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We present a case of cardiomyopathy with a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction of up to 18%, multivessel arterial thrombosis in a patient who had undergone severe COVID-19 3.5 months earlier. The cardiopathy was initially considered as an outcome of SARSCoV2-induced myocarditis, but MRI with delayed gadolinium contrast revealed no fibrosis or evidence of active myocarditis. A detailed collection of the medical history showed that the duration of tachyform atrial fibrillation exceeded the 4 months indicated in the medical records. Oligosymptomatic manifestation of arrhythmia occurred 8 months earlier, the patient did not consult a physician due to epidemic conditions. Coronary angiography revealed subtotal stenosis of the anterior descending artery. Most probably, the cardiopathy was arrhythmogenic and ischemic. After achieving normosystole and coronary stenting, the left ventricular ejection fraction was 25-27%. At the first hospitalization 4 months ago, left atrial auricular thrombus was detected. After COVID-19 the patient received inadequately low dose of apixaban 5 mg per day. Three weeks after COVID-19, the patient was diagnosed with infarction of the right kidney, wall thrombosis in the abdominal aorta, thrombosis of the superficial femoral, deep femoral, popliteal, anterior tibial arteries on the left, right popliteal artery; thrombotic complications could have developed both in situ and as a result of cardioembolism. Administration of dabigatran 300 mg per day and aspirin helped to dissolve the thrombus in the left atrial auricle, improve the course of intermittent claudication, and avoid recurrent thrombotic complications. COVID-19 could contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis, more malignant course of atrial fibrillation, development of thrombosis, but coronavirus infection is not the only cause of severe disease in a patient. СOVID-19 can not only be the cause of direct lesions of the heart and vessels, but also have an indirect negative effect - to delay the detection of cardiac pathology and be the cause of its hypodiagnosis under the mask of “postcovid”.

Background. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a severe pathology that often leads a patient to death or disability. Recently, the development of PH associated with activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) has been of interest. Some results obtained in an acute experiment on rats showed that activation of the carotid bodies of one external carotid artery is a sufficient stimulus to increase the tone of pulmonary arteries. Obviously, this effect is mediated by the sympathetic nervous system. However, the long-term effects of unilateral hypoxia of the carotid bodies on the morphofunctional state of the pulmonary arteries are not described in the literature. Aim. Effect assessment of common carotid artery bifurcation region ischemia due to the atherosclerotic process on the pulmonary arteries in patients. Materials and methods. The retrospective study was conducted in the Burdenko Neurosurgical Center and in the National Medical Research Center for Cardiology. A total of 60 case histories were analyzed in detail. All patients underwent Duplex scanning of the brachiocephalic arteries, as well as transthoracic echocardiography. The study included patients with atherosclerotic plaque in the area of the common carotid artery bifurcation on either one side or both. Exclusion criteria consisted of diseases that lead to the development of PH. The relationship between the presence of hemodynamically significant atheroma and the development of PH was evaluated. Results. Patients were divided into two groups those with hemodynamically significant atherosclerotic plaque in the common carotid artery bifurcation region at least on one side (more than 75% of the vascular obstruction) and hemodynamically insignificant atheromas in the common carotid artery bifurcation region on one or both sides (less than 45%). Among patients from the first group, 52.8% of the patients had signs of PH. Among patients from the second group, only 16.7% of the patients had signs of PH. The difference in the frequency of PH occurrence between the two selected groups is statistically significant (p=0.005). There were no differences in red blood cells number, platelets number, glucose concentration and lipid composition of blood plasma. Conclusion. Activation of SNS due to hemodynamically significant atherosclerotic plaque in the area of the bifurcation of the common carotid artery may be an independent mechanism for the development of PH. Key words: pulmonary hypertension, carotid bodies, atherosclerotic plaque, sympathectomy of pulmonary arteries.

Unstable atherosclerotic plaques (ASP) are the cause of acute ischemia in the carotid and coronary systems. Numerous studies have shown a relationship between plaque instability, manifestations, echogenicity, histological findings and its neovascularization. The presence and extent of ASP neovascularization in the carotid arteries can be detected for the first time using contrast-enhanced carotid ultrasound. Contrast-enhanced carotid ultrasound does not have nephrotoxic effect; it also improves the accuracy of plaque ulceration detecting and determining the severity of stenosis. The article presents the opinions of the authors and international experts on contrast ultrasound of peripheral arteries. An analysis of the literature data and our own observations is presented. Significant parameters such as the doses, procedure onset time and duration, methods for the qualitative and quantitative assessment of plaque neovascularization are analyzed. The difficulties of contrast-enhanced ultrasound are described.

The study was aimed at assessing the in-hospital results of aortic arch endoprosthetic repair using different variants of endovascular supraaortic debranching.The analysis included 27 patients subjected within the framework of aortic arch endoprosthetic repair to various types of supraaortic endobranching, including the technique of parallel prostheses and implantation of fenestrated stent grafts. We analysed the clinical and morphological status of patients prior to operation, peculiarities of the intervention (type of debranching and Ishimaru's classification zones in which the reconstruction was performed) and in-hospital results of treatment.The patients' mean age amounted to 66 years. The main nosology (70%) was an aortic aneurysm. Nearly in 30% of cases, the operation was performed emergently for acute aortic syndrome. The main causes of refusal from the traditional prosthetic repair included chronic kidney disease (22.5%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (11%), acute cerebral ischaemia within the previous 6 months (15%). The technical success rate of the operation was achieved in 100% of cases. The average duration of the intervention amounted to 226 min, with the mean blood loss equalling 355 ml. The majority of reconstructions were performed in zones 1 and 2 according to Ishimaru (59 and 33%, respectively), in 2 (7%) patients prosthetic repair was performed in zone 0. The total number of the aortic branches involved into reconstruction amounted to 45. Intervention-related complications included 3 (11%) cases of acute cerebral circulation impairment, 2 (7.4%) aortic branch occlusions, and 1 (3.7%) type II endoleak. The in-hospital and 30-day mortality rates amounted to 3.7 and 7.4%, respectively.Aortic arch endoprosthetic repair using supraaortic endobranching is considered to be an effective alternative method of treatment for patients with various pathology of the aortic arch and contraindications to traditional prosthetic repair involving artificial blood circulation.Цель. Оценка госпитальных результатов эндопротезирования дуги аорты с применением различных вариантов эндоваскулярного супрааортального дебранчинга. Материалы и методы. В анализ было отобрано 27 пациентов, которым в рамках эндопротезирования дуги аорты выполнялись различные виды супрааортального эндодебранчинга, включавшие в себя методику параллельных протезов и имплантацию фенестрированных стент-графтов. Проведен анализ клинико-морфологического статуса пациентов перед операцией, особенностей вмешательства (разновидности дебранчинга и зоны по классификации Ishimaru, в которых проводилась реконструкция) и госпитальных результатов лечения. Результаты. Средний возраст пациентов составил 66 лет. Основной нозологией (70%) была аневризма аорты. Почти в 30% случаев операция осуществлялась в экстренном порядке по поводу острого аортального синдрома. Главными причинами для отказа от традиционного протезирования являлись хроническая болезнь почек (22,5%), хроническая обструктивная болезнь легких (11%), острое нарушение мозгового кровообращения в течение последних 6 месяцев (15%). Технический успех операции достигнут в 100% случаев. Средняя продолжительность вмешательства составила 226 мин., средний объем кровопотери – 355 мл. Большинство реконструкций проводилось в зонах 1 и 2 по Ishimaru (59 и 33% соответственно), у 2 (7%) пациентов протезирование выполнено в зоне 0. Общее количество вовлеченных в реконструкцию ветвей аорты составило 45. Осложнения, связанные с вмешательством, включали в себя 3 (11%) случая острого нарушения мозгового кровообращения, 2 (7,4%) окклюзии ветвей аорты и 1 (3,7%) эндолик II типа. Госпитальная и 30-дневная летальность составили 3,7 и 7,4% соответственно. Выводы. Эндопротезирование дуги аорты с применением супрааортального эндодебранчинга считается эффективным альтернативным методом лечения для пациентов с различной патологией дуги аорты, которым противопоказано традиционное протезирование с использованием искусственного кровообращения.

Aim. To study the prevalence of carotid (CA) and femoral artery (FA) atherosclerosis among Russian population, mainly in middle age group, using a representative sample of one of the Central Russian regions.Material and methods. The analysis included participants of the ATEROGEN-Ivanovo study (sub-study of the ESSE-RF conducted in the Ivanovo region) aged 40-67 years, who were invited for CA and FA ultrasound to assess plaque presence. A total 1102 people were examined, which was >80% of the original sample.Results. The age of subjects was 54 [48; 60] years (men, 28%). Only 11,2% of participants took statins; 30,9% had low cardiovascular risk (CVR), 35,6% — moderate CVR, 21,8% — high CVR, and 11,8% — very high CVR. The incidence of at least one plaque in CA or FA was 73,6%. The prevalence of CA atherosclerosis was 76,4% in men and 59,1% in women, FA atherosclerosis — 54,9% and 28,3%, respectively. Furthermore, plaques were detected already at the age of 40. The incidence of plaques significantly increased with age, with the exception of carotid atherosclerosis in men, a significant increase in the incidence of which stopped at 45 years of age.Conclusion. Among the Ivanovo population aged 40-67 with a predominance of low-to-moderate CVR patients, there is a high prevalence of carotid and femoral atherosclerosis, which indicates a high potential for using ultrasound for diagnosing subclinical atherosclerosis in assessing CVR in people of this age range.

Some studies have shown that the echogenicity of atherosclerotic plaques (AP) in the carotid arteries (CA) plays an important role in evaluating the risk of cardiovascular events (CVE). The method of calculating the Gray Scale Median (GSM) is currently used to quantify the echogenicity of the CA plaque. Aim. To study GSM assessment of CA AP in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and the effect of GSM on the prognosis of CVE. Material and methods . We examined 143 patients with ACS (32-83 years old). Duplex scanning was performed on “Philips iU 22” for 1-3 days after hospitalization, the second — in 1-1,5 years. The echogenicity of the detected APs was assessed on a gray scale using a modified GSM method at the Multivox workstation. Results. We analyzed 378 CA AP in patients with ACS. The GSM analysis on the first and repeated surveys showed a significant increase in the average GSM by 2,2% (p

Aim. To develope and justify the use of the abbreviated protocol of ultrasound duplex scanning (DS) of the carotid arteries (CA) to detect atherosclerotic changes in the carotid system in various groups of cardiovascular risk and to reduce the time of DS, based on solving a “narrow” task — identifying an atheroma. Material and methods . Ultrasound CA examination was carried out in the department of ultrasound studying methods in National Medical Research Center of Cardiology. Forty three patients aged 32 to 81 years (mean 56±13 years) who are hospitalized in A. L. Myasnikov Institute of Clinical Cardiology Institute of Clinical Cardiology were examined. DS was performed with the use of the ultrasonic system “IU 22” (Philips) with a linear sensor with 3-9 MHz. Three types of DS protocol were used — standard protocol (with automatic measurement of intima-media thickness (IMT) of common carotid artery (CCA)), abbreviated protocol 2 (atheroma and IMT of CCA), abbreviated protocol 1 (atheroma). Results. The work showed a decrease in DS time when conducting a abbreviated protocol 2 by 32,1% or 1,5 times, a shortened protocol 1 — by 72,1% or approximately 3,5 times compared with the standard DS protocol, while the efficiency of atheroma detecting has not decreased. A decision-making algorithm has been developed on the basis of conducting an ultrasound SA examination using abbreviated protocols. Conclusion. The introduction of a abbreviated protocol of ultrasound DS will significantly reduce the time and increase the cost-effectiveness of early diagnosis of atherosclerosis.

to compare two anticoagulant therapy (ACT) regimens in the treatment of venous thrombosis (VT) in patients after catheter interventions - electrophysiological studies (EFIs) and ablations: enoxaparin followed by warfarin, and rivaroxaban monotherapy.The study included patients from 18 years and older with heart rhythm disorders and planned catheter ablation. When parietal venous thrombosis (VT) were detected at the femoral vein puncture site, all patients were randomly assigned to two treatment groups. In group I enoxaparin 1 mg/kg was prescribed every 12 hours with switching to warfarin after 7 days with maintenance of the target INR values (2.0-3.0). In group II rivaroxaban therapy was started at a dose of 15 mg twise/day for 21 days with a further transition to a dose of 20 mg/day. The total period of observation and treatment of patients was at least 3 months.408 patients were observed, 42 (10.3%) patients with parietal VT were divided into two treatment groups. In group I (n=16) complete lysis of VT was noted by the 7th day of treatment in 7 (58.3%) patients, however this scheme was associated with a greater risk of complications (р=0.003) at the puncture site in the form of arteriovenous fistulae (n=1; 8.3%) and intermuscular hematomas (n=4; 25%). In group II (n=26), no complications were noted, the lysis time of VT was on average 21 days (n=18; 69.2%). Complete lysis of VT was noted in both groups at the time of the control observation point (3rd month).The efficiency of the two VT treatment regimens was comparable. Enoxaparin therapy is associated with a high risk of local complications, namely intermuscular hematomas (n=4; 25%) and arteriovenous fistulas (n=1; 8.3%). Rivaroxaban monotherapy is safer (p=0.003); in Group II none of the patients had any complications.Цель исследования: сравнить две схемы антикоагулянтной терапии (АКТ) в лечении венозных тромбозов (ВТ) у пациентов после внутрисердечных катетерных вмешательств - электрофизиологических исследований (ЭФИ) и абляций: эноксапарина с последующим назначением варфарина и монотерапии ривароксабаном. Материалы и методы. В исследование включали пациентов от 18 лет с нарушениями ритма сердца и планируемыми катетерными вмешательствами. При выявлении пристеночного ВТ в месте пункции бедренной вены пациентов рандомизировали на две группы лечения: в группе I проводилась АКТ эноксапарином 1 мг/кг каждые 12 ч с переходом на варфарин через 7 дней с поддержанием целевых значений международного нормализованного отношения (2,0-3,0), в группе II - АКТ ривароксабаном 15 мг 2 раза/сут в течение 21 дня с дальнейшим переходом на дозу 20 мг/сут. Срок наблюдения и лечения пациентов составил 3 мес. Результаты. Наблюдали 408 пациентов, из них 42 (10,3%) пациента с пристеночным ВТ распределили на две группы лечения. В группе I (n=16) у 7 (58,3 %) больных отмечен полный лизис ВТ к 7-му дню лечения, однако эта схема сопряжена с большим риском осложнений (р=0,003) со стороны места пункции в виде артериовенозных соустий (n=1; 6,25%), межмышечных гематом (n=4; 25%). В группе II (n=26) осложнений не отмечалось, время лизиса ВТ в среднем составило 21 день (n=18; 69,2%). В обеих группах на момент проведения контрольной точки наблюдения (3-й месяц) отмечен полный лизис ВТ. Заключение. Эффективность двух схем лечения ВТ оказалась сопоставимой. Терапия эноксапарином сопряжена с большим риском развития местных осложнений: межмышечных гематом (n=4; 25%), артериовенозных соустий (n=1; 8,3%). Монотерапия ривароксабаном была более безопасна (р=0,003), в группе II осложнений не отмечено.

Aim. To study prognostical significance of vasomotor disorder of coronary and brachial arteries, and traditional risk factors in development of cardiovascular complications in patients with microvascular angina (MVA) and cardial syndrome X; a retrospective 12-year observation. Material and methods. Totally, 41 patient included, with MVA (40 females/1 male), mean age at the moment of inclusion 43±4,1 y.o., 15% smokers). Endotheliumdependent vasodilation (EDV) of coronary arteries was assessed via intracoronary acetylcholine load, EDV of brachial artery — via high-resolution ultrasound in active hyperemia test. Results . It was found that in brachial EDV

Background ― Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) is an effective and safe method of treating patients with inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Currently, femoral and jugular vein accesses are the most frequently used for BPA. Authors all over the world report different numbers of access side complications, mostly exceeding 0.4%. We suggest new alternative access for BPA procedures – antecubital vein access (AVA) that is safe and easy. Methods ― In 2015-2017 period we performed 64 BPA in 19 patients with inoperable CTEPH. We performed BPA via AVA using standard radial access kit and in case of unsuccessful AVA we switched to femoral vein access (FVA). All procedures were successful with no serious complications and patients demonstrated clinical and hemodynamic improvement. Results ― Fifty-six from 64 procedures (87.5%) were performed via AVA, 8 – via femoral access (12.5%). There were no severe complications via AVA, local extravasates were managed with bandage compression. Conclusion ― Performing BPA via AVA in patients with CTEPH is a new alternative approach that is safe and easy.

Currently, the concept of atherosclerosis has undergone a number of changes. On the one hand, carotid atherosclerosis, like femoral, is a disease that must be treated directly, and on the other hand, it is a modifier of cardiovascular risk. This review is devoted to aspects of cardiovascular risk stratification depending on the severity and progression of carotid and femoral artery atherosclerosis.

Aim. To study social and economic gradients — educational and occupational statuses, wealth level, behavioral risk factors (FR) in Russian population by the ESSE-RF data. Material and methods. The data for the analysis consisted of representative selections of 13 regions of RF (n=22906) participants of the study, incl. men (n=8353) and women (n=13553) of 25-64 y.o., with response 80%. We calculated the odds ratios for the presence of behavioral FR: smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, insufficient physical activity (IPA), nonrational food consumption, anxiety and depressive disorders, — in persons from different social and economic groups by education level, type of inhabitation, professional status, wealth level. Results. Higher education was associated with better FR profile, except IPA (negative association) and alcohol consumption (absence of association). "White in general had less FR probability than Blue, excl. IPA and psychoemotional deviations (in men). As for the wealth association with the FR there is backward gradient, i.e. lesser the income, higher the risk of FR presence, excl. IPA and excessive alcohol intake in women. For example, in very wealthy men the odds ratio for depressive states was 3,09 [95% CI 2,08-4,57] comparing to the persons with low income. The type of territory of inhabitance was associated with less behavioral FR in Russian population, as significant associations are found only for depression and excessive salt consumption in both genders and IPA in men. Conclusion. The significant social and economic gradients of behavioral FR prevalence are found, the direction of those is not necessary the same as in European countries. The analysis of association with social and economic parameters would help to develop the directed preventive interventions.

Aim: To study the local elastic properties of the arterial wall at the site of atherosclerotic plaque and adjacent areas «healthy» wall of the common carotid artery in patients with arterial hypertension (AH).Materials and methods. The study included 25 patients (3 men, 22 women) with AH 1-2 grad in combination with moderate carotid atherosclerosis and lipid metabolism disorders. All patients underwent conventional ultrasound duplex scanning of the carotid arteries to determine the severity of atherosclerotic carotid arteries and the structure of atherosclerotic plaque. Determination of parameters of the local rigidity - the elasticity of the arterial wall and the atherosclerotic plaque, was carried out on the ultrasound system ALOKA a7. Was scanned and the surroundingarea atherosclerotic plaque sections of the arterial wall in the B/M mode using echo-tracking method.Results. A significant increase in the hardness of the arterial wall in atherosclerotic plaque as in the adventitia and its surface, as compared with the adjacent «healthy» wall of the carotid artery. Atherosclerotic plaque base has significantly greater rigidity and less flexibility than its surface. Conclusion. The formation of atheroma by the action of arterial pulse pressure develops heterogeneity elastic properties carotid wall not only along the artery, but in the atherosclerotic plaque (between its base and the surface). This indicates of different mobility plots artery and plaque and can lead to the formation of the mechanical instability of atherosclerotic plaque in patients with hypertension.

In the last years several studies demonstrated the important role of aldosterone not only in the development of arterial hypertension bur also in the development of cardiovascular complications. Growing investigations have recognized the important role of aldosterone in the development of left ventricular hypertrophy, the myocardial fibrosis and changes in the wall of the carotid arteries. This article provides a clinical case of hypertensive patient with primary hyperaldosteronism. The dynamics of blood pressure, the state of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System, left ventricular myocardium and carotid arteries were analized in the preoperative period, and in one year follow-up after the successful removal of the aldosteroma

Aim.To study the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with a combination of estradiol and drospirenone on cardiometabolic risk levels and subclinical vascular pathology among women in early postmenopause.Material and methods.In total, 84 women in early postmenopause, who had given informed consent and underwent a standard examination, were divided into two groups: Group I (with gynaecologist-confirmed indications for HRT with Angeliq (1 mg 17 β-estradiol and 2 mg drospirenone)) and Group II (no HRT). All participants underwent the assessment of metabolic parameters, visceral obesity, intima-media thickness (IMT) of common carotid arteries (CCA), arterial stiffness, and microcirculation (MC) status at baseline and 12 months later.Results.HRT demonstrated beneficial effects on autonomic regulation, lipid metabolism, CCA IMT, and arterial stiffness. It was also associated with a reduction in visceral obesity, some antihypertensive effect, and an increase in the MC dilatation reserve in postmenopausal women.Conclusion.Low-dose combined hormone therapy with drospirenone and estradiol could be recommended to a specific clinical group of women in early postmenopause.