Progress in cardiovascular diseases
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Prog Cardiovasc Dis · Sep 2020
Effect of patiromer on serum potassium in hyperkalemic patients with heart failure: Pooled analysis of 3 randomized trials.
Hyperkalemia (HK) is a serious medical condition that can cause potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmias. Patients with heart failure (HF) are at risk of HK due to underlying chronic kidney disease and use of guideline-recommended renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors. Patiromer, a sodium-free, non-absorbed potassium (K+) binder, is indicated for the treatment of HK. ⋯ In this pooled analysis of patients with HK, patiromer was generally well tolerated and reduced serum K+ similarly in patients with and without HF over 4 weeks.
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Prog Cardiovasc Dis · Sep 2020
ReviewSpecial Article - Acute myocardial injury in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 infection: A review.
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is now a global pandemic with millions affected and millions more at risk for contracting the infection. The COVID-19 virus, SARS-CoV-2, affects multiple organ systems, especially the lungs and heart. Elevation of cardiac biomarkers, particularly high-sensitivity troponin and/or creatine kinase MB, is common in patients with COVID-19 infection. ⋯ Clinical decisions including interventions should be individualized and carefully tailored after thorough review of risks/benefits. Given the complex interplay of SARS-CoV-2 with the cardiovascular system, further investigation into potential mechanisms is needed to guide effective therapies. Randomized trials are urgently needed to investigate treatment modalities to reduce the incidence and mortality associated with COVID-19 related acute myocardial injury.
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Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), the most frequent congenital heart disease, is characterized by an uneven distribution between sexes. BAV is three to four times more frequent in men than in women which could be associated with a reduced dosage of X chromosome genes. In addition, BAV has a multifactorial inheritance, low penetrance and variable phenotypes that may lead to different form of valve degeneration and dysfunction over time as well as different incidence of aortic valve and vascular complications between men and women. ⋯ In terms of vascular complications, men show larger diameters of the various parts of the aortic root and ascending aorta and more frequently present complications in terms of aortic aneurysm and dissection as compared to women. Although there are no survival differences between men and women with BAV, compared to the general population some large series have shown that women have worse prognosis. The present review article summarizes the differences between men and women in terms of BAV phenotype, type and incidence of aortic valve and vascular complications that will determine the differences in clinical outcomes.
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Prog Cardiovasc Dis · Jul 2020
Meta AnalysisThe impact of 2019 novel coronavirus on heart injury: A Systematic review and Meta-analysis.
Evidence about COVID-19 on cardiac injury is inconsistent. ⋯ The severity of COVID-19 is associated with acute cardiac injury, and acute cardiac injury is associated with death. Cardiac injury biomarkers mainly increase in non-survivors. This highlights the need to effectively monitor heart health to prevent myocarditis in patients infected with COVID-19.