Patient perceptions of anticoagulant treatment with dabigatran or a vitamin K antagonist for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation according to region and age: an exploratory analysis from the RE-SONANCE study.

Background: The oral anticoagulant dabigatran offers an effective alternative to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF), yet patient preference data are limited. The prospective observational RE-SONANCE study demonstrated that patients with AF, newly initiated on dabigatran, or switching to dabigatran from long-term VKA therapy, reported improved treatment convenience and satisfaction compared with VKA therapy. This pre-specified sub-study aimed to assess the impact of country and age on patients' perceptions of dabigatran or VKA therapy in AF.

Impact of percutaneous patent foramen ovale closure on migraine headaches in patients with history of ischemic neurological events.

Introduction: Observational studies have shown that migraine has been associated with patent foramen ovale (PFO). Whilst studies investigating PFO closure for the treatment of migraine have been neutral, there is some evidence that symptoms of migraine may improve if the PFO was closed after ischemic stroke.

Aim: To establish whether closure of PFO in patients with stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) is associated with reduction in the severity of co-existent migraine headaches.

Patient perception of anticoagulant treatment for stroke prevention (RE-SONANCE study).

Objective: We evaluated atrial fibrillation (AF) patients' perceptions of anticoagulation treatment with dabigatran or a vitamin K antagonist (VKA) for stroke prevention, according to accepted indications.

Methods: The RE-SONANCE observational, prospective, multicentre, international study used the validated Perception on Anticoagulant Treatment Questionnaire (PACT-Q) to assess patients with AF already taking a VKA who were switched to dabigatran (cohort A), and newly diagnosed patients initiated on either dabigatran or a VKA (cohort B). Visit 1 (V1) was at baseline, and visit 2 (V2) and visit 3 (V3) were at 30-45 and 150-210 days after baseline, respectively.

Early Stage of Atherosclerosis in Aortocoronary Saphenous Vein Grafts: Intravascular Ultrasound Study.

Introduction: Angiographically visible plaques in patent vein grafts are usually detected years after surgery. Our aim was to examine early plaque formation in vein grafts.

Methods: Bypass angiography and intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS) examination were performed on 77 aortocoronary saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) implanted in 36 patients during the first 2 years after CABG.

Risk factors and prognostic role of an electrical storm in patients after myocardial infarction with an implanted ICD for secondary prevention.

Introduction: The aim of our study was to determine the risk factors for electrical storm (ES) and to assess the impact of ES on the long-term prognosis in patients after myocardial infarction (MI) with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) for secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD).

Material And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 416 patients with coronary artery disease after MI who had an implanted ICD for secondary prevention of SCD. Fifty (12%) patients had one or more incidents of an electrical storm - the ES (+) group.

Andersen-Tawil syndrome: Clinical presentation and predictors of symptomatic arrhythmias - Possible role of polymorphisms K897T in KCNH2 and H558R in SCN5A gene.

Background: Andersen-Tawil syndrome (ATS) is rare channelopathy caused by KCNJ2 mutation and probably KCNJ5. It is characterized by arrhythmias, neurological symptoms, and dysmorphic features. The present study retrospectively examined the characteristics of 11 unrelated families with ATS.

Neointima development in externally stented saphenous vein grafts.

Introduction: The main limitation of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is rapid neointimal hyperplasia leading to graft failure.

Aim: To assess plaque formation in saphenous vein grafts (SVG) covered by an external Dacron stent in comparison with the classical technique.

Material And Methods: In the study group vein grafts covered by external stent mesh made of Dacron were implanted.

Patients with atrial fibrillation and low risk of stroke: do they really need anticoagulation?

Atrial fibrillation (AF) significantly increases the risk of thromboembolic events, in particular the risk of stroke. Anticoagulation therapy has been shown to reduce this risk; therefore, the treatment should be lifelong. However, the risk in patients with nonvalvular AF is not equally distributed, and there is a population of patients at low risk.

[Catheter ablation--when possible, whether effective? When implantable cardioverter defibrillator?].

There are important gender differences in cardiac electrophysiology that may affect effectiveness of cardiac arrhythmias invasive treatment. Women present to catheter ablation later, with more symptoms, and after having failed more antiarrhythmic drugs. Catheter ablation of supraventricular tachycardias and atrial fibrillation (AF), except for long lasting AF, appears equally effective in the two genders.

[National Consultant in Cardiology Experts' Group Guidelines on dealing with patients implanted with some St. Jude Medical Riata and Riata ST leads].

In December 2010 St. Jude Medical informed about higher incidence of silicone insulation abrasion in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator leads Riata/Riata ST. The manifestation of this phenomenon is the externalisation of conductors outside the body of the lead, which is visible in a fluoroscopy.

Role of left atrial speckle tracking echocardiography in predicting persistent atrial fibrillation electrical cardioversion success and sinus rhythm maintenance at 6 months.

Purpose: We assessed the value of left atrium speckle tracking imaging (STI) indices, and clinical and other echocardiographic parameters in persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) patients to predict the efficacy of electrical cardioversion (EC) and sinus rhythm (SR) maintenance at 6 months.

Material/methods: Eighty persistent AF patients planned to receive EC, underwent echocardiography including STI. After 24h, patients with successful EC were examined to predict SR maintenance.

Differentiation of arrhythmia originating from the right or left ventricular outflow tract based on the QRS morphology of premature ventricular beats and duration of repolarisation.

Background: Premature ventricular beats (PVBs) and monomorphic ventricular tachycardia originating from the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) are the most frequent forms of idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias, but arrhythmia originating from the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) may be found in about 10% of these patients.

Aim: To compare electrocardiographic (ECG) patterns and duration of repolarisation after PVBs originating from the left and right superior part of the interventricular septum which were successfully treated with radiofrequency catheter ablation.

Methods: We studied 62 patients who did not receive antiarrhythmic drug treatment before ablation, including 50 patients with RVOT arrhythmia (21 males, mean age 42 ± 14 years, left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] 61 ± 6%) and 12 patients with LVOT arrhythmia (3 males, mean age 41 ± 17 years, LVEF 59 ± 9%).

Prediction of infarct size by speckle tracking echocardiography in patients with anterior myocardial infarction.

Background: Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is based on tracing of pixel groups in grayness scale for the quantitative measurement of myocardium strain and myocardium strain rate. Recent data suggest that evaluation of STE could be a tool for myocardial function assessment similar to MRI.

Aim: To assess the predictive value of STE for the evaluation of infarct size in patients with anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Periprocedural and late complications after percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale: a single centre experience.

Background: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a potential risk factor for ischaemic stroke in young individuals. An interventional method of secondary stroke prevention in PFO patients is its percutaneous closure.

Aim: To assess safety and effectiveness (i.

Dynamicity of early and late phases of repolarization in patients with remote anterior myocardial infarction: the interlead differences.

Background: Repolarization dynamicity (QT/RR) is supposed to be a prognostic marker in post-MI patients. However, data on the relationships between early and late phases of QT and RR intervals (QT peak/RR and T peak-T end/RR) are insufficient, and which ECG lead should be used for the analysis is unclear. We analyzed repolarization dynamicity in patients after anterior MI with and without VT/VF history using two leads of Holter recordings- modified V(5) and V(3) .

Impact of atherosclerotic changes of carotid vessels on long-term outcome in relatively young patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Complex stenoses of coronary vessels as well as unstable plaques are part of the widespread atherosclerotic process.

Aim: The possible association between the incidence of unstable coronary artery disease (CAD) and the morphology of carotid artery wall and cardiovascular events (MACE) was assessed prospectively in a two-year follow-up study.

Methods And Results: Ninety-seven consecutive patients, aged under 60, admitted to hospital with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were included.

Percutaneous closure of the left atrial appendage to prevent ischaemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation who require but have contraindications to oral anticoagulation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with a five-fold increased risk for stroke due to cardioembolic events. Most strokes in patients with AF arise from thrombus formation in the left atrial appendage (LAA). Oral anticoagulation is a standard treatment of AF patients with high risk of stroke.

Value of speckle-tracking echocardiography for prediction of left ventricular remodeling in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated by primary percutaneous intervention.

Background: Left ventricular remodeling (LVr) is still common after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Early predictors of remodeling are being investigated. The aims of this study were to evaluate the prognostic value of speckle-tracking echocardiography for the prediction of LVr 3 months after primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with STEMI and to analyze the relationship between values of peak longitudinal strain of particular LV segments and relative changes of their subvolumes.