Cardiology Letters, 2013 (vol. 22), issue 3

Hypertension in pregnancy and increased cardiovascular risk - the importance for clinical practice of the assessment of biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction in pregnancy

Kolesárová E, Valočíková I

Cardiology Letters 2013, 22(3):395-404

Significance of baroreflex sensitivity in advanced heart failure

Huňavý M, Gášpár P, Adamčik Š, Gonsorčík J, Račeková-Dobrovičová A

Cardiology Letters 2013, 22(3):228-233  

Baroreflex sensitivity as an indirect marker of sympatho-parasympathetic interaction provides information about the level of autonomic nervous system dysfunction, which significantly contributes to development and progression of heart failure. Aim: Our objective was to evaluate the clinical significance of spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) in patients with chronic heart failure of ischaemic and nonischaemic etiology, and to evaluate BRS in patients with heart failure and other associated comorbidities (diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease). Methods: We examined 40 patients (13 women and 27 men) with diagnosis of chronic heart failure and...

Measurement of the anticoagulant activity and reversal of anticoagulant effect of the novel oral anticoagulants - what are the options?

Remková A

Cardiology Letters 2013, 22(3):219-227  

The novel oral anticoagulant drugs (NOAC) represent a major advance for patients with atrial fibrillation. They offer the potential to substantially reduce morbidity and mortality due to cardioembolic stroke. These drugs, which currently include the direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran and the direct Factor Xa inhibitor rivaroxaban, offer a number of advantages for patients, with no need for laboratory monitoring. However, safe prescription of the NOAC requires an adequate knowledge of drug pharmacology, measurement of renal function, the knowledge of the effect of these drugs on commonly performed coagulation tests, the availability of accurate laboratory...

Torsade de Pointes caused by Salmonella Typhi Infection

Benavides M, Ratcliffe J, Glen C, Schweitzer P

Cardiology Letters 2013, 22(3):234-238  

Background. Torsade de pointes is a life threatening arrhythmia that is commonly a result of long QT syndromes from different causes. Case: A 44 year-old previously healthy woman, who had recently traveled to Asia, presented to the ER complaining of high fevers, headache, constipation, and abdominal pain for one week. On the third day of hospitalization of the patient an EKG was done due to chest discomfort and showed normal sinus rhythm (NSR) with a normal QT interval. One hour later, the patient complained of worsening shortness of breath, tachypnea, and became unresponsive. The initial rhythm on the cardiac monitor revealed Torsade de Pointes. The...

Increased resistance of diabetic mitochondria to ischemia-reperfusion myocardial injury

Muráriková M, Ferko M, Barteková M, Waczulíková I, Ledvényiová V, Ziegelhöffer A

Cardiology Letters 2013, 22(3):249-261  

Ischemic heart disease is a leading cause of mortality. To study this disease ischemia - repefusion injury (IRI) models are widely used inasmuch as they mimic the process of transient blockade and subsequent recovery of coronary blood supply. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is known as a risk factor of ischemic heart disease. Nevertheless, experimental studies have revealed that myocardium is capable of partial adaptation to the mentioned noxa, at least in its acute phase, and this adaptation becomes manifested in enhanced resistance of the heart to IRI-induced arrhythmias. Insufficient oxidative energy production in the heart mitochondria (MIT) is a direct...