Decreased Aortic Elasticity in Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Early Sign of Atherosclerosis and Predictive Factors.

Background: Atherosclerosis is increased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and early diagnosis of vascular disease leads to better outcome. Our aim was to evaluate whether aortic elasticity decreases in the subclinical stage of atherosclerosis in RA patients without any cardiovascular disease and to determine disease-related risk factors.

Methods: One hundred fourteen patients with RA, 50 patients with spondyloarthritis, and 50 healthy control were included in this study.

Evaluation of Aortic Elasticity Parameters Measured by Transthoracic Echocardiography in a Normotensive Population: A Single-Center Study.

Objective: Impaired arterial elastic features is one of the earliest manifestations of atherosclerosis in the vessel wall and is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease and increased mortality and morbidity. In this study, we aimed to investigate the mean values of aortic elasticity parameters in a normotensive population with transthoracic echocardiography and to evaluate these values in different age groups and their relationship with other risk factors.

Methods: This retrospective study included 405 subjects who met the inclusion criteria among 2880 individuals screened between 2020 and 2022.

Assessment of subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction and structural changes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can develop left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction and geometric changes due to several reasons.

Aim: To investigate subclinical LV systolic dysfunction and structural features in patients with COPD, and its correlation with the severity of airway obstruction, identified by GOLD classification.

Methods: We studied 52 patients with COPD and 29 age and sex-matched controls, without any cardiac disease.

Why we should be more careful using hydroxychloroquine in influenza season during COVID-19 pandemic?

The aim of this study was to describe the QTc prolongation and related adverse cardiac events during the administration of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and its combinations for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Hospitalized patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) who received HCQ and had initial and follow-up electrocardiograms performed between March 10 and May 30, 2020 were included. Critical QTc prolongation was detected in 12% of the patients.

A rare cause of acute coronary syndromes in young adults - myeloproliferative neoplasms: A case series.

Introduction: Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) mostly occur in patients with traditional risk factors. Especially in young adults without major cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, one of the less common causes of ACS is myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs).

Methods: We retrospectively collected data on 11 consecutive patients (nine men, two women, mean age 40.

Subclinical biventricular systolic dysfunction in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Objective: Silent myocardial involvement is associated with poor prognosis in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Here we aimed to evaluate the subclinical left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) systolic dysfunction in patients with SSc without any cardiovascular diseases, by using both strain imaging methods, speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) and real-time 3D echocardiography (RT3DE).

Methods: A total of 47 patients with SSc and 20 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (HC) were studied.

Association of mitral annular calcification with endothelial dysfunction, carotid intima-media thickness and serum fetuin-A: an observational study.

Objective: Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is characterized by degenerative calcification of the mitral valve annulus. Atherosclerosis plays role in progression of MAC. Fetuin A is the inhibitor of pathological calcification.