Comparison of vitamin K and non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants and the bleeding frequency in the emergency department.

INTRODUCTION: Safety studies of anticoagulant therapy have so far been conducted on many subjects in controlled conditions (i.e., clinically monitored) and demonstrated the noninferiority of new ones over old anticoagulant drugs. Data on the propositions for the presence of symptoms and signs of bleeding among various anticoagulants in the emergency department indicate that these data do not match the data published so far. AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate the differences in the frequency of bleeding and bleeding-related symptoms as a reason for emergency department attendance in patients on anticoagulant therapy. METHODS: The study included patients from the emergency department of University Hospital for one year, who were on anticoagulant therapy and who met the inclusion criteria. Out of a total of 595 patients, 409 were on warfarin (68.74%), and the rest were taking direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC): dabigatran 71 (11.93%), rivaroxaban 66 (11.09%) and apixaban 49 (8.23%). RESULTS: Out of 409 patients taking warfarin, 34.4% were adequately anticoagulated with the frequency of bleeding 13.7%, while in 57.2% of patients, PT INR was higher than the reference values with the frequency of bleeding 15.0%. A comparison between all DOAC groups and adequately anticoagulated warfarin patients in the frequency of bleeding and bleeding-related symptoms as a reason for emergency attendance yielded a difference that was marginally statistically significant (Pearson Chi-Square = 7.554, p = 0.052). CONCLUSION: Monitoring the frequency of bleeding and bleeding-related symptoms in patients on oral anticoagulant therapy as a reason for emergency department attendance may be a new safety and efficacy factor in real-life patient scenarios.

Markers of cardiac injury in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Liver cirrhosis is an increasing public health problem and a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Accordingly, cirrhotic cardiomyopathy, a frequently underdiagnosed condition, is becoming a growing health problem. In the last 20 years, cardioselective biomarkers have been investigated for their diagnostic and prognostic properties for numerous conditions. The aim of this article is to review the literature on the relationship between the most commonly used cardioselective biomarkers (cardiac troponins I and T, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, brain natriuretic peptide, and heart-type fatty-acid binding protein) and the presence, functional stage, and clinical outcomes of liver cirrhosis. Elevated plasma levels of these biomarkers have been reported in patients with liver cirrhosis, and there is mounting evidence on their predictive value for clinical outcomes in this disease. In addition, elevated plasma levels of these biomarkers have been reported in patients before, during, and after liver transplantation, but in fewer studies. Due to their predictive value for clinical outcomes, we advocate the use of these markers in patients with liver cirrhosis and cirrhotic cardiomyopathy, as well as in candidates for liver transplant.

Relationship between hemoglobin A1c and serum troponin in patients with diabetes and cardiovascular events.

OBJECTIVES: Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders associated with high risk for cardiovascular disease. Although troponins are primarily clinically used for the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome, they are also used in risk assessment in patients with acute coronary syndrome as well as in a number of other conditions. The aim of this review was to investigate the relationship between hemoglobin A1c and serum troponin in patients with diabetes and cardiovascular events. METHODS: Hemoglobin A1c has been chosen as the best clinical indicator of glucose control and risk of micro and macrovascular complications. We investigated cardiac troponins as a group of markers of muscle injury which includes troponin T, troponin I and troponin C. Troponin T and I are specific for myocardial injury, compared to C which is specific for skeletal muscle. RESULTS: In this review, we showed that there was a causal relation between hemoglobin A1c levels and serum troponin concentrations. Hemoglobin A1c has shown to be a positive predictive factor of incidence, mortality and morbidity of conditions such as acute coronary syndrome, arrhythmias, stroke, pulmonary embolism and other conditions that causes troponin elevation by its release in circulation. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic hyperglycemia decreases glomerular filtration and consequently decreases troponin elimination and also by affecting the heart microcirculation it leads to microvascular damage and consequently to ischemia which contribute to troponin concentration elevation. Furthermore, correlation between hemoglobin A1c and troponin concentration manifests in their prognostic value for mortality.