Management of bleeding in patients hospitalized in the intensive cardiac care unit: expert opinion of the Association of Intensive Cardiac Care and Section of Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy of the Polish Cardiac Society in cooperation with specialists in other fields of medicine.

Nowadays, the intensive cardiac care unit (ICCU) provides care for patients with acute coronary syndrome, acute and exacerbated chronic heart failure, cardiogenic shock, sudden cardiac arrest, electrical storm, as well as with indications for urgent cardiac surgical treatment. Most of these patients require the use of 1, 2, or frequently even 3 drugs that act on the blood coagulation pathway. While antithrombotic drugs prevent thromboembolic events, they are associated with a higher risk of bleeding.

PPARG2 Pro12Ala and TNF -308G>A Polymorphisms Are Not Associated with Heart Failure Development in Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

TNF and PPAR are important modulators of metabolism, inflammation, and atherosclerosis. Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of heart failure (HF). The aim of the study was to assess whether polymorphisms of the (-308G>A) and (Pro12Ala) genes are associated with the risk of developing HF by patients with ischemic heart disease.

Long-Term Outcome of Acute Coronary Syndromes in Patients on Chronic Oral Anticoagulants: Data from the EPICOR Study.

Objective: To analyze characteristics, management and outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) receiving chronic oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy enrolled in the EPICOR (long-tErm follow-uP of antithrombotic management patterns In acute CORonary syndrome patients) prospective, international, observational study of antithrombotic management patterns in ACS survivors (NCT01171404).

Methods: This post-hoc analysis evaluated the association between OAC use at baseline (OACb) and time from hospital admission to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (tHA-PCI), pre-PCI thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) 3 flow, stent type, length of hospitalization, and clinical endpoints; death, non-fatal MI, and non-fatal stroke, a composite of these ± bleeding, over 2 years' followup.

Results: Of 10,568 ACS patients, 345 (3.

Severe Course of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy and Subsequent Recovery in a Patient with a Novel TTN Gene-Truncating Mutation.

BACKGROUND Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a potentially life-threatening, pregnancy-associated cause of heart failure affecting previously healthy women. Recent research suggests a possible role of 16-kDa prolactin in promoting cardiomyocyte damage. However, the genetic predisposition is not well recognized.

Myocardial Expression of PPAR and Exercise Capacity in Patients after Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery.

Activation of PPARs may be involved in the development of heart failure (HF). We evaluated the relationship between expression of PPAR in the myocardium during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and exercise tolerance initially and during follow-up. 6-minute walking test was performed before CABG, after 1, 12, 24 months.

Serum beta-2 microglobulin levels for predicting acute kidney injury complicating aortic valve replacement.

Objectives: Acute kidney injury complicating both transcatheter and surgical aortic valve replacement is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of serum beta 2 (β2) microglobulin, cystatin C and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels in detecting periprocedural acute kidney injury.

Methods: Eighty consecutive patients who were 70 years of age or older and who were having surgical (n = 40) or transcatheter (n = 40) aortic valve replacement were recruited in a prospective study.

Current patterns of antithrombotic and revascularisation therapy in patients hospitalised for acute coronary syndromes. Data from the Polish subset of the EPICOR study.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in developed countries, including Poland. Antithrom-botic drugs play a crucial role in the management of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Recent clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy and safety profiles of new antiplatelet and anticoagulant agents, which may be used as add-on therapy or replacements for older drugs.

PPAR Gamma Expression Levels during Development of Heart Failure in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease after Coronary Artery Bypass-Grafting.

Genetic research has elucidated molecular mechanisms of heart failure (HF). Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) seem to be important in etiology of HF. The aim of study was to find the correlation between PPARγ expression during development of HF in patients and coronary artery disease (CAD) after coronary artery bypass-grafting (CABG).

Early implementation of continuous venovenous haemodiafiltration improves outcome in patients with heart failure complicated by acute kidney injury.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious complication of heart failure (HF). Continuous venovenous haemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) is a widely accepted method for treating this complication. However, the optimal time of its initiation has not been established.

Circadian variations of interleukin 6 in coronary circulations of patients with myocardial infarction.

Unlabelled: We hypothesize that higher morbidity of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in the out-of-office hours differences in outcome after myocardial infarction may depend on the concentrations of inflammatory cytokines. The aim of the study was to determine the relation between the time of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and local concentration of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and its soluble receptors (sIL-6R and sgp130) in patients with STEMI.

Methods And Results: The study included 32 patients with invasively treated left anterior descending artery occlusion and no significant co-morbidities.

Percutaneous coronary interventions affect concentrations of interleukin 6 and its soluble receptors in coronary sinus blood in patients with stable angina.

Coronary stenting may create local inflammatory reaction. Interleukin 6 effects depend on the presence of soluble receptors (sIL-6R and sgp130) that facilitate or impede interleukin 6 signal transduction. Concentrations of interleukin 6 and its soluble receptors were assessed in aorta and coronary sinus after stenting in optimally treated stable angina patients scheduled for elective stenting.

Coronary sinus concentrations of interleukin 6 and its soluble receptors are affected by reperfusion and may portend complications in patients with myocardial infarction.

Unlabelled: Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine involved in both inflammatory reaction and myocardial response to stress. Its effects largely depend on the concentration of the soluble receptors (sIL-6R and sgp130). We investigated the production of IL-6, sIL-6R and sgp130 by the heart during ischemia and reperfusion.

Persistent atrial fibrillation as a prognostic factor of outcome in patients with advanced heart failure.

Introduction: Chronic heart failure (CHF) is associated with high morbidity and mortality and is diagnosed more and more frequently. Fifteen to 30% of patients with systolic CHF develop atrial fibrillation (AF).

Aim: To establish whether persistent AF was an independent predictor of mortality, and had a predictive value with respect to late clinical outcomes in patients with systolic CHF.