Red blood cell distribution width is a significant prognostic marker in advanced heart failure, independent of hemoglobin levels.

Introduction: Advanced heart failure (HF) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality; traditionally used prognostic factors often fail to predict the outcome. Increased red blood cell distribution width (RDW) has recently been recognized as an important unfavorable prognostic factor in HF, independent of anemia; however, the role of RDW in patients with advanced HF has not yet been investigated.

Methods: Eighty consecutive patients with stage D heart failure, recently hospitalized for HF decompensation, were enrolled.

Possible everolimus-induced, severe, reversible encephalopathy after cardiac transplantation.

Neurotoxicity is a common adverse effect of cyclosporine (CsA) in transplant recipients. Although most patients develop mild toxic manifestations, leukoencephalopathy with seizures, visual complications, psychiatric symptoms and motor and speech disorders may occur. Whether everolimus exacerbates the neurotoxicity of CsA is not known.