[Expert Council Resolution. Practical Aspects of the Diagnosis and Correction of Potassium and Magnesium Deficiency States].

The article analyzes properties of potassium and magnesium, which may exert vasodilatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-ischemic, antiaggregant, and antiarrhythmic effects. These are extremely important microelements and potentially beneficial therapeutic agents for treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

[Spontaneous reperfusion of the infarct-related artery in patients with ST elevated myocardial infarction].

AIM: To characterize a clinical course of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and spontaneous reperfusion of the coronary arteries (SR) as well as in patients after reperfusion thrombolytic therapy (TLT) and/or transluminal balloon coronary angioplasty (TBCA); to compare effectiveness of different approaches to treatment of SR patients: conservative--early medication and active--TBCA on the first postmyocardial 24 hours. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 479 patients admitted to hospital not later than 6 hours since STEMI onset and either having SR (n = 49) or treated using active methods of coronary circulation restoration--prehospital thrombolysis (n = 127), thrombolysis after hospitalization (n = 127), primary TBCA (n = 60) and TBCA after initiation of TLT (n = 116). We made a more detailed analysis on the sample of 149 SR patients. RESULTS: SR was diagnosed in 10.2% cases with STEMI and occurred much earlier than recovery of coronary circulation due to TLT and/or TBCA. Patients with SR developed Q-MI, right ventricular infarction, cardiac failure and atrioventricular block less frequently. They had the lowest peak activity of creatin phosphokinase and a higher left ventricular ejection fraction versus patients without SR (50.7 +/- 6.8 and 45.4 +/- 6.6%, respectively; p < 0.05). As shown by coronaroangiography, SR patients had no "no reflow" phenomenon (0% and 17%, respectively). Active policy of SR patients treatment had no significant advantages over conservative treatment. CONCLUSION: Early SR had more favourable course of MI, less mass of the affected myocardium and better contractile function of the left ventricle. The conservative policy of STEMI treatment in the presence of SR is more effective than the active one if a due control over the patients' condition is provided.

[Assessment of the course of ischemic heart disease after placement of stents with drug covering and uncovered metal stents: data of 3 years follow-up].

The placement of sirolimus-eluting stents decreases the frequency of repeat revascularization procedures in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in randomized clinical trials. However, there is uncertainty about the effectiveness of sirolimus-eluting stents, and increasing concern about their safety in routine clinical practice. From the prof. Samko PCI laboratory in Moscow, Russia, we identified 426 patients, who received either bare-metal stents alone or sirolimus-eluting stents alone during an index PCI procedure between March 1, 2002, and September 31, 2004.The primary outcomes of the study were the rates of target-lesion revascularization, myocardial infarction, death, late stent thrombosis. The 3-year rate of target-lesion revascularization was significantly lower among patients who received sirolimus-eluting stents than among those who received bare-metal stents (3.1% vs. 19 %, p=0.001). The 3-year mortality rate was not different between the bare-metal stent group and the sirolimus eluting stent group (5.9% vs. 7.2%, p=0.68), the 3-year rate of all ARC late stent thrombosis was similar in the two groups (5.9% and 7.2%, respectively; p=0.95). Sirolimus-eluting stents are effective in reducing the need for target-vessel revascularization without significantly increased rates of death, late stent thrombosis, myocardial infarction.

Comparative assessment of ECG dynamics in myocardial infarction according to reperfusion therapy approach (primary and facilitated coronary angioplasty) and timing of the procedure.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare electrocardiogram (ECG)-12 dynamics depending on the methods of facilitated and primary angioplasty in patients with acute coronary syndrome. The ECG changes in 81 patients - 73 patients with acute myocardial infarction and 8 patients with unstable angina pectoris - were studied. METHODS: The ECG analysis before reperfusion therapy and after angioplasty included: dynamics of summary elevation (Sigma ST+) and depression (Sigma ST-) of ST segment and changes of summary value of R waves (Sigma R) in 12 leads. The results were estimated with consideration for the length of the period from the beginning of pain syndrome till treatment and topics of the infraction-related artery. RESULTS: According to our data, there was no difference between facilitated and primary transluminal coronary angioplasty in their effect on focal myocardial variation dynamics and the size of peri-infarction zone. CONCLUSION: A reliable decrease in elevation and depression of ST segment was observed in reperfusion therapy not later than 6 hours after the beginning of pain syndrome. When reperfusion therapy is begun later, dynamics of summary values of ST segment elevation and depression before and after treatment are not reliable.

[Prospective register of primary percutaneous coronary interventions in patients with acute myocardial infarction].

The present study has evaluated the immediate angiographic results of primary percutaneous interventions (PCI) in patients with acute myocardial infarction, as well as hospital and 6-month clinical outcomes. The analysis covered a total of 265 patients (females (23%) and males (77%)); their mean age was 57+/-11 years. The mean time before the first balloon dilatation during PCI was 278+/-135 minutes after the development of the pain syndrome or 109+/-94 minutes after hospital admission. PCI proved to be effective in 96% of the patients, as evidenced by angiography. TIMI 3 blood flow was achieved in 83% of cases during PCI. After primary PCI, hospital mortality was 98.9% and 95% survived 6 months. At 6-month follow-up, 22% patients had positive exercise tests, recurrent angina pectoris and/or more than 50% luminal stenosis of the infarct-related artery. Control angiography made less than 6 months later showed 11% restenosis. This prospective study has demonstrated the high immediate and long effectiveness and safety of primary interventions in acute myocardial infarction.

[Effect of L-arginine on platelet aggregation, endothelial function adn exercise tolerance in patients with stable angina pectoris]. / Vliianie L-arginina na agregatsiiu trombotsitov, funktsiiu éndoteliia i tolerantnost' k fizicheskoi nagruzke u patsientov so stabil'noi stenokardiei napriazheniia.

AIM: Examination of the action of donor NO (L-arginine) on platelet aggregation, endothelial function and exercise tolerance in patients with stable angina of effort (SAE). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 42 patients with SAE (functional class I-II) and 10 healthy volunteers (control group) were assigned to two groups. 22 patients of group 1 were randomized to cross-over. They received cardiket (60 mg/day for 10 days or cardiket (60 mg/day) in combination with L-arginine (15 g/day for 10 days). 20 SAE patients of group 2 and control group received L-arginine (15 g/day for 10 days). In each group blood lipids were examined, and bicycle exercise test (BET) was performed. In addition, platelet aggregation and endothelial function were studied in group 2 and control group before and after the course of L-arginine. RESULTS: Compared to control group, endothelial function significantly improved in group 2 (from 5.0 +/- 2.9 to 7.8 +/- 4.1% vs 7.1 +/- 1.9 to 6.6 +/- 4.8%) (M +/- SD). BET duration increased in all the patients. After ADP addition in concentrations 1.5, 2.0, and 5.0 micromol/l platelet aggregation declined in 17 patients except 3 in whom the aggregation remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: Positive effect of L-arginine on endothelial function, exercise tolerance and platelet aggregation was observed in patients with stable angina of effort (functional class I-II). Therefore, arginine can be recommended as an adjuvant in the treatment of patients with ischemic heart disease.