European journal of heart failure
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Eur. J. Heart Fail. · Dec 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialEffect of simvastatin vs. rosuvastatin on adiponectin and haemoglobin A1c levels in patients with non-ischaemic chronic heart failure.
To compare the effects of lipophilic simvastatin and hydrophilic rosuvastatin on plasma adiponectin and glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels in patients with non-ischaemic chronic heart failure (NICHF). ⋯ These findings suggest that hydrophilic rosuvastatin but not lipophilic simvastatin increases adiponectin and decreases HbA1c levels in patients with NICHF.
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Eur. J. Heart Fail. · Nov 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyRationale and design of Ferinject assessment in patients with IRon deficiency and chronic Heart Failure (FAIR-HF) study: a randomized, placebo-controlled study of intravenous iron supplementation in patients with and without anaemia.
Iron deficiency (ID) and anaemia are common in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). The presence of anaemia is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in CHF, and ID is a major reason for the development of anaemia. Preliminary studies using intravenous (i.v.) iron supplementation alone in patients with CHF and ID have shown improvements in symptom status. FAIR-HF (Clinical Trials.gov NCT00520780) was designed to determine the effect of i.v. iron repletion therapy using ferric carboxymaltose on self-reported patient global assessment (PGA) and New York Heart Association (NYHA) in patients with CHF and ID. ⋯ This study will provide evidence on the efficacy and safety of iron repletion with ferric carboxymaltose in CHF patients with ID with and without anaemia.
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Eur. J. Heart Fail. · Nov 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyTiming of eplerenone initiation and outcomes in patients with heart failure after acute myocardial infarction complicated by left ventricular systolic dysfunction: insights from the EPHESUS trial.
To test the hypothesis that an earlier post-acute myocardial infarction (AMI) eplerenone initiation in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and heart failure (HF) is associated with better long-term outcomes. ⋯ An earlier eplerenone administration (3-7days) post-AMI improved outcomes in patients with LVSD and HF. This benefit was not observed when eplerenone was initiated later (> or =7days).
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Eur. J. Heart Fail. · Aug 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialDesign of the Reduction of Events with Darbepoetin alfa in Heart Failure (RED-HF): a Phase III, anaemia correction, morbidity-mortality trial.
Patients with heart failure (HF) and anaemia have greater functional impairment, worse symptoms, increased rates of hospital admission, and a higher risk of death, compared with non-anaemic HF patients. Whether correcting anaemia can improve outcomes is unknown. ⋯ Approximately 2600 patients with New York Heart Association class II-IV, an ejection fraction < or =40%, and a haemoglobin (Hb) consistently < or =12.0 g/dL but > or =9.0 g/dL will be enrolled. Patients are randomized 1:1 to double-blind subcutaneous administration of darbepoetin alfa or placebo. Investigators are also blinded to Hb measurements and darbepoetin alfa is dosed to achieve an Hb concentration of 13.0 g/dL (but not exceeding 14.5 g/dL) with sham adjustments of the dose of placebo. The primary endpoint is the time to death from any cause or first hospital admission for worsening HF, whichever occurs first. The study will complete when approximately 1150 subjects experience a primary endpoint.
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Eur. J. Heart Fail. · Jul 2009
Case ReportsIntractable cardiogenic shock in stress cardiomyopathy with left ventricular outflow tract obstruction: is extra-corporeal life support the best treatment?
We report the use of extra-corporeal cardiopulmonary support (ECLS), in a case of complicating refractory severe cardiogenic shock, in a patient with Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy (TC). Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy syndrome is characterized by left ventricular (LV) wall motion abnormalities, usually without coronary artery disease, mimicking the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome. This ventricular dysfunction is typically reversible in the acute phase, though it can progress into refractory cardiogenic shock with limited therapeutic options available. ⋯ The patient recovered completely, and a normal LV ejection fraction was documented by 2D echocardiography on day 7. From our experience, ECLS can be an appropriate treatment for severe refractory cardiogenic shock in patients with TC. Extra-corporeal life support was an effective ultimate solution.