The safety profile of oral anticoagulants (DOACs) was confirmed in the large-scale studies, the increased risk of hemorrhagic events does still exist, which may be caused by the nature of the patient’s concomitant pathology, the resulting injury or the need for emergency surgical procedures. Such measures to restore the coagulation cascade as the use of prothrombin complex concentrates or hemodialysis have not been widely used in the clinical practice to stop the anti-coagulant effect of DOACs and do not have an evidence base. Today, idarutsizumab (Praxbind) is the only specific antagonist to DOACs registered in the Russian Federation, a neutralizing agent that interacts with free and thrombin-related dabigatran, without affecting other blood coagulation factors and platelet function. RE-VERSE AD study showed that administration of idarucizumab in patients receiving dabigatran therapy and who developed life-threatening bleeding provided complete neutralization of the anti-coagulant effect of dabigatran for 4 hours, and after 1.5 hours emergency surgical treatment was performed, achieving at the same time, normal perioperative hemostasis in 93.4% of cases. The availability of a specific neutralizing agent for a specific DOAC could be identified as arguments in favour of choosing this drug for patients who have a high risk of a hemorrhagic event, emergency surgery or thrombolysis.

In recent years, both Russian and foreign authors have published many papers on anticoagulant therapy for atrial fibrillation (AF). The largest are devoted to the study of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), which have appeared in this field since 2009, and their comparison with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in terms of efficacy, safety and other important characteristics. There are far fewer studies on DOACs and their comparison with VKAs and with each other in patients with AF and reduced kidney function. Most of them are retrospective. Meanwhile, the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the population is very high, and doctors are faced with a problem of selecting anticoagulant therapy for these patients.

Purpose. To assess the effect of VKAs and DOACs on renal function in real clinical practice in patients with AF depending on the stage of CKD.

Materials and methods. A prospective single-centre non-randomized non-interventional observational study in parallel groups was conducted. The study included 92 patients with AF and CKD of 1-4 stages (S1-S4). The comparison group consisted of 35 patients with AF without concomitant CKD. The patients’ age ranged from 44 to 94 years (mean age was 72.2 ± 8.5 years). Patients of both groups received anticoagulant therapy with VKA (warfarin) or one of the registered in the Russian Federation DOACs (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban). During the observation (median was 10 months), follow-up visits were every 3 months. On visits we conducted the evaluation of effectiveness (strokes / TIA and thromboembolic complications) and safety (major and minor hemorrhagic events) of anticoagulant therapy, as well as the dynamics of kidney function (CC by Cockroft-Gault, GFR by CKD-EPI).

Results. The main results are devoted to patients with AF and concomitant CKD. Significant dynamics of the kidney function depending on the anticoagulant taken (VKA or representatives of the DOACs class) were not identified. There were not any thromboembolic complications and major bleedings during the observation period. Statistically significant more minor bleedings on any dose of rivaroxaban in comparison with other anticoagulants were identified.

Conclusions. In patients with AF and CKD, there was no significant effect of one or another anticoagulant on the kidney function, which is probably related to the concomitant nephroprotective therapy obtained in a large percentage of cases (ACE inhibitors / ARA, calcium antagonists, statins). Therapy with DOACs and warfarin in patients with AF and CKD for an average of 10 months of followup was effective and safe. In case of AF and CKD combination, the use of dabigatran or apixaban seems to be more preferable in relation to minor bleedings, the use of which less often leads to the development of hemorrhagic events. 

Based on the recommendations of the European Heart Society and the results of clinical and register studies, the article highlights the complex issues that arise when prescribing antiplatelet therapy in patients with acute coronary syndrome, including with concomitant atrial fibrillation (AF); the promising strategies for managing the risk of ischemic and hemorrhagic events are described. Also a clinical case of a patient with acute coronary syndrome and AF is presented, illustrating the objective complexity of correct selection of antiplatelet therapy in such patients.

This article is devoted to the problem of combined antithrombotic therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) due to acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Traditionally, these patients require an oral anticoagulant (OAC) to prevent stroke and dual anti-platelet therapy (DAT) to prevent coronary complications. The necessity of combining various antithrombotic drugs, since this greatly increases the risk of bleeding is becoming an increasing relevant clinical problem. The prolonged triple therapy in the form of a combination of OAC and DAT does not bring additional benefit to the patients, but, on the contrary, may be potentially dangerous. Currently, the possibility of using several new oral anticoagulants (NOAC) in patients with AF and ACS/PCI in the form of dual therapy has been proven: combination of OAC and p2Y12 inhibitor. The article focuses on the RE-DUAL PCI study, in which the use of dabigatran at both doses permitted in AF (150 mg twice daily and 110 mg twice daily) in combination with the p2Y12 inhibitor was associated with fewer bleeding complications than during the triple therapy in the form of OAK + DAT.

The article presents a clinical case of the possibility of management of a patient with AF and ACS under the modern clinical guidelines, as well as an overview of current guidelines for the use of OAC and DAT in patients with AF undergoing PCI. 

The article exemplified the successful experience of using combination therapy consisting of fosinopril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, and diltiazem, a non-dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, in a patient with a history of arterial hypertension, sinus tachycardia and bronchial asthma. The authors proved the high antihypertensive efficacy and safety of the therapy, its favourable effect on the daily profile of blood pressure and heart rate, and strong organ-protective properties, the ability to reduce the degree of left ventricular hypertrophy and microalbuminuria level.

The article discusses approaches to the choice of antihypertensive drugs, which may be based on the adoption and implementation of new clinical guidelines for the management of patients with arterial hypertension. This paper provides data on the efficacy and safety of candesartan, an antihypertensive drug, which advantages were identified during a large number of randomized clinical trials. It discusses the recently published data on the effectiveness of more intensive regimens of antihypertensive therapy to reduce the risk of moderate cognitive impairment in patients with arterial hypertension. In this regard, the authors provide data of the previously completed studies, which showed the effect of candesartan on the rate of cognitive decline in patients with arterial hypertension in the elderly and senile age. The features of the pharmacological characteristics of candesaratan that can remotely explain its clinical efficacy are considered. The data of experimental studies of candesartan in animals, which contribute to the concept of the possible effects of candesartan, are presented.

The article discusses approaches to improving adherence to treatment with antihypertensive drugs and statins based on domestic and foreign experience, in particular, with the help of approaches proposed in the recommendations of the European Society of Cardiologists on Diagnostics and Treatment of Arterial Hypertension (ESC), updated in 2018. It is proposed to consider several levels to improve adherence: the level of the physician, the patient’s level, the level of prescription and the level of the healthcare system. The implementation of the principle of reducing the number of pills for the treatment of arterial hypertension can be achieved through the increased use of fixed combinations, such as lysinopril and prolonged action indapamide or lysinopril and amlodipine at the 1st stage of treatment selection. In the 2nd stage, a triple fixed combination of lysinopril, amlodipine and prolonged action indapamide can be used, thus maintaining the continuity of the therapy initiated. In patients with concomitant dyslipidemia, the authors suggest a fixed combination of lysinopril, amlodipine and rosuvastatin, which also improves adherence to statin therapy. 

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients hospitalized in the therapeutic and cardiology departments of the St. Petersburg hospital, and to analyze the prevalence of the number of components of the metabolic syndrome (MS) in patients with AF and anticoagulant therapy (ACT) assigned to outpatient stage to hospitalization. A retrospective analysis of 1760 case histories of patients hospitalized in the therapeutic and cardiology departments of the Therapy Clinic of the Faculty of Pavlov State Medical University named after IP Pavlov for 2017 was performed. It was established that AF was found in 16.5% (286) patients hospitalized in 2017. Among the causes of AF in patients, the number of components of MS was analyzed: 0 – 2.1% (6), 1 – 4.5% (13), 2 – 19.2% (55), 3 – 34.3% (98), 4 – 31.5% (90), 5 – 8.4% (24), thus MS with 3 or more components installed in 74.1% (212) surveyed in 2017. 58.7% (168) received ACT at the time of hospitalization, and 41.3% did not receive it (118). In 32,9% of patients with AF did not receive anticoagulant therapy at the prehospital stage, with no contraindications for administration. Among patients receiving ACT at the time of hospitalization, direct oral anticoagulants were prescribed 2 times more often than warfarin (69% and 31%, р = 0,01).

The article is devoted to the treatment of endothelial  dysfunction in patients with hypertension and coronary artery disease. The authors assess the possibilities for correction of endothelial dysfunction using the main classes of antihypertensive drugs. The efficacy and advantage of combination therapy in the treatment of such patients is shown.

Objective: to identify the of bisoprolol effectiveness predictors in patients with stable angina after myocardial infarction.

Materials and methods: 107 patients with stable angina who underwent myocardial infarction aged 35–65 years (mean age 54,7 ± 6,2 years) were examined in an open, comparative, register study, of which groups were generated: with the achieved and unreached target heart rate (60 or less in 1 minute). Additionally, the respondents were stratified into subsamples by the presence of ADRB1 gene Arg389Gly polymorphism. All patients underwent a 5-minute study of heart rate variability (HRV) in the background sample and in active orthostasis and the determination of the ADRB1 gene polymorphism (Arg389Gly, rs1801253) by PCR. All patients received bisoprolol in the selected optimal maximum-tolerated dose.

The main results: respondents who did not reach the target heart rate significantly more often complained about heartbeat and heart rhythm interruptions (p = 0,003), increased incidence of cardiac pain episodes (p = 0,02), noted a high demand for nitrates (p = 0,03) and significantly more often sought medical help. In respondents with the achieved target heart rate, sympathetic influences were less expressed in the background HRV sample with significantly higher parasympathetic influences expression by contrast. The number of sympathicotonics in terms of HRV at rest was significantly higher among respondents with unreached heart rate. When comparing the frequencies of alleles in respondents with the achieved target heart rate, a significant (p = 0.0001) prevalence of carriers of the Gly allele of the ADRB1 gene Arg389Gly polymorphism was revealed. The heart rate in carriers of the Gly allele in homo-or heterozygous form was significantly lower than in carriers of the homozygous genotype Arg389Arg.

Conclusion: The predictors of the bisoprolol effectiveness in achieving the target heart rate in patients with stable angina after MI are: a stress index less than 104.5 cu. in the background sample of a 5-minute HRV, the presence of the polymorphic Gly allele of the ADRB1 gene Arg389Gly polymorphism, the age of less than 46 years, and the total spectrum power in the background HRV sample of more than 1309 ms. 

Ticagrelor is known to prefer clopidigrel except in cases of high risk of bleeding, but according to the literature, clopidogrel still remains the most frequent second component of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in the world. The aim of the study was to conduct comparative description of patient groups with the acid acetilsalicilic (ACS), taken depending on a prescription of clopidogrel or ticagrelor as the second component of DAPT according to data of the year’s work of the Pirogov City Clinical Hospital №1. Materials and methods: clinical data of 854 patients with ACS who undergone treatment in of Pirogov City Clinical Hospital №1 in 2017 were analyzed. Clopidogrel was prescribed to 623 patients (73%) – the I group, ticagrelor 231 (27%) – the II group. Patients in the I group compared to the II group were significantly older (70 and 62 years accordingly), women accounted for 43% in I group and 27% in II group. Arterial hypertension (96 and 89%), diabetes (34 and 26%), post-acute myocardial infarction (38 and 19%), chronic kidney disease (26 and 12%), anemia (15 and 7%). Among patients of II group final diagnosis of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) was more often (64 and 31%), coronary angiography (CAG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were more frequent – 98/94% and 88/75%, accordingly. Clopidogrel is prescribed to the patients more often in comparison with ticagrelor. Doctors make a choice in favor of clopidogrel for elderly patients, more often women and more comorbid patients. The presence of STEMI, as well as the performance of CAG / PCI in any definitive diagnosis, is associated with a relatively more frequent prescription of ticagrelor, and in elderly patients, the implementation of PCI is the only factor that significantly influences the choice of more active antiaggregant in DAPT.

Purpose: to identify the factors associated with the development of death events during the year follow-up after hospitalization for pulmonary embolism (PE). Materials and methods: 93 patients with PE discharged to the outpatient stage of observation were studied. 45 (61,6%) patients were female with an average age of 66 years. The examination of patients at the stage of inclusion in the study consisted of standard methods of examination for this pathology. The diagnosis was confirmed by multislice computed tomography. Follow-up was 12 months. Statistical analysis was performed using the MedCalc Version 16.2.1. Results: during the one-year follow-up period 62 (66,7%) patients with PE were alive but 11 patients (11,8%) died, and no information was obtained about 20 patients. The causes of death were as follows: the development of recurrent PE – 4 (36,4%) patients, cancer – 3 patients (27,3%), stroke – 2 (18,1%), one patient (9,1%) died due to severe heart failure and one – myocardial infarction. A comparative analysis in the groups of alive patients (n = 62) and patients with a fatal events (n = 11) showed that the dead patients were older (78 (68; 81) vs. 65 (49; 75) years; p = 0,003), had a higher PESI score (119,0 (99,7; 137,2) vs. 88,0 (68,0; 108,0); p = 0,016) and were less compliant to prolonged anticoagulant therapy during the one year of observation (45,5% of patients (n = 5) vs. 82,3% ( = 51); p = 0,015). The ROC curve determined that a high risk of death during the one year after PE is associated with age over 70 years (p = 0,0001) and more than 95 points by PESI in the hospital period (p = 0,0001). Conclusion: The death events were developed in 11,8% of cases in patients with pulmonary embolism during the first year of follow-up. The death outcomes were significantly associated with elderly age, intermediate and high risk by PESI in the hospital period and low compliance to anticoagulant therapy extended during the year after pulmonary embolism.

A comparative analysis of the dynamics of lower limb vein angioscopy parameters in case of orthostasis between male patients (age 30–50 years) with arterial hypertension (test group – 60 people) and normal arterial pressure (control group – 27 people) was made. Orthostatic sample in all examined patients was characterized by a reliable increase in the diameter and area of vein section at a decrease in blood flow rate. However, in patients with hypertension the increase in the area of vein section was significantly less than in the control group. In orthostasis, the drop in blood flow rate in the total femoral vein was lower in men with hypertension than in men in the control group. In the great saphenous vein, a larger decrease in blood flow velocity was recorded than in the control group. In hypertension, no increase in the number of refluxes was recorded in orthostasis. Thus, hypertension in men is characterized by altered reaction of venous blood flow to orthostasis in both deep and saphenous veins.

The research objective consisted in studying of influence of coenzyme Q10 as a part of complex therapy of patients with the chronic heart failure (CHF) on indicators of quality of life in comparison with traditional therapy without coenzyme Q10 addition. The research included 75 patients with CHF 1-3 of FC, the coronary heart disease (CHD) which complicated a current with a myocardial infarction in the anamnesis In comparative aspect were analyzed dynamics of physical and psychological components of quality of life of patients with CHF 1-3 of FC under the influence of traditional therapy and traditional therapy with coenzyme Q10 addition. The indicators of quality of life defined on the basis of questionnaires of EQ-5D-DL and SF-36, supplementing a disease picture, are multiple-factor criterion for evaluation of a condition of patients with CHF 1-3 of FC. Improvement of indicators of quality of life is more expressed under the influence of traditional therapy with coenzyme Q10 addition.