Introduction. Cardiovascular risk factors, pre-existing comorbidities, molecular factors, and the direct effects of second- and third-generation BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitors on the vascular endothelium contribute to the progression of cardiovascular (CV) events, especially atherothrombotic conditions. The study objective was to evaluate comorbidities, the cardiovascular risk profile, and events throughout the chronic myeloid leukaemia disease course. Methods. Retrospective data from adults who experienced haematology treatment at a single centre were continuously updated and followed throughout the disease course. A total of 43 subjects conforming with the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study protocol were finally recruited. The median disease course was 77.0 ± 17.5 months. Statistical analyses were performed. Results. More than three CV risk factors were identified in 41.9% of cases. Almost half of the cases had relevant comorbidities (Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) ≥ 4), and no statistically significant comorbidities were found when comparing the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment subgroups (p = 0.53). The patients at high and very high CV risk, according to Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) risk classification, had 75.0% CV events (12/22 patients), p = 0.45. Throughout the disease course, 19 cardiovascular events were reported in 37.2% patients (13 males/3 females, p < 0.03). Conclusion. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study exploring cardiovascular risk factors in Romanian chronic myeloid leukaemia patients. This study reinforces the need for close long-term follow-up that should be performed by a multidisciplinary team. The target should be not only the disease and specific drug-related toxicities but, also, the identification of cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors before the commencement of and throughout TKI therapy.

Introduction: Objectiv. To investigate the contribution of TERT rs2736100 and rs2853669 gene polymorphisms in defining the genetic predisposition to AML, their association with different prognostic markers and their impact on survival, outcome and the prognosis of affected patients. Also, we investigated the association of TERT SNPs in AML in the presence or absence of DNMT3A (R882), NPM1 and FLT3 mutations.Material and methods: A total of 509 participants were enrolled in our study, consisting of 146 AML patients and 363 healthy participants, with no history of malignancy. TERT rs2736100 and rs2853669 polymorphisms were genotyped by using TaqMan SNP genotyping assays FLT3 (ITD, D835), DNMT3A (R882) and NPM1 c.863_864insTCTG (type A) mutation status was analyzed in each AML case.Results: TERT rs2736100 and rs2853669 were not associated with AML risk in the codominant, dominant, recessive or allelic models. Multivariate Cox regression showed that TERT rs2853669 was a significant predictor for overall survival in AML patients. After adjusting for age, gender, cytogenetic risk group, ECOG status, FTLT3, DNM3A or NMP1 mutation, AML subtype and treatment, the estimated adjusted hasard ratio (HR adjusted=1.54, 95%CI:[1.01;2.35]) showed that the TERT rs2853669 variant genotype had a negative influence on survival time.Conclusions: TERT rs2853669 and rs2736100 polymorphisms were not risk factors for developing AML in the Romanian population, but TERT rs2853669 variant genotype had a negative effect on AML patients overall survival in the presence of other known prognostic factors.

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, vitamin D was used along with vitamin C and zinc as a preventive and curative therapy against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Vitamin D toxicity, even if it is rare, occurs when serum concentrations exceed 150 ng/mL and is usually manifested by hypercalcemia phenomena. Case report: We hereby report a case of two twin sisters who self-medicated with vitamin D in a dose of 4 × 4,000 IU/day for almost 10 months as a method of ‘protection’ against COVID-19, influenced by mass media advertising. The patients presented to the emergency department with hypervitaminosis D-related symptoms such as hypertension, headache, nausea, vomiting, and diffuse abdominal pain. Laboratory investigations revealed high levels of vitamin D and calcium. Conclusions: Vitamin D toxicity can lead to difficulties in positive and differential diagnosis because of the multiple complications of hypercalcemia.

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