Left ventricular remodelling and prognosis after discharge in new‐onset acute heart failure with reduced ejection fraction

Abstract Aims The PARADIGM-HF trial proved the superiority of sacubitril/valsartan (Sa/Va) vs. enalapril in reducing mortality and hospitalization for heart failure (HF). Sacubitril/valsartan, new drug used in treatment of heart failure with reduced systolic function (HFrEF) has recently been shown to improve tolerance to exercise and cardiovascular performance. Methods and results We prospectively enrolled 40 outpatient patients with HFrEF with indication for therapy with sacubitril/valsartan and subjected to serial controls with blood tests, echocardiogram before and during gradual optimization of therapy, with the aim of evaluating the effects of the drug on left ventricular remodelling. We studied 40 patients treated with sacubitril/valsartan for at least 3 months. After a mean follow-up of 120 ± 40 days, 95% of patients reached the maximum dose of the drug without major side effects. The ejection fraction increased while end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes of the left ventricle decreased. We also observed a significant reduction in NT-proBNP values without significant worsening of renal function or hyperkalaemia. There NYHA functional class has improved with a positive impact on the prognosis of heart failure at 2 years (P = 0.006). Conclusions In our population, medium-term treatment with sacubitril/valsartan demonstrated a favourable effect on left ventricular remodelling and functional status, confirming the data of previous clinical trials in real life. One more follow-up long and a larger population will help confirm these to confirm these positive effects of the drug on patients with HfrEF.

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Interleukin 6 and Development of Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction in the General Population

Journal of the American Heart Association ◽

10.1161/jaha.120.018549 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

Author(s):

Yook Chin Chia ◽

Lyanne M. Kieneker ◽

Gaston van Hassel ◽

S. Heleen Binnenmars ◽

Ilja M. Nolte ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Heart Failure ◽

Ejection Fraction ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Left Ventricular Ejection ◽

Preserved Ejection Fraction ◽

Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽

Reduced Ejection Fraction ◽

New Onset

Background The cause of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is poorly understood, and specific therapies are lacking. Previous studies suggested that inflammation plays a role in the development of HFpEF. Herein, we aimed to investigate in community‐dwelling individuals whether a higher plasma interleukin 6 (IL‐6) level is associated with an increased risk of developing new‐onset heart failure (HF) over time, and specifically HFpEF. Methods and Results We performed a case‐cohort study based on the PREVEND (Prevention of Renal and Vascular End‐Stage Disease) study, a prospective general population‐based cohort study. We included 961 participants, comprising 200 participants who developed HF and a random group of 761 controls. HF with reduced ejection fraction or HFpEF was defined on the basis of the left ventricular ejection fraction of ≤40% or >40%, respectively. In Cox proportional hazard regression analyses, IL‐6 levels were statistically significantly associated with the development of HF (hazard ratio [HR], 1.28; 95% CI, 1.02–1.61; P =0.03) after adjustment for key risk factors. Specifically, IL‐6 levels were significantly associated with the development of HFpEF (HR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.16–2.19; P =0.004), whereas the association with HF with reduced ejection fraction was nonsignificant (HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.75–1.47; P =0.77). In sensitivity analyses, defining HFpEF as left ventricular ejection fraction ≥50%, IL‐6 levels were also significantly associated with the development of HFpEF (HR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.04–2.06; P =0.03) after adjustment for key risk factors. Conclusions IL‐6 is associated with new‐onset HFpEF in community‐dwelling individuals, independent of potential confounders. Our findings warrant further research to investigate whether IL‐6 might be a novel treatment target to prevent HFpEF.

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Postinfarct Left Ventricular Remodelling: A Prevailing Cause of Heart Failure

Cardiology Research and Practice ◽

10.1155/2016/2579832 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Alessio Galli ◽

Federico Lombardi

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

High Morbidity ◽

Ventricular Remodelling ◽

Left Ventricular Remodelling ◽

Reduced Ejection Fraction ◽

History Of ◽

Myocardial Fibers

Heart failure is a chronic disease with high morbidity and mortality, which represents a growing challenge in medicine. A major risk factor for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction is a history of myocardial infarction. The expansion of a large infarct scar and subsequent regional ventricular dilatation can cause postinfarct remodelling, leading to significant enlargement of the left ventricular chamber. It has a negative prognostic value, because it precedes the clinical manifestations of heart failure. The characteristics of the infarcted myocardium predicting postinfarct remodelling can be studied with cardiac magnetic resonance and experimental imaging modalities such as diffusion tensor imaging can identify the changes in the architecture of myocardial fibers. This review discusses all the aspects related to postinfarct left ventricular remodelling: definition, pathogenesis, diagnosis, consequences, and available therapies, together with experimental interventions that show promising results against postinfarct remodelling and heart failure.

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Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction – A Review

US Cardiology Review ◽

10.15420/usc.2012.9.2.90 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 90-95 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Otto A Smiseth ◽

Anders Opdahl ◽

Espen Boe ◽

Helge Skulstad

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Ejection Fraction ◽

Diastolic Heart Failure ◽

The Elderly ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Filling Pressure ◽

Left Ventricular Ejection ◽

Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽

Reduced Ejection Fraction ◽

Objective Evidence

Heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HF-PEF), sometimes named diastolic heart failure, is a common condition most frequently seen in the elderly and is associated with arterial hypertension and left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. Symptoms are attributed to a stiff left ventricle with compensatory elevation of filling pressure and reduced ability to increase stroke volume by the Frank-Starling mechanism. LV interaction with stiff arteries aggravates these problems. Prognosis is almost as severe as for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HF-REF), in part reflecting co-morbidities. Before the diagnosis of HF-PEF is made, non-cardiac etiologies must be excluded. Due to the non-specific nature of heart failure symptoms, it is essential to search for objective evidence of diastolic dysfunction which, in the absence of invasive data, is done by echocardiography and demonstration of signs of elevated LV filling pressure, impaired LV relaxation, or increased LV diastolic stiffness. Antihypertensive treatment can effectively prevent HF-PEF. Treatment of HF-PEF is symptomatic, with similar drugs as in HF-REF.

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Levosimendan use in patients with acute heart failure and reduced ejection fraction with or without severe renal dysfunction in critical cardiac care units: a multi-institution database study

Annals of Intensive Care ◽

10.1186/s13613-021-00810-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Cze-Ci Chan ◽

Kuang-Tso Lee ◽

Wan-Jing Ho ◽

Yi-Hsin Chan ◽

Pao-Hsien Chu

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Renal Function ◽

Ejection Fraction ◽

Acute Heart Failure ◽

Cardiac Care ◽

Chang Gung Memorial Hospital ◽

Research Database ◽

Cohort Entry ◽

Reduced Ejection Fraction ◽

Abnormal Renal Function

Abstract Background Acute heart failure is a life-threatening clinical condition. Levosimendan is an effective inotropic agent used to maintain cardiac output, but its usage is limited by the lack of evidence in patients with severely abnormal renal function. Therefore, we analyzed data of patients with acute heart failure with and without abnormal renal function to examine the effects of levosimendan. Methods We performed this retrospective cohort study using data from the Chang Gung Research Database (CGRD) of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (CGMH). Patients admitted for heart failure with LVEF ≤ 40% between January 2013 and December 2018 who received levosimendan or dobutamine in the critical cardiac care units (CCU) were identified. Patients with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) were excluded. Outcomes of interest were mortality at 30, 90, and 180 days after the cohort entry date. Results There were no significant differences in mortality rate at 30, 90, and 180 days after the cohort entry date between the levosimendan and dobutamine groups, or between subgroups of patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 and eGFR < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 or on dialysis. The results were consistent before and after propensity score matching. Conclusions Levosimendan did not increase short- or long-term mortality rates in critical patients with acute heart failure and reduced ejection fraction compared to dobutamine, regardless of their renal function. An eGFR less than 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 was not necessarily considered a contraindication for levosimendan in these patients.

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Prognostic value of global longitudinal layer specific strain for patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/ehjci/ehaa946.0117 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽

Author(s):

C Johnsen ◽

M Sengeloev ◽

P Joergensen ◽

N Bruun ◽

D Modin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Ejection Fraction ◽

Prognostic Value ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Volume Index ◽

Funding Source ◽

Reduced Ejection Fraction ◽

Patients With Heart Failure ◽

All Cause Mortality ◽

Echocardiographic Parameters

Abstract Background Novel echocardiographic software allows for layer-specific evaluation of myocardial deformation by 2-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography. Endocardial, epicardial- and whole wall global longitudinal strain (GLS) may be superior to conventional echocardiographic parameters in predicting all-cause mortality in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of endocardial-, epicardial- and whole wall GLS in patients with HFrEF in relation to all-cause mortality. Methods We included and analyzed transthoracic echocardiographic examinations from 1,015 patients with HFrEF. The echocardiographic images were analyzed, and conventional and novel echocardiographic parameters were obtained. A p value in a 2-sided test <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Cox proportional hazards regression models were constructed, and both univariable and multivariable hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated. Results During a median follow-up time of 40 months, 171 patients (16.8%) died. A lower endocardial (HR 1.17; 95% CI (1.11–1.23), per 1% decrease, p<0.001), epicardial (HR 1.20; 95% CI (1.13–1.27), per 1% decrease, p<0.001), and whole wall (HR 1.20; 95% CI (1.14–1.27), per 1% decrease, p<0.001) GLS were all associated with higher risk of death (Figure 1). Both endocardial (HR 1.12; 95% CI (1.01–1.23), p=0.027), epicardial (HR 1.13; 95% CI (1.01–1.26), p=0.040) and whole wall (HR 1.13; 95% CI (1.01–1.27), p=0.030) GLS remained independent predictors of mortality in the multivariable models after adjusting for significant clinical parameters (age, sex, total cholesterol, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, ischemic cardiomyopathy, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and diabetes) and conventional echocardiographic parameters (left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, LV mass index, left atrial volume index, deceleration time, E/e', E-velocity, E/A ratio and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion). No other echocardiographic parameters remained an independent predictors after adjusting. Furthermore, endocardial, epicardial and whole wall GLS had the highest C-statistics of all the echocardiographic parameters. Conclusion Endocardial, epicardial and whole wall GLS are independent predictors of all-cause mortality in patients with HFrEF. Furthermore, endocardial, epicardial and whole wall GLS were superior prognosticators of all-cause mortality compared with all other echocardiographic parameters. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Herlev and Gentofte Hospital

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