European journal of heart failure
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Eur. J. Heart Fail. · Apr 2012
Review Meta AnalysisIron supplementation for the treatment of chronic heart failure and iron deficiency: systematic review and meta-analysis.
Over half of chronic heart failure (CHF) patients are anaemic, and iron deficiency is common. Iron replacement therapy (oral or i.v.) might improve exercise capacity and quality of life (QOL). ⋯ Intravenous iron therapy is associated with improved QOL parameters, reduction in hospitalizations, and increased 6MWD. Treatment with i.v. iron is safe, with no increased rate of adverse events. The results of our analysis are limited by the paucity of trials, and significant heterogeneity between trials.
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Eur. J. Heart Fail. · Apr 2012
Clinical characteristics and outcomes of hospitalized heart failure patients with systolic dysfunction and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: findings from OPTIMIZE-HF.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is common in heart failure (HF) patients, yet the population is poorly characterized and associated with conflicting outcomes data. We aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of HF patients with systolic dysfunction and COPD in a large acute HF registry. ⋯ The presence of COPD in HF patients with systolic dysfunction is associated with an increased burden of co-morbidities, lower use of evidence-based HF medications, longer hospitalizations, and increased in-hospital non-CV mortality, but similar post-discharge mortality.
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Eur. J. Heart Fail. · Mar 2012
Use of procalcitonin for the diagnosis of pneumonia in patients presenting with a chief complaint of dyspnoea: results from the BACH (Biomarkers in Acute Heart Failure) trial.
Biomarkers have proven their ability in the evaluation of cardiopulmonary diseases. We investigated the utility of concentrations of the biomarker procalcitonin (PCT) alone and with clinical variables for the diagnosis of pneumonia in patients presenting to emergency departments (EDs) with a chief complaint of shortness of breath. ⋯ Procalcitonin may aid in the diagnosis of pneumonia, particularly in cases with high diagnostic uncertainty. Importantly, PCT may aid in the decision to administer antibiotic therapy to patients presenting with AHF in which clinical uncertainty exists regarding a superimposed bacterial infection.
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Eur. J. Heart Fail. · Mar 2012
Ventricular assist device support as a bridge to heart transplantation in patients with giant cell myocarditis.
Giant cell myocarditis (GCM) carries a poor prognosis and many patients require end-stage therapies. This study sought to determine the outcome of patients bridged with ventricular assist devices (VAD) to orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). ⋯ Patients with end-stage GCM can be successfully bridged with VADs to OHT with very good post-OHT survival. The proper immunosuppressive regimen for this group needs further investigation given the frequency of rejection and GCM recurrence.
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Eur. J. Heart Fail. · Mar 2012
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyN-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide in the management of patients in the medical emergency department (PROMPT): correlation with disease severity, utilization of hospital resources, and prognosis in a large, prospective, randomized multicentre trial.
N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a potent marker of heart failure and other cardiac diseases. The value of NT-proBNP testing in the medical emergency department (ED) was assessed in patients >65 years old. ⋯ Although NT-proBNP does not affect overall hospitalization, it is associated with better stratification of patient care and is strongly correlated with subsequent utilization of hospital resources and prognosis.