One year follow-up of patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) on lipoprotein apheresis.

Background: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is a valuable measure to assess left ventricular systolic function. Lipid lowering therapy by statins has been shown to have an impact on LVEF already after a 6 months treatment. Higher doses of statins have been claimed to be more effective as compared to a conventional one and even a difference between lipophilic and hydrophilic compounds has been reported.

Pleiotropic effects of regular lipoprotein-apheresis.

Background: Lipoprotein(LP)-apheresis is the treatment of choice in patients suffering from severe familial hypercholesterolemia. A wide range of mechanisms has been claimed to be responsible for the known clinical benefit.

Methods: Patients suffering from heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia undergoing LP-apheresis either with direct adsorption of lipoproteins (DALI) or dextran sulfate (DS) were examined.

Systematic screening for cardiovascular risk at pharmacies.

Background: Early identification and treatment of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) is essential to prevent excess morbidity, mortality and healthcare-related costs. We sought to investigate whether an active screening programme at pharmacies could identify a significant proportion of patients with previously undetected CVRFs.

Methods And Results: Between April and July 2013, 184 pharmacies in Lower Austria enrolled a total of 6800 participants, in whom body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), total cholesterol and blood glucose were measured.

Platelet function in the postprandial period.

Background: Postprandial hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia have been related to cardiovascular events. Among different underlying mechanisms platelet activation seems to be responsible too. No comparable data between various tests in normo- vs.

Atorvastatin reduces microalbuminuria in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia and normal glucose tolerance.

Background: Anecdotal evidence indicates that significant lowering of LDL-cholesterol by means of LDL apheresis may reduce the level of microalbuminuria in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. We therefore examined whether treatment with the most potent LDL-lowering drug available (atorvastatin) has a similar effect on the level of microalbuminuria.

Material/methods: In a case series, 100 patients with familial heterozygous hypercholesterolemia were started on 10 mg atorvastatin.

Statin-induced myositis migrans.

Muscle related side effects of statins might be more frequent than once considered. Without affecting CK, they appear in various forms. Here, for the first time, we describe a new appearance we call "Statin-induced myositis migrans" in a 74-year-old female.