Background. Aspirin use for cardiovascular or cancer prevention is limited due to its gastrointestinal side effects. Objective. Our prospective, observational case-control study aims to identify the predictive factors for ulcers in low-dose aspirin consumers (75–325 mg/day). Methods. The study included patients who underwent an upper digestive endoscopy and took low-dose aspirin treatment. Results. We recruited 51 patients with ulcer (ulcer group) and 108 patients with no mucosal lesions (control group). In univariate analysis, factors significantly associated with ulcers were male gender (p = 0.001), anticoagulants (p = 0.029), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (p = 0.013), heart failure (p = 0.007), liver (p = 0.011) or cerebrovascular disease (p = 0.004), diabetes mellitus (p = 0.043), ulcer history (p = 0.044), and alcohol consumption (p = 0.018), but not Helicobacter pylori infection (p = 0.2). According to our multivariate regression analysis results, history of peptic ulcer (OR 3.07, 95% CI 1.06–8.86), cotreatment with NSAIDs (OR 8, 95% CI 2.09–30.58) or anticoagulants (OR 4.85, 95% CI 1.33–17.68), male gender (OR 5.2, 95% CI 1.77–15.34), and stroke (OR 7.27, 95% CI 1.40–37.74) remained predictors for ulcer on endoscopy. Conclusions. Concomitant use of NSAIDs or anticoagulants, comorbidities (cerebrovascular disease), and male gender are the most important independent risk factors for ulcer on endoscopy in low-dose aspirin consumers, in a population with a high prevalence of H. pylori infection.

Abstract

Background: Pseudoaneurysm of the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa (P-MAIVF) is an unusual complication related to various injuries or conditions which involve the mitro-aortic region; it communicates with the left ventricular outflow tract and is associated with a high-risk of redoubtable complications or sudden death. The cerebral and splenic localizations are frequently seen as manifestations of systemic embolism in infective endocarditis. Currently, there are no specific recommendations related to the diagnosis, management, treatment, or further evolution of patients with P-MAIVF and concomitant splenic infarction. This paper presents the case of a 43-year-old Caucasian woman with a late diagnosis of mixed bicuspid aortic valve disease, affected by an under-detected and undertreated episode of infective endocarditis leading to asymptomatic P-MAIVF. Prime clinical and imagistic diagnosis of splenic infarction indicated further extended investigations were required to clarify the source of embolism. Methods: Integrated multimodality imaging techniques confirmed the unexpected diagnosis of P-MAIVF. Results: The case had a fatal outcome following an uncomplicated yet laborious cardiac surgery. Patient death was attributed to a malignant ventricular arrhythmia. Conclusion: The present case raises awareness by highlighting an unexplained and unexpected splenic infarction association with P-MAIVF as a result of infective endocarditis related to mixed bicuspid aortic valve disease.

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Introduction: Extrahepatic portal vein thrombosis (EPVT) is the most frequent cause that leads to portal hypertension in non-cirrhotic patients. This condition is related to systemic and local risk factors (such as inflammatory lesions, injuries to portal venous system by surgery, vascular procedures). Case presentation: A case of extended extrahepatic portal vein thrombosis and simultaneous thrombosis of left common iliac vein and inferior vena cava, appeared after abdominal surgery in a hypertensive, diabetic, 50 y.o. man is presented. An acute episode of abdominal pain was interpreted as an emergency and a surgical (initially laparoscopic and then open) procedure was planned in order to perform an appendectomy. Discharge diagnosis was hemoperitoneum secondary to iatrogenic rupture of sigmoid mesocolon provoked by trocar manipulation. Repeated imaging studies performed later revealed the thrombosis of portal vein with extension into right portal branch associated with superior mesenteric thrombosis and free-floating thrombus into left common iliac vein extended towards inferior vena cava. Surgical manoeuvres are considered as triggers of these thrombotic events. After 4 weeks of parenteral anticoagulation a partial recanalization of thrombi was identified, without bleedings. Conclusions: Acute EPVT needs a carefully management. Case is linked to abdominal surgery and requires prolonged anticoagulation related to simultaneous portal and iliac vein thrombosis. Associated conditions (hypertension and diabetes mellitus) must have an appropriate approach. After our knowledge this is the first case published in literature.

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Objective: Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) parameters are more accurately linked to target organ damage than office or home blood pressure values. Few studies focus on the relationship between ABPM parameters and cognitive aging. We aimed to investigate the relationship between ABPM parameters and prevalence of cognitive impairment and dementia among hypertensive patients. Design and method: In the present paper, we included 294 consecutive hypertensive patients admitted to a Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Clinic aged between 50–91years (mean age: 68.6 ± 8.8 years; 50.3% female; 49.7% male). After routine clinical assessment all participants had an ABPM recording (on antihypertensive medical treatment), completed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test used for the detection of cognitive impairment, and the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) test for detection of dementia. We divided patients in two groups acording to cognitive status based on these cutoff values: 26 points for MOCA score, respectively 24 points for MMSE score – and compared ABPM parameters of the two groups. Statistical analysis was performed with the IBM SPSS v.20 program. Results: In patients with cognitive impairment (MOCA <26) we found significantly lower mean diastolic (69.9 vs. 72.4 mmHg, p = 0.023), daytime diastolic (72.0 vs. 75.1 mmHg, p = 0.012), nighttime diastolic (64.5 vs. 66.9 mmHg, p = 0.039), and higher pulse pressure values (average pulse pressure 61.5 vs. 55.5 mmHg, p = 0.002, daytime pulse pressure 61.7 vs. 56.6 mmHg, p = 0.003, nighttime pulse pressure (59.8 vs. 55.1 mmHg, p = 0.004). In patients with dementia (MMSE<24) we found significant differences between nighttime systolic values (129.7 vs. 124.5 mmHg, p = 0.04), average pulse pressure (63.5 vs. 58.9 mmHg, p = 0.038), and nighttime pulse pressure (63.5 vs. 57.4 mmHg, p = 0.003), values compared to patients with normal cognitive function. Conclusions: The presence of cognitive impairment was related to lower diastolic values, and higher pulse pressure values, while dementia was associated with higher nighttime systolic values in the studied patient population. Lowering too much diastolic blood pressure leading to higher pulse pressure and insufficient control of systolic blood pressure over night could have deleterious effect on neurocognitive abilities of treated hypertensive patients.

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