The most common indication for treatment with warfarin is the prevention of ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. Time in therapeutic range (TTR) is an important tool to evaluate the quality of anticoagulation treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the quality of treatment and the incidence of bleeding complications in patients on warfarin treatment treated by the anticoagulation clinic in Helsingborg. This is the first study that has specifically focused on the spontaneous reporting of bleeding complications in a real-world population. A total of 4,400 patients with a total of 8,394 patient years were registered, in the database Journalia AVK, during the time period November 1, 2007 to November 1, 2010. The mean age was 72 years. TTR was 73.3 % for the whole population. 421 patients suffered from haemorrhagic events. The frequency of major and fatal bleedings and intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) were 1.6, 0.2 and 0.5% per patient-year, respectively. A correlation between age and severe bleeding (major, fatal and ICH) (p = 0.003) was seen, but no correlation between gender and severe bleeding (p = 0.27). In 60 out of 455 bleeding events the complication had been reported to the anticoagulation clinic. At the anticoagulation clinic in Helsingborg the quality of warfarin treatment is good compared to previous results described in the literature, with regards to bleeding complications and efficacy. However, in our study, we confirm that the spontaneous reporting of bleeding complications related to warfarin is inadequate, and that review of patient records is needed to assure proper follow-up.
Abstract. Gottsa Èter A, Forsblad J, Ma Ètzsch T, Persson K, Ljungcrantz I, Ohlsson K, Lindga Èrde F (Malmo È University Hospital, University of Lund, Malmo È, Sweden). Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist is detectable in human carotid artery plaques and is related to triglyceride levels and Chlamydia pneumoniae IgA-antibodies. J Intern Med 2002; 251: 61±68.Objectives. To investigate whether the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (Il-1ra) and interleukin-1b (Il1b) can be detected in human carotid artery tissue, and whether their presence is related to evidence of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection, risk factors for atherosclerosis, and clinical data. Setting. Departments of Vascular Diseases and Surgical Pathophysiology, University Hospital, Malmo È, Sweden. Subjects. A total of 66 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (median age 74, range 53±89 years, 26 women). Il-1b and Il-1ra were studied in carotid artery plaques and in Il-1ra in serum. Results. Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist was detected in mononuclear cells in plaques from 37/ 66 (56%) patients. Patients with Il-1ra in plaques showed higher [2.04 (1.70±3.14) mmol L ±1 vs. 1.69 (1.09±1.99) mmol L ±1 ; P < 0.05] serum(s-)triglyceride(tg) levels, and a higher frequency of IgA seropositivity for C. pneumoniae (76% vs. 52%; P < 0.05) than those without. S-Il-1ra levels correlated with s-tg levels (r 0.38; P 0.047). There were no differences between patients with and without Il-1ra in plaques concerning s-Il-1ra, blood(b-)haemoglobin or leucocyte count, s-cholesterol, b-glucose, blood pressure, IgG seropositivity for C. pneumoniae, prevalence of neurological symptoms preceding operation, smoking, or diabetes mellitus. There were no differences in frequency of Il-1ra in plaques or in s-Il-1ra levels between patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic stenosis, between smokers and nonsmokers, or between diabetic and nondiabetic patients. Il-1b was not detected in plaques in the current study. Conclusion. Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist can be detected in human atherosclerotic carotid artery plaques, and is related to s-triglyceride levels and IgA seropositivity for C. pneumoniae, but not to prevalence of neurological symptoms related to embolization.
Carcinoid heart disease typically affects the tricuspid and pulmonary valves, causing severe regurgitation and/or stenosis. Valve surgery has been shown to reduce right heart failure and improve long-term prognosis in these patients. We report a severe case of a patient with all 4 heart valves involved who underwent successful quadruple bioprosthetic valve replacement. ( Level of Difficulty: Intermediate. )
The objective was to investigate which screening variables in a population study predicted carotid endarterectomy. Among 793 carotid endarterectomies performed at Malmö University Hospital between 1991 and 1998, 85 patients (14 females) were identified that had participated in a population screening between 1974 and 1991. Median time from screening to operation was 16 years (range 6-26 years). Screening variables were compared with corresponding values from the background screening population (n = 33261). As operated patients were older than the background population at screening (49 [37-60] vs. 46 [26-61] years; p < 0.0001), comparisons were age-adjusted. Operated patients had higher systolic blood pressure (SBP; 130 [126-133] vs. 125 [125-125] mmHg; p < 0.01), serum total cholesterol (6.1 [5.9-6.3] vs. 5.7 [5.7-5.7] mmol/l; p < 0.0001), serum triglyceride (1.4 [1.3-1.6] vs. 1.1 [1.1-1.1] mmol/l; p < 0.0001), serum glutamic acid transferase (0.46 [0.40-0.53] vs. 0.40 [0.40-0.41] microkat/l; p < 0.05), and plasma fibrinogen (3.77 [3.42-4.16] vs. 3.35 [3.30-3.41] mmol/l; p < 0.05) levels, a lower 120-min insulin/glucose ratio at an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT; 0.48 [0.38-0.58] vs. 0.60 [0.59-0.61]; p < 0.05) and forced vital lung capacity (3.7 [3.6-3.9] vs. 3.9 [3.9-4.0] l/min; p < 0.05), and a higher prevalence of smoking at screening (68% vs. 45%; p < 0.0001). Smoking, SBP, serum total cholesterol, and the 120-min insulin/glucose ratio remained independent predictors for carotid surgery in multivariate analysis. No differences existed among patients operated on because of symptomatic and asymptomatic stenosis. In conclusion, increased SBP and total cholesterol, lower 2-h insulin/glucose ratio at an OGTT, and smoking predict carotid surgery at long-term follow-up.
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