Cardiology Letters, 2016 (vol. 25), issue 6

Comment on 2015 ESC/ERS Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension

Šimková I, Kaldarárová M, Kmeč P, Podracký J

Cardiology Letters 2016, 25(6):437-441  

Echocardiography and atrial fibrillation in seniors: data from SAFIS study

Dúbrava M, Németh F, Drobná T, Gerlich L

Cardiology Letters 2016, 25(6):443-448  

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent arrhythmia in elderlies and can negatively influence their quality of life. According to the last global guidelines for the management of AF, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is recommended in all AF patients. In this paper we offer original real life information on frequency of TTE in hospitalised seniors with AF from the "Slovak audit of Atrial FIbrillation in Seniors" (SAFIS) study, which enrolled 4252 consecutive patients (pts.) with AF aged ≥ 65 years (mean age 80.9 years) hospitalised during 2.5 years in 4 acute geriatric inpatient departments in Slovakia. During hospitalisation the information...

2015 ESC/ERS Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension

The Joint Task Force for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Respiratory Society (ERS)

Cardiology Letters 2016, 25(6):454-500  

Activities of circulating matrix metalloproteinases in patients suffering from heart failure in relation to gender, hypertension and treatment

Radošinská J, Giannakos E, Vardali E, Barteková M, Fogarassyová M, Barančík M

Cardiology Letters 2016, 25(6):449-453  

Background: The extracellular matrix is the subject of extensive study due to its dynamic nature and its major role in the development of several diseases. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteolytic enzymes responsible for the degradation and remodeling of the extracellular matrix. It is also suggested they play an important role in the pathogenesis of heart failure (HF). Our aim was to determine the activities of circulating MMP-2 and MMP-9 in patients with HF in respect of gender, occurrence of hypertension and treatment. Methods: MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities were determined using gelatin zymography in plasma collected from 51 participants. Results:...