Heart failure reviews
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Heart failure reviews · Nov 2010
ReviewSepsis-induced cardiomyopathy: a review of pathophysiologic mechanisms.
Cardiac dysfunction is a well-recognized complication of severe sepsis and septic shock. Cardiac dysfunction in sepsis is characterized by ventricular dilatation, reduction in ejection fraction and reduced contractility. Initially, cardiac dysfunction was considered to occur only during the "hypodynamic" phase of shock. ⋯ Circulating blood-borne factors were suspected to be involved in the evolution of sepsis induced cardiomyopathy, but it is not until recently that the cellular and molecular events are being targeted by researchers in a quest to understand this enigmatic process. Septic cardiomyopathy has been the subject of investigation for nearly half a century now and yet controversies exist in understanding it's pathophysiology. Here, we discuss our understanding of the pathogenesis of septic cardiomyopathy and the complex roles played by nitric oxide, mitochondrial dysfunction, complements and cytokines.
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Heart failure reviews · Dec 2009
ReviewVasodilators in the treatment of acute heart failure: what we know, what we don't.
Although we have recently witnessed substantial progress in management and outcome of patients with chronic heart failure, acute heart failure (AHF) management and outcome have not changed over almost a generation. Vasodilators are one of the cornerstones of AHF management; however, to a large extent, none of those currently used has been examined by large, placebo-controlled, non-hemodynamic monitored, prospective randomized studies powered to assess the effects on outcomes, in addition to symptoms. In this article, we will discuss the role of vasodilators in AHF trying to point out which are the potentially best indications to their administration and which are the pitfalls which may be associated with their use. ⋯ They should not be administered to patients with low BP since they may cause hypotension and hypoperfusion of vital organs, leading to renal and/or myocardial damage which may further worsen patients' outcome. It is not clear whether vasodilators have a role in either patients with borderline BP at presentation (i.e., low-normal) or beyond the first 1-2 days from presentation. Given the limitations of the currently available clinical trial data, we cannot recommend any specific agent as first line therapy, although nitrates in different formulations are still the most widely used in clinical practice.
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Heart failure reviews · Dec 2009
ReviewRelaxin, a pleiotropic vasodilator for the treatment of heart failure.
Relaxin is a naturally occurring peptide hormone that plays a central role in the hemodynamic and renovascular adaptive changes that occur during pregnancy. Triggering similar changes could potentially be beneficial in the treatment of patients with heart failure. The effects of relaxin include the production of nitric oxide, inhibition of endothelin, inhibition of angiotensin II, production of VEGF, and production of matrix metalloproteinases. ⋯ An initial pilot study has shown favorable hemodynamic effects in patients with heart failure, including reduction in ventricular filling pressures and increased cardiac output. The ongoing RELAX-AHF clinical program is designed to evaluate the effects of relaxin on the symptoms and outcomes in a large group of patients admitted to hospital for acute heart failure. This review will summarize both the biology of relaxin and the data supporting its potential efficacy in human heart failure.
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Heart failure reviews · Dec 2009
ReviewA novel approach to improve cardiac performance: cardiac myosin activators.
Decreased systolic function is a central factor in the pathogenesis of heart failure, yet there are no safe medical therapies to improve cardiac function in patients. Currently available inotropes, such as dobutamine and milrinone, increase cardiac contractility at the expense of increased intracellular concentrations of calcium and cAMP, contributing to increased heart rate, hypotension, arrhythmias, and mortality. These adverse effects are inextricably linked to their inotropic mechanism of action. ⋯ A first-in-human study in healthy volunteers with the lead cardiac myosin activator, CK-1827452, as well as preliminary results from a study in patients with stable chronic heart failure, have extended these findings to humans, demonstrating significant increases in systolic ejection time, fractional shortening, stroke volume, and cardiac output. These studies suggest that cardiac myosin activators offer the promise of a safe and effective treatment for heart failure. A program of clinical studies are being planned to test whether CK-1827452 will fulfill that promise.
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Heart failure reviews · Sep 2009
ReviewTreatment of sleep disordered breathing in congestive heart failure.
In patients with congestive heart failure, sleep disordered breathing occurs commonly and is associated with an increased mortality. In addition to central sleep apnea (Cheyne-Stokes respiration), obstructive sleep apnea is more prevalent in patients with congestive heart failure than in the general population. ⋯ Newer forms of positive pressure ventilation, such as adaptive servo-ventilation, appear to be even more effective at correcting central sleep apnea. Whether any of these treatments have an effect on transplant-free survival is presently unknown and awaits further study.