Red cell distribution width and chronic heart failure: prognostic role beyond echocardiographic parameters.

Aim: Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a measure of anisocytosis. Higher values are robustly associated to adverse outcome in several conditions, including chronic heart failure (HF). The present study aimed to compared its prognostic role with that of echocardiographic parameters in this kind of patients.

Characteristics and mid-term follow-up of a single-center population affected by Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy.

Introduction: Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is an acute cardiomyopathy mimicking acute myocardial infarction. The aim of our study was to define clinical and instrumental features of an Italian population of patients with TTC and to report their short and mid-term outcome.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 42 patients admitted to our Department with diagnosis of TTC (100% women, age 67 ± 11 years) using Mayo Clinic-modified criteria.

Quantitative analysis of right ventricular (RV) function with echocardiography in chronic heart failure with no or mild RV dysfunction: comparison with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Objectives: Right ventricular (RV) performance parameters (tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, systolic longitudinal velocity on tissue Doppler imaging, fractional area change, and tissue and 2-dimensional [2D] strain on the right free wall) have been validated. In comparative studies, they have been correlated with the prognosis of patients with heart failure on radionuclide ventriculography and thermodilution in right heart catheterization. This study aimed to evaluate RV systolic function in patients with heart failure with no or mild RV dysfunction and correlate the above-mentioned echocardiographic parameters with the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-calculated RV ejection fraction (RVEF), stroke volume, end-diastolic volume, and end-systolic volume.

Effects of spironolactone on long-term mortality and morbidity in patients with heart failure and mild or no symptoms.

Background: The purpose of this study is to evaluate long-term effects of spironolactone, an affordable and widely used aldosterone receptor blocker, in patients with heart failure (HF) and mild or no symptoms.

Methods: The study is a single-blind, placebo-controlled, blinded endpoint, randomized study. Patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes I to II HF and left ventricular ejection fraction < 40% were randomized to spironolactone or placebo in addition to optimal therapy.

Adrenergic receptor gene polymorphism and left ventricular reverse remodelling after cardiac resynchronization therapy: preliminary results.

Aims: Several factors can influence the extent of left ventricular (LV) reverse remodelling after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients with heart failure (HF). Polymorphism in genes involved in cardiac remodelling, namely beta-adrenergic receptors (ARs), may have a role. We studied the influence of beta-1 Arg389Gly, beta-2 Arg16Gly, and beta-2 Gln27Glu ARs gene polymorphisms on the magnitude of reverse remodelling response to CRT and its possible correlations with the incidence of appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) shocks.

Echocardiographic evaluation of asymptomatic patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with increased mortality and morbidity because of accelerated atherosclerosis. The study assessed the prevalence of left and right ventricle diastolic and systolic dysfunction in outpatients with RA.

Methods: The study included 93 outpatients with RA.

Elastic properties of the ascending aorta in patients with α1-antitrypsin deficiency (Z homozygotes).

Objective And Design: α1-Antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a genetic disorder that may be a pathogenic factor in vascular aneurysms and dissection. The aim of this study was to measure the diameters of the Valsalva sinuses (VS), sinotubular junction (STJ), ascending aorta (AA) and aortic arch (AAr) and elastic properties of the AA (distensibility, stiffness and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI strain)) in AATD subjects.

Patients: 33 AATD subjects (all Z-homozygous, 17 male, 16 female) were examined.

Long-term prognostic value of CA 125 serum levels in mild to moderate heart failure patients.

Background: Plasma levels of tumor marker carbohydrate 125 antigen (CA 125) have been found elevated among patients with advanced heart failure (HF). We evaluated the prognostic value of CA125 in a population of patients with mild to moderate HF.

Methods And Results: Serum levels of CA 125 were obtained in 102 patients with mild to moderate HF from idiopathic (48%) or ischemic (52%) dilated cardiomyopathy (age 64 ± 10.

Effect of spironolactone on left ventricular ejection fraction and volumes in patients with class I or II heart failure.

The beneficial effects of spironolactone in chronic heart failure (HF) have been demonstrated in patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III to IV HF. This study examined the effect of spironolactone on left ventricular (LV) function and functional capacity of patients with mild to moderate HF (NYHA class I to II). One hundred sixty-eight patients with NYHA class I to II HF and LV ejection fraction ≤40% were randomized to spironolactone or placebo and assessed by echocardiography, gated single-photon emission computed tomography, technetium-99m sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomographic radionuclide ventriculography, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing at baseline and after 6 months of treatment.

Cardiovascular and noncardiovascular comorbidities in patients with chronic heart failure.

A broad spectrum of concomitant disorders may complicate heart failure adding further morbidity and mortality risk. Comorbidities may be subdivided into cardiovascular and noncardiovascular. The first group includes hypertension, coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, arrhythmias and valvular heart disease.

Role of beta-adrenergic receptor gene polymorphisms in the long-term effects of beta-blockade with carvedilol in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: Beta-blockers are mainstay of current treatment of heart failure (HF). Beta-adrenergic receptors (AR) single nucleotide gene polymorphisms (SNPs) may influence the sensitivity and density of beta-AR. We assessed the relation between three common beta-AR SNPs and the response to carvedilol administration.

How to diagnose diastolic heart failure: a consensus statement on the diagnosis of heart failure with normal left ventricular ejection fraction by the Heart Failure and Echocardiography Associations of the European Society of Cardiology.

Diastolic heart failure (DHF) currently accounts for more than 50% of all heart failure patients. DHF is also referred to as heart failure with normal left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (HFNEF) to indicate that HFNEF could be a precursor of heart failure with reduced LVEF. Because of improved cardiac imaging and because of widespread clinical use of plasma levels of natriuretic peptides, diagnostic criteria for HFNEF needed to be updated.

Role of beta1- and alpha2c-adrenergic receptor polymorphisms and their combination in heart failure: a case-control study.

Background: Adrenergic activation has a central role in the development of HF. The function of the beta1- and the alpha2C-adrenergic receptors is influenced by gene polymorphisms: the beta1Arg389 variant is associated with increased beta1-receptor sensitivity and the alpha2C-receptor Del322-325 variant is associated with decreased alpha2C receptor function and increased norepinephrine release. We hypothesised that these polymorphisms could influence the prevalence of heart failure.

Role of beta1- and beta2-adrenoceptor polymorphisms in heart failure: a case-control study.

Background: We hypothesised that the polymorphisms of the genes encoding for beta1- and the beta2-adrenoceptors may have a role in the pathogenesis of heart failure (HF). We therefore compared the polymorphisms of the beta1-adrenoceptor gene (Arg389Gly), the beta2-adrenoceptor gene (Arg16Gly, Gln27Glu) and their combinations in patients with HF and normal subjects living in the same area.

Methods And Results: A total of 256 cases with HF (left ventricular ejection fraction < or = 40%) and 230 normal subjects were enrolled.