Evaluation of Routine Coronary Angiography Before Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy.

Background: At the University of California, San Diego, routine coronary angiography has generally been performed in men 40 years of age and older and women 45 years of age and older before pulmonary thromboendarterectomy for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). The prevalence of significant coronary artery disease (CAD) in this population has not been evaluated, however, and the optimal screening strategy has not been established. This study sought to evaluate whether the current approach may be better optimized on the basis of cardiac risk factors.

Current Understanding of the Compensatory Actions of Cardiac Natriuretic Peptides in Cardiac Failure: A Clinical Perspective.

Natriuretic peptides play a crucial role in maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis. Among their properties are vasodilation, natriuresis, diuresis, and inhibition of cardiac remodeling. As heart failure progresses, however, natriuretic peptides fail to compensate.

Opportunities for Improvement in the Care of Patients Hospitalized for Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Related Colitis.

Background: Algorithms for the diagnosis, management, and follow-up have been proposed for patients hospitalized for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) colitis flare. The degree to which providers adhere to these algorithms is unknown. This study evaluated the quality of care in IBD patients hospitalized for disease-associated exacerbations and factors correlated with higher degrees of care.

Prevalence of coronary artery-pulmonary artery collaterals in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

This study sought to determine the prevalence of coronary artery-pulmonary artery collaterals in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and to correlate their presence with the degree of clot burden. CTEPH is a treatable cause of severe pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure. Bronchopulmonary collateral vessels have been used as a supplementary diagnostic and prognostic tool for this disease.

Personalized CHF treatment: PCT to guide therapy in heart failure patients.

Sorting out the etiology of dyspnea in patients with a history of heart failure is not always straightforward. Although an acute heart failure exacerbation would seem to be easy to distinguish from an acute respiratory illness, data from objective clinical studies has shown otherwise. Procalcitonin (PCT), a biomarker that rises in the setting of bacterial infection, carries great potential for guiding the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure patients with possible acute respiratory infection.