European journal of heart failure
-
Eur. J. Heart Fail. · Nov 2013
Clinical TrialCirculating microRNA changes in heart failure patients treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy: responders vs. non-responders.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the pathogenesis of structural alterations of the failing heart through their ability to regulate negatively the expression levels of genes that govern the process of adaptive and maladaptive cardiac remodelling. We studied whether LV reverse remodelling after CRT was associated with changes of circulating miRNAs in patients with heart failure (HF) and dyssynchrony. ⋯ In responders, reverse remodelling is associated with favourable changes in miRNAs that regulate cardiac fibrosis, apoptosis, and hypertrophy.
-
Eur. J. Heart Fail. · Oct 2013
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyN-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide-guided management in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction: findings from the Trial of Intensified versus standard medical therapy in elderly patients with congestive heart failure (TIME-CHF).
To assess the effects of an NT-proBNP-guided medical management on 18-month outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF) and preserved LVEF ( HFpEF). ⋯ Outcomes in HFpEF were not better than in HFrEF, and opposite effects of NT-proBNP-guided management were observed in HFpEF compared with HFrEF. These preliminary findings suggest that, in contrast to HFrEF, NT-proBNP-guided therapy may not be beneficial in HFpEF. Trial registration ISRCTN43596477.
-
Eur. J. Heart Fail. · Oct 2013
Iron deficiency is a key determinant of health-related quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure regardless of anaemia status.
To evaluate the effect of iron deficiency (ID) and/or anaemia on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). ⋯ In patients with CHF, ID but not anaemia was associated with reduced HRQoL, mostly due to physical factors.
-
Eur. J. Heart Fail. · Oct 2013
Trends in long-term mechanical circulatory support for advanced heart failure in the UK.
Heart transplantation (HTx) is limited by the scarcity of suitable donor hearts. Consequently, more patients with advanced heart failure require a ventricular assist device (VAD). We report U.K. activity, trends, and outcome for long-term VAD support as a bridging therapy to HTx. ⋯ VAD activity and duration of support have increased. There has been a shift from first- and second- to third-generation devices, and an associated improvement in survival.