Infective endocarditis caused by Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae involving three native valves.

Human infection with Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is extremely rare and occupationally related. This paper presents for the first time a case of a 47 year-old male with endocarditis involving three valves simultaneously.

[Suspected clopidogrel resistance associated with recurrent coronary stent thrombosis--a case report]. / Podejrzenie opornosci na klopidogrel u chorego z nawracajaca zakrzepica w stencie.

We describe a case of an 81-year-old man with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), who received a loading dose of clopidogrel (300 mg) and aspirin (ASA) (300 mg) prior to primary coronary intervention of critical left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis. Three days later he developed recurrent acute STEMI due to the in-stent thrombosis and a second stent implantation was performed. The dose of clopidogrel (75 mg) remained unchanged, while the dose of ASA was increased from 75 mg to 150 mg. Three days later the patient had an other STEMI due to the in-stent thrombosis and additional stent implantation with IIb/IIIa blocker was performed. Clopidogrel resistance was suspected. Therefore, clopidogrel was replaced by ticlopidine, the dose of ASA was increased and low-molecular heparin was administered. Since then, the patient has been clinically stable. Our case indicates the existence of a subgroup of patients with combined clopidogrel and ASA resistance.

[Ablation of atypical, fast atrio-ventricular nodal tachycardia in a pregnant woman--a case report]. / Ablacja szybkiego atypowego czestoskurczu wezlowego u kobiety w ciazy.

We describe a case of a 24-year-old pregnant woman (35 hbd) who was admitted because of fast (240 bpm) supraventricular tachycardia which required electrical external cardioversion (transesophageal atrial pacing and drugs were ineffective). She underwent RF ablation during which a single RF application effectively cured atypical atrio-ventricular nodal tachycardia. The duration of fluoroscopy was 53 seconds. The child was delivered on time and with no complications.

Carotid and femoral atherosclerotic lesions in patients with coronary heart disease confirmed by angiography.

INTRODUCTION: Clinically evident atherosclerosis is preceded by preclinical changes in the arterial wall. These changes are characterised by increased thickness of the intima-media complex (IMT). AIMS: A complex ultrasound assessment of the peripheral vessels as well as an attempt to find ultrasound parameters correlating with the burden of atherosclerotic lesions of the coronary arteries. METHODS: 231 patients who underwent both coronary angiography and ultrasound examination of the following arteries: common carotid artery (CCA), carotid bulb and common femoral artery (CFA) were enrolled. The IMT value, presence of plaque and Doppler blood flow parameters were evaluated. Selected clinical and biochemical risk factors of atherosclerosis were assessed. Two groups of patients were analysed: 200 patients with coronary artery disease confirmed by angiography (study group), and 31 patients with normal coronary arteries (control group). RESULTS: Significantly higher values of the IMT in the peripheral arteries were observed in patients with coronary artery lesions than in those without (CCA - 0.91 vs 0.61 mm, carotid bulb -- 1.31 vs 0.67 mm, CFA -- 1.38 vs 0.63 respectively, p<0.0001). Atherosclerotic plaques were present only in patients with coronary artery disease. Additionally, IMT values of the CCA, carotid bulb and CFA were significantly higher in patients with severe coronary artery disease (three vessel disease) than in patients with lesions in one or two coronary arteries. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with coronary lesions present with increased IMT values and higher plaque occurrence. Complex ultrasound evaluation of different peripheral arteries (CCA, carotid bulb and CFA) may be used as part of the cardiovascular risk stratification.

[Recurrent thrombosis of a mitral mechanical heart valve prosthesis during puerperium--a case report]. / Nawracajaca zakrzepica na sztucznej zastawce mitralnej.

A case of a 27-year-old female with prosthetic mitral valve is presented. Prolonged anticoagulation therapy was continued during pregnancy without complications. During puerperium, the dose of subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin was reduced due to subcutaneous blood effusions. Subsequently, the patient developed acute left ventricular heart failure due to prosthetic valve thrombosis. She underwent urgent surgery with new prosthetic valve implantation. Two weeks later she suffered another episode of acute mitral prosthetic valve thrombosis which was effectively treated with intravenous heparin. Difficulties concerning prolonged anticoagulation during pregnancy and puerperium in patients with prosthetic valves are discussed.

Homocysteine and progression of coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Hyperhomocysteinemia is one of the newly recognised risk factors of coronary artery disease (CAD). The role of hyperhomocysteinemia in the development of atherosclerosis has been controversial. AIM: To assess homocysteine (Hcy) plasma concentration in patients with CAD and to correlate Hcy level with some cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: The study group consisted of 150 males aged <55 years (mean age 49.5+/-5.7 years) with stable CAD. Lipid and carbohydrate profiles as well as Hcy, folic acid and vitamin B(12) serum concentration were assessed, and correlated with such cardiovascular risk factors as cigarette smoking, hypertension, obesity and a history of myocardial infarction. RESULTS: Mean Hcy plasma concentration was 11.81+/-3.75 micro mol/L. In patients with Hcy >11.21 micro mol/L (median value) a lower level of folic acid and vitamin B12 as well as reduced ejection fraction and glomerular filtration rate were found when compared to patients with Hcy level <11.21 micro mol/L. In addition, creatinine concentration, mean patient's age, proportion of patients who smoked cigarettes and the number of affected coronary arteries were significantly higher in patients with an increased level of Hcy. The Hcy plasma concentration positively correlated with the progression of hypertension, creatinine level and the number of coronary vessels with stenosis. A significant negative correlation between Hcy and folic acid as well as vitamin B12 concentrations was documented. In patients with a three-vessel CAD, Hcy concentration was 12.46+/-3.85 micro mol/L and was significantly higher (p<0.03) compared with patients with a less advanced CAD. In the group of patients with diabetes the mean Hcy concentration increased with the number of affected coronary vessels (p<0.02) and reached the highest values in patients with a three-vessel CAD (15.38+/-7.28 micro mol/L). CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant relationship between homocysteine plasma concentration and the incidence as well as progression of CAD. This association is particularly evident in patients with diabetes.

[Myocardial infarction in a 24-year-old woman with secondary antiphospholipid syndrome -- a case report]. / Zawal serca u 24-letniej chorej z wtórnym zespolem antyfosfolipidowym.

Myocardial infarction in a 24-year-old woman with secondary antiphospholipid syndrome - a case report. A case of a 24-year-old female patient with a secondary antiphospholipid syndrome is described. She had a history of pulmonary embolism occurring after miscarriage. One month later she was admitted to the hospital due to acute myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography revealed distal occlusions in the left anterior descending and left circumflex coronary arteries. Angioplasty was not effective. She received thrombolysis, heparin and finally improved after administration of high doses of corticosteroids. She was discharged from hospital, however, died four weeks later. The treatment and complications of the antiphospholipid syndrome are discussed.

Circulating E-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in men with coronary artery disease assessed by angiography and disturbances of carbohydrate metabolism.

It is hypothesized that adhesion molecules could be an early predictor of coronary artery disease. Therefore we investigated the relationship between the concentrations of soluble forms of adhesion molecules and disturbances of glucose metabolism in 78 men referred for coronary angiography but with no previous history of diabetes. The group consisted of 78 men (mean age, 47.6 +/- 7.0 years; mean body mass index [BMI], 28.4 +/- 3.24 with the symptoms of angina pectoris and positive exercise test. All subjects were given a standard oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with glucose and insulin estimations. Fasting plasma concentrations of the soluble (s) forms of E-selectin, intercellular adhesion cell molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), and HbA(1c) were also measured. According to the OGTT, 10.2% of the patients (n = 8) fulfilled the criteria for type 2 diabetes mellitus and 44.9% (n = 35) for impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). The highest concentrations of sE-selectin were observed in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and were significantly higher in comparison to the group with normal glucose tolerance and IGT. The concentration of sVCAM-1 increased with the progression of disturbances of glucose metabolism and remained the highest in type 2 diabetic patients. sICAM-1 concentration was not significantly different. sE-selectin concentration correlated significantly with fasting glucose (r = 0.23, P =.041), postload glucose (r = 0.39, P =.001), and postload insulin (r = 0.28, P =.023). sVCAM-1 was significantly related to the postload glucose concentration (r = 0.30, P =.009). A significant correlation between sICAM-1 concentration and postload insulin was also observed (r = 0.27, P =.025). This would suggest that hyperglycemia increases sE-selectin and sVCAM-1 in plasma, which reflects excessive formation of atherosclerotic plaques in patients with disturbances of glucose metabolism.