Reduced mitochondrial pyruvate carrier expression in hearts with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction patients: ischemic vs. non-ischemic origin.

Introduction And Objectives: Mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) mediates the entry of pyruvate into mitochondria, determining whether pyruvate is incorporated into the Krebs cycle or metabolized in the cytosol. In heart failure (HF), a large amount of pyruvate is metabolized to lactate in the cytosol rather than being oxidized inside the mitochondria. Thus, MPC activity or expression might play a key role in the fate of pyruvate during HF.

Soluble HLA-G levels in heart transplant recipients: Dynamics and correlation with clinical outcomes.

Purpose: To describe the evolution of the serum levels of soluble HLA-G (s-HLA-G) during the first 12 months after heart transplantation (HT) and to correlate it with clinical outcomes.

Methods: Observational study based in a single-center cohort of 59 patients who underwent HT between December-2003 and March-2010. Soluble HLA-G levels were measured from serum samples extracted before HT, and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after HT.

Cancer in patients with heart failure: Incidence, risk factors and prognostic impact.

Aims: To assess the incidence of cancer diagnosis and cancer-related mortality in patients with heart failure (HF).

Methods: Observational study based in a prospective cohort of patients with HF referred to a specialized Spanish clinic between 2010 and 2019. The observed incidence of malignancies (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) was compared to that expected for the general Spanish population according to the Global Cancer Observatory.

Epidemiological Study of Tricuspid Regurgitation After Cardiac Transplantation. Does it Influence Survival?

Tricuspid valve disease is the most frequent valvulopathy after heart transplantation (HTx). Evidence for the negative effect of post-transplant tricuspid regurgitation (TR) on survival is contradictory. The aim of this study was to analyze the causes of post-transplant TR and its effect on overall mortality.

Real world comparison of spironolactone and eplerenone in patients with heart failure.

Aims: In the absence of previous direct comparative studies, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of spironolactone and eplerenone in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in a real-world clinical setting.

Methods: Using Fine-Gray´s competing risk regression, we compared the clinical outcomes of 293 patients with chronic HF and left ventricular ejection fraction <40% treated with eplerenone and 293 propensity-score matched individuals treated with spironolactone. Study subjects were selected from a prospective cohort of 1404 ambulatory patients with HFrEF seen since 2010 to 2019 in a single specialized HF clinic, among which 992 received a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist at baseline.

Determinants of maximal oxygen uptake in patients with heart failure.

Aims: Maximum oxygen uptake (VO ) is an essential parameter to assess functional capacity of patients with heart failure (HF). We aimed to identify clinical factors that determine its value, as they have not been well characterized yet.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective, observational, single-centre study of 362 consecutive patients with HF who underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) as part of standard clinical assessment since 2009-2019.

Spanish Heart Transplant Registry. 31th Official Report of the Heart Failure Association of the Spanish Society of Cardiology.

Introduction And Objectives: The present report describes the clinical characteristics and outcomes of heart transplants in Spain and updates the data to 2019.

Methods: We describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of heart transplants performed in Spain in 2019, as well as trends in this procedure from 2010 to 2018.

Results: In 2019, 300 transplants were performed (8794 since 1984; 2745 between 2010 and 2019).

Circulating miR-181a-5p as a new biomarker for acute cellular rejection in heart transplantation.

Background: Acute cellular rejection (ACR) is a major complication in heart transplantation (HTx). Endomyocardial biopsy is the reference method for early detection of ACR, but a new non-invasive approach is needed. Tentative candidates could be circulating microRNAs.

Light chain and transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis: Clinical characteristics, natural history and prognostic factors.

Introduction And Objectives: Light-chain amyloidosis (AL-CA) and transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) are the most common types of cardiac amyloidosis (CA). We sought to study the clinical characteristics and prognosis of both diseases.

Methods: We conducted a single-centre, retrospective review of all patients diagnosed with CA between 1998 and 2018.

Comparison of predicted and observed mortality in patients with heart failure treated at a specialized unit.

Introduction And Objectives: To analyze survival in heart failure (HF) patients treated at a specialized unit.

Methods: Prospective cohort-based study of HF patients treated at a specialized unit from 2011 to 2017. Observed 1- and 3-year mortality rates were compared with those predicted by the Meta-Analysis Global Group in Chronic Heart Failure (MAGGIC) risk score.

Incidence, risk factors and prognostic impact of cytomegalovirus infection after heart transplantation.

Introduction And Objectives: To assess the risk factors of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection after heart transplant (HT) and its influence on long-term prognosis.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective single-centre study of 222 HT recipients. Risk factors for CMV infection were identified by means of multivariable Cox́s regression.

In-Hospital Post-Operative Infection after Heart Transplantation: Epidemiology, Clinical Management, and Outcome.

Infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality after heart transplantation (HT). Little information about its importance in the immediate post-operative period is available. The aim of this study was to analyze the characteristics, incidence, and outcomes of in-hospital post-operative infections after HT.

AGT haplotype in ITGA4 gene is related to antibody-mediated rejection in heart transplant patients.

Introduction: One of the main problems involved in heart transplantation (HT) is antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). Many aspects of AMR are still unresolved, including its etiology, diagnosis and treatment. In this project, we hypothesize that variants in genes involved in B-cell biology in HT patients can yield diagnostic and prognostic information about AMR.

In-hospital postoperative infection after heart transplantation: Risk factors and development of a novel predictive score.

Introduction: Infection is one of the most significant complications following heart transplantation (HT). The aim of this study was to identify specific risk factors for early postoperative infections in HT recipients, and to develop a multivariable predictive model to identify HT recipients at high risk.

Methods: A single-center, observational, and retrospective study was conducted.

Circulating Galectin-3 Following Heart Transplant: Long-term Dynamics and Prognostic Value.

Introduction And Objectives: Circulating galectin-3 (Gal-3) is elevated and significantly correlates with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with heart failure. However, the relationship between serum Gal-3 and heart transplant (HT) outcomes is unclear. The aim of this study was to describe the longitudinal trend and prognostic value of Gal-3 levels after HT.

Polymorphisms in genes related to the complement system and antibody-mediated cardiac allograft rejection.

Background: Heart transplantation (HT) is a life-saving treatment for patients with end-stage heart failure. One of the main problems after HT is the humoral response termed antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). Complement activation plays a key role in AMR contributing to graft damage.

Late graft failure in heart transplant recipients: incidence, risk factors and clinical outcomes.

Aim: To analyse the incidence, risk factors and clinical outcomes of late graft failure after heart transplantation.

Methods And Results: We conducted an observational, single-centre study based on 547 patients who underwent cardiac transplantation from 1991 to 2014 and who survived the in-hospital postoperative period. Late graft failure was defined as the first hospitalization due to this condition after discharge.

Prognostic Value of the Nutritional Risk Index in Heart Transplant Recipients.

Introduction And Objectives: To study the prognostic impact of preoperative nutritional status, as assessed through the nutritional risk index (NRI), on postoperative outcomes after heart transplantation (HT).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective, single-center study of 574 patients who underwent HT from 1991 to 2014. Preoperative NRI was calculated as 1.

Toxoplasma Gondii Serostatus in Heart Transplant Recipients: Is It an Independent Prognostic Factor?

Introduction And Objectives: To assess the potential association between recipient Toxoplasma gondii serostatus and outcomes after heart transplant (HT).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective single-center study of 657 HT recipients from 1991 to 2015. Survival and the incidence of adverse clinical events of T.

Analysis of variants in the HCN4 gene and in three single nucleotide polymorphisms of the CYP3A4 gene for association with ivabradine reduction in heart rate: A preliminary report.

Background: Ivabradine, a selective bradycardic drug, inhibits the If. In patients with heart failure (HF), ivabradine reduces the risk of rehospitalization and mortality. The average heart rate (HR) reduction is 8-10 beats, although clinical trials reveal interindividual variability.

Body surface area as a prognostic marker in chronic heart failure patients: results from the Heart Failure Registry of the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology.

Aims: The 'obesity paradox' is consistently observed in patients with heart failure (HF). We investigated the relationship of body surface area (BSA) to mortality and hospitalizations in patients with chronic HF.

Methods And Results: Data from the outpatient cohort of the observational, prospective, Heart Failure Long-Term Registry of the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology was analysed in order to evaluate the prognostic significance of BSA in chronic HF.