Cor et Vasa, 2025 (vol. 67), issue 6

Determinants of Ineligibility for Intravenous Iron Therapy in Patients with Heart Failure and LVEF <45%: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Jozef Dodulík, Kristýna Podzemná, Klára Musiolová, Jiří Vrtal, Jiří Plášek, Jan Václavík

Cor Vasa 2025, 67(6):671-676  

Background: Intravenous iron therapy improves symptoms and reduces hospitalizations in patients with heart failure (HF) and iron deficiency (ID). Clinical trials evaluating this therapy have often excluded patients with higher hemoglobin (HGB) levels, although current European Society of Cardiology guidelines do not specify an upper HGB limit. This study aimed to assess how HGB thresholds influence eligibility for intravenous iron among real-world HF patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 45%. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients attending a specialized HF outpatient clinic in 2024. ID was defined as ferritin...

Surgical Repair of Post-Infarction Ventricular Septal Rupture with or without Concomitant Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Outcomes and Prognostic Implications

Ery Irawan, Yan Efrata Sembiring

Cor Vasa 2025, 67(6):677-685  

Introduction: Post-myocardial infarction ventricular septal rupture (VSR) is a rare but fatal complication that requires urgent surgical repair. The benefit of adding concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remains controversial. While CABG may protect viable myocardium in patients with coronary artery disease, it also increases operative complexity and ischemic time. This review evaluates the prognostic impact of concomitant CABG during VSR repair. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, ScienceDirect, BMC, and Springer databases according to PRISMA guidelines. Studies reporting surgical VSR repair with and without...

(Application of KDIGO guidelines for CKD diagnosis in clinical practice: cross-sectional study of eGFR and ACR testing in the Czech Republic)

Ivo Hlaváč, Miloš Táborský, Matěj Opatrný

Cor Vasa 2025, 67(6):687-696  

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects 9-13% of the global population. KDIGO guidelines recommend simultaneous albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) testing for proper CKD staging. Data on compliance with these standards in Czech practice are lacking. Methods: Cross-sectional retrospective analysis of 62,567 patients examined between January 2022 and April 2025 in Unilabs laboratories. We assessed availability of eGFR and ACR testing across specialties and compliance with KDIGO recommendations. Results: Median age 67.0 years (IQR 54.3-75.4), 54% male. ACR was tested in 97.2% of patients, eGFR in...

Speckle Tracking Echocardiography Predicts Left Ventricular Remodeling after Acute ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Patients Undergoing Primary PCI

Ahmed A. Elamragy, Irini Samuel, Ahmed Hassan, Reda Hussein Diab, Mohamed Abdel Ghany, Ahmed Mohsen

Cor Vasa 2025, 67(6):698-707  

Purpose: Left ventricular remodeling (LVR) following ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) significantly impacts prognosis. Although three-dimensional echocardiography (3D-echo) accurately assesses LV volume, early LVR prediction remains challenging. This study evaluated whether baseline global longitudinal strain (GLS), a non-invasive echocardiographic marker, predicts LVR six months post-STEMI in patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Methods: This prospective observational study included 53 first-time STEMI patients who underwent PPCI and completed a six-month echocardiographic follow-up. LV function...

(Liver steatosis as a risk of coronary heart disease)

Rudolf Poledne, Dita Pajuelo, Ivana Králová Lesná

Cor Vasa 2025, 67(6):745-749  

The prevalence of steatosis in MASLD (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic disease) varies in different populations, up to 30%. Although steatosis might progress into steatohepatitis, cirrhosis and finally to the liver failure, it is not a necessary development very probably. Simple steatosis is a reversible status related to the total volume of ectopic fat in the body. Triglyceride (TG) accumulation in the liver is partly genetically determined, but it is also related to nutrition. High content of saturated fat in the hypercaloric diet leads to an increase in the content of fat droplets in the hepatocytes, whereas unsaturated fat has the opposite...

Neuregulin-1 and Cardiovascular Diseases

Lutfu Askin, Yahya Urkmez, Hakan Ozerol

Cor Vasa 2025, 67(6):751-757  

Cardiac tissue expresses neuregulin-1 (NRG-1), a growth factor. NRG-1 may treat heart failure (HF), myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmias. NRG-1 improves angiogenesis, cardiomyocyte development, and cardiac fibrosis in HF. These effects increase left ventricular function and minimise cardiac events (CE). NRG-1 reduces myocardial infarct size and promotes tissue regeneration. Angiogenesis and reduced inflammation and fibrosis in the infarcted region by NRG-1 minimise the incidence of unfavourable CE. NRG-1 improves left ventricular function and cardiac fibrosis in cardiomyopathy. NRG-1 modulates ion channels and reduces cardiac inflammation...

Kapesní verze doporučených postupů ESC. Doporučené postupy ESC pro léčbu kardiovaskulárních onemocnění v těhotenství - 2025

De Backer J, Haugaa KH, Hasselberg NE, de Hosson M, Brida M, Castelletti S, Cauldwell M, Cerbai E, Crotti L, de Groot NMS, Estensen ME, Goossens ES, Haring B, Kurpas D, McEniery CM, Peters SAE, Rakisheva A, Sambola A, Schlager O, Schoenhoff FS, Simoncini T, Steinbach F, Sudano I, Swan L, Valente AM, De Backer J, Haugaa KH, Hasselberg NE, de Hosson M, Brida M, Castelletti S, Cauldwell M, Cerbai E, Crotti L, de Groot NMS, Estensen ME, Goossens ES, Haring B, Kurpas D, McEniery CM, Peters SAE, Rakisheva A, Sambola A, Schlager O, Schoenhoff FS, Simoncini T, Steinbach F, Sudano I, Swan L, Valente AM, Miloš Táborský, Renata Cífková, Aleš Linhart, Petra Vysočanová

Cor Vasa 2025, 67(6):709-744  

23. konference České asociace akutní kardiologie

Hotel Thermal, Karlovy Vary, 30. 11.–2. 12. 2025

Cor Vasa 2025, 67(6)  

Zemřel MUDr. Pavel Formánek

Petr Neužil, Martin Mates

Cor Vasa 2025, 67(6)  

Loučíme se s MUDr.. Pavlem Formánkem

Michael Aschermann

Cor Vasa 2025, 67(6)