[Stress kardiomyopathy triggered by unusual situation].

Stress - “takotsubo” cardiomyopathy - is a reversible mimicking acute myocardial infarction. The trigger is extreme mental or physical stress. The main diagnostic examination is ventriculography with typical left ventricle apical ballooning wall motion abnormality.

[Acute limb ischemia due to paradoxical embolism treated with systemic thrombolysis].

We present a case report of a patient with acute upper and lower limb ischemia due to paradoxical embolism. A 67-year old woman without history of venous thromboembolism suffered dislocated patellar fracture requiring surgery in November 2017. Two months after surgery she presented to the emergency room with bilateral pulmonary embolism, occlusion of the left subclavian artery, left common femoral artery and superior mesenteric artery.

Prognostic value of echocardiography and ECG in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate characteristics of patients with heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) and to assess prognostic predictors in 2-year follow-up.

Methods: We included prospectively 109 patients admitted to the internal department for HF, grouped into HFPEF (EF>40 %, n = 63) and HF with reduced EF (HFREF) (EF≤40 %, n=46). Preserved right ventricular systolic function (PRV) was defined as the peak systolic tricuspid annular velocity (S') >10.

Right ventricular systolic dysfunction and its prognostic value in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Objective: The prognostic impact of right ventricular systolic dysfunction (RVSD) in heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) is not sufficiently understood. This pilot study evaluates the prevalence and prognostic impact of RVSD in HFPEF.

Methods: Ninety-five consecutive patients, admitted due to HF within one year were included and followed up for 12 months.

[Changes in NT-proBNP levels in patients with atrial fibrillation related to heart failure].

Introduction: NT-proBNP, a well-established diagnostic and prognostic marker in clinical practice, is significantly elevated in individuals with atrial fibrillation (AF), even in absence of heart failure or major structural heart disease.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the cut-off value of NT-proBNP for diagnosis of heart failure in individuals with atrial fibrillation.

Methods: We compared 44 patients (25 male/19 female) with AF and concomitant overt heart failure [age 76 (62-82) years; median (interquartile range - IQR)] versus 29 patients (16 male/13 female) with AF with no signs of heart failure [age 59 (50-67) years; median (IQR)].