No abstract

Severe pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) is a rare initial presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE associated with PAH carries worse prognosis that isolated SLE. However, there has been improvement in mortality of the patients in the recent years owing to newer treatment options available. Early recognition remains of prime importance. We present here a case of young female who presented with severe pulmonary hypertension with right heart failure leading to cardiogenic shock and was found to have SLE. She was started on appropriate treatment; however, given the severity of her illness, the patient did not survive. This case highlights the importance of early recognition and prompt treatment of SLE-associated PAH, which might improve the survival rate in the patients.

The study objective was to determine if peri-operative bridging anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation is beneficial or harmful.Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.Setting: Inpatient or in-hospital setting.Participants: Adults with atrial fibrillation having a CHADS2 score >1 undergoing elective surgical procedure on anticoagulation.Methods: A systemic search of multiple databases (Cochrane, Medline, PubMed) was performed regarding studies conducted on efficacy and safety of perioperative bridging anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation. Studies identified were reviewed by two authors individually before inclusion. The results were then pooled using Review Manager to determine the combined effect. Stroke/systemic embolism was considered as the primary efficacy outcome. Major bleeding was the primary safety outcome. Results:The systematic search revealed 108 potential articles. The full texts of 28 articles were retrieved for assessment of eligibility. After full text review, 25 articles were excluded. Three articles met inclusion criteria. No significant difference in stroke/systemic embolism with bridging anticoagulation was noted (risk ratio, 1.25-95% confidence interval [CI], 0.55-2.85). Bridging was associated with significantly higher risk of major bleeding (risk ratio, 3.29-95% CI, 2.25-4.81). Conclusion:An individualized approach is required when initiating peri-operative bridging anticoagulation. There is certainly a higher risk of bleeding with bridging anticoagulation and no difference in stroke/systemic embolism. However, the results cannot be extrapolated to patients who have valvular atrial fibrillation or CHADS2 score of 5 or greater.

Background Management of elderly patients with Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI) continues to be a source of controversy due to underrepresentation in large-scale clinical trials and the increased risk of adverse outcomes after both invasive (Percutaneous coronary intervention and Coronary artery bypass grafting) and non-invasive therapies. Recent randomized clinical trials have shown improved short term and intermediate term outcomes among high risk NSTEMI patients receiving early invasive management versus conservative medical management. However, how this is reflected in U.S. clinical practice for elderly patients has not been reported. Objective To identify the trend of invasive management in patients with NSTEMI, particularly among elderly population.