Cardiology Letters, 2013 (vol. 22), issue 6
Original article
Echocardiography and MR evaluation of aortic coarctation and recoarctation-influence of aortic arch deformity and isthmic tortuosity
Berecova Z, Neuschl V, Boruta P, Masura J, Kaldararova M, Simkova I
Cardiology Letters 2013, 22(6):445-448 
Objective: Peak systolic velocity measured by echocardiography (ECHO) and velocity-encoded magnetic resonance (venc MR) and consequently converted gradients are influenced by several conditions. One of these is the tortuosity of the vessel. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and accuracy of echocardiography and venc MR in gradient measurement over the aortic isthmus in the case of aortic arch deformity and aortic isthmus tortuosity. Background: Aortic coarctation is a narrowing in the descending aorta at the insertion site of the ductus arteriosus Botalli (DAB). Pseudocoarctation as well as kinking at the site of aortic isthmus...
The causes of changes in coronary heart disease mortality rates using the IMPACT model: a systematic review
Psota M, Capewell S, O'Flaherty M, Gonçalvesová E
Cardiology Letters 2013, 22(6):449-458
Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and among them coronary heart disease (CHD), are the leading cause of death worldwide and in European countries including Central European countries. In the last decades, however, it has been possible to observe decreases in mortality rates from this group of diseases. It is of great importance to know the causes that have led to these decreases because a better understanding will allow us to make evidence-based decisions and so to manage and allocate resources effectively. Because the development of mortality rates trend reflects complex determinants, it is difficult to explain it. In this context mathematical...
Pulmonary artery systolic pressure - direct measurement versus echocardiograhic estimation in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and pulmonary venous hypertension
Solík P, Lesný P, Luknár M, Varga I, Wimmerová S, Gonçalvesová E
Cardiology Letters 2013, 22(6):459-465
Introduction: Right heart catheterization is the "gold standard" for the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH). Echocardiography is due to the easy availability, low cost, non-invasivity and fast realization often used as a screening tool for PH, in assessing its causes and prognosis. Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of the pulmonary artery systolic pressure (sPAP) estimation by Doppler echocardiography compared with direct invasive measurement using right heart catheterization (RHC) and to analyse the causes of discrepancies in these two methods. Patients and methods: Two hundred seventeen patients (145 men, 72 women). In all of them echocardiography...