A putative placebo analysis of the effects of LCZ696 on clinical outcomes in heart failure.

Aims: Although active-controlled trials with renin–angiotensin inhibitors are ethically mandated in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, clinicians and regulators often want to know how the experimental therapy would perform compared with placebo. The angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor LCZ696 was compared with enalapril in PARADIGM-HF. We made indirect comparisons of the effects of LCZ696 with putative placebos.

Angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibition compared with enalapril on the risk of clinical progression in surviving patients with heart failure.

Background: Clinical trials in heart failure have focused on the improvement in symptoms or decreases in the risk of death and other cardiovascular events. Little is known about the effect of drugs on the risk of clinical deterioration in surviving patients.

Methods And Results: We compared the angiotensin-neprilysin inhibitor LCZ696 (400 mg daily) with the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril (20 mg daily) in 8399 patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction in a double-blind trial.

A new common mutation in the cardiac beta-myosin heavy chain gene in Finnish patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: In the nationwide FinHCM Study including 306 Finnish patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), we have previously identified two founder mutations in the alpha-tropomyosin (TPM1-D175N) and myosin-binding protein C (MYBPC3-Q1061X) genes, accounting for 18% of all cases. Objective. To screen additional mutations, previously identified in eastern Finnish cohorts with HCM, in the FinHCM Study population.

The role of cardiorenal biomarkers for risk stratification in the early follow-up after hospitalisation for acute heart failure.

Context: Cardiorenal biomarkers (CBs) predict outcome in acute heart failure (AHF).

Objective: To evaluate CBs in early follow-up prognostication.

Methods: In 124 AHF patients, levels of CystatinC, NT-proBNP and TroponinI measured five weeks from admission (W5) and relative change from day 2 (D2) were assessed for 6-month prognosis (mortality/HF hospitalization).

Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and chronic atrial fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC). We explored the clinical characteristics of IDC patients with chronic AF compared with those with sinus rhythm (SR).

Methods: A group of patients with IDC underwent extensive non-invasive and invasive evaluation during a hospitalization period.