Lipedema: A Clinical Challenge-revisited.

Lipedema is a disfiguring disorder with abnormal and progressive deposition of adipose tissue in the hips and lower extremities almost exclusively occurring in women. There is a hereditary tendency and a substantial variability in disease severity. Lipedema is often misdiagnosed as lymphedema or morbid obesity. The etiology and pathogenesis are not understood. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to minimize physical and psychological morbidity. The diagnosis is usually made by history and clinical examination. Non-invasive imaging techniques such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance can differentiate lipedema from other causes of edematous lower extremities. Lymphoscintigraphy may be helpful in cases which are associated with lymphedema (lipo-lymphedema). Management with manual lymphatic drainage and compression therapy are considered the most appropriate treatment. Use of conventional liposuction is controversial since it may further damage the lymphatic vessels. Newer techniques such as tumescent micro annular laser assisted liposuction and water jet-assisted liposuction have shown some promising results. Variety of other surgical procedures combined with manual lymphatic drainage and tailored post-surgical care are under investigation.

Early or Selective Invasive Strategy in Patients with Non-ST-segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome According to the Risk Factors at Presentation? An Outcome Study.

Aims: Patients with acute coronary syndrome without ST segment elevation are a heterogeneous group with respect to the risk of having a major adverse cardiac event (MACE). History of diabetes mellitus (DM), chronic kidney disease (CKD) and elevated GRACE risk score are all factors defining a higher risk of MACE. We aimed to compare the outcome of patients with early vs selective invasive strategy according to the risk factors at presentation. Methodology: We enrolled 178 patients with unstable angina or non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (UA/NSTEMI), 52 (29.2%) had DM, 32 (19.7%)-CKD, defined when MDRD measured glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was <60ml/min/1.73m2 and 28 (15.7%) had GRACE≥140. The study had two arms: an early invasive strategy one (coronary arteriography and percutaneous coronary intervention within 24 hours after admission), and a selective invasive strategy arm (medical stabilization, with coronary arteriography required only in case of angina recurrence and/or evidence of inducible myocardial ischemia). Follow-up was 22.8±14 months. Results: For the whole group MACE occurred less often and the event free period was longer in the early invasive strategy group compared to selective invasive one (p=0.001). Early invasive strategy in diabetic patients, those with CKD and with GRACE ≥140 was associated with a reduced MACE rate (p=0.008, 0.016 and 0.006, respectively) and longer time to MACE occurrence compared with the selective invasive strategy. When we evaluated separately non-diabetics, patients with normal renal function and those with GRACE <140 we found no significant difference in MACE rate between the patients allocated to early invasive strategy and those assigned to selective invasive strategy. Early invasive strategy, however, showed some advantage over the selective one also in the subgroup analysis-the time to occurrence of MACE was prolonged in patients with lower risk at presentation. Conclusions: Early invasive strategy in UA/NSTEMI is associated with a reduced MACE rate and longer event-free period compared with selective invasive strategy. This benefit is clearly evident in higher risk subsets (patients with DM, CKD and GRACE ≥140).

Telemonitoring Boosts Atrial Fibrillation Detection in Cryptogenic Stroke Patients – Preliminary Findings.

Background: Approximately 25% of strokes are cryptogenic in origin and identifying atrial fibrillation (AF) as an etiologic factor in this situation has major therapeutic implication. Standard Holter ECG has a low sensitivity for AF detection in this patient group. Aim: To assess the diagnostic yield of prolonged ambulatory noninvasive ECG telemonitoring for AF detection in cryptogenic stroke or transitory ischemic attack (TIA) patients. Methods and Results: We prospectively included 36 patients (mean age 53 ± 15 years, 17% women) with cryptogenic stroke or TIA in the previous 3 months and without previously documented episodes of AF. We employed a validated ECG telemonitoring system (TEMEO). The median monitoring period was 22 days, ranging from 13 to 36 days. AF was detected in 10 patients (27%): in 7 patients (70%) AF episodes lasted <30 sec and in the other 3 episodes of absolute arrhythmia were longer. AF runs were asymptomatic in 6 of the patients with arrhythmia detection (60%). The mean time from initiation of telemonitoring to AF detection was 10 days, ranging from 2 to 29 days. Anticoagulation therapy for secondary prevention of stroke and systemic embolism was initiated in all of the patients with AF detected during telemonitoring. Conclusion: ECG telemonitoring after cryptogenic stroke or TIA results in AF detection in at least one in every four patients. Considering the important therapeutic implication of this finding we believe that prolonged ECG monitoring should become the standard of care in this patient group.