BackgroundChronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and liver cirrhosis may be associated with atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (CAD). There are two phases to atherosclerosis, Subclinical and Clinical. Assessment of atherosclerosis may be started at its Subclinical phase by the evaluation of Epicardial Fat Thickness (EpFT) and Carotid Intima Thickness (CIMT).Aim of the studyThe aim of the study was to evaluate Clinical and Subclinical atherosclerosis in chronic HCV patients with and without liver cirrhosis by evaluating CIMT and EpFT and correlating the results with Child-Pugh functional scoring of cirrhosis as well as with ultrasound and laboratory parameters that define the severity of liver disease.Patients and methodsThis study involved 64 chronic HCV patients that were divided into two groups: 24 patients without liver cirrhosis and 40 patients with liver cirrhosis in addition to 20 apparently healthy volunteers serving as control. All of the 84 subjects were subjected to the following: Clinical evaluation; Routine Laboratory Evaluation (CBC, Liver Function Tests, Renal Function Tests, Serum electrolytes, Cholesterol, Triglycerides, HBs antigen and HCV antibody); ECG; Abdominal ultrasound; Echocardiographic evaluation of segmental wall motion abnormalities and EpFT and B-Mode Carotid ultrasonography for evaluation of CIMT.ResultsIn the cirrhotic HCV group, the CIMT and EpFT were both significantly increased [Compared to control group (p = 0.000), compared to the non-cirrhotic HCV group (p = 0.000)]. In the non-cirrhotic HCV group, the CIMT and EpFT were both significantly increased compared to the control group with a p-value of 0.003 for CIMT and 0.048 for EpFT. The CIMT and EpFT were also positively correlated with each other (r = 0.456, p = 0.001). There was a statistically significant increase in the EpFT and CIMT in Child class B patients compared to Child class A (p = 0.007 for CIMT and p = 0.028 for EpFT) and in Child class C patients compared to Child class B patients (p = 0.001 for CIMT and 0.005 for EpFT). CIMT and EpFT were correlated positively with AST (r = 0.385, p = 0.002 for CIMT, and r = 0.379, p = 0.003 for EpFT), Total Bilirubin (r = 0.378, p = 0.003 for CIMT, and r = 0.384, p = 0.002 for EpFT), INR% (r = 0.456, p = 0.001 for CIMT, and r = 0.384, p = 0.001 for EpFT), CRP (r = 0.378, p = 0.003 for CIMT, and r = 0.386, p = 0.002 for EpFT), spleen span (r = 0.417, p = 0.001 for CIMT, and r = 0.437, p = 0.001 for EpFT) and portal Vein Diameter (r = 0.372, p = 0.003 for CIMT, and r = 0.379, p = 0.003 for EpFT). CIMT and EpFT were correlated negatively with Albumin (r = −0.379, p = 0.003 for CIMT, and r = −0.370, p = 0.003 for EpFT), platelets count (r = −0.382, p = 0.002 for CIMT, and r = −0.378, p = 0.003 for EpFT) and Liver Span (r = −0.433, p = 0.001 for CIMT, and r = −0.424, p = 0.001 for EpFT).ConclusionEpFT and CIMT significantly increased in chronic hepatitis C virus patients especially in those with cirrhosis and closely correlated with each other. Their thickness also correl...

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Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Al-mouwasat University Hospital, University Heart Surgery Center in Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic. Background left ventricular (LV) diastolic function and filling pressure assessment is a challenge. ESC 2016 diastolic guidelines handles with this issue. Validation of and comparing the correlation between this guidelines and invasively measured different waves may add a step forward in the assessment, prognosis and treatment of LV diastolic function by echo. Purpose this study validates of the correlation of ESC 2016 left ventricular filling pressure echo guidelines with invasively measured left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and left ventricular pre-a. Methods 124 patients who accepted to participate for this study underwent transthoracic echocardiography immediately before left heart catheterization. This study obtained echo parameters to assess LV filling pressure according to ESC 2016 algorithms. It also obtained left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and LV pre-a waves during catheterization. It analyzed the data and compared the results. Results Correlations of grading system (normal, abnormal parameters 1,2 and 3 present) with LV pre-a and LVEDP waves were (P= < 0.0001 r = 0.47, P = 0.0027 r = 0.41), respectively. After excluding group of patients with only one abnormal parameter as indeterminate group, pressure assessment guidelines correlations with the presence of LV pre-a and LVEDP waves were (P = 0.0009 OR = 31.76, p= 0.0170 OR = 36.00), respectively. Means difference of LV pre-a and LVEDP waves between pressure guidelines presence and absence two groups were (LV pre-a: 12.72, 7.52, P < 0.0001and LVEDP: 21.03 10.36, P = 0.0043), respectively. All results are summarized in (Table:1 + 2+3 + 4+5). Conclusion ESC 2016 guidelines pressure assessment correlated strongly with both LV pre-a and LVEDP waves which means that the higher the number of abnormal echo parameters is resulted by echo guidelines, the higher the LV pre-a or LVEDP is presented invasively. Different approaches had different diagnostic accuracy, the best specific was cutoff≥ 2 abnormal echo parameters and the best sensitive and overall accuracy was still cutoff≥2 but after excluding only one abnormal echo parameter group as indeterminate group. The difference between means between echo guidelines pressure assessment was more significant statistically in LV pre-a wave than in LVEDP. Abstract Figure. Abstract Figure.

Sepsis is widely diagnosed In ICU patients. The sepsis markers are numerous with variable sensitivity and specificity. Adiponectin is a protein hormone that is secreted from adipose tissue into the bloodstream. It is a key substance in metabolic syndrome and has an anti-inflammatory property. The relationship between adiponectin and sepsis is unclear. In the current study, we aim to demonstrate that low plasma adiponectin level could be an early predictor for morbidity and mortality of sepsis by its comparison with c-reactive protein, serum lactate and procalcitonine. Thirty patients admitted to the intensive care unit with picture clinically suggesting sepsis were enrolled in the study. Predisposition, insult/infection, response, and organ dysfunction (PIRO) score was used to follow the course of the septic process. Plasma adiponectin level, serum lactate level, procalcitonin level(PCT), c-reactive protein(CRP) were checked on day1 then day 4 then day 7 and so on until ICU discharge or demise for a total of 28 days . PIRO score was able to expect sepsis prognosis with high statistical significance. Procalcitonin, serum lactate and adiponectin were valuable in follow up the sepsis prognosis with P value (0, 0.01 & 0 respectively) on the contrary CRP had poor prognostic value in sepsis follow up (P value 0.16).We conclude that PIRO score is an effective model for staging of sepsis and predict mortality. Measuring serial procalcitonin levels may be the most useful in order to understand the trend, identify the peak, and be able to identify resolution of sepsis. Early high lactate level is a predictor for poor prognosis of sepsis. Adiponectin is similar to procalcitinin in early detection of sepsis & can be used as a prognostic indicator with considering that adiponectin level could be affected by other metabolic disorders.