Background: Heart failure (HF) therapy involves use of multiple medications. There is little guidance on the safety and impact on clinical outcomes of stopping HF medications.
Methods And Results: A comprehensive systematic search for studies of drug therapy withdrawal in HF was performed. Meta-analysis of the risk ratio (RR) was performed with the use of the Mantel-Haenszel random effects model for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular outcomes. Twenty-six studies met the inclusion criteria. Studies on withdrawal of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors and beta-blockers in HF are scarce and small, yet show relatively convincingly that such withdrawals have untoward effects on cardiac structure, symptoms, and major outcomes. Meta-analysis of 7 studies of digoxin withdrawal (2,987 participants) without background beta-blocker showed increased HF hospitalizations (RR 1.30, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16-1.46; P < .0001), but no impact on all-cause mortality (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.90-1.12; P = .06) nor reduction in all-cause hospitalization (RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.98-1.09; P = .27). Diuretic withdrawal trials demonstrated an ongoing need for these agents in chronic HF. Studies in peripartum cardiomyopathy showed that medications could be successfully withdrawn after recovery.
Conclusion: Current evidence discourages any attempt to discontinue RAAS inhibitors or beta-blockers in patients with stable HF, regardless of clinical and/or echocardiographic status. Formal withdrawal trials of other classes are needed.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cardfail.2014.04.013 | DOI Listing |
Oper Orthop Traumatol
January 2025
Klinik für Unfall‑, Hand und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Schillingallee 35, 18057, Rostock, Deutschland.
Objective: Treatment with transcutaneous osseointegrated prosthesis systems (TOPS) for short femoral amputation stumps aims to restore independent walking ability after proximal femoral amputation by direct bone-guided prosthesis anchorage. This cannot be safely achieved with conventional socket prostheses due to the mechanically inadequate socket contact surface.
Indications: Treatment of patients with short transfemoral stumps who cannot be mobilized sufficiently with conventional socket prostheses.
BMJ Open
January 2025
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Introduction: The escalating resistance of microorganisms to antimicrobials poses a significant public health threat. Strategies that use biomarkers to guide antimicrobial therapy-most notably Procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP)-show promise in safely reducing patient antibiotic exposure. While CRP is less studied, it offers advantages such as lower cost and broader availability compared with PCT.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClin Microbiol Infect
January 2025
National Center for Respiratory Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity; New Cornerstone Science Laboratory; National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases; Department of Respiratory Medicine, Capital Medical University, Institute of Respiratory Medicine of Capital Medical University; Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China. Electronic address:
Objectives: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of suraxavir marboxil (GP681, abbreviated as suraxavir) in adults with uncomplicated influenza.
Methods: We conducted a multi-center randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial in 18 Chinese centers. Participants had to be aged 18-65 years with positive influenza test, presenting with at least one influenza systemic and respiratory symptoms in at least moderate severity within 48 hours of onset.
JMIR Public Health Surveill
January 2025
Center for Global Health, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States.
Background: Numerous studies have assessed the risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure and infection among health care workers during the pandemic. However, far fewer studies have investigated the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on essential workers in other sectors. Moreover, guidance for maintaining a safely operating workplace in sectors outside of health care remains limited.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnnu Rev Med
January 2025
SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital Transplant Center, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA; email:
Living-donor kidney transplantation is the preferred treatment for kidney failure. In the United States, rates of living kidney donation have been stagnant, which is partly related to concerns over medical and financial risks. Recent research has better characterized the risks of living kidney donation, although the field is limited by a lack of robust registries.
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