Survival of Heart Transplant Patients with Chagas' Disease Under Different Antiproliferative Immunosuppressive Regimens.

Chagas' disease (CD) is an important cause of heart transplantation (HT). The main obstacle is Chagas' disease reactivation (CDR), usually associated to high doses of immunosuppressants. Previous studies have suggested an association of mycophenolate mofetil with increased CDR.

Incremental value of B-type natriuretic peptide for early risk prediction of infective endocarditis.

Background: Early and accurate risk prediction is an unmet clinical need in patients with infective endocarditis (IE). The aim of this study was to determine the value of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels obtained on admission for the prediction of in-hospital death in IE patients.

Methods: Between 2009 and 2011, consecutive patients with IE diagnosed using the revised Duke criteria and admitted to the emergency department were evaluated prospectively.

Decompensated heart failure in the emergency department of a cardiology hospital.

Background: National studies on decompensated heart failure (DHF) are key to the understanding of this condition in our midst.

Objective: To determine the characteristics of DHF patients in an emergency department.

Methods: A total of 212 patients diagnosed with decompensated heart failure who had been admitted to an emergency department (EU) of a cardiology hospital were prospectively evaluated.