Abstract-The objective of this study was to evaluate diastolic parameters and left ventricular geometry in gestational hypertension. Twenty-one consecutive pregnant women with gestational hypertension and 21 normotensive women matched for age and gestational age were enrolled in the third trimester of gestation. Echocardiographic and uterine color Doppler evaluations were performed. Systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure, total vascular resistance (TVR), and uterine resistance index were higher in hypertensive women than in control subjects (PϽ0.01 M aternal hemodynamic adaptation begins in the first trimester of pregnancy. 1-3 Cardiac output increases and diastolic function is modified according to a rise in preload, 4,5 a decreased afterload, 4,5 an increased compliance of the conduit vessels, 4,5 ventricular remodeling, 4,5 and a modification of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. 4,5 Cardiac output is increased as the result of enhanced myocardial performance. 6 Echocardiographic evaluation provides important information on both systolic and diastolic cardiac function. In particular, the analysis of transmitral and pulmonary vein flow patterns allows an evaluation of the diastolic left ventricular filling, 5,7 whereas M-mode, 2D, and Doppler echocardiography are used to assess systolic and morphological left ventricular modifications. 6,8 -11 In the past, it has been reported that cardiac output during normal pregnancy increases until mid gestation. The initial increase appears to be related to an increase in heart rate followed by an increase in stroke volume. 1,2 Nevertheless, few data on cardiac diastolic function during physiological pregnancy have been reported, 5,12,13 and no data on diastolic function during gestational hypertension exists.Moreover, although left ventricular geometric pattern based on left ventricular mass and relative wall thickness of the left ventricle has gained interest in hypertensive disease, 14 -16 no data concerning left ventricular geometric pattern during physiological and pathological pregnancy are available.For these reasons, this study was designed to evaluate diastolic parameters and left ventricular geometric pattern in a group of women with gestational hypertension. These data were compared with data collected from normotensive pregnant women.

Anatomic and hemodynamic criteria for early recognition of harmful residual IAC have to be identified, in order to select those patients who are benefited the most from atrial septal defect closure.

Background After the Coronavirus Virus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19) outbreak, social isolation measures were introduced to contain infection. Although there is currently a slowing down of the infection, a reduction of hospitalizations, especially for myocardial infarction, was observed. The aim of our study is to evaluate the impact of the infectious disease on ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) care during the COVID‐19 pandemic, through the analysis of recent cases of patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods and Results Consecutive patients affected by STEMI from 1 to 31 March 2020, during social restrictions of Italian Government, were collected and compared with STEMI treated during March 2019. During March 2020, we observed a 63% reduction of STEMI patients who were admitted to our catheterization laboratory, when compared to the same period of 2019 (13 vs. 35 patients). Changes in all time components of STEMI care were notably observed, particularly for longer median time in symptom‐to‐first medical contact, spoke‐to‐hub and the cumulative symptom‐to‐wire delay. Procedural data and in‐hospital outcomes were similar between the two groups, while the length of hospitalization was longer in patients of 2020. In this group we also observed higher levels of cardiac biomarkers and a worse left ventricular ejection fraction at baseline and discharge. Conclusions COVID‐19 outbreak induced a reduction of hospital access for STEMI with an increase in treatment delay, longer hospitalization, higher levels of cardiac biomarkers and worse left ventricular function.

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) plays a crucial role in the development of atherosclerosis. Statin therapy is the standard treatment for lowering LDL-C in primary and secondary prevention. However, some patients do not reach optimal LDL-C target levels or do not tolerate statins, especially when taking high doses long-term. Combining statins with different therapeutic approaches and testing other new drugs is the future key to reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Recently, several new cholesterol-lowering drugs have been developed and approved; others are promising results, enriching the pharmacological armamentarium beyond statins. Triglycerides also play an important role in the development of CVD; new therapeutic approaches are also very promising for their treatment. Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) can lead to CVD early in life. These patients respond poorly to conventional therapies. Recently, however, new and promising pharmacological strategies have become available. This narrative review provides an overview of the new drugs for the treatment of dyslipidemia, their current status, ongoing clinical or preclinical trials, and their prospects. We also discuss the new alternative therapies for the treatment of dyslipidemia and their relevance to practice.

ObjectiveTo evaluate results of the ‘pSORRIDI’ experience (which is a prevention campaign to evaluate the prevalence of comorbidities, multidisciplinary needs and appropriateness of the therapeutic approach for comorbidities) in patients already being treated for psoriasis.MethodsTelephone interviews were conducted in patients with psoriasis, who then underwent comprehensive evaluation and investigation of comorbidities. If necessary, patients were referred to specialist cardiology, endocrinology and/or rheumatology services.ResultsOverall, 72.0% (54/75) of patients required a multidisciplinary consultation. Among patients referred to cardiology, therapeutic adjustment was needed in 33.3% (five of 15) patients and a redefined diagnosis in 26.7% (four of 15) cases. Among patients undergoing endocrinology evaluations, therapeutic adjustment and a redefined diagnosis were needed in 61.1% (11/18) and 33.3% (six of 18) patients, respectively; for rheumatology evaluations, therapeutic adjustment and a redefined diagnosis were needed in 76.2% (16/21) and 19.0% (four of 21) of patients, respectively.ConclusionsAmong patients with psoriasis, there may be a need for an improvement in the diagnosis of underlying comorbid conditions, and in disease management of both psoriasis and any comorbid conditions.