Background. Metabolic alterations, particularly disorders of lipoprotein metabolism in COVID‐19, may affect the course and outcome of the disease. This study aims at evaluating the lipoprotein profile and redox status in SARS‐CoV‐2 infected patients with different pneumonia severity and their association with lethal outcomes. Methods. The prospective cohort study was performed on 98 COVID‐19 patients with mild, moderate, and severe pneumonia. Lipid and inflammatory parameters, lipoprotein subclasses, and redox status biomarkers were determined at the study entry and after one week. Results. Compared to patients with mild and moderate pneumonia, severely ill patients had higher oxidised low‐density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and malondialdehyde levels and lower high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) concentrations and paraoxonase 1 activity. Reduction in the proportion of large HDL 2a subclasses with a concomitant increase in the proportion of smallest HDL 3c and small dense LDL (sdLDL) particles was observed in patients with severe disease during the time. However, these changes were reversed in the mild and moderate groups. The results showed a positive association between changes in oxLDL and total antioxidative status. However, prooxidants and antioxidants in plasma were lower in patients with lethal outcomes. Conclusions. Increased levels of oxLDL and sdLDL particles may contribute to the severity of COVID‐19. The role of oxidative stress should be clarified in further studies, mainly its association with lethal outcomes.

Objective: The potential contribution of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP) to endothelial dysfunction in APS patients has not been studied in detail, until now. The study involved 105 APS patients (59 diagnosed with primary APS (PAPS) and 46 APS associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SAPS)) who were compared to 40 controls. Endothelial dysfunction was assessed by measurement of flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and glyceryl trinitrate dilatation (NMD) of the brachial artery. ADMA (micromol/L) was analyzed by ELISA. Results: FMD in patients with APS was significantly lower than that of the controls (p < 0.001), with no difference between the PAPS and the SAPS groups. ADMA and hsCRP concentrations were significantly higher in the patient cohort than in the control group (p < 0.001, p = 0.006, respectively), as was the case with the SAPS group as compared to the PAPS group (p < 0.001, p = 0.022, respectively). FMD impairment correlated to ADMA (ρ 0.472, p < 0.001) and to hsCRP (ρ 0.181, p = 0.033). In the regression model, the ADMA concentration confirmed the strength of its association (B 0.518, SE 0.183, Wald 8.041, p = 0.005, Exp(B) 1.679, 95% CI 1.174–2.402) to FMD impairment. The synergistic probability model of ADMA and hsCRP caused FMD impairment when the positivity of β2GPIIgG was added. ADMA may be used as a simple and low-cost tool for verifying the presence of endothelial dysfunction in APS patients. According to the results of the study, we could presume that hsCRP, together with aPL, has a preparatory effect on the endothelium in causing endothelial dysfunction.

Background/Objectives: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a significant global health challenge, affecting millions worldwide. Among its various manifestations, femoropopliteal atherosclerotic disease presents a unique challenge due to the biomechanical stresses on the superficial femoral artery (SFA) and popliteal artery (PA). Despite advancements in endovascular interventions, restenosis and stent fractures remain critical issues, particularly in complex and long lesions. Biomimetic stents, such as the SUPERA interwoven nitinol stent, have been developed to address these challenges by closely replicating the natural mechanical properties of the femoropopliteal arteries. This study evaluates the clinical and procedural outcomes of biomimetic stent implantation in patients with femoropopliteal atherosclerotic disease, focusing on patency rates, procedural success, and major adverse limb events (MALE). Methods: A cohort study was conducted at the University Clinical Center of Serbia, including 294 patients with femoropopliteal stenosis or occlusion treated with the SUPERA stent from January 2017 to December 2024. Patients were stratified by lesion complexity using the GLASS classification and procedural success, patency rates, and MALE incidence were assessed. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was used to evaluate long-term outcomes, and Cox regression analysis identified predictors of MALE. Results: Primary patency rates at 1, 6, 12, and 24 months were 95.6%, 90.1%, 84.2%, and 77.7%, respectively. Primary-assisted patency and secondary patency rates remained high over time. Patients with GLASS IV lesions exhibited significantly lower patency rates and higher MALE incidence compared to GLASS I-III patients (p = 0.002). Occlusion length (≥16 cm) and lesion complexity (GLASS IV) were independent predictors of MALE (p = 0.015). The stent demonstrated high procedural success and durability, with minimal complications. Conclusions: Biomimetic SUPERA stents provide high patency rates and favorable clinical outcomes in complex femoropopliteal lesions. However, lesion complexity and occlusion length significantly impact long-term success. The findings highlight the importance of careful patient selection and lesion assessment for optimizing endovascular treatment strategies in PAD management.