Similar outcome of heart failure with reduced EF patients with and without atrial fibrillation: considerations from the ESC Heart Failure Long-Term Registry.

Recently, transcatheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) has been validated by international societal guidelines as a technique suitable for both treatment and secondary prevention of paroxysmal, persistent or long-lasting persistent AF in highly symptomatic patients in whom at least one antiarrhythmic drug had been tested.

Secondary Prevention of Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Secondary prevention of atrial fibrillation (AF) could be carried out by means of antiarrhythmic drugs; however this strategy has not received any endorsement because these drugs are burdened by a high risk of proarrhythmic events (flecainide, sotalol) or extracardiac effects (amiodarone).

Methods: In our retrospective cohort study we have compared amiodarone 200 mg per day with the strategy implying the renunciation of any specific drug as well as with the approach using oral anticoagulant (rivaroxaban) or a combined approach including amiodarone plus rivaroxaban.

Results: A total of 255 patients with a history of AF (paroxysmal, persistent or long-lasting persistent) successfully treated with achievement of sinus rhythm have been gathered.

Advancements in the diagnostic workup, prognostic evaluation, and treatment of takotsubo syndrome.

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is an acute and mostly reversible cardiomyopathy that mimics an acute coronary syndrome with left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction without relevant obstructive coronary artery disease. Its prevalence is probably underestimated and reaches 1.2-2% in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing coronary catheterization.

Ablation, rate or rhythm control strategies for patients with atrial fibrillation: how do they affect mid-term clinical outcomes?

Background: Transcatheter ablation (Abl) of atrial fibrillation (AF) is regarded as the best therapeutic solution for severely symptomatic patients, in whom at least one antiarrhythmic drug has been tested.

Methods: In the present retrospective study, 175 cases of paroxysmal, persistent or long-lasting persistent AF have been gathered, and grouped depending on therapeutic approach: Abl, isolated or followed by chronic use of antiarrhythmics (N.=74), drug treatment for rate control strategy (N.

Rate Control Yields Better Clinical Outcomes Over a Median Follow-Up of 20 Months Compared to Rhythm Control Strategy in Patients With a History of Atrial Fibrillation: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Clinical management of patients with a history of atrial fibrillation (AF) focuses on the goal of preventing AF recurrences, or, if this is impossible due to the fact that the arrhythmia has by now become permanent, it is aimed at the control of the ventricular response. In patients with AF, an important topic is the comparative evaluation in the mid/long-term of clinical outcomes arising from the various therapeutic regimens, including pharmacological approaches as well as radiofrequency catheter ablation (abl).

Methods: In the present cohort retrospective study, 175 cases of paroxysmal, persistent or long-lasting persistent AF have been grouped depending on therapeutic approach: abl-isolated or followed by chronic use of antiarrhythmics (74 cases), drug treatment for rate control strategy (60 cases), drug treatment for rhythm control strategy (41 cases).

High Prevalence of Proarrhythmic Events in Patients With History of Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing a Rhythm Control Strategy: A Retrospective Study.

Background: A retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate the respective prevalence of proarrhythmic events depending on various therapeutic regimens within a population of patients with history of atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing a rhythm control strategy.

Methods: Inclusion criterion was the presence of AF in the patient's clinical history, whose cardioversion had been followed by the adoption of rhythm control strategy. The primary endpoint was the determination of the respective prevalences of paradoxical arrhythmias in the various therapeutic groups.

Antihypertensive effect of sacubitril/valsartan: a meta-analysis.

Introduction: The efficacy and safety of sacubitril/valsartan used as an antihypertensive agent has not yet been completely assessed. Thus, to investigate them in elderly hypertensive patients, a meta-analysis has been performed.

Evidence Acquisition: The meta-analysis incorporated only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in which sacubitril/valsartan was compared with a reference drug.

Anti-Hypertensive Effect of Sacubitril/Valsartan: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: For elderly patients suffering from arterial hypertension, a complete assessment of the efficacy and safety of sacubitril/valsartan used as an anti-hypertensive agent is not available yet. Therefore, we decided to perform a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to explore some endpoints concerning anti-hypertensive efficacy as well as safety of sacubitril/valsartan in elderly hypertensive patients.

Methods: PubMed and Scopus have been extensively investigated with the help of some key words until June 15, 2018.

Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of transthyretin amyloidosis with cardiac involvement.

Amyloidosis is caused by extracellular deposition of insoluble abnormal fibrils constituted by misfolded proteins, which can modify tissue anatomy and hinder the function of multiple organs including the heart. Amyloidosis that can affect the heart includes mostly systemic amyloidosis (amyloid light chain, AL) and transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR). The latter can be acquired in elderly patients (ATTRwt), or be inherited in younger individuals (ATTRm).

Effects of dronedarone on all-cause mortality and on cardiovascular events in patients treated for atrial fibrillation: a meta-analysis of RCTs.

Introduction: The efficacy and safety profiles of the dronedarone were rather praised when the molecule was placed on the market (2009). However, there are today some safety concerns (in particular, risk of liver toxicity) that have led to limit the use of this drug to paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation, and to exclude it from therapy protocols for ventricular tachyarrhythmias. The aim of the present study was to explore some efficacy and safety endpoints concerning dronedarone, by analyzing the evidence derived from quantitative evaluation (meta-analysis) of literature data.