Aim. In patients with acute ascending thrombophlebitis of the great saphenous vein and/or its large tributaries, assess the incidence of venous thrombosis progression over 3 months with 1,5-month fondaparinux sodium therapy and endovenous laser ablation of the saphenofemoral junction in combination with short-term (7-day) anticoagulant therapy or without anticoagulation.

Material and methods. This single-center, prospective, randomized, open-label study included data from 91 patients with acute ascending thrombophlebitis of the great saphenous vein and/or its large tributaries, of which 30 were in the group of endovenous laser ablation without anticoagulation, 32 — in the group of endovenous laser ablation in combination with 7-day fondaparinux therapy, and 29 — in the 1,5-month fondaparinux therapy group. Venous thrombosis progression rate within 90±2 days was assessed. Compression ultrasonography of lower limb veins was performed on days 7±2, 45±2 and 90±2 after randomization, as well as in case of thrombosis progression suspicion.

Results. The mean age of patients was 49,4±14,2 years. There were more women (73,6%). There was a low prevalence of risk factors for the development and progression of venous thrombosis: obesity — 6,6%, type 2 diabetes — in 2 patients, class 2 heart failure — in 1, autoimmune disease (scleroderma in remission) — in 1, prior cancer — in 1. Previous episodes of thrombophlebitis were noted in 3 cases (3,3%). Following external factors provoking venous thrombosis were identified in 19 patients (20,9%): lower leg injury in 14, high physical activity in 3, long flight in 1, recent coronavirus disease 2019 in 1. Median duration of thrombophlebitis manifestations was 6 days. Thrombosis was located in the trunk of the great saphenous vein in 96,7% of patients, while large tributaries were involved in 29,7%. The median distance from the thrombus proximal part to the saphenofemoral junction was 42,5 cm. Over 90±2 days, there were no cases of involvement of the suprafascial segment of the perforating vein in thrombosis to the fascia level, spread of thrombosis to the deep veins, or pulmonary embolism. Subsequently, a new episode of superficial vein thrombosis was noted only in 2 patients from the pharmacotherapy group with a history of thrombophlebitis.

Conclusion. In patients with a low risk of venous thrombosis progression and predominantly distal location of acute ascending thrombophlebitis of the great saphenous vein and/or its large tributaries after endovenous laser ablation, progression of venous thrombosis is not expected over the next 3 months, despite an anticoagulation reduction to 7 days or its refusal.

Aim. To identify predictors of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (pAF) in patients with stable angina after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), as well as to evaluate the effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors.

Material and methods. We examined 92 patients with stable angina who received CABG, aged 64±7 years (men, 78,3%). Among this cohort, 81,5% of patients had multivessel coronary artery disease, carbohydrate metabolism disorders — 35,6%, hypertension — 96,7%, chronic kidney disease (CKD) — 23,9%, preprocedural pAF — 10,9%, previous myocardial infarction (MI) — 54,3%. Off-pump CABG was performed in 31,5%, including bilateral inthernal thoracic artery grafting — in 50%. Cardiopulmonary bypass time was 68 (55-83) minutes. The number of grafts was 2,7±0,7. In addition, 18,5% of individuals received SGLT-2 inhibitors. Serum creatinine content was determined by the Jaffe method, and CKD was diagnosed with glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/min. Acute kidney injury (AKI) was assessed according to the KDIGO criteria (2012).

Results. The number of patients who had pAF after CABG was 29,3%, AKI — 16,3%. There were following parameters associated with pAF after CABG: creatinine (100;82-142 in patients with pAF and 83;69-105 μmol/l — without pAF, p=0,032) and urea (7,8;5,8-9,7 in patients with pAF and 5,9;4,7-9,1 mmol/l — without pAF, p=0,025) one day after the intervention; postoperative AKI was revealed in 33,3% and 9,2% (p=0,004), while the number of patients taking SGLT-2 inhibitors was 3,7% and 24,6% (p=0,019) in those with and without pAF, respectively. The probability of pAF after CABG increased by an average of 5,5 times with AKI. Patients with pAF after CABG compared to patients without pAF have a higher rate of AKI, intraoperative MI, and cardiac death.

Conclusion. The number of patients with pAF after CABG was 29,3%, AKI — 16,3%. Post-CABG pAF predictor was postoperative AKI. The use of SGLT-2 inhibitors was associated with a lower incidence of pAF after intervention. Patients with pAF after CABG have a poor inhospital prognosis.

Aim. To assess the body composition and functional activity (FA) parameters in men with heart failure (HF) of various nature depending on the stage, class and echocardiographic characteristics of the disease.

Material and methods. The study included 100 men aged 23-70 years. The main group consisted of 60 men with HF, the control group — 40 men without HF. Quantitative body composition assessment (fat, lean and bone body mass) was carried out using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Physical activity was assessed using handgrip test, short physical performance battery (SPPB) test, 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and Timed Up and Go (TUG) test.

Results. In the HF group, there were a significant decrease in total bone mass, trunk and limb bone mass, total muscle mass, trunk and limbs’ muscle mass, appendicular skeletal muscle index (ASMI), and FA as HF class increased. Fat mass did not differ in individuals with different HF class and stage. HF class was an independent factor in the reduction of total bone mass (b=-301,9, p=0,015), total muscle mass (b=-1903, p=0,03), limb bone mass (b=-147,6, p=0,013) and appendicular muscle mass (AMM) (b=-1903, p=0,001). Total bone mass (b=-2,637, p=0,02) and AMM (b=-3,512, p=0,01) were independently associated with the Vasilenko-Strazhesko HF stage. AMM also had an independent association with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (b=0,274, p=0,03). The average body composition scores did not differ between the study and control groups, while the scores of handgrip test, 6MWT, SPPB and TUG test were significantly worse in the HF group. NYHA HF class, stage of HF, LVEF, left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) made an independent contribution to FA decrease in men with HF.

Conclusion. In patients with HF, there was deterioration in musculoskeletal parameters depending on HF class, stage and LVEF, without significant differences compared to the control group. There was no association of fat mass with the disease, clinical and echocardiographic characteristics. The average parameters of muscle strength and tests of FA were reduced in men with HF compared with the control group and depended on the NYHA class and stage of HF, LVEF, LVEDV, and PASP.

An increase in left ventricular (LV) extracellular volume (ECV) is an important parameter of LV morphology and is considered synonymous with myocardial fibrosis, as well as a reliable marker of myocardial injury and impaired cardiac function. Accurate methods for detecting and assessing myocardial fibrosis are very important for clinical practice. The current standard for myocardial fibrosis imaging is delayed gadolinium enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or T1 mapping, but these techniques have limitations. They can be avoided by using dual-energy computed tomography (DECT), which makes it possible to identify myocardial fibrosis, including small-focal fibrosis, in two different ways (subtraction technique and iodine density measurement technique). The literature analysis carried out by the authors showed good comparability of MRI and DECT results in determining ECV in patients with various heart diseases of both ischemic and non-ischemic nature, including cardiomyopathies, aortic stenosis, pulmonary hypertension, sarcoidosis, and amyloidosis. In addition, the use of DECT to identify myocardial fibrosis is also possible if cardiac inflammation is suspected. In addition to evaluating the effectiveness of DECT compared with MRI, different scanning protocols were analyzed, since there is currently no consensus on the optimal contrast administration regimen. The issue of radiation exposure in modern DECT scanners is also separately considered. The authors showed that DECT is an important tool for determining ECV, which is of interest for clinical practice.

Aim. Within the LIS-3 register of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), to evaluate the phenomenon of complete refusal of treatment (absolute non-adherence) after discharge from the hospital of patients diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction (AMI)/unstable angina (UA): to study the characteristics of absolutely nonadherent patients, disease outcomes after 2.5 years after first contact.

Material and methods. The study was conducted within the framework of the LIS-3 register. This part of the study included patients who survived ACS and were discharged from the hospital in the first 9 months of 2014 (104 people) and patients who survived ACS and were discharged from the hospital in the first 9 months of 2018 (223 people). Of the 327 patients who survived after AMI/UA, 226 patients remained alive by the time of the first survey (on average 3 years after discharge). The created questionnaire was used, which includes questions about possible long-term outcomes, adherence to visits to medical and preventive institutions (health facilities) and adherence to drug therapy. 221 people answered questions about treatment, 11 (5%) of them did not take any drug therapy (absolutely non-adherent). On average, 29 months (2.5 years) after the initial survey, a repeat survey of completely non-adherent patients or their relatives was carried out, information was collected on the vital status of these patients, repeated cardiovascular events and on the use of recommended drug therapy, about visiting a health facility.

Results. When comparing the clinical and demographic characteristics of patients who were adherent and completely non-adherent to the prescribed therapy, no significant differences were noted. By the time of the repeat survey, 4 patients from among those who were completely non-adherent had died, 2 had suffered ACS. Of the 6 patients who survived, at the time of re-contact, 2 had not started taking medications, explaining that they were feeling well, 2 had resumed taking medications in full, 2 — partially, contact with 1 patient was lost.

Conclusion. A certain proportion of patients who have suffered AMI/UA completely refuse the prescribed treatment, mainly because they feel well. The likelihood of death and recurrent cardiovascular events in such patients is extremely high.

Currently, more and more cases of distant myocardial infarction are being registered. This pathological condition occurs due to an acute decrease in myocardial blood supply, which was provided by a donor artery, which blood supply system is anatomically not directly connected to the affected area. Cases of distant myocardial infarction are sporadic. Therefore, there are difficulties in choosing the right management strategy. During percutaneous coronary intervention, it is possible to perform recanalization of an artery with chronic occlusion, which anatomically supplies blood to the affected wall, and/or donor artery stenting, which supplies the infarction zone due to collaterals. The article presents a case of non-Q wave myocardial infarction of left ventricular anterior wall, which developed in a patient with 90% stenosis in the proximal left anterior descending (LAD) artery, chronic occlusion of the middle LAD segment, and 80% stenosis in the proximal right coronary artery. Direct stenting of the right coronary artery led to a significant increase in the contrast intensity in intersystem collaterals from the posterior interventricular artery to LAD artery. This was accompanied by an improvement in the clinical symptoms and a complete absence of angina throughout the patient’s hospital stay.

Pericarditis is an inflammation of the heart serous membrane of an infectious or non-infectious nature. Secondary pericardial effusion can be one of the few signs of cancer of the lung, pleura or breast in young people, while early treatment of the underlying pericarditis cause is the only factor influencing patient survival. We present a case report on a 28-year-old female patient who was hospitalized at the Sechenov University Cardiology Clinic for continuous recurrent pericarditis. During the examinations, end-stage lung adenocarcinoma was revealed, which for a long time was disguised as various diseases. Unfortunately, immunochemotherapy was not successful and the patient’s condition was complicated by recurrent pulmonary embolism with progressive cardiopulmonary failure. A peculiarity of this case is the development of recurrent pericarditis in a young female patient with lung adenocarcinoma, which is difficult to diagnose using non-invasive examination methods. Long-term ineffective treatment of recurrent pericarditis is a reason for cancer suspicion in young patients.

Currently, worldwide interest in lipoprotein(a) (LP(a) as one of the most important markers of premature and aggressive atherosclerosis is steadily growing. This trend is due to both the new data on the pathogenesis of hyperlipoproteinemia (a) and the development of novel treatment methods in the near future. The variety of clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis associated with high LP(a) concentrations leads such patients to specialists of various profiles. The aim of this paper was to demonstrate, using examples from the practice of two lipid centers in Krasnodar, the diversity of clinical scenarios of atherosclerosis as a systemic disease in patients with very high LP(a) levels, as well as to highlight the current and future options for the treatment of hyperlipoproteinemia (a).

Dyslipidemia is one of the most significant modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. The change in the modern paradigm for dyslipidemia treatment from high-intensity statin therapy to high-intensity lipid-lowering therapy makes it possible to more often use new drug classes to achieve the target level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The article presents two case reports on the use of inclisiran as part of combination lipid-lowering therapy for secondary prevention in patients at very high cardiovascular risk. Based on the presented cases, following clinical aspects of the management of cardiovascular patients are discussed: the safety of achieving low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels below 1 mmol/l in a patient with asymptomatic cerebral infarction, the need for adequate dyslipidemia treatment after revascularization, the strategic importance of prescribing lipid-lowering therapy in patients with cerebrovascular disease to reduce the cardiovascular risk, adherence to therapy as a significant aspect of effective dyslipidemia control.

The review is devoted to one of the most controversial issues of modern antihypertensive therapy — the role of new generation sympatholytics — selective I1-imidazoline receptor agonists (AIRs). In modern European recommendations, AIR (moxonidine rilmenidine), along with other centrally acting drugs (reserpine, alpha-methyldopa, clonidine), are mainly intended for additional therapy in rare cases of resistant hypertension, when other treatment options have been ineffective. Nevertheless, AIR invariably finds its place in Russian recommendations for the treatment of arterial hypertension (AH). This class of drugs is recommended for patients with AH in combination with metabolic syndrome and obesity. It is noted that an important property of AIR is its positive effect on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. This information is based on an analysis of Russian and foreign studies, which convincingly indicate that this class of drugs not only provides adequate and long-term blood pressure control, but also has the above-mentioned positive metabolic effects. At the same time, AIRs are much less likely to cause side effects characteristic of older generation centrally acting drugs. Thus, AIRs have become firmly established in clinical practice in Russia for the treatment of patients with AH in certain clinical situations.

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a complex clinical syndrome characterized by poor prognosis. According to the Russian epidemiological study EPOHA-CHF, more than half of patients with CHF have preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LV EF). However, no class of drugs has proven effectiveness in improving the prognosis of this disease. Although current clinical guidelines do not recommend the routine use of beta-blockers in CHF patients with preserved LV EF in the absence of other indications for them, many patients with CHF with preserved LV EF take these drugs unreasonably. The review presents the data from studies on the efficacy and safety of betablockers in CHF with preserved LV EF and it withdrawal. Most studies included patient with LV EF >40%, a few of them analyzed only patients with LVEF ≥50%. Some studies of real clinical practice and meta-analysis of such studies demonstrated a positive effect of beta blockers in patients with LV EF > 40%, however randomized clinical trials and their meta-analyses revealed either a slight beneficial effect of beta-blockers. Studies involving only patients with LV EF ≥50% didn’t show the beneficial effects of beta blockers. There is only one trial accessing the withdrawal of beta blockers in patients with CHF with preserved LV EF and chronotropic insufficiency. The study showed a positive effect of deprescribing on exercise tolerance and quality of life. Due to controversial data, well-designed trials to examine the effect of beta-blockers on symptoms and prognosis in patients with CHF with LVEF ≥50% are required. Deprescribing of beta-blockers also require further assessment.

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”.