Development and validation of a decision support tool for the diagnosis of acute heart failure: systematic review, meta-analysis, and modelling study.

Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) thresholds for acute heart failure and to develop and validate a decision support tool that combines NT-proBNP concentrations with clinical characteristics.

Design: Individual patient level data meta-analysis and modelling study.

Setting: Fourteen studies from 13 countries, including randomised controlled trials and prospective observational studies.

Diagnostic and prognostic accuracy of galectin-3 and soluble ST2 for acute heart failure.

Background: We aimed to compare head-to-head the diagnostic and prognostic capabilities of galectin-3, soluble ST2 (sST2) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) for heart failure (HF) in an emergency setting.

Methods: We studied 251 consecutive patients with dyspnoea as a chief compliant presenting to an emergency department. The diagnosis of HF was based on the Framingham score for HF plus echocardiographic evidence of systolic or diastolic dysfunction.

Analytical and clinical evaluation of a rapid quantitative lateral flow immunoassay for measurement of soluble ST2 in human plasma.

Background: Soluble ST2 (sST2) is gaining growing interest as a biomarker in heart failure. So far, the ELISA-format is widely used for commercially available ST2 assays, which hampers their use in clinical routine. Recently, a rapid quantitative lateral flow immunoassay for the measurement of sST2 in human plasma has been developed.

Plasma concentrations of novel cardiac biomarkers before and after hemodialysis session.

Objectives: Biomarkers are useful for establishing disease severity or prognosis in patients with chronic kidney disease. The aim of our study was to determine the plasma concentrations of novel cardiovascular biomarkers in patients on chronic hemodialysis in the context of published upper reference limits (URL) of these biomarkers; and to compare the plasma concentrations of those same analytes before and after hemodialysis session.

Design And Methods: Plasma concentrations of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), mid-regional pro-A-type natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP), mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM), C-terminal pro-endothelin-1 (CT-proET-1), C-terminal pro-arginine vasopressin (CT-proAVP, also known as Copeptin) and soluble ST2 (sST2) were measured in 28 patients before and after dialysis session.

[Pilot study of levosimendan : Effect on liver blood flow and liver function in acute decompensated heart failure].

Background: In a pilot study, 9 patients (39-48 years) with acute decompensated heart failure and a cardiac index (CI) of 1.9 ± 0.3 l/min/m(2) were included after exclusion of an underlying hepatic disease.