Journal of cardiac failure
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Differences in blood volume components between hyporesponders and responders to erythropoietin alfa: the heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) anemia trial.
Hyporesponders to erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs) have been associated with an increased subsequent risk of death or cardiovascular events. We hypothesized that subjects who are hyporesponsive to erythropoietin alfa would have higher plasma volumes and lower red cell deficits than subjects who are responsive to therapy. ⋯ Among older adults with HFPEF and anemia, hyporesponders to erythropoietin alfa had a hemodilutional basis of their anemia, suggesting that blood volume analysis can identify a cohort likely to respond to therapy.
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Pulmonary hypertension (PH) and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction have been associated with adverse outcome in patients with chronic heart failure. However, data are lacking in the setting of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). We sought to determine prognostic significance of PH in patients with ADHF and its interaction with RV function. ⋯ PH and RV function provide incremental prognostic information in ADHF. The combination of PH and RV dysfunction is particularly ominous. Thus, the estimation of PASP may be warranted in the standard assessment of ADHF.
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New urinary biomarkers, such as neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), and interleukin-18 (IL-18), are proposed to allow a more reliable early diagnosis and prognosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). Our aim was to compare the predictive value of urinary NGAL, KIM-1, and IL-18 for the occurrence of AKI, persistent renal impairment, and mortality in ADHF. ⋯ Like urinary NGAL, urinary KIM-1 and IL-18 are relatively modest predictors of AKI in ADHF. Among these novel renal biomarkers examined, further investigations regarding the prognostic value of urinary IL-18 are warranted.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Rationale and design of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of B-type natriuretic peptide for the preservation of left ventricular function after anterior myocardial infarction.
B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a hormone with pleiotropic cardioprotective properties. Previously in our non-placebo-controlled non-blinded pilot study (BELIEVE) in human ST-segment-elevation anterior acute myocardial infarction (AMI), a 72-hour intravenous (IV) infusion of recombinant human BNP (nesiritide) at a dose of 0.006 μg kg(-1) min(-1) suppressed plasma aldosterone, reduced cardiac dilatation, and improved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF) at 1 month compared with baseline. ⋯ This will be the first randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to assess the clinical efficacy of nesiritide in human ST-segment-elevation anterior AMI.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Noninvasive monitoring of stroke volume with resynchronization devices in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy.
A novel method to estimate cardiac volumes based on impedance measurements using the leads of a resynchronization device has been developed. This study investigated the method in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and documented wall motion abnormalities. ⋯ In CRT patients with chronic infarction and wall motion abnormalities, impedance is a valid parameter to estimate stroke volume and to guide optimization of CRT timing.