Cardiologia Croatica. 2022;17(7-8)

Gašper Marinšek, Alenka Glavač Povhe, Darja Milovanovič Jarh, Breda Barbič-Žagar

Valsartan is an angiotensin receptor antagonist used for the treatment of hypertension, heart failure, and post-myocardial infarction. It has demonstrated efficacy and safety, while also providing benefits beyond blood pressure control across broad patient populations with hypertension. Krka has been present in the markets with its valsartan for more than 15 years. During this time, we have built strong trust among physicians, pharmacists, and patients, which has enabled us to become the leading producer of valsartan in Europe (Central, Eastern, and South-Eastern European markets). Our valsartans, both monoform and single-pill combinations with a diuretic and/or calcium channel blocker and a statin, are recognized for their high quality and were not affected by recalls due to impurities issues in sartan-based products. They are therefore continously available in the markets without restriction. Moreover, our valsartans have also been acknowledged for their award-winning innovations and extensive international clinical evidence derived from both clinical trials and real-clinical practice, which is reflected in the trust of millions of patients with hypertension who control their blood pressure with Krka’s valsartans every day.

Irena Mitevska, Marijan Bosevski, Emilija Lazarova, Verdi Stanojevic

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains a major diagnostic and treatment challenge in COVID-19 patients. Early diagnosis is essential, since anticoagulant treatment determines patient outcomes. Pulmonary embolism is a frequent complication of COVID-19 infection that has important prognostic implications. Over 60% of PE episodes occur during the first 90 days after the discharge, where properly selected thromboprophylaxis is prognostically essential. Recurrent embolisms and fatal outcomes can be prevented with timely diagnosis and treatment. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is one the causes of myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries with generally good prognosis. We present a case of high-risk PE in a post-COVID-19 infection patient additionally complicated by Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Elvedin Osmanović

Intra-dialytic hypotension (IDH) is one of the biggest problems in chronic hemodialysis (CH) treatment. The incidence is especially high in elderly patients as well as in patients with cardiovascular disorders. Acute episodic IDH is registered in a quarter of all dialysis treatments on average while chronic or recurrent arterial hypotension usually occurs in about 5% of CH patients. The research study was conducted on a sample of 96 patients at the Hemodialysis Centre in Živinice. The analysis of a 12-lead electrocardiogram in patients with intra-dialytic hypotension indicated that 46.5% of patients had acute atrial fibrillation (AAF). AAF occurred more often in female patients. As part of IDH, 16.6% of patients with AAF also had ischemic changes on the ECG. In patients who did not have AAF, only one case of ischemia was recorded. Errors in underestimated dry body weight in the range of 0.5-1 kg result in IDH and are often associated with the occurrence of AAF during hemodialysis.