Biomarkers in Peripartum Cardiomyopathy-What We Know and What Is Still to Be Found.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a form of heart failure, often severe, that occurs in previously healthy women at the end of their pregnancy or in the first few months after delivery. In PPCM, the recovery of heart function reaches 45-50%. However, the all-cause mortality in long-term observation remains high, reaching 20% irrespective of recovery status.

Proteomic Profiling in Patients With Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: A Biomarker Study of the ESC EORP PPCM Registry.

Background: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) remains an important cause of maternal morbidity and mortality globally. The pathophysiology remains incompletely understood, and the diagnosis is often missed or delayed.

Objectives: This study explored the serum proteome profile of patients with newly diagnosed PPCM, as compared with matched healthy postpartum mothers, to unravel novel protein biomarkers that would further an understanding of the pathogenesis of PPCM and improve diagnostic precision.

Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance in Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: Comparison with Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Peripartum (PPCM) and dilated (DCM) cardiomyopathies are distinct forms of cardiac disease that share certain aspects in clinical presentation.

Aim: We hypothesized that different cardiac structural changes underlie PPCM and DCM, and we aimed to investigate them with cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR).

Methods: We included 21 PPCM patients (30.

Optimal medical therapy in patients with stable coronary artery disease in Poland: the ISCHEMIA trial experience.

Introduction: Optimal medical therapy (OMT) is the cornerstone of treatment for stable coronary disease with the ISCHEMIA trial showing similar outcomes using OMT with or without an initial invasive approach. Objectives: To describe OMT goal attainment in Polish ISCHEMIA participants compared with other countries. Patients and methods: Among 5179 trial participants, 333 were randomized in Poland.

Fibrinogen and a Triad of Thrombosis, Inflammation, and the Renin-Angiotensin System in Premature Coronary Artery Disease in Women: A New Insight into Sex-Related Differences in the Pathogenesis of the Disease.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in women worldwide. Its social impact in the case of premature CAD is particularly devastating. Many differences in the presentation of the disease in women as compared to men, including atypical symptoms, microvascular involvement, and differences in pathology of plaque formation or progression, make CAD diagnosis in women a challenge.

Pregnancy-related cardiac non-elective hospitalizations and pregnancy outcomes. A tertiary referral cardiac center experience.

Background: Pregnant women with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and their offspring are at higher risk of morbidity and mortality.

Aims: To provide data on pregnancy outcomes among women with different types of CVD requiring non-elective cardiac hospitalization in a tertiary referral cardiac center.

Methods: We identified all records of non-elective hospitalizations of pregnant women hospitalized between January 2009 through March 2018, at our institution - a tertiary referral cardiac center.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy - a cardiovascular disease in pregnancy and puerperium. The actual state of knowledge, challenges, and perspectives.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is an idiopathic, multifactor cause of heart failure occurring at the end of pregnancy or in the first months after delivery. Although the prevalence of the disease is increasing, the awareness of both physicians and patients is rather low. Symptoms of PPCM are unspecific, making a prompt diagnosis even more difficult.

The association between the insertion/deletion polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene and the plasma fibrinogen level in women and men with premature coronary artery atherosclerosis.

Introduction: The insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the angiotensin‑converting enzyme (ACE) gene is associated with younger age at coronary artery disease (CAD) onset. Some data indicate the relationship between the DD genotype and the fibrinogen level. At the same time, the regulation of the renin-angiotensin system differs in women and men.

Giant Intrapericardial Myxoma Adjacent to the Left Main Coronary Artery.

A 62-years-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of chronic cough, expectoration of thick mucus, hoarseness and tightness in the precordial area. Computed Tomography (CT) examination revealed the presence of a giant intrapericardial tumor with the dimensions of 80 × 38 × 32 mm. It was located anteriorly and laterally to the left atrium, posteriorly to the pulmonary trunk and the ascending aorta.

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.

Menopause improves the predictive value of common cardiovascular risk scores in women with premature coronary artery disease.

Objective: Menopause, particularly its early stage (≤3 years from onset), may be an important risk factor for premature coronary artery disease. The objective of the study was to assess whether the addition of the presence of menopause in women with premature coronary artery disease could improve the predictive value of the Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease risk estimator and the Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation model.

Methods: The case-control study included 307 women with coronary artery disease aged 55 or less, and 347 age-matched controls without coronary artery disease.

Patterns of Coronary Calcification and Their Impact on the Diagnostic Accuracy of Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography.

Objective: Despite coronary calcifications being a major factor affecting the diagnostic accuracy of coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA), there is a lack of established criteria for categorizing calcifications. We aimed to evaluate patterns of coronary calcification based on quantitative radiodensity and size parameters to provide coronary calcium categories and assess their impact on the accuracy of coronary CTA.

Methods And Results: We analyzed length, maximum thickness, volume, mean density, and maximum density of coronary calcium and divided each of these parameters into tertiles.

What is the optimal cut-off point for low coronary artery calcium score assessed by computed tomography? Multi-Detector Computed Tomography ANIN Registry.

Aim: This prospective study was conducted to evaluate the incidence and predictors of coronary artery disease (CAD) in relation to the low coronary artery calcium (CAC) score among patients with intermediate probability of CAD.

Material And Methods: A total of 1132 consecutive patients were included in the analysis (58.7 ±10.

Lumen and calcium characteristics within calcified coronary lesions. Comparison of computed tomography coronary angiography versus intravascular ultrasound.

Introduction: Computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) is a diagnostic method used for exclusion of coronary artery disease. However, lower accuracy of CTCA in assessment of calcified lesions is a significant factor impeding applicability of CTCA for assessment of coronary atherosclerosis.

Aim: To provide insight into lumen and calcium characteristics assessed with CTCA, we compared these parameters to the reference of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).

Impact of coronary artery calcium characteristics on accuracy of CT angiography.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate which specific calcium characteristics impact diagnostic accuracy of coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA).

Background: Coronary calcifications comprise one of the most significant factors interfering with diagnostic accuracy of coronary CTA. Despite this fact, there is paucity of data regarding this phenomenon.

Therapeutic challenges and management of heart failure during pregnancy (part 2).

A particularly dangerous condition in pregnant women is already dilated left ventricle with severe functional impairment. Taking as an example the case of woman with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) first diagnosed in 17th week of pregnancy, the paper discusses diagnostic, therapeutic challenges and management of heart failure during pregnancy. Repeat measurements of brain natiuretic peptide levels should be helpful in diagnosing heart failure.

Therapeutic challenges and management of heart failure during pregnancy (part I).

Therapeutic management in pregnant patients with heart failure still remains a challenge, even though in most pregnant women with cardiac diseases an outcome is good. A 32-year-old woman, 17 weeks pregnant, was admitted to hospital with heart failure (HF) NYHA class III/IV. Echocardiography revealed enlarged LV, LVEF 13%, significant mitral insufficiency and pulmonary hypertension.