Journal of the American College of Cardiology
-
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · May 2008
Comparative StudyPro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels in acute decompensated heart failure.
The present study sought to evaluate the clinical utility of pro-B-type natriuretic peptides (proBNP) in patients admitted with acute decompensated heart failure. ⋯ Admission values of all natriuretic peptides can be used to predict cardiac death and all-cause mortality. A preliminary comparison suggests that discharge values of NT-proBNP have the greatest diagnostic yield for predicting these end points. Further studies should explore the synergistic prognostic potential of all natriuretic peptides.
-
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. · May 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialSafety and efficacy of switching from either unfractionated heparin or enoxaparin to bivalirudin in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes managed with an invasive strategy: results from the ACUITY (Acute Catheterization and Urgent Intervention Triage strategY) trial.
The aim of this study was to compare outcomes in patients receiving consistent unfractionated heparin (UFH)/enoxaparin (ENOX) therapy and in those switched at randomization to bivalirudin monotherapy. ⋯ Switching from UFH/ENOX to bivalirudin monotherapy results in comparable ischemic outcomes and an approximately 50% reduction in major bleeding compared with consistent UFH/ENOX plus a GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor. Patients naive to antithrombin therapy administered bivalirudin monotherapy had a significant reduction in bleeding and similar rates of ischemia compared with naive patients initiated with UFH or ENOX plus a GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor.