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[Echocardiographic prediction of outcome in patients with congestive heart failure and mitral regurgitation].

BACKGROUND: Congestive heart failure is associated with the increase risk of death or cardiac transplantation. The ability of current techniques to predict outcome in heart failure is rather limited. Identification of the patients at risk of cardiac death or requiring heart transplantation is clinically important. The changing rate of left ventricular pressure during the cardiac cycle is an important parameter in the assessment of myocardial systolic function. Non-invasive echocardiographic method--dP/dt has been proposed to determine the isovolumic phase of cardiac function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of Doppler-derived dP/dt to predict survival in patients with congestive heart failure. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty one patients (22M, 9W), mean age 55 +/- 11.2 years, with CHF (LVEF < 45%, NYHA II-IV class) and chronic mitral regurgitation were analyzed. The echocardiography, cardiopulmonary exercise test and clinical follow-up were performed in all of them. The ejection fraction was calculated using the Simpson's method from apical 4-chamber view. The dP/dt index was derived from the continuous-wave Doppler spectrum. The mean follow-up period was 28.5 +/- 12 months. According to the clinical status the patients were divided into two groups: group I--21 event-free patients and group II--10 patients who experienced primary events (5 died and 5 underwent heart transplantation). RESULTS: In the group of primary events patients there was noted a significant decrease of the dP/dt index in comparison to the event-free patients: 463 mmHg/s vs 839 mmHg/s (p=0.0001). The correlation between dP/dt and ejection fraction, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter as well as between the parameters of cardiopulmonary exercise test VO2peak, VO2AT, VE/VCO2peak was found. CONCLUSIONS: Doppler echocardiographic index of dP/dt can predict the outcome in patients with congestive heart failure. Dp/dt can be useful as a prognostic factor in patients with CHF. A significant correlation was observed between dP/dt and VO2peak as well as VE/VCO2peak which are independent prognostic predictors.

Adult↗

Differential changes in sympathetic activity in left and right ventricles in congestive heart failure after myocardial infarction.

Although congestive heart failure subsequent to myocardial infarction is known to be associated with increased sympathetic activity, very little information regarding changes in the sympathetic nerves in the left and right ventricles at various stages after infarction is available. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to coronary artery ligation and studied 4 and 8 weeks later; these animals had mild and moderate stages of congestive heart failure. A sham group, without coronary ligation, was used as control. Four weeks after myocardial infarction, plasma and ventricular (left and right) epinephrine (EPI), unlike norepinephrine (NE), were markedly increased. Whereas plasma catecholamine (EPI and NE) levels were increased 8 weeks after infarction, NE concentration in the left ventricle was unchanged but EPI concentration was increased in comparison with sham control. The right ventricle showed an increased level of both NE and EPI 8 weeks after infarction. Measurement of the rate of change in the specific activity of NE (NE turnover) in the left and right ventricles 8 weeks after infarction revealed an increase in NE turnover in the left ventricle, without any changes in the right ventricle. The concentration of EPI, unlike NE, was increased in the kidney, spleen, and brain 8 weeks after coronary occlusion. These results are interpreted to mean that congestive heart failure caused by myocardial infarction is associated with differential changes in the status of sympathetic nerves in the left and right ventricles; sympathetic activity is increased only in the left ventricle, whereas the right ventricle may play an adaptive role by increasing catecholamine stores during the development of heart failure.

Animals↗

Intermittent dobutamine hydrochloride infusions in outpatients with chronic congestive heart failure.

Patients with severe chronic congestive heart failure were treated with intermittent dobutamine hydrochloride infusions administered on an outpatient basis with a portable infusion device. Eleven patients (eight women and three men), ages 28-71 years, were given initial dobutamine hydrochloride infusions at a rate of 1-2 micrograms/kg/min, and the dose was gradually increased to a maximum dose of 15 micrograms/kg/min. Patients were considered dobutamine responders if their cardiac output increased by at least 30% and pulmonary-capillary wedge pressure did not rise. After a sustained hemodynamic response was demonstrated, the infusion was discontinued to assess the patients' symptoms during drug-free intervals. The patients were instructed and trained in proper catheter care after a venous-access catheter was surgically implanted. Patients were also shown how to use the ambulatory infusion pump. The patients were treated with long-term intermittent dobutamine hydrochloride infusions for 3-24 months. All patients adjusted easily to the routine of catheter and pump care and drug administration. The mean dose of dobutamine hydrochloride resulting in the maximum improvement in cardiac index was 9.4 micrograms/kg/min. All patients observed an improvement in their symptoms of congestive heart failure during the drug infusions and the intervals between the infusions. There was a mean reduction of 1.2 in New York Heart Association functional class. There were 18 congestive heart failure-related hospital readmissions among the 11 patients during 108 cumulative months of long-term dobutamine therapy. The intermittent administration of dobutamine hydrochloride via a portable infusion system appears to have improved the functional capacity of the 11 patients studied. This may be a viable treatment alternative for selected ambulatory patients with severe heart failure who demonstrate hemodynamic improvement with dobutamine.

Adult↗

Effects of clopidogrel and aspirin combination versus aspirin alone on platelet aggregation and major receptor expression in patients with heart failure: the Plavix Use for Treatment Of Congestive Heart Failure (PLUTO-CHF) trial.

BACKGROUND: Persistent platelet activation may contribute to thrombotic events in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Chronic use of mild platelet inhibitors could therefore represent an independent avenue to improve morbidity, mortality, and quality of life in this expanding population. Although clopidogrel is widely used in patients with acute coronary syndromes and ischemic stroke, the ability of this novel ADP-receptor antagonist to inhibit platelet function in patients with CHF is unknown. We assessed antiplatelet properties of clopidogrel with aspirin (C+A) versus aspirin alone (A) in patients with CHF with heightened platelet activity. METHODS: Patients with left ventricular ejection fraction <40%, or CHF symptoms in the setting of preserved systolic function and New York Heart Association class II-IV were screened. Patients were considered to have platelet activation when 4 of the following 5 parameters were met: ADP-induced platelet aggregation >60%; collagen-induced aggregation >70%; whole blood aggregation >18 ohms; expression of GP IIb/IIIa >220 log MFI; and P-selectin cell positivity >8%. All patients were treated with 325 mg of acetylsalycilic acid (ASA) for at least 1 month. Patients receiving an antithrombotic agent other than ASA were excluded. Patients meeting clinical and laboratory criteria were randomly assigned to C+A (n=25), A (n=25) groups, or represent screen failures (n=38). Platelet studies (conventional and whole blood aggregometry, shear-induced activation, expression of 10 major receptors and formation of platelet-leukocyte microparticles) were performed at baseline and after 30 days of therapy. RESULTS: There were no deaths, hospitalizations, or serious adverse events. There were no changes in platelet parameters in the A group. In contrast, therapy with C+A resulted in a significant inhibition of platelet activity assessed by ADP-induced (P =.00001), and epinephrine-induced (P =.0016) aggregation, closure time (P =.04), expression of PECAM-1 (P =.009), GP Ib (P =.006), GP IIb/IIIa antigen (P =.0001), GP IIb/IIIa activity with PAC-1 (P =.0021), and CD151 (P =.0026) when compared with the A group. Therapy with C+A also resulted in the reduced formation of platelet-leukocyte microparticles (P =.021). Collagen-induced aggregation in plasma and in whole blood, expression of vitronectin receptor, P-selectin, CD63, CD107a, and CD107b did not differ among groups. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with C+A for 1 month provides significantly greater inhibition of platelet activity than ASA alone in patients with CHF. Patients with CHF with heightened platelet activity represent a potential target population in which addition of clopidogrel may decrease mortality rates by reducing the incidence of thrombotic vascular events.

Aged↗