Optic Perineuritis Presenting as the Initial Manifestation of Central Nervous System Involvement in Rai Stage 0 Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Background: To describe the first case of optic perineuritis because of meningeal involvement of early stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Methods: A case report and review of the literature.

Results: A case of unilateral optic neuropathy associated with enhancement of the optic nerve sheath is described in a patient with a prior 2-year history of Rai Stage 0 CLL.

Incidence and risk factors for herpes zoster following heart transplantation.

Background: Data on the incidence, timing, and risk factors for herpes zoster (HZ) in heart transplant (HT) recipients are limited.

Methods: We determined HZ incidence rates and actuarial estimates of time to first HZ episode in 314 HT recipients at our institution from 1995 to 2010. We developed Cox models to assess potential risk factors for HZ in HT.

Heart failure with recovered ejection fraction: a distinct clinical entity.

Background: A subset of patients with heart failure (HF) and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) previously had EF <40%. We postulated that such "recovered" EF patients would be prevalent in a referral HF population and clinically distinct from those with persistently preserved or reduced EF.

Methods And Results: We identified all subjects with a clinical diagnosis of HF seen in the advanced heart disease practice at our center from March to October 2008.

Patient expectations from implantable defibrillators to prevent death in heart failure.

Background: Indications for implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) in heart failure (HF) are expanding and may include more than 1 million patients. This study examined patient expectations from ICDs for primary prevention of sudden death in HF.

Methods And Results: Study participants (n = 105) had an EF <35% and symptomatic HF, without history of ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation or syncope.

Thresholds of physical activity and life expectancy for patients considering destination ventricular assist devices.

Background: Current implantable left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) improve survival and function for patients with very late stage heart failure (HF) but may also offer benefit before inotrope dependence. Debate continues about selection of HF patients for LVAD therapy. We sought to determine what level of personal risk and disability HF patients thought would warrant LVAD therapy.