Personalized treatment of heart failure with biomarker guidance using a novel disease severity score.

We propose a novel Myocardial Injury Summary Score (MISS) integrating the 4 biomarkers suggested by the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines for management of heart failure. In this case series, we examined 4 heart failure patients who received treatment guided by the biomarker results and 4 patients who received routine clinical management with no information about the biomarkers. Most of the patients receiving biomarker-guided management had medications adjusted based on the biomarker values, while no changes were recommended for patients in the biomarker-blinded category.

Clues to diagnosing carcinoid heart disease as the cause of isolated right-sided heart failure.

Described herein is a 67-year-old woman who underwent replacement of both tricuspid and pulmonic valves because of severe isolated right-sided systolic heart failure. The cause of the heart failure preoperatively was believed to be the result of left breast radiation a year earlier. At operation, however, the pulmonic valve was excised and a biopsy of the stiff-walled right atrium was performed, and histologic examination of each was classic of carcinoid heart disease.

Reverse takotsubo cardiomyopathy: two case reports and review of the literature.

Introduction: Reverse takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a rare variant of classic takotsubo cardiomyopathy that presents within a different patient profile and with its own hemodynamic considerations. Its recognition is important for prognostic, evaluation and treatment considerations.

Case Presentation: Case 1: A 69-year-old Caucasian woman presented with substernal chest pain following a motor vehicle accident.