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Objective: Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease rarely complicated by pulmonary hypertension (PH). The prevalence of PH in sarcoidosis is unclear and has differences between ethnic groups. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and predictors of PH in a Turkish cohort., Methods: The study included 55 patients with biopsy-proven sarcoidosis in a single center. All patients underwent detailed transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) to assess the probability of PH as recommended. Right heart catheterization (RHC) was performed for patients with intermediate-high risk of PH. Patients with mean pulmonary artery pressure >20 mm Hg by RHC were defined as PH. Demographic and clinical characteristics, laboratory data, spirometry, 6-min walk test, and TTE were compared between low and intermediate-high risk PH groups., Results: The probability of PH was low with 47 patients. Eight patients had intermediate-high probability of PH, and two of them refused to undergo RHC. Of six intermediate-high probability patients, three had PH, and all of them had post-precapillary PH. The prevalence of PH in sarcoidosis was 5.5% (3/55). Six-minute walk distance (6 MWD) and diastolic parameters (E/A ratio, E' wave, and left atrial volume) were significantly lower, and New York Heart association class and N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level were higher in intermediate-high risk PH patients compared with low-risk PH patients., Conclusion: The frequency of PH in sarcoidosis was 5.5% in a Turkish cohort. NT-proBNP, 6 MWD, diastolic function parameters, and myocardial strain parameters can be useful predictors of PH in patients with sarcoidosis, besides known echocardiographic parameters.

Objective: The management of anticoagulated patients with warfarin during dental extraction is an intricate issue. We carefully designed the current study so that the amount of bleeding was measured with objective methods and the data from the same patient in different dental extraction appointments could be compared, eliminating the bleeding diathesis differences of patients., Methods: This prospective and controlled study was conducted in 36 adult patients with prosthetic valve requiring multiple tooth extractions. The first dental extraction was performed without the discontinuation of warfarin therapy, and the second procedure was performed with a discontinuation of warfarin and bridging with low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH). The two dental extraction protocols in the same patient group were compared. The total amount of bleeding was calculated as the difference between the weights of gauze swabs used before and after the tamponade; the number of gauze swabs used for bleeding control in the first 48 h was recorded., Result: The median number of used gauze swabs was 2.5 (IQR: 1-5) and 3.0 (IQR: 2-7) in the first and second dental extraction procedures, respectively. The median bleeding time was 50.0 (IQR: 20-100) in the first procedure compared with 60.0 (IQR: 40-140) min in the second procedure. The mean amounts of bleeding were 2194±1418 mg in the first dental extraction procedure and 2950±1694 mg in the second dental extraction procedure. The median number of used gauze swabs, the median bleeding time, and the mean amount of bleeding were statistically higher in the second dental extraction procedure (P<0.001)., Conclusion: Continued warfarin treatment at the time of dental extractions reduces the total amount of bleeding compared with bridging therapy in patients with prosthetic valves.

Objective: A combination of warfarin and aspirin is associated with increased bleeding compared with warfarin monotherapy. The aim of the study was to investigate the incidence and appropriateness of the combination of warfarin and aspirin in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) or mechanical heart valve (MHV)., Methods: This cross-sectional study included consecutive patients with AF or MHV on chronic warfarin therapy (>3 months) without acute coronary syndrome or have not undergone a revascularization procedure in the preceding year. Medical history, concomitant diseases, and treatment data were acquired through patient interviews and from hospital records., Results: Three hundred and sixty patients (213 with AF, 147 with MHV) were included. In those with AF, a significantly higher warfarin-aspirin combination was observed with concomitant vascular disease (38.8% vs. 14.6%), diabetes (36.6% vs. 16.3%), statin therapy (40% vs. 16.9%), left ventricular systolic dysfunction (33.3% vs. 17.5%) (p<0.05 for all). The use of combination therapy was similar between different CHADS-VASc scores. In patients with MHV, higher combination therapy was observed in males (41% vs. 26.7% in females; p=0.070), concomitant vascular disease (47.8% vs. 29.8%; p=0.091), and AF (56.3% vs. 29.8%; p=0.033). Independent predictors of warfarin-aspirin combination were concomitant vascular disease, diabetes, and (younger) age in patients with AF and were concomitant AF and male sex in patients with MHV. Interestingly, the incidence of combination therapy was found to increase with a higher HAS-BLED score in both patients with AF and MHV (p<0.001)., Conclusion: The combination of warfarin and aspirin was found to be prescribed to patients with AF mainly for the prevention of cardiovascular events, for which warfarin monotherapy usually suffices. On the other hand, co-treatment with aspirin appeared to be underused in patients with MHV.