The Role of GDF-15 in Heart Failure Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease.

Background: Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a stress-inducible cytokine and member of the transforming growth factor-β cytokine superfamily that refines prognostic assessment in subgroups of patients with heart failure (HF). We evaluated its role in HF patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD, estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m).

Novel predictors of left ventricular reverse remodeling in individuals with recent-onset dilated cardiomyopathy.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the performance of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), cardiac biomarkers, and endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) results to predict left ventricular reverse remodeling (LVRR) in individuals with recent-onset dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Background: LVRR is a marker of a favorable prognosis in individuals with recent-onset DCM. We used the aforementioned novel methods of prognostication to predict this event.

Biventricular pacing in the early postoperative period after cardiac surgery.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy is not commonly used in the early postoperative period in patients undergoing cardiac surgery who have left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and a history of heart failure. We performed a prospective randomized clinical trial to compare atrial synchronous right ventricular (DDD RV) and biventricular (DDD BIV) pacing within 72 hours after cardiac surgery in patients with an EF ≤35 %, a QRS interval longer than 120 msec and who had LV dyssynchrony detected by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE). Epicardial pacing was provided by a modified Medtronic INSYNC III pacemaker.

The hemodynamic effect of right ventricle (RV), RT3DE targeted left ventricle (LV) and biventricular (BIV) pacing in the early postoperative period after cardiac surgery.

Background: Congestive heart failure negatively impacts the prognosis in patients after cardiac surgery. The aim of our study was to assess the value of targeted cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) within 72 hours after cardiac surgery in patients with mechanical dyssynchrony, who had an ejection fraction ≤ 35%, QRS ≥150 ms or between 120 and 150 ms.

Methods: A prospective randomized trial based on three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) and optimized sequential dual-chamber (DDD ) pacing in patients after cardiac surgery.