Effect of the immunosuppressive regimen on the incidence of cytomegalovirus infection in 378 heart transplant recipients: A single centre, prospective cohort study.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a major complication of immunosuppression after heart transplant. Recent studies suggest the actual immunosuppressive regimen may affect the risk of CMV infection.

Objectives: To evaluate incidence, risk factors and clinical consequences of CMV infection and assess the possible differential effect of distinct immunosuppressive protocols.

[Incomplete atrioventricular block in a patient on pregabalin therapy].

The authors report on a case of incomplete atrio-ventricular block in a patient on pregabalin therapy. Pregabalin was not overdosed; renal function of the patient was normal. The effect reverted after pregabalin discontinuation.

Association between valvular surgery and mortality among patients with infective endocarditis complicated by heart failure.

Context: Heart failure (HF) is the most common complication of infective endocarditis. However, clinical characteristics of HF in patients with infective endocarditis, use of surgical therapy, and their associations with patient outcome are not well described.

Objectives: To determine the clinical, echocardiographic, and microbiological variables associated with HF in patients with definite infective endocarditis and to examine variables independently associated with in-hospital and 1-year mortality for patients with infective endocarditis and HF, including the use and association of surgery with outcome.

High-dose daptomycin for cardiac implantable electronic device-related infective endocarditis.

Background: Cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED)-related endocarditis is a growing challenge because of increasing incidence and significant mortality. Current treatment is based on complete hardware removal coupled with long-term administration of effective and safe antimicrobials. Daptomycin at the dose of 6 mg/kg/day has been found to be effective in staphylococcal endocarditis, but limited data exist on CIED endocarditis.