Association between the acquisition of antibodies against Lyme disease and the risk of atrial arrhythmias.

INTRODUCTION: The impact of antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi (BB) on the occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias in patients without typical symptoms of Lyme disease (LD) is largely unknown. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) and other atrial arrhythmias (AAs) in patients who tested positive for anti-LD antibodies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included consecutive patients referred for the diagnosis and treatment of AAs who had no history of erythema migrans or other symptoms of LD. The presence of anti-BB antibodies (immunoglobulin [Ig] M and IgG) was assessed in each patient, and the diagnostic workup of cardiac arrhythmias was performed. RESULTS: Of the 527 patients enrolled in the study, 292 (55%) were diagnosed with AAs, and we detected BB antibodies in 131 individuals (24.8%). The patients with a serological history of Borrelia infection were older (mean [SD], 55.6 [15.7] vs 50.3 [18.6] years; P = 0.01), had a higher probability of developing AF or other supraventricular arrhythmias (SAs) (66.4% vs 51.8%; P = 0.03), and had elevated levels of N­terminal pro-B ­type natriuretic peptide (NT­proBNP) (58% vs 47.5%; P = 0.04). We also found an as-sociation between the occurrence of AF and other SAs in patients with anti-BB antibodies and elevated NT­proBNP values, and the risk of AAs in these patients increased almost 3­fold (P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Our data indicated an association between the exposure to Borrelia infection and the risk for AF and other AAs in the patients with elevated levels of NT­proBNP, suggesting the need for a more efficacious diagnostic approach to patients with SAs, especially in LD­endemic regions.

[Ortodromic atrio-ventricular reentrant tachycardia with functional left bundle branch block morphology - differential diagnosis of wide complex tachycardia based on case report]. / Czestoskurcz przedsionkowo−komorowyortodromowy z czynnosciowym blokiemlewej odnogi peczka Hisa ­ róznicowaniemechanizmów czestoskurczu z szerokimizespolami QRS na podstawie opisu przypadku.

We present a case of 18 year-old man, without structural heart disease, who suffered from regular and irregular palpitations. ECG was normal during sinus rhythm, and showed LBBB morphology during tachycardia (220/min). Programmable pacing from CS induced sustained atrial fibrillation with normal and wide QRS (LBBB-like, RBBB-like) and minimal RR interval 270 ms. We found and ablate concealed left free wall accessory pathway. During 1-year observation patient stayed asymptomatic.

Percutaneous angioplasty of the only patent renal artery - treatment of choice for end-stage heart failure.

The causes leading to the exacerbation of preexisting chronic heart failure can be various. Renal artery stenosis is an important cause of renal dysfunction, and can lead to worsening of heart failure and increased mortality. We present a 49-year old male patient after acute myocardial infarction, heart failure with left ventricle ejection fraction of 20%, permanent atrial flutter, peripheral vascular disease, chronic kidney disease and arterial hypertension. In 2008 the patient underwent stenting of the left renal artery. At that time there was only discrete stenosis of the right renal artery. Two years later the patient presented with exacerbation of bi-ventricular chronic heart failure and renal failure. The echocardiography revealed dramatically reduced systolic function of both ventricles. As no response to intravenous diuretics was achieved, the patient underwent several courses of hemodialysis. Before considering the patient as a potential candidate for orthotopic heart transplantation, color Doppler ultrasound showed the occlusion of the left renal artery and significant stenosis of the right renal artery, which was stented. After the procedure spectacular clinical improvement was observed. The results of two randomized trials, ASTRAL and STAR, were discouraging for invasive treatment of renal artery stenosis. Still, serious doubts regarding the methodology of the studies were raised. Renal artery stenting may be the treatment of choice in highly selected patients and lead to clinical improvement.