Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring on admission in survivors of recent stroke entering inpatient rehabilitation.

Arterial hypertension (AHT) is a major risk factor for stroke, yet blood pressure (BP) goals thereafter remain uncertain. Although additional prognostic value of 24-hour ambulant BP monitoring (ABPM) is acknowledged, its clinical impacts remain limited. We suspected that routine ABPM could identify characteristic circadian BP patterns in different brain lesion types, the knowledge of which might, in turn, be helpful in improving overall BP management in patients after stroke. In our study, we compared cardiovascular parameters derived from ABPM and traditional blood pressure measurements (TBPM) among 105 stroke survivors who entered our inpatient neuro-rehabilitation program. The mean age of mostly male (64.8%) patients was 71 ± 12 years. Ischemic strokes were predominant (75.2%). Despite normotensive systolic BP means in TBPM (133.5 ± 18.2 mmHg) and ABPM (24 h: 122.8 ± 14.7 mmHg), AHT persisted in up to 67.6% of all patients, with ABPM uncovering nocturnal systolic non- or reversed dipping in 89.5% and 53.3%, respectively. The latter was predominant (85.7%) in the hemorrhagic subgroup which also displayed lower daytime SBP than the ischemic one (ABPM: 117.1 ± 11.8 vs 124.7 ± 14.7 mmHg, p = 0.033). Further differences were present among distinct brain lesion types. Sufficient dippers were younger (58 ± 12 vs 75 ± 11 years, p < 0.001), but adjusting for age yielded no independent correlations. In spite of normotensive daytime BP measurements, ABPM detects latent AHT and insufficient nocturnal BP dipping after the acute phase of stroke. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of increased nocturnal BP in patients after stroke.

Lipoprotein apheresis is an optimal therapeutic option to reduce increased Lp(a) levels.

BACKGROUND: Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is a genetic risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and is associated with the induction and sustaining of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD). Since 2008 Lp(a) along with progressive CVD has been approved as an indication for regular lipoprotein apheresis (LA) in Germany. The German Lipoprotein Apheresis Registry (GLAR) has been initiated to provide statistical evidence for the assessment of extracorporeal procedures to treat dyslipidemia for both LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and Lp(a). The GLAR now allows prospective investigations over a 5-year period about annual incidence rates of cardiovascular events. Here Lp(a) patients (LDL-C < 100 mg/dl; Lp(a) > 60 mg/dl or >120 nmol/l) showed the same reduction of major coronary (83%) and non-coronary events (63%) as had been formerly shown in the Pro(a)LiFe study. However, Lp(a) is not only an apolipoprotein(a) (apo(a)) and LDL-C containing particle, which is covalently bound to a LDL-C core by a disulphide bridge. The composition of this particle, inter alia containing oxidized phospholipids, gives pro-atherosclerotic, pro-inflammatory, and pro-thrombotic properties, inducing atherosclerotic processes mainly in the arterial wall. However, recent investigations have shown that a reduction of inflammatory settings without LDL-C or Lp(a) reduction may reduce ASCVD events. Lipoprotein apheresis (LA) could not only reduce LDL-C and Lp(a) in parallel, but also different inflammatory and coagulation parameters. In summary lipoprotein apheresis is not only anti-atherosclerotic, but also anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic and therefore an ideal treatment option with respect to the shown reduction of major adverse coronary events (MACE) and major adverse non-coronary events (MANCE) by reducing Lp(a) levels.

Current insights into the German Lipoprotein Apheresis Registry (GLAR) - Almost 5 years on.

BACKGROUND: In recent years the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA), a paramount decision-making body of the German health care system required a reassessment of the approval of chronic lipoprotein apheresis therapy for regular reimbursement. Since 2005 an interdisciplinary German apheresis working group has been established by members of both German Societies of Nephrology. In 2009 the working group completed the indication for lipoprotein apheresis with respect to current cardiovascular guidelines and current scientific knowledge for the registry. In 2011 the German Lipoprotein Apheresis Registry (GLAR) was launched and data acquired over nearly 5 years can now be reported. METHODS AND RESULTS: All data were collected and analyzed during the time period 2012-2015. Over this time interval, 68 German apheresis centers collected retrospective and prospective observational data of 1.283 patients undergoing lipoprotein apheresis (LA) treatment of high LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and/or high lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) levels suffering from progressive cardiovascular disease (CVD). A total of 15,167 documented LA treatments were investigated. All patients treated by LA exhibited a median LDL-C reduction rate of 68.6%, and a median Lp(a) reduction rate of 70.4%. Analogue to the Pro(a)LiFe pattern, patient data were analyzed and compared with respect to the incidence rate of coronary events (MACE) 1 and 2 years before the start of LA treatment (y-2 and y-1) and prospectively one year on LA treatment (y+1). During the first year of LA treatment a MACE reduction of 97% was be observed. In the years considered, LA treatment side effects occurred at a low rate (ca. 5%) and mainly comprised puncture problems. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time data generated by the GLAR shows that LA lowers the incidence rate of cardiovascular events in patients with high LDL-C and/or high Lp(a) levels, progressive CVD and maximally tolerated lipid lowering medication. In addition LA treatments were found to be safe, exhibiting a low rate of side effects.

The German Lipoprotein Apheresis Registry (GLAR) - almost 5 years on.

BACKGROUND: Since 2005 an interdisciplinary German apheresis working group has been established by members of both German Societies of Nephrology and of Lipidologists and completed the data set for the registry according to the current guidelines and the German indication guideline for apheresis in 2009. In 2011 the German Lipoprotein Apheresis Registry (GLAR) was launched and data are available over nearly 5 years now. METHODS AND RESULTS: During the time period 2012-2016, 71 German apheresis centers collected retrospective and prospective observational data of 1435 patients undergoing lipoprotein apheresis (LA) treatment of high LDL-C levels and/or high Lp (a) levels suffering from cardiovascular disease (CVD) or progressive CVD. A total of 15,527 completely documented LA treatments were entered into the database. All patients treated by LA showed a median LDL-C reduction rate of 67.5%, and a median Lp (a) reduction rate of 71.1%. Analog to the Pro(a)LiFe pattern, patient data were analyzed to the incidence rate of coronary events (MACE) 1 and 2 years before the beginning of LA treatment (y-2 and y­1) and prospectively two years on LA treatment (y + 1 and y + 2). During two years of LA treatment a MACE reduction of 78% was observed. In the years considered, side effects of LA treatment were low (5.9%) and mainly comprised puncture problems. CONCLUSIONS: The data generated by the GLAR shows that LA lowers the incidence rate of cardiovascular events in patients with high LDL-C and/or high Lp (a) levels, progressive CVD, and maximally tolerated lipid lowering medication. In addition, LA treatments were found to be safe with a low rate of side effects.

How to optimize lipoprotein apheresis treatment--a second look.

BACKGROUND: Lipoprotein apheresis (LA) is used in hypercholesterolemic patients suffering from cardiovascular disease (CHD) if a modified diet and lipid-lowering drug regimens had failed. During the first LA treatments LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) can be decreased very effectively when using generally accepted formulas for calculating plasma (PV) (e.g. Pearson) or blood volumes (BV) as a basis for calculating treatment volume (e.g. Nadler). With respect to LDL-C and Lp(a) levels after LA treatment not all treated patients on steady state with apheresis treatment procedures may achieve the desired target concentrations for LDL-C (<70 mg/dl) and Lp(a) (<30 mg/dl). Are there further ways to increase the effectiveness of LA? METHODS: Over months or years of LA the treated volumes were stepwise increased in patients to achieve target cholesterol concentrations but not sufficiently in all cases. Therefore the patients' actual LA treatment volumes were compared to the calculated PV or BV. To possibly optimize the treatment capacity of LA procedures independent of calculated PV or BV the capacity threshold was determined in addition. During LA procedures every 20 min cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, HDL-C and Lp(a) concentrations were determined and related to the hematocrit to exclude dilution effects. RESULTS: In patients undergoing regular LA treated volumes vs. calculated volumes were different: for PV 28 ± 18% (n = 7); for BV 28 ± 20% (n = 6). The mean treated volumes were 1.3 fold larger than the calculated volumes to achieve cholesterol target levels in most LA treatments. With respect to the capacity threshold we observed in only 1 of 13 patients an ineffective long treatment time. No LA procedure failed due to exhausted capacity. CONCLUSIONS: Lipoprotein apheresis treatment is a very effective treatment procedure in lowering LDL-C and Lp(a). However, not in all procedures the optimal treatment volume for LA patients may be calculated. However calculations of PV and BV are more or less error-prone. An increase of 1.3 fold in the calculated volumes may be the first step in optimizing individual LA treatment options. In addition, to exclude an exhaustion of LA procedures the determination of the individual capacity threshold in every LA patient may be further helpful to adjust treatment volumes. To substantiate our demand on changed treatment volumes further data are necessary.

Current view: indications for extracorporeal lipid apheresis treatment.

BACKGROUND: One of the first investigations concerning extracorporeal treatment of hypercholesterolemia was performed in 1967 by plasma exchange in patients with homozygous or severe heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). In the following decades, several specific lipid apheresis systems were developed to efficiently eliminate low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and Lp(a) cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic patients. In the early 1980s, the main clinical indication has been homozygous FH including mainly children and pregnant women. In consideration of the current development of lipid-lowering regimens and scientific knowledge of preventing progression of cardiovascular diseases, the spectrum of indications to initiate lipid apheresis was extended due to still insufficient lipid-lowering therapy in some clinical cases. However, a generally accepted indication for lipid apheresis treatment is still under discussion. In Germany, the target-oriented distribution of increasingly limited healthcare resources demand data which support the benefit of established treatment procedures such as lipid apheresis. In recent years, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA), a paramount decision-making body of the German Healthcare System, issued to reassess the approval of chronic lipid apheresis therapy for regular reimbursement. Therefore, in 2005, an interdisciplinary German Apheresis Working Group has been established by members of both the German societies of nephrology. One of the first goals of this working group was a revision of the indications for lipid apheresis corresponding to current guidelines and recommendations for the treatment of lipid disorders. In addition, recently new pathophysiological perceptions of the impact of lipoproteins on atherogenesis and thrombosis were also considered. METHODS AND RESULTS: Since 2005, the working group met on a regular basis to substantiate the first defined goals. The indications for lipid apheresis were critically revised with respect to actual results from clinical investigations, cardiovascular guidelines, and scientific knowledge and were accepted by the members of the apheresis working group. CONCLUSIONS: There is consensus between the medical societies and health insurance funds regarding the need for general accepted guidelines for lipid apheresis. Recommendations for the indications of lipid apheresis were developed, but additionally these results should be confirmed by medical societies to transform them to guidelines. However, due to limited data showing that lipid apheresis has effects on the progression of cardiovascular diseases all members of the apheresis working group support a project for creating a lipid apheresis registry. This apheresis registry has been developed and recently started. The primary goal is to substantiate prospective long-term data on clinical outcome of chronic lipid apheresis treatment and to support additional clinical research activities in this field. In addition, this registry should comply with the actual requests of the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA).

An erythropoietin gene polymorphism in the hypoxia-responsive element at position 3434 is possibly associated with hypertension.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Several polymorphisms of vasoactive hormones have been implicated in hypertension. Erythropoietin (EPO) interacts with vasoactive substances, such as angiotensin II. Previously detected single nucleotide polymorphisms in the hypoxia-responsive element of EPO might be associated with hypertension and hypertensive end organ damages. METHODS: 400 hypertensive patients and 200 age- and gender-matched normotensive controls were genotyped for an EPO polymorphism [cytosine (C)/thymine (T) single nucleotide polymorphism] at position 3434. Patients were grouped according to their genotype into the CC group (CC genotype) and the CT/TT group (CT and TT genotype). BP was measured by ambulatory BP monitoring. RESULTS: The CC genotype was present in 87% of hypertensive patients and in 78.5% of controls (p = 0.007). In addition, patients with the CC genotype had higher BP levels compared with CT/TT genotypes (BPsys 143.7 ± 20.4 vs. 136.1 ± 13.5 mm Hg, p = 0.01, and BPdias 85.8 ± 11.6 vs. 82.4 ± 8.9, p = 0.043) despite a nearly identical number of antihypertensive drugs (2.3 ± 1.5 vs. 2.3 ± 1.6; p = 0.257). 100% of the small number of patients with end-stage renal disease (n = 15) had the CC genotype. CONCLUSION: The CC genotype of the EPO gene at position 3434 is more frequently found in patients with hypertension and is associated with higher BP levels.

Blood pressure telemonitoring is useful to achieve blood pressure control in inadequately treated patients with arterial hypertension.

Failing to reach blood pressure (BP) goals is one of the main problems in hypertension management. Especially in high-risk patients, intensive monitoring including frequently office visits or new techniques to monitor home BP is required. A total of 60 patients with uncontrolled hypertension were included and randomized into a group with telemetric BP monitoring (TBPM) (n=30) and a control group receiving standard care (n=30). During the 3-month study period, patients received in addition to their antihypertensive pre-treatment up to 2 × 300 mg irbesartan to achieve the required target BP. All patients were instructed to measure their BP once daily in the morning. In the TBPM group automatic alerts were generated by the central database server using pre-defined algorithms and patients were subsequently contacted by the physician. At baseline mean 24-h ambulant BP monitoring (ABPM) was 143.3±11.1/82.6±9.9 mm Hg in the TBPM group and 141.4±12.6/82.1±6.5 mm Hg in the standard care group. During treatment mean systolic BP showed a more intensive decrease in the TBPM vs control group (-17.0±11.1 mm Hg vs -9.8±13.7 mm Hg; P=0.032). Patients in the TBPM group had a more pronounced night dipping and a higher reduction of mean pulse pressure than controls (-8.1±5.9 mm Hg vs -2.8±7.4 mm Hg, P=0.004). After 3 months, TBPM-treated patients were given a higher mean daily dose of irbesartan (375±187 mg vs 222±147 mg in controls; P=<0.001). We demonstrated that with TBPM a more effective and faster titration of the antihypertensive agent is possible. The alarm criteria chosen were useful to improve BP control.

[Online medical consulting service at the University Hospital Zürich before and after introduction of a service fee]. / Medizinische Online-Beratung im Universitätsspital Zürich vor und nach Einführung einer Bearbeitungsgebühr.

OBJECTIVE: The University Hospital of Zürich has been providing an anonymous online consultation service since 1999. In January 2008 a service fee of CHF 20.- was introduced. The present investigation evaluated the impact of the service fee on the use of the medical online consulting service. METHODOLOGY: All 8269 requests between January 2007 and December 2008 were analysed using the following criteria: number, complexity and subjects (ICD-10) of the requests, personal statements of the users and evaluation of the online answers. RESULTS: The number of requests decreased by 69 % (6298 vs.1971) and the age of the users rose from 36 +/- 16 to 40 +/- 17 years. The text length of the requests increased (characters: 677 +/- 463 vs. 801 +/- 539), as did the length of the answers (characters: 1397 +/- 3224 vs. 2391 +/- 4327). In 2008 the assistance of specialists at the University Hospital Zürich were called upon more frequently (11.1 % vs. 15.9 %). Regarding the assessments of the quality of the answers, there were differences in the range of positive evaluations ("good": 38 % vs. 41 %, "excellent" 43 % vs. 36 %). DISCUSSION: The introduction of a new service fee resulted in a decrease in requests. At the same time, a greater number of older people used the service, and they asked questions that are more complex. Apparently, persons that probably have more medical problems have greater appreciation for the opportunity to ask questions and, in comparison to younger persons, are more willing to pay for the service. The continued positive evaluation given to the medical answers shows that an Internet service involving a fee can also be a useful supplement to the conventional physician/patient relationship.

Achieving success: assessing the role of and building a business case for technology in healthcare.

As the healthcare market continues to evolve, technology will play an increasingly important role in an integrated delivery system's ability to provide high-quality, cost-effective care. Healthcare leaders must be proactive and forward thinking about their technology investments. The financial investment for technology innovation can be significant. Therefore, it is important that healthcare executives deliberately design the role of technology and develop a consistent method for evaluating, identifying, and prioritizing technology investments. The article begins by describing technology's role in a healthcare organization as a window to the organization, a key driver of business strategy, and a high-performance enabler, and it develops a seven-step process for building a business case to ensure that an organization's technology investments are wise, well-reasoned, and will provide value to its customers. In addition, the article discusses the importance of combining people and process reengineering with new technology to exponentially increase the value to an organization. Healthcare leaders must understand the multiple roles of technology and consistently develop a business case when making technology investment decisions. Organizations driven by such an understanding will have a robust infrastructure of enabling technology designed to integrate people and process elements with technology to achieve the goals and initiatives of the organization. These organizations will lead the healthcare industry into the next millennium.