ABSTRACT
Morbidity and mortality from diabetes mellitus remain high despite managing the traditional risk factors. Recent data imply that the pathophysiology of macrovascular and microvascular complications involve other factors. The metabolic syndrome precedes the onset of type 2 diabetes by many years. Early treatment of individuals with this syndrome might delay the onset of diabetes and its complications. Endothelial dysfunction, subclinical inflammation and impaired fibrinolysis may contribute to progression of macrovascular as well as microvascular complications. The roles of infection and hyperhomocysteinemia are less clear but may be significant. This review discusses the current knowledge on these "non-traditional" risk factors and therapies to improve them.
Subject(s)
Cardiovascular Diseases/etiology , Diabetes Mellitus , Albuminuria/etiology , C-Reactive Protein/biosynthesis , Diabetes Complications , Diabetes Mellitus/drug therapy , Diabetes Mellitus/metabolism , Endothelium, Vascular/metabolism , Homocysteine/metabolism , Humans , Inflammation/metabolism , Insulin Resistance , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
The role of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in patients with cryptogenic stroke (stroke of unknown cause) remains controversial, although an association seems likely in younger patients with atrial septal aneurysms and PFO. The mechanism of cryptogenic stroke in these patients is presumed to be paradoxical embolism via right-to-left shunt across the PFO. The available options for treatment include medical therapy with antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy or closure of the PFO surgically or with use of transcatheter PFO closure devices. We describe 2 cases of bilateral device thrombosis associated with use of a transcatheter PFO closure device (CardioSEAL). To our knowledge, only 1 other case of thrombosis associated with use of this device has been reported.
