The purpose of this guide is to assist cardiologists in the management of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) in accordance with the available modern evidence base. This manual contains data on the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of patients with chronic heart failure and data on acute decompensation of heart failure.

Objective. Assessment of renal artery stenosis significance in patients with resistant arterial hypertension using non-invasive diagnostic methods and to compare them with the results of selective angiography and methods of physiological assessment of renal artery stenoses.

Materials and methods. Prospectively, 156 patients with drug-resistant arterial hypertension and signs of renal artery stenosis detected by doppler ultrasonography of renal arteries were included in the study. Subsequently, 25 patients were excluded from the study due to multiple variant renal blood supply and bilateral renal artery stenosis. The remaining patients (n=131) underwent selective angiography of renal arteries, and 66 of them additionally underwent CTA of renal arteries with intravenous contrast. If the artery narrowing was 90% or more (n=27) in diameter, the stenosis was considered hemodynamically significant and further stenting of the affected artery was performed, and in case of 60-90% stenosis (n=52) additional assessment of functional significance of the stenosis was performed by measuring translesional pressure gradient, fractional blood flow reserve, instantaneous blood flow reserve (iFR) and Pd/ Pa ratio. 

Results. Among all patients (n=131), in whom the doppler ultrasonography of renal arteries showed signs of unilateral renal artery stenosis, after angiography combined with additional methods of functional significance assessment, hemodynamically significant renal artery stenosis was confirmed in 41% of cases (n=54). Thus, the sensitivity of doppler ultrasonography of renal arteries in detection of hemodynamically significant stenoses was 74%, prognostic value of positive 78% and negative result 64% (p<0,001). According to CTA (n=66) renal artery stenosis was confirmed in 56 patients. The results of CTA of renal arteries in 88% of cases coincided with the results of selective angiography, and using additional functional methods hemodynamically significant stenosis was confirmed in 32 (48%) patients. The sensitivity of CTA in detection of hemodynamically significant stenoses of renal arteries was 69%, specificity 91%, prognostic value of positive and negative results was 91 and 68% respectively. According to selective angiography, out of 131 patients, 24 patients had no renal artery stenosis, 28 patients had stenosis <60%, 27 patients had renal artery stenosis >90% and 52 patients had stenosis 60-90%. Patients with stenosis <60% were not considered candidates for renal artery stenting.

Objective. Evaluate efficacy and safety of cavutilide (Refralon) for pharmacological cardioversion in patients with recurrent atrial fibrillation and flutter (AF/AFL), in 90days blanking period of catheter ablation.

Materials and methods. included 56 patients: 46 patients with recurrent paroxysmal AF/AFL and 10 patients with recurrent persistent AF/AFL. In 45 patients (80.3%), sinus rhythm (SR) restoration was performed within 7 days from the moment of catheter ablation. Intraoperative confirmation of pulmonary vein (PV) isolation was noted in 85.7% cases (n=48). After excluding contraindications, cavutilide was administrated in the intensive care unit according to a 4-stage protocol (5 µg/kg – 5 µg/kg-10 µg/ kg – 10 µg/kg). Effectiveness of pharmacological cardioversion was assessed as the fact of restoring SR and the fact of preservation of SR 24 hours after cavutilide administration. Safety points – QT prolongation, ventricular arrhythmogenic effects, pauses and bradyarrhythmias.

Results. The overall effectiveness of cavutilide among all included patients reached 98.2% (n=55), and preservation of SR 24 hours after cavutilide administration was observed in 94.5% (n=53) patients. All the patients with recurrent persistent AF/AFL successfully restored and maintained SR 24 hours after cavutilide administration 100% (n=10). In patients with recurrent paroxysmal AF/AFL restoration of SR observed in 97.8% (n=45) and preservation of SR after 24 hours – in 93.4% (n=43), respectively. The effectiveness of cavutilide did not depend on the results of the catheter ablation. Recurrences of AF/AFL after SR restoration were more common in patients without successful PV isolation. QT prolongation >500ms observed in 8.9% (n=5) of cases, including 1 case of self-terminating torsade de pointes, managed by MgSO₄ infusion. Bradyarrhythmias that did not require urgent therapy were noted in 10.7% (n=6) of cases.

Conclusion. Pharmacological cardioversion with Cavutilide (Refralon) is highly effective and safe method of SR restoration in patients with recurrent AF/AFL in 90days blanking period after catheter ablation.

Aim. To evaluate and compare the accuracy of determining volemic status by remote dielectric sensing (ReDS) with computed tomography (CT) in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF).

Materials and methods. In 33 patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) hospitalized in the hospital due to acute decompensation of heart failure, twice during hospitalization (on the day of admission and on the day of discharge from the hospital) the determination of the volemic status was performed using ReDS, chest computed tomography (CCT) and chest X-ray. ReDS measurement was compared with CT data using software that allows the use of semi-automated tools to determine mean lung tissue density (MLD). MLD results from Hounsfield units [HU] were converted to fluid levels (HU %), which allowed comparison with ReDS values. In addition, to assess the effect of physical activity on the dynamics of pulmonary congestion, a 6-minute walk test (6MWT) were performed with subsequent determination of the volemic status by the ReDS method.

Results. A medium correlation was found between CCT and ReDS data (r = +6.0, p = 0.0002). In the dynamics statistically significant decrease of hypervolemia according to CCT data, which was reflected in the decrease of ReDS index. The fluid content in lungs according to ReDS on average at admission amounted to 37.1 ± 5.3%, at discharge 34.2 ± 4.1% (p = 0.0155). MLD according to CCT at admission was 26.5 ± 6.4 at discharge 22.7 ± 5.6 (P<0.0001). At the same time positive dynamics of NT-proBNP concentration was determined, which decreased by 45.6% (p = 0.0069). Differences in ReDS before and after physical activity 6MWT was revealed – 35.2 ± 4.2% in comparison with the initial index 34.2 ± 4.1% (p = 0.0001). A strong correlation was found between the ReDS score before and after 6MWT at discharge (r = +0.7, p = 0.0001)

The aim: the aim of this review is to address the challenges in echocardiographic diagnosis of pericardial effusion, which can potentially lead to a lifethreatening condition called cardiac tamponade. This article discusses the possibilities and prognostic value of transthoracic echocardiography in the diagnosis of pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade.

Materials and Methods. An analysis of Russian and foreign literature was conducted using eLibrary and PubMed databases. The following keywords were used: «pericardial effusion», «cardiac tamponade», «constrictive pericarditis», «pericarditis», «pericarditis in echocardiography», «перикардиальный выпот», «перикардит», «тампонада сердца», «диагностика перикардита». The included scientific papers and articles were published from 2013 to 2023. The research method used in the analysis was descriptive-analytical.

Results. Pericardial effusion is the accumulation of fluid in the pericardial cavity, which can lead to cardiac tamponade, disrupting normal hemodynamics and cardiac chamber filling, ultimately resulting in systemic hypotension and cardiac arrest. Therefore, it is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate verification, primarily through echocardiography, followed by the determination of treatment strategy. A structured approach, including 2D mode, M-mode, and Doppler echocardiographic assessment, evaluating the quantity and quality of pericardial fluid, cardiac chamber collapse, diastolic ventricular size variability with the respiratory cycle, paradoxical interventricular septum motion, inferior vena cava collapse, respiratory flow variation through valves, and blood flow in hepatic and pulmonary veins, should provide the treating physician with the necessary information for choosing the treatment method. This article discusses key echocardiographic features that will ensure the appropriate assessment of patients with pericardial effusion and/or cardiac tamponade. Among all the mentioned features, the absence of cardiac chamber collapse is likely to have the highest negative prognostic value for excluding cardiac tamponade.

Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death for both women and men. Older women, when coronary heart disease first appears, have more comorbidities and usually complain of atypical symptoms. Mortality and hospitalization rates caused by acute myocardial infarction are higher for women. It should be noted that adherence to secondary prevention for women is lower.

Female predominance has been noted in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), hereditary pulmonary hypertension, and collagenosisassociated pulmonary arterial hypertension. However, according to the latest data of the European register COMPERA, gender differences disappear for elderly patients and for the patients having concomitant diseases. The more frequent occurrence of cardiomyopathies among women is considered. Peripartum cardiomyopathy associated with pregnancy and childbirth, and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy due to psychoemotional status, in particular a stressful situation, determines a woman's further prognosis. Arrythmias are explained by changes in hormonal status during pregnancy, menopause, or are associated with the onset of the underlying disease.

Heart failure usually affects both sexes equally, with women more likely to suffer from HFpEF and men from HFrEF. The classic cardiovascular, gender, and social risk factors for cardiovascular disease and heart failure have a different meaning for women than for men. It is necessary to take into account the parameters for EchoCG diagnostics for women, since the size of the women heart is smaller.

Eisenmenger syndrome (ES) is systemic pulmonary hypertension with venoarterial or bidirectional shunting of blood between the ventricles, atria or great arteries due to the progression of pulmonary vascular disease in the natural course of “simple” and “complex” congenital heart defects.
Patients with ES require constant attention from a multidisciplinary team of specialists. One of the main tasks is not to destabilize the fragile pathological physiology, which relies on the balance of pulmonary and peripheral vascular resistance. Surgical interventions with anesthesia, if they cannot be avoided, should be performed in specialized centers. Pregnancy is contraindicated in patients with ES. Clinical symptoms of blood hyperviscosity in ES are rare.
The anachronistic practice of venesections, which leads to a decrease in the oxygen transport function of the blood, iron deficiency and an increased risk of cerebrovascular complications, should be avoided. Oral and intravenous replenishment of iron deficiency improves exercise tolerance and quality of life. Routine administration of anticoagulants for ES is not indicated. In most cases, endovascular embolization of pathological collateral arteries can eliminate hemoptysis. The use of venous access requires careful prevention of embolism. Therapeutic tactics for ES are discussed in detail in this review