, we reviewed the autopsy reports and medical records of deceased patients admitted to the hospital for severe exacerbation of COPD, from January 2005 to December 2007, at the Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina, Serbia.

Results: Forty-three patients with a hospital admission diagnosis of COPD exacerbation underwent autopsy; all had died within 24 h of admission to the hospital.