Cardiopulmonary exercise testing for treatment effect assessment in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension patients.

Aim      To determine possibilities of the cardiopulmonary stress test (CPST) as an unbiassed, noninvasive method for evaluation of the effect of managing patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).Material and methods  This study included 37 patients with CTEPH, 24 men (mean age, 53±15 years) and 13 women (mean age, 58±8.5 years). The diagnosis was verified and theCoperability was assessed according to 2015 European Society of Cardiology Clinical Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension (PH). The surgical treatment was used in 65 % (n=24) of CTEPH patients: the group with pulmonary thromboendarterectomy constituted 35 % (n=13); the group with balloon pulmonary angioplasty 30% (n=11); and the conservative tactics was used in 27 % (n=10) of patients.Results Baseline CPST parameters significantly correlated with parameters of right heart catheterization (RHC): mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2) significantly positively correlated with V´O2peak (r=0.640, p<0.05), V´O2 / heart rate (HR) (r=0.557; p<0.001), PETCO2 peak (r=0.598, p<0.05), and V´E / V´CO2 (r=0.587; p<0.001); cardiac output (CO) correlated with V´O2 / HR (r=0.555, p<0.001), PETCO2peak (r= -0.476; p<0.05 and r=0.555, p<0.001 for ´E / V´CO2). In repeated testing, the physical working capacity (V´O2peak) increased only in patients after the surgical treatment of CTEPH. Importantly in this process, significant correlations remained between a number of CPST and RHC parameters: SvO2 correlated with V´O2peak (r=0.743; p<0.05), V´O2 /HR (r=0.627; p<0.001), PETCO2peak (r=0.538; p<0.05), and V´E / V´CO2 (r=0.597; p<0.001); V´O2 / HR, PETCO2peak, and V´E / V´CO2 significantly correlated with CO (r=0.645, p<0.001; r= -0.516, p<0.001, and r=0.555, p<0.001, respectively.Conclusion      CPST can be used as a noninvasive instrument for evaluation of the effect of CTEPH treatment, particularly in the absence of echocardiographic data for residual PH.

[Common Carotid Intima-Media Thickness, Levels of Total and High-Molecular Weight Adiponectin in Women With Abdominal Obesity].

OBJECTIVE: to investigate influence of different forms of adiponectin on carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in women with abdominal obesity (AO) in St.­Petersburg. It has been recognized before that AO is associated with cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, but mechanism of this association remains unclear. AO leads to imbalance of adipokines, in particularly decrease of adiponectin, which may lead to atherosclerotic lesion of carotid arteries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated 81 women with AO (IDF criteria, 2005) and 21 women with normal waist circumference. СIMT was evaluated by an ultrasound scanner. RESULTS: Among patients with AO 54.9 % had CIMT >0.9 mm and 38.5 % had atherosclerotic plaques in common carotid arteries. The total adiponectin level (TA) was lower in women with CIMT> 0.9 mm, than in women with normal CIMT (23.20 [2.55; 40.65] and 18.09 [1.60; 38.92] µg/ml, respectively; р0.9 mm, than in women with normal CIMT (2.21 [0.50; 6.85] and 2.88 [1.29; 15.45] µg/ml, respectively; р0.9 mm, than in women with CIMT >0.9 mm and atherosclerotic plaques in carotid arteries (3.09 [1.34; 6.85] and1.82 [0.50; 2.94] mcg/ml, respectively; р0.9 mm depended on waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure and level of C-reactive protein (CRP), while presence of atherosclerotic plaques was associated with levels of HMWA and CRP. CONCLUSIONS: Factors that make the greatest contribution at early stages of atherosclerosis development in carotid arteries in women with AO can be increased waist circumference, high diastolic blood pressure, and high level of CRP. At later stages of atherosclerosis development lowered HMWA level can contribute to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.

[Safety and Efficacy of Amlodipine, Lisinopril and Rosuvastatin Therapy in Patients With Metabolic Syndrome and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease].

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of amlodipin, lisinopril and rosuvastatin therapy in metabolic syndrome and high cardiovascular risk patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: 6 months randomized study of fixed combination of amlodipin and lisinopril with or without rosuvastatin of 20 patients with 2 grade of arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia with metabolic syndrome and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Efficacy and safety was revealed: office BP, ABPM, NAFLD Fibrosis scale, insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), serum lipids were measured basically and after 6 months of therapy. RESULTS: 6 months amlodipin and lisinopril therapy results: office BP decreased from 153,4+/-2,9/83,3+/-2,5 to 131,0+/-2,4/79,9+/-4,5 mm Hg (=0,001, for systolic BP).159/91 to 132/77 mm Hg. 24-hours BP decreased from 153,6+/-3,6/89,5+/-3,2 to 127,1+/-3,0/73,5+/-2,9 (=0,002); in 85% of patients BP normalized. Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) decreased lower 2.5 mmol/l in all patients and lower 1.8 mmol/l in 45% patients on rosuvastatin therapy. Before therapy 3 patients had elevated ALT levels, after 6 months therapy all patients had normal levels of ALT and AST. ALT decreased from 33,7+/-4,3 to 23,2+/-3,5 U/l (=0,01). Alkaline phosphatase decreased from 65,4+/-4,1 to 51,1+/-6,9 U/l (=0,02), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase level was stable. NAFLD Fibrosis index revealed fibrosis and was stable -0,9+/-0,2 and -0,9+/-0,2 (>0,05). HOMA-IR decreased from 4.2+/-0,4 to 2,9+/-0,4 (=0,02). DISCUSSION: Some antihypertensive drugs and statins can be hepatotoxic especially in patients with metabolic syndrome and NAFLD. Antihypertensive drugs and statins with minimal liver metabolism can be preferable in NAFLD patients. CONCLUSION: Amlodipin, lisinopril and rosuvastatin therapy is effective and safe in patients with metabolic syndrome of high cardiovascular risk and liver steatosis.

[First experience of the study "Intramyocardial Multiple Precision Administration of Mononuclear Bone Marrow Cells in the Treatment of Myocardial Ischemia"].

Study aim - to elucidate possibilities of the use of precision administration of mononuclear bone marrow cells (MBMC) for the treatment of myocardial ischemia and heart failure. "Intramyocardial Multiple Precision Administration of Mononuclear Bone Marrow Cells in the Treatment of Myocardial Ischemia" was a double blind randomized placebo controlled study in which we included patients more or equal 6 months after Q-wave myocardial infarction with systolic myocardial dysfunction (ejection fraction <35%), not requiring myocardial revascularization, receiving stable optimal medical therapy for more or equal 8 weeks, and with implanted cardioverter-defibrillator. Transplantation of MBMC was guided by fluoroscopy and tridimensional NOGA XP Cardiac Navigation System. For assessment of efficacy of the method we used surrogate end points: decrease of number of fixed perfusion defects according to SPECT data and improvement of regional myocardial contractility according to data of echocardiography. Results of dynamic observation of the first experience of MBMC administration are presented in this paper.