Cardiology Journal 2009, tom 16, nr 1

Natriuretic peptides (NP) are volume sensitive hormones that have attracted the interest of investigators in the setting of heart failure (HF) during recent years. NP levels may reflect the end-diastolic wall stress which is elevated by both increasing filling pressure and left ventricular dilatation. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) have a negative correlation with left ventricular systolic function and have been proposed as diagnostic tools and prognostic markers in HF patients [1, 2]...

It has been demonstrated in numerous studies that N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is strongly associated with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), functional capacity (FC), and cardiovascular (CV) mortality in heart failure (HF) patients...

Elevation of C-reactive protein (CRP) is associated with acute coronary events. CRP is related to cardiovascular risk factors and adipokines. The aim of the study was to reveal the factors associated with elevated CRP levels in patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI)...

Cardiac tumours are very uncommon and are the topic of little investigation. Imaging features offer reliable diagnostic evidence for cardiac tumours, but diagnostic confusion may arise when tumours with similar features are present....

Wellens’ syndrome is a pattern of electrocardiography T-wave changes associated with critical proximal left anterior descending artery lesion. Patients with Wellens’ syndrome are at high risk of the development of extensive myocardial infarction of the anterior wall and death...

Organic nitrates, such as nitroglycerin, are commonly used in the therapy of cardiovascular disease. Long-term therapy with these drugs, however, results in the rapid development of nitrate tolerance, limiting their hemodynamic and anti-ischemic efficacy....

An 82-year-old male with a history of hypertension presented with resting dyspnea and orthopnea of 72 hours duration. At admission blood pressure was 145/75 mm Hg and respiratory rate was 30 beats/min. Jugular venous pressure was increased and heart sounds were diminished and arrhythmic. Pulmonary auscultation revealed absent breath sounds over the left lung base. Electrocardiogram showed atrial fibrillation at a mean rate of 120 beats/min, and low QRS voltages..

Metoprolol succinate is a widely used medication for the management of hypertension, heart failure, and angina. We report the case of a 36-year-old woman who developed erythema multiforme after administration of a low dose of this drug...

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an important advance for the treatment of end-stage heart failure (HF). About 15–50% of HF is complicated by atrial fibrillation (AF), associated with worsened outcomes. The presence of AF may interfere with optimal delivery of CRT due to competition with biventricular (BiV) capture by conducted beats...

Exercise-induced hypertension following repair of the coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is a well known phenomenon. The most important functional parameters in the assessment of the effects of a surgical repair of CoA are the maximal pressure gradient in the descending aorta (GRAD) and systolic blood pressure (SBP)...