International journal of cardiology
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Meta Analysis Comparative Study
Meta-analysis of risk of stroke and thrombo-embolism with rivaroxaban versus vitamin K antagonists in ablation and cardioversion of atrial fibrillation.
Anticoagulation in cardioversion and ablation of atrial fibrillation is imperative for reducing thrombo-embolic events. Ample information is available about the use of warfarin and vitamin K antagonists (VKA) but few trials examine safety and efficacy of rivaroxaban in these procedures. We aim to explore the hypothesis that rivaroxaban causes equal thrombo-embolic and bleeding events when used in atrial fibrillation patients undergoing ablation or cardioversion compared to VKA. ⋯ The use of rivaroxaban in ablation and cardioversion of atrial fibrillation may be associated with decreased risk of stroke and thromboembolism with equal bleeding risk compared to VKA.
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In heart failure (HF), activation of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and adrenomedullin (ADM) is adaptive. The activation of these peptides in relation to different HF phenotypes such as HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and heart transplantation (HTx) remains poorly characterized. ⋯ Patterns of the cardiomyocyte stress hormones NT-proBNP and MR-proANP suggest that compared to HFrEF, HFpEF may represent milder disease and LVAD and HTx may represent progressive resolution of HF severity. NT-proBNP and MR-proANP independently predicted prognosis in both HFpEF and HFrEF. In contrast, MR-proADM did not distinguish between HFpEF and HFrEF, did not predict prognosis in either, and may be more non-specific in HF.
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Coronary artery diseases and particularly acute myocardial infarction are the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in western countries. Despite the achievements of the last decades with the advent of double antiplatelet therapy, new antithrombotics and reperfusion strategies (either pharmacological or mechanical), many patients still have adverse cardiovascular events after ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction; at least some of these adverse events are related to the no reflow phenomenon that occurs after primary percutaneous coronary intervention. In our review we will discuss the various aspects of this phenomenon.
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Early prognosis in comatose survivors after cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation (VF) is unreliable, especially in patients undergoing mild hypothermia. We aimed at developing a reliable risk-score to enable early prediction of cerebral performance and survival. ⋯ A spectral analysis-based model reliably correlates time-dependent VF spectral changes with acute cerebral injury in comatose survivors undergoing mild hypothermia after cardiac arrest.
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Letter Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Short-term risk of arrhythmias among emergency department syncope patients with non-sinus rhythm.