Neurohormonal activation in acute heart failure: results from VERITAS.

Objectives: Recent heart failure studies have suggested that inflammatory and immune system activation are associated with increased levels of cytokines, chemokines and inflammatory proteins during acutely decompensated heart failure. The objectives of this substudy were to evaluate the role of neurohormonal and inflammatory activation in the pathogenesis and outcome of acute heart failure (AHF) and the correlation between biomarker levels and clinical outcomes.

Methods: Serum levels of B-type natriuretic peptide-32 (BNP-32), endothelin-1 (ET-1), norepinephrine, troponins I and T, C-reactive protein (CRP), von Willebrand factor, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) were measured at baseline, 24 and 48 h and 7 and 30 days in 112 patients with AHF recruited to the Value of Endothelin Receptor Inhibition with Tezosentan in Acute Heart Failure Study neurohormonal substudy.

Low lymphocyte ratio as a novel prognostic factor in acute heart failure: results from the Pre-RELAX-AHF study.

Background: Previous studies have suggested that a lower lymphocyte ratio (Ly%) in the white blood cell (WBC) differential count is related to worse outcomes in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) and other cardiovascular disorders.

Methods: In the Pre-RELAX-AHF study, 234 patients with AHF, systolic blood pressure >125 mm Hg and brain natriuretic peptide ≥350 pg/ml or equivalent were randomized to 1 of 4 intravenous doses of relaxin or placebo and followed up for 6 months following randomization. Complete blood count and differential were performed by a central laboratory at baseline and then daily to day 5 and on day 14.

Acute heart failure clinical drug development: from planning to proof of activity to phase III.

Over the last decades, attempts to develop new therapies for acute heart failure (AHF) have largely failed. Limitations in understanding the pathophysiology of AHF, its natural history, the effects of current therapies, the properties of new agents, and, importantly, study designs and execution have contributed to these disappointing results. We propose a novel approach for the development of new agents for AHF.

Patterns of leukocyte counts on admissions for acute heart failure--presentation and outcome--results from a community based registry.

Objective: To determine the correlation between differential white blood cell (WBC) count and characteristics and outcome of acute heart failure (AHF) syndromes.

Background: Previous studies suggested that different white blood cell count patterns are related to outcome in patients with heart failure (HF) and other cardiovascular disorders.

Methods: Data from all qualifying AHF admissions to a city hospital (n=340) was prospectively collected.

Early worsening heart failure in patients admitted for acute heart failure: time course, hemodynamic predictors, and outcome.

Background: The most common outcome currently assessed in acute heart failure trials (AHF) is dyspnea improvement. Worsening hear failure (WHF) is a new outcome measure that incorporates failure to improve or recurrent symptoms of AHF requiring rescue intravenous therapy, mechanical circulatory or ventilatory support, or readmission because of AHF, occurring within 30 days of AHF admission.

Methods And Results: Retrospective data analysis of 120 patients with AHF requiring hemodynamic monitoring who enrolled in the placebo arm of 2 prospective randomized studies.

Early worsening heart failure in patients admitted with acute heart failure--a new outcome measure associated with long-term prognosis?

A major limitation in acute heart failure (AHF) research has been the lack of an outcome measure paralleling re-infarction in acute coronary syndromes. The aim of the present study was to assess the time course, prognostic factors and outcome of early worsening heart failure (WHF) in patients admitted for AHF to a community hospital. All AHF admissions between December 2003 and March 2004 in a regional medical center were recorded.

Rapid clinical assessment of patients with acute heart failure: first blood pressure and oxygen saturation--is that all we need?

Unlabelled: The risk stratification of patients with acute heart failure (AHF) has been addressed repeatedly in recent years. Low oxygen saturation (SaO2) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) are signs of impending respiratory and circulatory failure that can be obtained quickly in patients with AHF.

Methods: Admissions for AHF (340 patients) in a city hospital were recorded and patients were followed for symptoms of heart failure, re-admission and mortality for 6 months.

Vasodilators in the treatment of acute heart failure: what we know, what we don't.

Although we have recently witnessed substantial progress in management and outcome of patients with chronic heart failure, acute heart failure (AHF) management and outcome have not changed over almost a generation. Vasodilators are one of the cornerstones of AHF management; however, to a large extent, none of those currently used has been examined by large, placebo-controlled, non-hemodynamic monitored, prospective randomized studies powered to assess the effects on outcomes, in addition to symptoms. In this article, we will discuss the role of vasodilators in AHF trying to point out which are the potentially best indications to their administration and which are the pitfalls which may be associated with their use.

Improvements in signs and symptoms during hospitalization for acute heart failure follow different patterns and depend on the measurement scales used: an international, prospective registry to evaluate the evolution of measures of disease severity in acute heart failure (MEASURE-AHF).

Background: The natural evolution of signs and symptoms during acute heart failure (AHF) is poorly characterized.

Methods And Results: We followed a prospective international cohort of 182 patients hospitalized with AHF. Patient-reported dyspnea and general well-being (GWB) were measured daily using 7-tier Likert (-3 to +3) and visual analog scales (VAS, 0-100).

Site matters: winning the hearts and minds of patients in a cardiology clinic.

Background: In medical care settings, mental health symptoms of depression and distress are associated with poor medical outcomes, yet they are often underrecognized.

Objective: Authors sought to examine the effect of having immediate mental-health screening in the cardiology clinic.

Method: The Patient Health Questionnaire and the Impact of Event Scale were used to screen for depression and distress in 316 patients at an urban cardiology clinic.

Diuretics - a panacea for acute heart failure? Different formulations, doses, and combinations.

Diuretics have been the cornerstone of acute heart failure (AHF) therapy for >200 years, although the treatment of chronic heart failure has changed dramatically over the past decades with the introduction of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor antagonists, beta-blockers, and aldosterone inhibitors. These treatment modalities were never tested prospectively in the acute setting. Furthermore, there is a significant lack of prospective data on the use of diuretics in both chronic (CHF) and AHF.

Nitric oxide synthase inhibitors in cardiogenic shock: present and future.

Cardiogenic shock (CS) accompanying myocardial infarction carries a case fatality rate of 40-50%. Profound myocardial dysfunction is partially reversible, and possibly related to a state of inflammatory storm accompanied by nitric oxide (NO) overproduction. CS survivors enjoy satisfactory longevity and quality of life.

Hyponatraemia in acute heart failure is a marker of increased mortality but not when associated with hyperglycaemia.

Unlabelled: Previous studies suggest that hyponatraemia is a marker of neurohormonal activation and increased mortality in patients with acute heart failure (AHF). Although diabetes is a common co-morbidity in heart failure, no prior study has considered the impact of serum glucose on this relationship.

Methods: Over four consecutive months we prospectively registered all patients admitted due to AHF.

Fluid overload in acute heart failure--re-distribution and other mechanisms beyond fluid accumulation.

Although fluid overload is one of the most prominent features of acute heart failure (AHF), its mechanism remains challenging, due to the lack of consistent data from prospective studies. Traditionally, fluid overload was thought to be mainly the result of either increased intake of fluid and salt or non-adherence with diuretic therapy. However, recent data showed little weight change before or during an AHF event suggesting that in many cases fluid overload is caused by other mechanisms such as fluid redistribution and neurohormonal or inflammatory activation.

Hemodynamic monitoring in acute heart failure.

Hemodynamic monitoring has moved in the last few years from being the holy grail of evaluating patients with acute heart failure to being all but extinct. Recent studies have not demonstrated any sustained benefits from right heart catheterization, and some studies have even suggested harm due to adverse events related to this invasive procedure. It is possible that this lack of efficacy is related to multiple inherent deficiencies in the design of these studies, including the inclusion of patients with chronic heart failure or mild acute heart failure, use of the reduction in pulmonary artery occlusion pressure as the main hemodynamic target for intervention, choice of treatment algorithms, and selection of ambitious long-term efficacy and safety end points.

The pathophysiology of acute heart failure--is it all about fluid accumulation?

Despite significant advancement in chronic heart failure (HF), no breakthroughs have occurred in the last 2 decades in our understanding of the pathophysiology, classification, and treatment of acute HF (AHF). Traditional thinking, which has been that this disorder is a result of gradual fluid accumulation on a background of chronic HF, has been called into question by recent large registries enrolling less selected patient populations. It is increasingly recognized that many patients with this syndrome are elderly, have relatively preserved ejection fraction, and have mild or no preexisting chronic HF.

Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors: questioning indications and treatment algorithms.

Glycoprotein inhibitors (GPI) are viewed as beneficial adjunctive pharmacotherapy agents for percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs). The major benefit of GPI is derived from the reduction of ischemic events (mostly non-Q-wave myocardial infarctions) during PCI. There is no single randomized clinical trial demonstrating that any of these agents significantly reduces mortality in any clinical subset of patients.

Clinical and hemodynamic effects of bosentan dose optimization in symptomatic heart failure patients with severe systolic dysfunction, associated with secondary pulmonary hypertension--a multi-center randomized study.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of bosentan on echo-derived hemodynamic measurements, and clinical variables in symptomatic heart failure (HF) patients.

Method: Multi- center, double-blind, randomized (2:1), placebo-controlled study comparing bosentan (8-125 mg b.i.

Adjunctive pharmacotherapy for coronary interventions-time to read the writing on the wall.

None of the authors has any financial interests to disclose. With the new era of coronary stenting supported by triple anti-platelet therapy, in-hospital life threatening ischemic complications are rare, and minimally affected by the intensity and duration of the anti-coagulation protocol. Bleeding complications, however, became the most commonly observed adversity of percutaneous coronary intervention.

Acute heart failure associated with high admission blood pressure--a distinct vascular disorder?

Background: Although blood pressure (BP) is elevated in patients with acute heart failure (AHF), first admission BP has not been meticulously recorded before treatment in previous studies.

Methods: During three consecutive months, all AHF admissions (335 patients) to a city hospital which provides the sole inpatient medical service for approximately 500,000 people were registered. First BP was recorded before treatment at the first patient encounter in the ambulance or the emergency room.

Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder in patients who have had a myocardial infarction.

Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and risk factors for recurrent ischemia were evaluated in 65 survivors of a myocardial infarction (MI) at baseline and 6 months afterward. PTSD patients had more uncontrolled cardiovascular risk factors at baseline. Patients with PTSD (N=14) were offered trauma-focused cognitive-behavior treatment (CBT) plus a nonspecific intervention to improve adherence to medical recommendations.

Posttraumatic stress disorder: a missed link between psychiatric and cardiovascular morbidity?

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms may develop as a result of an acute, life-threatening traumatic event. Such acute events are quite common in patients with cardiovascular illnesses (ie, a myocardial infarction, acute exacerbations of heart failure or edema). Indeed, PTSD symptoms have been described in a substantial minority of patients who had such events (10% to 25%), and have been shown to be associated with medical morbidity and with non-adherence to medications.