European journal of heart failure
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Eur. J. Heart Fail. · Aug 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyEfficacy and safety of the pulsed infusions of levosimendan in outpatients with advanced heart failure (LevoRep) study: a multicentre randomized trial.
The aim of this study was to determine whether intermittent ambulatory treatment with levosimendan would improve functional capacity, quality of life, and event-free survival in patients with advanced heart failure. ⋯ Intermittent ambulatory treatment with levosimendan in patients with advanced heart failure did not improve significantly functional capacity or quality of life as compared with placebo. An adequately powered, event-driven trial is warranted to enlarge on our findings.
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Eur. J. Heart Fail. · Aug 2014
ReviewThe role of intravenous vasodilators in acute heart failure management.
Acute heart failure is a major cause of emergency hospital admission, with significant impact on health resources and patient outcomes. With no new treatments for over 20 years, the advent of new innovative therapies may facilitate a radical change in our approach to such patients. In this article, we examine the current evidence for the use of current intravenous vasodilators in AHF management, and review the potential of novel therapies currently in development.
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Eur. J. Heart Fail. · Aug 2014
Growth-differentiation factor 15 and osteoprotegerin in acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock: a biomarker substudy of the IABP-SHOCK II-trial.
This study investigates the role of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and growth-differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) as predictors of outcome in cardiogenic shock (CS) complicating acute myocardial infarction. The novel biomarkers OPG and GDF-15 have shown prognostic impact in various cardiovascular diseases including myocardial infarction. In acute myocardial infarction complicated by CS, the diagnostic and prognostic impact of these biomarkers has not been investigated yet. OPG and GDF-15 may have additional prognostic impact on early prognosis assessment, being potentially useful for decision-making in CS. ⋯ GDF-15 on admission is a significant independent predictor of short-term mortality in infarct-related CS. Trail registration: NCT00491036.
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Eur. J. Heart Fail. · Jul 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialSpinal cord stimulation is safe and feasible in patients with advanced heart failure: early clinical experience.
Pre-clinical work suggests that upper thoracic spinal cord stimulation (SCS) may have therapeutic effects in the treatment of heart failure (HF). We therefore aim to assess the safety and feasibility of SCS in HF patients. ⋯ This study shows that an SCS system can be safely implanted in patients with advanced HF and that the SCS system does not interfere with ICD function.
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Eur. J. Heart Fail. · Jul 2014
Review Meta AnalysisEffects of exercise training on depression in patients with heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
The aim of this review is to assess the effects of exercise training on the symptoms of depression in heart failure (HF) patients. ⋯ Exercise training significantly decreased the symptoms of depression in patients with HF. This benefit remained unclear in cases of HF with a normal EF and combined aerobic and strength training. Random controlled trials are needed to verify the benefit of exercise in these populations, and in very old, asymptomatic, and severe HF patients.