Aim    To evaluate clinical features of the course of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in patients with oncological diseases (OD) and to determine the role of biomarkers GDF-15, NT-proBNP, and hs-CRP in short-term and long-term prognoses.
Material and methods    In 88 patients (34 patients with ACS and OD and 54 patients with ACS without OD), complaints and historical, objective, and laboratory and instrumental data were evaluated and blood concentrations of GDF-15, NT-proBNP, and hs-CRP biomarkers were measured on the first day of hospitalization. Incidence of cardiovascular complications (CVC) and outcomes of hospital and long-term (6 months) periods were analyzed. Statistical analysis of results was performed with the Statistica 12.0, MedCalc 19.1.7 software. The level of statistical significance was р<0.05.
Results    In the ACS+OD group as compared to the ACS without OD group, the onset of disease was mostly atypical, with shortness of breath and/or general weakness; the ACS+OD patients more frequently had III-IV Killip class acute heart failure (29 and 7 %, р=0.01); mean hemoglobin concentration (125.6±27.9 and 141±16.6 g/l, р=0.003), prothrombin index (76.4±15.2 and 84.9±17.6 %, р=0.003), and left ventricular ejection fraction (47.7±6.1 and 50.7±7.2 %, р=0.02) were lower; and median concentrations of GDF-15 (1.95 [1.3; 2.8] and 1.45 [1.2; 2.0] ng/ml, р=0.03), NT-proBNP (947.3 [517.8; 1598.2], and 491.1 [85.1; 1069.1] pg/ml, р=0.006), and hs-CRP (14.1 [8.15; 36.75] and 7.8 [4.4; 16.2] mg/l, р=0.01) were higher. The presence of OD was associated with development of CVC, including urgent endpoints in the long-term and also increased the probability of fatal outcome within 6 months after discharge from the hospital. To predict the risk of CVC in patients with ACS and OD, two models with high prognostic values (AUC>0.9) were proposed. In the long-term, the value of NT-proBNP (cut-off point >524.5 pg/ml) was a statistically significant predictor for development of endpoints with a high predictive value (AUC>0.8).
Conclusion    The features of the clinical course of ACS in patients with OD indicate the importance of isolating such patients into a separate group. Additional use of the developed models, along with a standard risk assessment by the GRACE scale, will allow individualized management of patients with ACS and OD during the hospital and long-term (6 months) periods.

Aim      To study the clinical value of markers for myocardial electrical instability in combination with echocardiographic parameters for predicting the risk of cardiovascular complications (CVC) in the postinfarction period.

Material and methods  This study included 118 patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and hemodynamically significant stenosis of one coronary artery. A percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stenting of the infarct-related artery was performed for all patients. On day 7-9 and at 24 and 48 weeks after the treatment, ECG Holter monitoring was performed, which included analyses of ventricular late potentials, dispersion of QT interval duration, heart rate turbulence (HRT) and variability (HRV), and heart chronotropic load (HCL). At baseline and during postinfarction week 12, all patients underwent echocardiography with calculation of indexes of end-diastolic volume (iEDV) and end-systolic volume (iESV) to verify the signs of left ventricular (LV) myocardial remodeling. The criteria for LV pathological remodeling included increases in iEDV >20 % and/or iESV >15 % at 12 weeks after STEMI. The group without remodeling, R(-), consisted of 79 (67 %) patients and the group with signs of LV pathological remodeling, R(+), consisted of 39 (33 %) patients. Quality of life and achieved endpoints were evaluated during 144 weeks.

Results By week 48 in group R(-), the stabilization of electrical processes in the myocardium was more pronounced as indicated by a decrease in HFLA by 12 % (р=0.004) and by a fourfold increase in RMS (р=0.047). Only in this group, the baroreflex sensitivity restored; pathological ТРС decreased from 20 to 5% (p=0.002) by the end of the active treatment. Stabilization of the repolarization phase duration in various parts of the myocardium was more active in patients without pathological remodeling as shown by decreases in disp QTa (р=0.009), disp QTe (р=0.03), sd QTa (р=0.006), and sd QTe (р=0.009). This was not observed in the group R(+). The recovery of vagosympathetic balance due to leveling the sympathetic component also was more effective in the group R(-), which was reflected in increased spectral and temporal HRV indexes (р<0.05). Both groups showed reduced HCL values at 24 weeks (р=0.047 and р=0.006); however, the HCL regression remained also at 48 weeks only in the group R(-) (р=0.006). Group R(-) patients reported higher quality of life (р=0.03) than group R(+) patients. Endpoints were achieved more frequently in the group R(+): 87.1 % vs. 27.8 % (odds ratio, 11.8; 95 % confidence interval, 4.6–30.8; р=0.00001).

Conclusion      Pathological myocardial remodeling in early postinfarction period is associated with electrophysiological instability of the myocardium, which results in the development of CVC and low quality of life in patients with STEMI.

Background     Heart damage is one of complications of the novel coronavirus infection. Searching for available predictors for in-hospital death and survival that determine the tactic of managing patients with COVID-19, is a challenge of the present time.

Aim      To determine the role echocardiographic (EchoCG) parameters in evaluation of the in-hospital prognosis for patients with the novel coronavirus infection, COVID-19.

Material and methods  The study included 158 patients admitted for COVID-19. EchoCG was performed for all patients. The role of left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) was analyzed in various age groups. EchoCG data were compared with the clinical picture, including the severity of respiratory failure (RF), blood oxygen saturation (SрО2), data of computed tomography (CT) of the lungs, and blood concentration of troponin. Comorbidity was analyzed, and the highest significance of individual pathologies was determined.

Results LV EF ≤40 % determined the worst prognosis of patients with COVID-19 (p<0.0001), including the age group older than 70 years (р=0.013). LV EF did not correlate with the degree of lung tissue damage determined by CT upon admission (р=0.54) and over time (р=0.23). The indexes that determined an adverse in-hospital prognosis to a considerable degree were pericardial effusion (p<0.0001) and pulmonary hypertension (p<0.0001). RV end-diastolic dimension and LV end-diastolic volume did not determine the in-hospital mortality and survival. Blood serum concentration of troponin I higher than 165.13 µg/l was an important predictor for in-hospital death with a high degree of significance (р<0.0001). Th degree of RF considerably influenced the in-hospital mortality (р<0.0001). RF severity was associated with LV EF (р=0.024). The SpO2 value determined an adverse immediate prognosis with a high degree of significance (р=0.0009). This parameter weakly correlated with LV EF (r=0.26; p=0.0009). Patients who required artificial ventilation (AV) constituted a group with the worst survival rate (р<0.0001). LV EF was associated with a need for AV with a high degree of significance (р=0.0006). Comorbidities, such as chronic kidney disease, postinfarction cardiosclerosis and oncologic diseases, to the greatest extent determined the risk of fatal outcome.

Conclusion      EchoCG can be recommended for patients with COVID-19 at the hospital stage to determine the tactics of management and for the in-hospital prognosis.

Aim      To evaluate economic results of using omega-3 acid ethyl esters 90 for primary prevention of cardiovascular catastrophes in patients with residual hypertriglyceridemia (HTG).

Material and methods  The economic evaluation of using the medicine omega-3 acid ethyl esters 90 in the system of drug provision of the population of the Russian Federation was performed by analyzing the effect on the budget using a pharmacoeconomic model developed with the Microsoft Office Excel 2016 software. The effect of omega-3 acid ethyl esters 90 was evaluated in 555 643 patients with residual HGT (Moscow). The study lasted for one year. Results of the meta-analysis by A.A. Bernasconi et al. (2020) were used as a source of efficacy data. The following direct and indirect medical expenses for treatment of cardiovascular complications of residual HTG were taken into account in this study: expenses for drug therapy; expenses for therapy and rehabilitation for nonfatal complications; expenses for fatal outcomes; state support for disability; foregone per capita gross domestic product resulting from losses of earnings due to temporary incapacity to labor by people of work-able age; and salary payments for temporary incapacity to work.

Results Using omega-3 acid ethyl esters 90 in 555 643 patients with residual HTG will allow preventing 1 437 fatal ischemic cardiovascular complications (including 564 deaths from ischemic heart disease and 1 128 cases of myocardial infarction (MI), including 558 fatal cases of MI). Furthermore, the difference in expenses compared to the high-dose statin treatment alone will be 359 252 253 rubles or 0.32 %.

Conclusion      The results of this comprehensive pharmacoeconomical study showed that the use of omega-3 acid ethyl esters 90 in patients with residual HGT is an economically preferrable strategy compared to high-dose statin treatment alone and does not influence significantly the budgetary expenses as a part of the State Guarantee of Free Medical Care to the Citizens of the Russian Federation (increase in expenses by 0.32 % compared to the current practice). At the same time, the use of omega-3 acid ethyl esters 90 results in a 10% decrease in the number of fatal ischemic cardiovascular complications.

Aim      To compare the incidence of a permanent pacemaker (PP) implantation based on the chosen treatment technology (biatrial ablation, BA, or left atrial ablation (LAA) for long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) with simultaneous coronary bypass (CB).

Material and methods  The study included 116 patients with long-standing persistent AF and indications for CB. Patients were randomized to two equal groups (58 patients in each). Group 1 underwent BA in combination with CB; group 2 patients underwent isolated LAA with simultaneous CB under the conditions of artificial circulation. Incidence of PP implantation was assessed during the early (to 30 days) and late (to 60 months) postoperative periods.

Results For the observation period, a total of 9 PPs was implanted in both groups, 6 in the BA group and 3 in the LAA group (odds ratio, OR, 0.5; 95 % confidence interval, CI, 0.1–2.4; р=0.490). During the early postoperative period, 5 patients in the BA group and 2 patients in the LAA group were implanted with PP (OR, 0.4; 95 % CI. 0–2.5; р=0.438). During the late postoperative period, one (2%) patient of the BA group was implanted with a permanent PP at 30 months of follow-up due to the development of sick sinus syndrome (SSS); also, one (2%) patient of the LAA group required PP implantation at 54 months of follow-up due to the development of SSS. The causes for PP implantation in the BA group included the development of complete atrioventricular (AV) block in 9 % of cases (95 % CI, 4–19 %); sinus node dysfunction and junctional rhythm in 2 % of cases (95 % CI, 0–9 %). Compared to this group, the LAA group showed a statistically significant difference in the incidence of AV block (0 cases, р=0.047). The major cause for PP implantation in the LAA group was the development of sinus node dysfunction in 3 (5 %) patients (95 % CI, 2–14 %).

Conclusion      The use of BA in surgical treatment of long-standing persistent AF with simultaneous myocardial revascularization is associated with a high risk of AV block, which requires permanent PP implantation in the postoperative period. Total incidence of permanent PP implantation for dysfunction of the cardiac conduction system following the combination surgical treatment of long-standing persistent AF and IHD, either CB and LAA or BA, did not differ between the treatment groups both in early and late postoperative periods.

Objective    The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between global longitudinal strain (GLS) and plasma NT-proBNP for predicting left ventricular (LV) performance in asymptomatic patients after acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
Material and methods    We prospectively included patients with diagnosis of AMI without clinical signs and symptoms of heart failure (HF) and followed these patients for 6 mos. Baseline echocardiography was performed at admission, and follow-up echocardiography was performed after 6 mos. A normal GLS was defined as having an absolute value of ≥16 %. According to the baseline GLS, participants were divided into two groups and compared. In all participants, blood samples of plasma NT-proBNP were obtained at admission, before discharge, and 6 mo after discharge.
Results    The study population was consisted of 98 participants, of which 80 (81.6 %) were males, and the mean age was 56.0±9.3 years. Baseline echocardiography showed that most of the participants (60, 61.2 %) had abnormal GLS<16 %, whereas 38 (38.8 %) participants had normal or borderline GLS ≥16 %. Compared with the normal GLS group, participants with abnormal GLS had higher GRACE score, higher troponin I concentration, lower systolic blood pressure, lower mean LV ejection fraction, and decreased LV diastolic function. At 6‑mo follow-up, only LV systolic function remained significantly different between the two groups. Compared to baseline, there was a significant improvement of GLS in the abnormal GLS group at 6‑mo follow-up (p=0.04). Prevalence of complications after AMI was significantly higher in this group. There were significant differences between baseline and discharge NT-proBNP concentrations between the two groups (p<0.05). In the abnormal GLS group, there were significant correlations between baseline and discharge NT-proBNP concentrations with baseline LV systolic function. Discharge NT-proBNP concentration also correlated significantly with 6‑mo follow-up GLS. For determining the effect of baseline GLS abnormality, the areas under the ROC curve for baseline and discharge NT-proBNP concentrations were 0.73 (95 % CI 0.60–0.85, p=0.001) and 0.77 (95 % CI 0.66–0.87, p<0.001), respectively. Regarding early prediction of follow-up GLS abnormality, the area under the ROC curve for discharge NT-proBNP concentration was significantly higher 0.70 (95 % CI 0.55–0.84, p=0.016). The optimum cut-off value of discharge NT-pro-BNP was 688.5 pg / ml, with 72.4 % sensitivity and 65.4 % specificity to predict 6‑mon GLS abnormality following acute myocardial infarction.
Conclusion    The main finding of this study is that impaired LV GLS is associated with elevated plasma concentrations of NT-proBNP in post-AMI patients. Pre-discharge NT-proBNP concentration combined with impaired initial GLS could predict worsening LV systolic function over time in asymptomatic post-AMI patients.

Aim    To clarify the role of interleukin (IL) – 10 and members of its subfamily (IL-19 and IL-26) in cardiac remodeling during the post-myocardial infarction (MI) period.
Material and methods    A total of 45 patients with ST-segment elevation MI were enrolled. Serum cytokine concentrations were measured at the first day and 14 days post-MI. Left ventricular (LV) reverse remodeling (RR) was defined as the reduction of LV end-diastolic volume or LV end-systolic volume by ≥ 12 % in cardiac magnetic resonance images at 6‑mo follow-up. A 12 % increase was defined as adverse remodeling (AR).
Results    The post-MI first-day median IL-10 (9.7 pg / ml vs. 17.6 pg / ml, p<0.001), median IL-19 (28.7 pg / ml vs. 36.9 pg / ml, p<0.001), and median IL-26 (47.8 pg / ml vs. 90.7 pg / ml, p<0.001) were lower in the RR group compared to the AR group. There was a significant decrease in the concentration of anti-inflammatory cytokines in the AR group from the first to the 14 days post-MI. However, no significant change was observed in the RR group. Regression analysis revealed that a low IL-10 concentration on the post-MI first day was related to RR (OR=0.76, p=0.035). A 1 % increase in change of IL-10 concentration increased the probability of RR by 1.07 times.
Conclusion    The concentrations of cytokines were higher in the AR group, but this elevation was not sustained and significantly decreased for the 14 days post-MI. In the RR group, the concentrations of cytokines did not change and stable for the 14 days post-MI. As a reflection of this findings, stable IL-10 concentration may play a role the improvement of cardiac functions.

Background    Left atrial decompression has emerged a new option to treat patients with heart failure and dyspnea at rest or during exercise. Here we report the impact of atrial flow regulator (AFR) implantation on hemodynamic parameters in patients at our center with heart failure and with reduced (HFrEF) or with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF).
Material and methods    The PRELIEVE trial is designed to assess the safety and efficacy of the AFR in patients with HFrEF or HFpEF. Patients with left ventricular end-diastolic pressure ≥15 mmHg at rest or ≥25 mmHg during exercise and with an ejection fraction ≥15 % were enrolled. Echocardiographic data, 6‑min walking distance, Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire, and brain natriuretic peptide levels were assessed pre- and post-AFR implantation and at 3 mos. Invasive hemodynamic assessments were also performed pre- and post-AFR implantation and at 3 mos.
Results    27 (69.2 %) patients with HFrEF and 12 (30.8 %) patients with HFpEF at our center were enrolled in this study. A significant decrease was observed in pulmonary arterial wedge pressure regardless of EF (p=0.007 for HFrEF and p=0.03 for HFpEF). No significant difference of mean pulmonary arterial pressure, right arterial pressure and cardiac output (CO) existed at 3 months compared with pre-implantation baseline values.
Conclusion    AFR implantation led to decrease in left ventricle filling pressure without the deleterious impact on CO and right heart function regardless of ejection fraction.

This review focuses on issues of anticoagulant therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Such patients are at high risk of stroke whereas the choice of an anticoagulant is difficult. A wealth of information about a negative effect of warfarin on the kidney function has accumulated. A need for an alternative therapy to warfarin for patients with stage 3-4 CKD has become imminent. In this regard, rivaroxaban seems to be an appropriate replacement for warfarin in such patients. In randomized, controlled studies that evaluated the efficacy of direct oral anticoagulants in comparison with warfarin, the efficacy and safety profile of a “kidney” dose in moderate disorders of kidney function has been studied only for rivaroxaban. Moreover, both randomized, controlled studies and studies performed in the conditions of clinical practice, have demonstrated a more favorable effect of rivaroxaban on kidney function compared to warfarin. Patients with AF associated with CKD require a comprehensive protection, which, according to results of clinical studies, may be provided by rivaroxaban.

In medical literature, increasing attention is paid to comorbidities in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In clinical practice, physicians often hesitate to prescribe beta-blockers (β1-adrenoblockers) to COPD patients. This article summarized new results of using beta-blockers in patients with COPD. According to reports, the selective β1-blocker treatment considerably increases the survival rate of patients with COPD and ischemic heart disease, particularly after myocardial infarction (MI), and with chronic heart failure (CHF). The benefit of administering selective β1-blockers to patients with CHF and/or a history of MI overweighs a potential risk related with the treatment even in patients with severe COPD. Convincing data in favor of the β1-blocker treatment in COPD patients without the above-mentioned comorbidities are not available. At present, the selective β1-blocker treatment is considered safe for patients with cardiovascular diseases and COPD. For this reason, selective β1-blockers, such as bisoprolol, metoprolol or nebivolol can be used in managing this patient cohort. Nonselective β1-blockers may induce bronchospasm and are not recommended for COPD patients. For the treatment with β-blockers with intrinsic sympathomimetic activity, the probability of bronchial obstruction in COPD patients is lower; however, drugs of this pharmaceutical group have not been compared with cardioselective beta-blockers. For safety reasons, the beta-blocker treatment should be started outside exacerbation of COPD and from a small dose. Careful monitoring is recommended for possible new symptoms, such as emergence/increase of shortness of breath, cough or changes in dosing of other drugs (for example, increased frequency of using short-acting bronchodilators).

The article presents recent data on possibilities of a broader use of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists for existing indications and of expanding indications for the use of this pharmaceutical group in the context of the novel coronavirus infection COVID-19. The authors discussed prospects for expanded detection of aldosteronism using a new diagnostic approach, including an additional evaluation of blood pressure response to spironolactone.

The article presents a clinical case of successful triple combination therapy in a female patient with functional class III idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension. Supplementing the previous macitentan and riociguat treatment with selexipag reduced the severity of clinical manifestations of pulmonary hypertension. Also, the treatment efficacy was demonstrated by improvement of laboratory and instrumental indexes. Time-related changes were evaluated at 3 months after initiation of the selexipag treatment.

The article presents a clinical case of mild novel coronavirus infection COVID-19 complicated with bilateral interstitial pneumonia in a female patient with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension.