Background Chronic hepatitis C is a public health issue. Extra-hepatic manifestations of this infection also include articular involvement, that sometimes mimics rheumatoid arthritis. Objectives Evaluation of potential articular involvement in patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C infection and possible correlations with biological abnormalities. Methods We evaluated 31 patients with chronic hepatitis C infection, using ultrasound (US) examination of both wrists and the second and fifth interphalangeal joints of the fingers. Then, we looked for possible correlations with various laboratory findings. Results 29% of patients were symptomatic (pain) at the time of the US examination. 10% of our patients had tenosynovitis of the extensor tendons, another 10% had active synovial hypertrophy (Doppler positive), 31.14% had inactive synovial hypertrophy, 20.9% had erosions and in 20% of them the US examination of the above mentioned joints was normal. 61.29% of patients having US abnormalities, where rheumatoid factor positive. All patients with erosions and inactive synovial hypertrophy, 83.3% of those with active synovial hypertrophy and 67% of those with tenosynovitis where cryoglobulins positive. We found low levels of C3 fraction of complement in 92.3 patients with erosions, 83.3 patients with active synovial hypertrophy, 84.2 patients wit inactive synovial hypertrophy and 50% of patients with tenosynovitis. In 85.7% of patients with active synovial hypertrophy, and 53.8% of pastients with erosions, the C-reactive protein (CRP) levels where elevated. No patient was diagnosed as also having rheumatoid arthritis Conclusions Even in asymptomatic patients with chronic hepatitis C infection, US examination of the wrists and of the second and fifth interphalangeal joins may reveal abnormalities. Certain types of these are probably correlated with the presence of cryoglobulins and possibly associated with CRP levels, C3 levels and rheumatoid factors positivity. Further studies are needed to verify our finding Disclosure of Interest None declared

Background: Hypertension (HTN) is the most prevalent co-morbidity among atrial fibrillation (AF) patients; the relationship between the two is bidirectional, with an incremental effect on adverse outcomes. Purpose: To study clinical features, treatment patterns and 1 year outcomes amongst AF patients with HTN in the EURObservational Research Programme Atrial Fibrillation (EORP-AF) Pilot Registry, a prospective multi-national survey conducted by the European Society of Cardiology in 9 European countries. Methods: Of 3119 enrolled AF patients, 2194 were diagnosed with HTN (AF-HTN) and 909 were normotensive (AF-NT) (16 patients had unknown HTN status). We compared baseline clinical features, management strategy and 1-year outcomes in terms of all-cause death, cardiovascular (CV) death, and any thrombosis-related event (TE: stroke, transient ischemic attack, acute coronary syndrome, coronary intervention, cardiac arrest, peripheral/pulmonary embolism) in AF-HTN vs AF-NT patients. Results: The AF-HTN patients had more prevalent CV risk factors and comorbidities (median CHA2DS2-VASc score (IQR) 4 (3, 5) in AF-HTN, versus 2 (1, 3) in AF-NT; p < 0.01). Crude rate of all-cause death and any TE event was higher in AF-HTN (194 (11.2%) versus 60 (8.2%), p=0.02). Kaplan-Meier analysis curves for death by hypertensive status showed no significant differences between the subgroups (log rank test, p = 0.22). On logistic regression analysis, HTN did not emerge as an independent risk factor for outcomes (OR 1.08, 95% CI 0.76-1.54). Conclusion: AF-HTN patients have a higher prevalence of comorbidities and this conferred a higher risk for a composite endpoint of all-cause death and thromboembolic events. In this cohort HTN did not independently predict all-cause mortality at 1-year. (c) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

02 saturation using the described method was noted.The time between administration of the drugs and full recovery of anaesthesia was 8.1 4-3.4 min).No respiratory arrests were seen, and endotracheal intubation was never required.The overall success rate was 92.9%.The highest success rate of cardioversion for AF (94,4%) was achieved in those using amiodarone (difference statistically not significant).No predictor of success could be found.Of the 46 failed cardioversions for AF, 25 had repeated ERAE The total number of AF cases with ERAF was 43 (8.3%).The only Independent predictor for ERAF was age (p=0.02).Conclusions: The Ethomidate/diazepam combination is a safe method for anesthesia performed by cardiologists.A high success rate for cardioversion was achieved.The role of anesthesiologic medication on ERAF incidence deserves further study.