Cardiology Letters, 2025 (vol. 34), issue 4

Comment on ESC 2024 Guidelines for the management of peripheral arterial and aortic diseases

Mária Rašiová, Juraj Maďarič

Cardiology Letters 2025, 34(4):205-209  

Innovative hypolipidemic therapy in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases - the experience of one centre

Ján Kmec, Martin Kmec, Daniel Alušík, Miroslav Slanina, Michaela Zigová

Cardiology Letters 2025, 34(4):210-220  

Elevated LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) levels are among the major risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Inclisiran is the first small interfering RNA (siRNA) that reduces plasma LDL-C levels by inhibiting the PCSK9 protein in the liver. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of inclisiran administered as monotherapy or in combination with other lipid-lowering therapy in patients with very high cardiovascular risk. Methods: An observational, retrospective, monocentric study enrolled 80 consecutive patients at high cardiovascular risk treated with lipid-lowering drugs, including inclisiran. The efficacy of therapy...

Dressler's syndrome - a literature review

Agata Antoniak, Anna Maria Jocz, Anna Centkowska, Natalia Katarzyna Wagner-Bieleń, Gabriela Helena Dąbrowska, Joanna Karina Banaśkiewicz, Martyna Zwierzchowska, Maria Anna Żmijewska, Jakub Ziółkowski, Aleksandra Maria Żyta

Cardiology Letters 2025, 34(4):221-226  

Dressler's syndrome, first described in 1956, is a form of secondary pericarditis classified within the broader category of post-cardiac injury syndromes. It typically occurs several weeks after acute myocardial infarction and is believed to result from an autoimmune response triggered by myocardial necrosis. Once common, its prevalence has declined significantly due to the widespread adoption of reperfusion therapies, including thrombolysis and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This review synthesizes current understanding of Dressler's syndrome, with particular attention to the recommendations of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)....

The role of lipoprotein (a) in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases

Miriam Kozárová, Ján Tokarčík, Marcela Valiková-Bavoľárová, Zuzana Kozelová, Ladislav Tomčo

Cardiology Letters 2025, 34(4):227-234  

Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] is the lipoprotein under the strongest genetic control. The main determinants of Lp(a) levels are the kringle-IV type 2 (KIV-2) repeat polymorphism (rs10455872 and rs3798220) and two common splice site variants in KIV-2 (4925G>A and 4733G>A) in gene LPA. Lipoprotein(a) plays an independent role in the development of cardiovascular (CV) and cerebrovascular diseases. This is supported by data from Mendelian randomization studies with clear evidence that high levels of Lp(a) increase CV risk even at low LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and by that Lp(a) becomes a very active participant in atherogenesis and aortic stenosis...

Anticoagulant therapy in a patient with thrombocytopenia

Tomáš Guman, Juraj Sokol, František Nehaj, Juraj Chudej, Lenka Lisá, Ľudmila Lineková, Richard Jusko, Ivan Kecskés, Ivana Plameňová

Cardiology Letters 2025, 34(4):235-243  

Anticoagulant therapy in patients with thrombocytopenia represents a clinical challenge that requires careful balancing of bleeding and thrombotic risks. In clinical practice, a minimum platelet count threshold is often taken into account when deciding on anticoagulation; if the count falls below this level, treatment is usually considered too risky. However, this approach is not supported by strong clinical evidence. Thrombocytopenia comprises a heterogeneous group of disorders that can lead to an increased bleeding tendency, yet these conditions do not preclude the development of transient or permanent prothrombotic states that may require prophylactic...

Sinus tachycardia and its differential diagnosis

Monika Lukáčová, Peter Mitro, Kristína Valová

Cardiology Letters 2025, 34(4):244-252  

Sinus tachycardia is defined as a heart rate exceeding 100 beats per minute. It results from accelerated activation of the sinus node mediated by the autonomic nervous system. It is the most common arrhythmia and serves as a useful physiological response of the body to physical and emotional stress. However, its occurrence in otherwise healthy individuals, in the absence of clearly identifiable triggers, poses a frequent clinical challenge. In certain cases, it may also indicate an underlying pathological condition. This review focuses on the differential diagnosis of sinus tachycardia, with special emphasis on its distinct forms: physiological sinus...