Heart failure reviews
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Heart failure reviews · Jun 2009
ReviewMechanical circulatory support devices for acute heart failure syndromes: considerations for clinical trial design.
Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices are a guideline-recommended treatment option for a small subset of advanced heart failure patients. MCS has the potential to become more prominent in the management of Acute Heart Failure Syndromes (AHFS) as device technology advances and as clinical trials consistently discover neutral or harmful effects with pharmacologic therapies hypothesized to be beneficial in this population. While it is now possible to identify AHFS patients who are at high risk of death, the therapeutic options available to improve their long-term outcomes are limited. ⋯ It is evident that rigorous clinical trial testing of the potential risks, benefits, and economic implications of MCS in patients with AHFS will need to be conducted before the "routine" application of this aggressive therapy. This paper examines the rationale for conducting trials of MCS devices in patients with AHFS, and it explores considerations for patient selection and appropriate endpoints. This manuscript was generated from discussions on this issue during the third international meeting of the International Working Group on AHFS held in Washington, DC, April 8-9, 2006.
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Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte abnormality found in hospitalized patients with heart failure. It may occur in patients who have hypovolemic, hypervolemic, or euvolemic state. ⋯ It is a major predictor of prognosis, and correction of hyponatremia can be effectively accomplished by vasopressin antagonists. However, it still remains to be seen whether the normalization of serum sodium with vasopressin antagonists will also lead to an improved long-term prognosis.