Digoxin in advanced heart failure patients: a question of rhythm.

Background: The impact of digoxin on outcomes of patients with advanced heart failure (HF) remains uncertain and its effect may be different for patients in atrial fibrillation (AF) or sinus rhythm (SR).

Objectives: To determine the impact of digoxin on outcomes of advanced HF patients and to assess whether prognosis differs in patients in AF and SR.

Methods: A total of 268 consecutive patients admitted to an intensive care unit with decompensated HF were evaluated.

Ischemic versus non-ischemic cardiomyopathy--are there differences in prognosis? Experience of an advanced heart failure center.

Introduction: Previous studies have associated heart failure (HF) of ischemic etiology with worse prognosis compared to HF from non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. HF treatment has evolved significantly in recent years. Has this evolution had an impact on this prognostic gap?

Objective: The aim of our study was to compare patients with advanced HF--nonischemic versus ischemic etiology--in terms of baseline characteristics, treatment, and in-hospital and long-term prognosis (including death, heart transplantation and hospital readmission).

Which echocardiographic definition should be used to define response to cardiac resynchronization therapy?

Introduction: The definition of response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) remains controversial, with different criteria being used to define a positive response. The PROSPECT trial recently demonstrated that echocardiography is not sufficiently accurate to identify responders to CRT. However, it is possible that the definition used in this study was not the most appropriate.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy is effective even in elderly patients with comorbidities.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in elderly patients (> or =65 years) with younger patients and to assess the impact of comorbidities in CRT remodeling response.

Methods: This is a prospective study of 87 consecutive patients scheduled for CRT who underwent clinical and echocardiographic evaluation before and 6 months after CRT. A reduction in left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) > or =15% after CRT defined remodeling responders, and a reduction of at least one New York Heart Association class defined clinical responders.

Carney complex: a case report.

Cardiac myxoma is the most common benign cardiac tumor, and 10% of cases are familial forms. The authors present a review of the literature on the Carney complex, and a case report of a 68-year-old man with a cardiac mass, associated with a significant family history and a diagnosis of coronary embolism.

Prognostic value of CA125 in advanced heart failure patients.

Introduction: Serum levels of CA125 are often high in advanced heart failure (AHF) patients.

Aim: To determine the predictive value of CA125 in forecasting the occurrence of death or cardiac transplantation in an AHF population.

Methods: 88 AHF patients referred for heart transplantation were divided into 2 groups based on CA125 levels: normal (CA125<38 U/mL) and elevated (> or = 38 U/mL).

Identification of 'super-responders' to cardiac resynchronization therapy: the importance of symptom duration and left ventricular geometry.

Aims: Some patients show such an important clinical improvement and reverse remodelling after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) that anatomy and function approach normal. These patients have been called 'super-responders'. The aim of our study was to identify predictors of becoming a super-responder after CRT.