[Immune status of patients with persistent atrial fibrillation and coronary heart disease].

We estimated the strength of immune response to chlamydial infection in patients with CHD. It was most pronounced in CHD patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). There was close relationship between past chlamydial infection and markers of inflammation (CRP and TNF-alpha). The study demonstrated high prognostic value of these markers for the development of AF during CHD and their relationship with characteristics of structural and functional remodeling of myocardium during CHD with AF. The study confirmed the role of inflammation in pathogenesis of AF in CHD patients.

[Changes in the serum marker of cardiac fibrosis and inflammation associated with atrial fibrillation].

This work was designed to study characteristics of cardiac fibrosis and inflammation associated with idiopathic atrial fibrillation (AF) and AF with concomitant arterial hypertension (AH). The same parameters were investigated in connection with different types of arrhythmia. It is shown that patients with AF have increased levels of serum markers of fibrosis and inflammation (C-terminalpropeptide of type I procollagen (PICP) and IL-6); they are especially high in case of combination ofAF and AH. Characteristics of fibrosis are related to the form of AF. PICP levels increase in patients with chronic and recurrent AF. Activity of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) does not depend on the type of AF whereas concentration of tissue metalloproteinase inhibitor-1 (TMPI-1) tends to decrease in case of permanent AF. Patients with recurrent and especially permanent AF have higher IL-6 levels than practically healthy subjects. Permanent AF is associated with a slightly elevated level of tumour necrosis factor-alpha.

[The prediction of atrial fibrillation in patients with arterial hypertension].

AIM: To study the parameters of the structural and functional state of the myocardium in patients with hypertension, to determine their prognostic value on the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study involved 72 people: patients with hypertension and AF, with isolated hypertension and apparently healthy individuals. All of them performed echocardiography, blood pressure monitoring and monitoring of cardiogram. RESULTS: The dilatation of left atrial was founded: patients with the atrial fibrillation on the background of hypertension observed the most pronounced changes in the left atrial. In patients with hypertension without arrhythmias and in combination with atrial fibrillation severe left ventricular hypertrophy was observed. Left ventricle systolic function in groups has been stored but in patients with atrial fibrillation on the background of hypertension was significantly lower. The risk of atrial fibrillation in patients with hypertension prognostic value are the only values of the age, the volume index of the left atrial to the body surface area and left ventricular ejection fraction. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of AF in hypertension occurs over the age of 55 and each subsequent year increases it in 1,2 times, it increases with an index value of the left atrial to the body surface over 29 ml/m2 and with a decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction less than 58%.

[Ventricular arrhythmias and arterial hypertension: role of inflammatory biomarkers in arrhythmia development].

Arrhythmogenic role of proinflammatory cytokines is still unclear despite of wide discussion on inflammatory arrhythmogenic mechanisms. The main goal of study was to compare levels of tumor necrosis factor a, interleukin 6 and interleukin 4 in hypertensive patients with and without ventricular rhythm disturbances. The study included 100 cases, 50 of those had ventricular arrhythmias. Levels of tumor necrosis factor a, interleukin 6 and interleukin 4 were studied. Possible connections of above mentioned biomarkers with ventricular arrhythmias, blood pressure, echocardiography left ventricle data were evaluated. Higher level of biomarkers was associated with presence of ventricular arrhythmias; higher rate of ventricular extrasystoles was accompanied with insignificantly lower biomarker level.