Cor et Vasa, 2003 (vol. 44), issue 10
Original research articles
Inadequate treatment of heart failure in Europe. Does clinical practice lag behind European guidelines? Does the Czech Republic lag behind Europe? Current status of treatment of heart failure in hospitals as documented by the Euro Heart Failure Survey, and in general practitioners as documented by the IMPROVEMENT of HF program
Jiří Widimský, Jindřich Špinar
Cor Vasa 2003, 44(10):481-485
Aim:A comparison of European programs of analysis of heart failure management in hospitals (Euro Heart Failure Survey) and by general practitioners (IMPROVEMENT of HF) with the current status of chronic heart failure management by general practitioners in the Czech and Slovak Republics. Methods:In the IMPROVEMENT of HF project, general practitioners were randomly selected by a center based in Oxford, UK. The Euro Heart Failure Survey was organized by the European Society of Cardiology; the project was based on an analysis of data of patients who either died from heart failure, or were discharged from hospital departments of...
Effect of a suboptimal outcome of preparatory PTCA on the overall procedural outcome of brachytherapy in the treatment of in-stent restenosis
Jan Kováč, Marcela Škvařilová, Jan Lukl, Antony H. Gershlick
Cor Vasa 2003, 44(10):486-490
Aim of study:To determine the effect of residual post-PTCA stenosis on the outcome of brachytherapy using beta-radiation during six-month clinical and angiographic follow-up. Methods:An analysis of the RENO prospective European registry (for radiation-treated patients with in-stent restenoses) using a 90 Sr-Y isotope system in combination with PTCA or an ablation method, focused on the procedural outcome and incidence of adverse events during 6-month follow-up. Data of a total of 1,092 patients entered into the registry were analyzed. Results:Six-month follow-up did not reveal a significant difference in the...
Review articles
Echocardiographic evaluation of right ventricular function
Jaroslav Meluzín, Martin Eisenberger
Cor Vasa 2003, 44(10):492-500
The aim of the study was to review current knowledge regarding the possibility of assessing right ventricular systolic and diastolic function by echocardiography. The right ventricle has a number of specific characteristics, which one must be familiar with and take into consideration when selecting the echocardiographic method and when interpreting the findings. These include the complex shape of the right ventricle, its marked trabeculization, major regional differences in the intensity of contraction and relaxation, and so on. At present, the most informative approach to echocardiographic right ventricular function evaluation seems to be assessment...
The advantages and drawbacks of stentless aortic valve bioprostheses in cardiac surgery. Initial experience with the Carpentier Edwards Prima plus prosthesis
Aleš Mokráček, Marek Šetina
Cor Vasa 2003, 44(10):501-506
Stentless aortic bioprostheses are a recent alternative to aortic valve replacement. The paper evaluates our experience to date with stentless prostheses, their advantages and drawbacks compared with other techniques of replacement; and presents our initial data. Based on these data, stentless bioprostheses seem to provide an excellent solution to aortic valve replacement. Definitive assessment will require continuous and long-term follow-up.
Current concepts regarding hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Jan Krejčí
Cor Vasa 2003, 44(10):507-512
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is an autosomal dominant hereditary disease with a prevalence of about 0.2%. Ten genes for sarcomere proteins whose mutations result in the development of this disease have been identified to date. The diagnosis is based primarily on echocardiography allowing to recognize (mainly non-obstructive and obstructive) subtypes of the disease.Therapy differs depending on individual disease subtypes, with drug therapy being the mainstay of treatment (Table I). The agents used for drug therapy include beta-blockers and verapamil (or, less frequently, disopyramide in this country). Patients with the obstructive type may be referred,...
Short communication
The monitoring of proarrhythmic effects of noncardiovascular drugs-a pilot study
Tomáš Novotný, Alena Floriánová, Bořivoj Semrád, Jitka Kadlecová, Eva Češková, Radovan Přikryl, Jana Tomanová, Jiří Dolina, Zuzana Plottová, Ivo Papoušek, Karel Chroust
Cor Vasa 2003, 44(10):513-515
The aim of our project is the monitoring of proarrhythmic effects - i. e., the acquired long QT syndrome - of selected noncardiovascular drugs and to explore the possible molecular linkage to the hereditary long QT syndrome. In patients treated with drugs with a known proarrhythmic potential (antipsychotics, tricyclic antidepressants, cisapride), the QT interval is assessed. In individuals with QT prolongation, mutation analysis of the KVLQT1-KCNQ1, HERG-KCNH2, SCN5A, KCNE1, KCNE2 genes is performed. So far, ECGs from 297 patients have been evaluated. In 1 patient treated by cisapride, QTc prolongation of 0.52 s was observed. Mutational analysis of...
Impact of acebutolol on claudications, Doppler data and quality of life in patients with peripheral arterial obstructive disease
Petra Mašková, Jan Lukl, Pavel Marcián, Ladislav Luběna
Cor Vasa 2003, 44(10):517-519
Beta-blockers are not widely recommended in patients with peripheral artery disease although many patients could possibly benefit from beta-blocker use because of concomitant diseases. The aim of the study was to determine whether or not acebutolol therapy would deteriorate claudications, Doppler data, and quality of life in patients with peripheral artery disease. None of the above parameters was significantly deteriorated by acebutolol compared to placebo in 21 patients.