Role of right ventricular systolic function on long-term outcome in patients with newly diagnosed systolic heart failure.

Background: Right ventricular (RV) systolic function has been recognized as a prognostic factor in endstage heart failure (HF) patients and in the present study we evaluated the effect of this dysfunction on prognosis in patients with newly-diagnosed systolic HF.

Methods And Results: We enrolled 180 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed systolic HF (ischemic or dilated cardiomyopathy). Echocardiographic evaluation was performed to assess biventricular function.

Comparative effects of rosuvastatin and allopurinol on circulating levels of matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: Patients with chronic heart failure (HF) are characterized by alterations in matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) levels. However, the impact of hypolipidemic and antioxidant treatment in MMPs and TIMPs is unknown. In the present study, we sought to compare the effects of statins and xanthine oxidase inhibitors on circulating levels of MMPs and TIMPs in patients with chronic HF.