Cardiology Letters, 2021 (vol. 30), issue 5-6

Comments on 2020 ESC guidelines on sports cardiology and exercise in patients with cardiovascular disease

Farský Š, Varga I

Cardiology Letters 2021, 30(5):225-230  

Comment on 2020 ESC Guidelines for the management of adult congenital heart disease

Šimková I, Kaldarárová M

Cardiology Letters 2021, 30(5):231-237  

Management of myocardial infarction in Slovakia in the period of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Current analysis of the SLOVAKS registry

Studenčan M, Hricák V†, Hudec M, Kovář F, Hlivák P, Hatala R, Gonçalvesová E

Cardiology Letters 2021, 30(5):238-245  

In 2020, the last periodic snapshot of the SLOVAKS registry, dedicated to the management of patients with ACS, took place in Slovakia. Results: 1450 patients were analyzed, with the proportion of STEMI representing 41.5%. Primary reperfusion therapy was performed in 89.1% of patients (pPCI 88.7%, fibrinolysis 0.4%). The median of total ischemic interval was 260 min, which was an insignificant prolongation compared to year 2015 (230.5 min) (p = 0.277). At the time of the COVID19 pandemic, the expected significant increase in the total ischemic interval was probably offset by the widespread use of the telemedicine communication platform STEMI, which...

COVID-19 in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Analysis after the second pandemic wave in Slovakia.

Gonçalvesová E, Šimovičová V, Kmeč P, Kafková B, Záhorec M, Luknár M

Cardiology Letters 2021, 30(5):246-249  

Background: A pandemic caused by a new coronavirus particularly threatens the high risk groups of patients, incuding those with pulmonary arterial hypertension. We evaluated the occurrence of COVID-19 in the group of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), course of disease, mortality and the attitude of patients to vaccination. Data collection. During the period of two weeks before May 15th 2021 we collected, by analysis of documentation and telephone survey, data on adult patients managed from 01.03. 2020 to 15.05.2021 in 3 centers for PAH and the Children's Cardiac Centre. Information on deceased patients was provided by medical staff...

Left atrial coupling index: the new predictor of outcome in severe aortic stenosis

Vachalcová M, Porubän T, Kurečko M, Sieradzka KA, Jakubová M, Valočik G, Barbierik K, Schusterová I

Cardiology Letters 2021, 30(5):250-255  

Objectives: Severe symptomatic aortic stenosis is associated with worse prognosis. The aim of our study was to determine the relationship between the new echocardiographic parameter, left atrial coupling index (LACI) and standard clinical and echocardiographic parameters in patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis: at the same time to determine its role in the diagnostic algorithm of patients with severe aortic stenosis. Methods: 40 patients with confirmed severe aortic stenosis were retrospectively enrolled in the study. LACI was determined based on the ratio of left atrial volume indexed to body surface area (LAVI) to a' measured by tissue...

Stimulation of soluble guanylate cyclase - a novel treatment target in heart failure

Luknár M, Gonçalvesová E

Cardiology Letters 2021, 30(5):255-259  

Despite recent advances in the treatment, congestive heart failure (HF) with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction remains closely associated with risk of progression, need for frequent hospital admission, impaired quality of life, and high mortality. Intensive search for novel treatment options is therefore warranted. One of the perspective pathophysiologic pathways to become a treatment target is the nitric oxide (NO) - soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) - cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway. In HF, this pathway is dysregulated which results in low cGMP concentration and a negative cardiovascular impact. Vericiguat is an sGC stimulator...

Cardio-renal benefit of GLP-1 receptor agonists

Murín J

Cardiology Letters 2021, 30(5):260-266  

Diabetes mellitus type 2 (DMt2) is a systemic disease with many comorbidities (hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity) and serious micro- and macro- vascular complications (rehospitalization, invalidization, bad quality of life, increased morbidity and mortality) which are present very soon after discovery of the disease. This paper presents clinical aspects of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA): reduction of glycaemia with low incidence of hypoglycaemic events, improvement of insulin sensitivity, slowdown of gastric emptying, potentiation of satiety in the central nervous system and increased proliferation of beta-cells in the pancreas. New data: increased...

Perspectives of microRNA as potential biomarkers in the diagnostic puzzle of pulmonary arterial hypertension

Vysočanský S, Klimas J, Luknár M, Gonçalvesová E

Cardiology Letters 2021, 30(5):267-276  

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a rare disease with complex and still not completely understood etiopathogenesis which affects pulmonary circulation. Proliferative vasculopathy results in the increase of the right ventricular afterload during the course of the disease and finally to its failure. Diagnostic process is extremely comprehensive, based on the evaluation of clinical symptoms, echocardiographic findings and central hemodynamic parameters obtained by right heart catheterization. Natriuretic peptides are still the best diagnostic tool, also useful in the monitoring of the disease progression. New pathophysiologic mechanisms have been discovered...

Prechodná porucha prietoku outflow kanylou - zriedkavá komplikácia u pacienta s mechanickou podporou ľavej komory (LVAD)

Šimková D, Grebáč J, Gonçalvesová E

Cardiology Letters 2021, 30(5):277