Mutation analysis of ion channel genes promoters in ventricular fibrillation survivors with coronary artery disease

Tomáš Novotný, Martina Raudenská, Jitka Kadlecová, Irena Andršová, Alena Floriánová, Anna Vašků, Milan Kozák, Milan Sepši, Lubomír Křivan, Renata Gaillyová, Jindřich Špinar

Cor Vasa 2013, 55(5):e419-e423 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2013.06.009  

Introduction: Strong evidence suggests that sudden cardiac death (SCD) is genetically determined. In our previous study we found that the prevalence of selected, rare coding variants in 5 long QT genes was significantly higher in ventricular fibrillation (VF) survivors with coronary artery disease (CAD) than in controls. In the present study we performed mutational analysis of the promoters of 5 LQTS-related myocardial ion channel genes in the same group of patients and in control populations.Methods: The promoters of KCNQ1, KCNH2, SCN5A, KCNE1 and KCNE2 genes were analyzed in 45 CAD individuals - survivors of documented VF. The allelic frequencies...

Association between blood group antigens and rheumatic valve involvement and severity in endemic areas

Suleyman Ercan, Gokhan Altunbas, Dursun Cayan Akkoyun, Vedat Davutoglu, Hayati Deniz

Cor Vasa 2013, 55(5):e424-e426 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2013.06.006  

Background: Rheumatic valve disease is an important public health problem in developing countries. We sought to evaluate the possible role of blood antigens as a risk factor for severe rheumatic valve disease.Methods: Two hundred fifty-four patients with severe rheumatic mitral and/or aortic valve disease with the surgical indication were enrolled to the study. Control group was composed of age and gender matched 2668 healthy volunteers.Results: There were 216 patients with aortic valve involvement and 249 patients with mitral valve involvement. 175 patients had mitral stenosis, 96 patients had severe mitral regurgitation and 61 patients had...

Nutritional status of patients in the cardiac ward of a regional hospital

Martin Gřiva, Jiří Jarkovský, Petra Brázdilová

Cor Vasa 2013, 55(5):e427-e433 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2013.06.007  

Aim of study: To assess the nutritional status of patients in the cardiac ward of the Regional Hospital in Zlín, and to analyze the association between nutritional status and selected characteristics of hospitalized cardiac patients.Patients and methods: A group of 236 patients was created by collecting of data of all currently hospitalized patients at randomly selected time points at an approximately 3-week intervals (August through December 2012). Nutritional status was assessed using a screening questionnaire developed by the Nutrition and Dietetic Center of the Prague-based Thomayer Hospital. The data were used to determine any association...

CT angiography in Fontans with implanted stents

Marek Kardoš, Juraj Mikuláš, Ivan Vulev, Jozef Mašura

Cor Vasa 2013, 55(5):e434-e438 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2013.07.003  

Background: CT angiography is used as a non-invasive method in the evaluation of patients with Fontan circulation. For good visualization of patients having undergone the Fontan operation the optimal scan timing and adequate intravenous route is important.Purpose: The aim of this study was to confirm that computer tomography is a very good tool for assessment of patients after Fontan procedure with implanted stents in pulmonary arteries or in fenestration.Material and methods: Six patients with Fontan circulation and implanted stent in left pulmonary artery or in fenestration underwent CT angiography. The CT angiography was successfully performed...

Open repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in the elderly: Is it worthwhile?

Jitka Mannová, Zdeněk Šilhart, Jiří Mach, Pavel Ševčík, Aleš Prokeš

Cor Vasa 2013, 55(5):e439-e444 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2013.05.003  

Introduction: Given the steady increase in life expectancy, an analysis of surgical outcomes in the aging population is of significant interest to vascular surgeons. The aim of our study was to assess the outcomes of abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in the elderly aged 75 plus and compare their results with people operated on at a younger age.Methods: 171 patients who underwent open AAA repair in one centre in 1999-2008 were analyzed. The perioperative and postoperative complications, 30-day mortality, the length of ICU and hospital stay were compared, and the Kruskal-Wallis and the Chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis.Results:...

Optimization of pacing intervals in cardiac resynchronization therapy

Ivan Ulč, Vlastimil Vančura

Cor Vasa 2013, 55(5):e403-e410 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2013.06.001  

In patients with heart failure, left ventricular systolic dysfunction and prolonged QRS complex, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a treatment method aimed at restoration of myocardial depolarization synchronicity. However, the extent of clinical and echocardiographic improvement depends on anatomical relations in individual patients, on structural changes in the heart, on intrinsic electrical activation, and on the position of pacing leads. Many parameters of CRT devices may be changed in order to tailor the function of CRT to the needs of a particular patient; the most important among them is AV and VV interval. The largest trials studying...

Advances in the management of sleep-disordered breathing in heart failure

Pavel Matuška, Tomáš Kára, Pavel Homolka, Miloš Bělehrad

Cor Vasa 2013, 55(5):e411-e418 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2013.06.005  

Obstructive (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA) are very common in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). This is clearly a risk factor for worsening the prognosis of patients. Treatment of sleep apnea in these patients may stop disease progression. Modern therapy, primarily central sleep apnea, is provided by adaptive servoventilation (ASV). Short-term randomized trials have demonstrated that treatment with ASV increased ejection fraction (EF), reduces sympathetic activity and blood pressure. Unfortunately, there is not enough data on whether there are effects on mortality and morbidity. Studies of this issue, such as SERVE-HF and ADVENT-HF,...

Percutaneous coronary intervention in an anomalously arising totally occluded circumflex coronary artery

Cataldo Palmieri, Endrin Koni, Giuseppe Trianni, Marcello Ravani, Antonio Rizza, Marco Vaghetti, Alberto Ranieri De Caterina, Sergio Berti

Cor Vasa 2013, 55(5):e445-e448 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2012.10.003  

Congenital coronary anomalies are present in approximately 1% of the patients referred to cardiac catheterization. The present case describes a successful percutaneous coronary intervention in totally occluded left circumflex coronary artery (LCx) with an anomalous origin from right sinus of Valsalva. To the best of our knowledge this is the first case presented of successful recanalization of a chronic total occlusion in an anomalously arising LCx. The case highlights the feasibility of such a challenging procedure on the basis of the knowledge of coronary anatomy and the selection of appropriate guiding catheters and coronary wires.

Acute myocardial infarction type 2 secondary to the obstructive sleep apnea

Filip M. Szymanski, Grzegorz Karpinski, Anna E. Platek, Krzysztof J. Filipiak

Cor Vasa 2013, 55(5):e449-e452 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2013.01.001  

We report a case of a 54-year-old obese, loudly snoring male, who presented to the hospital with typical ischemic chest pain of early morning onset, and high blood pressure values. A standard 12-lead ECG performed on admission showed ST-segment elevation in leads II, III, aVF, V1 and ST segment depression in leads V2 to V4, but coronary angiography revealed no evidence of plaque rupture or erosion in an epicardial coronary vessel. Performed polysomnography confirmed severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). According to the universal definition of myocardial infarction the patient was diagnosed with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction type...

Deceitful dissimulation of dyspnoea

Krystyna Kluz, Ondřej Toman, Jiří Pařenica, Martin Poloczek, Martin Tesák, Jaroslav Boudný, Jindřich Špinar, Martin Fiala

Cor Vasa 2013, 55(5):e453-e456 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2012.12.007  

We present a case of a young woman, who was examined for polymorphic complaints. Life-threatening complications during a standard treatment occurred, because of severe left ventricular dysfunction caused by an incessant atrial tachycardia and subsequent tachycardia induced cardiomyopathy. The only symptom reflecting the serious diagnosis was a mild dyspnoea on exertion. Because of patient's dissimulation, this symptom was uncovered late. Focal atrial tachycardia was successfully treated with catheter ablation and the treatment resulted in normalization of the left ventricular systolic function in three months.

Left atrial leiomyosarcoma: A rare cause of mitral valve (pseudo)stenosis

Marie Hrdinová, Nedal Omran, Pavel Polanský, Jiří Veselý, Ivo Steiner, Zdeněk Bělobrádek, Zdeněk Šorm

Cor Vasa 2013, 55(5):e457-e459 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2013.03.009  

A 54-year-old lady presented with a mass in the left atrium causing an acute mitral valve pseudo-stenosis. The tumour mass was assumed to be a myxoma. The patient was scheduled for tumour mass extirpation to clear the obstruction of the mitral orifice. Histological finding from the acquired specimen showed a leiomyosarcoma, as a rare primary malignant cardiac tumour.

Prostaglandin in aortic coarctation and closed arterial duct-treatment beyond ductal re-opening

Ajay R. Desai, Shreesha Maiya, David Inwald, Zdenek Slavik

Cor Vasa 2013, 55(5):e460-e462 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2013.04.004  

A 2-week-old girl was transferred to PICU following cardiopulmonary resuscitation locally. Echocardiogram showed severe aortic coarctation and closed ductus arteriosus. She was commenced on infusion of prostaglandin E1 at 10 ng/kg/min increased to 50 ng/kg/min as the ductus arteriosus remained closed. She was referred to cardiac centre for further management. Echocardiogram confirmed juxta-ductal aortic coarctation with reduced peak systolic gradient, no diastolic blood flow continuation on Doppler assessment of blood flow in descending aorta, and a very small ductus arteriosus with bidirectional shunt. Serum lactate gradually reduced to less than...

Primo-implantation of a dual-chamber pacemaker in a patient with symptomatic first-degree AV block with proven AV dyssynchrony at an abnormally long PQ interval (pseudopacemaker syndrome)

Pavol Horváth, Pavel Kučera, Pavel Nedbal, Jindřich Kupec, Rostislav Polášek

Cor Vasa 2013, 55(5):e463-e467 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2012.12.001  

First-degree atrioventricular block (first-degree AV block) is defined as a PR interval exceeding 200 ms [1]. The abnormally long PR interval may result in the condition resembling pacemaker syndrome, i.e. the collision of the atrial systole and the ventricular systole, being accompanied with similar symptoms including cardiac failure even if the systolic function of the left ventricle [2] is normal. This is called "pseudopacemaker syndrome" [3-10]. This paper describes the case of a female patient with a significantly long PR interval after the replacement of the mitral valve, showing symptoms of pseudopacemaker syndrome. This is a relatively rare...

Heart transplantation for cardiac light chain amyloidosis with subsequent autologous stem cell transplantation

Tomáš Honek, Jan Krejčí, Lenka Špinarová, Petr Hude, Petr Němec, Zdeněk Adam, Alžběta Sirotková, Víta Žampachová, Jiří Vítovec

Cor Vasa 2013, 55(5):e468-e473 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2012.11.015  

Our report describes a case of 57-year-old man with manifest heart failure on the basis of cardiac amyloidosis, which was detected by endomyocardial biopsy. Due to the heart failure, the patient was unable to undergo myeloablative therapy. We changed our previous decision for conservative therapy of heart failure and the patient underwent heart transplantation. Autologous stem cell transplantation was performed 6 months later. After the successful stem cell transplantation, the serum free light chain lambda levels promptly decreased. One year later, their levels started again to increase. Chemotherapy was therefore initiated. The patient has now completed...

The ECG in prehospital emergency care

Prof. MUDr. Jan Petrášek, DrSc.

Cor Vasa 2013, 55(5):593  

Nebivolol v léčbě kardiovaskulárních onemocnění

Jiří Widimský jr.

Cor Vasa 2013, 55(5):599-600  

Snižování reziduálního kardiovaskulárního rizika v roce 2013

MUDr. Zuzana Zafarová

Cor Vasa 2013, 55(5):601-603  

Nemocný s chronickým srdečním selháním si zaslouží pečlivý přístup

MUDr. Zuzana Zafarová

Cor Vasa 2013, 55(5):604-606  

Hřešit je lidské aneb cesty ke snížení kardiovaskulárního rizika

Cor Vasa 2013, 55(5):607-609  

Nová indikace pro apixaban

Redakce

Cor Vasa 2013, 55(5):610-611  

62. kongres European Society for Cardiovascular and Endovascular Surgery 2013 v Řezně

MUDr. Karel Houdek

Cor Vasa 2013, 55(5):592 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2013.041  

Zápis ze schůze výboru ČKS konané dne 18. 6. 2013 v Praze

P. Widimský, P. Riebauerová

Cor Vasa 2013, 55(5):594-595  

Editorial Board

Editorial board

Cor Vasa 2013, 55(5):i | DOI: 10.1016/S0010-8650(13)00119-7  

16. symposium Pracovní skupiny chlopenní a vrozené srdeční vady v dospělosti České kardiologické společnosti

Doc. MUDr. Kateřina Linhartová, Ph.D., Radka Tichá

Cor Vasa 2013, 55(5):596-597