Cardiology Letters, 2012 (vol. 21), issue 3
Review
Contemporary treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Luknár M, Lesný P, Varga I, Solík P, Kučerová D, Gonçalvesová E
Cardiology Letters 2012, 21(3):192-200 
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare, devastating, and incurable disease. Pathological and pathophysiological changes include vasoconstriction, remodelling, proliferation, and thrombosis. They result in pressure overload and failure of the right ventricle. Recently, treatment options have been introduced that improve quality of life and survival of PAH patients. This review summarizes contemporary treatment options and therapeutic strategy in PAH. PAH treatment is characterized by the lack of scientific evidence. Traditionally, it comprises supportive, conventional and specific treatment, and interventional/surgical approaches. Supportive...
Risk related to low cholesterol levels
Ginter E, Simko V
Cardiology Letters 2012, 21(3):201-203
Presently accepted guidelines related to serum total cholesterol (CH) deal only with elevated levels. A desirable value is considered less than 5.2 mmol/L, marginal to elevated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is at 5.2 to 6.2 mmol/L; high risk is at CH above 6.2 mmol/L. This policy ignores findings where very low CH is associated with increased general mortality. Consequently, CH values lower than 4.2 mmol/L should represent an increased risk of general mortality. Fig. 3, Ref. 8, Online full text (Free PDF),
Case report
First use of IMPELLA 2.5 supportive circulatory system within patient with acute STEMI in cardiogenic shock, treated at first by thrombolysis and subsequently by percutaneous coronary angioplasty
Sumbal J, Pacák J
Cardiology Letters 2012, 21(3):204-209
For those patients with an acute myocardial infarction with ST elevation (STEMI) it is very important to provide treatment leading to reperfusion of the infarcted coronary artery as soon as possible. Dependent on the recommended time intervals and the accessibility of a catheterization facility, either pharmacological treatment (thrombolysis), direct - catheterization treatment - primary coronary intervention (P-PCI) or, if it is vital, urgent cardiosurgical treatment present themselves for consideration. A problem can occur if the patient goes into cardiogenic shock (CS) and only a very quick and correct decision can reverse the unfavourable progress...
Recurrent pericarditis as the first clinic sign of systemic lupus erythematosus.
Kružliak P, Chamulová M
Cardiology Letters 2012, 21(3):210-211
Recurrent pericarditis is a rare, but major, clinical manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus. We report a case of a young woman with recurrent pericarditis as the first sign of systemic lupus erythematosus.