A perspective on obesity cardiomyopathy.

Obesity is a major health concern worldwide as obese individuals have a greater risk of death from any cause than normal-weight individuals. As the number of overweight children and adolescents continues to rise, so too has the scope of the obesity epidemic grown substantially. In this article, the authors discuss the role of obesity in the development of heart failure and the pathophysiology of obesity cardiomyopathy, as well as explore the potential role of bariatric surgery and mechanical circulatory support devices (MCSD) as potential therapeutic targets.

Contemporary medical management of systolic heart failure.

Pharmacological therapy of systolic left ventricular dysfunction has evolved over the past 3 decades. Current therapy is focused primarily on the regulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis and sympathetic nervous system. Additional targets of pharmacotherapy include vasoconstriction, impaired nitric oxide metabolism, inflammation and improving myocardial function.

A perspective on cirrhotic cardiomyopathy.

Cardiac dysfunction in patients with cirrhosis and potential clinical implications have long been known, but the pathophysiology and potential targets for therapeutic intervention are still under investigation and are only now becoming understood. The pathophysiological changes result in systolic dysfunction, diastolic dysfunction, and electrophysiological changes. Here, we aim to review cirrhotic cardiomyopathy from a cellular and physiological model and how these patients develop overt heart failure in the setting of stress, such as infection, ascites, and procedures including transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, portocaval shunts, and orthotopic liver transplantation.