Impact of sex-specific target dose in chronic heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction.

Aims: A recent study suggested that women with heart failure and heart failure reduced ejection fraction might hypothetically need lower doses of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers ( = renin-angiotensin-system inhibitors) and β-blockers than men to achieve the best outcome. We assessed the current medical treatment of heart failure reduced ejection fraction in men and women in a large contemporary cohort and address the hypothetical impact of changing treatment levels in women.

Methods: This analysis is part of a large contemporary quality of heart failure care project which includes 5320 (64%) men and 3003 (36%) women with heart failure reduced ejection fraction.

Differences in guideline-recommended heart failure medication between Dutch heart failure clinics: an analysis of the CHECK-HF registry.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is associated with poor prognosis, high morbidity and mortality. The prognosis can be optimised by guideline adherence, which also can be used as a benchmark of quality of care. The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences in use of HF medication between Dutch HF clinics.

Veno arterial-extra corporal membrane oxygenation for the treatment of cardiac failure in patients with infective endocarditis.

Introduction: Surgery for infective endocarditis imposes great challenges in post-operative circulatory and pulmonary support but the role of veno-arterial extra-corporal membrane oxygenation in this respect is unclear.

Methods: All patients undergoing veno-arterial extra-corporal membrane oxygenation after infective endocarditis surgery were analysed for age, gender, medical history, microorganisms, clinical outcome, complications and surgical procedure.

Results: Between 2012 and 2016, 13 patients received veno-arterial extra-corporal membrane oxygenation following infective endocarditis surgery.

A prospective validation of the HEART score for chest pain patients at the emergency department.

Background: The focus of the diagnostic process in chest pain patients at the emergency department is to identify both low and high risk patients for an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The HEART score was designed to facilitate this process. This study is a prospective validation of the HEART score.

The diagnostic value of physical examination and additional testing in primary care patients with suspected heart failure.

Background: Early diagnosis of nonacute heart failure is crucial because prompt initiation of evidence-based treatment can prevent or slow down further progression. To diagnose new-onset heart failure in primary care is challenging.

Methods And Results: This is a cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study with external validation.

Chest pain in the emergency room: a multicenter validation of the HEART Score.

Objective: Decision-making in chest pain patients is hampered by poor diagnostic power of patient's history, electrocardiogram, age, risk factors, and troponin. Each of these findings may be qualified with 0, 1, or 2 points. Together they compose the HEART score.

Culture negative endocarditis combined with glomerulonephritis caused by Bartonella species in two immunocompetent adults.

Two cases of culture negative endocarditis are presented. In both, Bartonella species could be identified as the causative agent and in one of them Bartonella henselae was very likely. Both cases were accompanied by glomerulonephritis, in one case proven by a kidney biopsy.