Infective endocarditis caused by Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae involving three native valves.

Human infection with Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is extremely rare and occupationally related. This paper presents for the first time a case of a 47 year-old male with endocarditis involving three valves simultaneously.

[Suspected clopidogrel resistance associated with recurrent coronary stent thrombosis--a case report].

We describe a case of an 81-year-old man with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), who received a loading dose of clopidogrel (300 mg) and aspirin (ASA) (300 mg) prior to primary coronary intervention of critical left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis. Three days later he developed recurrent acute STEMI due to the in-stent thrombosis and a second stent implantation was performed. The dose of clopidogrel (75 mg) remained unchanged, while the dose of ASA was increased from 75 mg to 150 mg.

[Ablation of atypical, fast atrio-ventricular nodal tachycardia in a pregnant woman--a case report].

We describe a case of a 24-year-old pregnant woman (35 hbd) who was admitted because of fast (240 bpm) supraventricular tachycardia which required electrical external cardioversion (transesophageal atrial pacing and drugs were ineffective). She underwent RF ablation during which a single RF application effectively cured atypical atrio-ventricular nodal tachycardia. The duration of fluoroscopy was 53 seconds.

Carotid and femoral atherosclerotic lesions in patients with coronary heart disease confirmed by angiography.

Introduction: Clinically evident atherosclerosis is preceded by preclinical changes in the arterial wall. These changes are characterised by increased thickness of the intima-media complex (IMT).

Aims: A complex ultrasound assessment of the peripheral vessels as well as an attempt to find ultrasound parameters correlating with the burden of atherosclerotic lesions of the coronary arteries.

[Recurrent thrombosis of a mitral mechanical heart valve prosthesis during puerperium--a case report].

A case of a 27-year-old female with prosthetic mitral valve is presented. Prolonged anticoagulation therapy was continued during pregnancy without complications. During puerperium, the dose of subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin was reduced due to subcutaneous blood effusions.

Homocysteine and progression of coronary artery disease.

Background: Hyperhomocysteinemia is one of the newly recognised risk factors of coronary artery disease (CAD). The role of hyperhomocysteinemia in the development of atherosclerosis has been controversial.

Aim: To assess homocysteine (Hcy) plasma concentration in patients with CAD and to correlate Hcy level with some cardiovascular risk factors.

Circulating E-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in men with coronary artery disease assessed by angiography and disturbances of carbohydrate metabolism.

It is hypothesized that adhesion molecules could be an early predictor of coronary artery disease. Therefore we investigated the relationship between the concentrations of soluble forms of adhesion molecules and disturbances of glucose metabolism in 78 men referred for coronary angiography but with no previous history of diabetes. The group consisted of 78 men (mean age, 47.