Purpose: Oral propranolol has been recently approved for infantile hemangiomas (IHs), but potential side effects stay a challenge. We sought to make an additional assessment on oral propranolol safety for this indication. Materials and methods: Prospective study included 108 infants consecutively treated for IHs at the University Children’s Hospital Tirsova, Belgrade from January 2010 to December 2013. Propranolol was administered orally at a daily dose of 0.5 mg/kg and doubled every 48 hours in the absence of side effects until reaching the maximum dose of 2 mg/kg daily. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were measured every 48 hours with clinical observation. Heart rate was monitored by standard electrocardiogram (ECG) and 48-hour Holter ECG. Results: Statistically significant, but asymptomatic decreases in systolic blood pressure and heart rate recorded by Holter ECG were observed during the first doubling of dose and then remained stable. Arrhythmias were not detected. Despite mild sleep disturbance observed in 31% of infants in the hospital milieu, Holter monitoring indicated circadian rhythm maintenance. Conclusions: Oral propranolol for IHs does not remarkably affect heart rhythm including circadian variations throughout hospital initiation. Therefore, there is no necessity for Holter monitoring in additional safety assessment.

Background/Objectives: The thyroid gland has an important influence on the heart. Long-term exposure to high levels of thyroid hormones may lead to cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction. The aim of the study was to evaluate the morphological and functional changes in the left ventricle in patients with hyperthyroidism caused by Graves’ disease (GD) in comparison with healthy individuals, as well as to investigate potential differences in these parameters in GD patients in relation to the presence of orbitopathy. Methods: The prospective study included 39 patients with clinical manifestations and laboratory confirmation of GD and 35 healthy controls. All participants underwent a detailed echocardiographic examination. The groups were compared according to demographic characteristics (age and gender), heart rate and echocardiographic characteristics. Results: The patients with hyperthyroidism caused by GD had significantly higher values of left ventricular diameter, left ventricular volume and left ventricular mass compared to the healthy controls. In addition, hyperthyroidism significantly influenced the left ventricular contractility and led to the deterioration of the systolic and diastolic function, as shown together by longitudinal strain, color Doppler and tissue Doppler imaging. However, the patients with GD and orbitopathy showed better left ventricular function than those without orbitopathy. Conclusions: Besides the confirmation of previously known findings, our study indicates possible differences in echocardiographic parameters in GD patients in relation to the presence of orbitopathy. Further investigation with larger samples and meta-analyses of data focused on the evaluation of echocardiographic findings in the context of detailed biochemical and molecular analyses is required to confirm our preliminary results and their clinical significance.

Background: The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR), in collaboration with the European Scleroderma Trial and Research group (EUSTAR), published the first set of treatment recommendations for systemic sclerosis (SSc) in 2009, with subsequent updates in 2016 and 2023. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate how rheumatologists’ clinical approaches to the treatment of SSc evolved following the 2016 update of the clinical management guidelines. Methods: Medication use for SSc was analyzed in a cohort of 378 patients. The patients were stratified based on enrollment before (233 patients) and after (145 patients) the guideline update, and medication usage was compared between the two groups. Results: Although all patients presented with Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP), only 35% received calcium channel blockers. Medications such as iloprost, phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors, fluoxetine, and bosentan, recommended for the treatment of RP and digital ulcers, were not approved for SSc by the Republic Health Insurance Fund. Treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) was administered to only 16 patients (4.2%), including 2 who received bosentan, 10 who received PDE-5 inhibitors, and 4 who were treated with riociguat. The use of PDE-5 inhibitors increased following the 2016 update of the guidelines. Cyclophosphamide was consistently prescribed for interstitial lung disease (ILD), with an increased frequency observed after the guideline update. No significant differences were observed in the use of methotrexate for skin involvement, ACE inhibitors for scleroderma renal crisis, or antibiotics for gastrointestinal symptoms. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) were prescribed to 87.3% of patients with gastrointestinal involvement, with an increase in use of both PPIs and prokinetic agents following the guideline update. Conclusions: Rheumatologists’ adherence to the EULAR/EUSTAR guidelines varied considerably, with 25% to 100% of eligible patients receiving the recommended treatments. Concordance improved in the management of PAH, ILD, and gastrointestinal involvement after the 2016 guideline update.

Achievement of blood pressure targets in hypertensive patients is a challenge for clinicians despite the different classes of drugs currently available. For this reason, taking advantage of the technological progress, new interventional strategies have been proposed. Each of these approaches acts on autonomic and vascular regulation, critical components of hypertension pathophysiology with the aim to recalibrate aberrant sympathetic activation and vascular dysfunction. Renal artery denervation is the only modality currently supported by guideline recommendations in selected patients. Baroreflex activation therapy, and carotid body modulation, thanks to good experimental results, are under evaluation as promising strategies. Concurrently, newer modalities, such as deep brain stimulation, cardiac neuromodulation, and arteriovenous shunts, are emerging with promising early data. The present narrative review provides an overview of interventional treatments for hypertension, describing their efficacy, mechanism of action, safety, and side effects. As clinical research progresses, there is the possibility that these techniques will emerge as promising treatment options for patients with resistant hypertension in the near future.

Background: Non-ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) represents a heterogeneous patient population with varying risks of adverse outcomes. The RISK-PCI score, initially developed for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients, was evaluated for its prognostic value in NSTEMI patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: A retrospective observational study of 242 NSTEMI patients treated with PCI at the Clinical Center of Serbia from June 2011 to June 2016 was conducted. The RISK-PCI score, incorporating clinical, echocardiographic, and angiographic variables, was calculated for each patient. The primary outcome was 30-day major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Secondary outcomes included individual components of MACE. Statistical analyses were performed to assess the predictive value of the RISK-PCI score. Results: The primary outcome of 30-day MACE occurred in 9.9% of patients. Independent predictors of 30-day MACE included age > 75 years, glucose ≥ 6.6 mmol/L, creatinine clearance < 60 mL/min, and post-procedural TIMI flow < 3. The RISK-PCI score demonstrated good discrimination for 30-day MACE (AUC = 0.725). Patients stratified into the very high-risk group (RISK-PCI score ≥ 7) had significantly higher risks of 30-day MACE (29.4%). Conclusions: The RISK-PCI score effectively stratifies NSTEMI patients by their risk of 30-day MACE, identifying a very high-risk subgroup that may benefit from closer monitoring and tailored interventions. External validation on larger cohorts is recommended to confirm these findings.