Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common heart rhythm disorder with a prevalence of up to 2.9% in the general population. Its mechanism involves a particular electrophysiological profile as well as structural and biohumoral changes that are often irreversible. With the recent advances in pharmacology, amiodarone remains the cornerstone for the treatment of AF. Although it is one of the most controversial anti-arrhythmic agents due to the multitude of side effects, it is further recognised as the most effective drug available for the conversion and maintenance of sinus rhythm in the case of significant left ventricular dysfunction or severe aortic stenosis. This quality is provided by its multivalent profile, with a complex electrophysiological activity overlapped with an anti-inflammatory and vasodilatory effect. This review aims to outline the main structural and functional changes in AF and the multisite impact of amiodarone on its treatment.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative illnesses, and is a major healthcare burden with prodigious consequences on life-quality, morbidity, and survival. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality worldwide and growing evidence frequently reports their co-existence with PD. Cardiac dysautonomia due to autonomic nervous system malfunction is the most prevalent type of cardiovascular manifestation in these patients, comprising orthostatic and postprandial hypotension, along with supine and postural hypertension. Moreover, many studies have endorsed the risk of patients with PD to develop ischemic heart disease, heart failure and even arrhythmias, but the underlying mechanisms are not entirely clear. As importantly, the medication used in treating PD, such as levodopa, dopamine agonists or anticholinergic agents, is also responsible for cardiovascular adverse reactions, but further studies are required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. The purpose of this review was to provide a comprehensive overview of current available data regarding the overlapping cardiovascular disease in patients with PD. Contents1. Background 2. Cardiovascular dysautonomia in patients with PD 3. Appraising the risk of heart disease in patients with PD 4. PD therapy related to cardiovascular disease 5. Conclusion

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Parkinson’s disease (PD) was initially seen as a neurodegenerative process of the basal ganglia but clinical and pathological evidence revealed its strong systemic as well as peripheral nervous system involvement. The current review aims to present the recent data in the association of polyneuropathy (PN) and PD. METHODS: We performed a systematic literature search in the most important international databases. We report the results of most recent studies in a narrative way. RESULTS: Several recent studies have shown the presence of PN as a small fiber disease in the early stages of PD. Also there seems to be a link between acquired axonal neuropathy and chronic Levo-Dopa intake. We present the possible pathogenesis of this association, also a summary of the evaluation of PN in PD patients and the main management approaches. CONCLUSION: The association of PN in PD patients is an important phenomenon that significantly decreases their quality of life, underlining the value of clinical and paraclinical assessment the all stages of the disease.

Gayet-Wernicke encephalopathy is an acute neuropsychiatric condition caused by thiamine deficiency. Only a small percentage of patients experience all three symptoms, with ophtalmoplegia, ataxia and confusion, and the full triad occurs more frequently among those who have overused alcohol. The evolution is toward full recovery, Korsakoff syndrome, dementia or death. We present the case of a 56-year-old patient, known with a diagnostic of alcoholism, who was admitted for a complicated withdrawal syndrome with delirium and who developed encephalopathy and dementia syndrome.