Aim    This study focused on a systematic review and meta-analysis on the predictive role of quantifying the epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume using data of computed tomography (CT) in patients after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF).
Material and methods    We performed a search in PubMed and Google Scholar for studies that examined the predictive value of EAT volume measured by CT for AF recurrence in patients after undergoing pulmonary venous isolation. Risk ratio (RR) values from studies, where similar scoring criteria were available, were pooled for the meta-analysis.
Results    Eighteen studies were selected from 901 publications for these systematic review and meta-analysis. In total, 4087 patients were included in this analysis (mean age, 59.0 years; mean follow-up duration, 14.9 mos). Patients with recurrent AF after ablation had higher left atrial EAT volume compared to patients without relapse (weighted mean difference, 5.99 ml; 95% CI: -10.04 to -1.94; p = 0.004). An increase in left atrial EAT volume per ml was significantly associated with the development of AF recurrence after ablation (RR 1.08; 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.16; p=0.03). Patients with recurrent AF after ablation also had higher total EAT values than patients without relapse (difference in weighted values, 11.67 ml; 95% CI: -19.81 to -3.54; p = 0.005). However, no significant association was found between the total EAT volume and the risk of AF relapse (RR 1.00; 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.01; p=0.06).
Conclusions    The volume of left atrial EAT measured by CT has a significant predictive value in AF patients after catheter ablation and can be used for stratification of the risk for recurrent AF.

Aim      To determine the effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) on kidney function in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF).

Material and methods  A controlled randomized study on the dapagliflozin treatment in ADHF was performed. Patients were randomized to a main group (standard therapy supplemented with dapagliflozin) or a control group (standard therapy for ADHF). The primary endpoint was the development of acute kidney injury (AKI). 200 patients were included (mean age, 74±12 years; 51% men). 31% of patients had type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). Mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LV EF) was 47±14 %; in 44.5% of patients, LV EF was less than 45%. Median concentration of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was 5225 [3120; 9743] pg / ml, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was 51 [38; 64] ml / min / 1.73 m2.

Results In-hospital mortality was 6.5%. Analysis of the dynamics of body weight loss showed significant differences (4200 [2925; 6300] g vs. 3000 [1113; 4850] g; p=0.011) in favor of the dapagliflozin group. The requirement for increasing the daily dose of furosemide and adding an another class diuretic (thiazide or acetazolamide) did not differ between the groups. However, median furosemide dose during the stay in the hospital was lower in the dapagliflozin group (80 [67; 120] mg vs. 102 [43; 120] mg; p=0.016). At 48 hours after randomization, GFR significantly decreased in the dapagliflozin group (–5.5 [–11; 3] ml/min/ 1.73 m2) compared to the control group (–0.3 [–4; 5] ml / min/1.73 m2, р=0.012). Despite this, GFR did not differ between the groups at discharge (51 [41; 66] ml/min/1.73 m2 and 49 [38; 67] ml/min/1.73 m2, respectively; p = 0.84). In the dapagliflozin group, frequency of AKI episodes was not increased compared to the control group (13 and 9.4%, respectively; p = 0.45).

Conclusion      The dapagliflozin treatment in ADHF is associated with more pronounced body weight loss and lower average doses of loop diuretics during the period of stay in the hospital, with no associated clinically significant impairment of renal function.

Aim      To analyze fatal outcomes of myocardial infarction (MI) in patients after COVID-19.

Material and methods  Data of pathoanatomical protocols and case histories of 612 patients managed in clinics of the Siberian State Medical University from 01.01.2020 through 31.12.2021 were studied. 68 (11%) of these patients were transferred to the clinics from respiratory hospitals for rehabilitation after the novel coronavirus infection. The main condition for hospitalization was a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for SARS-CoV-2 virus RNA. 544 (89%) of patients had no history of COVID-19. The incidence of MI was 14% (7/68) in patients after COVID-19 and 10% (74/544) in patients who have not had it. In pathoanatomical protocols and case histories of 81 patients diagnosed with MI, macroscopic and histological changes in the heart, pericardial cavity, coronary arteries, and laboratory results were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed with a STATISTICA version 10.0 software package.

Results The patients after COVID-19 had a lower percentage stenosis, more frequent coronary artery thrombosis, and a positive D-dimer. According to our data, MI emerged 10.0 (2.0; 21.0) days after admission to the hospital, had a larger area, always was transmural, and rapidly resulted in death; the time of necrotic changes in all cases did not exceed 24 h. Upon admission to the hospital, the PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 virus RNA was negative, and acute inflammatory changes were stopped at the previous stage of hospitalization.

Conclusion      The risk of coronary thrombosis in patients after COVID-19 remains after the relief of acute inflammatory response and elimination of the infectious agent, thereby creating a risk of MI, that often leads to a fatal outcome.

Aim      Dynamic assessment of the right heart in patients with COVID-19-associated pneumonia of different severity during regression of the systemic inflammatory response (SIR).

Material an methods    This single-center prospective study included 46 patients with the novel coronavirus infection COVID-19 and viral pneumonia according to chest multispiral computed tomography (CT). Laboratory and echocardiographic examinations of patients were performed.

Results Based on the results of evaluation with the Clinical Condition Scale (CCS-COVID), patients were divided into two groups: group A, patients with a score from 6 to 9 and group B, patients with a score from 10 to 14. The study results of both groups were evaluated twice: on day 10±2.5 from the onset of symptoms (groups A10 and B10, respectively) and again on day 17±1.8 (groups A17 and B17, respectively). Patients of group B10 had more pronounced SIR (C-reactive protein, 111.38±52.5 mg / l) and a larger volume of ground-glass opacity (38.3±9.6 %). At the first stage, higher values of right ventricular global longitudinal strain (RV GLS) were detected in group B10 compared to group A10 (23.2±4.8 % vs. 19.9±3.5 %, р=0.048). During the regression of SIR intensity and the positive dynamics of CT, lower values of Е / А were observed in group B17 (1.0 [0.98; 1.2]) vs. group А17 (1.4 [1.18; 1.5, p=0.015), and е’ / a’ in group B17 (0.66 [0.58; 0.85]) vs. 0.95 [0.79; 1.12] in group B17 (p=0.010). Е / А and е’ / a’ ratios were correlated with total lactate dehydrogenase fraction (r= –0.452 and p=0.006; r= –0.334 and p=0.050, respectively).

Conclusion      In patients with severe COVID-19-associated pneumonia during regression of SIR intensity, changes in the parameters that reflected RV diastolic dysfunction were observed.

Aim      To study echocardiographic parameters of heart chamber strain in patients with left ventricular (LV) preclinical diastolic dysfunction (PDD) for determining predictors of the PDD transition to heart failure with preserved LV ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Material and methods  The study included 113 patients (including 69 women) with metabolic syndrome and LV PDD (mean age, 65±7 years). The control group consisted of 40 healthy individuals (mean age, 63.0±6.0 years, including 59% women). Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in consistency with criteria of NCEP-ATP III 2001. PDD was diagnosed based on the absence of heart failure symptoms, normal level of brain natriuretic peptide, and the presence of at least three of the following echocardiographic criteria at rest or after diastolic stress-echocardiography (stress-echoCG): left atrial volume index (LAVI) >34 ml / m²; the ratio of peak early transmitral filling velocity (E) to average lateral and medial mitral annular velocity (e’), Е / е’ >14, е’ <8.5, and peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity >2.8 m /s. EchoCG that determined LV longitudinal strain (LS), right ventricular (RV) LS, right atrial (RA) LS, and left atrial (LA) LS was performed every year during the 3-year follow-up.

Results During the follow-up period, 31 patients developed HFpEF. 19 of them reported symptoms while in the other 12 patients, HFpEF was detected by diastolic stress-echoCG. Patients with HFpEF had significantly lower absolute values of RV LS, LA LS, and RA LS (–27.8±2.9 in the PDD group vs. –23.8±3.2 in the HFpEF group; р<0.03; 38.2±9.1 vs. 28.6±10.2; р<0.03; and 46.2±10.4 vs. 31.6±8.3; р<0.03, respectively). RV LS and RA LS were the strongest independent predictors for PDD transformation into HFpEF (odds ratio, OR, 2.7; 95 % confidence interval, CI, 1.48–2.91; р<0.001 and OR 2.6; 95 % CI: 1.40–2.75; р<0.001, respectively).

Conclusion      PDD is not a separate clinical nosology but rather an initial stage in the pathogenesis of HFpEF. Approximately ⅓ of PDD patients develop HFpEF. RV LS and RA LS are considered predictors of HFpEF. The duration of PDD is apparently an important factor that provides the development of HFpEF.

Aim    To study renal hemodynamics in patients with resistant arterial hypertension (RAH) in combination with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) and to identify factors involved in the increase in intrarenal vascular resistance.
Material and methods    This study included 59 patients (25 men) with RAH in combination with DM2. Mean age of patients was 60.3±7.9 years; 24-h blood pressure (24-BP) (systolic, diastolic, SBP/DBP) was 158.0±16.3 / 82.5±12.7 mm Hg during the treatment with 4.3 [4.0;5.0] antihypertensive drugs; glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was 7.5±1.5 %; estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 73.1±21.8 ml/min / 1.73 m2 (CKD-EPI equation). Measurement of office BP, 24-h BP monitoring, renal artery (RA) Doppler, routine lab tests including determination of GFR (CKD-EPI), 24-h urine albumin excretion, and ELISA measurement of blood lipocalin-2, cystatin C, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) were performed for all patients.
Results    Incidence of increased RA resistive index (RI) was 39% despite the high rate of vasodilator treatment (93% for renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors, 78% for calcium antagonists). According to a correlation and regression analysis, RA RI values were correlated with the kidney function (r=-0.46, p<0.001 for eGFR, r=0.56; p=0.006 for lipocalin-2), age (r=0.54, p<0.001), increases in concentrations of hsCRP (r=0.35, p<0.001) and ADMA (r=0.39, p=0.028), the increase in vascular stiffness (r=0.59, p<0.001 for pulse BP (PBP) as well as DM2 duration, and HbA1c (r=0.33, p<0.001 for both). The independent association of RA RI with the age, PBP, and duration of DM2 was confirmed by the results of multivariate regression analysis. According to the ROC analysis, the threshold level of RA RI corresponding to a decrease in GFR <60 ml / min / 1.73 m2 was ≥0.693 conv. units.
Conclusion    In more than one third of patients with RAH in combination with DM2, increased renal vascular resistance was documented, which was closely associated with impaired kidney function, age, DM2 duration and severity, and markers of low-grade inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and vascular stiffness. The value of RA RI ≥0.693 conv. units was a threshold for the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Aim    This study aimed to evaluate the potential relationships between atrial fibrillation (AF) and hematological indices, such as neutrophil / lymphocyte ratio (NLR), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet / lymphocyte ratio (PLR), mean platelet volume / platelet (MPV / PLT), neutrophil / monocyte ratio (NMR), lymphocyte / monocyte ratio (LMR), systemic immune inflammation index (SII, platelet x neutrophil / lymphocytes), and monocyte / high-density lipoprotein ratio (MHR), that can be obtained from the complete blood count (CBC test).
Material and method    This retrospective study included 150 patients aged 40–80 yrs who were diagnosed with AF, and 91 age- and gender-matched controls. Hematological indices and inflammation markers were evaluated.
Results    In the AF group, NLR, PLR, SII, MHR, and MPV / PLT were elevated, and LMR was low. Multivariate regression analysis showed that hematological indices NLR, SII, and MHR were significant, independent, predictive factors for AF. ROC curves revealed the following significant sensitivity and specificity values: NLR 75 %, 52.3 %; LMR 61.3 %, 67.3 %; SII 67.4 %, 64.6 %; MHR 100 %, 56 %.
Conclusion    NLR, PLR, LMR, SII, MPV / PLT, and MHR may be useful in the early prediction of AF development. It is strongly emphasized that among these variables, MHR, may be the best independent variable that can be used to predict AF.

Aim    Coronary artery tortuosity is a common coronary angiographic finding. This tortuosity can cause myocardial ischemia even in the absence of significant coronary artery stenosis. Our aim was to compare the demographic, clinical and echocardiographic features of patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) and with and without coronary artery tortuosity.
Material and methods    361 patients who underwent elective coronary angiography (CAG) due to CCS were included in the study. These patients divided into two groups, those with coronary tortuosity (Group 1) and those without (Group 2). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors associated with coronary artery tortuosity.
Results    The mean age of the 361 CCS patients (44 % female; 56 % male) was 56.7±11.5 years. In the univariable regression analysis, age, female sex, hypertension (HT), PR interval, QTc interval, ST / T segment changes, left ventricle diastolic dysfunction (LVDD), left ventricle hypertrophia (LVH) were identified as predictors of coronary tortuosity. In the multivariable regression analysis, age (OR: 1.059; 95 %CI: 1.032–1.087, p<0.001) and hypertension (OR: 0.484; 95 %CI: 0.278–0.843, p=0.01) were identified as independent predictors of coronary tortuosity.
Conclusion    Coronary artery tortuosity is an angiographic finding that develops as a result of adaptive mechanisms in the heart and can cause myocardial ischemia. Predictors of coronary artery tortuosity in patients with CCS were long PR and QTc intervals, ST / T segment changes, LVH, LVDD, advanced age, and female gender. Evaluation of these demographic, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic data may help clinicans to anticipate coronary artery tortuosity in patients with CCS and to be precautious for PCI.

The article presents a clinical case of successful Neoton treatment of a patient with decompensated chronic heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. Neoton infusion induced an improvement in the clinical and functional status, a decrease in N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and an improvement in left ventricular diastolic function.

The article describes a clinical case of cardiac rhabdomyoma first diagnosed in an 18-year-old girl. At the age of 12 months, the patient first developed generalized, prolonged convulsive seizure with the eyeballs rolling upward, tonic arm tension, and profuse salivation. From 1.5 to 2 years, according to her mother, the girl had frequent "freezing" with fixed stare. Anticonvulsant therapy was not administered. From the age of 2 years 8 months, the child began to experience episodes of drowsiness, lethargy, blurred speech, and repeated vomiting lasting up to 2 weeks. The patient was regularly treated at the neurological department. According to CT at the age of four, the patient showed characteristic alterations in the brain and was diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis, symptomatic generalized epilepsy, and psychoorganic syndrome. Only at the age of 18, cardiac ultrasound detected a 7x6 mm hyperechoic formation with endogenous growth buried in the myocardium of the left ventricular (LV) anterior-lateral wall and another one in the area of the LV lateral wall with endogenous growth of 2×4 mm. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed multiple focal formations with clear, even contours in the area of the middle anterior septal segment (closely adjacent to papillary muscles) in the region of the apex, buried in the myocardium. The formation sizes were 9×7 mm, 8×13 mm, and 7.5×6 mm, respectively, and they moderately accumulated the contrast agent. Lesions with identical characteristics and a diameter up to 4.5 mm were visualized on the anterior wall in the region of the apex, in the depth of the myocardium. Due to the absence of arrhythmias and hemodynamic disorders, immunosuppressive therapy was not administered. Follow-up and dynamic MRI control of the heart were recommended. If signs of tumor growth are detected, consider immunosuppressive therapy with everolimus. The case is of interest for a long asymptomatic growth of rhabdomyoma. Generally, cardiac rhabdomyomas are diagnosed in the postnatal period and may be the earliest manifestation of tuberous sclerosis.