[Immunoadsorption in a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy. The first case in Hungary].

Dilated cardiomyopathy is the main cause of heart transplantation. The etiology is unknown in almost half of the cases. Many cardiac specific antibodies have been identified till now which can cause decreased cardiac function, ventricular tachycardia or sudden heart death.

Circulating ACE2 activity correlates with cardiovascular disease development.

It was shown recently that angiotensin-converting enzyme activity is limited by endogenous inhibition in vivo, highlighting the importance of angiotensin II (ACE2) elimination. The potential contribution of the ACE2 to cardiovascular disease progression was addressed. Serum ACE2 activities were measured in different clinical states (healthy, n=45; hypertensive, n=239; heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) n=141 and HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) n=47).

The effect of sleep apnea on QT interval, QT dispersion, and arrhythmias.

Background: QT interval (QT) and QT dispersion (QTd) are electrocardiograph (ECG) parameters for the evaluation of myocardial repolarization. The inhomogeneity of ventricular repolarization is associated with ventricular arrhythmias. An increased QT, QTd, and increased incidence of nocturnal cardiac rhythm disturbances have been described in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), while other investigators did not find a relationship between ventricular arrhythmias and OSA.

[Arrhythmias in patients with obstructive sleep apnea].

The authors summarize the current knowledge on the types, prevalence, reasons, diagnosis and current therapy of arrhythmias occurring in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Most of the patients with obstructive sleep apnea have nocturnal bradycardia (5-50%), paroxysmal tachyarrhythmia (atrial 35%; ventricular 0-15%), or both. The frequency of rhythm disturbances associated with the severity of the sleeping disorder.