Comparison between inferior vena cava ultrasound, lung ultrasound, bioelectric impedance analysis, and natriuretic peptides in chronic heart failure.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is an important healthcare problem. Knowing volume status in outpatients with chronic HF to adjust treatment and to avoid decompensations is a challenge. The aim of this study is comparing the usefulness of inferior vena cava (IVC) ultrasound, lung ultrasound, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and natriuretic peptides in the follow-up of outpatients with chronic HF.

Usefulness of inferior vena cava ultrasonography in outpatients with chronic heart failure.

Background: Inferior vena cava (IVC) ultrasonography has been used for the diagnosis and prognosis of acute heart failure (HF). Its usefulness in chronic HF is less known.

Hypothesis: IVC ultrasonography is a useful tool in the care of patients with chronic HF.

Amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, inferior vena cava ultrasound, and biolectrical impedance analysis for the diagnosis of acute decompensated CHF.

Background: Both Framingham criteria and natriuretic peptides (NPs) may worsen their diagnostic validity for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) in elderly patients with comorbidities, mainly renal failure. Ultrasound of inferior vena cava (IVCu) and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) are useful tools for detecting ADHF, although their utility compared with NP is not fully established.

Methods And Results: We conducted a prospective study with 96 patients who presented at the emergency department with dyspnea and were classified as ADHF and non-ADHF groups.