We investigated the heart rate variability (HRV) parameters in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and assessed their relationship with disease characteristics. Twenty-three female patients with RA [age 48+/-7 (mean+/-SD) years] free of cardiovascular diseases and 23 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were evaluated. After careful clinical examination, the following parameters were obtained after 24-h Holter recordings: average of all normal-to normal (NN) intervals over the entire 24-h ECG recording (meanNN, ms); the standard deviation for the time between NN complexes (SDNN, ms); the standard deviation of the average NN intervals for each 5-min period (SDANN, ms) and the square root of the mean-squared differences of successive NN intervals (rMSSD, ms). We also assessed quantitative parameters of the Poincaré plot: the standard deviation of the points perpendicular to the line-of-identity (SD1, ms); the standard deviation along the line-of-identity (SD2, ms) and their ratio (SD12). HRV parameters excluding SD2 were significantly lower in patients with RA, than in control group (p<0.05). Significant correlations of SDNN and SDANN with swollen joints count, Ritchie articular index, disease activity score (DAS) and disease duration were found. SDNN also correlated with leucocyte count and smoking. SD1 significantly correlated only with disease duration. Relationships between SDNN and smoking, swollen joints count and DAS were confirmed using multivariate analysis. Our data indicate that in patients with RA reduced HRV is independently associated with high disease activity and smoking. HRV assessment may be useful as a part of cardiovascular risk stratification in RA patients.

Rilmenidine has similar effects on ambulatory BP patterns in hypertensive women with metabolic syndrome as lisinopril. Rilmenidine compared with lisinopril significantly reduces ambulatory HR. In this study, rilmenidine and lisinopril demonstrate similar effects on plasma lipid and fasting glucose levels.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most commonly used pain relievers. However, their use often threatens with serious undesirable effects, associated mainly with damage to cardiovascular system (CVS), gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and liver. Contraindications to NSAIDs prescription are clearly regulated, algorithms for their personalized appointment are determined taking into account risk factors for cardiovascular and gastrointestinal adverse events. The severity of NSAIDs side effects is mainly due to the selectivity to cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), as well as the physicochemical properties of various drugs. Cardiovascular adverse events differ among various NSAIDs both within commonly used drugs and among COX-2 inhibitors. It is well known that NSAIDs selective for COX-2 are safer in terms of the effect on the gastrointestinal tract than non-selective drugs. A meta-analysis showed that relatively selective COX-2 inhibitors (meloxicam, etodolac) were associated with a comparable risk of developing symptomatic ulcers and ulcers identified by endoscopy, and safety and tolerability profiles of the drugs were similar.All NSAIDs are associated with cardiovascular toxicity, however, different drugs have significant risk differences. The mechanism of NSAIDs cardiovascular adverse effects is associated with an increase of blood pressure, sodium retention, vasoconstriction, platelet activation, and prothrombotic state. It has been shown that the risk of cardiovascular adverse events when taking COX-2 inhibitors (celecoxib, etoricoxib) significantly increases. According to a study of more than 8 million people, it was found that the risk of myocardial infarction was increased in patients taking ketorolac. Further, highest to lowest risk authors list indomethacin, etoricoxib, rofecoxib (not currently used), diclofenac, a fixed combination of diclofenac with misoprostol, piroxicam, ibuprofen, naproxen, celecoxib, meloxicam, nimesulide and ketoprofen. When taking NSAIDs, the risk of heart failure decompensation increases, and it turned out to be the greatest for ketorolac, etoricoxib, and indomethacin. Meloxicam, aceclofenac, ketoprofen almost did not increase heart failure risk. It should be noted that when using the drugs (except for indomethacin and meloxicam), there is a tendency to increase the total cardiovascular and renal risks with increasing doses. Thus, it is obvious that a very careful approach is required when choosing NSAIDs. If there is an increased risk of gastrointestinal complications associated with NSAIDs, selective NSAIDs are preferred, with both coxibs and traditional selective NSAIDs showing the best safety profile in the studies. To minimize cardiovascular side effects specialists should consider the risk level of cardiovascular complications, as well as results of large clinical studies where particular NSAIDs are compared.

No abstract

The leading cause of myocardial ischemia in case of coronary atherosclerosis and coronary vasospasm combination in one patient is difficult to establish. However, it is important to know for optimal treatment strategy: choosing between beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers as a preferred treatment, need for percutaneous coronary intervention. We present a case of a 56-yearold patient who was admitted with acute coronary syndrome without ST-segment elevation, low Killip class, and low GRACE score. Stress echocardiography revealed inducible transmural myocardial ischemia (regional wall motion abnormalities and ST segment elevation on the  ECG) accompanied by polymorphic ventricular tachycardia. The coronary angiography showed single-vessel moderate stenosis in the left anterior descending artery. There were no changes in comparison with previous angiography. The patient was considered to have vasospastic angina. A probable mechanism is coronary artery spasm at the site of the atherosclerotic plaque. The article is discussed the difficulties in diagnosing vasospastic angina, especially in the presence of borderline stenosis in the coronary artery. We reviewed similar cases and discussed the difficulties of a vasospastic angina diagnosis especially in the presence of moderate coronary artery stenosis, the role of the provocative tests, and the pharmacological management. Demonstrating, discussing and analyzing cases of patients with a combined mechanism of myocardial ischemia is substantiated for further improving their diagnosis and treatment.

Ревматоидный артрит и сердечно-сосудистый риск: перспективы применения статинов Д.А. Аничков, Н.А. Шостак Кафедра факультетской терапии им. акад. А.И. Нестерова Российского государственного медицинского университета, Москва В обзоре рассмотрены сердечно-сосудистые факторы риска у больных ревматоидным артритом (РА). Представлены перспективы применения статинов при РА. Суммированы данные клинических исследований влияния статинов на воспалительную активность заболевания и функцию эндотелия у больных РА.

In the conditions of the existing pandemic, that affects both the physical and psychological health of people, it can be predicted with a high degree of probability an outbreak in mental disorders and stress-associated mental illnesses, including depression. The problem of the relationship between depression and cardiac diseases, in particular coronary heart disease (CHD), has been studied by native and foreign scientists for several decades. Various mechanisms have been found and continue to be studied, indicating that the presence of depression can affect more or less on the course of coronary heart disease and even become a predictor of new cardiac events. Dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system with changes in heart rate variability, hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and associated hypercortisolemia, disorders of serotonergic signal transmission pathways, high aggregation response and increased platelet activity, continuous increase of proinflammatory cytokines ((IL17A,  IL6, TNFa and IL12p70) in patients’ plasma – such mechanisms probably underlie the correlation between depression and an increased risk of cardiovascular complications and cardiac death. The review includes some features of depression and its influence on various forms of coronary heart disease, particularly in different age and gender groups. In view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this theme seems to be relevant and requires targeted study. Probably it is necessary to conduct clinical researches, to create registers for a detailed assessment of the mutual influence of depression and coronary heart disease in  existing conditions. Perhaps, the results of such work will contribute not only to the early detection and treatment of depression, but also to the development of new ways in primary and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease and its acute forms.

Aim. To assess comorbidities in elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and to analyze patient subgroups with different treatment strategies in the Regional Vascular Center (RVC).Material and methods. The prospective study included 205 patients with confirmed ACS 75 years and older, the mean age was 81±4.9 years, and 68% were women. ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) was diagnosed in 46 (22.4 %) patients, non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) was diagnosed in 159 (77,6 %) patients. The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was calculated in every patient. Early outcomes were defined as those assessed during hospital stay. Late outcomes were assessed at 6 months after the discharge using phone calls and/or clinic visits. All patients provided written informed consent.Results. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was performed in 42% of patients. In patients with STEMI and NSTEMI PCI was performed in 73% and 32%, respectively. Mean CCI score was 7.9 points: 7.6 points in men and 8.04 in women. Patients with STEMI had higher CCI score than NSTEMI patients (p<0.01): 8.1 points and 7.1 points, respectively. Patients who underwent PCI had lower CCI score (7.2 points) than patients in non-PCI group (8.2 points; p<0.05). Patients with STEMI in PCI and non-PCI groups had significant difference in CCI score (p<0.05): 7.4 and 8.4 points, respectively. Mean CCI score in patients who died in hospital was 8.5 while discharged patients had 7.6 points (p<0.01). In 6 months 13 patients (6.3%) died, their mean age was 84.9 years, mean CCI was 9 points, PCI was performed in 3 (23%) patients.Conclusions. Elderly patients with ACS had high comorbidity level assessed by CCI score. Higher CCI score was associated with PCI non-performance in elderly patients. Elderly patients with STEMI had higher CCI score than patients with NSTEMI which was significantly associated with PCI non-performance. Patients who died in hospital or in 6 months after the ACS onset had higher CCI score than other elderly patients with ACS.