An elevated level of total plasma homocysteine has been associated with a higher risk of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. The aim of our research was to study the relation between homocysteine and myocardial infarction (MI) in young patients. We conducted a case‑control study in Constanţa County, Romania including 61 patients, divided in two groups. The first group, the MI group, consisted of 28 patients, male (67.9%) and female (32.1%) aged less than 45 years who were consecutively admitted to the Intensive Coronary Care Unit of the Emergency County Hospital of Constanţa from September 1, 2017 to August 31, 2018 (12 months), with an established diagnosis of first acute MI. The second group, the control group, included 33 patients, male (75.8%) and female (24.2%) aged less than 45 years, with cardiovascular risk factors and/or stable angina pectoris that were consecutively addressed for ambulatory cardiac evaluation at the Outpatient Clinic of Emergency County Hospital of Constanţa during the same period. Fasting plasma homocysteine was determined in both groups, within 24 h after MI onset, respectively after first cardiac exam in the controls. High homocysteine was statistically confirmed to be a risk factor in the study group, especially in association with smoking, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and to a lesser extent with diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 23. The procedures used included descriptive statistics, parametric statistical tests (Independent sample t‑test), non‑parametric statistical tests [Chi‑square test of the association, with the evaluation of odds ratio (OR)]; the significance level used in the analysis (P‑value) was 0.05. After adjusting for variables, our study results pointed out a strong association between plasma homocysteine and first acute MI among young patients, emphasising plasma homocysteine as a possible risk factor for myocardial infarction.

We present the case of a 31-year-old patient, without cardiovascular risk factors, without significant pathological or family history of cardiovascular disease, who was diagnosed with severe coronary artery disease, left main bifurcation localization, which required surgical coronary revascularization. The angiographic and intraoperative aspect excluded the most common causes of non-atherosclerotic causes of coronary lesions. Vasculitis was another possible etiology but was also excluded based on the normal clinical examination, negative inflammation markers, lack of diffuse vascular impairment, TPHA and negative VDRL. Prolonged mental stress can lead to accelerated progression of atherosclerosis by inducing endothelial dysfunction, our patient describing a “burnout syndrome” in the last few months. The particularity of the presented case is the severe coronary artery disease in a young patient without discovering the main etiology of the advanced atherosclerotic process.

Background: Anemia is common in hospitalized cardiac patients and affects prognosis and cardiovascular mortality in patients with acute decompensated heart failure. Aim: to investigate the impact of anemia severity, blood transfusion practices, and the evolution and outcome in patients with acute cardiovascular events. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of the patients hospitalized in the Cardiology Department of Constanta County Hospital who required blood derivatives transfusions, between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2021. Results: Out of the total 270 patients, 170 received a single unit of resuspended erythrocyte concentrate within the same month, while 100 required multiple transfusions, receiving between 2 and 5 units during a single hospitalization, to correct anemia. Before transfusions, the mean hemoglobin (Hb) level was 7.60 g/dL, with values ranging from 6.50 g/dL to 9.10 g/dL. Men show a higher prevalence (64%) than women (36%), likely due to gender differences in susceptibility to heart conditions. Patients with associated acute or chronic renal failure consistently experience higher in-hospital mortality in all left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) subgroups. Conclusions: Anemia in heart failure patients is linked to worsening symptoms, decreased kidney function, and higher hospitalization and mortality rates. The findings aim to inform and optimize clinical decision making, particularly regarding transfusion strategies and risk management in this high-risk population.

Anemia is common in hospitalized cardiac patients and affects prognosis. Even moderate levels of anemia can be associated with high cardiovascular mortality when compared to normal hemoglobin levels in cases of patients with acute decompensated heart failure. Background: Anemia is a comorbidity potentially treatable, with significant prognostic implications. A restrictive transfusion is triggered by hemoglobin is ≤8g/dl (severe anemia) and a liberal transfusion is considered when hemoglobin ≤10 g/dL. Methods: We perform a retrospective analysis of the patients hospitalized in the Cardiology Department of Constanta County Hospital who required blood derivatives transfusions, between 1st of January 2021 - 31st of December 2021. Results: Out of the total 270 patients, 170 received a single unit of resuspended erythrocyte concentrate within the same month, while 100 required multiple transfusions, receiving between 2 and 5 units during a single hospitalization to correct anemia. Before transfusions, the mean hemoglobin (Hb) level was 7.60 g/dl, with values ranging from 6.50 g/dl to 9.10 g/dl. Men show a higher prevalence (64%) than women (36%), likely due to gender differences in susceptibility to heart conditions. After transfusions, the mean Hb reached 10.05 g/dl (minimum/maximum values of 7.40 and 12.70 g/dl). CKD patients consistently experience higher in-hospital mortality across LVEF sub-groups, while CRS patients have relatively lower mortality rates, with significant associations observed between reduced LVEF and increased mortality across all patient groups. Conclusions: Anemia in heart failure patients is linked to worsening symptoms, including decreased exercise tolerance, increased cardiovascular events, decreased kidney function and higher hospitalization and mortality rates, especially in those with associated acute or chronic kidney failure. The findings aim to inform and optimize clinical decision making, particularly regarding transfusion strategies and risk management in this high-risk population.