Cardiology Letters, 2014 (vol. 23), issue 4
Original article
Long-term follow-up of aortic stenosis after balloon valvuloplasty in childhood - single center results
Goldschmidtová E, Kaldarárová M, Nosáľ M, Mašura M
Cardiology Letters 2014, 23(4):259-266 
Aortic stenosis (AS) represents 3-7.8% of all congenital heart defects and most frequently is located on the valvar level. In severe gradient (>80 mm Hg) symptoms, or in the newborn in the event of left ventricular failure, intervention is indicated. Balloon valvuloplasty and surgical valvuloplasty are palliative procedures; further possibilities are valvar replacements - either with pulmonary autograft (Ross procedure), homograft or mechanical valve replacement. Aim of the study was a retrospective analysis of long-term results with balloon valvuloplasty, analysis of residual findings and the need of further interventions. Patients: Analyzed were...
Review
Ischaemic heart disease - can it be treated by influencing cardiac metabolism?
Murín J
Cardiology Letters 2014, 23(4):275-281
The heart is in need of a sufficient amount of energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for performance of its myocytes. The production of ATP needs the supply of energetic substrates, mostly of free fatty acids and glucose, but also of oxygen to the myocytes (their mitochondria). Here ATP is produced by oxydative phosphorylation and is transported to the contractile apparatus. In diabetes, in left ventricular hypertrophy and in elderly people there is a myocardial dysfunction in production of ATP and this dysfunction is greatest in cases of myocardial ischaemia. There are pharmacological possibilities to shift ATP production in the myocytes...
Clinical study
Cardial amyloidosis in the context of new pathophysiological knowledge
Poljak Z, El-Hassoun O, Hulín I, Roziaková Ľ, Janega P, Mladosievičová B
Cardiology Letters 2014, 23(4):267-274
Amyloidosis is a rare but known cause of heart failure, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, coronary artery damage, disorders of the conduction system and valves. The disease is often unrecognized until an advanced stage. At present, several types of amyloidosis are known. Heart damage usually occurs in AL-amyloidosis. In cases of cardiovascular dysfunction with unclear cause, amyloidosis should be taken into account. In AL-amyloidosis heart damage is the important prognostic factor. In the field of cardiac amyloidosis some interesting pathophysiological knowledge has recently been described. In this minireview we deal with some of it.