1/7. Detection of coronary microvascular disease by means of cardiac scintigraphy.A 76-year-old woman strictly defined as having cardiac syndrome X underwent cardiac scintigraphies. A reversible perfusion abnormality was identified by (201)thallium in the inferior segment of the left ventricle. (123)iodine meta-iodo-benzyl-guanigine uptake showed extremely diminished uptake in the inferior segment of the myocardium. (123)iodine labelled beta-methyl-iodophenyl pentadecanoic acid myocardial single photon emission computed tomography showed decreased uptake of the inferior segment in the early image, whereas the delayed images revealed significant fill-in of the tracer in the inferior segment of the myocardium. These findings suggest that coronary microvascular dysfunction causes regional myocardial ischemia, resulting in metabolic and sympathetic abnormality.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = vascular disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/7. Dysmetabolic syndrome: multiple risk factors for premature adult disease in an adolescent girl.The clinical diagnosis of dysmetabolic syndrome in an adult defines a patient with abnormal glucose metabolism (or diabetes), hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and obesity. This disorder accelerates atherosclerosis and significantly raises the risk for cardiovascular events. With the marked rise in the prevalence of obesity in childhood, obesity-linked risk factors are being expressed at young ages. The case of a 12-year-old girl with dysmetabolic syndrome is described and discussed. Emerging clinical data now indicate that the presence of 1 risk factor for cardiovascular disease in an overweight child should prompt screening for additional clinical abnormalities, with the aim of finding treatable disorders.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.25keywords = vascular disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/7. The metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease: understanding the role of insulin resistance.The most common and clinically important complication in adults with diabetes is cardiovascular disease (CVD), which includes coronary heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, and stroke. Both type 2 diabetes and the insulin resistance syndrome are associated with a marked increase in the risk for CVD. The metabolic syndrome and the closely related insulin resistance syndrome have recently been recognized as important disorders, each being associated with an increase in CVD risk even in the absence of glucose intolerance. Given the significant public health burden of CVD, risk reduction has emerged as a significant clinical challenge for most practitioners. Diabetes and the insulin resistance syndrome are closely related disorders, with insulin resistance being more than a key pathogenic defect in type 2 diabetes. Even in the absence of glucose intolerance, these 2 disorders are both associated with a number of distinct pathologic findings, including hypertension, atherogenic dyslipidemia, a prothrombotic environment, and significant vascular and hemodynamic abnormalities that result from endothelial cell dysfunction. insulin resistance is now recognized to be closely associated with the development of each of these risk factors. This article uses a case-based approach to discuss the unique features of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes considered to be key contributors to CVD risk. A systematic approach to both evaluation and management is proposed, with priority given to therapies of demonstrated clinical benefit. Because of its critical and central role in the development of many CVD risk factors, targeted treatment of insulin resistance will also be discussed as such therapy may prove to be a critical component of care in years to come.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.5keywords = vascular disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/7. recurrence of insulin resistant metabolic syndrome following liver transplantation.Insulin resistant metabolic syndrome is a major clinical disorder including hyperlipidaemia, hypertension, impaired glucose tolerance and/or type 2 diabetes and central obesity, which are well established cardiovascular risk factors. We report the case of a 61-year-old woman who developed severe hypercholesterolaemia and hypertriglyceridaemia after liver transplantation. In her forties she had hypertension, mixed hyperlipidaemia, mild hyperglycaemia and moderate abdominal obesity, suggesting the presence of the metabolic syndrome. She had liver enzyme elevation and severe steatosis and hepatomegaly at ultrasonography. At age 52, cryptogenic liver cirrhosis was diagnosed and rapidly progressing liver failure developed. In 1992 she underwent liver transplantation. Seven years after transplant the patient had abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, marked hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia and moderate elevation of alanine aminotransferase. She also had impaired glucose tolerance and markedly increased basal and post-glucose load plasma insulin levels. Steatohepatitis was demonstrated by serial liver biopsies. This is the first case that reports the recurrence of the metabolic syndrome following liver transplantation. We postulate that metabolic syndrome may have promoted fatty liver and subsequent progression to end stage liver disease. We also stress the need for careful management of the metabolic syndrome in order to decrease the long-term risk for cardiovascular disease.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.25keywords = vascular disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/7. obesity and the metabolic syndrome.The prevalence of marked obesity is increasing rapidly among adults and has more than doubled in 10 years. Sixty-one percent of the adult population of the united states is overweight or obese. Americans are the fattest people on earth. Paradoxically these increases in the numbers of persons who are obese or overweight have occurred during recent years when Americans have been preoccupied with numerous dietary programs, diet products, weight control, health clubs, home exercise equipment, and physical fitness videos, each "guaranteed" to bring rapid results. overweight and obesity are also world problems. The world health organization estimates that 1 billion people around the world are now overweight or obese. Westernization of diets has been part of the problem. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are being replaced by readily accessible foods high in saturated fat, sugar, and refined carbohydrates. Since class 3 obesity (morbid or extreme obesity) is associated with the most severe health complications, the incidence of hypertension, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and peripheral vascular disease will increase substantially in the future. Recently, obesity alone has been implicated in the development of cardiac hypertrophy and CHF. The metabolic syndrome associated with abdominal obesity, which includes insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and elevated CRP levels, identifies subjects who have an increase in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Twenty to 25% of the adult population in the united states have the metabolic syndrome, and in some older groups this prevalence approaches 50%. The prevalence of overweight children in the united states has also been increasing dramatically, especially among non-Hispanic blacks and Mexican-American adolescents. overweight children usually become overweight adults. atherosclerosis begins in childhood. The degree of atherosclerotic changes in children and young adults can be correlated with the presence of the same risk factors seen in adults. As health providers, our direction is obvious!- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.25keywords = vascular disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/7. Metabolic syndrome and central retinal artery occlusion.BACKGROUND: The accumulation of risk factors for central retinal artery occlusion can be seen in a single person and might be explained by the metabolic syndrome. CASE REPORT: We presented the case of a 52-year-old man with no light perception in his right eye. The visual loss was monocular and painless, fundoscopy showed central retinal artery occlusion and the laboratory investigation showed the raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 105 mm/h and the raised c-reactive protein of 22 mg/l. Specific laboratory investigations and fluorescein angiography excluded the presence of vasculitis, collagen vascular diseases, hypercoagulable state and antiphospholipid syndrome. CONCLUSION: The patient met all the five of the National cholesterol education Program (NCEP) criteria for the metabolic syndrome: hypertension, abnormal lipid profile, abnormal glucose metabolism, obesity and hyperuricemia. Measurement of c-reactive protein is useful for the assessment of therapeutic systemic effect on any abnormality in the metabolic syndrome. Individual therapy for all risk factors in the metabolic syndrome is necessary to prevent complications such as cardiovascular, retinal vascular diseases and stroke.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = vascular disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/7. Dyslipidemia in older adults.3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme a reductase inhibitors (statins) have been shown in many large, randomized clinical trials to be safe and highly effective for decreasing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, thus preventing cardiovascular events and decreasing mortality in patients both with and without prior cardiovascular disease. Statins are also appropriate agents for older adults, although they remain underutilized in this population. This article uses three typical case history presentations to review the most recent clinical trial data and guidelines on statin therapy to provide practical guidance on clinical decision making for lipid-lowering therapy in the geriatric population.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.25keywords = vascular disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |