[Effect of the optimal neurohormonal blockade on long-term survival in patients with chronic heart failure].

Background: In recent years large scale clinical trials have cleary shown that a number of pharmacological treatments can improve the outcomes of patients (pts) with chronic heart failure (CHF).

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of optimal neurohormal blockade in pts with chronic heart failure on survival during 12 month follow-up.

Methods: We analyzed data on 489 pts in NYHA II-IV class of HF, referred to our Dept.

The prognostic value of renal dysfunction in patients with chronic heart failure: 12-month follow-up.

Introduction: Renal function assessment is an important element of management and therapeutic decision-making in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

Aim: To evaluate the prognostic value of renal dysfunction in patients with CHF in 12-month follow-up.

Methods: 639 consecutive patients hospitalised in our department from 1 July 2002 to 31 December 2003 with diagnosis of CHF (NYHA II-IV), based on medical records, were initially enrolled in the study.

[Value of electrocardiographic treadmill test for rate control strategy in permanent atrial fibrillation].

Aim: of our study was to determine the correlation between physical activity tolerance assesed by exercise tolerance test (ETT) and dynamics of change of echocardiographic parameters of left atrium (LA) and left ventricle (LV) in standard transtoracic echocardiography (TTE) in long-term follow up of patients with persistent nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF).

Materials And Methods: We studied 67 patients (W/M: 23/44; mean age 63.2 +/- 7.

[Unfortunate outcome of subsequent vascular complications in female patients assigned to percutaneous coronary intervention -- case report].

We present a case of a 58-year-old female who underwent elective PCI of the left anterior descending coronary artery. The procedure was complicated by vessel dissections and myocardial infarction. Cardiogenic shock complicated acute coronary syndrome required intraaortic balloon pumping what led to descending aortic dissection successfully treated with stent-graft implantation.

Impact of sinus rhythm restoration and maintenance on left ventricular function and exercise tolerance in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.

Background: Although early improvement of haemodynamic parameters following successful cardioversion of atrial fibrillation (AF) has been well documented, the long-term benefits of sinus rhythm (SR) restoration are less obvious, mainly due to a high rate of AF relapses.

Aim: To determine the impact of SR restoration and maintenance on exercise tolerance and heart failure progression in patients with persistent non-valvular AF during a one year follow-up period.

Methods And Results: We studied 104 patients (33 females, 71 males, mean age 60.

[Influence of sinus rhythm restoration and maintenance on left ventricle diameter and function in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation--one year follow-up].

Unlabelled: Aim of our study was to determine the dynamics of selected echocardiographic parameters after sinus rhythm (SR) restoration and maintenance in pts with persistent nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) during one year follow-up period.

Material And Methods: Our study population comprised 104 pts (F/M 33/71; mean age 60.4 +/- 7.

Differences between cardiologists and internists in the management of heart failure. Medical guidelines compared with every-day practice.

Background: A marked progress in the treatment of chronic heart failure (CHF) took place during the last decade. Large, randomised studies documented the role of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) and beta-blockers in the reduction of mortality and morbidity in CHF.

Aim: To assess differences in the management of CHF patients between cardiologists and internists.

Serum troponin I and myoglobin after monophasic versus biphasic transthoracic shocks for cardioversion of persistent atrial fibrillation.

This study compared the effects of standard monophasic versus biphasic direct current shocks for cardioversion of atrial fibrillation (AF) on the release of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and myoglobin (Myo). We randomized 48 patients with persistent AF (mean age = 61.4 +/- 10.

[Treatment of heart failure: guidelines compared to clinical practice].

Unlabelled: Last decade brought great development in the treatment of patients with heart failure (HF). General use of angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) in patients with asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction or with HF significantly reduced morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess how the specialists from Cardiology Department and Gastroenterology Department think that heart failure should be managed, how they implement their knowledge and if it is consistent with the recommendation of European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and whether differences exists in practice between specialists.

[Myoglobin and troponin I as markers of myocardial damage during cardioversion of atrial fibrillation].

Unlabelled: We performed direct comparison of safety and efficacy of monophasic and biphasic shock cardioversion (CV) of atrial fibrillation (AF). Troponin I (cTnl) and myoglobin (My) were used as markers of potential myocardial and skeletal muscle damage during the procedure.

Methods: 63 patients (p.

[Role amiodarone in sinus rhythm maintenance after successful cardioversion in patients with chronic non-valvular atrial fibrillation].

Unlabelled: Antiarrhythmic drugs prophylaxis may improve late outcome of electrical cardioversion (CV) in persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). We conducted a prospective study of the efficacy of sequential antiarrhythmic drug therapy in sinus rhythm (SR) maintenance after a successful elective CV in patients (pts) with persistent nonvalvular AF. Investigated group and methods.