Despite the recent, remarkable achievements in cardiology, heart failure (HF) remains a major public health problem due to its increasing prevalence, frequent hospitalizations, and significant mortality. Humoral biomarkers in HF are capable to reflect different aspects of the cardiac morpho-functional changes and the related pathophysiological processes and could have important diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutical roles. CA-125 is a well-known tumor marker (mainly for ovarian cancer), and also a useful, but less applied cardiac biomarker. Practical aspects, possible pitfalls related with increased CA-125 levels are illustrated by two cases, both with HF, with the biomarker determined for other reasons and having high levels in the context of the cardiac decompensation. The paper presents a short review of the main biochemical, pathophysiological, and clinical data linked to CA-125, with special accent on its utility in patients with HF.

Objective: To investigate the influence of sleep apnea (SA) on ECG and blood pressure (BP) monitoring parameters in patients with acute heart failure (AHF). Methods: A total of 51 hospitalized patients with AHF (13 women, 38 men, mean age 60.8 years) underwent 24-hour combined monitoring of ECG and BP and SA testing before discharge. Heart rhythm (mean heart rate, arrhythmias, pauses, QT interval, heart rate variability) and BP (mean systolic and diastolic values, variability, circadian variation) parameters were obtained for the whole day and for nighttime (22: 00–06: 00). Depending on SA severity, the patients were divided into two groups (respiratory event index, REI, < 15/h and ≥15/h). Comparisons of parameters between the two groups were performed using t test and χ² test (alpha < 0.05 for significance). Results: A total of 29 (56.9%) patients had REI ≥15/h. In this group, the systolic and diastolic BP values (24-hour and nighttime) were significantly higher (p < 0.05). BP variability did not differ, and a markedly blunted circadian variation of both the systolic and diastolic values was observed. In the group with REI ≥15/h, we found a higher nocturnal versus diurnal mean heart rate ratio (p = 0.046) and a greater occurrence of nocturnal versus diurnal ventricular premature beats (p = 0.0098). Conclusion: The presence of significant SA was found to influence the BP values and nocturnal ventricular ectopy in patients with stabilized AHF. SA, 24-hour ECG, and BP monitoring could provide important information with potential impact on patient management.

Hypertension in the elderly is characterized by isolated systolic hypertension and high variability, but its clinical significance is not yet fully understood. The goal of this paper was to assess circadian blood pressure variability (BPV) in elderly hypertensives, and to determine its relationship to cardiovascular risk factors. To achieve this goal, a number of 75 inefficiently treated hypertensive patients were studied, 45 elderly, aged over 60 years, 30 middle-aged, younger than 60 years. After 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), blood pressure (BP) values, pulse pressure (PP), morning surge were compared between the groups. BPV was calculated using average real variability (ARV). The relationships between BPV, pulse pressure, left ventricular mass index (LVMI), and cardiovascular risk factors were assessed in both groups. As a result, it was found that left ventricular mass (p=0.01), PP, morning surge, 24-hour systolic ARV were significantly higher in the elderly group (p<0.05). In both groups, higher 24-hour BPV was associated with an increase in LVMI. In the elderly population 24-hour BPV was positively correlated to increased PP, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels (p<0.05). Moreover, it was concluded that ABPM-derived BP variability index could be an early predictive marker of end-organ damage in hypertension. Its reduction might be an important objective of hypertension management in elderly.

Objective: The aim of the study is to assess 24-hour blood pressure variability, circadian blood pressure profile and its relation to 24-hour blood pressure and cardiovascular risk factors in primary hypertension without any associated disease versus associated with a disease such as diabetes or chronic kidney disease. Methods: This observational study included 90 hypertensive patients, 49 with primary hypertension without associated disease and 41 patients with primary hypertension and diabetes or chronic kidney disease. Circadian blood pressure profile and 24-hour variability were assessed using ambulatory monitoring. Laboratory data regarding cardiovascular risk factors and demographic data were collected in a questionnaire. Results: The number of dipper patients was higher in the group without associated disease, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.27). In both groups a positive correlation was found between 24-hour systolic blood pressure variability and 24-hour systolic blood pressure (p=0.029) and was related to age (p=0.031). In the second group, systolic variability showed a positive correlation with serum triglycerides (p=0.006, r=0.416, CI: 0.1252 to 0.6422). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that systolic blood pressure variability is related to age, systolic blood pressure values and serum lipid levels. To prevent end organ damage in hypertension, the assessment of ambulatory monitoring derived 24-hour systolic blood pressure variability and its reduction may be at least as important as blood pressure lowering.

Background: A number of studies reveal that home blood pressure variability is associated with cardiovascular risk factors. However, we do not have a consensus regarding the variability index and the frequency of measurements. Objective: The aim of the study was to assess home blood pressure variability for a period of 7 consecutive days and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure variability using the average real variability index and to test whether home blood pressure variability represents a suitable parameter for long-term monitoring of the hypertensive patients. Material and methods: A number of 31 hypertensive patients were included in the study, 8 male, 23 female, mean age 60.19±7.35 years. At the inclusion ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed, home blood pressure monitoring was carried out for 7 consecutive days with 2 measurements daily. We compared ambulatory blood pressure values, variability using paired t-test. We were looking for correlations between HBP values and cardiovascular risk factors. Results: Ambulatory versus home blood pressure derived mean blood pressure was 131.38±15.2 versus 131.93±8.25, p=0.81. Ambulatory derived variability was 10.65±2.05 versus home variability 10.56±4.83, p=0.91. Home versus ambulatory pulse pressure was 51.8± 9.06 mmHg vs. 54.9±11.9 mmHg, p=0.046. We found positive correlation between HBPV and home BP values, p=0.027, r2=0.1577, (CI: 0.04967 to 0.6588). Home, as well as ambulatory derived variability were positively correlated to age p=0.043, r2=0.1377 (CI: 0.01234 to 0.6451) versus p<0.0001, CI: 0.3870 to 0.8220, r2=0.4302. Conclusion: Assessment of home blood pressure monitoring and variability could represent a well-tolerated alternative for long-term follow-up of hypertension management.