Retinal vessel analysis to assess microvascular function in the healthy eye: A systematic review on the response to acute physiological and pathological stressors.

The retina allows noninvasive in vivo assessment of the microcirculation. Autoregulation of the retinal microvasculature meets the changing requirements of local metabolic demand and maintains adequate blood flow. Analysis of the retinal vascular reactivity contributes to the understanding of regulatory physiology and its relationship to the systemic microcirculation.

Apixaban plasma levels in patients with HeartMate 3 support.

Background: Apixaban is increasingly used instead of vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) for long-term anticoagulation during HeartMate 3 (HM3) support. However, data on its pharmacokinetics in this context is lacking. We present real-world data on apixaban levels and outcomes in adult and pediatric HM3 patients, and evaluate our dosing strategy based on plasma sampling.

Endovascular Management of Thrombosed Cavoportal Anastomosis After Liver Transplantation Using Catheter Directed Thrombolysis and Stent Placement: A Case Report.

Cavoportal hemitransposition (CPHT) is a rarely performed treatment technique in liver transplantation in cases of extensive splanchnic thrombosis, in which the inferior vena cava of the recipient is used to perfuse the portal vein of the allograft. A case of a 65-year-old liver transplantation patient with an acutely thrombosed cavoportal anastomosis is presented. After unsuccessful medical treatment, recanalization was obtained with transfemoral catheter directed thrombolysis, angioplasty and stent placement.

Periprocedural Edoxaban Management and Clinical Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Cardiovascular Procedures in the EMIT-AF/VTE Program.

NCT02950168, NCT02951039.

Risk assessment tools for bleeding in patients with unprovoked venous thromboembolism: an analysis of the PLATO-VTE study.

Background: Guidelines suggest indefinite anticoagulation after unprovoked venous thromboembolism (VTE) unless the bleeding risk is high, yet there is no consistent guidance on assessing bleeding risk.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the performance of 5 bleeding risk tools (RIETE, VTE-BLEED, CHAP, VTE-PREDICT, and ABC-Bleeding).

Methods: PLATO-VTE, a prospective cohort study, included patients aged ≥40 years with a first unprovoked VTE.

Human genetics implicate thromboembolism in the pathogenesis of long COVID in individuals of European ancestry.

SARS-CoV-2 infection can result in long COVID, characterized by post-acute symptoms from multiple organs. Current hypotheses on mechanisms underlying long COVID include persistent inflammation and thromboembolism; however, compelling evidence from humans is limited and causal associations remain unclear. Here, we tested the association of thromboembolism-related genetic variants with long COVID in the Long COVID Host Genetics Initiative ( =3,018; =994,582).

A Prospective, Monocentric Case-Control Study on Uncontrolled Psoriasis as Independent Risk Factor for a Hypercoagulable State.

Introduction: Chronic inflammatory diseases, including psoriasis, are associated with development of venous thromboembolism (VTE). The clot lysis profile (CLP) provides information on both the clotting tendency and fibrinolysis activity. We hypothesized that CLP in uncontrolled psoriasis patients is disturbed towards more clotting/less lysis compared to healthy controls (HC) and that successful psoriasis treatment could normalize the CLP.

Factor XI Inhibitors: Potential Role in End-Stage Kidney Disease.

Patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) experience a high thrombotic risk but are also at increased risk of bleeding. There is an unmet need for safer antithrombotic therapy in patients with ESKD on hemodialysis. Factor XI (FXI) represents an attractive therapeutic target for anticoagulation because of the potential to mitigate the bleeding risks associated with currently approved anticoagulants, especially in patients at high risk of bleeding.

Clotting of the Extracorporeal Circuit in Hemodialysis: Beyond Contact-Activated Coagulation.

Thrombotic complications in patients with end-stage kidney disease are frequent. While being a lifesaving treatment for these patients, hemodialysis introduces a thromboinflammatory environment. Additionally, the extracorporeal hemodialysis circuit itself is prone to clotting because of an interaction between different activation mechanisms of the coagulation system, platelets, and the immune system.

Heparin dosing in patients with Impella-supported cardiogenic shock.

Background: Impella™ is increasingly used in cardiogenic shock. However, thromboembolic and bleeding events are frequent during percutaneous mechanical circulatory support (pMCS).

Objective: Therefore, we aimed to explore the optimal anticoagulation regime for pMCS to prevent thromboembolism and bleedings.

Therapy and guideline adherence at a multidisciplinary hypertension clinic: A prospective, observational study.

Background: Hypertension is highly prevalent and remains one of the most frequent and preventable causes of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Yet, suboptimal blood pressure control is common. Hypertension clinics might play an important role in improving target attainment, by targeting drug therapy adherence, improving guideline compliance and by involving pharmacists.

Management of edoxaban therapy and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing major or nonmajor surgery: a subanalysis of the EMIT-AF/VTE study.

Background: Optimising periprocedural management of direct oral anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation on chronic treatment undergoing major surgeries is an important aspect of balancing the risk of surgery-related bleeding with the risk of thromboembolic events, which may vary by surgery type.

Methods: This subanalysis of the prospective EMIT-AF/VTE programme assessed periprocedural-edoxaban management, according to physicians' decisions, and bleeding and thromboembolic event rates in patients who underwent major vs. nonmajor surgeries.

Protective Effect of Ticagrelor Against Infective Endocarditis Induced by Virulent in Mice.

In addition to its potent antiplatelet activity, ticagrelor possesses antibacterial properties against gram-positive bacteria. We wondered whether the typical clinical dosage of ticagrelor could prevent the development of infective endocarditis caused by highly virulent . Ticagrelor prevented vegetation formation in a mouse model of inflammation-induced endocarditis.

The Relevance of Arterial Blood Pressure in the Management of Glaucoma Progression: A Systematic Review.

Background: Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of global blindness and is expected to co-occur more frequently with vascular morbidities in the upcoming years, as both are aging-related diseases. Yet, the pathogenesis of glaucoma is not entirely elucidated and the interplay between intraocular pressure, arterial blood pressure (BP) and ocular perfusion pressure is poorly understood.

Objectives: This systematic review aims to provide clinicians with the latest literature regarding the management of arterial BP in glaucoma patients.

Serum proteomic profiling of carotid arteriopathy: A population outcome study.

Background And Aims: Circulating proteins reflecting subclinical vascular disease may improve prediction of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). We applied feature selection and unsupervised clustering on proteomic data to identify proteins associated with carotid arteriopathy and construct a protein-based classifier for ASCVD event prediction.

Methods: 491 community-dwelling participants (mean age, 58 ± 11 years; 51 % women) underwent carotid ultrasonography and proteomic profiling (CVD II panel, Olink Proteomics).

Peptidylarginine deiminase 4 and ADAMTS13 activity in bacteraemia.

infection is associated with increased levels of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and von Willebrand factor (VWF), and with reduced activity of ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motifs, member 13). Peptidylarginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) contributes to NET formation and inactivates ADAMTS13 . The role of PADs in the dynamics of NETs, VWF and ADAMTS13 has not yet been studied.

Predictive Factors and Clinical Events Associated with Edoxaban Interruption and Heparin Bridging Strategy: EMIT-AF/VTE.

Patients treated with edoxaban may require diagnostic and therapeutic procedures that involve edoxaban interruption. Although heparin bridging strategies are not recommended, heparin is frequently used in clinical practice. However, whether heparin use decreases thromboembolic risk remains unclear, and the potential for increased periprocedural bleeding remains a concern.

Effect of 24-h blood pressure dysregulations and reduced ocular perfusion pressure in open-angle glaucoma progression.

Background: Low ocular perfusion pressure (OPP), which depends on the mean arterial pressure (MAP) and intraocular pressure (IOP), is associated with glaucoma. We studied 24-h MAP dysregulations and OPP in relation to the progression of glaucoma damage.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 155 normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) and 110 primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients aged 18 years old followed at the University Hospital Leuven with repeated visual field tests ( n  = 7000 measures, including both eyes) who underwent 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Edoxaban use in the context of dental procedures: analysis from the EMIT-AF/VTE database.

Introduction: Literature reviews support continuing anticoagulation during dental procedures. However, studies often present grouped anticoagulation data, and information on individual anticoagulant management would be helpful to dentists. The Edoxaban Management in Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures (EMIT-AF/VTE) programme (NCT02950168; NCT02951039) demonstrated low periprocedural bleeding and thrombotic event rates in patients with atrial fibrillation receiving edoxaban.

The 2023 Belgian clinical guidance on anticoagulation management in hospitalized and ambulatory COVID-19 patients.

COVID-19 is associated with an increased risk for thrombotic complications. The trials investigating the optimal thromboprophylactic dose are performed in challenging times and seemingly produce conflicting evidence. The burdensome circumstances, divergent endpoints, and different analytical approaches hamper comparison and extrapolation of available evidence.

Management of Bleeding and Hemolysis During Percutaneous Microaxial Flow Pump Support: A Practical Approach.

Percutaneous ventricular assist devices (pVADs) are increasingly being used because of improved experience and availability. The Impella (Abiomed), a percutaneous microaxial, continuous-flow, short-term ventricular assist device, requires meticulous postimplantation management to avoid the 2 most frequent complications, namely, bleeding and hemolysis. A standardized approach to the prevention, detection, and treatment of these complications is mandatory to improve outcomes.