Among patients with unstable angina or myocardial infarction without ST-segment elevation, prasugrel did not significantly reduce the frequency of the primary end point, as compared with clopidogrel, and similar risks of bleeding were observed. (Funded by Eli Lilly and Daiichi Sankyo; TRILOGY ACS ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00699998.).

Sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is an uncommon finding. The present paper describes a case report of a 57-year-old female patient who developed angina pectoris due to the left sinus of Valsalva aneurysm. Clinical presentation, localization, unruptured status and concomitant coarctation of the aorta make the case presented in this document extremely rare and interesting. Current knowledge about the disease is briefly discussed.

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Introduction: Persistent coronary microcirculatory dysfunction (CMD) and elevated trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) levels after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) may drive negative structural and electrical cardiac remodeling, resulting in new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) and a decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Aims: TMAO and CMD are investigated as potential predictors of new-onset AF and left ventricular remodeling following STEMI. Methods: This prospective study included STEMI patients who had primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) followed by staged PCI three months later. Cardiac ultrasound images were obtained at baseline and after 12 months to assess LVEF. Coronary flow reserve (CFR), and index of microvascular resistance (IMR) were assessed using the coronary pressure wire during the staged PCI. Microcirculatory dysfunction was defined as having an IMR value ≥25 U and CFR value <2.5 U. Results: A total of 200 patients were included in the study. Patients were categorized according to whether or not they had CMD. Neither group differed from the other with regards to known risk factors. Despite making up only 40.5% of the study population, females represented 67.4% of the CMD group p < 0.001. Similarly, CMD patients had a much higher prevalence of diabetes than those without CMD (45.7% vs. 18.2%; p < 0.001). At the one-year follow-up, the LVEF in the CMD group had decreased to significantly lower levels than those in the non-CMD group (40% vs. 50%; p < 0.001), whereas it had been higher in the CMD group at baseline (45% vs. 40%; p = 0.019). Similarly, during the follow-up, the CMD group had a greater incidence of AF (32.6% vs. 4.5%; p < 0.001). In the adjusted multivariable analysis, the IMR and TMAO were associated with increased odds of AF development (OR: 1.066, 95% CI: 1.018–1.117, p = 0.007), and (OR: 1.290, 95% CI: 1.002–1.660, p = 0.048), respectively. Similarly, elevated levels of IMR and TMAO were linked with decreased odds of LVEF improvement, while higher CFR values are related to a greater likelihood of LVEF improvement. Conclusions: CMD and elevated TMAO levels were highly prevalent three months after STEMI. Patients with CMD had an increased incidence of AF and a lower LVEF 12 months after STEMI.

IntroductionPheochromocytoma is a rare and usually benign catecholamine-secreting tumor with a broad variety of signs and symptoms, the most common being palpitations, headaches, and sweating. Rarely, pheochromocytoma can cause severe cardiac complications such as myocardial infarction, pulmonary edema or cardiogenic shock.Case reportWe report a case of a 42-year-old male who presented with acute chest pain, dyspnea, and general weakness. He had a history of episodical high blood pressure and panic attacks, which were unsuccessfully treated with antidepressants. The patient developed a severe left ventricular function impairment with pulmonary edema and cardiogenic shock. Coronary angiography showed a spasm of the right coronary artery. We suspected pheochromocytoma and performed computed tomography ofthe abdomen, which showed a large tumor in the right adrenal gland. It was confirmed to be a pheochromocytoma. The patient was treated with α-blockers, and a successful laparoscopic surgical removal of the pheochromocytoma was carried outeighteen days later. The patient recovered well, and symptoms of pheochromocytoma disappeared.ConclusionPheochromocytoma can cause severe cardiac complications in different mechanisms, such as coronary spasm and direct catecholamine toxic effect on cardiomyocites. Diagnosing and treating pheochromocytoma with cardiac complications remainsa challenge for a physician.Key words: pheochromocytoma, hypertension, acute myocardial infarction, catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathyFeochromocitoma: širdies ir kraujagyslių sistemos komplikacijos ĮvadasFeochromocitoma yra retas dažniausiai nepiktybinis katecholaminus sekretuojantis navikas, kuriam būdinga didelė simptomų įvairovė. Širdies plakimo jausmas, galvos skausmas bei gausus prakaitavimas – būdingiausi pacientų skundai. Retaisatvejais feochromocitoma komplikuojasi gyvybei grėsmingomis širdies ir kraujagyslių sistemos ligomis – miokardo infarktu, plaučių edema bei kardiogeniniu šoku.Klinikinis atvejisĮ priėmimo skyrių atvykęs 42 metų amžiaus vyras skundėsi intensyviu krūtinės skausmu, dusuliu ir bendru silpnumu. Pastaruoju metu pacientas buvo nesėkmingai gydomas antidepresantais dėl besikartojančių panikos atakų, kurių metu padidėdavoarterinis kraujospūdis. Priėmimo skyriuje paciento būklė sparčiai blogėjo, progresavo ūminis kairiojo skilvelio nepakankamumas, išsivystė plaučių edema bei kardiogeninis šokas. Atlikus vainikinių arterijų angiografiją, pastebėtas dešiniosios vainikinės arterijos distalinės dalies spazmas. Įtarus feochromocitomą, buvo atlikta pilvo kompiuterinė tomografija – rastas didelis navikas kairiajame antinkstyje. Laboratoriniais tyrimais patvirtinta feochromocitomos diagnozė. Aštuoniolika dienų pacientas buvo gydytas α-blokatoriais, vėliau sėkmingai atlikta naviko šalinimo operacija. Pooperaciniu laikotarpiu komplikacijų nebuvo, feochromocitomos simptomai išnyko.IšvadosFeochromocitoma gali sukelti sunkių širdies ir kraujagyslių sistemos komplikacijų dėl įvairių katecholaminų pertekliaus poveikio mechanizmų. Aprašytu atveju tai buvo vainikinių arterijų spazmas bei tiesioginis toksinis katecholaminų poveikis kardiomiocitams. Labai didelė nespecifinių simptomų įvairovė bei galimos sunkios komplikacijos lemia tai, kad feochromocitomos diagnostika bei gydymas tebėra nelengvas iššūkis gydytojui.Reikšminiai žodžiai: feochromocitoma, hipertenzija, ūmus miokardo infarktas, katecholaminų sukelta kardiomiopatija.