Clinical cardiology
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Clinical cardiology · Jun 2010
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyNatriuretic and neurohormonal responses to nesiritide, furosemide, and combined nesiritide and furosemide in patients with stable systolic dysfunction.
In patients with heart failure, few data describe the neurohormonal response to nesiritide and furosemide either alone or in combination. This study systematically compared the effects of nesiritide, furosemide, and their combination on natriuresis/diuresis and plasma aldosterone in patients with chronic stable heart failure who were relatively diuretic resistant. ⋯ Furosemide alone produced natriuresis/diuresis and a prompt rise in plasma aldosterone values. Nesiritide alone produced no significant natriuresis/diuresis, but decreased plasma aldosterone values. When furosemide was administered on a background of nesiritide infusion, the observed natriuresis/diuresis was similar to that seen with furosemide alone, without the anticipated increase in plasma aldosterone observed with furosemide alone.
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Clinical cardiology · Jun 2010
Multicenter StudyThe causes and outcomes of inadequate implementation of existing guidelines for antiplatelet treatment in patients with acute coronary syndrome: the experience from Taiwan Acute Coronary Syndrome Descriptive Registry (T-ACCORD Registry).
Benefits of antiplatelet agents in preventing future cardiovascular events have been well established. However, the prescription pattern of antiplatelet usage in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is rarely investigated. Hence, Taiwan ACute CORonary Syndrome Descriptive Registry (T-ACCORD Registry) aimed to evaluate medical practices in Taiwan in managing ACS patients. ⋯ Our registry showed that underlying medical conditions may affect antiplatelet prescriptions at discharge. During the first year following an ACS episode, the prescription rate of dual antiplatelet therapy declined over time, mainly due to physician's judgment leading to the discontinuation of clopidogrel. Adherence to dual antiplatelet treatment was associated with lower total mortality at 1 year.
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Clinical cardiology · Jun 2010
ReviewLoop diuretic therapy in heart failure: the need for solid evidence on a fluid issue.
Heart failure (HF) is a common condition associated with substantial cost, morbidity, and mortality. Because results of clinical trials in the acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) setting have been mostly neutral, loop diuretics remain the mainstay of treatment. ⋯ Loop diuretics still prove useful in HF treatment, but risk-benefit analysis of these agents in the treatment of ADHF requires a well-designed prospective study.
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Clinical cardiology · May 2010
Cost burden of cardiovascular hospitalization and mortality in ATHENA-like patients with atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter in the United States.
The ATHENA trial (A placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel arm Trial to assess the efficacy of dronedarone 400 mg bid for the prevention of cardiovascular Hospitalization or death from any cause in patiENts with Atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter) demonstrated that dronedarone reduced the risk of cardiovascular (CV) hospitalization/death by 24% (P < 0.001) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL). ⋯ Health care costs associated with CV hospitalizations and inpatient deaths among ATHENA-like patients in the US are high. Novel antiarrhythmic therapies such as dronedarone, with the potential to reduce CV hospitalizations/mortality in similar patients, could decrease health care costs if adopted in clinical practice.
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Clinical cardiology · Apr 2010
Review Case ReportsInverted-Takotsubo pattern cardiomyopathy secondary to pheochromocytoma: a clinical case and literature review.
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is an increasingly recognized clinical syndrome of transient left ventricular dysfunction, commonly with apical ballooning, in the context of physical or emotional stress. Recently, an inverted-Takotsubo contractile pattern has been described with hypokinesis of the basal and mid-ventricular segments and sparing of the apex. We report a case of a 30-year-old man presenting with transient left ventricular dysfunction in an inverted-Takotsubo contractile pattern, associated with a newly discovered pheochromocytoma, and present a literature review of the inverted-Takotsubo contractile pattern cardiomyopathy.