Impact of percutaneous coronary intervention on biomarker levels in patients in the subacute phase following myocardial infarction: the Occluded Artery Trial (OAT) biomarker ancillary study.

Background: The purpose of the Occluded Artery Trial (OAT) Biomarker substudy was to evaluate the impact of infarct related artery (IRA) revascularization on serial levels of N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and dynamics of other biomarkers related to left ventricular remodeling, fibrosis and angiogenesis.

Methods: Patients were eligible for OAT-Biomarker based on the main OAT criteria. Of 70 patients (age 60.

Heart failure in post-MI patients with persistent IRA occlusion: prevalence, risk factors, and the long-term effect of PCI in the Occluded Artery Trial (OAT).

Background: The incidence and predictors of heart failure (HF) after myocardial infarction (MI) with modern post-MI treatment have not been well characterized.

Methods And Results: A total of 2,201 stable patients with persistent infarct-related artery occlusion >24 hours after MI with left ventricular ejection fraction <50% and/or proximal coronary artery occlusion were randomized to percutaneous intervention plus optimal medical therapy (PCI) or optimal medical therapy (MED) alone. Centrally adjudicated HF hospitalizations for New York Heart Association (NYHA) III/IV HF and mortality were determined in patients with and without baseline HF, defined as a history of HF, Killip Class >I at index MI, rales, S3 gallop, NYHA II at randomization, or NYHA >I before index MI.

Characteristics of the heart failure population in Poland: ZOPAN, a multicentre national programme.

Background: It is difficult to define the optimal management of elderly heart failure (HF) patients with complex comorbidities. Thus, comprehensive characterisation of HF patients constitutes a crucial pre-condition for the successful management of this fragile population.

Aim: To analyse the 'real life' HF patients, including the evaluation of their health conditions, management and their use of public health resources.

[Atrial tachycardia ablated from the non-coronary aortic cusp].

We present a case of a patient with drug resistant atrial tachycardia which was ablated from the noncoronary aortic cusp. Tachycardia was adenosine-sensitive and was characterized by a long RP' interval and low amplitude P waves (biphasic in II, III, aVF and V1-V2 leads, and positive in aVL). The earliest atrial activation during tachycardia was recorded at His region and from non-coronary aortic sinus of Valsalva.

Treatment of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in West Pomerania province of Poland. Comparison between primary coronary intervention and thrombolytic therapy.

Introduction: The majority of randomised studies on reperfusion in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) show the advantage of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) over thrombolysis. However, the real world registers' data are not so unequivocal.

Aim: To evaluate the way acute STEMI is treated in West Pomerania province with emphasis on comparison of two reperfusion strategies, primary PCI vs thrombolytic therapy, in early and long-term perspective.

[Transposition of great vessels in Cantrell syndrome].

A case is presented of complete transposition of great vessels with atrial and ventricular septum defect and coarctation of the pulmonary artery in Cantrell syndrome. The Cantrell syndrome consists of: congenital heart disease, defect of pericardium, diaphragm, sternum, and anterior abdomen wall. In all cases of Cantrell syndrome described as yet ventricular septum defect was present alone or in combination with other intracardiac defects.

[A case of endocardial elastosis in a 5-week old infant].

A case is presented of fulminant endocardial elastosis in a 5-week-old infant. The baby died after four days from the appearance of the first pathological symptoms with evidence of extreme circulatory insufficiency. Of main importance for intravital diagnosis was echocardiographic examination.

[Mitral valve prolapse. Atrial stimulation, ajmaline test and "pharmacological denervation" in the evaluation of ventricular repolarization].

In patients with mitral valve prolapse syndrome (MVP) various electrophysiological abnormalities occur. There are convergent opinions concerning QT distance variability and the influence of autonomic nervous system on ventricular repolarization in this syndrome. In 38 MVP patients (group I) and 24 subjects without this abnormality (group II) ecg was recorded during transvenous right atrial pacing at baseline, after ajmaline administration and after pharmacological autonomic blockade (atropine + propranolol).