Bilateral indwelling pleural catheter for hepatic hydrothorax.

A 68-year-old man with alcoholic liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension was admitted due to ascites. Bilateral severe hepatic hydrothorax did not resolve despite sodium restriction, and diuretic treatment, requiring repeated thoracentesis for relief of dyspnoea. Curative options, as transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt and liver transplantation were both contraindicated.

Prognostic value of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic Peptide in outpatients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the plasma levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) correlate with functional capacity. However, their prognostic relevance remains unresolved. We followed up 183 stable outpatients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (age 50 ± 17 years, 64% men) for 3.

Pharmacological treatment options for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: high time for evidence.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common genetic heart disease, affecting over one million individuals in Europe. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients often require pharmacological intervention for control of symptoms, dynamic left ventricular outflow obstruction, supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias, and microvascular ischaemia. Current treatment strategies in HCM are predicated on the empirical use of long-standing drugs, such as beta-adrenergic and calcium blockers, although with little evidence supporting their clinical benefit in this disease.

Impact of functional tricuspid regurgitation on heart failure and death in patients with functional mitral regurgitation and left ventricular dysfunction.

Aims: The prognostic role of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) associated with organic left-sided valvular heart disease is well known. However, no data are available regarding the prognostic value of functional TR (FTR) in patients with functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic role of FTR for occurrence of heart failure (HF) and mortality in patients with FMR.

Effects of mild ischemic mitral regurgitation on ventricular remodeling and its contribution to congestive heart failure.

Background: Although the prognostic impact of a moderate degree of ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) is well known, there are no data regarding the potential role of a mild degree of IMR. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a mild degree (effective regurgitant orifice area < 20 mm(2)) of IMR on left ventricular (LV) remodeling and heart failure (HF).

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in 35 patients with mild IMR that were propensity matched with 35 patients without IMR (controls).

Isolated native tricuspid valve endocarditis due to group A β-hemolytic Streptococcus without drug addiction.

We discuss a case of tricuspid valve endocarditis to group A Streptococcus in a middle-age man without a history of intravenous drug use.