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.

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.