Cor et Vasa, 2026 (vol. 68), issue 3

Original research articles

Serum Selenium Levels in Patients with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: A Case-Control Study and Implications for Pathophysiology

Šimon Smoter, Alexandra Bražinová, Katarína Čepcová, Denisa Čelovská, Roman Slyško

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(3):254-258

Objective: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a chronic vascular disease associated with inflammation and oxidative stress. Selenium is an essential trace element involved in antioxidant defense, but its relationship with AAA in humans remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between serum selenium concentrations and the presence of abdominal aortic aneurysm. Methods: A case-control study was performed including patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm and age- and sex-matched control subjects without aneurysmal disease. Serum selenium concentrations were measured using standardized laboratory methods. Clinical characteristics...

Favorable Clinical Outcomes of Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA) Transform Surgery into Ambulatory Vascular Intervention: From Numerical Simulation to Optimized Clinical Practice

Michal Zelený, Vratislav Fabián, Vojtěch Horváth, Marek Šlais, Miroslav Vítovec, Ondřej Stehno, Petr Šedivý, Jiří Weiss, Jakub Honěk

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(3):259-263

Objective: This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of the 1940 nm diode laser for endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) compared to 1064 nm and 1470 nm wavelengths. The objective was to validate the theoretical benefits of high water absorption at 1940 nm, specifically the confinement of heat distribution within the vein wall, by correlating long-term clinical outcomes with quantitative data from 3D numerical thermal modeling. Methods: A prospective 15-year clinical registry (2010-2025) comprising 5,086 patients was analyzed, divided into sequential cohorts treated with 1064 nm (15 W), 1470 nm (10 W), and 1940 nm (8 W) lasers. Concurrently, a time-dependent...

Prognostic value of parametric mapping techniques for predicting left ventricular reverse remodeling in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy

Tatiana Štípalová, Mary Mojica-Pisciotti, Roman Panovský, Hana Poloczková, Věra Feitová, Tomáš Holeček, Michael Andrej, Jan Krejčí

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(3):265-272

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) parameters, including late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and parametric mapping (T1, T2, and extracellular volume fraction [ECV]), in combination with endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) findings, for predicting left ventricular reverse remodeling (LVRR) in DCM patients with definite, possible, or excluded inflammatory cardiomyopathy (ICM). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 87 patients with recently diagnosed dilated cardiomyopathy (RODCM) who underwent baseline CMR and EMB, and had a second CMR within 395 days. ICM was classified as definite,...

Clinical and Angiographic Outcomes after Contemporary Extraplaque Compared to Intraplaque Recanalization of Chronic Total Occlusion: a 6-Month Follow-up Observational Study

Peter Philip Shaker Selwanos, Ahmad Samir, Sameh Bakhoum, Magdy Abdelhamid, Ahmed ElGuindy

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(3):273-278

Aim: The expanding utilization of extraplaque (EP) strategies has led to increasing success rates in coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO) recanalization. The contemporary EP techniques have replaced the precedent dissection and reentry techniques and have shown mid-term outcomes comparable to intraplaque (IP) approaches. Clinical and angiographic outcomes need to be evaluated. The aim of this study was to assess clinical and angiographic outcomes across different CTO-PCI techniques. Methods: This was a prospective, observational, analytic, single-center study recruiting 50 consecutive patients who underwent successful CTO PCI. The CTO PCI technique...

Comparison of Corrected QT Interval Formulas in Indonesian Athletes: An Analysis between Endurance and Non-Endurance Sport

Kevin Luke, Meity Ardiana, Sotar Suhat Asi Sinaga, Pandit Bagus Tri Saputra, Nabilah Hanifah Mukti, Rivaldo Brahmantio Hardani

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(3):279-285

Aim: This study evaluates the stability of commonly used QT interval correction among Indonesian athletes. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 319 Indonesian athletes undergoing pre-participation ECG screening in 2024. Absolute QT, RR interval, and HR were extracted and corrected using Bazett, Fridericia, Hodges, and Framingham formulas. Linear regression was performed to assess HR dependency through slope and R² value. Comparative evaluations were conducted between endurance and non-endurance sports. Results: Most of the athletes were male (59.9%), with a median age of 22 years, a median HR of 68 bpm, and participated in non-endurance...

Midterm Evaluation of Results After Meril Myval Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: One-Year Clinical and Echocardiographic Findings from the MERAM Registry

Yakup Alsancak, Ahmet Seyfettin Gürbüz, Hasan Kan, Muhammed Fatih Kaleli, Mustafa Celik, Sefa Tatar, Ahmet Lütfü Sertdemir, Enes Elvin Gül, Mehmet Akif Düzenli

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(3):286-294

Background: The Myval™ transcatheter heart valve is a next-generation, balloon-expandable transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) system designed for precise implantation and improved clinical outcomes. This study presents our experience with the first 101 cases (2022-2024), evaluating 30-day and one-year outcomes. Aim: To assess the safety and efficacy of the Myval™ TAVR system in patients with degenerative aortic stenosis (AS). Materials and methods: This single-center observational study included 101 consecutive patients with AS who underwent TAVR with Myval™ between January 2022 and January 2024. The mean age was 76.9 ±...

Evaluation of left atrial functions in familial Mediterranean fever using speckle-tracking echocardiography: a case-control study

Necmettin Korucuk, Veysel Tosun, Ali Yasar Kilinc, Mustafa Serkan Karakaş, Refik Emre Altekin, Ibrahim Demir, Huseyin Yilmaz

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(3):295-301

Objective: It is known that systemic inflammation plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation. Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by persistent inflammatory processes outside of acute attacks. This inflammatory process contributes to atrial fibrosis, which can lead to impaired left atrial functions. The aim of this study is to investigate the left atrial deformation parameters in FMF patients and compare them with healthy individuals to determine the effect of FMF on left atrial deformation. Materials and methods: Our study included 40 FMF patients over the age of 18 who were not...

(Echocardiographic characteristics of morphological and functional changes of the left heart in acromegaly)

Ivana Ságová, Milan Dragula, Tomáš Bolek, Martin Jozef Péč, Jakub Jurica, Daniela Kantárová, Marián Mokáň, Matej Samoš

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(3):302-307

Objective: This study aimed to assess structural and functional parameters of the left heart in patients with active acromegaly using 2D echocardiography and to evaluate their relationship with disease activity and duration. Methods: A prospective study was performed in 80 patients with active acromegaly (aAP) (48 women, 32 men) and 80 healthy controls (53 women, 27 men) matched for age, sex, and BMI. Results: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was present in 70% of patients with active acromegaly. Left ventricular mass (LVM) was significantly higher in aAP compared to healthy controls (LV mass index [LVMI]: 143,5 ± 50,5 g/m² vs. 83...

Arytmogenní prolaps mitrální chlopně, retrospektivní hodnocení možností odhadu rizika život ohrožujících arytmií

(Arrhythmogenic mitral valve prolapse, retrospective evaluation of options for estimating the risk of life-threatening arrhythmias), Václav Kotyza, Markéta Segeťová, Blanka Skalická, Petr Peichl, Petra Peldová, Milan Macek Jr., Josef Kautzner, Alice Krebsová

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(3):308-313

Review articles

(Some diagnostic markers of heart failure in patients with aortic valve stenosis)

David Čmejrek, Martin Hudec, Mária Ivančíková, Peter Fleischer

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(3):314-319

Aortic valve stenosis is the most common valvular heart disease in adults. This valve defect often coexists with heart failure syndrome. In our study, we retrospectively analyzed data from 121 patients hospitalized at SUSCCH between March 2024 and March 2025. We examined the dependence of NTproBNP values and their correlation with echocardiographic parameters - LV mass, E/e´, LAVi, LV EF, and PGmean. In our cohort, NTproBNP as a diagnostic marker of heart failure in the context of severe aortic valve stenosis proved to be of little diagnostic value in the initial and mildly advanced stages, with its significance increasing only in the advanced stage...

Genetic diagnostics in cardiology: Impact of heredity on risk of developing cardiovascular disease

Elnura Nishankulova, Katarzyna Wiśniewska, Shoira Agzamova, Evgeni Nikolaev, Remigiusz Tomczyk

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(3):320-329

The genetic aspects of cardiovascular disease formation are of relevance due to their significant contribution to the overall structure of cardiac pathology and the expansion of the diagnostic capabilities of molecular technologies. The study aimed to systematise current knowledge about the role of hereditary factors in the development of cardiovascular pathologies and to assess the clinical efficacy of genetic methods for their diagnosis. The literature review, after implementing the inclusion and exclusion criteria, included 60 scientific studies. The analysis demonstrated that primary and secondary structural myocardial damage, cardiac ar- rhythmias...

Pacing induced cardiomyopathy and upgrade to cardiac resynchronization therapy

Jakub Šimka, Jan Vojáček, Petr Pařízek

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(3):330-339

Upgrade to cardiac resynchronization therapy is an established method to treat patients with a permanent pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator who develop symptoms of heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction. Pacing induced cardiomyopathy represents a potentially reversible cause of left ventricular dysfunction that can fully recover after implantation of biventricular pacing or conduction system pacing.

Multimodality imaging of congenital coronary anomalies non-atherogenic coronary diseases

Marek Kardoš, Peter Olejník, Erika Drangová, Jana Poláková Mištinová

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(3):340-348

Coronary artery anomalies are very rare in the general population. They can occur as an isolated anomaly or as part of congenital heart defects. Only 20% of them are potentially clinically significant and can manifest with life-threatening symptoms such as myocardial ischemia, malignant ventricular arrhythmia, or sudden cardiac death. They are usually detected as an incidental finding during CT or catheterization coronary angiography. They represent the second most common cause of death in young athletes after hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. In this review, for simplicity and clinical relevance, we focus on the most common coronary artery...

Pathophysiology of Anemia in Heart Failure: Mechanisms and Clinical Implications

Viktória Maľová

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(3):349-361

Anemia is a common complication of heart failure (HF) and provides independent prognostic information. It affects up to half of patients and is frequently accompanied by alterations in erythrocyte indices that reflect underlying systemic dysregulation. The pathophysiology of anemia in HF is multifactorial and involves congestion-related hemodilution; impaired erythropoietin (EPO) production and marrow responsiveness due to renal hypoperfusion, inflammation, and uremic milieu; hepcidin-mediated functional iron deficiency; nutritional and medication-related influences; reduced red blood cell lifespan; and oxidative and mitochondrial dysfunction. These...

Guidelines

Aneurysm of ascending aorta and its surgical management via implantation of personalized external aortic support (PEARS), guidelines for the experts in the Czech Republic

Alice Krebsová, Daniela Žáková, Petr Fila, Ondrej Szárszoi, Radka Kočková, Dominik Gardáš, Josef Kautzner, Ivan Netuka, Petr Němec, Jan Pirk

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(3):374-383

Aneurysm of ascending aorta is a potentially lethal disease due to the risk of acute dissection. Medical care for patients is a complex process including accurate imaging of aorta, identification of the aetiology inclusive of genetic consultation, and family cascade screening. These may lead to individualized treatment, where cardiac surgery represents the most effective prevention of aortic dissection. Surgical implantation of personalized external aortic support (PEARS) is being promoted in the Czech Republic, but it is not yet anchored in international recommendations due to the limited experience and data on patient survival. A team of cardiologists,...

Expert consensus statement

Odborné stanovisko Pracovní skupiny pro choroby myokardu a perikardu k léčbě transthyretinové srdeční amyloidózy(Expert consensus statement of the Working Group on Myocardial and Pericardiac Diseases on therapy of transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis)

Aleš Linhart, Tomáš Paleček, Jan Krejčí, Miloš Kubánek, Alice Krebsová, Vojtěch Melenovský, David Zemánek

Cor Vasa 2026, 68(3):364-373

Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CM) is a progressive infiltrative cardiomyopathy caused by the deposition of amyloid fibrils derived from destabilized transthyretin. In recent years, increasing evidence has shown that this condition is significantly underdiagnosed. Among elderly patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, particularly men over 70 years of age, the prevalence of the wild-type form of ATTR-CM may exceed 10%, with a higher occurrence also described in patients with aortic stenosis. A typical feature in the medical history is carpal tunnel syndrome, often preceding the manifestation of cardiac involvement by several...