Cardiology Journal 2013, tom 20, nr 2

The evaluation of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction by echocardiography is one of the most important established determinants of the prognosis of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) [1, 2]. Mortality has been known to be high in patients with RV dysfunction at presentation [3]. However echocardiography is a user-dependent procedure and is not always readily available for a diagnostic workup and risk stratifi cation of PE...

Heart transplantation is worldwide recognized as treatment for end stage of patients with heart failure. Despite of heart transplant recipients show increased exercise capacity when compared to pre-transplantation, it is not restored to normal values considering age-matched health subjects [1]...

Blood pressure (BP) is changing with every heart beat and therefore may vary periodically or accidentally during day, week or in a longer period of time, e.g. season. As BP is labile, it creates a personal condition which is defi ned as blood pressure variability (BPV). BPV is rather a fl oating physiological phenomenon than a regular hemodynamic state...

Kabuki syndrome (KS) was fi rstly reported in 1981 by Niikawa et al. [1] and Kuroki et al. [2]. It is an entity of multiple congenital malformations with mental retardation with undetermined etiology, characterized by typical facial features (elongated palpebral fi ssures with eversion of the lateral third of the lower eyelid; arched and broad eyebrows; short columella with depressed nasal tip; large, prominent, or cupped ears), minor skeletal anomalies, persistence of fetal fi ngertip pads, mild to moderate intellectual disability, and postnatal growth defi ciency [3, 4]...

The rules of antithrombotic treatment after surgical aortic valve replacement are known [1]. It is accepted that patients after thranscatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) receive dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with acetylsalicylic acid and clopidogrel in prevention of thrombo-embolic complications [2]. Until now there have not been any prospective studies assessing the efficacy and safety of this type of treatment...

Aspirin or acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is widely used in cardiology patients, however, up to 20% are intolerant, with true allergy affecting 0.5–2.4% of patients [1, 2]. ASA acts primarily through irreversible inhibition of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), preventing conversion of arachidonic acid to thromboxane (TxA2) and thus inhibiting platelet aggregation. The production of TxA2 can be completely inhibited through 75 mg/day dosing of aspirin [3]...

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is the most common cardiac surgery [1] and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common cause of morbidity and mortality following CABG. DVT was reported in 70–80% of patients who underwent open heart surgery, and can be asymptomatic [2–5]. Moreover, other morbidities which complicated the post-operative course immediately after DVT may cause complications for patients after they have been discharged from the hospital [2–5]...

Effective treatment of chronic heart failure (CHF) has become a constant challenge for clinicians in the developed countries [1]. One of the therapeutic keystones in CHF, along with angiotensin-converting enzymes inhibitors (ACEI), is use of beta-blockers, which improves both left ventricular (LV) function and survival [2]. In recent years, increased attention has been focused on various circulating biologically active substances, collectively known as plasma biomarkers, and their utility in HF prognosis and therapy monitoring [3]...

Mifepristone (Korlym™) is an antagonist of the type II glucocorticoid receptor (GR-II) and progesterone receptor approved with orphan-drug status as a once-daily oral medicine to control hyperglycemia in adult patients with endogenous Cushing’s syndrome who have failed surgery or who are not candidates for surgery [1]. Patients initiate mifepristone treatment at a dose of 300 mg/day administered with food. The dose can then be titrated by 300 mg increments up to 1200 mg daily by assessing tolerability and degree of improvement [2]...

There is a growing number of patients with abandoned endocardial leads. The decision to abandon inactive lead is made in case of pacing and/or sensing abnormalities, or changing and upgrading the pacing system. An abandoned, cut short, and not suffi ciently fi xed lead creates the risk of migration into the cardiovascular system (CVS) [1]...