Plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine and mortality in patients with acute decompensation of chronic heart failure.

Objectives: To investigate the prognostic value of circulating levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) in patients with acute decompensation of (New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III/IV) chronic heart failure and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction.

Design: Single-centre prospective observational study.

Setting: Tertiary referral centre.

Anemia and early mortality in patients with decompensation of chronic heart failure.

Objectives: The possible independent effect of mild-to-moderate anemia (hemoglobin value not <9 g/dl) on the short-term mortality of patients with decompensation of NYHA class III/IV chronic heart failure has not been investigated yet.

Methods: A total of 725 consecutive hospitalized patients were studied. All-cause mortalities during hospitalization and by day 31 were the prespecified study end points.