Abnormal nailfold videocapillaroscopic findings in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction

Author(s):  
Serkan Yüksel ◽  
Esra Pancar Yüksel ◽  
Murat Meriç

BACKGROUND: Microvascular dysfunction is one of the pathophysiological mechanisms in heart failure. Nailfold videocapillaroscopy is a noninvasive technique used to examine the microvasculature. OBJECTIVE: In this study; we aimed to investigate the nailfold capillaroscopic abnormalities in heart failure patients with reduced and preserved ejection fraction and compare those with control group. METHODS: Three groups of patients were recruited for the study: HFrEF group includes the patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), HFpEF group, patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and control group, healthy asymptomatic individuals. Nailfold videocapillaroscopy was performed with a videodermatoscope and all nailfold images were evaluated for enlargement and hemorrhages. RESULTS: Abnormal videocapillaroscopic findings including enlargement and/or hemorrhages were present in 7 (24%) patients in HFrEF group, 19 (66%) patients in HFpEF group and 11 (37%) in control group. The number of patients with abnormal videocapillaroscopic findings were significantly greater in HFpEF group compared to HFrEF (p <  0.05) and control groups (p <  0.05). However, no significant difference was observed in videocapillaroscopic findings between HFrEF and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that microvascular abnormalities demonstrated by videodermatoscopic examination of nailfold capillaries are considerably more common in HFpEF patients compared to HFrEF and control groups.

2021 ◽  
pp. 112972982110596
Author(s):  
Eunice Vieira Cavalcante Silva ◽  
Marcelo Eidi Ochiai ◽  
Kelly Regina Novaes Vieira ◽  
Antonio Carlos Pereira Barretto

Background: During decompensated heart failure, the use of intravenous inotropes can be necessary. With peripheral venous access, prolonged inotrope infusion can cause phlebitis. However, traditional central venous catheters have possible complications. Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) may be an alternative to traditional catheters. Aim: Our objective was to compare the incidence of phlebitis between patients with PICC and those with peripheral venous access catheter indwelling. Methods: In a randomized clinical trial, the patients were randomized to PICC and control groups, with 40 patients in each group. The inclusion criteria were hospitalized patients with advanced heart failure, ejection fraction of <0.45, and platelet count of >50,000/mm3 and current use of continuous intravenous infusion of dobutamine. The patients were randomly assigned to receive a PICC or keep their peripheral venous access. The primary end point was the occurrence of phlebitis. Results: The PICC and control groups included 40 patients each. The median age was 61.5 years; ejection fraction, 0.24; and dobutamine dose, 7.73 µg/(kg min). Phlebitis occurred in 1 patient (2.5%) in the PICC group and in 38 patients (95.0%) in the control group, with an odds ratio of 0.10% (95% confidence interval: 0.01%–1.60%, p < 0.001). Conclusion: In conclusion, in severe heart failure patients who received intravenous dobutamine, PICC use reduced the incidence of phlebitis when compared to patients with peripheral venous access. Therefore, the PICC use should considered over peripheral venous access for prolonged intravenous therapy in heart failure patients.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Masuda ◽  
T Kanda ◽  
M Asai ◽  
T Mano ◽  
T Yamada ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The presence of atrial fibrillation (AF) has been demonstrated to be associated with poor clinical outcomes in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction. Objective This study aimed to elucidate the impact of the presence of atrial fibrillation (AF) on the clinical characteristics, therapeutics, and outcomes in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Methods PURSUIT-HFpEF is a multicenter prospective observational study including patients hospitalized for acute heart failure with left ventricular ejection fraction of >50%. Patients with acute coronary syndrome or severe valvular disease were excluded. Results Of 486 HFpEF patients (age, 80.8±9.0 years old; male, 47%) from 24 cardiovascular centers, 199 (41%) had AF on admission. Patients with AF had lower systolic blood pressures (142±27 vs. 155±35mmHg, p<0.0001) and higher heart rates (91±29 vs. 82±26bpm, p<0.0001) than those without. There was no difference in the usage of inotropes or mechanical ventilation between the 2 groups. A higher quality of life score (EQ5D, 0.72±0.27 vs. 0.63±0.30, p=0.002) was observed at discharge in patients with than without AF. In addition, AF patients tended to demonstrate lower in-hospital mortality rates (0.5% vs. 2.4%, p=0.09) and shorter hospital stays (20.3±12.1 vs. 22.6±18.4 days, p=0.09) than those without. During a mean follow up of 360±111 days, mortality (14.1% vs. 15.3) and heart failure re-hospitalization rates (13.1% vs. 13.9%) were comparable between the 2 groups. Conclusion In contrast to heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction, AF on admission was not associated with poor long-term clinical outcomes among HFpEF patients. Several in-hospital outcomes were better in patients with AF than in those without. Acknowledgement/Funding None


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
O Germanova ◽  
G Galati ◽  
YV Shchukin ◽  
AV Germanov ◽  
VA Germanov ◽  
...  

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Nowadays the term "heart-vessels failure" does not exist. Aim. To study the kinetics and hemodynamics of arteries in the patients with heart failure with different ejection fraction. Materials and methods. In our investigation we included 74 patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction more than 55% (44 were men and 30 women). Mediana age – 71,3 years old. In the control group we included 52 practically healthy people without cardiac and vessels pathologies.  We divided patients into two groups (I and II) in accordance to the presence of clinical manifestations of heart failure in them. Group I - with clinical symptoms of heart failure (32), group II –without heart failure symptoms (42).  We paid attention to the symptoms of  heart failure, myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathies, valves defects, operations on heart in anamnesis. We performed 24-hours ECG monitoring, general blood analysis, biochemical blood analysis (lipids, electrolytes, urine, creatinine, bilirubin, potassium, glucose, NT-proBNP),  transthoracic echocardiography, ultrasound doppler of brachiocephalic arteries, abdominal aorta branches, lower extremities arteries, renal arteries, chest radiography, ultrasound investigation of B-lines. If prescribed we performed stress echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, coronary angiography, renal arteries angiography, pancerebral angiography, magnet tomography of heart. All patients were registered sphygmography of main arteries: a.carotis communis, ulnaris, radialis, a.tibialis posterior. We analyzed the regular contractions in each type of arteries. The main parameters main arteries kinetics using sphygmography we calculated in automatic mode: speed, acceleration, power, work in period of prevalence of inflow over outflow and in period of  prevalence of outflow over inflow.  Results. We analysed the main parameters of arteries kinetics and hemodynamics in each group of patients as well as in control group. We observed the effects: 1)In group II the parameters of arteries kinetics were higher than in group I. It indicates the active propulsive work of arteries in spreading the stroke volume of the heart. 2)In group I the parameters of arteries kinetics were lower than in control group. It indicates that propulsive function of the arteries is reduced in patients with heart failure. Conclusion. Arterial vessels are active, full-fledged participant in cardiovascular system. Vessels make an active work in blood movement from the heart to the distal parts and tissues. The clinical manifestations of heart failure are determined not only the heart function but also the function of arteries that is needed to be examined. In patients with preserved ejection fraction we can observe the symptoms of heart failure, the function abilities of arteries are reduced. The term "heart-vessels failure" should be used and applied not only to the heart but also to the arteries function in their coupling with heart. Abstract Figure.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 623-633 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Sato ◽  
Akiomi Yoshihisa ◽  
Masayoshi Oikawa ◽  
Toshiyuki Nagai ◽  
Tsutomu Yoshikawa ◽  
...  

Introduction: Hyponatremia predicts adverse prognosis in patients with heart failure in particular with reduced ejection fraction. In contrast, it has recently been reported that hyponatremia on admission is not a predictor of post-discharge mortality in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. We investigated the prognostic impact of hyponatremia at discharge in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and its clinical characteristics. Methods and results: The Japanese Heart Failure Syndrome with Preserved Ejection Fraction (JASPER) registry is a nationwide, observational, prospective registration of consecutive Japanese patients hospitalised with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and left ventricular ejection fraction of 50% or greater. Five hundred consecutive patients were enrolled in this analysis. We divided the patients into two groups based on their sodium serum levels at discharge: hyponatremia group (sodium <135 mEq/L, n=50, 10.0%) and control group (sodium ⩾135 mEq/L, n=450, 90.0%). This present analysis had two primary endpoints: all-cause death and all-cause death or rehospitalisation for heart failure. At discharge, the hyponatremia group had lower systolic blood pressure (110.0 mmHg vs. 114.5 mmHg, P=0.014) and higher levels of urea nitrogen (31.9 mg/dL vs. 24.2 mg/dL, P=0.032). In the Kaplan–Meier analysis, more patients in the hyponatremia group reached the primary endpoints than those in the control group (log rank <0.01, respectively). In the Cox proportional hazard analysis, hyponatremia at discharge was a predictor of the two endpoints (all-cause death, hazard ratio 2.708, 95% confidence interval 1.557–4.708, P<0.001; all-cause death or rehospitalisation for heart failure, hazard ratio 1.829, 95% confidence interval 1.203–2.780, P=0.005). Conclusions: Hyponatremia at discharge is associated with adverse prognosis in hospitalised patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.


PRILOZI ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-145
Author(s):  
Zharko Hristovski ◽  
Daniela Projevska-Donegati ◽  
Ljubica Georgievska-Ismail

Abstract Objective: Exercise intolerance in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is most often attributed to diastolic dysfunction (DD); however, chronotropic incompetence (CI) could also play an important role. We intended to examine whether there are predictive echocardiographic parameters of DD for impaired chronotropic response to exercise. Methods and Results: Patients (n = 143) with unexplained dyspnea and/or exercise intolerance who fulfilled clinical and echocardiographic criteria of HFpEF presence underwent a symptom-limited exercise test using a treadmill (ETT) according to the Bruce protocol. CI was defined as an achieved heart rate reserve (HRR) of ≤ 80%. Comparison of the groups with (n = 98) and without CI (n = 45) did not show any statistically significant difference regarding demographic and clinical character-ristics except for use of beta blockers (BB) that were more frequently present (p = 0.012) in patients with CI in comparison with those without. Patients with CI had a higher mean E-wave velocity, E/A ratio, increased E/E‵ septal, lateral as well as average ratio and abnormal IVRT/TE-e‵ index all consistent with elevated LV filling pressures. E/E‵ average ratio > 15 was statistically insignificantly more frequently present in patients with CI. In addition, by multivariate stepwise regression analysis value of E‵ septal (β = 3.697, 95%CI 0.921–6.473, p = 0.009) along with use of BB, current smoking and basal heart rate appeared as statistically significant independent predictors of lower HRR %. Conclusion: Patients with HFpEF frequently have chronotropic incompetence to graded exercise which may partly be predicted with echocardiographic parameters that are consistent with elevated LV filling pressures.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
E Babayigit ◽  
Y Cavusoglu ◽  
M Dural ◽  
K U Mert ◽  
T Ulus ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Heart and brain interaction is a well-known entity in heart failure (HF) and left ventricular systolic dysfunction poses an increased risk for stroke and cognitive impairment. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) provides valuable information on cerebral blood flow and detects microembolic signals that can be used to determine the risk of cerebrovascular events. However, less is known about cerebral blood flow in HF patients with reduced EF. So, we aimed to evaluate cerebral blood flow rates by means of TCD in HF patients with reduced ejection fraction (EF). Methods This study included 46 HF patients with an EF less than 35% (mean age 65.2±11 years, mean EF 20.1±3.8%) who underwent to TCD examination. In addition, 26 healthy individuals with sinus rhythm and EF >50% (mean age 64.4±9.0 years, mean EF 63.5±2.38%) were included in the study as a control group. Minimum, maximum and mean flow velocities of the both right middle cerebral artery (RMCA) and left middle cerebral artery (LMCA) determined by TCD were analyzed. Results The average of RMCA maximum and mean flow velocities were found to be significantly lower in HF patients than those in control group (76,06±23,7 cm/s and 48,49±16,4 cm/s in HF group vs 87,84±14,5 cm/s and 56,41±10,7 cm/s in control group, p=0,025 and p=0,016, respectively). The average of LMCA maximum and mean flow velocities were also significantly lower in HF patients than those in control group (75,1±22,3 cm/s and 47,57±14.8 cm/s in HF group vs 88,73±17,7 cm/s and 57,15±12,4 cm/s in control group, p=0,009 and p=0,007, respectively). However, there was no significant difference in minimum RMCA or LMCA flow velocities between HF group and control groups (33,5±10,6 cm/s and 32,86±9,58 cm/s in HF group vs 36,34±9,2 cm/s and 36,53±10,4 cm/s in control group, p=0,226 and p=0,157, respectively). No significant microembolic signals were detected in HF and control groups. Conclusions The results of this study showed that HF patients with reduced EF have lower cerebral blood flow velocities as compared to healthy controls, which might be one of the explanations of the adverse interaction between heart and brain in HF.


2020 ◽  
pp. 088506662093441
Author(s):  
Tara L. Ruder ◽  
Kevin R. Donahue ◽  
A. Carmine Colavecchia ◽  
David Putney ◽  
Mukhtar Al-Saadi

Background: Dexmedetomidine (DEX) can cause hypotension complicating its use in critically ill patients with labile hemodynamics secondary to an underlying disease state such as heart failure. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of DEX on mean arterial pressure (MAP) in nonsurgical patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Methods: This retrospective single-center cohort study evaluated patients who received DEX in the cardiac care and medical intensive care units at a large academic hospital. The primary end point was the change in MAP within 6 hours following DEX initiation. Results: Sixty-five patients with HFrEF diagnosis were compared 1:1 to a control group without HFrEF. Both groups experienced a decrease in MAP over the study period. Patients with HFrEF had a greater absolute percentage reduction in MAP 1 hour following DEX initiation compared to the control group (−9.6% vs −5.2%; P < .01). When accounting for the combined effect of DEX initiation and HFrEF diagnosis on the primary end point, patients with HFrEF did not have a significant difference in MAP compared to the control group over the study period. Conclusions: Within 6 hours following DEX initiation, both groups experienced a decrease in MAP. The effect of DEX on MAP over the composite time period was not found to be significantly different in the HFrEF group compared to the non-HFrEF group. However, patients with HFrEF experienced a greater reduction in MAP in the first hour following DEX initiation compared to the non-HFrEF group. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate the effect of DEX on patients with acute decompensated HFrEF compared to patients with compensated HFrEF.


2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher R deFilippi ◽  
G Michael Felker ◽  
◽  

For many with heart failure, including the elderly and those with a preserved ejection fraction, both risk stratification and treatment are challenging. For these large populations and others there is increasing recognition of the role of cardiac fibrosis in the pathophysiology of heart failure. Galectin-3 is a novel biomarker of fibrosis and cardiac remodelling that represents an intriguing link between inflammation and fibrosis. In this article we review the biology of galectin-3, recent clinical research and its application in the management of heart failure patients.


2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Nazli Zainuddin ◽  
Nurul Azira Mohd Shah ◽  
Rosdan Salim

Introduction: The role of virgin coconut oil in the treatment of allergic rhinitis is controversial. Thus, the aim of the present study is to determine the effects of virgin coconut oil ingestion, in addition to standard medications, on allergic rhinitis. We also studied the side effects of consumption of virgin coconut oil. Methods: Fifty two subjects were equally divided into test and control groups. All subjects received a daily dose of 10mg of loratadine for 28 days. The test group was given 10ml of virgin coconut oil three times a day in addition to loratadine. The symptoms of allergic rhinitis were scored at the beginning and end of the study. Results:, the symptom score were divided into nasal and non-nasal symptom scores. Sneezing score showed a significant difference, however the score was more in control group than test group, indicating that improvement in symptom was more in control group. The rest of the nasal symptom and non-nasal symptom score showed no significant difference between test and control groups. Approximately 58% of the test subjects developed side effects from consumption of virgin coconut oil, mainly gastrointestinal side effects. Conclusion: In the present study, ingestion of virgin coconut oil does not improve the overall and individual symptoms of allergic rhinitis, furthermore it has side effects.


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