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Purpose Clinical practice forces the necessity to conduct a clinical trial concerning the group of outpatients with chronically advanced heart failure in III or IV NYHA functional class, frequently requiring hospitalizations due to HF exacerbation, and often left without any additional therapeutic option. The current trial aims to determine the efficacy and safety of repeated levosimendan infusions in the group of severe outpatients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Material and methods LEIA-HF (LEvosimendan In Ambulatory Heart Failure Patients) is a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 4 clinical trial to determine whether the repetitive use of levosimendan reduces the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events in ambulatory patients with chronic, advanced HFrEF. A total of 350 patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either levosimendan or placebo, which will be administered as continuous 24 ​h infusions, every 4 weeks for 48 weeks (12 infusions in total – phase I), and followed by double-blind 6 visits, every 4 weeks (phase II of the trial including the option of restarting levosimendan or placebo, based on the fulfillment of additional criteria). The primary endpoint for efficacy assessment will be death from any cause or unplanned hospitalization for HF assessed together, whichever occurs first, in a 12-month follow-up period. Conclusions A well-designed study with a consistent protocol, including the drug side effects, comprehensive clinical assessment, appropriate definition of endpoints, and monitoring therapy, may provide a complete overview of the effectiveness and safety profile of the repetitive levosimendan administration in ambulatory severe HFrEF patients.

Background: Although the lungs are potentially highly susceptible to post-cardiac arrest syndrome injury, the issue of acute respiratory failure after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest has not been investigated. The objectives of this analysis were to determine the prevalence of acute respiratory failure after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, its association with post-cardiac arrest syndrome inflammatory response and to clarify its importance for early mortality. Methods: The Post-Cardiac Arrest Syndrome (PCAS) pilot study was a prospective, observational, six-centre project (Poland 2, Denmark 1, Spain 1, Italy 1, UK 1), studying patients resuscitated after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest of cardiac origin. Primary outcomes were: (a) the profile of organ failure within the first 72 hours after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest; (b) in-hospital and short-term mortality, up to 30 days of follow-up. Respiratory failure was defined using a modified version of the Berlin acute respiratory distress syndrome definition. Inflammatory response was defined using leukocytes (white blood cells), platelet count and C-reactive protein concentration. All parameters were assessed every 24 hours, from admission until 72 hours of stay. Results: Overall, 148 patients (age 62.9±15.27 years; 27.7% women) were included. Acute respiratory failure was noted in between 50 (33.8%) and 75 (50.7%) patients over the first 72 hours. In-hospital and short-term mortality was 68 (46.9%) and 72 (48.6%), respectively. Inflammation was significantly associated with the risk of acute respiratory failure, with the highest cumulative odds ratio of 748 at 72 hours (C-reactive protein 1.035 (1.001–1.070); 0.043, white blood cells 1.086 (1.039–1.136); 0.001, platelets 1.004 (1.001–1.007); Conclusions: An inflammatory response is significantly associated with acute respiratory failure early after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Acute respiratory failure is associated with a worse early prognosis after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Background: Balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) may be considered a bridge to further intervention in hemodynamically unstable patients or patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS). Aims: This study aimed to retrospectively compare periprocedural and in‑hospital outcomes of AS patients treated with elective BAV (group 1) and rescue BAV (group 2). Methods: We identified 35 patients in whom BAV was performed between 2010 and 2018. Among them, 16 were treated electively (group 1) and 19 urgently (group 2). Results: Overall, BAV resulted in a significant decrease in the mean transaortic gradient by a median (interquartile range [IQR]) value of 5 (1–10) mm Hg (P

Levosimendan is a new inodilator which involves 3 main mechanisms: increases the calcium sensitivity of cardiomyocytes, acts as a vasodilator due to the opening of potassium channels, and has a cardioprotective effect. Levosimendan is mainly used in the treatment of acute decompensated heart failure (class IIb recommendation according to the European Society of Cardiology guidelines). However, numerous clinical trials indicate the validity of repeated infusions of levosimendan in patients with stable heart failure as a bridge therapy to heart transplantation, and in patients with accompanying right ventricular heart failure and pulmonary hypertension. Due to the complex mechanism of action, including the cardioprotective and anti- -aggregating effect, the use of levosimendan may be particularly beneficial in acute coronary syndromes, preventing the occurrence of acute heart failure. There are data indicating that levosimendan administered prior to cardiac surgery may improve outcomes in patients with severely impaired left ventricular function. The multidirectional mechanism of action also affects other organs and systems. The positive effect of levosimendan in the treatment of cardiorenal and cardiohepatic syndromes has been shown. It has a safe and predictable profile of action, does not induce tolerance, and shows no adverse effects affecting patients survival or prognosis. However, with inconclusive results of previous studies, there is aneed for awell-designed multicenter randomized placebo-‑controlled study, including an adequately large group of outpatients with chronic advanced systolic heart failure.

Background: Targeted temperature management (TTM) is used to treat patients after sudden out‑of‑hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Aims: The aim of the study was to compare the results of TTM between intensive general and cardiac care units (ICCUs). Methods: The Polish Registry of Therapeutic Hypothermia obtained data on 377 patients with OHCA from 26 centers (257 and 120 patients treated at the ICCU and intensive care unit [ICU], respectively). Eligibility for TTM was based on the current inclusion criteria for therapy. Medical history as well as data on TTM and additional treatment were analyzed. The main outcomes included in‑hospital survival and complications as well as neurologic assessment using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and Rankin scale. Results: Both ICU and ICCU patients were mostly male (mean age, 60 years). There were no significant differences regarding the medical history, mechanism of arrhythmia responsible for OHCA, GCS score on admission, time of cardiopulmonary resuscitation activities, and the time to target temperature (33°C). Coronary angiography and the use of dual antiplatelet therapy, intra‑aortic balloon pump, intravascular hypothermia, dopamine, and dobutamine were more common in ICCU patients, while ICU patients more often received norepinephrine. Pneumonia and acute renal failure were more frequent in the ICCU group. Death occurred in 17% and 20% of ICU and ICCU patients, respectively (P = 0.57). The Rankin class after 48 hours since discontinuation of sedation and at discharge was comparable between groups. Conclusions: The ICCU has become a considerable alternative to the ICU to treat OHCA patients with TTM.

Objective: To analyze characteristics, management and outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) receiving chronic oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy enrolled in the EPICOR (long-tErm follow-uP of antithrombotic management patterns In acute CORonary syndrome patients) prospective, international, observational study of antithrombotic management patterns in ACS survivors (NCT01171404). Methods: This post-hoc analysis evaluated the association between OAC use at baseline (OACb) and time from hospital admission to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (tHA-PCI), pre-PCI thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) 3 flow, stent type, length of hospitalization, and clinical endpoints; death, non-fatal MI, and non-fatal stroke, a composite of these ± bleeding, over 2 years’ followup. Results: Of 10,568 ACS patients, 345 (3.3%) were on OACb (non-ST-segment elevation ACS [NSTEACS], n=268; ST-segment elevation MI [STEMI], n=77). OACb patients were older with more comorbidities. In NSTE-ACS OACb patients, tHA-PCI was longer (median 57.4 vs. 27.8 h; p=.008), and TIMI 3 flow rarer (26.0 vs. 33.5%; p=0.035). OACb patients had longer mean hospital stay (NSTEACS: 8.9 vs. 7.6 days; p Conclusion: At 2-years, OACb use was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and bleeding events in STEMI and NSTE-ACS. NSTE-ACS patients on OACb experienced prolonged time to intervention, lower rates of TIMI 3 flow and longer hospitalization.

Patient: Female, 67-year-old Final Diagnosis: Heart failure Symptoms: Chest pain • dyspnoea • poor exercise tolerance Medication: — Clinical Procedure: Intraoartic baloon pump insertion – new technique Specialty: Cardiac surgery Objective: Management of emergency care Background: The use of an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) in patients with advanced heart failure can provide interim mechanical support as a bridge to further treatment, including cardiac transplantation. The femoral artery, axillary artery, and subclavian artery are the main approaches to IABP catheter placement. A case is reported of the use of a left external iliac artery approach to IABP catheter placement using a subcutaneous channel in a patient with chronic heart failure. Case Report: A 67-year-old woman presented with a history of heart failure. She had New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Class IV symptoms. The patient had a history of chronic heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 25%, severe mitral regurgitation, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, and hypothyroidism. Immediate pharmacological treatment began, and an IABP catheter was initially inserted using femoral artery access. During 115 days of hospital treatment, several unsuccessful attempts were made to remove the IABP catheter. Due to prolonged patient immobility, the IABP catheter access was changed from the femoral artery to the external iliac artery. A prosthetic Dacron graft and a subcutaneous channel were used. Optimal pharmacotherapy commenced, and the patient underwent rehabilitation and mobilization with significant improvement in cardiac function. At 195 days after changing the IABP catheter access, the patient underwent successful heart transplantation. Conclusions: This report demonstrated that in a patient with chronic heart failure requiring long-term femoral IABP catheter placement, an external iliac artery approach using a subcutaneous channel provided a bridge to cardiac transplantation.

Aims The objective was to evaluate the clinical characteristics, management and two-year outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation at risk for stroke in Nordic countries. Methods We examined the baseline characteristics, antithrombotic treatment, and two-year clinical outcomes of patients from four Nordic countries. Results A total of 52,080 patients were enrolled in the GARFIELD-AF. Out of 29,908 European patients, 2,396 were recruited from Nordic countries. The use of oral anticoagulants, alone or in combination with antiplatelet (AP), was higher in Nordic patients in all CHA2DS2-VASc categories: 0–1 (72.8% vs 60.3%), 2–3 (78.7% vs 72.9%) and ≥4 (79.2% vs 74.1%). In Nordic patients, NOAC ± AP was more frequently prescribed (32.0% vs 27.7%) and AP monotherapy was less often prescribed (10.4% vs 18.2%) when compared with Non-Nordic European patients. The rates (per 100 patient years) of all-cause mortality and non-haemorrhagic stroke/systemic embolism (SE) were similar in Nordic and Non-Nordic European patients [3.63 (3.11–4.23) vs 4.08 (3.91–4.26), p value = .147] and [0.98 (0.73–1.32) vs 1.02 (0.93–1.11), p value = .819], while major bleeding was significantly higher [1.66 (1.32–2.09) vs 1.01 (0.93–1.10), p value

Data regarding venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) as a temporary circulatory support in cardiogenic shock (CS) for Central Europe are scarce.The aim of the study was to disclose indications, in-hospital, and long-term (1-year) mortality along with risk factors.The study is a retrospective investigation of patients who underwent VA ECMO for CS at a cardiosurgical tertiary center, from January 2013 to June 2018. A broad spectrum of pre- and postimplantation factors was tested using univariable analysis.A total of 198 patients met the inclusion criteria. The median (interquartile range) duration of support was 207 (91–339) hours, with no significant disparity among hospital survivors and nonsurvivors (P = 0.09). A total of 40.4% of patients died during ECMO support, while the joined in-hospital and 6-month mortality progressed to 65.2%, and 1-year mortality to 67.2%; 9% underwent a subsequent heart transplantation. Main adverse events were bleeding (76%), infection (56%), neurologic injury (15%), and limb ischemia (15%). Multiorgan failure was the most decisive risk factor of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio, 4.45; P⁠0.001). Patients with postcardiotomy CS had a significantly lower out-of-hospital survival rate than the nonsurgical group (32.3% vs 45%; log-rank P = 0.037).The study showed survival benefit, despite frequent complications. The protocol focusing on proper candidate selection and timing can positively impact patient survival. Additional risk reduction can be achieved with a further increase of the team experience with ECMO.

Oral anticoagulants (OACs) are widely used for prevention of systemic thromboembolism, including the reduction of the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and prosthetic heart valves. There is also an increasing population of patients who require not only OACs, but also double antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). A typical example is a patient with AF and stable coronary artery disease or acute coronary syndrome (ACS), treated by percutaneous coronary intervention. In recent years, with the introduction of NOACs, triple or dual therapy has become safer. Regardless of these indications for the use of NOACs, rivaroxaban at a reduced dose has proved to efficiently reduce the risk of further thrombotic events when added to DAPT in patients who have suffered an ACS. However, such therapy increases the incidence of bleeding complications. Interesting was also the potential impact of the pleiotropic mechanism of action of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) through protease‑activated receptors 1 and 2, present on the platelets and many other cells, and changing the course of arterial atherosclerosis. The COMPASS trial has shown that in the group treated with rivaroxaban combined with aspirin, the primary outcome (cardiovascular death, stroke, and myocardial infarction) occurred significantly less frequently than in the group treated only with aspirin. However, a significantly higher number of bleedings was observed. In the subgroup of patients with peripheral artery disease, a significant reduction of the incidence of amputations was shown. The outcomes of the COMPASS trial might be a breakthrough in the treatment of coronary and peripheral atherosclerosis.

© 2021 The Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/., The World Heart Federation (WHF) commenced a Roadmap initiative in 2015 to reduce the global burden of cardiovascular disease and resultant burgeoning of healthcare costs. Roadmaps provide a blueprint for implementation of priority solutions for the principal cardiovascular diseases leading to death and disability. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of these conditions and is an increasing problem due to ageing of the world's population and an increase in cardiovascular risk factors that predispose to AF. The goal of the AF roadmap was to provide guidance on priority interventions that are feasible in multiple countries, and to identify roadblocks and potential strategies to overcome them. Since publication of the AF Roadmap in 2017, there have been many technological advances including devices and artificial intelligence for identification and prediction of unknown AF, better methods to achieve rhythm control, and widespread uptake of smartphones and apps that could facilitate new approaches to healthcare delivery and increasing community AF awareness. In addition, the World Health Organisation added the non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) to the Essential Medicines List, making it possible to increase advocacy for their widespread adoption as therapy to prevent stroke. These advances motivated the WHF to commission a 2020 AF Roadmap update. Three years after the original Roadmap publication, the identified barriers and solutions were judged still relevant, and progress has been slow. This 2020 Roadmap update reviews the significant changes since 2017 and identifies priority areas for achieving the goals of reducing death and disability related to AF, particularly targeted at low-middle income countries. These include advocacy to increase appreciation of the scope of the problem; plugging gaps in guideline management and prevention through physician education, increasing patient health literacy, and novel ways to increase access to integrated healthcare including mHealth and digital transformations; and greater emphasis on achieving practical solutions to national and regional entrenched barriers. Despite the advances reviewed in this update, the task will not be easy, but the health rewards of implementing solutions that are both innovative and practical will be great.

Background: Prompt reperfusion and post-resuscitation care, including targeted temperature management (TTM), improve survival in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients. To predict inhospital mortality in OHCA patients treated with TTM, the Polish Hypothermia Registry Risk Score (PHR-RS) was developed. The use of dedicated risk stratification tools may support treatment decisions. Methods: Three hundred seventy-six OHCA patients who underwent TTM between 2012 and 2016 were retrospectively analysed and whose data were collected in the Polish Hypothermia Registry. A multivariate logistic regression model identified a set of predictors of in-hospital mortality that were used to develop a dedicated risk prediction model, which was tested for accuracy. Results: The mean age of the studied population was 59.2 ± 12.9 years. 80% of patients were male, 73.8% had shockable rhythms, and mean time from cardiac arrest (CA) to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was 7.2 ± 8.6 min. The inputs for PHR-RS were patient age and score according to the Mild Therapeutic Hypothermia (MTH) Scale. Criteria for the MTH score consisted of time from CA to CPR above 10 min, time from CA to the return of spontaneous circulation above 20 min, in-hospital CA, unwitnessed CA, and non-shockable rhythm, each counted as 1 point. The predictive value of PHR-RS was expressed as an area under the curve of 0.74. Conclusions: PHR-RS is one of the simplest and easiest models to use and enables a reliable prediction of in-hospital mortality in OHCA patients treated with TTM.

Objectives: No standardized algorithm exists to identify patients at risk of bleeding after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The aim of this study was to generate and validate a useful predictive model. Background: Bleeding events after TAVR influence prognosis and quality of life and may be preventable. Methods: Using machine learning and multivariate regression, more than 100 clinical variables from 5,185 consecutive patients undergoing TAVR in the prospective multicenter RISPEVA (Registro Italiano GISE sull'Impianto di Valvola Aortica Percutanea; NCT02713932) registry were analyzed in relation to Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 bleeding episodes at 1 month. The model's performance was externally validated in 5,043 TAVR patients from the prospective multicenter POL-TAVI (Polish Registry of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) database. Results: Derivation analyses generated a 6-item score (PREDICT-TAVR) comprising blood hemoglobin and serum iron concentrations, oral anticoagulation and dual antiplatelet therapy, common femoral artery diameter, and creatinine clearance. The 30-day area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.80 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.75–0.83). Internal validation by optimism bootstrap-corrected AUC was 0.79 (95% CI: 0.75–0.83). Score quartiles were in graded relation to 30-day events (0.8%, 1.1%, 2.5%, and 8.5%; overall p

The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the Field-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) examined real-world practice in a total of 57,149 (5069 retrospective, 52,080 prospective) patients with newly diagnosed AF at risk of stroke/systemic embolism, enrolled at over 1000 centers in 35 countries. It aimed to capture data on AF burden, patients’ clinical profile, patterns of clinical practice and antithrombotic management, focusing on stroke/systemic embolism prevention, uptake of new oral anticoagulants, impact on death and bleeding. GARFIELD-AF set new standards for quality of data collection and analysis. A total of 36 peer-reviewed articles were already published and 73 abstracts presented at international congresses, covering treatment strategies, geographical variations in baseline risk and therapies, adverse outcomes and common comorbidities such as heart failure. A risk prediction tool as well as innovative observational studies and artificial intelligence methodologies are currently being developed by GARFIELD-AF researchers. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT01090362 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

Background: Women are more likely to suffer and die from cardiogenic shock (CS) as the most severe complication of acute myocardial infarction. Data concerning optimal management for women with CS are scarce. Aim of this study was to better define characteristics of women experiencing CS and to the influence of sex on different treatment strategies. Methods: In the CULPRIT-SHOCK trial (The Culprit Lesion Only PCI Versus Multivessel PCI in Cardiogenic Shock), patients with CS complicating acute myocardial infarction and multivessel coronary artery disease were randomly assigned to one of the following revascularization strategies: either percutaneous coronary intervention of the culprit-lesion-only or immediate multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention. Primary end point was composite of death from any cause or severe renal failure leading to renal replacement therapy within 30 days. We investigated sex-specific differences in general and according to the revascularization strategies. Results: Among all 686 randomized patients included in the analysis, 24% were women. Women were older and had more often diabetes mellitus and renal insufficiency, whereas they had less often history of previous acute myocardial infarction and smoking. After 30 days, the primary clinical end point was not significantly different between groups (56% women versus 49% men; odds ratio, 1.29 [95% CI, 0.91–1.84]; P =0.15). There was no interaction between sex and coronary revascularization strategy regarding mortality and renal failure ( P interaction =0.11). The primary end point occurred in 56% of women treated by the culprit-lesion-only strategy versus 42% men, whereas 55% of women and 55% of men in the multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention group. Conclusions: Although women presented with a different risk profile, mortality and renal replacement were similar to men. Sex did not influence mortality and renal failure according to the different coronary revascularization strategies. Based on these data, women and men presenting with CS complicating acute myocardial infarction and multivessel coronary artery disease should not be treated differently. However, further randomized trials powered to address potential sex-specific differences in CS are still necessary. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT01927549.

Aims Guidelines do not recommend to take pattern of atrial fibrillation (AF) into account for the indication of anticoagulation (AC). We assessed AF pattern and the risk of cardiovascular events during 2-years of follow-up. Methods and results We categorized AF as paroxysmal, persistent, or permanent in 29 181 patients enrolled (2010–15) in the Global Anticoagulant Registry In the FIELD of AF (GARFIELD-AF). We used multivariable Cox regression to assess the risks of stroke/systemic embolism (SE) and death across patterns of AF, and whether this changed with AC on outcomes. Atrial fibrillation pattern was paroxysmal in 14 344 (49.2%), persistent in 8064 (27.6%), and permanent 6773 (23.2%) patients. Median CHA2DS2-VASc, GARFIELD-AF, and HAS-BLED scores assessing the risk of stroke/SE and/or bleeding were similar across AF patterns, but the risk of death, as assessed by the GARFIELD-AF risk calculator, was higher in non-paroxysmal than in paroxysmal AF patterns. During 2-year follow-up, after adjustment, non-paroxysmal AF patterns were associated with significantly higher rates of all-cause death, stroke/SE, and new/worsening congestive heart failure (CHF) than paroxysmal AF in non-anticoagulated patients only. In anticoagulated patients, a significantly higher risk of death but not of stroke/SE and new/worsening CHF persisted in non-paroxysmal compared with paroxysmal AF patterns. Conclusion In non-anticoagulated patients, non-paroxysmal AF patterns were associated with higher risks of stroke/SE, new/worsening HF and death than paroxysmal AF. In anticoagulated patients, the risk of stroke/SE and new/worsening HF was similar across all AF patterns. Thus AF pattern is no longer prognostic for stroke/SE when patients are treated with anticoagulants. Clinical Trial Registration URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01090362.

The increased risk of non-cardiovascular death in patients receiving clopidogrel or prasugrel in comparison with the placebo group in the dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) trial in contrast to the decreased risk of cardiovascular death and all-cause death seen in patients treated with low-dose ticagrelor in the EU label population of the PEGASUS-TIMI 54 trial, resulted in inclusion in the 2020 ESC NSTE-ACS guidelines the recommendation for use of clopidogrel or prasugrel only if the patient is not eligible for treatment with ticagrelor. The prevalence of the primary outcome composed of cardiovascular death, stroke, or myocardial infarction was lower in the low-dose rivaroxaban and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) group than in the ASA-alone group in the COMPASS trial. Moreover, all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality rates were lower in the rivaroxaban-plus-ASA group. Comparison of the PEGASUS-TIMI 54 and COMPASS trial patient characteristics clearly shows that each of these treatment strategies should be addressed at different groups of patients. A greater benefit in post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with a high risk of ischemic events and without high bleeding risk may be expected with ASA and ticagrelor 60 mg b.i.d. when the therapy is continued without interruption or with short interruption only after ACS. On the other hand, ASA and rivaroxaban 2.5 mg b.i.d. seems to be a better option when indications for dual antithrombotic treatment (DATT) appear after a longer time from ACS (more than two years) and/or from cessation of DAPT (more than one year) and in patients with multiple vascular bed atherosclerosis. Thus, both options of DATTs complement each other rather than compete, as can be presumed from the recommendations. However, a direct comparison between these strategies should be tested in future clinical trials.

This paper provides an update on the European Society of Cardiology task force report on the management of chest pain. Its main purpose is to provide an update on the decision algorithms and diagnostic pathways to be used in the emergency department for the assessment and triage of patients with chest pain symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndromes.

Nowadays, the intensive cardiac care unit (ICCU) provides care for patients with acute coronary syndrome, acute and exacerbated chronic heart failure, cardiogenic shock, sudden cardiac arrest, electrical storm, as well as with indications for urgent cardiac surgical treatment. Most of these patients require the use of 1, 2, or frequently even 3 drugs that act on the blood coagulation pathway. While antithrombotic drugs prevent thromboembolic events, they are associated with a higher risk of bleeding. In this population of patients, bleeding may often have a worse impact on prognosis than the primary disease. In this expert opinion of the Association of Intensive Cardiac Care, we presented practical guidelines on the management of bleeding in patients hospitalized at the ICCU, including bleeding risk reduction and treatment recommendations. Because of multiple comorbidities and diverse organs that may be the source of bleeding, we provided also recommendations from specialists in other fields of medicine. We hope that this document will facilitate the management of one of the most challenging populations at the ICCU.

Patient: Female, 25 Final Diagnosis: Peripartum cardiomyopathy Symptoms: Fatigue • orthopnoea • pulmonary edema • tachycardia Medication: — Clinical Procedure: — Specialty: Cardiology Objective: Unknown ethiology Background: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a potentially life-threatening, pregnancy-associated cause of heart failure affecting previously healthy women. Recent research suggests a possible role of 16-kDa prolactin in promoting cardiomyocyte damage. However, the genetic predisposition is not well recognized. Case Report: We report the case of a 25-year-old woman with a severe course of PPCM with left ventricle ejection fraction of 25–30%, complicated by ventricular arrhythmia and postpartum thyroiditis. As no traditional risk factors of PPCM were identified, the patient was referred for genetic testing. Next-generation sequencing revealed a novel titin gene-truncating mutation NM_001267550: p.Leu23499fs/c.70497_40498insT in the proband as well as in her mother. In the patient, a very late recovery >12 months postpartum was observed, which required long-term medical treatment with bromocriptine. Conclusions: PPCM may occur in women with the genetic predisposition, being modified by an interaction of biological factors, such as a high prolactin level, a ventricular arrhythmia, and an autoimmune disorder. Recovery from severe heart failure due to an inherited cardiomyopathy is possible with careful and appropriate medical management.

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is recommended prophylaxis after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The usefulness of platelet reactivity (PLTR) tests in predicting the safety of periprocedural DAPT in the TAVI population is unknown.To analyze the value of aspirin/clopidogrel PLTR testing in predicting the risk of in-hospital TAVI-related bleeding.PLTR, expressed as P2YOverall, 100 patients undergoing TAVI were included; 30 (30%) had bleeding. Clopidogrel PLTR before TAVI (area under the curve [AUC] 0.686, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.542-0.808; P=0.02) and after TAVI (AUC 0.970, 95% CI 0.904-0.995; P0.001) correlated with bleeding, with PRU cut-off values of ≤204 and ≤124 as bleeding predictors, respectively. A significant periprocedural decrease in clopidogrel PLTR was noted, with a PRU drop of78 as bleeding predictor (AUC 0.851, 95% CI 0.725-0.935; P0.001). Only postprocedural aspirin PLTR was associated with bleeding (AUC 0.697, 95% CI 0.585-0.794; P=0.008). Follow-up (359±73 days after TAVI) included 85 patients (85%) (after exclusion for in-hospital death [n=4] and lack of contact [n=11]). Major bleeding was noted in four patients (4.7%), all on combined prophylaxis.TAVI-related bleeding occurs mainly during the procedure or in the early postprocedural period. Testing of periprocedural clopidogrel PLTR, but not aspirin PLTR, seems useful because of its predictive value for TAVI-related bleeding. PLTR testing suggests that premedication with clopidogrel, enhanced response to clopidogrel early after TAVI and significant periprocedural drop in clopidogrel PLTR might increase the risk of TAVI-related bleeding.

Background The post-cardiac arrest (CA) period is often associated with secondary damage of the brain that leads to severe neurological deficits. The current practice guidelines recommend the use of therapeutic hypothermia (TH) to prevent neurological deficit and improve survival. Objectives The aim of the study was to investigate the implementation of medical guidelines in clinical practice and to evaluate the barriers for implementation of TH in cardiology units in Poland. Material and methods A telephone survey, fax and online inquiry form were used to assess the implementation of TH in cardiology units in the management of unconscious patients after cardiac arrest (CA). The questions addressed the local practice, TH protocol, reasons for not using TH and outcomes of CA patients. Results We obtained information from 79 units out of 150 asked (53%). At the time of the survey, 24 units (30.8%) were using TH as part of their post-CA management. Of all CA patients, 45% underwent TH in cardiac intensive care units (CICU), 37.5% in the coronary care unit (CCU) and 12.5% in the intensive care unit (ICU). The major barrier for the implementation of TH declared by the non-cooling centers was lack of sufficient knowledge regarding the technique and protocol, as well as experience (37%); access to dedicated equipment was not perceived as an obstacle. Conclusions The number of cardiology units that provide TH for comatose CA patients is low. The main limiting factor for wider use of TH is lack of knowledge and experience. There is a clear need for urgent educational activities for cardiology units. The benefits of TH still have not reached their potential in cardiology units.

International audience; Acute cardiovascular care has progressed considerably since the last position paper was published 10 years ago. It is now a well-defined, complex field with demanding multidisciplinary teamworking. The Acute Cardiovascular Care Association has provided this update of the 2005 position paper on acute cardiovascular care organisation, using a multinational working group. The patient population has changed, and intensive cardiovascular care units now manage a large range of conditions from those simply requiring specialised monitoring, to critical cardiovascular diseases with associated multi-organ failure. To describe better intensive cardiovascular care units case mix, acuity of care has been divided into three levels, and then defining intensive cardiovascular care unit functional organisation. For each level of intensive cardiovascular care unit, this document presents the aims of the units, the recommended management structure, the optimal number of staff, the need for specially trained cardiologists and cardiovascular nurses, the desired equipment and architecture, and the interaction with other departments in the hospital and other intensive cardiovascular care units in the region/area. This update emphasises cardiologist training, referring to the recently updated Acute Cardiovascular Care Association core curriculum on acute cardiovascular care. The training of nurses in acute cardiovascular care is additionally addressed. Intensive cardiovascular care unit expertise is not limited to within the unit's geographical boundaries, extending to different specialties and subspecialties of cardiology and other specialties in order to optimally manage the wide scope of acute cardiovascular conditions in frequently highly complex patients. This position paper therefore addresses the need for the inclusion of acute cardiac care and intensive cardiovascular care units within a hospital network, linking university medical centres, large community hospitals, and smaller hospitals with more limited capabilities.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in developed countries, including Poland. Antithrom­botic drugs play a crucial role in the management of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Recent clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy and safety profiles of new antiplatelet and anticoagulant agents, which may be used as add-on therapy or replacements for older drugs. The long-tErm follow-uP of antithrombotic management patterns In acute CORonary syndrome patients (EPICOR) is a prospective international observational study (NCT01171404) designed to describe the use of antithrombotic management strategies for the treatment of ACS during the acute phase and over a follow-up period of up to two years from the index event. A total of 608 patients from 26 hospitals in Poland were enrolled into the registry between September 2010 and March 2011. Aim: The aim of this work was to summarise data on pre-hospital and in-hospital and revascularisation therapy in 608 patients enrolled into the registry in Poland. Methods: The registry collected the records of patients who were hospitalised for ACS within 24 h of symptom onset and who had a final diagnosis of unstable angina (UA), non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), or ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and survived to discharge. Results: Among 608 enrolled patients, 291 had a final diagnosis of STEMI and 317 had a final diagnosis of NSTEMI/UA. Patients with NSTEMI/UA were generally at higher cardiovascular risk than patients with STEMI. Before admission to the hospital antiplatelet drugs (acetylsalicylic acid [ASA] and/or clopidogrel) were administered more frequently to STEMI than to NSTEMI/UA patients. Glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitors were used in almost half of the STEMI patients and in nearly 10% of NSTEMI/UA patients. The combinations of antiplatelet drugs included ASA + clopidogrel (predominantly in NSTEMI/UA) or ASA + clopidogrel + GPIIb/IIIa inhibitor (predominantly in STEMI), while other possible combinations were not used. Almost all STEMI patients (96.2%) and the clear majority of NSTEMI/UA patients (73.8%) were subjected to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), while coronary artery bypass grafting was performed in only 2.5% of the NSTEMI/UA patients. At the time of discharge from hospital almost all patients with STEMI received ASA together with clopidogrel, but this strategy was used only in 91.5% of patients with NSTEMI/UA (p < 0.05). Unfractionated heparin was used in 62% of patients, low-molecular weight heparin in 35%, fondaparinux in 0.7%, and bivalirudin in none of the studied patients. Conclusions: Among patients with ACS enrolled to the EPICOR study in Poland, antiplatelet therapy was started in the pre-hospital phase in approximately one-third of the STEMI patients and in one out of ten of the NSTEMI/UA patients. The initial antiplatelet therapy was mostly based on ASA + clopidogrel and was followed by a combination of ASA + clopidogrel + GPIIb/IIIa inhibitor. Other drugs or combinations, as well as novel antiplatelet drugs, were only used exceptionally. Almost 10% of NSTEMI/UA patients did not receive dual antiplatelet therapy at discharge. PCI plays a dominating role in the first-line treatment for the patients enrolled to this registry in Poland.

Background: The risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients with heart failure after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) has not been examined in a contemporary clinical trial of surgical revascularization. This analysis describes the incidence, timing, and clinical predictors of SCD after CABG. Methods: Patients enrolled in the STICH trial (Surgical Treatment of Ischemic Heart Failure) who underwent CABG with or without surgical ventricular reconstruction were included. We excluded patients with prior implantable cardioverter-defibrillator and those randomized only to medical therapy. The primary outcome was SCD as adjudicated by a blinded committee. A Cox model was used to examine and identify predictors of SCD. The Fine and Gray method was used to estimate the incidence of SCD accounting for the competing risk of other deaths. Results: Over a median follow-up of 46 months, 113 of 1411 patients who received CABG without (n = 934) or with (n = 477) surgical ventricular reconstruction had SCD; 311 died of other causes. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction at enrollment was 28±9%. The 5-year cumulative incidence of SCD was 8.5%. Patients who had SCD and those who did not die were younger and had fewer comorbid conditions than did those who died of causes other than SCD. In the first 30 days after CABG, SCD (n=5) accounted for 7% of all deaths. The numerically greatest monthly rate of SCD was in the 31- to 90-day time period. In a multivariable analysis including baseline demographics, risk factors, coronary anatomy, and left ventricular function, end-systolic volume index and B-type natriuretic peptide were most strongly associated with SCD. Conclusions: The monthly risk of SCD shortly after CABG among patients with a low left ventricular ejection fraction is highest between the first and third months, suggesting that risk stratification for SCD should occur early in the postoperative period, particularly in patients with increased preoperative end-systolic volume index or B-type natriuretic peptide. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT0002359.

Aim: β2-microglobulin (β2M) was proved to affect hippocampal functions in mice. Materials & methods: Seventy-one patients undergoing aortic valve replacement were analyzed in prospective observational study. Kidney biomarkers and Mini Mental State Examinations (MMSEs) were performed before procedure, at discharge and after 6 months. Results: Patients with β2M increase over the median change (>0.42 mg/l) experienced a significant in-hospital drop in MMSE (p = 0.005). Patients with β2M increase over the median change also failed to improve a delayed-word-recall domain of the test (p = 0.826) while patients with a lower increase improved results in the domain (p = 0.004). After 6 months, MMSE improvement was associated with a significant decrease in β2M (p = 0.042). Conclusion: These are the first in man data demonstrating relation between changes in cognition and β2M. The phenomenon was reversible which indicates its therapeutic potential.

INTRODUCTION An international registry of ambulatory patients with stable coronary artery disease (CLARIFY) allows a comparison of management and outcomes in real‑life setting. OBJECTIVES We aimed to compare the management strategies and 5‑year outcomes in patients from Poland and from other European countries. PATIENTS AND METHODS Stable coronary artery disease was defined as previous myocardial infarction (MI) or revascularization, coronary stenosis greater than 50%, or documented symptomatic myocardial ischemia. Patients were followed on an annual basis for 5 years. RESULTS Among the total of 32 703 patients, 1000 were enrolled in Poland, and 17 326 in other European countries. Polish patients were younger, with a higher proportion of women, smokers, and patients with previous MI, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Patients in both cohorts received adequate medical treatment, with more Polish patients receiving β‑blockers. Blood pressure and lipid control to target was similar and remained low in both cohorts. Diabetes control and successful smoking cessation rates were lower in Poland than in other European countries. Polish patients more often underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. All‑cause (8.5% vs 7.9%; P = 0.81) and cardiovascular death rates (5.3% vs 4.9%; P = 0.82) did not differ between the groups, but fatal or nonfatal MI occurred more often in the Polish cohort (5% vs 3.1%; P = 0.006). Angina control was better in Poland than in other European countries (Canadian Cardiovascular Society class II-IV, 11.5% vs 15.8% of patients; P0.001). CONCLUSIONS Risk factor control was insufficient both in patients from Poland and in those from other European countries. The more frequent use of revascularization in Polish patients was not linked to improved outcomes, but, together with more extensive prescription of β‑blockers, might have contributed to better angina control.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common clinically-significant arrhythmia in the adult population, and it is a strong independent risk factor for cerebrovascular accidents. Patients with non-valvular AF are five times more likely to suffer a stroke. Despite the clear recommendations for anticoagulant therapy, many clinicians are still reluctant to provide routine oral anticoagulation to patients with AF, despite the potential clinical benefits. Aim: To compare Polish and European populations of patients with AF and the every-day practice of stroke prevention in Poland and in the rest of Europe. Methods: We analysed the baseline data from the two first cohorts of patients enrolled in the GARFIELD-AF registry (an ongo­ing prospective, multicentre, international registry of patients newly diagnosed with AF) in Poland and in the rest of Europe. Results: Polish AF patients are generally younger (median age 67 years in both cohorts vs. 73 in cohort 1 in the rest of Eu­rope and 72 in cohort 2), but they carry a burden of more concomitant diseases. There are some noticeable differences in stroke prevention between Poland and the rest of Europe. The use of vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) is generally higher in other European countries in both cohorts (in Poland 41.7% in cohort 1 and 36.9% in cohort 2 vs. 55.5% in cohort 1 and 41.9% in cohort 2 in the rest of Europe). Meanwhile, it is generally more common in Poland to treat patients with both VKAs and antiplatelets (in cohort 1 20.4% of patients in Poland received vs. 12.0% in the rest of Europe). A total of 5.6% of patients in cohort 1 in Poland receive no antithrombotic treatment (it means: no VKA, oral factor Xa or thrombin inhibitors, antiplate­lets), meanwhile in other countries it amounts to 8.5%. The usage of non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants is growing in Poland similarly to the other European countries. Conclusions: The GARFIELD-AF registry data shows how distant everyday clinical practice is from the guidelines. It shows that still in Poland, as well as in the rest of Europe, too many patients with low stroke risk are treated with anticoagulants, while too frequently patients at high stroke risk are left with no stroke prevention. Although the tendency to use non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants is growing comparably in Poland and in the rest of Europe, the proportion of patients with intermediate and high stroke risk is not growing and more patients at low stroke risk are treated with anticoagulants.

The severe hypercholesterolaemia can be recognised when low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) serum levels are equal to or above 5 mmol/L (≥ 190 mg/dL). The prevalence of LDL-C ≥ 5 mmol/L is 3.8% in Polish population aged 18-79 years. Among these adults there are patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH). According to meta-analysis of 6 Polish population surveys prevalence of heterozygous FH (HeFH) diagnosed using Dutch Lipid Clinic criteria is 0.4% (95% Cl 0.28-0.53%) in men and women aged 20-74 years, i.e. one in every 250 people. As HeFH is a wellknown cause of premature coronary heart disease the rigorous treatment targets for LDL-C have been established in clinical guidelines. Their achievements, even with a high dose of high efficacy statin therapy is difficult or even impossible. New strong hypolipidaemic drugs i.e. PCSK9 inhibitors have been initiated against this chalange. Both drugs, evolocumab and alirocumab, have been extensively studied in numerous phase 2 and phase 3 trials. Fewer studies with bococizumab are available until now. The PCSK9 inhibitors, as monotherapy as well in combination with statins were associated with mean LDL-C reduction about 60%. It means that the majority of patients (70-90%) with severe hypercholesterolaemia (including HeFH), treated with statins, after addition of PCSK9 inhibitors were able to achieve an LDL-C < 2.5 mmol/L (< 100 mg/dL) or < 1.8 mmol/L (< 70 mg/dL) level. Another group of patients who may benefit from PCSK9 inhibitors include those who need lipid lowering therapy, but who are statin intolerant, especially because of statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS). In our statement we have accepted the diagnosis of SAMS proposed recently by European Atherosclerosis Society. Today the longest clinical trial with evolocumab (11 months) was the open OSLER study, and with alirocumab ODYSSEY LONG TERM (78 weeks). In the first one the reduction of cardiovascular events by 53% (95% Cl 22-72%) was observed, and in the second one by 48% (10-69%). Neurocognitive events were reported more frequently with both drugs than with placebo. This adverse effect will be the subject of observation in ongoing studies. We still await the results of 4 ongoing large placebo controlled phase 3 trials investigating whether PCSK9 inhibitors on background of statin therapy reduce cardiovascular events. Meanwhile evolocumab, as well as alirocumab have been accepted to use in clinical practice by European Medicine Agency. In this situation the experts of Polish Society of Cardiology have prepared the statement on the use PCSK9 inhibitors with indication in the first place for HeFH patients, statin intolerant and those at high risk who are not able to reach LDL-C target level with a high potent high dose statin.

INTRODUCTION Unexplained sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), occurs in up to 10% of patients and is often attributed to an inherited arrhythmia syndrome. Family screening and genetic testing may help clarify the cause of unexplained SCA. OBJECTIVES We aimed to assess the usefulness of clinical evaluation and genetic testing in patients after unexplained SCA and in their families. PATIENTS AND METHODS In the years 2014-2017, we studied 44 unrelated patients after unexplained SCA and 96 of their relatives. All patients and relatives underwent comprehensive cardiac evaluation. In 31 patients with SCA, next generation sequencing (NGS) was performed. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve was constructed to compare the event-free survival depending on clinical diagnosis or genotype. An adverse event was defined as an adequate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator discharge. RESULTS Based on the clinical evaluation, diagnosis was established in 39% of probands (long QT syndrome 21%; short QT syndrome 7%; Brugada syndrome 7%; catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, 2%; and early repolarization syndrome, 2%). Ventricular arrhythmia was identified in the relatives of 19% of probands. In 18 of the 31 probands (54.8%), 23 rare gene variants were identified, of which only 2 were classified as pathogenic. The event-free survival over a median of 4.5 years was similar in patients with or without clinical diagnosis and in carriers and noncarriers of a rare genetic variant. CONCLUSIONS This study shows the significance of an extensive clinical assessment in unexplained SCA victims and their relatives. Routine genetic testing by NGS has low diagnostic and prognostic value.

Wstep: Obecnośc dwuplatkowej zastawki aortalnej (BAV) uwaza sie za wzgledne przeciwwskazanie do zabiegu przezcewnikowej implantacji zastawki aortalnej (TAVI), a leczenie chirurgiczne pozostaje metodą z wyboru w przypadku jej ciasnego zwezenia. Procedura TAVI nie jest zalecana w tej grupie chorych m.in. ze wzgledu na owalny ksztalt pierścienia zastawki dwuplatkowej w porownaniu z pierścieniem prawidlowej (trojplatkowej) zastawki, co zwieksza ryzyko dysfunkcji i znieksztalcenia protezy. Dwuplatkowa zastawka aortalna stanowila kryterium wylączenia w wiekszości badan klinicznych dotyczących TAVI i brakuje dokladnych danych na temat bezpieczenstwa i skuteczności takiego postepowania w tej grupie chorych. Cel: Celem pracy byla ocena bezpieczenstwa i skuteczności TAVI u pacjentow z ciasnym zwezeniem BAV. Metody: Analizie poddano grupe 104 pacjentow przyjetych do Instytutu Kardiologii w celu wykonania TAVI w okresie od stycznia 2009 r. do maja 2012 r. W ramach kwalifikacji do zabiegu wykonano echokardiograficzne badania przezklatkowe i przezprzelykowe oraz tomografie komputerową serca, aorty i jej rozgalezien. Odpowiednie pomiary i analiza danych z badan obrazowych umozliwily wybor optymalnego dostepu przeznaczyniowego, dobranie protezy zastawkowej i wlaściwe zaplanowanie zabiegu. Dwuplatkową zastawke aortalną zidentyfikowano u 7 pacjentow (6,7%; średni wiek 77,7 roku), ktorych poddano bardziej szczegolowej analizie. Pacjenci ci mieli zdiagnozowaną ciasną objawową stenoze aortalną ze średnim polem powierzchni przekroju zastawki 0,55 cm2 (0,46–0,7 cm2). Wszyscy zostali zdyskwalifikowani z zabiegu chirurgicznej wymiany zastawki aortalnej ze wzgledu na wysokie ryzyko operacyjne (uśredniony wynik logistic Euroscore 19,9%). Wykonano TAVI z wykorzystaniem systemow CoreValve (5 osob) lub Sapien (2 chorych). Nastepnie przeanalizowano prospektywne wyniki dlugoterminowej obserwacji klinicznej i echokardiograficznej w punktach czasowych: 30 dni, 6 miesiecy i 12 miesiecy po zabiegu. Wyniki: U 1 pacjenta w tomografii komputerowej zaobserwowano eliptyczne znieksztalcenie implantowanej protezy, jednak bez istotnej klinicznie dysfunkcji zastawki. Jeden pacjent zmarl w ciągu 30 dni po TAVI z powodu infekcyjnego zapalenia wsierdzia. Pozostali, ktorzy przezyli, charakteryzowali sie malą do umiarkowanej niedomykalnością aortalną w punkcie czasowym wynoszącym 30 dni. W kolejnych punktach czasowych nie zaobserwowano progresji niedomykalności aortalnej. Po roku od zabiegu 6 spośrod 7 pacjentow pozostawalo przy zyciu. Wszyscy oni osiągneli istotną poprawe funkcjonalną ocenianą wg klasyfikacji New York Heart Association . Wnioski: Zabieg TAVI moze stanowic alternatywną opcje terapeutyczną dla pacjentow z ciasną stenozą BAV. Wedlug obserwacji autorow niniejszej pracy metoda ta cechuje sie wzglednie niską śmiertelnością i dobrymi wynikami w obserwacji 30-dniowej, 6- oraz 12-miesiecznej.

BACKGROUND Replacement of severely stenotic aortic valve may influence cognitive and physical functioning. The aim of this study was to compare cognitive and functional status after surgical (SAVR) vs. transcatheter aortic valve replacements (TAVR) in the elderly with severe aortic stenosis (AS). METHODS It was a prospective observational study with over 6 months of follow-up. Eighty ≥70-year-old patients with AS underwent TAVR (N.=40) or SAVR (N.=40). Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE), activities daily living (ADL) score and instrumental activities daily living (IADL) score were used to assess the cognitive status, fundamental functioning and complex independent living skills, respectively. The tests were conducted at baseline and 6 months after the procedure. Additionally, MMSE was carried out at discharge. RESULTS Baseline MMSE score was lower in the TAVR vs. SAVR group (P=0.001). In the SAVR group, there was a transient in-hospital decline in mean MMSE score (P=0.020), absent in the TAVR group. Baseline ADL and IADL scores were lower in TAVR patients. Both groups experienced mild improvement. The average increase among those with improved IADL score was larger after TAVR (2.37 vs. 1.37 after SAVR; P=0.029). A systolic blood pressure (SBP) decrease

Background: The aim of the study was to describe a series of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients in whom anomalous origin of culprit coronary artery (AOCCA) was diagnosed. Percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in AOCCA are performed very infrequently. Methods: Electronic databases from three high-volume tertiary cardiac centers were retrospectively searched for the presence of AOCCA in ACS. Results: Different types of AOCCA in ACS were identified in 20 patients. The most frequent AOCCA was left circumflex coronary artery (LCx) originating from right coronary artery (RCA) or directly from the right coronary sinus (RCS), n = 13, followed by high/atypical RCA, n = 3, left coronary artery (LCA) originating from RCS (n = 3) with either RCA-AOCCA (n = 1) or left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD)-AOCCA (n = 1) or RCA originating from left sinus of Valsalva, (n = 1), LAD originating from RCA (n = 1). In 1 ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)-patient RCA-AOCCA cannulation was unsuccessful, in 1 non-STEMI-patient AOCCA was missed, 1 ACS- -patient was treated surgically and 1 ACS-patient was treated conservatively (both patients with non- STEMI). In the remaining patients PCI was successfully performed. Conclusions: The most frequently encountered AOCCA is LCx branching-off from RCA. AOCCA may either be difficult to cannulate and PCI aborted even in STEMI, or missed, especially when the intermediate branch from LCA is mimicking proper LCx.

INTRODUCTION Blood transfusion after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is frequently required owing to the high vulnerability of this patient group and procedure-related bleeding. OBJECTIVES We assessed the impact of postprocedural blood transfusion and the age of transfused red blood cell (RBC) units on prognosis after TAVI. PATIENTS AND METHODS This was a single-center, observational analysis conducted between the years 2009 and 2014. The adopted endpoints were early and long-term mortality after TAVI. The risk factors for mortality included in-hospital bleeding and vascular complications, the number of transfused RBC units, transfusion of at least 2 RBC units, the age of transfused RBCs, and standard deviation of the age of RBCs. RESULTS The study included 178 patients (mean [SD] age, 80.07 [7.47] years; range, 55-91 years). The follow-up ranged between 1 month and 5.8 years (mean [SD], 20.1 [15.2] months) after discharge; 14 early deaths (7.8%) and 27 late deaths (16.5%) were noted. In-hospital bleeding and vascular complications increased the risk of early deaths (hazard ratio [HR], 2.113; 95% CI, 1.011-4.418; P = 0.046 and HR, 2.265; 95% CI, 1.270-4.039; P = 0.005). Transfusion of younger RBCs (HR, 1.044; 95% CI, 1.004-1.085; P = 0.028) and a greater discrepancy in the age of transfused RBCs (HR, 1.153; 95% CI, 1.042-1.275; P = 0.006) were positively correlated with the risk of late deaths only in a univariate analysis. A higher number of transfused RBC units was the only independent predictor of long-term mortality (HR, 1.149; 95% CI, 1.024-1.291; P = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS The higher number of RBC units transfused early after TAVI worsens long-term prognosis. Shorter-storage RBCs and a greater discrepancy in RBC age in multitransfused elderly patients after TAVI might have a deleterious effect on life expectancy.

Background: \ud \ud Anemia is a predictor of adverse outcomes in acute myocardial infarction. We studied the relationship of hemoglobin, or its change over time, and outcomes in patients with stable coronary artery disease.\ud \ud Methods: \ud \ud CLARIFY is a prospective, cohort study of outpatients with stable coronary artery disease (32,901 in 45 countries 2009-2010); 21,829 with baseline hemoglobin levels. They were divided into hemoglobin quintiles and anemia status (anemic [A] or normal [N]) at baseline/follow-up: N/N; A/N; N/A; A/A. All-cause mortality, cardiovascular events, and major bleeding at 4-year follow-up were assessed.\ud \ud Results: \ud \ud Low baseline hemoglobin was an independent predictor of all-cause, cardiovascular, and noncardiovascular mortality, the composite of cardiovascular death/myocardial infarction or stroke and major bleeds (all P

Patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis have a poor prognosis with medical management alone, and surgical aortic valve replacement can improve symptoms and survival. In recent years, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been demonstrated to improve survival in inoperable patients and to be an alternative treatment in patients in whom the risk of surgical morbidity or mortality is high or intermediate. A representative expert committee, summoned by the Association of Cardiovascular Interventions of the Polish Cardiac Society (ACVI) and the Polish Society of Cardio-Thoracic Surgeons, devel-oped this Consensus Statement in transcatheter aortic valve implantation. It endorses the important role of a multi-disciplinary "TAVI team" in selecting patients for TAVI and defines operator and institutional requirements fundamental to the establish-ment of a successful TAVI programme. The article summarises current evidence and provides specific recommendations on organisation and conduct of transcatheter treatment of patients with aortic valve disease in Poland.

Background: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) concentration increases in the first few hours of myocardial infarction (MI). Aim: (1) To illustrate human HGF (hHGF) plasma concentration during the first 24 h of ST segment elevation myocardialinfarction (STEMI); (2) To estimate the odds ratio of STEMI in the context of hHGF measurements; (3) To describe the normalconcentration of hHGF in healthy subjects. Methods: The study groups consisted of 73 STEMI patients and 11 healthy volunteers. In all the patients, we took bloodsamples for hHGF twice, i.e. on admission to hospital and 24 h later. Results: The median value of hHGF in healthy volunteers was 666 pg/mL (576; 760 pg/mL). In STEMI, the highest values of hHGF were observed in the first measurement. An increase of 1 pg/mL in hHGF level increased STEMI odds ratio by 0.2%. Conclusions: In acute MI, of the known biomarkers, hHGF rises the earliest and very promptly returns to normal values.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a regulator of vascular formation in physiological and pathological conditions. The aim of our study was to evaluate the value of VEGF as a surrogate marker of myocardial injury in acute ischemic conditions.In 104 consecutive patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with and without ST segment elevation (STEMI and NSTEMI) the plasma and serum human VEGF (hVEGF) concentration was measured two times i.e. immediately after admission due to ACS and 24h later. According to ECG findings and coronary angiography results, patients were divided into three groups. Group A represented major myocardial injury due to ST-segment elevation in precordial leads and/or in I and aVL leads and with left anterior descending (LAD) artery responsible for STEMI symptoms or additionally with significant atherosclerotic lesions (lumen vessel narrowed50%) in other than LAD coronary arteries. Group B (medium myocardial injury) consisted of patients with ST-segment elevation in II, III and aVF leads and/or ST-segment depression in V2-V3 leads with one-vessel disease and the culprit artery was not LAD. Group C included patients with changes in ECG other than ST-segment elevation independently of the site of atherosclerotic lesions in coronary arteries.In all 104 patients with ACS the highest values of serum hVEGF were observed in second measurement (357.9 ± 346 pg/ml, p0.01). Although in the first measurement, plasma and serum hVEGF concentration did not differentiate groups, the difference between deltas for serum hVEGF was observed (p0.05). Increased number of neutrophils in the first measurement increased the OR of the high serum hVEGF concentration in the first measurement (OR=1.155; 95%CI: 1.011; 1.32) (p0.05). The number of neutrophils in the second measurement also revealed significant relationship with high serum hVEGF in the first assessment (OR=1.318, 95%CI: 1.097; 1.583) (p0.01). Increased values of triglycerides (exceeding the upper limit) were connected with decreased OR of high serum hVEGF concentrations in the first measurement (OR=0.152, 95%CI: 0.033; 0.695, p0.05).In acute coronary syndrome, serum VEGF concentrations are elevated and can serve as a surrogate marker of myocardial injury. The elevated number of neutrophils increases odds ratio of high VEGF concentrations in ACS. In patients with high concentrations of triglycerides, odds ratio of low level of hVEGF is expected.

OBJECTIVES Acute kidney injury complicating both transcatheter and surgical aortic valve replacement is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of serum beta 2 (β2) microglobulin, cystatin C and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels in detecting periprocedural acute kidney injury. METHODS Eighty consecutive patients who were 70 years of age or older and who were having surgical (n = 40) or transcatheter (n = 40) aortic valve replacement were recruited in a prospective study. The biomarkers were tested before the procedure, 6 times afterwards, at discharge and at a 6-month follow-up visit. RESULTS The baseline β2-microglobulin level was the strongest predictor of acute kidney injury as a complication of transcatheter aortic valve replacement [odds ratio (OR) 5.277, P = 0.009]. Its level 24 h after the procedure reached the largest area under the curve (AUC) of 0.880 (P

Background In acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS), up to 80% of patients present with multivessel coronary artery disease. Currently, the best revascularization strategy is unknown. Therefore, a prospective randomized adequately powered clinical trial is warranted. Study design The CULPRIT-SHOCK study is a 706-patient controlled, international, multicenter, randomized, open-label trial. It is designed to compare culprit lesion only percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with possible staged non-culprit lesion revascularization versus immediate multivessel PCI in patients with CS complicating acute myocardial infarction. Patients will be randomized in a 1:1 fashion to one of the two treatment arms. The primary efficacy endpoint of CULPRIT-SHOCK is 30-day mortality and severe renal failure requiring renal replacement therapy. Secondary outcome measures such as hemodynamic, laboratory, and clinical parameters will serve as surrogate endpoints for prognosis. Furthermore, an intermediate- and long-term follow-up at 6 and 12 months will be performed. Safety endpoints include the assessment of bleeding and stroke. Conclusions The CULPRIT-SHOCK trial will address the question of optimal revascularization strategy in patients with multivessel disease and acute myocardial infarction complicated by CS.

Background: Platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptors are involved in platelet aggregation and acute thrombus formation. Changes in the expression of GP IIb/IIIa receptors are an important but little-explored aspect of antiplatelet therapy. Understanding these changes may be particularly relevant for elucidating the mechanisms and effects of GP IIb/IIIa antagonist therapy, and may help to establish methods to identify patients most likely to benefit from the use of GP IIb/IIIa blockade, or those especially prone to its thrombotic complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of common cardiovascular risk factors on the expression of GP IIb/IIIa receptors in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who received antiplatelet treatment under primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Materials and Methods: The study group consisted of 30 patients with STEMI who underwent PCI and who received antiplatelet treatment with aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), a loading dose of clopidogrel and, if necessary, abciximab. The expression of platelet GP receptors was estimated by measuring the changes in the number of platelet antigens: CD41a (GP IIb/IIIa) and CD61 (GP IIIa). The assessments were performed in whole blood and on isolated platelets before and up to 24 hours after initiation of the antiplatelet therapy. The relationships between expression of platelet GP receptors and risk factors such as hypertension, smoking, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and family history of cardiovascular disease were examined using statistical analyses. Results: Before antiplatelet treatment, non-smokers had more receptors than smokers when antigen numbers were measured in whole blood. After treatment, the number of CD41a antigens present on isolated platelets significantly increased in non-smokers and in patients without dyslipidemia (p = 0.05). At the same time, the number of CD61 antigens increased in all patients except for those with diabetes. In patients without hypertension, the number of CD61 antigens (whole-blood measurement) increased considerably, and the difference between the patients with and without hypertension was significant (p = 0.01). The results of the study revealed that, after the treatment, the numbers of CD61 antigens were higher in patients without dyslipidemia and lower in patients with dyslipidemia compared with the results obtained from the preceding measurements. These different numbers of CD61 antigens significantly distinguished these two groups of patients from each other (p = 0.01). Conclusion: Non-smokers with STEMI have significantly higher expression of GP IIb/IIIa and IIIa receptors than do smokers. Up to 24 hours after the start of antiplatelet treatment, the number of GP IIb/IIIa receptors on the platelet surface did not depend on common cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and dyslipidemia. Patients without hypertension and without dyslipidemia tended to have more of only one component of the GP IIb/IIIa complex (i.e. GP IIIa, as represented by the antigen CD61) than the patients with these risk factors.

This study was designed to check the properties of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) as a new marker of myocardial necrosis.In one hundred and four patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), plasma human HGF (hHGF) concentrations were assessed twice, i.e. just after admission to hospital and 24 h afterwards. The primary composite endpoint was assessed at three-month follow-up.The maximal concentration of hHGF (1902 pg/ml) was reached at the time of admission to hospital due to ACS with significant decrease 24 h after the first measurement (705 pg/ml p0.0001). hHGF levels in ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) were higher than in non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and in patients who reached composite primary endpoint (33 patients-4211 pg/ml) vs. event-free 71 patients (1013 pg/ml p0.01). The correlation between values of hHGF and N-terminal prohormone B-type natriuretic peptide and cardiac troponin I was revealed.HGF is a very early, good marker of myocardial necrosis and a sensitive short- and long-term prognostic factor in ACS.

Epidemiology of acquired valvular heart diseases has changed significantly over last decades. Degenerative aortic valve stenosis is the most common acquired valvular disease with high prevalence in elderly population. Another common disorder is ischemic mitral regurgitation secondary to myocardial infarction. Both above-mentioned heart disorders are not typical for women in reproductive age. Rheumatic heart valve disease has become infrequent in Polish population. Mitral stenosis, the most prevalent of rheumatic valvular disorders, affects 5% of pregnant women with heart disease and rheumatic aortic stenosis is responsible for 0.5-3% of heart diseases in this population. Despite the fact that acquired valvular disorders are becoming less common among pregnant women, they still remain an important issue and their management should be well known. Discussion about pregnancy should be a part of management of young women with valvular heart disease. Severe valve disorders should be corrected when planning pregnancy. The final management should always be based on collaborative decision made by the patient and health professionals.

Wstep: Przezcewnikowa implantacja zastawki aortalnej (TAVI) jest ustaloną metodą leczenia wybranych chorych ze zwezeniem zastawki aortalnej. Wedlug wspolnego stanowiska ekspertow, Europejskiego Towarzystwa Torakochirurgow i Kardiochirurgow, Europejskiego Towarzystwa Kardiologicznego i Asocjacji Interwencji Sercowo-Naczyniowych, opublikowanego w 2008 r. TAVI powinno sie wykonywac u chorych z grupy wysokiego ryzyka chirurgicznego z logistic EuroSCORE (log ES) ≥ 20%. Istnieje natomiast niewiele doniesien na temat TAVI u pacjentow z grupy wysokiego ryzyka chirurgicznego, ale z log ES < 20%. Cel: Celem pracy bylo porownanie wynikow TAVI u chorych z log ES ≥ 20% z rezultatami uzyskanymi u pacjentow z log ES < 20%, ktorzy ze wzgledu na inne choroby wspoltowarzyszące zostali ostatecznie zdyskwalifikowani z leczenia operacyjnego. Metody i wyniki: W okresie od stycznia 2009 do grudnia 2011 r. TAVI wykonano u 93 chorych, ktorzy zastali podzieleni na dwie grupy. Grupe 1 stanowilo 59 (63.4%) pacjentow z log ES ≥ 20%, a grupe 2 — 34 (36,6%) osob z log ES < 20%. Średnia wartośc Log ES wynosila 30,9 ± 9,7% w grupie 1 oraz 12,7 ± 4,9% w grupie 2 (p < 0,001). Chorzy z grupy 1 byli starsi (82,9 ± 5,9 vs . 78,7 ± 7,8 roku; p = 0,01), charakteryzowali sie nizszą frakcją wyrzutową lewej komory (51,5 ± 14% vs . 60,4 ± 9,6%; p = 0,002), wyzszym ciśnieniem skurczowym w tetnicy plucnej (56 ± 11 vs . 49 ± 10,6 mm Hg; p = 0,02) oraz gorszą funkcją nerek (GFR 51,3 ± 18,4 vs . 60,6 ± 16,6 ml/min/m2; p = 0,02). Przezycie po roku i po 2 latach bylo porownywalne i wynosilo 76,6% i 69,0% oraz 89,0% i 83,6% odpowiednio w grupie 1 i 2 (p = NS), natomiast czestośc wy­stepowania zgonow sercowych po roku i po 2 latach byla istotnie wyzsza w grupie 1 (21,4% i 28,6%) niz w grupie 2 (8,1% i 10,8%) (p = 0,02). Wnioski: Wyniki niniejszej pracy pokazują, ze czestośc wystepowania zgonow sercowych w okresie 2-letniej obserwacji po TAVI jest wyzsza u chorych z grupy wysokiego ryzyka chirurgicznego z log ES ≥ 20% niz u pacjentow zdyskwalifikowanych z leczenia chirurgicznego przez Zespol Sercowy, ale z log ES < 20%.