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The article describes a clinical case of biventricular arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) presented with myocardial infarction (MI) — like event in a young patient. The patient was hospitalized with suspected acute coronary syndrome and an episode of ventricular tachycardia (VT). Based on increased cardiac troponin, left ventricular systolic dysfunction with wall motion abnormalities, and nonobstructive coronary arteries the initial diagnosis of type 2 MI was made. To verify the etiology behind VT and ventricular structural abnormalities cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed. Abnormalities of both right and left ventricles demonstrated by MRI and supported by the genetic testing established the diagnosis of biventricular ACM. Since the diagnosis was made, initially diagnosed MI was reassessed in favor of acute myocardial injury as a characteristic of ACM course. ACM should be included into differential diagnosis with MI and acute myocarditis in patients with elevated troponin and nonobstructive coronary arteries.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a rare disease with a potentially high mortality rate. The patient "portrait" is changing, there is an increase in the proportion of elderly people with concomitant diseases and degenerative defects, prosthetic valves and minimally invasive cardiac operations, implanted intracardiac devices, and hemodialysis. An additional significant negative contribution is made by the transformation of the etiological picture — an increase in the species diversity of pathogens, a decrease in the proportion of streptococci, a steady increase in the staphylococcal and enterococcal etiology of IE. The IE treatment success depends on the competent administration of antibacterial therapy. Clinicians are guided by two main documents: the national clinical guidelines "Infective endocarditis and infection of intracardiac devices" of 2021 and the European clinical guidelines "ESC Guidelines for the management of endocarditis" of 2023. The article summarizes updated data on the optimal prescription of antibacterial therapy, presented in a convenient and understandable format for the practicing physicians. Schemes for prescribing intravenous antibiotic therapy in a hospital are presented not only for traditional pathogens (Staphylococcus sp., Streptococcus sp. and Enterococcus sp.), but also for rare pathogens that cause significant difficulties (pathogens of the HACEK and non-HACEK group, Coxiella burnetii, Bartonella sp., Brucella sp., Tropheryma whipplei, Mycobacterium sp., fungi). Separately, the principles of empirical antibacterial therapy with the most effective treatment regimens not only for left-sided IE, but also for different variants of right-sided IE are presented in detail. New modern possibilities of outpatient oral antibiotic therapy for IE are presented. In conclusion, prospects for the development of conservative IE treatment are proposed.

BACKROUND: Heart failure (HF) is in the first place in the structure of cardiovascular death in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). One of the factors determining the prognosis of patients with this pathology is hospitalization. The difficulties of managing patients are related to the heterogeneity of the population. In some cases, HF in patients with T2D remains undiagnosed, and data on the true frequency of HF in patients with T2D and their clinical and laboratory characteristics in real clinical practice remain limited.AIM: To assess the prevalence of HF, clinical and demographic characteristics and therapy profile in patients with T2D admitted to multidisciplinary hospitals.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective observational multicenter study was conducted at the city clinical hospitals of the Moscow. For the period from August 2022 to April 2023, data from patients with T2D were analyzed. Data collection was carried out at one visit. The study design did not involve any intervention in routine clinical practice, including the choice of diagnostic method or treatment.RESULTS: The study included 445 patients in accordance with the main inclusion criteria - T2D, age over 50 years, duration of T2D more than 3 years. The incidence of HF in patients with type 2 diabetes at discharge was 76.6%. The diagnosis of HF was confirmed in 48.7% (n=217), newly diagnosed HF occurred in 27.9% (n=124) of cases, in 12.6% of patients (n=56) the diagnosis of HF was withdrawn, in 10.8% (n=48) of cases the diagnosis of HF was not established. The frequency of prescribing drugs at discharge was iSGLT-2 — 77.3% (n=344), statins — 86.7% (n= 386), MRAs — 23.1% (n=103), diure­tics — 46.1% (n=205).CONCLUSION: 76.6% of patients with T2D admitted to multidisciplinary Moscow hospitals were diagnosed with HF at discharge. The results obtained confirm the possibility of detecting HF and initiating cardioprotective therapy at the hospital stage, using inpatient clinical diagnostic examination, and patients with type 2 diabetes lasting more than 3 years and aged over 50 years can be classified as a high risk group for developing HF.

The assessment of platelet dysfunction is usually used by hematologists to diagnose inherited (such as Bernard-Soulier syndrome, platelet-type-von Willebrand disease, Glanzmann thrombasthenia, etc.), and acquired (symptomatic) platelet disorders (in hemoblastoses, uremia, liver cirrhosis, etc.), as well as to predict the risk of intraoperative bleeding in these groups of patients. Later, laboratory platelet function tests began to be used by cardiologists, first in experimental and clinical studies. In further years, attempts were made to introduce them into clinical practice. Current data show association between platelet hyperreactivity and pathogenesis of cardiovascular events. At the same time, despite the various consensus papers on assessing thrombotic and bleeding risk, monitoring antiplatelet therapy, including those published by Russian experts, in practice there are many subtleties and questions about the practical aspects of using laboratory tests. In addition, the definition of platelet phenotype does not have a clear concept. The review purpose was to describe laboratory methods for assessing the platelet function, to give more information to cardiologists about its practical value and to understand what basic scientists and physicians mean by the term “platelet phenotype”.

Aim. To evaluate the frequency, dynamics, clinical associations and prognostic value of venous congestion at bedside ultrasound using VExUS protocol in patients with decompensated heart failure (HF).Material and methods. This prospective study included 273 patients over 18 years old with NYHA class II-IV decompensated HF. All patients underwent standard clinical and paraclinical analysis, including NT-proBNP determination, transient elastometry and lung ultrasound. To assess venous congestion by bedside ultrasound using the VExUS protocol, the inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter was estimated and the congestion severity was determined on the deviation of Doppler curves of hepatic, portal and renal veins. If the IVC diameter was ≥2 sm, venous congestion was determined. To assess pulmonary congestion, lung ultrasound (LUS) was performed according to the 8-zone protocol, and the sum of B-lines ≥5 was taken as pulmonary congestion. All patients received standard therapy for heart failure. Statistical analysis was performed in SPSS Statistics program, version 26.0.Results. A high detection rate of venous congestion (75,8%) was revealed in patients with decompensated HF on admission at bedside ultrasound examination according to the VExUS protocol: mild – in 35,5%, moderate – in 12,8%, severe – in 27,5% of patients. The detection rate of venous congestion at discharge was 48,7%: mild – in 28,2%, moderate – in 9,5%, and severe – in 11,0% of cases. Pulmonary congestion on admission was detected in 98,9% of cases. Venous congestion was associated with the severity of HF, NT-proBNP level, renal and cardiac dysfunction, liver stiffness and sum of B-lines. The prognostic role of venous congestion according to the VExUS protocol on re-hospitalization for decompensated HF and the combined endpoint (hospitalization for decompensated HF + allcause death) at 12 months was established.Conclusion. The established incidence, associations, and prognostic value of venous congestion in patients with decompensated HF suggest the utility of bedside ultrasound using the VExUS protocol as an available noninvasive method to optimize therapy and risk stratification.

A clinical observation of the treatment non-compliance consequences with clinical guidelines and principles of empirical therapy selection in a female patient with intravenous drug abuse, viral hepatitis C and HIV infection, with a history of a COVID-19 and the development of uncontrolled staphylococcal infective endocarditis (IE) of the tricuspid valve, complicated recurrence of early prosthetic IE is presented. Successful treatment was achieved only by a combination of tricuspid valve replacement and the appointment of etiotropic therapy for S. aureus (MSSA). The typical clinical scenario was not accompanied by the choice of adequate empirical antibiotic therapy, despite the high suspicion of association with MSSA, which determined the complicated course of IE. Only the polymerase chain reaction of the heart valve tissue played a key role in the etiological diagnosis. The use of valve tissue polymerase chain reaction in addition to traditional microbiological methods is a valuable diagnostic study.

Delaminating intramyocardial hematoma (DIMH) is a rare and potentially life-threatening complication of acute myocardial infarction. Currently, only isolated reports of cases of myocardial dissection have been published, and until recently, the diagnosis of DIMH was carried out during autopsy or surgery. The article describes echocardiographic criteria and discusses some aspects of the therapy of this pathology. The description of clinical cases of noninvasive diagnosis of DIMH in men aged 60 and 62 years hospitalized with the clinic of decompensation of chronic heart failure is given. This complication in the presented patients was diagnosed using transthoracic echocardiography, thanks to which it was possible to identify the dissection of the myocardium, as well as to trace the dynamics of the organization of an intramyocardial hematoma into a parietal thrombus. Various approaches to patient management are demonstrated: conservative tactics allowed to successfully stabilize the course of chronic heart failure in the first patient, while the condition of the other required the transplantation of a donor heart a few months after discharge from the hospital.

Aim. Assessment of impact of the duration of preoperative antimicrobial therapy (AMT) on the sensitivity of microbiological examination and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of blood/tissues of resected valves in operated patients with infective endocarditis (IE).Materials and methods. 52 operated patients with active IE were included prospectively (Duke criteria, 2015). All patients underwent microbiological examination of blood before admission to the cardiac surgery hospital, as well as parallel simultaneous microbiological examination and PCR of blood/tissues of excised valves, followed by Sanger sequencing. The duration of preoperative treatment was calculated from the first day of AMT according to IE diagnosis to the day of surgery.Results. The causative agent of IE was established in 84.6% (n=44) patients by means of complex etiological diagnosis. A significant decrease in the sensitivity of microbiological examination of venous blood was revealed when performed in the period before and after hospitalization to a surgical hospital (up 44.2% to 17.3%, p0.05) vs. 75.0% (p0.05) vs 72.4% (p

Aortic valve lesion is a common and may have diverse causes, from degenerative, congenital and infectious diseases to autoimmune conditions. We present a rare case of Takayasu arteritis and severe heart lesion due to the myxomatous degeneration of the aortic and mitral valves associated with development of infective endocarditis (IE) complicated by abscess, fistula, valve perforation and recurrent acute decompensated heart failure in a young female patient. A combined use of histopathological and PCR analyses of valve tissues was critically important for differential diagnosis of the valve lesions, as it made it possible to identify the true cause of the disease. The presence of Takayasu arteritis has played an indirect role by creating conditions for the development of immunosuppression and determining the disease severity and its progression.

Aim. To assess periprocedural dynamics of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with first acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) without heart failure (HF) in the medical history, as well as its prognostic value in the development of cardiovascular complications in the postinfarction period.Materials and methods. A prospective, single-center observational study included 131 patients with first AMI without HF in the past medical history and successful PCI. LVEF was assessed before PCI at admission and before discharge. In patients with reduced baseline LVEF of less than 50%, the criteria for its periprocedural improvement were chosen: 1) LVEF ≥ 50%; 2) ΔLVEF of more than 5%, but EF < 50%. The endpoints were hospitalization for the development of HF and death from cardiovascular disease in combination with the development of HF. The average follow-up period was 2.5 years.Results. At admission, LVEF was < 50% in 74 (56.5%) patients. At discharge, according to the criteria for LVEF improvement, the proportion of patients in this group was 40.5 and 14.9%, respectively. In 44.6% of cases, no increase in LVEF was noted. The predictors of the absence of periprocedural dynamics in LFEF included impaired regional contractility index > 1.94, left ventricular end-systolic volume > 57 ml, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter > 5.1 cm, pulmonary artery systolic pressure >27 mm Hg, NT-proBNP > 530 pg / ml, and E / A ratio > 1.06. During the follow-up period, 28 (21.4%) patients were hospitalized for the development of HF, 33 (25.2%) patients had a combined endpoint. The absence of periprocedural improvement in left ventricular contractility was independently associated with higher odds of hospitalization for HF (relative risk (RR) 3.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.63–7.55; p = 0.001) and the combined endpoint (RR 2.6; 95% CI 1.28–5.48; p = 0.009) in the postinfarction period.Conclusion. In patients with first AMI and left ventricular systolic dysfunction, periprocedural evaluation of LVEF is reasonable to stratify the risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes.

The issue of antithrombotic therapy in patients with infective endocarditis has been studied for over 75 years. During that time studying of pathogenesis of the disease and its embolic complications, lead to the introduction of the concept of “immunothrombosis”. That mechanism allows infective agents (mostly bacteria) to be cloaked from the immune system and to multiply freely, leading to growth of vegetation, thus resulting in higher chance of fragmentation. Small-scale experimental and clinical studies on the correction of hemostatic disorders in infective endocarditis, that were performed in 20th century, didn’t show any significant results, that could affect clinical practice. However, reinterpretation of available data on coagulative system will allow to have elements of hemostasis as an application point in treating infective endocarditis. The article will discuss latest insights on the role of hemostasis system in pathophysisology of infective endocarditis, its effects on the development of the embolic complications, perspectives for diagnostics and treatment.

Aim. To study the effects of azilsartan medoxomil/chlorthalidone (AZM/CTD) and losartan/hydrochlorothiazide (LOS/HCT) combinations for NTproBNP levels, 6-minute walk test results, hydration status along with their antihypertensive efficacy according to clinical and 24-hour blood pressure in patients with hypertension and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).Material and methods. An open randomized study included 56 patients with uncontrolled or untreated hypertension and HFpEF. Patients randomized to receive the AZM/CTD 40/12.5 mg/day (group 1; n=28) or LOS/HCT 100/12.5 (group 2; n=28) within 4 weeks. Patients who did not achieve the target BP

Aim. To describe prognostic meaning of cardiac and other principal clinical manifestations of systemic AL-amyloidosis in their interrelations.Material and methods. It has been made long-time survival analysis of 147 patients with systemic AL-amyloidosis. In the special investigation group (n=58) of AL (n=55) and ATTR (n=3) amyloidotic cardiopathy patients there were evaluated prognostically important structural and functional changes in myocardium with standard and impulse-wave tissue dopplerometric echocardiography in comparison with NTproBNP serum levels.Results. Even though significantly increased nowadays surviving of AL-amylodotic patients (Me=90 months) it has been found that as at previously time orthostatic hypotension and amyloid cardiopathy are being most severe initial syndromes (median 25 months), but after 1 year from diagnosis influence of these syndromes on surviving had decreased and most low surviving was more common in patients with CKD 3-5 (median 28 months). Influence of CKD 3-5 on surviving was associated predominantly with intracardial hemodynamics deterioration. Together with decreased systolic shortening strain rate (48,5%) decreased filtration rate (47,9%) was second of main factors contributing into NTproBNP increasing in effective multiple regression model (R=0,702, F(4,21)=5,095, p=0,005). NTproBNP level in less degree depended on renal clearance.Conclusion. Heart damage is one of the most prognostically unfavorable manifestations of systemic amyloidosis due to a sharp deterioration in the elastic properties of the myocardium, in the process of further development of amyloidosis, the leading factor in progression is the deterioration of the profile of cardiorenal interactions, the marker of which is the level of NTproBNP.

Aim. To study the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on hospitalization rates, diagnosis, and outcomes of infective endocarditis (IE) with a subanalysis of IE course in combination with COVID-19.Material and methods. This prospective cohort study included 168 patients with definite or probable IE (DUKE 2015) hospitalized in the V.V. Vinogradov City Clinical Hospital from July 2017 to July 2022. All patients underwent a conventional examination in accordance with current clinical guidelines. We studied clinical, paraclinical and etiological parameters, as well as outcomes.Two clinical observations of the combination of IE and COVID-19 are presented.Results. When assessing the local registry of patients with IE, a trend towards an increase in hospitalizations rate of IE in 2021-2022 was shown, with a decrease during the period of long-term lockdowns in Moscow and a subsequent surge after their cancellation. Patients with IE during the COVID-19 pandemic had a more favorable clinical profile, a 2-fold increase in IE diagnosis (due to late hospitalization), frequent detection of Staphylococcus aureus MSSA (32,6%), and frequent surgical treatment (up to 87,6% with a combination of IE and COVID-19), as well as high in-hospital mortality, but without a tendency to increase (30,4%). Clinical observations of IE and COVID-19 combination are presented, which demonstrates the contribution of COVID-19 as the only risk factor for native tricuspid valve IE in a patient without predisposing causes, as well as a factor in the unfavorable prognosis for native aortic valve IE after the addition of COVID-19, which led to lethal outcome.Conclusion. The present study demonstrates the profile of patients with IE and COVID-19 depending on the epidemiological situation of COVID-19 and the association with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The data obtained make it possible to discuss the potential relationship between COVID-19 and IE. The "endocarditis team" determines the timely implementation of surgery and the absence of an increase in inhospital mortality, regardless of the epidemiological situation.

Aim. To assess non-invasive parameters of left ventricular (LV) myocardial work in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (CHrEF) and iron deficiency (ID) after ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) therapy.Material and methods. There were following inclusion criteria: LV ejection fraction (EF) ≤40%; body >70 kg, receiving best medical therapy (BMT) in recommended doses in accordance with the guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology and the Russian Society of Cardiology. Median age was 67±11,7 years (men, 83%), while median LVEF and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide was 29% and 315 ng/ml, respectively. Patients were randomized by the envelope method. The first group consisted of 19 patients who received therapy with intravenous FCM 1500 mg in 2 injections with an interval of one week between injections in addition to BMT. The control group consisted of 16 patients who received BMT without FCM. All patients underwent a standard echocardiography, and non-invasive LV myocardial work was assessed immediately before inclusion in the study and after 3 months.Results. In the first group of patients receiving FCM therapy, an increase in LVEF (29,1±10,3 vs 35,4±11,1; p=0,001), mitral annular plane systolic excursion (1,2 (1;1,6 ) vs 1,5 (1,3;1,9), p=0,001), LV global longitudinal strain (-7 (-5;-8) vs -8 (-6;-11), p=0,007) and non-invasive indicators of myocardial work (global work index (826±314 vs 1041±354), p=0,0001; global constructive work (1173±388 vs 1435±405), p=0,0001; global work efficiency (85 (82;87) vs 86 (82;88), p=0,017)). There were no significant changes in the studied parameters in the BMT group.Conclusion. Patients with HFrEF and ID treated with FCM showed a significant increase in LV systolic function, including non-invasive myocardial work parameters, compared with the control group.

The guidelines have been developed for internists, general practitioners, emergency physicians, and paramedics. The guidelines are based on expert consensus papers, accumulated clinical and scientific experience. The methodology for organizing and conducting ultrasound-assisted examinations is described in detail. Algorithms for diagnosing the main syndromes in internal medicine practice are presented to help the practitioner. Particular attention is paid to the methodology of ultrasoundassisted examinations. These guidelines will be of interest to doctors, heads of medical facilities, as well as students of medical universities.

Expert Council: Drapkina O. M., Vavilova T. V., Karpov Yu. A., Kobalava Zh. D., Lomakin N. V., Martynov A. I., Roitman E. V., Sychev D. A.Scientific communities: the Russian Society for the Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases (ROPNIZ), the Russian Scientific Medical Society of Therapists (RNMOT), the Russian Antithrombotic Forum (RAF), the National Association for Thrombosis and Hemostasis (NATH).

Abstract Background This study evaluated the effectiveness of treatment with an indapamide/amlodipine single-pill combination (SPC) in outpatients with uncontrolled isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) aged over 55 years in real-life clinical practice. Methods This was a post-hoc analysis of the subgroup of patients with ISH from ARBALET, a 3-month, multicenter, observational, open-label study conducted in Russia among patients with grade I or II hypertension who were either uncontrolled on previous antihypertensive treatment or treatment-naïve. The effectiveness of indapamide/amlodipine SPC was assessed by the change in office systolic blood pressure (SBP) and the rate of target SBP (

Observational and interventional studies have shown that intensive blood pressure control may benefit in patients with diabetes. The Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Preterax and Diarnicron MR Controlled Evaluation (ADVANCE) international randomized, controlled, clinical trial was launched in 2001. According to the results of the study, the risk of major micro- and macrovascular events (primary endpoint) significantly decreased by 9%, while the risks of cardiovascular death and death from any cause decreased by 18% and 14%, respectively. There was a decrease in the risks of microvascular complications – any renal event, the appearance or worsening of nephropathy and the appearance of microalbuminuria by 21%, 18% and 21%, respectively. The results of the antihypertensive part of the ADVANCE study supplemented the expanding evidence base and served as the basis for changing clinical guidelines for the management of patients with hypertension and diabetes. According to the updated joint guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology / European Association for the Study of Diabetes (ESC/EASD), the target systolic / diastolic blood pressure levels should be 130/80 mmHg, with some exceptions, and the fixed combination of the RAAS blocker with a diuretic or calcium antagonist is suggested as first-line therapy.The observational ADVANCE-ON study, which enrolled 8494 patients out of 11 140 patients randomized to the ADVANCE study, found a memory effect, or ‘inheritance’, in which intensive blood pressure control during the study had a beneficial effect on various outcomes after its termination. These findings highlight the importance of achieving and maintaining optimal blood pressure control to reduce the risk of micro- and macrovascular complications.

High blood pressure is a risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, as well as cognitive decline and loss of autonomy in the elderly and old age. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in populations of older patients living at home with low comorbidity and preserved autonomy indicate the benefit of lowering elevated blood pressure in patients over 80 years of age. Older patients with senile asthenia, loss of autonomy and other geriatric problems were excluded from RCTs, and observational studies in these groups of patients indicate an increase in morbidity and mortality with lower blood pressure and antihypertensive therapy. Obviously, in very elderly patients, a universal strategy for the treatment of arterial hypertension cannot be applied due to the significant heterogeneity of their functional status. The geriatric approach to the management of arterial hypertension in older patients involves an assessment of the functional status, the presence of senile asthenia, and the degree of autonomy for the choice of antihypertensive therapy tactics.

Aim. To study the impact of heart rate (HR) reduction with beta-blockers (BB) on left atrial (LA) function in hypertensive patients with paroxysmal or persistent mild symptomatic atrial fibrillation.Material and methods. In this open prospective trial we randomly assigned patients with hypertension, sinus rhythm, elevated heart rate (≥70 bpm), and recurrent atrial fibrillation (EHRA 2A or less) to receive BB with a target HR of less or greater than 70 bpm for at least 4 months. All the patients underwent an echocardiogram [left atrial (LA) function was assessed as emptying fraction]and applanation tonometry at baseline and after 4 months. Primary endpoint was median LA emptying fraction (LAEF) measurement at the end of the study.Results. 47 patients were randomized to group with a target HR of ≤70 bpm and 44 patients to >70 bmp. Among them 44 and 41 patients completed the study. Median follow up was 4.4 months. At the end of the study (4.5 months) median HR was 62 [60; 67] bmp in ≤70 group and 73 [72; 76] bpm in >70 group. Both groups received similar antihypertensive therapy and there were no intergroup differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. At the end of the study, patients in ≤70 group had significantly lower LAEF compared with >70 group (37% vs 42%; p=0.01). E’avg was lower and augmentation index was higher in ≤70 group as compared to >70. In regression analysis, after E’avg and augmentation index were included in the model, the association between LAEF and randomization group lost its significance.Conclusion. Beta blockers treatment with strict HR reduction (≤70 bpm) significantly reduced LA function as compared to lenient target HR (>70 bpm).

Aim. To evaluate the association of a high normal blood pressure (BP) with the risk of early hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD) in young adults.Material and methods. Medical screening of population aged 18-45 years (n=987) revealed that in 173 persons, office BP corresponded to a high normal level or hypertension (HTN). Echocardiography (GE Healthcare Vivid 9, using EchoPAC Software) was performed when HTN was confirmed by office BP measurement and/or according to 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) (n=127). In addition, creatinine and albumin-to-creatinine ratio in spot urine were measured.Results. The median age was 23 [21; 25] years. The median systolic (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) was 129 [121; 137] and 75±12 mm Hg, respectively. The detection rate of LV geometry abnormalities was 3,3 times higher in the high normal BP group [95% CI, 1,06-6,28, p=0,02], and 10,7 times higher in the HTN group [95% CI, 2,32-16,49, p=0,04] compared with the optimal+normal BP group. In a multivariate analysis, the independence of associations with the LV mass index (LVMI) was confirmed only for the mean nighttime DBP, left atrial volume index, and the ratio of LV peak early diastolic velocity to the average septal and lateral peak early diastolic mitral annular velocity.Conclusion. In young people, the prevalance of HMOD is comparable in the groups with high normal BP and HTN, while significant differences were found between the group with optimal+normal BP levels and patients with HTN and high normal BP. An independent association of elevated LVMI with mean nighttime DBP was found.

Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with infectious endocarditis are limited by the high frequency of cases with an unknown etiology and imperfection of microbiological (cultural) methods. To overcome these problems new approaches to the identification of infectious endocarditis pathogens were introduced, which allowed achieving certain positive results. However, it should be noted that despite the wide variety of diagnostic tools currently used, there is no ideal method for etiological laboratory diagnosis of infectious endocarditis. The article discusses the features and place of immunochemical, molecular biological (MALDI-TOF MS, real-time PCR, sequencing, in situ fluorescence hybridization, metagenomic methods, etc.), immunohistochemical methods, and their advantages and limitations.

Aim. To assess the prognostic value of the integral assessment using various modern methods for diagnosing congestion in patients hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF).Material and methods. This single-center prospective study included 165 patients with ADHF. All patients underwent a standard clinical and paraclinical examination, including assessing NT-proBNP levels, lung ultrasound B-lines, liver transient elastography, bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) at admission and discharge. To assess clinical congestion, the Heart Failure Association consensus document scale was used. Long-term clinical outcomes were assessed by telephone survey 1, 3, 6, 12 months after discharge. As an end point, the allcause mortality and readmissions were estimated.Results. In patients hospitalized with ADHF, at discharge, differences were found in the incidence of residual congestion according to certain paraclinical methods — from 22 to 38%, subclinical — from 14,5 to 27%. When using the integral assessment of stagnation, the incidence of residual and subclinical congestion was 53,6% and 35%, respectively. Patients with residual congestion had more severe symptoms of congestion, compared with those with subclinical congestion. Patients in whom congestion was detected by 4 methods, in contrast to those by 1, 2, and 3 methods, had worse clinical and paraclinical parameters. There was a significant increase in the risk of all-cause mortality and readmission in the presence of congestion, identified by 3 (hazard ratio, 9,4 (2,2-40,6); p

Introduction. The English-language databases PubMed/MEDLINE and Embase are valuable information resources for finding original publications in basic and clinical medicine. Currently, there are no artificial intelligence systems to evaluate the quality of these publications.Aim. Development and testing of a system for sentiment analysis (i.e. analysis of emotional modality) of biomedical publications.Materials and methods. The technique of analysis of the “Big data” of biomedical publications was formulated on the basis of the topological theory of sentiment analysis. Algorithms have been developed that allow for the classification of texts from 16 sentiment classes with 90% accuracy (manipulative speech, research without positive results, propaganda, falsification of results, negative personal attitude, aggressive text, negative emotional background, etc.). Based on the algorithms, a scale for assessing the sentiment quality of research (β-score) is proposed.Results. Abstracts of 19.9 million publications registered in PubMed/MEDLINE over the past 50 years (1970–2019) were analyzed. It was shown that publications with low sentiment quality (the value of the β-score of the text is less than zero, which corresponds to the prevalence of manipulative and negative sentiments in the text) comprise only 18.5% (3.68 out of 19.9 million). The greatest values of the β-score were characterized by publications on sports medicine, systems biology, nutrition, on the use of applied mathematics and data mining in medicine. The rubrication of the entire array of publications by 27,840 headings (MESH-system of PubMed/MEDLINE) indicated an increase in the β-score by years (i.e., the positive dynamics of sentiment quality of the texts of publications) for 27,090 of the studied headings. The most intense positive dynamics was found for research in genetics, physiology, pharmacology, and gerontology. 249 headings with sharply negative dynamics of sentiment quality and with a pronounced increase in the manipulative sentiments characteristic of the tabloid press were highlighted. Separate assessments of international experts are presented that confirm the patterns identified.Conclusion. The proposed artificial intelligence system allows a researcher to make an effective assessment of the sentiment quality of biomedical research papers, filtering out potentially inappropriate publications disguised as “evidence-based”.

Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is diagnosed in the absence of anatomically significant stenoses (

Aim. To study the effects of fixed-dose indapamide/perindopril combination on endothelial function and arterial stiffness in patients with uncontrolled stage 1-2 hypertension (HTN) and chronic kidney disease (CKD).Material and methods. Total of 100 patients with uncured or uncontrolled with ≥3 months antihypertensive therapy HTN and CKD G3 (67% females, mean age 59,1±12,5 years) were included in the study. Each patient took indapamide/perindop combination in accordance with 1 of 3 existing regimes (depending on doses) for 3 months. Primary aim was to assess the effects of indapamide/perindopril combination on endothelial function and parameters of arterial stiffness after 12 weeks of treatment (assessment by AngioScan diagnostic complex). Secondary aims were achievement of target blood pressure (BP) after 4 and 12 weeks of therapy and assessment of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and the albumin-tocreatinine ratio (ACR) changes after 12 weeks.Results. Initially, there was an increase in arterial stiffness parameters in all patients, and during treatment decrease was observed: central systolic BP (SBP) from 120±10,1 to 112,9±6,3 mm Hg, median augmentation index from 10,9% to 4,6%, stiffness index from 8,1±2,4 to 7,1±0,9, vascular age decreased by 9,6% (р< 0,001 for trend). Significant improvement of endothelial function was observed regardless of diabetes presence: occlusion index increased from 1,5±0,3 to 1,7±0,5, median phase shift — from -4,6 to -2,4 ms (p< 0,01). After 4 weeks, 27% of patients reached target BP, by the end of the study — 90%. A decrease in the median ACR from 16,3 to 15,0 mg/g, GFR increase from 50,2±7,6 to 53,6±8,7 ml/min/1,73 m2 were observed (p< 0,01 for trend).Conclusion. Therapy with a fixed-dose indapamide/perindopril combination in patients with uncontrolled stage 1-2 HTN and G3 CKD leads to a significant improvement in arterial stiffness, endothelial and renal function, and achievement of target BP in 90% of patients.

Aim. To evaluate gender-related differences of left atrial (LA) phasic function and structural remodeling in conjunction with the parameters of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction and central aortic pressure in patients with hypertension and recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF).Material and methods. The comparative study included 30 men and 37 women with non-valvular AF, hypertension and LV hypertrophy. Conventional echocardiographic measures were extended with LA measures, including its volume in three phases, LAemptying fraction (LAEF), passive and active ejection fraction. The parameters of central aortic pressure were estimated by applanation tonometry method.Results. No difference was observed between LA and LV structural parameters in men and women. However, in women LAEF (39 [28;50] vs 50 [42;55]%; p=0.02) and E/E’(9.7 [7.8;12] vs 7.1 [5.6;8.6]; p=0.001) were worse than in men. Active LA ejection fraction was higher in women (31 [21;42] vs 24 [19;31]%; p=0.04), whereas passive one – in men (12 [10;14] vs 33 [23;38]%; p

Dilatation of the left ventricle cavity and its contractility decrease with the subsequent heart failure development against the background of prolonged excessive alcohol consumption is commonly called alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM). The direct toxic effect of ethanol and its metabolites on the myocardium, neuroendocrine disorders,other manifestations of alcoholism and a genetic predisposition play a significantrole in the development of this pathology. The purpose of this review is to study modern ideas about the mechanisms of development and course of ACM. In particular, special attention is paid to discussing the doses of alcohol necessary for the onset of symptoms and its regression. Actual data are presented in relation to a survey aimed at confirming alcohol abuse and the exclusion of alternative causes of myocardial injury, as well as treating patients and determining the prognosis.

Prevention and choice of therapeutic strategies in patient,s with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and heart failure (HF) is an urgent problem. This review presents a modern concept for HF development from early stages of T2D. Glucose-lowering and cardiac medications for the prevention and treatment of HF depending on its phenotypes were considered.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, which is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular death. The latter is partly due to the common combination with coronary artery disease (CAD). If indicated, patients with AF need continuous direct oral anticoagulant therapy to prevent thromboembolic events. In addition, patients with CAD who require urgent or elective percutaneous coronary intervention require dual antiplatelet therapy. Therefore, physicians often face a dilemma when choosing the most appropriate antithrombotic therapy regimen for AF patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Integrating two medication approaches to treat a single patient with a combination of AF and CAD is challenging and must strike a balance between high efficacy and safety. This article provides an overview of studies on this issue.

Heart failure is a severe disease with an unfavorable prognosis, which requires intensification of therapy and the search for novel approaches to treatment. In this review, the physiological significance of soluble guanylate cyclase-related signaling pathway, reasons for decrease in its activity in heart failure and possible consequences are discussed. Pharmacological methods of stimulating the production of cyclic guanosine monophosphate using drugs with different mechanisms of action are considered. Data from clinical studies regarding their effectiveness and safety are presented. A promising approach is stimulation of soluble guanylate cyclase, which showed beneficial effects in preclinical studies, as well as in the recently completed phase III VICTORIA study.

Achievement of target blood pressure (BP) is one of the key strategies of primary prevention of cardiovascular complications in patients with arterial hypertension (AH). Aim. To assess and compare antihypertensive effects of azilsartan medoxomil (AZM) with chlorthalidone or indapamide-retard combination in patients with AH in real clinical setting.Material and methods. The open randomized comparative study included 50 patients with uncontrolled AH who were randomized to the starting therapy with combination of AZM with chlorthalidone (Edarbi Clo 40/12,5 mg) (group 1) or indapamide-retard 1,5 mg (group 2) for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, up-titration of one of the drugs was done in the patients who didn’t achieve target BP level (

The subject of this article is the obvious crisis of evidence-based medicine in the 21st century. As a typical example of a contemporary “evidence-based study”, here we analyze in detail a text published in 2018 in the Cochrane Database Syst Rev journal under the code number “CD00317F. The authors claim that ω -3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are not effective either for the prevention of cardiovascular mortality or for any other outcomes mentioned by the authors. A detailed analysis of this text, however, pointed to gross violations of data collection and processing. By using modern mathematical methods for big data analysis we were able to demonstrate clearly that the authors of the text CD003177 used clinically heterogeneous cohorts of patients. We then selected a subsample of 19 clinically homogeneous studies (total of 64771 patients) and conducted a meta-analysis of this data. According to the results, an increase in consumption of ω -3 PUFA -eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids - by 1 g/day was associated with a significant decrease in the risk of mortality by an average of 5% (OR - 0.945, 95% CI - 0.907-1.008; P=0.054). This meta-analysis was based on the modified clinical, laboratory and anthropometric criteria in the selected studies. In addition, we used the most important characteristics of ω -3 PUFAs pharmaceutical forms and the modern statistical analysis of biomedical data. With the above modifications, we managed to select a homogeneous subsample of clinically relevant studies. We also applied methods of sentiment analysis to demonstrate a subjective approach used by the above authors regarding the role of PUFAs in the prevention of cardiovascular morbidity. Using the language of today social media, some adepts of evidence-based medicine implement propaganda techniques to literally “repress” ω -3 PUFAs.

Steady increase in worldwide prevalence of hypertension and hypertension-related cardiovascular morbidity and mortality necessitate new approaches to the management of hypertensive patients. It`s important to recognize that despite several differences the convergence of the 2017 ACC/AHA (US) and 2018 ESC/ESH (European) guidelines is greater now than ever before. The present review focuses on the key similarities and differences of these two documents. Among similarities we analyzed positions regarding the importance of cardiovascular risk evaluation for treatment initiation and choice of optimal treatment strategy: blood pressure (BP) treatment thresholds; drugs of choice for the initiation of antihypertensive therapy and treatment targets in different groups including elderly patients. Among key differences we analyzed sections concerning the classification of BP levels and target BP levels in patients with chronic kidney disease. In conclusion, we may say that in many ways the guidelines are just a different interpretation of the same data. There is no doubt in the importance of lowering high BP and evaluation and correction of high cardiovascular risk. One of the main purposes is to focus attention on younger patients with hypertension.

Aim. To assess the effectiveness and safety of therapy with fixed combination of amlodipine/indapamide (Arifam) in outpatients with arterial hypertension (AH) over 55 years old.Material and methods. We included 2217 patients in the observation — 692 (31%) men and 1521 (69%) women. Changes in the course of 3-month therapy of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), the frequency of achievement of target BP levels (

Congestion associated with pressure and/or volume overload plays a central role in the pathophysiology, manifestations and prognosis of heart failure, being one of the important aims of its therapy. The current methods for congestion diagnosis, mainly clinical, have low sensitivity and specificity, which can lead to a delay in diagnosis and initiation of treatment.Over the past decades, novel, more sensitive and specific ultrasound techniques have been developed to detect increased intracardiac pressure and/or volume overload, providing early and accurate diagnosis and facilitating treatment strategies. The review discusses the role of modern investigations for detecting and quantifying congestion, including visualization of the lungs (B-lines), kidneys (intrarenal venous flow) and the venous system (diameter of the inferior vena cava and internal jugular veins), and transient elastography.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are common and interrelated diseases, the combination of which is associated with a poor prognosis. The efficacy and safety of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) used to prevent thromboembolic complications of AF may depend on renal function due to the specific pharmacokinetics of these drugs. This review considers current data on the role of kidneys in the pathogenesis of ischemic and bleeding events, methods of renal function assessment and related classification issues, as well as comparison of warfarin and DOAC therapy, in patients with AF and renal dysfunction of different stages based on the results of randomized controlled trials and actual clinical practice. DOAC use in the context of dynamic deterioration of renal function, supranormal renal function, and their effect on renal outcomes is discussed. International guidelines on anticoagulant therapy in AF and renal dysfunction were analyzed.

Patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), despite optimal evidence-based treatment, have a high residual risk of adverse outcomes. The favorable results of studies on cardiovascular safety and the effectiveness of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), including outcomes associated with heart failure, were the reason for studying the effectiveness in patients with HFrEF regardless of the T2D status. For the first time in the DAPA-HF study, the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin in patients with HFrEF showed a positive effect on hard endpoints. Data of the secondary analysis confirmed the effectiveness of dapagliflozin regardless of the T2D status, therapy, age, and quality of life. The results of DAPA-HF have become a serious statement for changing the standards of the guideline-recommended therapy of HFrEF.

Relationships and Activities. The Council of Experts was supported by AstraZeneca.

Cardiac remodeling refers to factors that increase the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with hypertension (HTN). Changes in myocardial structure and function can be caused not only by hemodynamic causes, but also a number of metabolic disorders.Aim. To analyze the associations of insulin resistance and left ventricular (LV) remodeling in a cohort of young patients with untreated uncomplicated hypertension and high normal blood pressure (BP).Material and methods. The presented cohort cross-sectional study included 105 subjects. We analyzed clinical, demographic and anthropometric characteristics, performed a biochemical panel (creatinine, potassium, lipid profile, glucose, insulin, uric acid) with the estimation of insulin resistance scores (HOMA-IR, METs-IR, TyG), a glycosylated hemoglobin test. Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio was determined. Office and 24-hour ambulatory BP measurement and two-dimensional speckletracking echocardiography were performed in all patients.Results. The median age was 23 years (men — 85%); 51% of participants were overweight or obese, 39% had dyslipidemia, 21% — insulin resistance. Signs of LV remodeling were observed in 38 (40%) subjects: 32 (34%) — concentric remodeling, 5 (5%) — concentric LV hypertrophy (LVH), 1 (1%) — eccentric LVH. Defects of LV systolic global longitudinal strain (GLS) were observed in 44 (47%) young patients with HTN and preHTN. Stepwise multivariate regression analysis revealed that the TyG index was an independent predictor of LV GLS defects (b=0,38, p=0,001).Conclusion. In a cohort of young patients with HTN and high normal blood pressure, there is a high prevalence of insulin resistance, metabolic disorders, and early signs of LV remodeling and subclinical systolic dysfunction. The TyG index, available for estimation by routine biochemical tests, is an independent factor affecting the LV GLS.

Aim. To study phenotypes of clinic and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (BP), to determine their associations with arterial stiffness parameters, and to assess global cardiovascular risk (CVR) in young patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D).Material and methods. The presented cross-sectional single-center study included 81 T1D patients without a history of hypertension (HTN) and other cardiovascular diseases (CVD) (men — 39%; median age — 27 years; median duration of T1D — 6 years). All participants underwent a routine clinical and laboratory testing, measurement of clinic and 24-hour ambulatory BP (BPLab Vasotens), assessment of central BP and arterial stiffness parameters using applanation tonometry technique. BP phenotypes were analyzed with diagnostic criteria for HTN by ESC/ESH 2018 guidelines. CVR was assessed using the SCORE 10-year risk calculator (ESC 2019). The differences were considered significant at p

Arterial hypertension in adults. Clinical guidelines 2020

The review discusses the prognostic value and contribution to therapy optimization of lung ultrasound for heart failure patients.

Statin therapy is highly effective and obligatory method of cardiovascular risk reduction in primary and secondary prevention. It is well tolerated by patients. However the risk of new diabetes cases onset, associated with statins, remains discussed actively. The review is focused on recent data on the prevalence of this adverse event, risk/benefit ratio, possible mechanisms and patients populations with the highest risk of development of statin related diabetes. Practitioners tactics analyzed in diabetes development when taking statins. The article goes with recent international guidelines data, as the consensus letters; also, a comparison provided with novel medications used in cardiovascular prevention.

Regardless the fact that type 2 diabetes (DM2) is related to higher risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) development and complications, incl. heart failure (HF), usage of the most of glucose lowering drugs (GLD) does not only improve life prognosis, but might increase the risk of HF. Inhibitors of SGLT2 (gliflozines), a novel group of GLD with a unique non-insulin dependent mechanism of action, in a range of large randomized trials passed not only the obligatory test on cardiovascular safety, but have demonstrated ability to decrease the risk of combination endpoint development (cardiovascular mortality, non-fatal MI and strokes) and possibility for HF hospitalization. The conclusions of randomized trials are confirmed by real clinical practice of DM2 patients management, analyzed in large multicenter trials CVD-REAL, CVD-REAL-2. Inthese trials, first time prescribed SGLT2 inhibitors (in Europe, in most cases dapagliflozin) showed significant benefits for other classes of firstly prescribed GLD in a matter of hospitalization risks for HF or all-cause mortality. However, the total period of the gliflozines usage is not that long, so an answer to the question on stability of their effects in broader perspective is expected by the end of ongoing trials in patients with high cardiovascular risk and in HF patients, including those with no DM2.