Aim To evaluate safety of using rivaroxaban in patients with stage 4 chronic kidney disease (CKD) or transient, stable decline of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) to 15–29 ml /min / 1.73 m2 in the presence of atrial fibrillation (AF). Material and methods This multicenter prospective, randomized study included patients admitted to cardiology departments from 2017 through 2019. Of 10 224 admitted patients 109 (3 %) patients with AF and stage 4 CKD or a stable decline of GFR to 15–29 ml /min / 1.73 m2 were randomized at 2:1 ratio to the rivaroxaban 15 mg /day (n=73) treatment group or to the warfarin treatment group (n=36). The primary endpoint was development of BARC and ISTH major, minor, and clinically relevant minor bleeding. Mean follow-up duration was 18 months. Results Patients receiving warfarin had a significantly higher incidence of BARC (n=26 (72.2 %) vs. n=31 (42.4 %), р<0.01) and ISTH (n=22 (61.1 %) vs. n=27 (36.9 %), p<0.01) minor bleeding and all ISTH clinically relevant (minor clinically relevant and major bleedings) n=10 (27.7 %) vs. n=8 (10.9 %), р=0.03]. The number of repeated hospitalizations was 65 (43% of patients) in the rivaroxaban treatment group and 27 (48% of patients) in the warfarin treatment group (р=0.57), including 24 (36.9 %) and 11 (40.7 %) emergency admissions in the rivaroxaban and warfarin treatment groups, respectively (р=0.96). Significant improvement of changes in creatinine clearance and GFR (by CKD-EPI and Cockroft-Gault) was observed in the rivaroxaban treatment group. Conclusion The study provided evidence for a more beneficial safety profile of rivaroxaban compared to warfarin in patients with AF and advanced CKD.

This review examines the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) on different heart failure phenotypes with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Traditional heart failure treatment modalities have shown limited success in improving outcomes for patients with HFpEF, but new evidence suggests that GLP-1RAs could be beneficial. The positive effects of GLP-1RAs are likely due to their ability to reduce systemic inflammation, enhance metabolism and directly affect the cardiovascular system, addressing critical aspects of HFpEF pathology. However, the exact impact of GLP-1RAs on clinical outcomes for different HFpEF phenotypes is still unclear. This review highlights both the potential benefits and the current limitations of GLP-1RA therapy, suggesting a careful approach for their application in clinical practice.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent type of supraventricular arrhythmias. The anticoagulant therapy should be prescribed to prevent thromboembolic events. According to randomized clinical trials, anticoagulants do not always prove their high efficiency in the real clinical practice. It is a complicated issue for any doctor to prescribe the anticoagulant therapy for patients with AF and CKD. 30 % of patients with atrial fibrillation are known to have chronic kidney disease, while 10-15% of patients with chronic kidney disease are diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. Currently, there are scarce studies into the use of direct oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation and chronic kidney disease (in case of Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) below 45 ml/min/1.73 m²).Aim. To determine the dynamics of GFR in patients with AF and CKD (in case of GFR below 45 ml/min/1.73 m²).Material and Methods. The sub-analysis was carried out to examine a single-centre prospective study into the optimization of the anticoagulant therapy in the outpatient practice. Initially, 133 dabigatran taking patients were enrolled in the study, and 79 patients were included in the final analysis. Endpoints were changes in Glomerular Filtration Rate (CKD-EPI) formulae as of the inclusion date, in 6, 12, 24 and 60 months after the inclusion. Changes in the renal function shall mean a decrease or increase in GFR by ≥5 ml/min.Results. The average follow-up period for patients was 1785 ± 218 days. A GFR>45 ml/min/1.73 m² occurred in 116 (87.2%) patients, and a GFR <45 ml/min/1.73 m² was found in 17 (12.8%) patients. The average HAS-BLED score was 1.8, and CHA2DS2VASc score - 3.8. During the observation period, there were 3 cases of major bleeding and 133 cases of minor bleeding. Both major (р=0.025) and minor (р=0.012) bleeding were statistically significant more frequent in patients with GFR below 45 ml/min. During 5 years of follow-up, 66 (49.6%) patients had an average decrease in GFR of 3.32 ml/min/1.73 m² per year. Patients with the initially declined GFR (below 45 ml/min) did not demonstrate a significant dynamic of the renal function during the dabigatran therapy. The mortality rate in this group during the observation period was 61.5%.Conclusion. In 49.6% of patients during 5 years of follow-up, GFR decreased by an average of 3.32 ml/min/1.73 m² per year, which does not exceed the indicators typical for patients with cardiovascular events and CKD.

The use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) in supraphysiologic doses is associated with a number of adverse effects on the cardiovascular system. In the presented clinical case, a bodybuilder athlete abusing AAS developed heart failure with a decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction of up to 20%. The peculiarity of the case is the recovery of left ventricular ejection fraction under the influence of drug therapy and withdrawal from AAS use with subsequent decrease after resumption of drug intake. In this case, we observed two types of myocardial damage – both ischemic and non-ischemic.

Catheter ablation (CA) of atrial fibrillation and flutter is associated with a high risk of both perioperative thromboembolic events and bleeding. Adequate anticoagulation is imperative to reduce the risk of complications. The aim of this review was to analyze modern approaches to anticoagulant therapy for CA of atrial fibrillation and flutter, as well as provide practical information based on a comparison of current guidelines and evidence base. The search for literature sources on anticoagulant therapy in CA was carried out in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science databases. The results of key randomized trials and meta-analyzes are presented, and a comparison of current Russian and international guidelines is given. Unresolved issues requiring further research are discussed.

Aim. To evaluate the characteristics of anticoagulant therapy (ACT) use in patients with cardioembolic (CE) subtype ischemic stroke (IS) and atrial fibrillation (AF) hospitalized in a specialized vascular center.Material and methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Vascular Center of Botkin City Clinical Hospital from April 2022 to April 2023. Adults (≥18 years) with confirmed CE-subtype IS and documented AF, presenting within 12 hours of symptom onset and receiving anticoagulants for over one month prior to admission, were eligible. Patients with hemorrhagic stroke or non-CE IS subtypes, those lacking data on anticoagulant use, or those who declined to participate were excluded.Results. Among 1.038 patients with IS, 215 (20.7%) were diagnosed with the CE subtype in the setting of AF. More than half (n=109) were not receiving ACT at the time of stroke onset. A total of 106 patients who had been on outpatient ACT were included; rivaroxaban (n=56), apixaban (n=30), dabigatran etexilate (n=11), and warfarin (n=9). The mean patient age was 77.8 years, with an average CHA₂DS₂-VASc score of 6. In 33.9% of patients, the prescribed doses of direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) did not correspond to clinical guidelines (e.g., unjustified dose reductions of rivaroxaban and apixaban were identified). The median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at admission was 7, and in-hospital mortality reached 30.2%. Elevated mortality was associated with severe stroke presentation (NIHSS score > 8 in half of the patients) and a high burden of comorbidities: hypertension in 95.2%, chronic heart failure in 60.4%, type 2 diabetes mellitus in 30.1%, and prior myocardial infarction in 37.7% of patients.Conclusion. The high incidence of IS despite ongoing anticoagulation highlights the need for routine monitoring of DOAC plasma levels, regular assessment of treatment adherence, and systematic education of patients and their families regarding the importance of strict adherence to prescribed anticoagulant regimens.