Cardiology Letters, 2013 (vol. 22), issue 5
Review
Combination of ACE inhibitor perindopril-arginine and calcium channel blocker amlodipine: more than only a reduction of increased blood pressure
Remková A
Cardiology Letters 2013, 22(5):388-394 
The present management of hypertension focuses not only on blood pressure (BP) values, but also on additional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors. Considering total CV risk in addition to BP levels is aimed to maximize effectiveness of the therapy since in high-risk individuals antihypertensive treatment strategies may be different from those to be implemented in lower-risk individuals. The 2013 European Society of Hypertension/European Society of Cardiology (ESH/ESC) guidelines on hypertension management now advocate combining two antihypertensive agents for the initial treatment of patients at high CV risk. Also they acknowledge the benefits of simplicity...
Anaemia and heart failure - how to treat this patient?
Murín J, Papinčák J, Pernický M, Filková M, Kiňová S
Cardiology Letters 2013, 22(5):405-407
Anaemia is present in 25% - 40% of patients with systolic heart failure. It increases by two times mortality, morbidity and hospitalization rates of these patients. Its ethiology is multifactorial. In the its treatment we proceed with heart failure treatment, we deal with deficiencies of vitamin B12, folate and iron if they are present, and we try to stop haemorrhages if present. Some small clinical studies found the erythropoietin (EPO) treatment as useful in patients with chronic heart failure. Red-HF clinical study was started to solve this problem of anaemia in heart failure treatment. Darbepoietin (EPO) was given to anaemic patients with chronic...
Perspectives
Pocket-size Echocardiography
Dúbrava J
Cardiology Letters 2013, 22(5):372-375
Miniaturization has alsom brought in recent years a significant change in echocardiography. A new category of echo machines called pocket-size devices has appeared on the market. These devices have major positives and negatives. The main advantages are a very small "smartphone-like" size, allowing for ideal portability and very fast (emergent) bedside diagnostics, and a low price. The main disadvantages are the limited imaging modalities and greatly reduced measurements. Pocket-size echo machines do not provide a complete echocardiographic examination, and the range of indications for their use is therefore limited. In Slovakia, pocket-size echo devices...
Educational study
Thyroid and cardiovascular diseases
Kollerová J, Payer J
Cardiology Letters 2013, 22(5):376-387
Thyroid dysfunction has an infuence on cardiovascular disease, and is accompanied by cardiovascular complications. Conversely, diseases of the heart and vessels affect thyroid function parameters. Amiodaroneinduced thyroid changes represent a common problem. This article provides an overview of the issue from the perspective of the endocrinologist.