Atrial fibrillation in a patient with lung cancer: a case report

Introduction. Cancer remains one of the most common causes of death in the world, second only to cardiovascular diseases. The use of novel chemotherapeutic and targeted agents has significantly improved the prognosis of this group of patients. However, this significantly increased the number of cardiotoxic complications of anticancer therapy, including arrhythmias, in particular atrial fibrillation (AF), which negatively affects the prognosis.Brief description. The purpose of this article was to describe the case of a 64-yearold woman with central right lung lower lobe cancer. Upon admission to the chemotherapy department, the patient was first diagnosed with paroxysmal AF. After chemical cardioversion, the first course of multiagent chemotherapy (MAC) was performed as follows: paclitaxel 280 mg and carboplatin 450 mg, which was complicated by the development of recurrent AF episode. During subsequent MAC courses, arrhythmia episodes regularly occurred. During the next AF episode, the patient was hospitalized at the City Clinical Hospital № 51, where she died despite intensive therapy. Postmortem examination ruled out tumor invasion into the left atrium.Discussion. For the AF development, the patient had prerequisites in the form of a significantly remodeled left atrial myocardium. Chemotherapy agents used as antitumor therapy are characterized by the common development of cardiotoxicity, including variety of arrhythmias. The occurrence of AF episodes coincided with the course of MAC, which suggested its cardiotoxic manifestations. Postmortem examination confirmed the high probability of an association between AF episodes and MAC.Conclusion. The presented case illustrates the difficulties encountered by oncologists and cardiologists in determining the genesis and treatment of complex arrhythmias in cancer patients

Atrial Fibrillation in Cancer Patients: Who is at Risk?

Cancer is the second leading cause of mortality in the world, second only to cardiovascular diseases. Simultaneously cancer mortality has been steadily decreasing due to the development  of new chemotherapy and targeted  drugs  and the improvement  of existing  treatment protocols.  Improving the prognosis of treatment of cancer patients leads to an unexpected  result - more patients are faced with side effects of cancer treatment. Cardiotoxicity, including  arrhythmia, has  become  a significant  factor  to reduce  the effectiveness  of cancer  patient’s  treatment.  Atrial  fibrillation  is frequent  and persistent a rhythm disorder, affecting  all categories  of patients, especially the elderly. An association  between these two conditions  can be expected, considering the fact that in old age the prevalence of malignant neoplasms  and comorbid pathology predisposing to the onset of AF is high. Therefore, AF may be an additional  factor negatively  influencing the prognosis and treatment tactics in patients with malignant neoplasms. A comprehensive search was conducted  using the keywords  “cancer”, “atrial fibrillation” and “cardiotoxicity” using the PubMed,  Scopus and Cohrane  databases. We reviewed publications having the relationship between AF and cancer. The literature review considered 61 publications on the prevalence of AF in cancer patients, classification, mechanisms of development, the effect of anticancer drugs and other treatment methods on this group of patients. Analyzed articles include clinical guidelines, consensus  expert opinions,  systematic  reviews,  meta-analyzes, and previously  published  reviews of the literature. The problem of cardiotoxic  complications diagnostics is evaluated separately,  incl. arrhythmias, and their monitoring in cancer patients. Therefore, the direction of medicine named "Cardio-oncology" comes to the fore. Interdisciplinary interaction will allow identify cardiotoxic  manifestations at the subclinical stage and optimize anticancer treatment

Vasotoxic Effects of Anticancer Therapy: a Review of Current Data

Cardiovascular and oncological diseases are the leading causes of adult death in the world. Despite proven efficacy, anticancer drugs can cause severe cardiovascular complications. Recently, data have appeared on the possible vasotoxic effects of chemotherapy drugs, which can manifest themselves as the progression of arterial hypertension and atherosclerosis, the development of myocardial ischemia and acute coronary syndrome, the formation of venous and arterial thrombosis. The key mechanism for the development of vasotoxicity is endothelial dysfunction, and anticancer drugs can also affect the processes of thrombosis. The review presents the results of 12 selected observational retro- and prospective studies involving cancer patients receiving presumably vasotoxic therapy. Data on the frequency of occurrence and possibilities for the prevention of vasotoxicity are presented

Potential of primary drug prevention of cardiotoxicity in the context of anticancer therapy

Aim. To search early signs of cardiotoxicity in patients receiving anticancer therapy and evaluate the effectiveness of cardioprotection with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, beta-blocker and myocardial cytoprotector.Material and methods. The study included 98 patients with high and very high risk of cardiotoxicity according to the Mayo Clinic scale (USA). Cancer patients with hypertension were offered cardioprotective treatment with a fixed-dose combination of perindopril and bisoprolol, and patients with very high risk and concomitant coronary artery disease additionally trimetazidine.The patients were divided into 2 following groups: the experimental group (n=50), where patients were prescribed cardioprotective therapy, and the control group (n=48), which consisted of patients who refused or had contraindications to cardioprotection. All patients underwent an examination, including the collection of complaints and anamnesis, physical examination, electrocardiography and echocardiography with an assessment of left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain before chemotherapy and 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after initiation of anticancer therapy.Results. In patients of the control group, by the end of the follow-up, the left atrial volume index and LV end-diastolic volume index significantly increased. In the main group, these indicators did not change significantly. In the control group, by the final visit, the LV ejection fraction significantly decreased in comparison with the initial value and the value in the first group. After 6, 9 and 12 months, there was a significant decrease in the LV global longitudinal strain in the control group, while in the main group this indicator remained within the normal range. The mortality rate in the control group was significantly higher (15% vs 2% in the experimental group). In the experimental group, cardiotoxic complications occurred in 28%, while in the control group — in 78% of patients.Conclusion. The study demonstrated the significant importance of cardiac monitoring and primary drug prevention of cardiotoxicity of anticancer therapy. A sig nificant deterioration in LV systolic function was shown in patients with a high and very high risk of cardiotoxicity who did not receive cardioprotective therapy, while its high efficiency was demonstrated in patients of the experimental group

INFLUENCE OF COMBINATION ANTIHYPERTENSIVE THERAPY ON AORTA STIFFNESS PARAMETERS AND CENTRAL ARTERIAL PRESSURE IN HYPERTENSIVES WITH OBESITY

Aim. In the study we evaluated the influence of antihypertension therapy on 24-hour central BP and parameters of aorta stiffness in hypertensive patients with obesity.Material and methods. Totally, we included 80 patients with AH and obesity, at the age 35-55 y.o. All patients underwent clinical, laboratory and instrumental assessment, including office, home and 24-hour measurement of BP. All patients were randomized to 3 groups: 30 patients received fixed combination of trandolapril/ verapamil in daily dosage 2/180 mg, 25 — free combination of bisoprolol/indapamid 5-10/1,5 mg per day, 25 patients were taking fixed combination of perindopril/ amlodipine 5-10/5-10 mg per day. Follow-up period, in average, was 32 weeks.Results. All combinations studied significantly reduced central BP, but combination of bisoprolol/amlodipine was least effective. Only on perindopril/amlodipine there was significant reducing of aortal augmentation index (Δ% -4,1±8,7), that might be related to influence of the drug on HR. Analysis of daily dynamics of BP amplification of pulse BP, index of subendocardial blood circulation efficacy, pulse wave velocity, showed significant correlations between these parameters and HR. Thus, only prescription of pulse-reducing combinations of trandolapril/verapamil and bisoprolol/indapamid was followed by significant reduce of pulse wave velocity in aorta in patients with AH and obesity (Δ m/s -0,4±1,1; -0,4±0,7, resp.).Conclusion. Different influence of the studied combinations of antihypertension drugs on HR might be definitive for the improvement of aortic wall in AH patients and obesity

Modern fixed combinations of antihypertensive drugs in the treatment of arterial hypertension and obesity: can this comorbid pathology be effectively controlled?

Aim. To assess the effect of azilsartan/chlortalidone and irbesartan/hydrochlorothiazide fixed combinations on office, daily peripheral and central blood pressure (BP), daily parameters of aortic stiffness and structural and functional state of the left ventricle in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and obesity.Material and methods. The study included 46 patients with hypertension and obesity aged 35 to 55 years. In the beginning of the study and after 6 months of treatment with azilsartan/chlortalidone (AZL/C) or irbesartan/hydrochlorothiazide (IRB/H) all patients underwent a comprehensive clinical and instrumental and laboratory examination, including a general examination with anthropometric measurements, office measurement of BP, electrocardiography, echocardiography, 24-hour BP monitoring with analysis of central BP and the main parameters of aortic stiffness, biochemical blood tests.Results. Long-term use of two fixed combinations of sartan and diuretic was accompanied by a significant decrease of office and daily BP. However, in the AZL/С use, this change was more pronounced than in the IRB/H. Also, in the AZL/H group, a significantly larger number of patients reach a normalization of 24-hour BP profile. Both studied drugs significantly reduced central BP, which indicates their positive effect on aortic stiffness. However, a significant change in the daily pulse wave velocity determined by the Vasotens system was not detected. During therapy, in both groups, a decrease in left ventricular myocardial mass indexed by body surface area was revealed. It was more noticeable in the AZL/H group and when height indexed2,7. In both groups, an insignificant decrease in creatinine level and an increase in glomerular filtration rate, more noticeable with the administration of AZL/H, were noted. There were no significant fluctuations in the level of uric acid and patients with AH and obesity.Conclusion. According to studies, AH in obese patients is less well controlled than in patients with normal body weight. AZL/H and IRB/H are effective and safe drugs for the treatment of AH in obese patients. However, long-term treatment of AZL/H allows reaching a more pronounced decrease in peripheral and central BP, improving the structural and functional state of the left ventricular myocardium in comparison with IRB/H

HEART RATE VARIABILITY IN ASSESSMENT OF CLINICAL STATUS, FUNCTIONAL CONDITIONS AND PROGNOSIS IN HEART FAILURE

Data about heart rate variability analysis in healthy people and patients with chronic heart failure are reviewed. Prognostic value of time-domain and spectral measures is mentioned. Influence of standard therapy on heart rate variability is described

COMBINATION OF AZILSARTAN MEDOXOMIL AND CHLORTHALIDONE: IS IT POSSIBLE TO FIGHT SYSTEMIC HYPERTENSION AND OBESITY TOGETHER?

Arterial hypertension (AH) and obesity are the main risk factors of chronic noncommunicable diseases. Adipous tissue is not only a depot for energetic compounds, but is an active endocrine organ synthetizing biologically active substances that facilitate development of AH. Patients with AH and obesity are in the high cardiovascular risk group and demand effective combination antihypertension therapy. One of such drugs is the fixed combination of azilsartan medoxomil and chlorthalidone, which safety and efficacy are confirmed by various trials. Our clinical case demonstrates positive action of Edarbi Сlo on office and 24-hour blood pressure (BP), main parameters of aorta stiffness and structural and functional condition of myocardium at rest, as in exertion in patient with AH and obesity

BRAIN NATRIURETIC PEPTIDE AS BIOCHEMICAL MARKER FOR STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL HEART DISORDERS IN ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION

Aim. Assessment of structural and functional condition of the left and right heart chambers related to the level of NT-proBNP and clinical signs of CHD in AH patients.Material and methods. Totally, 137 AH patients studied (45 men, 92 women) with sinus rhythm and EF LV ≥50%. All patients underwent standard investigations, 6-minute walking test, two-dimension EchoCG, transvalvular and tissue Dopplergraphy, treadmill-test, NT-proBNP concentration in plasma. Assessment of structural and functional heart condition was done in three defined groups according to NT-proBNP level (norm, “grey” zone, elevated NT-proBNP).Results. The level of NT-proBNP is related to the age, sex, therapy intake regularity and does not relate to body mass, BP level, heart rate. The relation revealed for NTproBNP level and diastolic dysfunction of the LV by the data of transmitral and tissue Doppler-graphy. Modified Tei index, obtained during impulse-wave tissue Dopplergraphy, was the most informative marker of LV dysfunction, relevant of NT-proBNP levels. The increase of NT-proBNP followed by significant increase of RV wall thickness. Evaluation of NT-proBNP together with EchoCG led to revelation of asympthomatic LV dysfunction in 13,1% of patients.Conclusion. Interpretation of NT-proBNP level in hypertensive must complex, taking into consideration clinical factors as risk factors, gender and age. Evaluation of NT-proBNP with echocardiography helps to identify groups of patients of higher cardiovascular risk and to optimize further treatment