Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of an annual intramuscular injection of cholecalciferol for vitamin D deficiency.
Design: Prospective open‐label study.
Participants: Five men and 45 women (mean age 66.3 years) with vitamin D deficiency who were given a single therapeutic intramuscular injection of 600 000 IU (15 mg) cholecalciferol (vitamin D3).
Outcome measures: Serum levels of calcium, creatinine, 25‐hydroxyvitamin D3 (25OHD3) and parathyroid hormone, as well as early morning 2‐hour urine calcium/creatinine excretion index. Specimens were collected at baseline and after 4 and 12 months of therapy. Data are reported as mean ± 1 SD.
Results: Vitamin D deficiency was severe (< 12.5 nmol/L) in one participant, moderate (12.5–24 nmol/L) in 14, and mild (25–49 nmol/L) in 35. Twenty‐four participants (48%) had secondary hyperparathyroidism. Following intramuscular cholecalciferol injection, serum 25OHD3 levels normalised in all participants and remained above 50 nmol/L throughout the study. Serum 25OHD3 levels were significantly higher at 4 months (114 ± 35 nmol/L), and 12 months (73 ± 13 nmol/L) compared with baseline (32 ± 8 nmol/L) (P < 0.001), increasing by an average of 128% over the 12 months. There was a corresponding decrease in serum parathyroid hormone levels at 4 months (6 ± 3 pmol/L) and at 12 months (5.2 ± 3 pmol/L), with a 30% decrease at 12 months from baseline (7.4 ± 4 pmol/L) (P < 0.01). Primary hyperparathyroidism was unmasked in one participant at 4 months and mild hypercalcaemia (serum calcium, < 2.70 mmol/L) was noted in two participants (4%) at 12 months. Serum creatinine levels remained normal in all participants throughout the study, while increases in 2‐hour urine calcium/creatinine excretion index were seen in 10 participants (20%) at 12 months, three of whom had had elevated values at baseline.
Conclusions: Once‐yearly intramuscular cholecalciferol injection (600 000 IU) is effective therapy for vitamin D deficiency. While this therapy appears to be safe, the potential for developing hypercalciuria needs to be examined in a large randomised controlled trial.
Background
Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) is an alternative treatment strategy for patients with atrial fibrillation who are at risk for thromboembolic events and considered not suitable for oral anticoagulation (OAC). LAAC is mainly performed under the guidance of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and fluoroscopy. The study presented here should analyze whether fusion imaging (FI) of transesophageal echocardiography and X-ray performed during LAAC is feasible and can improve the results of the procedure.
Methods
The data presented here are from a retrospective single center study. Sample size was defined as 50 patients in which LAAC was performed without fusion imaging (control group) and 25 patients were the LAAC procedure was guided by fusion imaging (treatment group). Inclusion criteria were defined as age > 18 years and completion of an LAAC procedure defined as deployment of a WATCHMAN 2.5 LAA occluder. Study endpoints were procedure time, amount of used contrast medium, radiation dose, final position of the WATCHMAN in TEE (deviation from ideal positioning), and clinical endpoints, respectively.
Results
LAA closure was successfully performed in all patients. No case of device embolism was occurring, and none of the patients experienced a periprocedural stroke/TIA nor a systemic embolism, respectively. Mean procedure time was 15 min shorter in the group of patients where fusion imaging was applied (p < 0.001). Additionally, the use of fusion imaging was associated with a significant reduction of contrast medium (20.6 ml less than in control; p < 0.045). Regarding the final position of the WATCHMAN, no relevant differences were found between the groups.
Summary
The use of fusion imaging significantly reduced procedure time and the amount of contrast medium in patients undergoing LAAC.
Background
Acute dissection of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft in patients with previous cardiac bypass surgery is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition.
Case summary
A 58-year-old man with history of coronary artery disease and bypass surgery 15 years ago presented with acute coronary syndrome (non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, NSTEMI). Angiography showed severe three-vessel disease with occlusion of a saphenous vein graft (SVG) to the first diagonal branch but patents grafts to left artery descendent (LIMA) and SVG to the right coronary artery. No coronary intervention was performed and the patient was treated medically (aspirin and ticagrelor) and discharged home after 6 days. Three months later, the patient again was admitted to the hospital with acute coronary syndrome (NSTEMI) and developing cardiogenic shock. Angiography now showed an extensive flow limiting dissection of his LIMA graft with the dissection starting at the ostium of the LIMA. After implantation of an Impella 2.5, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of the graft was performed under guidance by optical coherence tomography (OCT) leading to implantation of a drug-eluting stent into the ostium of the LIMA and repeated balloon dilatations of the medial and distal parts of the graft. Antegrade flow was established and the patient’s condition improved so that the Impella was removed in the cath lab. After an uneventful course, the patient was discharged home after 6 days. Elective repeat angiography after 8 weeks showed an excellent functional result without persisting signs of LIMA dissection or stenosis.
Discussion
Acute dissection of a LIMA graft is a rare event that may lead to a life-threatening condition. According to the literature, LIMA dissection happens during coronary interventions in approximately half of the cases but it also may evolve spontaneously. However, as seen from our case, there might be a substantial delay between LIMA angiography and the clinical onset of dissection. In the vast majority of cases, dissection of LIMA can be treated by PCI. The use of Impella as reported for the first time in this case may improve the safety of the procedure. In accordance to PCI of the native coronary arteries, it seems possible to leave non-flow limiting dissections in cases of extensive disease in order to avoid the late complications of complete stenting of the graft.
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