In much of the world (but not in the U.S.,) drug-coated stents are avoided by cardiologists because of their high cost. To compensate for the inability to use these stents, many cardiologists outside of the U.S. have taken to administering sirolimus (also
Electron Beam CT, or EBCT scans (formerly called ultrafast CT scans) are useful in detecting the presence of calcium deposits in the lining of the coronary arteries. The presence of calcium deposits is a strong indicator that coronary artery disease is al
Exposure to secondhand smoke leads to inflammation and oxidation, representing another pathophysiologic mechanism for the development of atherosclerosis.
Mind-boggling networks of cytokines and transcription factors have been invoked to explain the anemia of inflammation. Does it really have to be so complicated? Elevated hepcidin; defensive sequestering of serum ferritin (iron); direct cytokine disruption
commonly observed in patients with chronic infections, malignancy, trauma, and inflammatory disorders...inflammatory cytokine IL-6 induces production of hepcidin, an iron-regulatory hormone that may be responsible...
Today we're going to discuss the anemia of inflammation -- starting with its mechanisms, then looking at a fairly new genetic link between inflammation and anemia, and including how we can apply all of this to our patients.