Left atrial appendage thrombosis in a patient with Friedreich Ataxia-related cardiomyopathy, left ventricular systolic dysfunction, and atrial fibrillation.

Friedreich ataxia is the most common form of hereditary ataxia. Heart involvement in Friedreich ataxia is common and can include increased left ventricular wall thickness, atrial fibrillation, and in the later stages, a reduction of left ventricular ejection fraction. We present the case of a 45-year-old man with a history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and a congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ⩾ 75 years, diabetes mellitus, stroke, vascular disease, age 65-74 years, and female sex (CHA2DS2-VASc) score of only 1 (because of reduced left ventricular ejection fraction) who presented with pneumonia and was also found to have atrial fibrillation with a rapid ventricular response.

Normal weight obesity: a risk factor for cardiometabolic dysregulation and cardiovascular mortality.

Aims: We hypothesized that subjects with a normal body mass index (BMI), but high body fat (BF) content [normal weight obesity (NWO)], have a higher prevalence of cardiometabolic dysregulation and are at higher risk for cardiovascular (CV) mortality.

Methods And Results: We analysed 6171 subjects >20 years of age from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) and the NHANES III mortality study, whose BMI was within the normal range (18.5-24.

Device-guided paced breathing in the home setting: effects on exercise capacity, pulmonary and ventricular function in patients with chronic heart failure: a pilot study.

Background: Regular slow breathing is known to improve autonomic cardiac regulation and reduce chemoreflex sensitivity in heart failure. We explored the acceptability and usefulness of a device for paced slow breathing at the home setting.

Methods And Results: In this open pilot study, 24 patients with chronic heart failure (61% males, mean age, 64+/-9 years; New York Heart Association class, 2.

[Disease management for heart failure patients: role of wireless technologies for telemedicine. The ICAROS project].

Healthcare costs for heart failure are increasing. The need for a better care, however, has to be matched with a policy of cost containment. A way to improve the cost-effectiveness of heart failure care is the disease management approach, in which therapy, education and follow-up are tailored for each patient by a multidisciplinary team.