Publications by authors named "Raffaele Pesavento"

We aimed to assess the relationship between residual pulmonary vascular obstruction (RPVO) on planar lung scan after completion of at least 3 months of anticoagulant therapy for acute pulmonary embolism (PE) and the risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) or death due to PE one year after treatment discontinuation. The systematic review was registered with the International Prospective Registry of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO: CRD42017081080). The primary outcome measure was to generate a pooled estimate of the rate of recurrent VTE at one year in patient with RPVO diagnosed on planar lung scan after discontinuation of at least 3 months of anticoagulant treatment for an acute PE.

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 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection causes acute respiratory insufficiency with severe interstitial pneumonia and extrapulmonary complications; in particular, it may predispose to thromboembolic disease. The reported incidence of thromboembolic complications varies from 5 to 30% of cases.  We conducted a multicenter, Italian, retrospective, observational study on COVID-19 patients admitted to ordinary wards, to describe the clinical characteristics of patients at admission and bleeding and thrombotic events occurring during the hospital stay.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study analyzed the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in treating COVID-19 by observing 4,396 patients hospitalized in Italy from February to May 2020, revealing mixed results from previous research.
  • Two patient clusters were identified: a younger, healthier group at lower risk of death and an older, sicker group at higher risk, highlighting differing impacts of HCQ on these populations.
  • HCQ appeared to significantly reduce mortality risk in the lower risk cluster, suggesting that it may be more beneficial for patients with fewer comorbidities, potentially clarifying debates around its efficacy in COVID-19 treatment.
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Background And Aims: A relevant role is emerging for functional foods in cardiovascular prevention. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a nutraceutical multitargeted approach on lipid profile and inflammatory markers along with vascular remodelling in a cohort of dyslipidemic subjects without history of cardiovascular (CV) disease.

Methods And Results: We enrolled 25 subjects (mean age 48.

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Background: Fixed dose unfractionated or low molecular weight heparin is the recommended treatment for venous thromboembolism (VTE) prevention in hospitalized patients. However, its efficacy has been questioned in obese population. Results of previous studies on weight-adjusted doses of heparin for VTE prevention are contradictory.

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It is still debated whether prophylactic doses of low-molecular- weight heparin (LMWH) are always effective in preventing Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) and mortality in COVID-19. Furthermore, there is paucity of data for those patients not requiring ventilation. We explored mortality and the safety/efficacy profile of LMWH in a cohort of Italian patients with COVID-19 who did not undergo ventilation.

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  • Lung ultrasound (LUS) is an effective and convenient imaging tool for assessing COVID-19 pneumonia, allowing for bedside evaluation and ongoing monitoring of patients.
  • A study of 96 hospitalized patients revealed that LUS patterns, such as B-lines and consolidations, are linked to disease severity and stage, particularly worsening during the intermediate period of illness (day 7 to 13 post-symptom onset).
  • Results indicate that LUS can help differentiate between localized disease (consolidations) and generalized illness (B-lines), providing valuable insights into the patient's condition and related complications.
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There is paucity of data on the transfusion need and its impact on the overall mortality in patients with COVID-19. We explored mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 who required transfusions. Information on clinical variables and in-hospital mortality were obtained from medical records of 422 patients admitted to medical wards or the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study investigated whether administering heparin in hospitals improves survival rates among COVID-19 patients, due to a linked hypercoagulable condition that can worsen the disease.
  • - An analysis of 2,574 patients across Italy showed that 70.1% received heparin, leading to significantly lower death rates (7.4 vs. 14.0 per 1,000 person-days) among those treated with heparin.
  • - The findings suggest that heparin is associated with a 40% reduction in death risk, especially for critically ill patients, indicating its potential benefit, although further randomized clinical trials are necessary for definitive guidance.
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  • The study focused on hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Italy, particularly those who are elderly and have pre-existing health conditions, to explore the links between cardiac injury and mortality.
  • A total of 109 patients were analyzed, revealing that 18% died during their hospital stay, with deceased patients generally being older and presenting more serious comorbidities and higher levels of cardiac troponin.
  • Elevated cardiac troponin levels were found to significantly correlate with increased risk of in-hospital death, mediating about 25% of mortality risk alongside other factors like chronic kidney disease and coronary artery disease.
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Background: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is responsible for a worldwide pandemic, with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. The increasing evidence of an associated relevant prothrombotic coagulopathy has resulted in an increasing use of antithrombotic doses higher than usual in COVID-19 patients. Information on the benefit/risk ratio of this approach is still lacking.

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Objectives: Our aim was to evaluate subclinical atherosclerosis progression during 5 years of anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α treatment in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients.

Methods: Thirty-two consecutive PsA patients starting TNF-α inhibitors were enrolled and evaluated at baseline (T0), 2 years (FU1) and 5 years (FU2) of treatment. Arterial structural properties were evaluated by B-mode ultrasound of mean carotid intima-media thickness (mean-IMT) and maximum IMT (M-MAX) in each segment (common, bulb, internal), bilaterally.

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Background: Hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin combination therapy is often prescribed for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring is warranted because both medications cause corrected QT-interval (QTc) prolongation. Whether QTc duration significantly varies during the day, potentially requiring multiple ECGs, remains to be established.

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Background: inferior vena cava filters (IVCF) are widely used to prevent thromboembolic events in patients not suitable for anticoagulation (AC). Although new generations of filters are optional and therefore retrievable, most of them become permanent. Aim of our study was to evaluate real life IVCF management in a tertiary hospital including retrieval rates and reasons for permanent filtering.

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