Prediabetes is a common violation of carbohydrate metabolism, the medical and social relevance of which is due to the negative impact on the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The analyzed literature emphasizes the presence of a close pathogenetic relationship between type 2 DM/prediabetes and CVD. This relationship becomes even more relevant, taking into account, on the one hand, the persistent upward trend in the prevalence of carbohydrate metabolism disorders in the population, and on the other hand, the fact that in patients with dysglycemia it is cardiovascular complications that are the main cause of death. However, while the significance of type 2 DM as a risk factor for CVD is widely known and its presence immediately stratifies most patients to a group of high or very high cardiovascular risk, the contribution of prediabetes to the development of CVD remains underestimated among the therapeutic and cardiological communities. The high prevalence of prediabetes creates prerequisites for a further increase in the incidence of type 2 DM and CVD in the Russian Federation, which requires doctors of various specialties to be wary of early detection of prediabetes, since timely preventive measures can significantly reduce the risk of type 2 DM and its complications in the future. Currently, the effectiveness of both non-drug and drug strategies in preventing the development of type 2 DM in people with prediabetes has been confirmed, more and more data are accumulating about the possibility of effective prevention of CVD in prediabetes. According to modern research, the primary role of measures to actively change lifestyle in the treatment and prevention of prediabetes is emphasized, at the same time, the effectiveness of these measures can be reduced due to insufficient commitment of the patients themselves to their independent long-term implementation. Therefore, the strategy of prescribing metformin for the prevention of type 2 diabetes is absolutely justified if the doctor and patient recognize the inefficiency or inability to follow the recommendations for active lifestyle changes for a long time. The article presents the data on the etiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and approaches to the management of patients with prediabetes from the standpoint of modern recommendations.

This literature review provides data on the use of single-photon emission computed tomography of myocardium in silent myocardial ischemia. The presence of silent myocardial ischemia increases the risk of cardiovascular complications several times and may be the first manifestation of coronary heart disease. Assessing the state of morphofunctional processes in the myocardium is the main goal of diagnostic imaging using singlephoton emission computed tomography of the myocardium. This allows to get three-dimensional image of left ventricle with information about distribution of perfusion volume across myocardium, makes it possible to more accurately differentiate such condition as silent myocardial ischemia. Conducting single-photon emission computed tomography in ECG synchronization mode allows you to visualize the kinetics of the myocardial walls in different phases of the cardiac cycle and thereby simultaneously assess the functional state of the left ventricular myocardium. Indicators of contractile function of the left ventricular myocardium in areas of transient hypoperfusion can be predictors of cardiac events after myocardial infarction and independent predictors of perioperative cardiac events in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Performing single-photon emission computed tomography in ECG-synchronization mode allows visualizing kinetics of myocardial walls in different phases of cardiac cycle and thereby simultaneously assessing functional state of left ventricle myocardium. In combination with physical exercise and pharmacological tests, it helps to identify coronary stenosis among patients with silent myocardial ischemia. Perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography of myocardium is a necessary tool for stratification and assessment of prognosis of cardiac diseases in asymptomatic patients.

The article highlights the practical aspects of the use of antithrombotic therapy in patients with stable (chronic) coronary artery disease (САD). The САD verification using modern functional and anatomical diagnostic methods are considered. Patients with stable САD represent a heterogeneous group, having various clinical scenarios. Information is provided on the main risk factors for ischemic and hemorrhagic complications that determine the choice of optimal antithrombotic therapy regimens. Modern views on the monotherapy and clopidogrel in САD are presented. The data of the largest international studies CHARISMA and PEGASUS-TIMI 54 on the use of double antiplatelet therapy in patients with stable IHD reflected in modern guidelines are highlighted. Features of new antiplatelet agents (prasugrel and ticagrelol) are described. Based on the results of the COMPASS study, indications for the administration of small doses of rivaroxaban in combination with aspirin for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular complications in patients with stable manifestations of atherosclerosis with a low risk of bleeding are considered. The use of antithrombotic therapy is associated with an increased risk of bleeding and particularly with gastrointestinal bleeding. The information on the use of drugs for the prevention of gastrointestinal bleeding is provided.

Antithrombotic therapy can reduce the risk of complications associated with atherothrombosis, however, to improve prognosis a multipurpose intervention is required, including correction of risk factors and the use of drugs from different groups with proven effectiveness. Optimal medical therapy, including antithrombotic drugs, is vital for patients with САD and can successfully prevent adverse outcomes.

Background: computer tomography (CT) features of COVID-19, their temporal changes and differences from other pulmonary (viral and bacterial pneumonia) and non-pulmonary diseases are well described in recent publications. The prevalence and characteristics of signs of concomitant problems that could be identified at chest CT are less studied.

Aim: to analyze the prevalence and characteristics of chest CT features of COVID-19, its complications and comorbidities.

Methods: retrospective analysis of CT and clinical data of 354 patients hospitalized with suspected COVID at April and May of 2020.

Results: 962 CT scans were analyzed (3 (2-3) scans per patient). First CT was performed at 8 (5-11) day of sickness. Several roentgenological scenarios could be highlighted: patients with coronavirus pneumonia (n=295; 83%); with combination of COVID-19 and another pathology (n=36; 10%); with complications of COVID-19 (n=12; 3%); with alternative pathology (n=2; 1%); without any pathological signs (n=9; 3%). Several cases, illustrating CT signs of coronavirus pneumonia, its complications and comorbidities are reported.

Conclusion: CT possibilities are not limited to detect typical COVID-19 signs, it also helps to differentiate pulmonary and other thoracis pathology.

Aim of the study. Evaluation of treatment adherence in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and comorbidity.

Materials and methods. One hundred thirty-two women (mean age: 55.5 ± 10.5 years) with proven RA (mean duration of disease: 10.2 [4; 14] years) were included in this study. Patients with moderate and high disease activity were prevalent (average DAS28: 5.0 [4.3; 5.8]). All patients had comorbidities. All patients underwent clinical examination, laboratory evaluation and imaging. Functional capacity was assessed using the Steinbroker classification (functional class — FC) and Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). Pain severity was evaluated using visual analog scale (VAS). Patients’ social status was assessed. Baseline adherence to treatment was evaluated using two questionnaires. Morisky-Green questionnaire was used to evaluate general adherence to treatment among 132 (100%) patients. Quantitative evaluation of treatment adherence was performed in 82 (62.1%) patients using N.A. Nikolaev questionnaire.

Results. Analysis of adherence to treatment as assessed by Morisky-Green questionnaire has established that 68 (52.3%) of patients are non-adherent to treatment. Low treatment adherence as assessed by Nikolaev questionnaire was found in 33 (40.3%) of patients. Lifestyle modification was characterized by lowest adherence. Young age, lower duration of disease and lower income were predictive of higher adherence to treatment. Non-adherent patients had higher RA activity index and lower functional capacity.

Conclusion. Simultaneous use of several methods to assess treatment adherence is a reasonable way to get more information about the patient and to implement therapy as planned. Evaluation of baseline adherence to treatment among patients with rheumatoid arthritis allows to develop an optimal plan for follow-up and treatment control.

Background. Sudden cardiac death, one of the most common types of cardiac death, is most often triggered by ventricular arrhythmia. Plasma aldosterone level has been shown to be an independent risk factor of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction following acute myocardial infarction. Whether either effect also occurs in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction is currently unknown. Purpose. The study aims to investigate the relationship between plasma aldosterone level and ventricular arrhythmias in longterm heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Methods. A cross-sectional study included 158 patients (58 men and 100 women, mean age 62.3±7.4 years) with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (> 50%). Patients had no history of primary aldosteronism and did not use the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists during the last 6 weeks. Aldosterone plasma level was measured and 24-hour electrocardiographic monitoring was performed. Results. According to laboratory results 99 patients (62.7%, 95% confidence interval 55.0-70.0%) had normal (40-160 pg/ml) aldosterone plasma level (nAld) and 59 patients (37.3%, 95% CI 30.0-45.0%) had high (> 160 pg/ml) aldosterone level (hAld). hAld patients more often had QTc prolongation (44.1% versus 18.2%) and ventricular arrhythmias (83.1% vs 61.6%) compared to nAld patients (all Ps <0.001). The number of ventricular premature complexes in 24 hours were higher in hAld group (median 214, range 64-758) compared to nAld (median 52, range 16-198, P < 0.003). hAld patients more often occurred bigemy, couple ventricular ectopy and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (39.0% vs 19.0%, р=0.01). In Cox regression model’s high aldosterone plasma level was the independent risk factors of QTc prolongation (odds ratio 1.6, 95% confidence interval 1.1-5.7, p=0.034) and prognostically unfavorable ventricular arrhythmias (odds ratio 1.8, 95% confidence interval 1.2-6.8, p=0.024). Conclusion. In long-term HFpEF plasma aldosterone level is significantly related to QTc prolongation as well as ventricular arrhythmias.

The case report of squamous cell skin carcinoma diagnosed in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus 26 years after the onset of rheumatic disease is presented. The features of this case included the absence of skin manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus, the occurrence of a tumor at the site of ulcers and trophic disorders on the leg, a long period (6 years) from the onset of a ulcerative defect on the leg to the diagnosis of skin cancer (despite multiple biopsies and consultations of various specialists), as well as the occurrence of a cytokine release syndrome, which directly led to the death of the patient after the first use of the immune checkpoint inhibitors. Possible causes of skin cancer in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, as well as the features of the cytokine release syndrome after immunotherapy for oncological diseases, are discussed.

The article presents a clinical case of a rare pathology. The patient for several years visited various specialists. In connection with a similar clinical picture, multi-organ damage, differential diagnosis was performed between systemic vasculitis (granulomatosis with polyangiitis) and scarring pemphigoid.The mucous membrane of the mouth and nose is involved in the pathological process with granulomatosis with polyangiitis in the form of ulcerative defects, which subsequently lead to deformation of the nose. The danger with this systemic vasculitis is renal damage with the development of nephritis, renal failure. With scarring pemphigoid, eye damage is typical. In granulomatosis with polyangiitis, damage to the organ of vision is also sometimes possible, but mainly in the form of an orbit pseudotumor. Despite the fact that treatment for both forms of pathology involves the use of glucocorticoids and cytostatics, with a scarring pemphigoid, the main care is provided by dermatologists and ophthalmologists, while the diagnosis and treatment of systemic vasculitis is the task of rheumatologists. One of the criteria for a scarring pemphigoid is loss of vision. However, in this case, it was possible to establish a diagnosis, obtain the first positive results of therapy before the patient shows signs of disability. So, there is a hope for the possibility of preserving vision and a favorable outcome. The rarity of the disease and its poor knowledge, difficulties in diagnosis and the absence of certain standards of therapy, this diagnosis requires more attention from the specialists.