Atrioventricular septal defect with common atrioventricular junction guarded by a common valve consisting of left atrioventricular trifoliate valve.

Introduction: Atrioventricular septal defect with common atrioventricular junction is a rare adult congenital cardiac syndrome. This occurrence with prolonged survival is exceptionally rare.

Case Report: We present the case of a patient who presented with this defect with common atrioventricular junction who survived to the age of 32.

Prevalence of left chamber cardiac thrombi in patients with dilated left ventricle at sinus rhythm: the role of transesophageal echocardiography.

Background: Left atrial appendage (LAA) may be a source of thrombi in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy at sinus rhythm. The objectives of our study were to assess the prevalence of intracardiac left chamber thrombus and/or spontaneous echo contrast and to identify clinical and echocardiographic predictors for left ventricle (LV), left atrium (LA), and/or LAA thrombus formation, particularly as regard to LV, LA, and LAA size, in heart failure patients at sinus rhythm.

Methods: We included 45 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy of ischemic or idiopathic origin with mild to moderate systolic dysfunction, who were at sinus rhythm and without anticoagulation therapy.

Association of interatrial septal abnormalities with cardiac impulse conduction disorders in adult patients: experience from a tertiary center in Kosovo.

INTERATRIAL SEPTAL DISORDERS, WHICH INCLUDE: atrial septal defect, patent foramen ovale and atrial septal aneurysm, are frequent congenital anomalies found in adult patients. Early detection of these anomalies is important to prevent their hemodynamic and/or thromboembolic consequences. The aims of this study were: to assess the association between impulse conduction disorders and anomalies of interatrial septum; to determine the prevalence of different types of interatrial septum abnormalities; to assess anatomic, hemodynamic, and clinical consequences of interatrial septal pathologies.

Right bundle branch block as a marker for interatrial septal abnormalities.

Background: Interatrial septal anomalies, which include atrial septal defect, patent foramen ovale, and atrial septal aneurysm, are common disorders among adult patients. Early detection of interatrial septal anomalies is important in order to prevent haemodynamic consequences and/or thromboembolic events. Electrocardiogram offers some clues that should serve as hints for detection of interatrial abnormalities.

Limitations of CHADS2 scoring system in predicting stroke risk--need to change the age criteria.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia with a strong association with age. The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of stroke in relation to age and anticoagulation status based on CHADS2 risk criteria.

Methods: This study included all patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation admitted to our clinic between 1/11/2007 and 1/11/2009, with minimum one year follow up for patients without stroke.

The influence of left ventricular diameter on left atrial appendage size and thrombus formation in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Objectives: Patients with dilated cardiomyopathy are considered a high risk group for left ventricular (LV) thrombus formation. However, the left atrial appendage (LAA) might be an additional site for thrombus formation in this patient group. We evaluated the association between LV size and left atrium/LAA size and determined the incidence of spontaneous echo contrast (SEC)/thrombus in the LV, left atrium, and LAA in patients with and without enlarged LV dimensions.

The effects of combined therapy of rheumatoid arthritis on the acute phase reactants.

The paper presents the results of studies of acute phase reactants in the 60 treated patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Patients were divided into two groups, depending on the applied treatment: group I (n = 30) was treated with methotrexate, sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine, and group II (n = 30) with methotrexate. The results of our study shows that there is a statistically significant reduction in the value of acute phase reactants and clinical parameters after treatment in both investigated groups of patients, and also a significant statistical difference between the first and second group of treated patients.

Acute myocardial infarction and pulmonary tuberculosis in a young female patient: a case report.

Introduction: Tuberculous coronaritis is known to be a very rare phenomenon, although Mycobacterium tuberculosis, as some other infectious agents, may also act in the coronary vessels by activating the inflammatory mechanism of atherosclerosis. The association between active pulmonary tuberculosis and acute myocardial infarction has not been reported for around three and a half decades.

Case Presentation: We presented here a case of a young, 30 year old, Caucasian woman who presented to Emergency Ward with severe chest pain, ECG and enzyme profile typical for acute myocardial infarction.

Atrial septal aneurysm associated with additional cardiovascular comorbidities in two middle age female patients with ECG signs of right bundle branch block: two case reports.

Introduction: Atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) is often associated with other atrial septal abnormalities, particularly with atrial septal defect type ostium secundum or patent foramen ovale. ECG signs of incomplete or complete right bundle branch block are known to be associated with atrial septal defects, however such correlation with other atrial septal abnormalities is not documented.

Case Presentations: We report here two cases of middle age female patients that presented with dyspnea on physical effort, right bundle branch block (RBBB) on ECG and ASA combined with other cardiac disorders.