London Bridge Hospital

About: London Bridge Hospital is a healthcare organization based out in London, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Antiphospholipid syndrome & Systemic lupus erythematosus. The organization has 107 authors who have published 122 publications receiving 4523 citations.

Antithrombotic management and outcomes of patients with atrial fibrillation treated with NOACs early at the time of market introduction: Main results from the PREFER in AF Prolongation Registry

Abstract: The management of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) has rapidly changed with increasing use of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) and changes in the use of rhythm control therapy. The prevention of thromboembolic events European Registry in Atrial Fibrillation Prolongation Registry (PREFER Prolongation) enrolled consecutive patients with AF on NOACs between 2014 and 2016 in a multicentre, prospective, observational study with one-year follow-up, focusing on the time of introduction of NOACs. Overall, 3783 patients were enrolled, with follow-up information available in 3223 (85%). Mean age was 72.2 ± 9.4 years, 40% were women, mean CHA2DS2VASc score was 3.4 ± 1.6, and 2587 (88.6%) had a CHA2DS2VASc score ≥ 2. Rivaroxaban was used in half of patients, and dabigatran and apixaban were used in about a quarter of patients each; edoxaban was not available for use in Europe at the time. Major cardiovascular event rate was low: serious events occurred in 74 patients (84 events, 2%), including 24 strokes (1%), 62 major bleeds (2%), of which 30 were life-threatening (1%) and 3 intracranial (0.1%), and 28 acute coronary syndromes (1%). Mortality was 2%. Antiarrhythmic drugs were used in about 50% of patients, catheter ablation in 5%. Adverse events were low in this contemporary European cohort of unselected AF patients treated with NOACs already at the time of their first introduction, despite high thromboembolic risk.

Hughes syndrome: a disease of our time

Abstract: It is a double honour for me to be invited to give this lecture. Firstly, because I regard Professor Feng not only as one of the true giants of world rheumatology, but also as a very good friend. He has been the catalyst and leader in the development of rheumatology both in Singapore, as well as in Asia in general. He has trained countless fellows, one of whom Mee Ling Boey, was a fellow in my unit at the time of the description of the antiphospholipid syndrome 25 yeas ago in 1983. Secondly, again through Professor Feng’s leadership, this is the first ‘Ten Topics’ Asia meeting. ‘Ten Topics’ was started in 1985 as a concentrated two-day update in rheumatology, especially in lupus and connective tissue diseases. The St Thomas’ meeting, held each July, has proved popular to saturation point. Ten years ago, ‘Ten Topics’ was launched in Barcelona. We now have ‘Ten Topics’ in Rome, Buenos Aires and Nice, all keeping to the tight format of short clinical and ‘basic’ updates, aimed as ‘high’ as possible. I hope that this, the 2008 Singapore meeting will be the first of many annual Asian ‘Ten Topics’.

Erectile Dysfunction: A Marker of Increased Cardiovascular Risk

Abstract: See related article, pp 672–678 Erectile dysfunction (ED) is now recognized as a marker of increased cardiovascular risk both acutely and chronically and considered an early manifestation of generalized vascular disease predicting all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, coronary events, stroke, and peripheral artery disease in men with and without known coronary artery disease.1 Importantly, ED shares with coronary artery disease similar risk factors and is principally vasculogenic, reflecting the common denominator of endothelial dysfunction.2 ED is defined as the inability to obtain or maintain a penile erection to support satisfactory sexual performance, and when affecting men with and without cardiac symptoms in the age group 30 to 60 years seems to be a significant predictor of subsequent cardiovascular events. Vlachopoulos et al3–5 have over several years studied the independent link between ED and cardiovascular disease (CVD) using biomarkers as a means of identifying the men most at risk of a cardiovascular event. Their latest contribution to the expanding and important literature identifies aortic stiffness as a marker of increased cardiovascular risk in men presenting with ED (this issue).6 Previously, the same workers have identified the unfavorable effect on the circulating levels of biomarkers …