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Despite improvements in the treatment and prevention of risk factors (i.e. dyslipidemia), cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in countries with a high degree of socio-economic development. As a matter of fact, in the last decades, several trials and meta-analysis highlighted the impact of treatments targeted to lowering cholesterol levels (particularly LDL-cholesterol) on outcomes of patients affected by CVD, both in terms of primary and secondary prevention. The main international CVD guidelines recommend lifestyle modifications and optimal lipid-lowering therapy in individuals with established CVD. The aim of the present document is to describe the dimension of the problem and the available therapies, offering a practical pharmacological flow-chart useful for accurate monitoring and intensive treatment of dyslipidemias in this patient population.

Neurological and cardiovascular ischemic diseases represent the main causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. Physiopathological mechanisms present several similarities, based on "thromboembolic" events, as well as the pharmacological and percutaneous treatment options. We report a case of contemporary presentation of acute coronary and cerebral syndromes, successfully managed with a combined percutaneous intervention driven by the emergency setting. Whereas invasive revascularization represents nowadays the "gold standard" therapy for acute coronary syndromes, catheter-based treatment of acute stroke is not yet widespread and still under debate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a risk factor for cryptogenetic stroke; its closure should be considered in selected patients. It is not always clear whether symptoms (presyncope, paresthesia) apparently due to paradoxical embolism are related with other cardiovascular disorders such as arrhythmias. Flecainide administration for post- PFO-closure supraventricular arrhythmias can unmask a latent undiagnosed Brugada syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]