Cardiac Syndromes in Liver Disease: A Clinical Conundrum.

Understanding the interaction between the heart and liver is pivotal for managing patients in whom both organs are affected. Studies have shown that cardio-hepatic interactions are bidirectional and that their identification, assessment, and treatment remain challenging. Congestive hepatopathy is a condition that develops in the setting of long-standing systemic venous congestion.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement for Aortic Valve Infective Endocarditis: A Systematic Review and Call for Action.

We aimed to systematically analyze the literature on the use of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) to treat active aortic valve infective endocarditis (AV-IE). Surgery is declined in one-third of patients with IE who meet indications because of prohibitive surgical risk. TAVR might be an alternative for selected patients with AV-IE as a bridge-to-surgery or stand-alone therapy.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement as a Rescue Treatment for Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis.

A 74-year-old man with a history of bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement presented with acute severe aortic insufficiency and cardiogenic shock secondary to and endocarditis. The patient was deemed to be not a surgical candidate by the multidisciplinary team and underwent rescue transcatheter aortic valve-in-valve replacement, resulting in complete recovery. ().

Guidance of Transcatheter Mitral and Tricuspid Valve Repair by Echocardiography.

Purpose Of Review: Transcatheter valve therapies for mitral and tricuspid regurgitation are alternative methods to more invasive surgical treatment in candidates with high or prohibitive surgical risk. Echocardiography is the primary imaging modality for patient selection, pre-procedural planning, intra-procedural guidance, and post-procedural follow-up.

Recent Findings: This article outlines the applications of transcatheter valve repair therapy for mitral and tricuspid regurgitation based on the current cardiovascular guidelines and a growing body of evidence.

Palliative care of COVID-19 patients with do-not-resuscitate status in underrepresented minorities.

Background: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on palliative care intervention (PCIs) in patients with do-not-resuscitate (DNR) status remains uncertain.

Methods: Case-control study of patients with DNR order with RT-PCR confirmed SARS-COV2 infection (cases), and those with DNR order but without SARS-COV2 infection (controls). The primary outcome measures included timing and delivery of PCIs, and secondary measures included pre-admission characteristics and in-hospital death.

sepsis causing purpura fulminans in a 50-year-old man with chronic opioid use.

We present a case of polymicrobial sepsis with spp. complicated by purpura fulminans following a dog-bite in a 50-year-old-man with an extensive history of opioid use disorder. Generally, severe cases are thought to occur in patients with underlying immune deficiencies.

Stabilization patterns and variability of hs-CRP, NT-proBNP and ST2 during 1 year after acute coronary syndrome admission: results of the BIOMArCS study.

Objectives Details of the biological variability of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and ST2 are currently lacking in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) but are crucial knowledge when aiming to use these biomarkers for personalized risk prediction. In the current study, we report post-ACS kinetics and the variability of the hs-CRP, NT-proBNP and ST2. Methods BIOMArCS is a prospective, observational study with high frequency blood sampling during 1 year post-ACS.

Renal tubular damage and worsening renal function in chronic heart failure: Clinical determinants and relation to prognosis (Bio-SHiFT study).

Background: It is uncertain that chronic heart failure (CHF) patients are susceptible to renal tubular damage with that of worsening renal function (WRF) preceding clinical outcomes.

Hypothesis: Changes in tubular damage biomarkers are stronger predictors of subsequent clinical events than changes in creatinine (Cr), and both have different clinical determinants.

Methods: During 2.

Evolution of renal function and predictive value of serial renal assessments among patients with acute coronary syndrome: BIOMArCS study.

Background: Impaired renal function predicts mortality in acute coronary syndrome (ACS), but its evolution immediately following index ACS and preceding next ACS has not been described in detail. We aimed to describe this evolution using serial measurements of creatinine, glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] and cystatin C [CysC].

Methods: From 844 ACS patients included in the BIOMArCS study, we analysed patient-specific longitudinal marker trajectories from the case-cohort of 187 patients to determine the risk of the endpoint (cardiovascular death or hospitalization for recurrent non-fatal ACS) during 1-year follow-up.

Repeated Echocardiograms Do Not Provide Incremental Prognostic Value to Single Echocardiographic Assessment in Minimally Symptomatic Patients with Chronic Heart Failure: Results of the Bio-SHiFT Study.

Background: We aimed to compare the prognostic value of a single "baseline" echocardiogram with repeated echocardiography in stable chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. We hypothesized that repeated echocardiograms would contain incremental prognostic information.

Methods: In the prospective Bio-SHiFT study, we performed 332 echocardiograms in 106 patients during a median follow-up of 2.

Understanding of interaction (subgroup) analysis in clinical trials.

Background: When the treatment effect on the outcome of interest is influenced by a baseline/demographic factor, investigators say that an interaction is present. In randomized clinical trials (RCTs), this type of analysis is typically referred to as subgroup analysis. Although interaction (or subgroup) analyses are usually stated as a secondary study objective, it is not uncommon that these results lead to changes in treatment protocols or even modify public health policies.

Temporal Patterns of 14 Blood Biomarker candidates of Cardiac Remodeling in Relation to Prognosis of Patients With Chronic Heart Failure-The Bio- SH i FT Study.

Background Remodeling biomarkers carry high potential for predicting adverse events in chronic heart failure ( CHF ) patients. However, temporal patterns during the course of CHF , and especially the trajectory before an adverse event, are unknown. We studied the prognostic value of temporal patterns of 14 cardiac remodeling biomarker candidates in stable patients with CHF from the Bio-SHiFT (Serial Biomarker Measurements and New Echocardiographic Techniques in Chronic Heart Failure Patients Result in Tailored Prediction of Prognosis) study.

Associations of 26 Circulating Inflammatory and Renal Biomarkers with Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Long-term Cardiovascular Outcome in Patients Undergoing Coronary Angiography (ATHEROREMO-NIRS Substudy).

Purpose Of Review: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of 26 inflammatory biomarkers (acute phase proteins, cytokines, chemokines) and renal markers with coronary lipid core burden index (LCBI) assessed by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) imaging, as well as the association of these biomarkers with long-term cardiovascular outcome.

Recent Findings: NIRS-derived LCBI has recently been shown to be an independent predictor of major adverse cardiac events (MACE). However, studies on the association between circulating biomarkers and NIRS-derived characteristics have not yet been performed.

Cardiometabolic Biomarkers and Their Temporal Patterns Predict Poor Outcome in Chronic Heart Failure (Bio-SHiFT Study).

Purpose: Multiple hormonal and metabolic alterations occur in chronic heart failure (CHF), but their proper monitoring during clinically silent progression of CHF remains challenging. Hence, our objective was to explore whether temporal patterns of six emerging cardiometabolic biomarkers predict future adverse clinical events in stable patients with CHF.

Methods: In 263 patients with CHF, we determined the risk of a composite end point of heart failure hospitalization, cardiac death, left ventricular assist device implantation, and heart transplantation in relation to serially assessed blood biomarker levels and slopes (i.

Utility of temporal profiles of new cardio-renal and pulmonary candidate biomarkers in chronic heart failure.

Background: Our aim was to explore potential use of temporal profiles of seven emerging cardio-renal and two pulmonary candidate biomarkers for predicting future adverse clinical outcome in stable patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

Methods: In 263 CHF patients, we determined the risk of a composite endpoint of HF-hospitalization, cardiac death, LVAD-placement and heart transplantation in relation to repeatedly assessed (567 samples in total) blood biomarker levels, and slopes of their temporal trajectories (i.e.

Renal function and anemia in relation to short- and long-term prognosis of patients with acute heart failure in the period 1985-2008: A clinical cohort study.

Background: Renal dysfunction and anaemia are common in patients with acute heart failure (HF). It is not known whether their combined presence has additive prognostic value. We investigated their prognostic value separately and in combination, on prognosis in acute HF patients.

Personalized dynamic risk assessment in nephrology is a next step in prognostic research.

In nephrology, repeated measures are frequently available (glomerular filtration rate or proteinuria) and linked to adverse outcomes. However, several features of these longitudinal data should be considered before making such inferences. These considerations are discussed, and we describe how joint modeling of repeatedly measured and time-to-event data may help to assess disease dynamics and to derive personalized prognosis.

Preoperative right heart hemodynamics predict postoperative acute kidney injury after heart transplantation.

Purpose: Acute kidney injury (AKI) frequently occurs after heart transplantation (HTx), but its relation to preoperative right heart hemodynamic (RHH) parameters remains unknown. Therefore, we aimed to determine their predictive properties for postoperative AKI severity within 30 days after HTx.

Methods: From 1984 to 2016, all consecutive HTx recipients (n = 595) in our tertiary referral center were included and analyzed for the occurrence of postoperative AKI staged by the kidney disease improving global outcome criteria.

Patient-specific evolution of renal function in chronic heart failure patients dynamically predicts clinical outcome in the Bio-SHiFT study.

Renal dysfunction is an important component of chronic heart failure (CHF), but its single assessment does not sufficiently reflect clinically silent progression of CHF prior to adverse clinical outcome. Therefore, we aimed to investigate temporal evolutions of glomerular and tubular markers in 263 stable patients with CHF, and to determine if their patient-specific evolutions during this clinically silent period can dynamically predict clinical outcome. We determined the risk of clinical outcome (composite endpoint of Heart Failure hospitalization, cardiac death, Left Ventricular Assist Device placement, and heart transplantation) in relation to marker levels, slopes and areas under their trajectories.

Real-Life Use of Neurohormonal Antagonists and Loop Diuretics in Chronic Heart Failure: Analysis of Serial Biomarker Measurements and Clinical Outcome.

We determined the temporal effects of neurohormonal antagonists and loop diuretics on serially assessed (3-monthly) cardiorenal biomarkers, functional status, and clinical outcomes in 250 patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) with reduced ejection fraction. In blood, we measured NT-proBNP, troponin T, C-reactive protein, creatinine, cystatin C; in urine, N-acetyl-beta-d-glucosaminidase and kidney-injury-molecule-1. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) were inversely associated with cardiac impairment, inflammation, and renal tubular damage, but not with glomerular dysfunction.

Plasma cystatin C and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in relation to coronary atherosclerosis on intravascular ultrasound and cardiovascular outcome: Impact of kidney function (ATHEROREMO-IVUS study).

Background And Aims: We investigated whether plasma cystatin C (CysC) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) are associated with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-derived characteristics of coronary atherosclerosis and 1-year adverse coronary events in patients with normal and mildly-to-moderately impaired kidney function.

Methods: Between 2008 and 2011, virtual histology (VH)-IVUS of a non-culprit coronary artery was performed in 581 patients undergoing coronary angiography. Creatinine, CysC and NGAL were measured in pre-procedural blood samples.

Parkes Weber syndrome-Diagnostic and management paradigms: A systematic review.

Objectives Parkes Weber syndrome is a congenital vascular malformation which consists of capillary malformation, venous malformation, lymphatic malformation, and arteriovenous malformation. Although Parkes Weber syndrome is a clinically distinctive entity with serious complications, it is still frequently misdiagnosed as Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome that consists of the triad capillary malformation, venous malformation, and lymphatic malformation. Methods We performed a systematic review investigating clinical, diagnostic, and treatment modalities of Parkes Weber syndrome (PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases).