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This review assesses the latest evidence and guidelines related to the use of aspirin for primary prevention among patients with Type 2 diabetes (T2D) without overt cardiovascular disease. The global burden of T2D is steadily increasing and most deaths among patients with T2D are attributed to cardiovascular events. Furthermore, several haemostatic abnormalities have been shown in this group of patients, including increased platelet turnover and aggregation.

This review summarizes the cardiovascular non-inferiority trials of novel antidiabetic drugs performed since 2008, when regulatory agencies started mandating thorough examination of their cardiovascular safety. So far, eight randomized trials on three different drug classes have been completed. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists may reduce cardiovascular risk and possibly mortality, while dipeptidyl dipeptidase-4 inhibitors may increase the risk of heart failure. A brief discussion of potential mechanisms and clinical implications is provided.

The paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardias (SVT) are commonly encountered arrhythmias and include atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia, atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia, and focal atrial tachycardia. These tachycardias share several clinical features as well as similar management strategies. The probable mechanism of paroxysmal SVT can often be diagnosed from the clinical findings and a 12-lead ECG. This review describes the initial evaluation and treatment of patients with paroxysmal SVT, including distinctive features from the most important differential diagnoses.

The essential role of cardiac troponin (cTn) in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction has led to the development of high-sensitivity assays, which are able to detect very small amounts of myocardial necrosis. However, although elevated blood levels of cTn indicate myocardial injury, they do not provide a causal explanation. The differential diagnosis of minor elevations of the cTn-level is broad and includes both acute and chronic cardiac and non-cardiac conditions. The purpose of this paper is to review common causes of elevated cTn-levels in daily clinical practice.

Infective endocarditis is a serious disease associated with a high mortality. The initial presentation may be non-specific and misleading, thus delaying correct diagnosis. In this case report, we describe a 46-year-old woman, who presented with symptoms suggestive of systemic lupus erythematosus, including malar rash, arthritis, acute renal failure and thrombocytopenia, but she was subsequently proven to have infective endocarditis involving the mitral valve. Her rheumatological symptoms diminished after antibiotic therapy and mitral valve surgery.

We present a case regarding a 25-year-old woman who had been taking unauthorized weight loss pills prior to a sudden cardiac arrest from which she was resuscitated by paramedics. Her initial electrocardiogram revealed a prolonged corrected QT-interval (QTc). During admission she developed torsades de pointes and was treated with magnesium sulphate and temporary pacing. An electrophysiological study, a coronary angiogram and genetic testing for long QT syndrome all revealed normal results. After cessation of the pills the QTc normalized, and two weeks later she was discharged.

Increased plasma levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE) are encountered in various clinical settings, most often infection or atopic/allergic disease. IgE, however, is neither a sensitive, nor a specific marker for any particular disease. We describe a case of a 52-year-old woman presenting with non-specific symptoms and increased plasma IgE levels on admission. Atopy/allergy, infection and malignancy were ruled out, and the only plausible cause remained a pulmonary embolism found incidentally on a computed tomography. The patient's IgE levels rapidly declined after the initiation of anticoagulant therapy.

Consumption of large amounts of liquorice can cause hypertension and hypokalaemia. Liquorice contains glycyrrhetinic acid, which inhibits the enzyme 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2, and ultimately leads to an apparent mineralocorticoid excess syndrome. This case report describes a 50 year-old woman presenting with hypertension and hypokalaemia-induced limb paresis due to chronic liquorice ingestion. The patient was treated with potassium supplementation and spironolactone. Her blood pressure and electrolyte status normalised within a month after cessation of liquorice intake.

Statin treatment can cause muscular side effects. It has been suggested that the mechanism is reduced synthesis of coenzyme Q10 (coQ10) and a subsequent dysfunction of the respiratory chain. A literature review resulted in insufficient evidence supporting this theory. It is uncertain whether intramuscular levels of coQ10 and mitochondrial function are affected by statin therapy and whether the symptoms of myopathy can be alleviated with coQ10 supplementation. Nevertheless, due to a favourable safety profile, coQ10 can be tested in patients whose muscular symptoms cannot be managed otherwise.