Journal of cardiac failure
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Development of a cardiopulmonary exercise prognostic score for optimizing risk stratification in heart failure: the (P)e(R)i(O)dic (B)reathing during (E)xercise (PROBE) study.
Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) provides powerful information on risk of death in heart failure (HF). We sought to define the relative and additive contribution of the 3 landmark (CPET) prognostic markers--peak oxygen consumption (VO₂), minute ventilation/carbon dioxide production (VE/VCO₂) slope, and exercise periodic breathing (EPB)-to the overall risk of cardiac death and to develop a prognostic score for optimizing risk stratification in HF patients. ⋯ EPB with an elevated VE/VCO₂ slope leads to the highest and most precise PROBE score, whereas no additional risk information emerges when EPB is present with a peak VO₂ ≤10 mL O₂·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹. PROBE score appears to provide a step forward for optimizing CPET use in HF prognostic definition.
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Pulmonary hypertension occurs in 60% to 80% of patients with heart failure and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. ⋯ Many drugs used for idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension are being considered as treatment options for heart failure-related pulmonary hypertension. This is of particular significance in the heart transplant population. Randomized clinical trials with interventions targeting heart failure patients with elevated pulmonary artery pressure would be justified.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Ultrafiltration is associated with fewer rehospitalizations than continuous diuretic infusion in patients with decompensated heart failure: results from UNLOAD.
Compare outcomes of ultrafiltration (UF) versus standard intravenous (IV) diuretics by continuous infusion or bolus injection in volume overloaded heart failure (HF) patients. In the Ultrafiltration versus Intravenous Diuretics for Patients Hospitalized for Acute Decompensated heart Failure (UNLOAD) study, UF produced greater fluid reduction and fewer HF rehospitalizations than IV diuretics in 200 hospitalized HF patients. Outcomes may be due to greater fluid removal, but UF removes more sodium/unit volume than diuretics. ⋯ Despite similar fluid loss with UF and continuous diuretic infusion, fewer HF rehospitalizations equivalents occurred only with UF. Removal of isotonic fluid by UF compared with hypotonic urine by diuretics more effectively reduces total body sodium in congested HF patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Continuous versus intermittent infusion of furosemide in acute decompensated heart failure.
Despite advances in the treatment of chronic ambulatory heart failure, hospitalization rates for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) remain high. Although loop diuretics are used in nearly all patients with ADHF to relieve congestive symptoms, optimal dosing strategies remain poorly defined. ⋯ The cIV of furosemide was well tolerated and significantly more effective than iIV for tUOP. In addition, continuous infusion appears to provide more efficient diuresis.
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Comparative Study
Validation and potential mechanisms of red cell distribution width as a prognostic marker in heart failure.
Adverse outcomes have recently been linked to elevated red cell distribution width (RDW) in heart failure. Our study sought to validate the prognostic value of RDW in heart failure and to explore the potential mechanisms underlying this association. ⋯ Our results confirm previous observations that RDW is a strong, independent predictor of adverse outcome in chronic heart failure and suggest elevated RDW may indicate inflammatory stress and impaired iron mobilization. These findings encourage further research into the relationship between heart failure and the hematologic system.