Pharmacodynamic Comparison of Two Aspirin Formulations in the Caribbean: The ARC Study.

INTRODUCTION: This prospective, single-arm, crossover pharmacodynamic study assessed the effect of Bayer® low-dose enteric-coated aspirin 81 mg tablets (LD EC-ASA) (Bayer AG, Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany) compared to Vazalore® low-dose phospholipid-aspirin liquid-filled 81 mg capsules (LD PL-ASA) (PLx Pharma Inc., Sparta, NJ, USA) on platelet reactivity with respect to aspirin reaction units (ARU). METHODS: Forty-seven healthy volunteers were recruited. Platelet function was evaluated with the VerifyNow™ ARU assay (Werfen, Bedford, MA, USA) and assessed post-initiation of Bayer® LD EC-ASA daily for 14 days, with a washout period of 28 days, followed by Vazalore® LD PL-ASA daily for 14 days, again followed by ARU testing. RESULTS: Participants on LD EC-ASA had a mean ARU score of 426, with 19.1% of participants having an ARU > 550; patients on LD PL-ASA derived a mean ARU score of 435, with 14.9% achieving an ARU > 550. There were no significant differences in aspirin resistance (ARU > 550) according to the formulation (Bayer® LD EC-ASA vs. Vazalore® LD PL-ASA) used. Aspirin resistance was independent of ethnicity regardless of the formulation used. In addition, there were no significant associations between body surface area (BSA) and Bayer® LD EC-ASA ARU value (p value 0.788) or Vazalore® LD PL-ASA ARU value (p value 0.477). No patients experienced any serious adverse events or treatment-emergent adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences in aspirin resistance between Bayer® LD EC-ASA and Vazalore® LD PL-ASA. This dedicated pharmacodynamic study could potentially be informative and applicable for Trinidadian patients on dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). Further studies are required to confirm these exploratory findings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT06228820, prospectively registered 1/18/2024.

Atrial Arrhythmias in a Patient Presenting With Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) Infection.

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) that has significant potential cardiovascular implications for patients. These include myocarditis, acute coronary syndromes, cardiac arrhythmias, cardiomyopathies with heart failure and cardiogenic shock, and venous thromboembolic events. We describe a Caribbean-Black gentleman with COVID-19 infection presenting with atrial arrhythmias, namely, atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation, which resolved with rate and rhythm control strategies, and supportive care.

Corrigendum to "Miliary Tuberculosis Presenting with ARDS and Shock: A Case Report and Challenges in Current Management and Diagnosis".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2017/9287021.].

Miliary Tuberculosis Presenting with ARDS and Shock: A Case Report and Challenges in Current Management and Diagnosis.

Miliary tuberculosis, complicated by ARDS and septic shock, is a rare and lethal presentation of this disease. Here we present a case of such a patient, following which we discuss the management of tuberculosis in the ICU and some of the challenges that may be faced. A young HIV negative female presented to us with an acute history of worsening shortness of breath on a background of weight loss, nonproductive cough, and fever. CXR and CT scan showed bilateral miliary type opacities and the patient was admitted to the hospital. Within forty-eight hours of admission she became hypoxemic and was intubated and transferred to the ICU. There she experienced worsening organ dysfunction and developed circulatory shock. Despite escalating doses of noradrenaline, she continued to decline and died before specific anti-TB treatment could be started. Timely diagnosis and treatment initiation are the keys to improving outcomes in critically ill TB patients. However there are many challenges in doing so, especially in a general ICU located in a country with a low TB incidence.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome and Acute Post-Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis Mimicking Breakthrough Seizures.

We report the case of a 14-year-old boy with a past history of primary generalized seizures, who had been seizure-free for 2 years on sodium valproate and presented with generalized tonic clonic seizures suggestive of breakthrough seizures. Examination revealed hypertension, impetiginous lesions of the lower limbs, microscopic hematuria, elevated anti-streptolysin O titre and low complement levels consistent with acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated changes consistent with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. Hypertension was controlled with intravenous nitroglycerin followed by oral captopril and amlodipine. Brain MRI changes returned normal within 2 weeks. The nephritis went in to remission within 2 months and after 8 months the patient has been seizure free again. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome appeared to have neither short nor intermediate effect on seizure control in this patient. The relationship between posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome and seizures is reviewed.