[The prognostic value of the method for determining the estimated glomerular filtration rate in chronic heart failure with a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction: focus on cystatin C].

The aim of the present study is to determine the prognostic value of GFR reduction according to the CKD-EPI formula, taking into account blood creatinine and a formula that simultaneously takes into account creatinine and cystatin C in patients who were hospitalized for the first time due to decompensation of chronic heart failure with a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFSA) observation within 24 months. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 117 patients (women - 65.8%, mean age 71.6 ± 9.1 years) hospitalized due to debugging of CHF and having a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction according to echocardiography. The study was a prospective observation for 2 years after the inclusion of each patient. On the first day of hospitalization, all serum samples were taken to determine the level of cystatin C. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was determined using the CKD-EPI formula, taking into account blood creatinine and the combined formula, including creatinine and cystatin C. The combination was used as an end point death and re-hospitalization within two years of follow-up. To determine the effect of a decrease in eGFR on the forecast, the Kaplan-Maer method and the log-rank test were used. Differences were considered statistically significant at p<0.05. The study was approved by the local ethics committee. RESULTS: During the observation period, the mortality rate was almost 12%. At the same time, every third patient was repeatedly hospitalized within two years. In order to determine the effect of reducing GFR on reaching the end points, all patients were divided into groups with eGFR values of more or less than 45 ml/min/1.73 sq.m according to both formulas. When separating patients using the CKD-EPI formula, which includes only creatinine, the groups did not differ in terms of the frequency of reaching the combined end point, as well as its components: death and re-hospitalization. However, patients with eGFR values less than 45 ml/min/1.73 sq. M according to the combined formula data significantly more often reached the combined end point, mainly due to an increase in mortality. CONCLUSION: The data obtained suggest that adding cystatin C to the CKD-EPI formula and appropriately identifying patients with reduced eGFR has a high prognostic value for stratifying the risk of an unfavorable outcome after the first decompensation of HFSSFV.

Multislice Computed Tomography Capabilities in Assessment of the Coronary Arteries Atherosclerotic Lesions.

Until today, there are no universally accepted methods for detection of unstable atherosclerotic plaques, even though many recent studies were devoted to this issue. In this article we present modern possibilities of computed tomography in visualization of atherosclerotic coronary lesion, including the detection of unstable lesions, whot in turn, can help in diagnosing subclinical exacerbation of ischemic heart disease and in the stratification of risks of acute coronary events.

Noninvasive Assessment of Fractional Flow Reserve Using Mathematical Modeling of Coronary Flow.

Nowadays an invasive evaluation of fractional flow reserve (FFR) is one of the main methods used for detecting lesions that cause ischemia. Invasively obtained FFR <0.75 has the specificity of 100 %, and FFR >0.80 has the sensitivity >90 %. Recent achievements in computational fluid dynamics and computer simulations allow noninvasive assessment of FFR using data obtained by CT angiography performed according to standard protocol at rest without additional radiation, modification of image acquisition protocols, or added medications for vasodilatation. The present review covers the results of the DISCOVER, the NXT, the DEFACTO and the PLATFORM randomized multicenter studies as well as the prospects of using a noninvasive method for measuring FFR developed by specialists of the Institute of Numerical Mathematics in collaboration with specialists of the I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University.