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Query: UMLS:C0018801 (heart failure)
 72,216 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

To assess the feasibility of using enhanced external counterpulsation to treat patients with heart failure, 26 patients with stable heart failure (New York Heart Association classes II-III), with a left ventricular ejection fraction at or below 35%, and without fluid overload, were treated with enhanced external counterpulsation (1 hour daily, 5 days a week, to a total of 35 hours). Patients were followed for 6 months after completing the course of enhanced external counterpulsation. The primary parameter was safety as reflected by adverse events or by changes in laboratory parameters. Secondary end points included changes in exercise capacity and quality of life. There were no clinically significant problems associated with the administration of enhanced external counterpulsation. Significant improvements were seen in exercise capacity (peak oxygen uptake and exercise duration), and in quality of life assessments, at 1 week and 6 months after the course of enhanced external counterpulsation. This study suggests that enhanced external counterpulsation is safe and well tolerated in patients with stable heart failure, and that a randomized, controlled study of enhanced external counterpulsation in these patients is warranted.
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PMID:Enhanced external counterpulsation in patients with heart failure: a multicenter feasibility study. 1214 42

Continuous arteriovenous haemofiltration (CAVH) is the first example of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). CAVH was first applied for the treatment of diuretic unresponsive fluid overload. Subsequently, CRRT has undergone a remarkable growth, and it is now performed with pump technology (CVVH) and via double-lumen central venous catheters. In many intensive care units, especially in Australia and in Europe, CRRT has become the dominant, if not exclusive, form of artificial renal support. Continuous haemofiltration is now used beyond the original indications of blood purification, for the treatment of certain drug intoxications, for severe cardiac failure, for volume control during, after cardiopulmonary bypass, and to decrease the toxicity of chemotherapy. Furthermore, there is strong ongoing research into its role or that of derived techniques as possible adjuvant therapies during severe sepsis. Despite its large use, the current state of CRRT is surrounded by some controversies, and an effort should be made to give a dispassionate distillation of the literature for a final common definition of what is based on opinions and what carries sufficient evidence.
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PMID:Continuous renal replacement therapy: opinions and evidence. 1238 23

More than 4.5 million Americans have congestive heart failure (CHF), close to 550,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, and one third of known patients with CHF are annually admitted to the hospital. Emergency department diagnosis of CHF is often based on history and physical examination findings along with results of ancillary tests, such as chest radiography and ECG. Although signs and symptoms of fluid overload, such as lower extremity edema and dyspnea, raise the suspicion of CHF, their lack of sensitivity makes them poor screening tools. The natriuretic peptides are promising markers of myocardial dysfunction and heart failure. Because of their relationship to myocardial pressure and stretching, natriuretic peptides have been investigated over the past 5 decades as both diagnostic and prognostic markers in acute coronary syndromes and CHF. This article discusses each of the natriuretic peptides and attempts to delineate their potential diagnostic and prognostic roles in the ED.
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PMID:Diagnostic and prognostic usefulness of natriuretic peptides in emergency department patients with dyspnea. 1265 54

Cardiovascular (CV) disease in uremic patients is a major concern to the nephrologist because it represents the main cause of morbidity and mortality in chronic renal failure patients, both predialysis and while on dialysis therapy. CV mortality is 3 to 20 times higher in dialysis patients than in the general population at similar age. Of note, a high prevalence of CV comorbidity is already present at start of maintenance dialysis, and is predictive of subsequent mortality on dialysis. CV disease progresses over years prior to the onset of ESRD, because risk factors develop from the early stage of chronic renal insufficiency. However, CV disease may be prevented or attenuated in patients who benefit from early, regular care of CV risk factors. Mechanisms of uremic cardiopathy, the major cause of mortality in uremic patients, are multifactorial and their effects are cumulative. Risk factors for left ventricular hypertrophy are hypertension, anemia, fluid overload and arteriosclosis, all of which are amendable by therapy. Risk factors for accelerated atherosclerosis, responsible for ischemic cardiopathy and myocardial infarction, are both common factors (e.g., hypertension, tobacco smoking and diabetes) and factors more specific for the uremic state (e.g., dyslipidemia, hyperhomocysteinemia and oxidative stress), all of which also are amendable by proper therapy. As a result, mixed hypertensive and ischemic cardiomyopathy develops, ultimately leading to cardiac failure, together with accidents resulting from valvular and arterial calcifications (favored by calcium-phosphate disorders), and from occlusion of coronary, cerebral and peripheral arteries. Cardioprotective therapy thus has become a cornerstone in the management of chronic renal failure patients, in conjunction with renoprotective therapy. Cardioprotective strategy involves optimal treatment of hypertension, anemia, fluid overload, dyslipidemia, hyperhomocysteinemia and calcium-phosphate disorders, and smoking cessation. To achieve a maximal efficacy, such treatment has to be initiated as early as possible in the course of renal failure. Because of its complexity, the integrated combined nephrotective and cardioprotective therapy requires early and sustained guidance by a nephrologist throughout the whole predialysis period.
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PMID:[Cardioprotection: an essential component for predialysis chronic renal failure treatment]. 1272 13

Cardiovascular impairment is frequent during the neonatal period and can be expression of malformative or not-malformative pathology. In both conditions the clinical presentation is often dramatic with cyanosis and/or heart failure. The neonatologist has to make differential diagnosis as soon as possible, because cardiac malformations in the neonatal period are usually ductus arteriosus-dependent and can worsen suddenly after its closure. Since colour Doppler-echocardiography is not available in all the neonatal units in order to be helped in the diagnosis, it is very important that neonatologists learn to use the indications obtained with a careful physical examination and with some simple instrumental tests, as chest X-ray, electrocardiogram and blood gas analysis. In this article a review is made of the most frequent heart malformations associated with cyanosis and/or heart failure during the neonatal period (complete transposition of the great arteries, Fallot's tetralogy, tricuspid and pulmonary atresia, aortic coarctation, interventricular septal defect, persistence of ductus arteriosus) and the most common neonatal pathologic conditions simulating congenital heart diseases (persistence of fetal circulation, neonatal transitory myocardial ischemia, hypervolemia, hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia). Some clinical, instrumental and laboratory findings that could be useful for the diagnosis in absence of echocardiography are also reported.
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PMID:[The newborn with cardiological problems. The dilemma between malformative and non-malformative pathology]. 1275 55

In recent years improvement of pharmacotherapy has led to a reduction of morbidity and mortality of heart failure patients. According to current evidence therapy of chronic heart failure should include ACE inhibitors and beta-Blockers to relieve symptoms and improve prognosis. In patients with fluid overload diuretics should be added. If symptoms persist or in patients with atrial fibrillation cardiac glycosides are indicated. Additional spironolactone can reduce mortality in patients with NYHA class III-IV. If ACE inhibitors are not tolerated or contraindicated AT1 receptor blockers should be considered as second line drugs. Evidence-based management strategies can improve prognosis in heart failure but medication has to be individualized for every patient depending on the presence of comorbid conditions.
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PMID:[Pharmacotherapy of chronic heart failure]. 1280 16

In the last decade the number of patients with congestive heart failure has increased noticeably and today heart failure is one of the major problems in civilized countries. While in earlier decades arterial hypertension was the main reason for developing heart failure, today coronary artery disease has become the focus of attention. However, arterial hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia are also main risk factors for developing coronary artery disease. In addition to non-pharmacological management with reduced fluid intake and periodical exercise training particularly in stable heart failure, in the last decade some special drug compounds have demonstrated a significant reduction in mortality in great double blind randomized trials. ACE-inhibitors and betablockers are essential components in treating congestive heart failure. Angiotensin-II-receptorblockers are indicated if ACE inhibitors and/or beta-blockers are not tolerated. The combined use of all three compounds was shown to result in a further reduction of mortality in the recently presented CHARM study. In progressive heart failure the use of diuretics is necessary and effective especially when fluid overload exists. Not treating heart failure is followed by high mortality, as we know, and so adequate and uncompromising treatment of hypertension is the most important approach to prevent the further development of heart failure.
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PMID:[Therapeutical strategies in hypertensive patients presenting heart failure symptoms]. 1500 83

Clinically unrecognized intravascular volume overload may contribute to worsening symptoms and disease progression in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). The present study was undertaken to prospectively compare measured blood volume status (determined by radiolabeled albumin technique) with clinical and hemodynamic characteristics and patient outcomes in 43 nonedematous ambulatory patients with CHF. Blood volume analysis demonstrated that 2 subjects (5%) were hypovolemic (mean deviation from normal values -20 +/- 6%), 13 subjects (30%) were normovolemic (mean deviation from normal values -1 +/- 1%), and 28 subjects (65%) were hypervolemic (mean deviation from normal values +30 +/- 3%). Physical findings of congestion were infrequent and not associated with blood volume status. Increased blood volume was associated with increased pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (p = 0.01) and greatly increased risk of death or urgent cardiac transplantation during a median follow-up of 719 days (1-year event rate 39% vs 0%, p <0.01 by log-rank test). Systolic blood pressure was significantly lower in hypervolemic patients than in those with normovolemia or hypovolemia (107 +/- 2 vs 119 +/- 2 mm Hg, p = 0.008), and hypotension was independently associated with increased risk of hypervolemia in multivariate analysis (odds ratio 2.64 for a 10-mm Hg decrease in systolic blood pressure, 95% confidence interval 1.13 to 6.19, p = 0.025). These findings demonstrate that clinically unrecognized hypervolemia is frequently present in nonedematous patients with CHF and is associated with increased cardiac filling pressures and worse patient outcomes.
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PMID:Relation of unrecognized hypervolemia in chronic heart failure to clinical status, hemodynamics, and patient outcomes. 1513 99

Severe mid-trimester twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTS) complicates about 15% of monochorionic twin pregnancies. If left untreated, the mortality is 80-100%. The pathophysiological prerequisite for the onset of TTS is unequal blood flow via arteriovenous placental anastomoses from the so-called donor to the recipient twin. This can result in hypovolemia, hypotension and oligo- or anuria in the donor, and hypervolemia, hypertension, polyuria and finally heart failure in the recipient. Leading sonographic signs of TTS include severe oligo- or anhydramnios and a small or absent bladder filling in the donor in contrast to polyhydramnios with increased bladder filling in the recipient. Patients might present with clinical symptoms due to massive polyhydramnios. In severe mid-trimester TTS, fetoscopic laser occlusion of the anastomosing vessels on the placental surface under local anaesthesia plus subsequent amniodrainage is the most promising therapeutic option at present. In acute TTS after 26 weeks of gestation, amniodrainage is the therapy of choice. All patients suspected of this high-risk condition should be referred to a specialized fetal medicine centre.
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PMID:How can we diagnose and manage twin-twin transfusion syndrome? 1527 16

Chronic heart failure affects between 1-5% of the population and rise steeply with age. Most patients with chronic heart failure should be routinely managed with a combination of 4 types of drugs: a diuretic, an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I), beta-blocker and usually digitalis. Diuretics are essential for symptomatic treatment when fluid overload is present, and should always be administrated in combination with ACE-I if possible. ACE-I improves survival and symptoms and reduces hospitalization in patients with moderate to severe ventricular systolic dysfunction, and in the absence of fluid retention should be given first. Angiotensin II receptor antagonist could be considered in patients who not tolerate ACE-I. beta-blocking agents are recommended for treatment of patients with stable, mild, moderate and severe heart failure unless there is a contraindication. Bisoprolol, metoprolol and carvedilol have been associated with reduction in total mortality, cardiovascular mortality and sudden death. Cardiac glycosides are indicated in atrial fibrillation and any degree of symptomatic heart failure in order slow ventricular rate. Indications for antiarrhythmic drug therapy include atrial fibrillation, non-sustained or sustained ventricular tachycardia. Oral anticoagulation reduces the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation, and there is a lack of evidence to support the use of antithrombotic therapy in patients in sinus rhythm.
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PMID:[Pharmacotherapy of chronic heart failure in clinical practice]. 1551 21


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