A case of pregnant patient with stenotic bicuspid aortic valve.

Key Clinical Message: Asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS) during pregnancy remains challenging; however, the postponement of surgery with the possibility of valvuloplasty as a bridge therapy seems reasonable. Our case showed that despite physiological changes during pregnancy, the aortic valve defect did not worsen, which allowed us to avoid dilemmas related to anticoagulation on artificial valve.

Abstract: A 31-year-old woman, with a bicuspid aortic aorta, post-aortic valvulotomy, was listed for cardiac surgery because of severe aortic stenosis.

Successful complex percutaneous intervention in patient with Fontan circulation and severe heart failure: A case report.

We report the case of a successful complex percutaneous intervention in a patient with Fontan circulation and severe heart failure. The patient presented with cyanosis; Fontan conduit stenosis was detected, and the fenestration was patent. The complex interventional procedure allowed for a long-term stabilization of the patient's condition.

Factors of Persistent Limited Exercise Tolerance in Patients after COVID-19 with Normal Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction.

Exercise intolerance de novo is one of the most common reported symptoms in patients recovering from the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The present study determines etiological and pathophysiological factors influencing the mechanism of impaired exercise tolerance in patients during Long-COVID. Consequently, the factors affecting the percentage predicted oxygen uptake at peak exercise (%VO2pred) in patients after COVID-19 with a normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were assessment.

Heart Failure Risk Predictions and Prognostic Factors in Adults With Congenital Heart Diseases.

In recent decades the number of adults with congenital heart diseases (ACHD) has increased significantly. This entails the need for scrupulous evaluation of the current condition of these patients. The ACHD population is one of the most challenging in contemporary medicine, especially as well-known scales such as the NYHA classification have very limited application.

Patient after correction Taussig-Bing anomaly with severe neo-aortic regurgitation after sudden cardiac arrest.

The Taussig-Bing anomaly is a rare cyanotic congenital heart defect treated surgically in the early infancy. The preferred repair procedure is an arterial switch operation combined with ventricular septal defect closure. Despite promising long-term functional outcomes and survival benefits, neo-aortic dysfunction and arrhythmias might be relevant complications.

Clinical Features of Familial Hypercholesterolemia in Children and Adults in EAS-FHSC Regional Center for Rare Diseases in Poland.

Background: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic autosomal co-dominant metabolic disorder leading to elevated circulating concentrations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Early development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is common in affected patients. We aimed to evaluate the characteristics and differences in the diagnosis and therapy of FH children and adults.

Factors and Prognostic Significance of Impaired Exercise Tolerance in Women over 40 with Arterial Hypertension.

The aim of this study was to identify factors influencing maximal oxygen uptake (VO) and early identification of the profile of hypertensive women in the perimenopausal period at risk of heart failure. This study included 185 female patients. Regression analyses determined predictors of the lowest VO (quartile 1: VO < 17 mL/kg/min).

Cardiac manifestations of COVID-19.

COVID-19 is a novel viral infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) beta-coronavirus. Epidemiological status changes dynamically as the pandemy is far from ending. Several complications of presented virus may be similar to those observed in other viral infections.

The Relationship of Dehydration and Body Mass Index With the Occurrence of Atrial Fibrillation in Heart Failure Patients.

The aim of the study was to assess the relationship of dehydration, body mass index (BMI) and other indices with the occurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in heart failure (HF) patients. The study included 113 patients [median age 64 years; 57.52% male] hospitalized due to HF.

COVID-19 and cardiovascular complications - preliminary results of the LATE-COVID study.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may affect many organs and may be responsible for numerous complications including cardiovascular problems.

Methods: We analysed consecutive patients ( = 51) admitted to the cardiology department between 1 October 2020 and 31 January 2021 due to symptoms which might have reflected cardiovascular complications following COVID-19. We collected data concerning clinical characteristics, results of laboratory tests, echocardiography and 24-hour ambulatory ECG recording.

Adjuvant breast cancer treatments cardiotoxicity and modern methods of detection and prevention of cardiac complications.

The most common cancer diagnosis in female population is breast cancer, which affects every year about 2.0 million women worldwide. In recent years, significant progress has been made in oncological therapy, in systemic treatment, and in radiotherapy of breast cancer.

Role of confirmed and potential predictors of an unfavorable outcome in heart failure in everyday clinical practice.

Heart failure (HF) is the only cardiovascular disease with an ever increasing incidence. HF, through reduced functional capacity, frequent exacerbations of disease, and repeated hospitalizations, results in poorer quality of life, decreased work productivity, and significantly increased costs of the public health system. The main challenge in the treatment of HF is the availability of reliable prognostic models that would allow patients and doctors to develop realistic expectations about the prognosis and to choose the appropriate therapy and monitoring method.

The outcomes of hypertension treatment depending on gender in patients over 40 years of age.

Introduction: In women, an increase in blood pressure is observed after the menopause. However, the confounding effect of aging and comorbidities should be taken into account. Current guidelines don't recommend any specific treatment of post-menopausal hypertension.

The Role of Adipokines in the Development of Arterial Stiffness and Hypertension.

The study aimed to assess the role and the relationship of adipokines as well as parameters of arterial stiffness in newly diagnosed hypertension. Forty-nine newly diagnosed hypertensive cases (median age 47 ± 6 years) and 48 normotensive patients (median age 47 ± 6 years) were enrolled to this study. Patients underwent echocardiography, noninvasive assessment of hemodynamic parameters using SphygmoCor tonometer (Atcor Med).

Cardioprotective properties of leptin in patients with excessive body mass.

Background: Adipose tissue is producing adipokines that play different roles in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease.

Aims: The study aimed to assess the role of selected biomarkers in hypertensive patients with overweight and obesity compared with those with normal body-mass index (BMI).

Methods: A total of 62 patients with BMI < 25 kg/m (median age 54 (46-58) yrs.

Pharmacological management of malignant hypertension.

Introduction: According to current guidelines, malignant hypertension is one of the emergencies in hypertension. The definition requires the presence of bilateral retinal hemorrhages or exudates, with or without papilledema, acute heart failure and acute deterioration in renal function in severe hypertension. Patients with malignant hypertension are characterized by pronounced target organ damage, including structural and functional cardiac abnormalities and renal insufficiency.

Sepsis caused by Chromobacterium violaceum - probably the first case in Europe, or read anew.

Rare diseases, almost by definition, present us with diagnostic as well as therapeutic difficulties as. They also include infectious diseases outside endemic areas. Without expecting them, we are not preparing to fight them.

The potential role of inflammation in cryptogenic stroke.

Purpose: The study aimed to identify biomarkers predictive of cryptogenic stroke in patients aged <65.

Materials And Methods: We investigated 520 patients with ischemic stroke. Out of them we assigned 65 patients to the cryptogenic stroke group (age 54 (47-58), 42% male) and 36 without stroke to the control group (age 53 (47-58), 61% male).

Associations between the lipid profile and the development of hypertension in young individuals - the preliminary study.

Introduction: Hypertension is the leading direct cause of death in the world and one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Elevated blood pressure (BP) often coexists with lipid disorders and is an additional factor that increases CV risk. Nowadays, we are able to distinguish low density lipoproteins (LDL) and high density lipoproteins (HDL) subfractions.

Established and potential echocardiographic markers of embolism and their therapeutic implications in patients with ischemic stroke.

Cardiogenic strokes comprised 11% of all strokes and 25% of ischemic strokes. An accurate identification of the cause of stroke is necessary in order to prepare an adequate preventive strategy. In this review the confirmed and potential causes of embolic strokes are presented, which can be detected in echocardiography in the context of present treatment guidelines and gaps in evidence.

The potential role of statins in preeclampsia and dyslipidemia during gestation: a narrative review.

Introduction: Statins have several pleiotropic effects that have the potential to be beneficial during pregnancy. This study evaluates the available evidence for the teratogenicity of statins, and their utility in treating preeclampsia and dyslipidemia in pregnancy, as good alternatives in these domains are currently lacking.

Areas Covered: The possible teratogenicity of statins is a primary focus of this paper.

A second delivery after heart transplantation - a case study.

Pregnancy after organ transplantation is becoming relatively common. We present the case of a heart transplant recipient who gave birth to a second child. Despite the fact that the transplanted heart seems to adapt well to the changes caused by pregnancy, gestation in patients after heart transplantation may be complicated by hypertension, pre-eclampsia, or preterm labor.

Clinical outcome, echocardiographic assessment, neurohormonal and collagen turnover markers in low-fl ow severe aortic stenosis with high transvalvular gradient.

Introduction: Patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS), high mean gradient (HMG), and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) may present with paradoxical "low flow" (LF).

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the potential effect of cardiac collagen metabolism on the HMG/LF phenomenon in patients with severe AS and to determine a clinical and echocardiographic pattern of these patients.

Patients And Methods: We assessed a clinical status of 89 patients, aged over 64 years, with severe AS, HMG, and preserved LVEF (≥50%).