Influence of ACE I/D genotypes on left ventricular hypertrophy in aortic stenosis: gender-related differences.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Factors responsible for cardiac hypertrophy in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) are not well defined. The study aim was to examine the relationship between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) I/D polymorphism and the degree of cardiac hypertrophy in patients with AS.

Methods: A total of 392 white patients (159 women, 233 men; age range: 32-82 years) with AS was analyzed, with clinical data, echocardiographic parameters and ACE I/D polymorphism being assessed.

[Treatment outcome of prosthetic valve endocarditis].

Background And Aims Of The Study: Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) occurred from 1 to 9% of patient after heart valve replacement. The aim of the present study was to assess the long term outcome of the treatment of PVE and to analyze the recurrence of infective endocarditis (IE).

Material: Hospital mortality, recurrence and late survival were analyzed in 59 patients hospitalized in the Institute of Cardiology for PVE between 1988-95.

QT interval dispersion analysis in patients with aortic valve stenosis: a prospective study.

Background And Aim Of The Study: QT interval dispersion (QTd) was analyzed in patients with aortic valve stenosis, and the relationship investigated between QTd, age, gender, hypertension, presence of significant coronary artery stenosis and left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy assessed by echocardiography. Results were also compared between survivors and patients who had cardiac arrest or died before, during or soon after cardiac surgery.

Methods: The group comprised 535 consecutive patients (217 women, 318 men; mean age 59 +/- 11 years; range: 20-81 years) with significant aortic valve stenosis before valve replacement.

[Serological tests for detection of fungal infection connected with prolonged antibiotic treatment after valve replacement].

Unlabelled: In recent years substantial progress has been seen in the development of approaches and methods for serological diagnosis of the mycosis. The aim of our study was to assess the clinical usefulness of serological tests for fungal infection in pts who underwent prolonged antibiotic therapy after valve replacement.

Material And Methods: The group consisted of 27 pts after valve replacement with prolonged antibiotic therapy (6-12 weeks) due to infective endocarditis (22 pts) or sternal infection (5 pts).

[Comparison of interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein serum concentrations assessment in diagnosis of infective endocarditis].

Unlabelled: Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) level might be used to aid in diagnosis of infective endocarditis (IE), especially when blood cultures are negative. One of typical acute phase proteins is C-reactive protein (CRP), often served as an additional inflammation maker. The aim of the study was to compare serum IL-6 and CRP concentrations assessment in diagnosis and monitoring of IE.