The relation between platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index in acute pulmonary embolism.

PURPOSE: In this study, we aimed to investigate the value of the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) for predicting disease severity based on simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (sPESI), as well as in-hospital mortality in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our hospital's electronic patient database was searched for the patients with ICD-9 code I26, and eligible 646 patients were included in the study. RESULTS: Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that PLR, pulmonary artery systolic pressure, right ventricular dysfunction, D-dimer level, and white blood cell, lymphocyte, platelet and neutrophil counts were significantly correlated with a high sPESI score in patients with APE. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in the literature showing that a high PLR is independently associated with a high risk of mortality in patients with APE.

An unusual case of idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome presenting with myopericarditis and a polypoid cardiac mass.

Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (IHES) is a rare systemic disorder with blood eosinophilia and multiple system involvement. Commonly, there is endocardial fibrosis with overlying mural thrombus, and mitral and tricuspid valves can be involved concomitantly. Outflow tracts near the aortic and pulmonary valves are generally protected. We herein describe an atypical case of IHES with a mass on the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT), which showed regression under steroid therapy. There are two features that make our case worthy of reporting: First, the mitral and tricuspid valves are expected to be involved in IHES, and outflow tracts near the aortic and pulmonary valves are generally protected. Second, within one month of steroid therapy, the vegetation had reduced dramatically in size and signs of myocarditis and pericarditis had also disappeared.