[Effect of dapagliflozin on the dynamics of magnetic resonance imaging in patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation].

AIM: To determine the effect of dapagliflozin therapy on myocardial remodeling and fibrosis according to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with contrast in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and atrial fibrillation (AF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the group of 22 patients with a combination of CHF and AF we analyzed the dynamics of remodeling parameters and assessed myocardial fibrosis during 6-month therapy with dapagliflozin according to cardiac MRI with contrast. RESULTS:   After 6 months of dapagliflozin therapy there was a statistically significant increase in LVEF (27 [23-32]-32 [26.5-36.5] p-0.04) and a tendency to decrease volume and linear dimensions of LV, LP. There was no progression of myocardial fibrosis according to the results of cardiac MRI with contrast in patients with HFrFV and AF. CONCLUSIONS: Dapagliflozin therapy in patients with HFrEF and AF led to favorable myocardial remodeling changes.

Relationship between parameters of myocardial electrical remodeling and parameters of contractile function, deformation and myocardium work in patients with chronic heart failure with low left ventricular ejection fraction and atrial fibrillation.

Aim    To compare electrocardiographic parameters and characteristics of myocardial contractility by echocardiography data in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) with low left ventricular ejection fraction (LV EF) and atrial fibrillation (AF).Material and methods    The study included 66 patients with CHF and LV EF ≤40%. Electrocardiography was used to assess the QRS complex duration, QRS fragmentation, frontal QRS-T angle (fQRS-Ta), and 3D vectorcardiographic parameters, including the planarity of QRS loop, and the spatial QRS-T angle (sQRS-Ta). Echocardiography assessed LV EF, global longitudinal strain (GLS), global work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), global wasted work (GWW), and global work efficiency (GWE).Results    Statistically significant correlations between electrocardiographic parameters and LV EF were not found. The presence of QRS fragmentation was associated with impaired GLS, higher GWW values, and lower GWE. A number of weak but significant correlations was observed: GLS worsened with increasing QRS duration, fQRS-Ta, and sQRS-Ta and decreasing QRS planarity index; GWW increased with increasing QRS duration; GWI, GCW, and GWE decreased as the QRS planarity index decreased. GWI decreased with increasing sQRS-Ta; GCW decreased with increasing fQRS-Ta and sQRS-Ta; GWE decreased with increasing QRS duration, fQRS-Ta and sQRS-Ta.Conclusion    Correlations were found between indicators of myocardial electrical remodeling and parameters of myocardial contractility, strain, and performance in CHF patients with low LV EF and AF. Further study of these parameters may be promising for assessing the severity of changes in myocardial structure and function in patients with various cardiovascular pathologies.

[Evaluation of the effectiveness of the chronic heart failure therapy using the device cardiac contractility modulation according to the new non-invasive method of the myocardium work analysis].

Aim      To analyze echocardiographic parameters that reflect left ventricular (LV) myocardial contractility, using a novel method for evaluation of myocardial performance in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) during heart contractility modulation (HCM).Material and methods  Standard echocardiographic parameters and indexes of myocardial strain and work were analyzed for 66 patients (52 men and 14 women; median age, 60 [54; 66] years). 36 patients had paroxysmal AF and 30 patients had permanent AF. All patients had CHF with a duration of 17 [4; 60] months; duration of AF was 12 [6; 36] months. At baseline, the left ventricular ejection fraction (LV EF) was 33 [27; 37] %.Results After one year of HCM, LV EF significantly increased from 33 [27; 37] to 38 [33; 44] % (р=0.001). Also, there were improvements in the myocardial global longitudinal strain (from -6.00 [ - 8; - 4] to -8 [ - 10; - 6] %; р=0.001) and parameters of myocardial work, including the global work efficiency (from 74 [65; 79] to 80 [73; 87] mm Hg%; р=0.001), global constructive work (from 699 [516; 940] to 882 [714; 1242] mm Hg%; р=0.001), and global myocardial work index (from 460 [339; 723] to 668 [497; 943] mm Hg%; р=0.001). A segmentary analysis of LV work parameters showed positive changes in the myocardial constructive work in the area of the interventricular septal apical segment (at baseline, 844 [614; 1224]; after HCM, 1027 [800; 1520] mm Hg%; р=0.05) and the medium segment of the LV anteroseptal wall (at baseline, 593 [312; 1000]; after HCM, 877 [494; 1145] mm Hg%; р=0.05).Conclusion      This method for analysis of the myocardial work provides a more detailed examination of LV structural and functional remodeling and mechanisms for its effects on the LV contractile function in patients with CHF. This method is promising and merits further study in various clinical situations.

[Myocardial remodeling in patients with chronic heart failure and implanted cardiac contractility modulators].

AIM: To study the effect of cardiac contractility modulation on reverse remodeling and myocardial function in patients with chronic heart failure (HF) according to echocardiography (EchoCG). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a group of 40 patients with a combination of chronic HF and atrial fibrillation (AF), the dynamics of standard EchoCG parameters and the effectiveness of myocardial work of the left ventricle (LV) against the background of 12-month therapy of cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) were analyzed. RESULTS: The results obtained indicate a statistically significant positive effect of CCM on LV remodeling parameters and the effectiveness of myocardial work according to EchoCG. CONCLUSION: Transthoracic echocardiography is the main imaging method and provides great opportunities for evaluating the effectiveness of HF treatment, including non-drug methods such as CCM. Evaluation of LV myocardial function in patients with HF and implanted CCM devices is a promising scientific and practical research method.

[Epicardial adipose tissue as a marker of visceral obesity and its association with metabolic parameters and remodeling of the left chambers of the heart in young people with abdominal obesity].

AIM: to study the correlation of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) with metabolic parameters, 24-hours profile of blood pressure (BP) and left ventricular remodeling, with the volume of intraabdominal adipose tissue (IAAT), measured by multislice computed tomography (MSCT) in patients with abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: the study included 80 participants with abdominal obesity (waist circumference > 80 cm in women and >94 cm in men) and without cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Within this study the following examinations were performed: waist circumference and the body mass index measurement, blood sampling and measurements of lipid levels, uric acid, fasting glucose, insulin, HOMA index, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Left ventricular (LV) mass index, relative wall thickness, LV mass/height index were estimated from echocardiographic data. EAT volume and IAAT was measured by MSCT. All patients was devided in two groups for analysis: 1 (n=28) - patients with isolated abdominal obesity, without metabolic syndrome, age was 37.5±6.43 years; 2 (n=52) - patients with metabolic syndrome, age - 38.8±5.88 years. The control group 0 included healthy individuals (n=13) without obesity, age was 30.5±5.97 years. RESULTS: A positive correlation was found between the volume of EAT with the level of insulin in the blood (r=0.2937, p.

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.