Journal of the American College of Cardiology
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Feb 2004
Plasma angiopoietin-1, angiopoietin-2, and angiopoietin receptor tie-2 levels in congestive heart failure.
The goal of this research was to test the hypothesis that plasma angiopoietin (Ang-1), its soluble receptor tie-2, and Ang-2 levels would be abnormal in patients with acute and chronic congestive heart failure (CHF) when compared with healthy controls. ⋯ We have demonstrated abnormal levels of Ang-2 and tie-2, but normal Ang-1, in both CHF patients. These abnormalities may, alongside VEGF, indicate a role for these angiogenic factors in the pathophysiology of CHF.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Feb 2004
Racial variation in the prevalence of atrial fibrillation among patients with heart failure: the Epidemiology, Practice, Outcomes, and Costs of Heart Failure (EPOCH) study.
This study was designed to determine the association between race and atrial fibrillation (AF) among patients with heart failure (HF). ⋯ In a contemporary HF cohort, AF was significantly less common among African Americans than among Caucasians. This variation was not explained by differences in traditional risk factors for AF, HF etiology and severity, and treatment.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Feb 2004
Contemporary results of mitral valve repair for infective endocarditis.
We sought to evaluate the feasibility and immediate and late results of mitral valve repair (MVRep) for acute and healed endocarditis. ⋯ Mitral valve repair is frequently feasible and gives good results in patients with infective endocarditis. Patients operated on for acute endocarditis experience more events during follow-up than those operated on after healed endocarditis but have excellent late survival.