Myocardial plasticity
Update on the cardiomyocyte regeneration

Jan F. Vojáček

Interv Akut Kardiol. 2019;18(2):63-67  

Opening remarks

prof. MUDr. Jan F. Vojáček, DrSc., FESC, FACC

Interv Akut Kardiol. 2019;18(2):55  

Incidence of takotsubo syndrome in patients with acute coronary syndrome: a single PCI center experience – a 7-years retrospective analysis

František Holm, Jan Vojáček, Miroslav Erbrt, Karel Hlaváček, Roman Surovčík, Rudolf Feureisel

Interv Akut Kardiol. 2019;18(2):68-73 | DOI: 10.36290/kar.2019.021  

Takotsubo syndrome is manifested with acute heart failure and resembles acute coronary syndrome, truly mimicking its clinical and ECGfeatures. It is characterized by transient contractility disorder of predominantly the apical part of the left ventricle without any presenceof occlusive coronary disease. It is found in 1–2% of patients admitted to hospital for acute coronary syndrome. The prognosis has sofar been considered to be benign with complete recovery of the left ventricle within several weeks; however recent information from alarge registry of this syndrome (InterTAK) has shown the short – and long-term prognosis...

Prognostic significance of liver enzymes in acute heart failure

Radek Pudil, Kateřina Berdnová, Miloš Tichý

Interv Akut Kardiol. 2019;18(2):74-76 | DOI: 10.36290/kar.2019.022  

Heart failure is associated with liver congestion, and acute decompensation may lead to further progression. These changes can result in liver dysfunction which is manifested by an increase in transaminases. The aim of the study is to assess the prognostic significance of elevated liver function parameters in patients with acute heart failure. In a group of 92 patients (66.2 ± 13.9 years), the relationship between bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and mortality was analyzed. The study showed that one-year mortality was significantly associated...

What has been new in the guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation since 2015

Tomáš Janota

Interv Akut Kardiol. 2019;18(2):77-80 | DOI: 10.36290/kar.2019.023  

The European Resuscitation Council guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, used as a binding material also in the Czech Republic, were last issued in 2015. Given a small number of trial based changes, there were but a few essential differences between the 2010 and the 2015 guidelines. Currently, various studies and registries dealing with resuscitation have been growing very rapidly. As a result, since 2016, new knowledge has been continuously analysed in terms of its practical impact. An analysis of new knowledge is published every year. This article presents a review of these analyses. However, except for updates of crucial importance, possible...

Regression of coronary atherosclerosis in light of recent studies

Tomáš Kovárník, Karel Kopřiva

Interv Akut Kardiol. 2019;18(2):81-85 | DOI: 10.36290/kar.2019.024  

The authors review the current knowledge on the regression of coronary atherosclerosis. The article deals with the technical aspectsof detecting coronary atherosclerosis and its changes. The authors also focus on how it is possible to manage the developmentof atherosclerosis pharmacologically and, in some cases, nonpharmacologically.

Changes in the 2018 European Society of Cardiology Guidelines for the management of cardiovascular diseases during pregnancy

Jaroslav Dušek

Interv Akut Kardiol. 2019;18(2):86-89 | DOI: 10.36290/kar.2019.056  

The 2018 European Society of Cardiology Guidelines for the management of cardiovascular diseases during pregnancy introduce a number of updates. Unfortunately, only a small portion of the recommendations are based on the results of prospective randomized trials. Compared to the previous version of these guidelines, the method of classifying maternal risk has changed. In women with cardiovascular disease, it is recommended that a risk assessment of health complications is performed already before conception. Women at moderate and high risk of cardiovascular complications should be managed in specialized centers by a „pregnancy heart team”...

The current role of MitraClip in the treatment of mitral regurgitation: what the studies and clinical practice say

Michael Želízko, Vladimír Pořízka, Martin Kotrč

Interv Akut Kardiol. 2019;18(2):90-95 | DOI: 10.36290/kar.2019.025  

The treatment of symptomatic primary mitral regurgitation is guided by symptoms and assessment of ventricular function and size, atrial fibrillation, pulmonary hypertension, and left atrial size, with mitral valve repair being the preferred method and mitral valve replacement being used in the case of unfavorable morphology. In secondary mitral regurgitation, there is no conclusive evidence for survival benefit after mitral valve intervention. Over the last few years, less invasive catetheter-based systems have been subjected to clinical trial (whose brief oveview is given), but only MitraClip implantation (as a method of creating edge-toedge mitral...

Treatment with beta blockers in myocardial infarction in the era of primary PCI

Petr Janský

Interv Akut Kardiol. 2019;18(2):96-98 | DOI: 10.36290/kar.2019.026  

Treatment with beta blockers has for several decades been the mainstay of secondary prevention after a recent myocardial infarction.Studies that showed a favourable prognostic effect of beta blockers were carried out in a period prior to the routine use of reperfusiontreatment. In patients treated with fibrinolytic therapy, the benefit is less pronounced. Even less clear is the situation in patients whoare treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention, since previous prospective studies as well as observational data fromregistries have so far failed to provide an unequivocal opinion as to the indications and clinical...

How to increase the effectivity of the endovascular therapy of the ischemic stroke in the Czech Republic

Antonín Krajina, Dagmar Krajíčková

Interv Akut Kardiol. 2019;18(2):99-101 | DOI: 10.36290/kar.2019.027  

The authors present an overview of the trend in endovascular procedure rates for ischemic stroke during the last six years. Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) gained the highest level of evidence in 2015 when positive results of several studies comparing the clinical outcome of MT with intravenous thrombolysis using recombinant tissue plasminogen activator were published. MT has become the most frequent endovascular therapeutic procedure on cerebral vessels. In order to provide this therapy, there has been an active geographical system of qualified cerebrovascular centers at two levels in the Czech Republic since 2010. The authors give a survey of possibilities...

Outpatient treatment options for pulmonary embolism

Radovan Malý, Tomáš Veleta, Martina Čermáková

Interv Akut Kardiol. 2019;18(2):102-104 | DOI: 10.36290/kar.2019.028  

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a serious and sometimes even fatal complication of venous thromboembolism (VTE). PE is typically managed in hospital, although a number of PE patients who are at a low risk of complications can be treated at home. It is assumed that up to 50% of PE patients who are at a low risk of death can be candidates for an early discharge or for staying at home. Despite this fact, the reality is completely different, with most individuals diagnosed with acute PE being treated in hospital. When treated at home, carefully selected low-risk PE patients have at least an equally good, if not better, prognosis compared with those who are...

Acute pericarditis

Jan Lhotský, Milan Hromádka, Vratislav Pechman, Ondřej Sirotek, Richard Rokyta

Interv Akut Kardiol. 2019;18(2):105-108 | DOI: 10.36290/kar.2019.029  

This article reviews the clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, risk stratification, and treatment of acute pericarditis.

European bifurcation club – EBC 2018

Ivo Bernat

Interv Akut Kardiol. 2019;18(2):109-110 | DOI: 10.36290/kar.2019.030  

This article informs about European bifurcation club activities in 2018.

Etiquette is river changing its form

Daniel Šmíd

Interv Akut Kardiol. 2019;18(2):112-114