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Peripheral nerve involvement in immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis is common, characterised by severe progressive mixed neuropathy with autonomic dysfunction but there is limited data on the implications and the characteristics of small nerve fibres dysfunction (SNFD). The aim of our prospective study was to evaluate SNFD and its clinical implications in newly diagnosed AL patients. Twenty-three consecutive patients (10 male, mean age 61.78 years) and 21 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (8 male, mean age 61.28 years) underwent clinical evaluation and standard nerve conduction studies (NCS), baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) test, quantitative sensory testing (QST) and skin biopsy at the lower leg for measuring the density of the nerve fibres innervating the epidermis (IENFD). Axonal degeneration of the large nerve fibres was revealed in 15 out of 23 patients while SNFD was indicated by QST and skin biopsy in 56% and 61% of the patients respectively. BRS index significantly correlated with the IENFD and the QST results while low IENFD was associated with significantly poorer survival. Our study provides new insights and also an initial evaluation of new tools for assessment of the involvement of autonomic and small nerve fibres in AL amyloidosis. These findings also appear to have prognostic implications.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major factor for stroke and stroke-associated mortality, and its incidence is increasing during the last decades. There are only scarce data about its prevalence in Greece. We designed an epidemiological cross-sectional study to estimate the prevalence of AF in Greece and evaluate the adequacy of anticoagulant treatment in AF patients., Subjects and Methods: The Arcadia Rural Study on Atrial Fibrillation (ARSAF) was conducted between 2002-2003 in five rural villages of the Arcadia province (Greece) with a permanent population of 1312 individuals. Patients had a thorough medical examination and electrocardiogram, and information was collected about their medical history and comorbidities. CHADS2 score was used to determine stroke risk for participants with AF., Results: 1155 subjects (88% of the entire population) participated in the study. The overall prevalence of AF was 3.9% showing an increasing trend with increasing age ranging from 0.4% in patients <55 years to 10.7% in patients > 84 years. Among patients with AF, 14 (32%) had paroxysmal AF. The presence of AF was associated with increasing age (OR: 1.67 for every 10 years increase, 95% CI: 1.26-2.15), hypertension (OR: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.02-4.14), heart failure (OR: 11.85, 95% CI: 4.92-28.56) and prior cerebrovascular disease (OR: 4.17, 95% CI: 1.44-12.06). Among these subjects with AF, 12 (26.6%) were considered as low-risk (CHADS2 = 0), 18 (40.0%) as intermediate-risk (CHADS2 = 1), and 15 (33.3%) as high-risk (CHADS2 > 1) patients for stroke. 25 (55.5%) patients with AF did not receive appropriate antithrombotic treatment., Conclusion: The prevalence of AF in Greece is similar to other countries and increases with increasing age.

Hypertension may complicate treatment with antiangiogenic agents, leading to dose reductions and treatment delays. To prospectively evaluate the frequency and management of hypertension in 10 patients with advanced kidney cancer receiving sunitinib, we used 24-h blood pressure monitoring (BPM) and home BPM and homogenously treated hypertension according to guidelines of the european Society of Hypertension. Normal BP was ensured prior to sunitinib initiation with the successive use of hydrochlorothiazide + irbesartan, nebivolol, amlodipine. During treatment, additional antihypertensive therapy was introduced, if necessary. Sunitinib dose was modified only if BP was not controlled with four anti-hypertensive agents. four patients had baseline hypertension, while 5 of 6 normotensive patients required antihypertensive treatment during sunitinib administration. One patient permanently discontinued sunitinib due to hypertensive crisis but 9 patients received full dose. Sunitinib-associated hypertension is more frequent than previously reported. Aggressive BP monitoring and treatment of hypertension may achieve uninterrupted, full-dose therapy in most patients treated with sunitinib. The application of such protocols instead of commonly used toxicity criteria should be further validated.

Radiofrequency catheter ablation was performed in 302 consecutive patients with drug refractory atrioventricular (AV) node reentrant tachycardia. Fast pathway ablation was attempted in 167 patients and was successful in 161 patients (96.4%). At a mean follow-up of 24 +/- 12 months, there were 21 tachycardia recurrences (12.5%). A second fast pathway ablation was attempted in 17 patients and was successful in all but 1 patient. Permanent complete AV block occurred in 12 patients (7.2%). Among the latter, late AV block was noted in 5 patients. Final success without pacemaker implantation was accomplished in 151 patients (90.4%). Slow pathway was attempted in 135 patients and was successful in 130 patients (96.3%). Three patients in whom slow pathway ablation failed underwent successful fast pathway ablation during the same session. At a mean follow-up of 14 +/- 11 months, there were 16 tachycardia recurrences (11.8%). A second slow pathway ablation was attempted in 16 patients and was successful in all but 1 patient. Permanent complete AV block occurred in 3 patients (2.2%). An additional patient developed 2 : 1 AV block during exercise, 3 months after ablation. Final success without pacemaker implantation was achieved in 129 patients (95.5%). Fast and slow pathway ablation had similar success and recurrence rates, procedure and fluoroscopy times, and number of radiofrequency pulses. However, the incidence of permanent complete AV block was higher following fast pathway ablation (p = 0.049). Although equally effective, slow pathway ablation is safer than fast pathway ablation, therefore, should be the first choice approach for treatment of AV node reentrant tachycardia.