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The influence of raised fibrinogen levels on outcome in stable outpatients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) has not been consistently investigated. We used data from the Factores de Riesgo y ENfermedad Arterial (FRENA) registry to compare ischemic events, major bleeding, and mortality in stable outpatients with PAD, according to their baseline plasma fibrinogen levels. Of 1363 outpatients with PAD recruited in FRENA, 558 (41%) had fibrinogen levels >450 mg/100 mL. Over 18 months, 43 patients presented with acute myocardial infarction, 37 had an ischemic stroke, 51 underwent limb amputation, 19 had major bleeding, and 90 died. Compared to patients with normal levels, those with raised fibrinogen levels had an over 2-fold higher rate of ischemic stroke (rate ratio [RR]: 2.30; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.19-4.59), limb amputation (RR: 2.58; 95% CI: 1.46-4.67), or death (RR: 2.27; 95% CI: 1.49-3.51) and an over 3-fold higher rate of major bleeding (RR: 3.90; 95% CI: 1.45-12.1). On multivariate analysis, patients with raised fibrinogen levels had an increased risk of developing subsequent ischemic events (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.61; 95% CI: 1.11-2.32) and major bleeding (HR: 3.42; 95% CI: 1.22-9.61). Stable outpatients with PAD and raised plasma fibrinogen levels had increased rates of subsequent ischemic events and major bleeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: rs599839 polymorphism has been related with low levels of cholesterol and reduced coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods: We investigated the frequency of this polymorphism in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) in the Spanish familial hypercholesterolemia cohort, 230 with and 202 without CHD.  Results & discussion: A lower G-allele prevalence was observed in HeFH patients with CHD with respect to controls, 35 versus 45%, respectively (p = 0.029), suggesting a protective effect. However, it was found that there was no association between rs599839 alleles and CHD in the multivariate analysis. Conclusion: The frequency of the protective G-allele of the rs599839 polymorphism was lower in HeFH patients with CHD compared with those HeFH patients without CHD. However, its role in HeFH may be masked by very high levels of cholesterol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background  The natural history of patients with lung cancer and venous thromboembolism (VTE) has not been consistently evaluated. Methods  We used the RIETE (Registro Informatizado Enfermedad TromboEmbólica) database to assess the clinical characteristics, time course, and outcomes during anticoagulation of lung cancer patients with acute, symptomatic VTE. Results  As of May 2017, a total of 1,725 patients were recruited: 1,208 (70%) presented with pulmonary embolism (PE) and 517 with deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Overall, 865 patients (50%) were diagnosed with cancer <3 months before, 1,270 (74%) had metastases, and 1,250 (72%) had no additional risk factors for VTE. During anticoagulation (median, 93 days), 166 patients had symptomatic VTE recurrences (recurrent DVT: 86, PE: 80), 63 had major bleeding (intracranial 11), and 870 died. The recurrence rate was twofold higher than the major bleeding rate during the first month, and over threefold higher beyond the first month. Fifty-seven patients died of PE and 15 died of bleeding. Most fatal PEs (84%) and most fatal bleeds (67%) occurred within the first month of therapy. Nine patients with fatal PE (16%) died within the first 24 hours. Of 72 patients dying of PE or bleeding, 15 (21%) had no metastases and 29 (40%) had the VTE shortly after surgery or immobility. Conclusion  Active surveillance on early signs and/or symptoms of VTE in patients with recently diagnosed lung cancer and prescription of prophylaxis in those undergoing surgery or during periods of immobilization might likely help prevent VTE better, detect it earlier, and treat it more efficiently.

Background and Objectives: In hypercholesterolemic patients, we studied the relationships of plasma levels of LDLoxab with cardiovascular variables and its changes after treatment with atorvastatin., Patients and Methods: We studied, in 48 patients, the levels of LDLoxab, as well as lipid, oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers, at baseline and 24 weeks after treatment with 20mg of atorvastatin., Results: Baseline: a correlation was observed between LDLoxab and age (r= 0.41, P=.03), waist (r=0.38, P=.04) and C reactive protein (r= 0.46, P=.02), but not with other variables. Atorvastatin treatment did not decrease LDLoxab;(mU/mL, median [CI 95%]: baseline: 413 [187-1,196] and 24 weeks: 349 [101-1559]). The percentage change at week 24, was negatively correlated with age (r=-0.37, P=.03) but not with other variables., Conclusion: In hypercholesterolemic subjects plasma LDLoxab levels were positively corelated with age, waist and C reactive protein. There were no changes in plasma levels of LDLoxab after treatment with atorvastatin, but the variation was associated with age, suggesting that the immunomodulatory actions may depend of this., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.)

Aims: To assess the prevalence and control of glucose metabolism disorders in a population of Extremadura (Spain) with at least one cardiovascular risk factor and to compare the characteristics of these patients with those who were normoglycemic in the risk factor control in Extremadura (COFRE study)., Patients and Methods: The prevalence and control of cardiovascular risk factors were recorded in a sample of 1,022 patients with at least one cardiovascular risk factor consecutively visiting a primary care office. Of these, 951 patients were included in the analysis. In all patients, fasting glycemia was recorded. Glycated hemoglobin was recorded in diabetic patients., Results: A total of 320 patients (33.6%) were previously known to be diabetic (DM) and 84 (8.8%) had glycemia > or = 126 mg/dl without a previous diagnosis of diabetes (12 with glycemia above 200mg/dl). Impaired fasting glycemia (IFG) was found in 211 (22.2%) and normoglycemia (NG) in 336 (35.3%). Within the DM group, glycemia <126 mg/dl was found in only 31.4% but glycated hemoglobin lower than 7% was found in 46.8%. Triglyceride concentrations were higher in the IFG group than in the NG group (137 + or - 65 mg/dL vs 124 + or - 65 mg/dL, p=0,041). Pulse pressure was also higher, but no differences were found in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) or heart rate. Differences in systolic blood pressure (SBP) were at the limit of significance (DM 139.5 + or - 17 vs NG 136.5 + or - 16 mmHg; p=0.056). No significant differences were found in any of these parameters between the DM and IFG groups., Conclusions: The prevalence of glucose metabolism disorders was very high in the recruited sample. Patients with IFG showed higher pulse pressure and triglyceride concentrations than those with NG but there were no differences in comparison with DM patients. Diabetic control was poor when assessed by fasting glycemia but glycated hemoglobin showed better control., (Copyright 2009 SEEN. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Our study aimed to assess the prevalence and degree of control of dyslipemia, using the 2004 National Cholesterol Education Program criteria, as well as the use of cholesterol lowering drugs in a sample of diabetic patients followed up in primary care settings in Extremadura., Patients and Methods: In this crosssectional, multicenter study the prevalence and control of cardiovascular risk factors was assessed in a sample of 1022 patients having at least one cardiovascular risk factors who were recruited by general practitioners. A total of 988 subjects were avalaible for statistic analysis of dyslipemia; 320 patients had diabetes mellitus (DM); 178 had at least one cardiovascular disease without diabetes and 506 patients without those diseases were used as control., Results: Total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) fraction were higher in the group control. High density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol was lower in the group DM as compared to control. Triglycerides were higher in group DM. Women had higher HDL-cholesterol and lower triglycerides levels than men. Only 26.6% of diabetics subjetcs and 28.9% of group ECV were well controlled; 42.5% of the control group had LDL cholesterol < 130 mg/dl. 13.3% of diabetics patients suffering from coronary artery disease had LDL-cholesterol < 70 mg/dl. They were taking statins: DM, 56.6); ECV 61.6%; and control, 39.4%. From patients who did not take cholesterol lowering drugs 51.6% in group DM and 33.8% in group ECV would need to take them., Conclusions: The study shows a poor control of dyslipemia in diabetics subjects and high risk patients in spite of lower lipid levels when compared to lower risk population and a more frequent use of cholesterol lowering drugs. Nevertheless, statin use is still lower than currently recommended.

There is little information on the clinical outcome of patients with venous thromboembolism and renal insufficiency. RIETE is an ongoing, prospective registry of consecutive patients with acute, objectively confirmed, symptomatic deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE). In this analysis we analyzed the three-month outcome in patients with creatinine clearance (CrCl) <30 ml/min. As of March 2007, 1,037 of the 18,251 (5.7%) patients enrolled in RIETE had CrCl <30 ml/min. During the three-month study period these patients had an increased incidence of fatal bleeding, fatal PE, and overall death compared to those with CrCl >30 ml/min. Of the 579 patients presenting with clinically overt PE, 52 (9.0%) died of the initial PE, 13 (2.2%) of recurrent PE, and nine (1.6%) died of bleeding complications. During the first 15 days of therapy the 10% incidence of fatal PE was 10-fold their 1.0% of fatal bleeding. From day 16 to 90, the 1.0% rate of fatal PE was not significantly higher than the 0.5% of fatal bleeding. Of the 458 DVT patients with CrCl <30 ml/min, 14 (3.1%) had fatal bleeding and only one (0.2%) died of PE. In patients with CrCl <30 ml/min presenting with clinically overt PE the main threat is PE itself. On the contrary, in those with DVT the main threat is bleeding.