A retrospective study of people with familial hypercholesterolaemia in a Belgian lipid clinic.

Background: Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is a genetic disease characterised by hypercholesterolaemia and premature cardiovascular events. Early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the cardiovascular burden. We describe the characteristics of patients with heterozygous FH followed in a tertiary hospital in Belgium.

Cocaine-induced midline destruction.

In patients presenting with nasal septum perforation, the differential diagnosis between ANCA-associated vasculitis and cocaine-induced midline destruction (CIMD) can be challenging. We describe the case of a 28-year old man who presented with a nasal septum perforation. He admitted the use of cocaine and showed no other symptoms of systemic inflammation.

Treatment of Men with Central Hypogonadism: Alternatives for Testosterone Replacement Therapy.

Central hypogonadism is a clinical condition, characterized by sexual symptoms and low serum testosterone levels, due to an impaired function of the hypothalamus or pituitary gland. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is the standard treatment for hypogonadism, but it has some disadvantages. TRT is not a good option in men wishing to preserve fertility, nor in men with (a high risk of) prostate cancer, polycythemia, thrombophilia and severe cardiovascular disease.

Prevalence and clinical correlates of rheumatoid factor and anticitrullinated protein antibodies in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy.

Objective: As rheumatoid factor (RF) and anticitrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) are not routinely tested in idiopathic inflammatory myositis (IIM), little is known about their prevalence and clinical implications in this patient group. In antisynthetase syndrome (ASS), presence of ACPA is reportedly associated with more severe and erosive arthritis. We aim to retrospectively determine the prevalence of RF and ACPA in a cross-sectional cohort of 121 patients diagnosed with IIM and to assess clinical associations.

Ulnar artery false aneurysm: temporary ultrasound-guided compression closure in an unusual case.

A case of traumatic false aneurysm located in an unusual portion of the ulnar artery is presented and the clinical findings, diagnosis and treatments are considered. The authors report the first use of ultrasound-guided compression closure, as an alternative to surgical management of ulnar artery false aneurysms.