Functional status with rhythm- versus rate-control strategy for persistent atrial fibrillation.

Introduction Recent studies have shown that rhythm control does not provide additional benefit over rate control in terms of morbidity or mortality and is less cost effective in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). It remains to be determined if any of the treatment strategies should be favored on the basis of the quality of life (QoL) or functional capacity. Objectives This HOT CAFE substudy was conducted to compare the functional status of patients with persistent AF assigned either to rate or rhythm control strategy.

Descending aortic Doppler flow pattern in patients with proximal peripheral artery disease.

Midsystolic deceleration (notch) in pulmonary pulse-wave (PW) Doppler flow is a common finding in patients with pulmonary embolism. The possible mechanism involves early reflection of pressure wave from proximal embolic sites. The aim of this study was to evaluate with PW Doppler whether occlusion or significant stenosis in the distal aorta or iliac arteries might produce a similar midsystolic notch in descending aortic flow.

Right ventricle injury during acute pulmonary embolism leads to its remodeling.

Right ventricular (RV) overload and hypoxia in acute pulmonary embolism (APE) may lead to RV myocardium injury reflected by elevated cardiac troponin levels. We studied 26 patients aged 57.2+/-17.

Long-term sinus rhythm maintenance after cardioversion of persistent atrial fibrillation: is the treatment's success predictable?

The aim of our study was to identify the clinical and echocardiographic predictors of long-term success of cardioversion in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). Our study comprised 104 patients (F/M 33/71; mean age 60.4 +/- 7.

[Value of electrocardiographic treadmill test for rate control strategy in permanent atrial fibrillation].

Aim: of our study was to determine the correlation between physical activity tolerance assesed by exercise tolerance test (ETT) and dynamics of change of echocardiographic parameters of left atrium (LA) and left ventricle (LV) in standard transtoracic echocardiography (TTE) in long-term follow up of patients with persistent nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF).

Materials And Methods: We studied 67 patients (W/M: 23/44; mean age 63.2 +/- 7.

Impact of sinus rhythm restoration and maintenance on left ventricular function and exercise tolerance in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.

Background: Although early improvement of haemodynamic parameters following successful cardioversion of atrial fibrillation (AF) has been well documented, the long-term benefits of sinus rhythm (SR) restoration are less obvious, mainly due to a high rate of AF relapses.

Aim: To determine the impact of SR restoration and maintenance on exercise tolerance and heart failure progression in patients with persistent non-valvular AF during a one year follow-up period.

Methods And Results: We studied 104 patients (33 females, 71 males, mean age 60.

[Influence of sinus rhythm restoration and maintenance on left ventricle diameter and function in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation--one year follow-up].

Unlabelled: Aim of our study was to determine the dynamics of selected echocardiographic parameters after sinus rhythm (SR) restoration and maintenance in pts with persistent nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) during one year follow-up period.

Material And Methods: Our study population comprised 104 pts (F/M 33/71; mean age 60.4 +/- 7.

A decrease of enlarged left atrium following cardioversion of atrial fibrillation predicts the long-term maintenance of sinus rhythm.

Background: Although increased left atrial size (LA) has been long regarded as one of the factors negatively influencing the long-term maintenance of sinus rhythm (SR) following cardioversion (CV) of atrial fibrillation (AF), some reports suggested that CV might be effective also in patients with large LA.Aim. We sought to determine the role of LA enlargement in long-term SR maintenance after CV of persistent AF.

Biomarker-based risk assessment model in acute pulmonary embolism.

Aims: Despite growing interest in biomarkers application for risk evaluation in acute pulmonary embolism (APE), no decision-making levels have been defined.

Methods And Results: We developed a biomarker-based risk stratification in 100 consecutive, normotensive on admission, APE patients (35 males, 65 females, 62+/-18 years). On admission serum NT-proBNP and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) levels were assessed and echocardiography was performed.

Does saddle embolism influence short-term prognosis in patients with acute pulmonary embolism?

Background: In some patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE) thrombi may lodge at the levels of the bifurcation of pulmonary trunk and extend into both main pulmonary arteries, forming so-called saddle embolism (SE).

Aim: To assess the incidence of SE and whether it is associated with an increased risk of complicated clinical course.

Methods: We studied 150 consecutive patients (94 females, 56 males) aged 63.

[Electrocardiography and prediction of myocardial damage in patients with acute pulmonary embolism].

Unlabelled: Acute pulmonary embolism (APE) may lead to myocardial necrosis detected by elevation of cardiac troponin levels. We tried to assess, if electrocardiographic abnormalities may help to define APE patients with myocardial damage and at high risk of complicated clinical course. Therefore we analyzed 50 patients (34F) aged 64.

Transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale in patients with cryptogenic stroke.

Background: Paradoxical embolism due to the presence of patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a well-established possible mechanism of ischaemic stroke of unknown origin. Mechanical sealing of the interatrial septum seems to be the most effective method for the prevention of stroke recurrences.

Aim: To assess prospectively the short- and mid-term results of transcatheter closure of PFO in consecutive patients with a history of cryptogenic ischaemic stroke.

Rate control vs rhythm control in patients with nonvalvular persistent atrial fibrillation: the results of the Polish How to Treat Chronic Atrial Fibrillation (HOT CAFE) Study.

Study Objectives: The relative risks and benefits of strategies of rate control vs rhythm control in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) remain to be fully explored.

Design: The How to Treat Chronic Atrial Fibrillation (HOT CAFE) Polish trial was designed to evaluate in a randomized, multicenter, and prospective manner the feasibility and long-term outcomes of rate control vs rhythm control strategies in patients with persistent AF.

Patients: Our study population comprised 205 patients (134 men and 71 women; mean [+/- SD] age, 60.

Myoglobin stratifies short-term risk in acute major pulmonary embolism.

Background: Concentrations of cardiac troponins can be elevated in acute pulmonary embolism (APE) indicating myocardial injury. Although concentration of myoglobin (MYO) increases after myocardial damage, even before detectable rise of cardiac troponin levels occurs, MYO was not evaluated in APE. Therefore, we assessed prevalence and prognostic significance of myoglobin in major APE.

Rhythm control versus rate control in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation. Results of the HOT CAFE Polish Study.

Background: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) can be managed either by maintaining sinus rhythm using antiarrhythmic drugs and/or electrical cardioversion, or by leaving patients in AF and controlling ventricular rate without attempts to restore sinus rhythm. Which of these two strategies is superior, has not yet been definitively established.

Aim: HOT CAFE Polish Study (How To Treat Chronic Atrial Fibrillation) was designed to evaluate in a randomised, multicentre and prospective manner the risks and advantages of two therapeutical strategies - rate control or rhythm control, in patients with persistent AF.

[Myocardial injury secondary to acute pulmonary embolism - a case report].

A case of a 37-year-old male admitted to the hospital due to dyspnea and chest pain is presented. Electrocardiogram showed negative T waves in V1 and V2 as well as subtle ST segment elevation in all precordial leads. Cardiac enzymes were moderately elevated.

Cardiac troponin T monitoring identifies high-risk group of normotensive patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Study Objectives: Indications for thrombolysis in normotensive patients with pulmonary embolism (PE), based on the presence of right ventricular (RV) overload during transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), are controversial. We checked whether the monitoring of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) might help in risk stratification by detecting patients with RV myocardial injury.

Patients And Design: We studied 64 normotensive patients (30 women and 34 men) with a mean (+/- SD) age of 61.

[Role amiodarone in sinus rhythm maintenance after successful cardioversion in patients with chronic non-valvular atrial fibrillation].

Unlabelled: Antiarrhythmic drugs prophylaxis may improve late outcome of electrical cardioversion (CV) in persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). We conducted a prospective study of the efficacy of sequential antiarrhythmic drug therapy in sinus rhythm (SR) maintenance after a successful elective CV in patients (pts) with persistent nonvalvular AF. Investigated group and methods.