European journal of internal medicine
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · May 2021
Prediction and primary prevention of major vascular complications in systemic sclerosis.
In Systemic Sclerosis (SSc), vasculopathy is the background of major vascular complications (MVCs), like digital ulcers (DUs), pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and scleroderma renal crisis (SRC). We aimed to identify the predictors and to test the primary preventive effect of vasoactive/vasodilating drugs (VVD) for the development of MVCs in SSc MVCs-naïve patients. ⋯ in SSc patients, our data confirm the role of arthritis and dyspnea as independent predictors of major vascular complications, in particular in MVCs-naïve patients. Prostanoids, sildenafil and ARBs, even in absence of a primary preventive action, might help in slowing disease progression and postponing the onset of MVCs.
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Eur. J. Intern. Med. · May 2021
Infective endocarditis in patients with solid organ transplantation. A nationwide descriptive study.
Solid organ transplantation (SOT) implies immunosuppression and frequent health care contact. Our aim was to compare the characteristics of patients with infective endocarditis (IE) and SOT against those without SOT. ⋯ Most IE in SOT recipients are nosocomial and over 70% are health care-related. Half have previously normal heart valves and almost 60% are due to Staphylococcus spp. infections. Mortality seems to be similar to non-SOT counterparts.