Cardiology Letters, 2014 (vol. 23), issue 5

Natriuretic peptides and heart failure - useful in early diagnosis

Murín J, Rajecová O, Daňová K, Pivovarníková H, Margóczy R, Pernický M, Kamenský G

Cardiology Letters 2014, 23(5):348-352  

Chronic heart failure is today an epidemic disease and every rehospitalization of a patient increases his mortality and morbidity. A bad prognosis of heart failure can be influenced by an early diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Part of heart failure diagnostics is not only clinical examination of the patient but also investigation of his serum NT-proBNP biomarker. The value of serum NT-proBNP at admission not only states the presence of heart failure but can also tell us the prognosis of the patient. The value at discharge can show us how successful we were in the hospital treatment, but can also tell us the further prognostic risk of the patient....

Myocardial neovascularization in the Janus view

Maruščáková L, Poljak Z, Bucová M, Hulín I

Cardiology Letters 2014, 23(5):353-358  

The cardiovascular system is developed in order to ensure an optimal supply of oxygen and nutrients to the cells. Neovascularization is the process of forming new blood vessels. Angiogenesis is a complex process of construction of vessels. Angiogenesis also takes place in the myocardium. This review illustrates the formation of new blood vessels in the myocardium at the cellular and molecular level. The authors emphasize the possible impact of treatment on this process.

Cryoballoon ablation: valuable enhancement of the methods of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation treatment

Bohó A, Stančák B

Cardiology Letters 2014, 23(5):359-366  

Pulmonary vein isolation using a cryoballoon has proven to be effective in the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. It represents alternative for point-by-point radiofrequency ablation techniques. High procedural efficacy and low rate of major complications may be responsible for increasing interest in this method. This review explores technical, procedural and clinical aspects of cryoballoon ablation, compares it with radiofrequency ablation and points out potential drawbacks of this method.

Carcinoid crisis imitates acute pulmonary embolism

Belicová M, Belicová V, Dvorský J, Mokáň M

Cardiology Letters 2014, 23(5):369-374  

Bronchial carcinoids are usually situated near the hilus: they often produce hormones and may be a reason of absence of lung perfusion even when atelectasis is absent. Carcinoid crisis is a life-threatening complication, which can happen spontaneously, often caused by stress. Clinical manifestations can include dyspnea, hypotension and acute right heart failure. In the case of absence of lung perfusion it can imitate acute pulmonary embolism. In this case the authors present a 55 year-old man with unknown bronchial carcinoid who, within 24 hours of coronary intervention because of acute myocardial infarction, developed breathlessness, hypotension and...

Disorders of mitochondria in heart failure

Murín J

Cardiology Letters 2014, 23(5):367-368  

Hypoxia

Paulis Ľ, Hulín I, GonÇalvesová E

Cardiology Letters 2014, 23(5):337-347