Exercise haemodynamic variables rather than ventilatory efficiency indexes contribute to risk assessment in chronic heart failure patients treated with carvedilol.

Aims: To evaluate the prognostic significance of traditional cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) parameters in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients treated with beta-blockers.

Methods And Results: A total of 631 CHF patients were followed for cardiovascular death over 3.8 +/- 1.

Flow mediated dilation in patient with Berlin Heart Incor left ventricle assist device.

Endothelial function measured with brachial ultrasound (BU) is a validated prognostic factor in heart failure patients. LVAD (left ventricle assist device) application is a promising surgical technique to treat refractory heart failure patients both as a bridge to heart transplantation or as destination therapy. Clinical recovery in such patients may be associated to normal endothelial function measured by BU but, as recently reported, only in pulsatile flow LVAD patients.

Prognostic value of time-related changes of cardiopulmonary exercise testing indices in stable chronic heart failure: a pragmatic and operative scheme.

Background: Although peak oxygen consumption (VO2) is an objective measurement of functional capacity linked to survival, most clinicians use clinical history to monitor changes over time of functional disability. The aim was to verify the prognostic value of time-related changes (Delta) of symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) indices in stable chronic heart failure (CHF).

Design And Methods: We studied 231 stable CHF patients (200 men) with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 24 +/- 8% and peak VO2 of 14.

Cardiac rehabilitation in the elderly: patient selection and outcomes.

In Western countries, the aging and improving survival of patients with coronary heart disease are responsible for an increasing number of older adults (65 years of age and older) who are eligible for cardiac rehabilitation. The elderly with coronary heart disease represent a special population with changes induced by aging and lifestyle, comorbidity, cognitive dysfunction, and high risk of disability. Although the elderly account for the majority of cardiac admissions and procedures, studies on cardiac rehabilitation have traditionally focused on younger patients.

Blunted erythropoietin production and defective iron supply for erythropoiesis as major causes of anaemia in patients with chronic heart failure.

Aims: Anaemia is often observed in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), and it may be associated with a worse prognosis. Aim of this study was to identify the individual mechanisms of anaemia in CHF patients.

Methods And Results: One hundred and forty-eight consecutive patients with haemoglobin concentration <13 g/dL (if males) or <12 g/dL (if females) were enrolled.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing and prognosis in chronic heart failure: a prognosticating algorithm for the individual patient.

The identification of individuals who are at high risk of chronic heart failure (HF) is a medical art of growing concern. Cardiopulmonary exercise stress testing (CPX) has become an important clinical tool to predict outcome. The value of peak oxygen consumption rests in the fact that it integrates elements of cardiac adaptations, and skeletal muscle, pulmonary, and endothelial dysfunctions more than other traditional prognostic indicators of chronic HF.

Left atrium remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (results of the GISSI-3 Echo Substudy).

To evaluate the existence, timing, and determinants of post-infarction left atrial remodeling, we studied a subgroup of 514 patients from the Third Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio della Sopravvivenza nell'Infarto Miocardico Echo Substudy who underwent 4 serial 2-dimensional echocardiograms up to 6 months after acute myocardial infarction. This study is the first to demonstrate, in a large series of patients, the existence of early and late left atrial remodeling after low-risk acute myocardial infarction and the relation of left atrial remodeling to left ventricular remodeling.

Ultrasound-guided compression repair of femoral pseudoaneurysms complicating cardiac catheterization.

Background: Femoral pseudoaneurysms complicate cardiac catheterizations in up to 3.2% of cases. Ultrasound-guided compression repair (UGCR) is a known valid alternative therapy to surgical and percutaneous repair.

Limited predictive value of cardiopulmonary exercise indices in patients with moderate chronic heart failure treated with carvedilol.

Background: Peak oxygen consumption (VO2) is traditionally used for risk stratification in chronic heart failure (CHF); however, its predictive value is unknown with carvedilol treatment. Therefore, we sought to investigate the prognostic role of gas-exchange parameters obtained from symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) in patients with CHF that is treated with carvedilol.

Methods: A total of 508 consecutive patients (443 men, mean age [+/- SD] 59 +/- 9 years) with a mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 25% +/- 7% underwent CPX.

Contribution of peak respiratory exchange ratio to peak VO2 prognostic reliability in patients with chronic heart failure and severely reduced exercise capacity.

Background: We evaluated the influence of peak respiratory exchange ratio (pRER), as an index of effort adequacy, on peak VO2 prognostic reliability in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and reduced exercise capacity, whose peak VO2 may be underestimated because of poor patient motivation.

Methods: A cardiopulmonary exercise test was performed in 570 patients with CHF (age 60 +/- 10 years, ejection fraction 26% +/- 7%, New York Heart Association class 2.2 +/- 0.

[Life style and adherence to the recommended treatments after cardiac transplantation].

Background: All the previous studies showed an increase in survival after cardiac transplantation. Nevertheless, a certain number of patients persist, in the short- and long-term period, in leading an incorrect lifestyle. Owing to this high-risk behavioral profile clinical, psychological and social problems could arise.

Oscillatory ventilation during exercise in patients with chronic heart failure: clinical correlates and prognostic implications.

Study Objectives: Although breathing disorders are often found in patients with chronic heart failure, exertional oscillatory ventilation (EOV) has been occasionally described. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and outcome of patients with chronic heart failure and EOV.

Setting: Cardiology division at tertiary-care hospital.

Ventilatory response to exercise improves risk stratification in patients with chronic heart failure and intermediate functional capacity.

Background: Peak oxygen consumption (VO2) has an important prognostic role in chronic heart failure (CHF), but its discriminatory power is limited in patients with intermediate exercise capacity (peak VO2 between 10-18 mL/kg/min). Thus, supplementary exertional indexes are greatly needed.

Methods: Six hundred patients with CHF with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < or = 40% who performed a symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise testing were screened and followed up for 780 +/- 450 days.