Journal of the American College of Cardiology
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jan 2006
Randomized Controlled TrialAtorvastatin improves left ventricular systolic function and serum markers of inflammation in nonischemic heart failure.
This study examined the effect of statin therapy on vascular markers of inflammation and echocardiographic findings in patients with nonischemic forms of cardiomyopathy. ⋯ The use of atorvastatin in patients with nonischemic HF improves LVEF and attenuates adverse LV remodeling. The effects on soluble levels of several inflammatory markers with atorvastatin suggest, in part, mechanisms by which statins might exert their beneficial effects in nonischemic HF.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jan 2006
Comparative StudyFrequency and clinical implications of discordant creatine kinase-MB and troponin measurements in acute coronary syndromes.
We sought to evaluate the association between discordant cardiac marker results and in-hospital mortality and treatment patterns in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE ACS). ⋯ Among patients with NSTE ACS, an elevated troponin level identifies patients at increased acute risk regardless of CK-MB status, but an isolated CK-MB+ status has limited prognostic value. Recognition of these risk differences may contribute to more appropriate early use of antithrombotic therapy and invasive management for all cTn+ patients.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jan 2006
B-type natriuretic peptide levels in obese patients with advanced heart failure.
Although recent studies show that obesity, or elevated body mass index (BMI), is associated with lower levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), it is unknown whether BMI affects the prognostic value of BNP in heart failure (HF). This study confirms the relationship between high BMI and low BNP in patients with advanced systolic HF. Despite relatively lower levels of BNP in overweight and obesity, BNP predicts worse symptoms, impaired hemodynamics, and higher mortality in HF at all levels of BMI. ⋯ Although BNP levels are relatively lower in overweight and obese HF patients, BNP predicts worse symptoms, impaired hemodynamics, and higher mortality at all levels of BMI.
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J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · Jan 2006
Renal function, congestive heart failure, and amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide measurement: results from the ProBNP Investigation of Dyspnea in the Emergency Department (PRIDE) Study.
The relationship between renal insufficiency and amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels remains unclear. We examined this relationship in the context of patients who presented to the emergency department of an urban tertiary care medical center with dyspnea. Even in the presence of renal insufficiency, NT-proBNP remained a valuable tool for the diagnosis of acute congestive heart failure and it provides important prognostic information. ⋯ The use of NT-proBNP testing is valuable for the evaluation of the dyspneic patient with suspected CHF, irrespective of renal function.