The importance of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in patients with tinnitus.

Arterial hypertension belongs to the most important factors of origin and lasting of tinnitus. We have studied 18 subjects suffering from tinnitus without the history of diagnosed or treated arterial hypertension. ABPM method was used for diagnosing arterial hypertension. 12 patients (66%) fulfilled the criteria for arterial hypertension. Our results illustrate that arterial hypertension diagnosis is devoted an insufficient attention in patients with tinnitus. ABPM should therefore be used in all patients with tinnitus, immediately after its manifestation and also repeatedly during its course. With early diagnosis and treatment of hypertension, some complications, such as myocardial infarction, stroke, heart and/or kidney failure can be thus prevented (Tab. 1, Fig. 5, Ref. 10). Full Text in free PDF www.bmj.sk.

[Purtscher-like retinopathy in acute alcoholic pancreatitis: fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography findings]. / Purtscher-like retinopatia pri akútnej alkoholovej pankreatitíde: nález na fluoresceínovej angiografii a optickej koherentnej tomografii.

27 year old patient with a history of alcohol abuse after consumption of fat meal and wine following epigastric pain noticed sudden bilateral visual loss: right eye logMAR 0, 94, left eye logMAR 1, 22. Retinal examination revealed massive edema in the central part of the retina, multiple cotton wool spots in the posterior pole peripapillary and flame-shaped hemorrhages. On the OCT, there was edema most of all in the inner part of the retina, but also subretinal, hyperreflectivity in the nerve fibre layers corresponding to massive cotton wool spots. Fluorescein angiography in the early phases showed hypofluorescent ischemic areas of the retina subsequently leakage developed in the late phases. Immediately after antibiotic and spasmoanalgetic treatment of the pancreatitis visual acuity improved and 2 months after beginning of the therapy visual acuity is logMAR 0 bilateraly. We proposed that the most suspected cause of Purtscher-like retinopathy in this case is fat embolism.

Does diabetic autonomic neuropathy influence the clinical manifestations of reflux esophagitis?

Diabetic autonomic neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes mellitus and affects every segment of the gastrointestinal tract. Gastrointestinal problems tend to be more common and severe in diabetics compared with the nondiabetic population. In the literature, the prevalence of reflux esophagitis is not known. The aim of this study was to analyze esophagoscopic findings, compare them with esophageal symptoms, and evaluate reflux esophagitis in relationship with autonomic neuropathy. We examined 54 diabetics (15 type 1, 39 type II), 28 males and 26 females, average age 55.4 (95% confidence intervals 52.1-58.8), with duration of diabetes more than 5 (average 15.0; 12.4-17.6) years. All patients completed a structured questionnaire. After overnight fasting, gastroesophageal endoscopy was performed in the morning to establish the presence of reflux esophagitis, using the Los Angeles classification. Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy was diagnosed with the help of cardiovascular autonomic reflexes (deep breathing, active orthostasis, Valsalva's maneuver) and spectral analysis of heart rate variation. Endoscopic esophagitis was present in 22 (40.7%) diabetics and 10 of them (45 %) also complained of reflux symptoms. Sensitivity of symptoms was 45.5% and specificity was 72%. We found the presence of symptoms of reflux esophagitis in 21 (38.9%) diabetics, but of this group only 10 (47.6%) had endoscopic changes. Autonomic neuropathy was present in 29 patients, 16 (55%) of them had reflux esophagitis and 18 (62%) were positive for reflux symptoms. In the diabetics without autonomic neuropathy, esophagitis was noted in 6 (24%), which reflects a significant difference (p < 0.05). Reflux symptoms were present in 10 (40%) diabetics without autonomic neuropathy, and in comparison with patients who had autonomic neuropathy, the difference was not statistically significant. Thus, reflux eosophagitis is common in diabetic patients, with a prevalence of 40.7%. Reflux symptoms do not have a great diagnostic value in establishing reflux esophagitis. We confirmed a relationship between autonomic neuropathy and the clinical manifestations of reflux esophagitis, but no association with accompanying reflux symptoms. (Tab. 2, Ref. 27.)

[Holter ECG monitoring during gastroscopy in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation]. / Holterovo ekg monitorovanie pocas gastrofibroskopie u pacientov s chronickou fibrilaciou predsieni.

The authors present their results obtained with Holter ECG monitoring during gastroscopy in a group of patients with chronic atrial fibrillation. In one third of the group, endoscopic procedure induced complex cardiac arrhythmias and also significant myocardial ischaemia. These findings can have serious hemodynamic consequences. Therefore previous evaluation of cardiac findings and extemporaneous for urgent therapeutical intervention are necessary. To these patients, especially to those with cardiac arrhythmias--including atrial fibrillation--it is necessary to devote intensified attention and precaution with interdisciplinary co-operation.

[Wilson's disease and pregnancy]. / Wilsonova choroba a gravidita.

The authors describe the case of a 27-year-old female patient with Wilson's disease who during penicillinamine treatment became pregnant and was delivered of a healthy infant. The diagnosis of Wilson's disease was confirmed by the finding of a Kayser-Fleischer ring in the cornea and a concurrent serum ceruloplasmin concentration lower than 0.20 g/l. Unrecognized and untreated, the disease is associated with the development of organ complications which in the end prove fatal. On the other hand, early diagnosis and effective treatment throughout life can prevent liver and brain damage and thus enable the patient to live a normal life and women can have a healthy child.