Cardiology Letters, 2023 (vol. 32), issue 3

2022 ESC Guidelines on cardiovascular assessment and management of patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery

Dúbrava M, Kiňová S

Cardiology Letters 2023, 32(3):157-168  

Correlation of the PDE4D rs2910829 polymorphism genotypes with selected cardiovascular health indicators in the context of coronary heart disease

Zigova M, Mydlarova Blascakova M, Petrejcikova E, Vaskova H, Hricova K

Cardiology Letters 2023, 32(3):169-174  

Introduction: The genetic variation of the protein-coding PDE4D gene may be a potential moderating factor of coronary risk. In this context, the aim of our research was to analyze correlation patterns between genotypes of the PDE4D gene variant and selected cardiovascular indicators in the eastern Slovakia case-control research group. Design and methods: Overall, 230 individuals (130 CHD patients and 100 healthy controls) were analyzed for PDE4D gene rs2910829 genotype and allele frequencies by the required protocols of the Real-Time PCR method. Genotyping data were correlated with values of selected anthropometrical and physiological indicators and...

25 years of heart transplantation in children in Slovakia - retrospective analysis of group

Lajmon M, Záhorec M

Cardiology Letters 2023, 32(3):175-184  

Aim: To evaluate the results of pediatric orthotopic heart transplantations (HTx), performed in the Pediatric Cardiac Center, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (PCC NICD). Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients who underwent HTx at PCC NICD from 1998 to 2022; the nature of the study was descriptive. Recipient peri-transplantation characteristics, long-term and early morbidity and mortality were analyzed. Results: In almost 25 years, 19 HTx were performed at PCC NICD, with a patient's median age of 4.25 years (0,2-19.5) at the time of HTx. The preoperative diagnoses were cardiomyopathy (CMP) (n = 13) and congenital heart disease (CHD)...

Is left ventricular ejection fraction still a limiting factor in the treatment of heart failure?

Lesný P, Luknár M, Gonçalvesová E

Cardiology Letters 2023, 32(3):185-1  

Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is a key parameter in the decision about drug treatment of chronic heart failure (HF). In the case of adequate echocardiography image quality, it is recommended to prefer quantitative measurement of LVEF to visual estimation. Four drugs with a documented mortality benefit in patients with HF with reduced LVEF are as follows: a renin-angiotensin-aldosterone blocker (angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor should be preferred), a beta-blocker, a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, and a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i). The first three drugs show a reduction in benefit with increasing LVEF...

Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices in the Slovak Republic: data from SLOVIMPULS register

Kaliská G

Cardiology Letters 2023, 32(3):192-200  

Arrhythmic mitral valve prolapse

Plachý L

Cardiology Letters 2023, 32(3):201-207  

Mitral valve prolapse is the most common valve defect. Its incidence in the general population is 2-3%. In the absence of more severe mitral regurgitation with its negative consequences on the left ventricle, the finding of mitral valve prolapse has been considered benign. New data challenge this view and suggest that mitral valve prolapse is associated with a several times higher incidence of sudden cardiac death (SCD). It is necessary to identify high-risk patients by integrating the results of several diagnostic tools (transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography including three-dimensional methods, 12-lead electrocardiogram, Holter electrocardiogram,...

Stress cardiomyopathy in young woman after Cesarean section with SARS-CoV 2 inf

Nachtmann S, Pales J, Jalali Y, Jankovsky M, Brozmannova D, Minarova D, Sitar J, Payer J

Cardiology Letters 2023, 32(3):208-212  

In this report, we present a case of a 42-year-old patient who underwent a Caesarean section at 33 weeks of pregnancy. The patient complained about persistent chest pain radiating to upper extremities. The objective findings were unremarkable, the ECG showed a sinus rhythm with an appropriate heart rate, negative T waves in V1-V3. Cardiac markers were elevated with negative dynamic change. As part of the differential diagnosis, a CT pulmonary angiography and a CT aortography were performed and excluded embolization to the pulmonary artery and acute aortic syndrome. However, there was an incidental finding of interstitial pulmonary oedema. Subsequent...

Paravalvular leak treatment with a transapical valve-in-valve implantation of a Sapien 3 ultra valve after transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation of a Portico transcatheter valve

Gasparovic I, Bena M, Artemiou P, Hudec V, Drangova E, Hulman M

Cardiology Letters 2023, 32(3):213-215