Multicentre, randomized, double-blind, prospective study on the effects of ImmunoAdSorptiOn on cardiac function in patients with Dilated CardioMyopathy (IASO-DCM): Rationale and design.

Aims: Pilot studies indicate that immunoadsorption with subsequent IgG substitution (IA/IgG) induces beneficial effects in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and heart failure. This placebo-controlled study investigates whether IA/IgG treatment enhances left ventricular (LV) systolic function as compared to a control group receiving pseudo-treatment.

Methods: This multicentre, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group trial aims to include 200 patients with heart failure due to DCM (LV ejection fraction [LVEF] <40%) on optimized guideline-directed heart failure medication.

In Ischemic Heart Disease, Reduced Sensitivity to Pressure at the Sternum Accompanies Lower Mortality after Five Years: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Autonomic nervous system dysfunction (ANSD) is associated with negative prognosis of ischemic heart disease (IHD). Elevated periosteal pressure sensitivity (PPS) at the sternum relates to ANSD and sympathetic hyperactivity. Two previous observational case-control studies of the effect of reduction of PPS suggested lower all-cause mortality from IHD and stroke.

Effect of growth hormone treatment on circulating levels of NT-proBNP in patients with ischemic heart failure.

Aims: Growth hormone (GH) therapy in heart failure (HF) is controversial. We investigated the cardiovascular effects of GH in patients with chronic HF due to ischemic heart disease.

Methods: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we randomly assigned 37 patients (mean age 66 years; 95% male) with ischemic HF (ejection fraction [EF] < 40%) to a 9-month treatment with either recombinant human GH (1.

Beta-blockers for heart failure with reduced, mid-range, and preserved ejection fraction: an individual patient-level analysis of double-blind randomized trials.

Aims: Recent guidelines recommend that patients with heart failure and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 40-49% should be managed similar to LVEF ≥ 50%. We investigated the effect of beta-blockers according to LVEF in double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials.

Methods And Results: Individual patient data meta-analysis of 11 trials, stratified by baseline LVEF and heart rhythm (Clinicaltrials.

Chronic psychological stress seems associated with elements of the metabolic syndrome in patients with ischaemic heart disease.

Background And Objectives: Chronic psychological stress, the metabolic syndrome (MS) and ischaemic heart disease (IHD) seem closely connected. In this study, we evaluate the association between chronic stress and elements of MS in patients with stable IHD.

Design: Cross-sectional cohort study.