International journal of cardiology
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Review
Efficacy and safety of mineralocorticoid receptors in mild to moderate arterial hypertension.
The mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists have been shown to have favourable safety and cost-effectiveness profiles across a broad range of clinical indications, including heart failure, primary aldosteronism and resistant hypertension. The clinical biology of the first aldosterone blocker, i.e. spironolactone, and its effects in several organ systems has been well elucidated from multiple studies. The range of adverse effects experienced with spironolactone has led to its modification and the consequent synthesis of eplerenone. ⋯ In general, 100mg daily eplerenone has a blood pressure lowering that is 50 to 75% that of spironolactone. Eplerenone results in a greater reduction in blood pressure as compared with losartan, and comparison between eplerenone and amlodipine shows that both treatments decrease systolic blood pressure to a similar extent but eplerenone is better tolerated. In conclusion, there is now evidence that eplerenone can play an important role in the treatment of mild to moderate arterial hypertension and therefore scientific experts and regulatory authorities should support its wider use in clinical practice worldwide.
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Review Comparative Study
Left ventricular vs. biventricular mechanical support: Decision making and strategies for avoidance of right heart failure after left ventricular assist device implantation.
Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are safer and provide better survival and better quality of life than biventricular assist devices (BVADs) but end-stage heart failure often involves both ventricles, even if its initial cause was left-sided heart disease. Right ventricular failure (RVF) is also a severe complication in about 25% of patients receiving an LVAD, with high perioperative morbidity (renal, hepatic or multi-organ failure) and mortality. Patients who receive an RV assist device (RVAD) only days after LVAD insertion fare much worse than those who receive an RVAD simultaneously with LVAD implantation. ⋯ This article summarizes the knowledge of risk factors for irreversible RVF after LVAD implantation and strategies to optimize RV function (preoperatively, intra-operatively and post-operatively) aimed to reduce the number of BVAD implantations. Special attention is focused on assessment of RV size, geometry and function in relation to loading conditions with the goal of predicting preoperatively the RV changes which might be induced by RV afterload reduction with the LVAD. The review also provides a theoretical and practical basis for clinicians intending to be engaged in this field.
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Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart arrhythmia. Untreated AF incurs a considerable burden of stroke and associated healthcare costs. Asians have AF risk factors similar to Caucasians and a similarly increased risk of AF-related stroke; however, with a vast and rapidly ageing population, Asia bears a disproportionately large disease burden. ⋯ These agents may therefore provide an appropriate alternative to warfarin in Asian patients. There is considerable scope to improve stroke prevention in AF in Asia. Key priorities include: early detection of AF and identification of asymptomatic patients; assessment of stroke and bleeding risk for all AF patients; evidence-based pharmacotherapy with direct-acting oral anticoagulant agents or vitamin K antagonists for AF patients at risk of stroke; controlling hypertension; and awareness-raising, education and outreach among both physicians and patients.
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Letter Review Comparative Study
Plausible speculations on the pathophysiology of Takotsubo syndrome.