Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0018801 (heart failure)
 72,216 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Recent evidence suggests that the most common form of idiopathic cardiomyopathy in our altitudes, the dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), is a post-infectious autoimmune disease which is triggered by virus infections. In animal experiments, the development of the coxsackie virus B3 myocarditis to a congestive cardiac insufficiency resembling the clinical picture of DCM was demonstrated. In mice, species-dependent varying disease courses could be observed, which point to a genetically different behaviour of the animals' immunological reactions, either humoral or T-cell mediated immune reactions being responsible. In comparison with non-DCM patients, patients with DCM and chronic myocarditis exhibit significantly higher coxsackie virus antibody titres. Obviously, also a differently long viral persistency in the cardiac muscle plays a role, as enterovirus-specific RNA was detected in myocardial biopsies from patients with DCM. Along with myocardial fibroses, endomyocardial biopsies in DCM frequently reveal mononuclear cellular infiltrates, which, however, only in 20-25% of the cases may be regarded as chronic persisting myocarditis. The clinical and paraclinical findings in DCM and in the so-called latent cardiomyopathy are presented. In congestive heart failure, the best therapeutic results are achieved by the ACE inhibitors, along with vasodilator agents, digitalis glycosides and diuretics. Ultima ratio is the orthotopic heart transplantation, as it is only this intervention that will be able to improve the primarily bad prognosis decisively. Whether the treatment with immunosuppressive drugs exerts an influence upon the prognosis, has thus far remained an open question.
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PMID:[Dilated cardiomyopathy--heart muscle disease of unknown origin or an autoimmune disease? New aspects of etiology, pathogenesis and clinical practice]. 268 30

Seventy-seven patients with drug-refractory sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) (28 patients) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) (49 patients) underwent implantation of an automatic cardioverter defibrillator (AICD). The 67 men and 10 women, with a mean age of 60 +/- 12 years (range 18 to 79), had coronary artery disease (60 patients), idiopathic cardiomyopathy (eight patients), mitral valve prolapse (four patients), hypertensive heart disease (one patient), Ebstein's anomaly (one patient), long QT syndrome (one patient), and primary electrical disease (two patients). The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 35 +/- 16% (range 10% to 75%). Sustained VT/VF was induced in 64 patients (83%) at baseline electrophysiologic testing. A mean of 4.1 +/- 1.3 antiarrhythmic drugs failed to control the arrhythmia. Associated surgery at AICD implantation included coronary artery bypass in 19 patients, coronary bypass with aneurysmectomy in six patients, and aneurysmectomy alone in one patient. Five patients had only prophylactic patches implanted during aneurysmectomy or coronary bypass and the AICD device was subsequently implanted under local anesthesia to prevent arrhythmia recurrence or to control persistently inducible VT. Operative mortality was 2.6% with two deaths from intractable VF. Fifty-two patients (69%) continued receiving antiarrhythmic drugs to suppress spontaneous VT. During a mean follow-up of 15 +/- 13 months (range 1 to 63), six patients died: two suddenly due to probable pulse generator failure (greater than 2 years old), one of acute myocardial infarction, two of heart failure, and one of respiratory failure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Clinical experience in seventy-seven patients with the automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator. 277 68

From December 1985 through April 1988, 11 patients (three female and eight males), 33.1 +/- 3.9 (+/- SEM) years of age (range, 15 to 50 years), underwent heart transplantation preceded by the use of mechanical circulatory support. The causes of cardiac failure were ischemic (four), viral cardiomyopathy (three), idiopathic cardiomyopathy (two), congenital heart disease (one), and valvular heart disease (one). All patients were preterminal. Mechanical circulatory support consisted of intra-aortic balloon pump (eight), the total artificial heart (seven), biventricular assist (three), and left ventricular assist (two). Seven patients had more than one form of support. The duration of mechanical circulatory support was 12.2 +/- 4.1 days (range, 1 to 44 days). Once listed for transplantation, patients waited for 8.1 +/- 2.4 days for a donor. Seven patients received OKT3 monoclonal antibody as prophylaxis, in addition to triple-drug immunosuppression. There were four rejection episodes and 12 serious infections. In addition, eight patients suffered a major posttransplant complication of a distant organ system: central nervous system (three), renal (two), and respiratory (three). Post transplant hospitalization was 48 +/- 22 days (range, 15 to 248 days). Two patients (18%) died after transplant, one of severe acute rejection (29 days) and one of multisystem failure (248 days). All patients surviving transplant hospitalization are alive 6 to 34 months after the transplant procedure. Eight patients are in functional class I and 1 patient class II. This patient attends school full-time but has a premechanical support system neurologic defect. In follow-up of 163 patient-months except for yearly catheterization, these nine patients required only 5 hospital days. Although the use of the mechanical circulatory support as a bridge to transplantation can result in a prolonged, complicated hospitalization after transplant, the long-term results are gratifying.
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PMID:Mechanical circulatory support as a bridge to transplantation. 281 24

Resting energy expenditure was measured by indirect calorimetry in 11 patients (8 men, 3 women) with severe heart failure. The study was done after an over night fast (10-12 h). 5 patients suffered from idiopathic cardiomyopathy, 5 patients from coronary heart disease and 1 patient from congestive heart failure following from viral myocarditis. The cardiac index was 2.09 +/- 0.5 l/min/m2, the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure 24.6 +/- 8.0 mm Hg. Resting energy expenditure was 1.175 +/- 0.176 kcal/min/1.73 m2. The basal energy expenditure calculated according to Harris and Benedict was 1.008 +/- 0.055 kcal/min/1.73 m2. The difference was statistically significant (p less than 0.05). Respiratory quotient was 0.775 +/- 0.06 as a result of a high oxidation rate for fat (64.8% of total energy expenditure). These results show that after an overnight fast the caloric requirements of patients with severe heart failure are increased. This increased energy expenditure could be an explanation for the malnutrition often found in patients with severe chronic heart failure.
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PMID:[Energy metabolism in patients with severe heart failure]. 312 Apr 22

Three recent cases from one institution using the total artificial heart (TAH) before transplantation are reviewed. The first patient was implanted for 12 hours with the pneumatic Phoenix total artificial heart after failure of a donor heart 1 day after transplant. Following retransplantation the patient died from severe pulmonary edema, pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular failure, and Pseudomonas septicemia. The second patient was implanted with the Jarvik-7 total artificial heart for rapidly deteriorating idiopathic cardiomyopathy. Major complications during the 9 1/2-day implant consisted of severe pulmonary edema for the first 4 days and a multifocal cerebral embolic event on the seventh day after implantation from which he fully recovered. Major problems after transplant included disseminated toxoplasmosis and two mild episodes of rejection. The patient was discharged 68 days after surgery and remains well. The third patient was a 40-year-old woman with rapidly progressing acute influenza A viral myocarditis. Despite immunosuppressive and antiviral therapy, cardiogenic shock with multiple organ failure developed. The 70 ml Jarvik-7 was implanted for 4 1/2 days. Acute humoral rejection from autoantibodies and alloantibodies led to a cardiac arrest on the second day after transplantation. A second 70 ml Jarvik-7 implant was followed by severe multisystem and infectious complications. After prolonged intensive care support, the patient recovered and is now awaiting transplantation. Nearly 100% cytotoxic antibody reactivity caused by multiple antigenic stimuli is preventing ready access to donor hearts for this patient. We view the current role of the total artificial heart as a tool to preserve life until a suitable donor heart can be found, reverse the end-organ effects of progressive heart failure and low output, and restore transplant candidacy in selected patients with temporary reversible contraindications to transplantation.
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PMID:Three recent cases of the total artificial heart before transplantation. 330 69

Patients under evaluation for cardiac transplant surgery were seen for routine psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. Of 35 patients with idiopathic cardiomyopathy, 83% (N = 29) had definite or probable panic disorder. Of 25 patients with postinfarction cardiac failure, rheumatic heart disease, or congenital heart disease, only 16% (N = 4) had definite or probable panic disorder. The authors suggest that autonomic mechanisms may underlie the association of cardiomyopathy and panic disorder and that increased cardiac sympathetic tone or circulating catecholamines may cause myocarditis and cardiomyopathy.
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PMID:Idiopathic cardiomyopathy and panic disorder: clinical association in cardiac transplant candidates. 331 Jun 71

Artificial subtraction of fluids and solutes was evaluated in the course of acute and chronic heart failure when it became refractory to standard intensive medical treatment. A group of 19 patients (mean age 57 years), 9 with ischemic, 2 amyloidotic, 4 valvular, and 4 idiopathic cardiomyopathy, were treated. In 17 patients extracorporeal ultrafiltration (UF) by means of a polysulfonate ultrafilter was adopted along 125 sessions (105 assisted by a roller pump and 20 as a slow continuous ultrafiltrate). In two patients continuous peritoneal dialysis was adopted. In every case UF was well tolerated. Ultrafiltrate volumes ranged from 1680 to 3500 ml for every session with corresponding Na losses ranging from 194 to 434 mEq/session. Improved clinical and functional status with reduction of edema was observed in 17 of 19 patients. In 12 patients UF could be discontinued due to restored response to diuretics; 5 of these patients could subsequently undergo heart surgery (1 transplant, 3 valve replacement, 1 coronary bypass). The remaining 7 patients survived on medical therapy alone for an average of 228 days. In 7 of 19 cases, UF could not be discontinued, and these patients died after an average of 23 days of treatment. In conclusion, UF proved to be effective in eliminating salt-fluid overload and restoring response to medical treatment. Patients who are potential surgical candidates seem to be the most suitable for UF.
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PMID:Ultrafiltration in the treatment of refractory congestive heart failure. 341 11

To determine the factors conditioning the variability of positive inotropic response after intravenous acute amrinone administration, 14 patients with chronic cardiac failure were studied by quantitative M-mode and cross-sectional echocardiography. Six patients had idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and 8 patients had severe chronic aortic insufficiency. Myocardial contractility (evaluated as peak arterial systolic pressure/end-systolic volume ratio: PAP/ESV) did not change in patients with idiopathic cardiomyopathy, a significant increase of myocardial contractility occurred in patients with aortic regurgitation only if the control value of PAP/ESV was greater than 1. Mean systolic wall stress decreased significantly in all patients, independent of aetiology of cardiac failure and was the factor determining the improvement of left ventricular performance (evaluated as fractional shortening) in patients without changes in myocardial contractility. Maximum improvement in left ventricular performance occurred 10 minutes after amrinone administration. It is concluded that the possibility of detecting the positive inotropic properties of amrinone in man depends on the aetiology of the cardiac failure and on the basal level of myocardial contractility.
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PMID:Variability of positive inotropic response to acute amrinone administration in chronic cardiac failure. 375 94

Patients with congestive heart failure have been considered to have augmented sympathetic drive both at rest and during dynamic exercise. The augmentation observed during exercise may be related to the state of near exhaustion experienced by patients with heart failure at relatively low work loads. To compare the response of the sympathetic nervous system to exercise in normal subjects and patients with heart failure when they are working in a comparable physiologic frame of reference, the data for both groups can be expressed as percent peak oxygen consumption achieved (percent peak VO2) rather than as a function of absolute oxygen consumption (VO2). Ten healthy control subjects and 31 patients with chronic clinical class II and III heart failure were studied during upright maximal bicycle exercise. Eighteen of the 31 patients had primary cardiomyopathy and 13 had ischemic cardiomyopathy. The average ejection fraction at rest was 24 +/- 10% (+/- SD) in the group with heart failure. Heart rate, systolic blood pressure, VO2 and plasma norepinephrine levels were measured at rest and throughout exercise. When the data were expressed as a function of percent peak VO2 achieved, patients with heart failure demonstrated a flatter slope (p = 0.004) than normal in the response of plasma norepinephrine to exercise, indicating a relative blunting of sympathetic drive. This was accompanied by attenuated heart rate (p = 0.001) and blood pressure (p less than 0.001) responses. These differences were not apparent when the data are expressed as a function of absolute VO2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Relative attenuation of sympathetic drive during exercise in patients with congestive heart failure. 397 88

Thirty-nine gravidae with congestive cardiac failure and ten pregnant patients with acute pulmonary edema treated at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Kaduna, Nigeria, over a five-year period are presented. Congestive cardiac failure occurred more frequently in the postnatal period, and parity and socioeconomic class were not significantly related to cardiac failure. Maternal mortality was low in spite of all patients being in functional grades III and IV. Idiopathic cardiomegaly and chronic rheumatic heart disease were the most common underlying causes of heart failure in pregnancy. The dominant valvular lesions in the patients with rheumatic heart disease was mitral incompetence.
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PMID:Cardiac failure in pregnant Northern Nigerian women. 610 44


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