Acute pulmonary embolism pretest probability estimation by d-dimer test, our modified, new ECG score and clinical prediction rules.

Objectives: We investigated whether a sufficiently sensitive D-dimer test could exclude acute pulmonary embolism (acPE) as a stand-alone diagnostic test and compared our previously published, modified ECG score with the Wells and Geneva scores in the estimation of acPE pretest probability.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 345 patients who underwent chest CT angiography (CTA) for the suspicion of acPE. The pretest probability of acPE was assessed in 120 D-dimer negative [DD (-)] and 225 D-dimer positive [DD (+)] patients.

[The combined effect of regular alcohol consumption and smoking on blood pressure and on the achievement of blood pressure target values in treated hypertensive patients].

Introduction: The combined effect of alcohol consumption and smoking on hypertension in hypertensive patients is still not completely clear, although both are known to be cardiovascular risk factors.

Aim: The aim of our study was to compare the blood pressure, the achievement of target blood pressure and heart rate of non-smokers and non-drinkers in the middle-aged hypertensive patients with those who smoke and drink regularly.

Method: From the database of the Hungarian Hypertension Registry, 12 615 patients (6341 men and 6274 women) aged 45-64 years were included in the current analysis, who self-reported smoking habit and alcohol consumption.

Usefulness of a Novel Electrocardiographic Score to Estimate the Pre-Test Probability of Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

According to our experience the 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) may be used to estimate the pretest probability of acute pulmonary embolism (acPE). To this end, we devised a novel ECG score (nECGs) composed of 5 known ECG criteria, best characterizing the key pathogenetic steps of acPE. A retrospective derivation cohort including 136 patients with acPE and a prospective validation cohort including 149 consecutive patients were used to devise and validate the nECGs.