Journal of the American College of Cardiology
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jun 2003
Plasma natriuretic peptide levels increase with symptoms and severity of mitral regurgitation.
This paper will describe associations between plasma natriuretic peptide levels and the severity and symptoms of mitral regurgitation (MR). ⋯ Plasma natriuretic peptides levels increase with the severity of MR and are higher in symptomatic compared to asymptomatic patients, even when LV EF is normal.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jun 2003
Short-term results of substrate mapping and radiofrequency ablation of ischemic ventricular tachycardia using a saline-irrigated catheter.
We evaluated the safety and acute procedural efficacy of a combined electrophysiologic and anatomic approach to ablation of all inducible ventricular tachycardias (VT) during sinus rhythm using an irrigated radiofrequency (RF) ablation catheter. ⋯ By identifying potentially arrhythmogenic tissue during sinus rhythm, substrate mapping can guide the ablation of a majority of inducible VTs using an irrigated RF ablation catheter. This emerging therapeutic paradigm may be considered in the management of patients with multiple hemodynamically unstable monomorphic VTs.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jun 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialBeraprost therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension.
The purpose of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of the oral prostacyclin analogue beraprost sodium during a 12-month double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). ⋯ These data suggest that beneficial effects may occur during early phases of treatment with beraprost in WHO functional class II or III patients but that this effect attenuates with time.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jun 2003
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyBedside B-Type natriuretic peptide in the emergency diagnosis of heart failure with reduced or preserved ejection fraction. Results from the Breathing Not Properly Multinational Study.
This study examines B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in patients with systolic versus non-systolic dysfunction presenting with shortness of breath. ⋯ We conclude that NS-CHF is common in the setting of the ED and that differentiating NS-CHF from S-CHF is difficult in this setting using traditional parameters. Whereas BNP add modest discriminatory value in differentiating NS-CHF from S-CHF, its major role is still the separation of patients with CHF from those without CHF.