European journal of heart failure
-
Eur. J. Heart Fail. · Aug 2013
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyRationale and design of the SERVE-HF study: treatment of sleep-disordered breathing with predominant central sleep apnoea with adaptive servo-ventilation in patients with chronic heart failure.
Central sleep apnoea/Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSA/CSR) is a risk factor for increased mortality and morbidity in heart failure (HF). Adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) is a non-invasive ventilation modality for the treatment of CSA/CSR in patients with HF. ⋯ The SERVE-HF study is a randomized study that will provide important data on the effect of treatment with ASV on morbidity and mortality, as well as the cost-effectiveness of this therapy, in patients with chronic HF and predominantly CSA/CSR.
-
Eur. J. Heart Fail. · Aug 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialSafety and tolerability of intensified, N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide-guided compared with standard medical therapy in elderly patients with congestive heart failure: results from TIME-CHF.
NT-proBNP-guided therapy results in intensification of medical heart failure (HF) therapy and is suggested to improve outcome. However, it is feared that an intensified, NT-proBNP-guided therapy carries a risk of adverse effects. Therefore, the safety and tolerability of NT-proBNP-guided therapy in the Trial of Intensified vs standard Medical therapy in Elderly patients with Congestive Heart Failure (TIME-CHF) was assessed. ⋯ NT-proBNP-guided therapy is safe in elderly and highly co-morbid HF patients. Trial registration ISRCTN43596477.
-
Eur. J. Heart Fail. · Aug 2013
Clinical TrialAdaptive servo-ventilation therapy improves cardiac sympathetic nerve activity in patients with heart failure.
This study investigated whether abnormal cardiac sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) is associated with the severity of central sleep apnoea (CSA) and whether adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) therapy can improve cardiac SNA in heart failure (HF) patients with predominant CSA. ⋯ Abnormal cardiac SNA could be significantly correlated with the severity of CSA in HF patients. ASV therapy might improve cardiac function in these patients by partially mediating cardiac SNA regulation.
-
Eur. J. Heart Fail. · Jul 2013
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyThe effect of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose on red cell distribution width: a subanalysis of the FAIR-HF study.
Red cell distribution width (RDW), a measure of variability in red blood cell size, is a novel prognostic marker in chronic heart failure (CHF). Iron deficiency contributes to elevated RDW. In the FAIR-HF trial, i.v. ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) improved the 6 min walk test (6MWT) distance in iron-deficient CHF patients. We studied the effect of FCM on RDW and the relationship between RDW and 6MWT distance. ⋯ Iron deficiency in CHF is associated with high RDW, even after adjustment for the presence of anaemia. Treatment with i.v. FCM in iron-deficient CHF patients decreases RDW.