European Journal of Heart Failure (EUR J HEART FAIL)

Publications in this journal

• Article: Adaptive servo-ventilation therapy improves cardiac sympathetic nerve activity in patients with heart failure.

  Koyama T, Watanabe H, Tamura Y, Oguma Y, Kosaka T, Ito H
  European Journal of Heart Failure 03/2013;
• Article: Cognitive impairment in heart failure: results from the Trial of Intensified versus standard Medical therapy in Elderly patients with Congestive Heart Failure (TIME-CHF) randomized trial

  Marjolein Huijts, Robert van Oostenbrugge, Annelien Duits, Thilo Burkard, Stefano Muzzarelli, Micha Maeder, Ruth Schindler, Matthias Pfisterer, Hans-Peter Brunner-La Rocca
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  ABSTRACT: Aims – Up to 50% of patients with heart failure (HF) may suffer from severe cognitive impairment (SCI), but longitudinal studies are sparse and effects of changes in HF severity on cognitive function are unknown. Therefore, we assessed the prevalence of SCI in HF patients, its relationship with HF severity, its effects on morbidity and mortality and the relationship between changes in HF severity and cognitive function. Methods and Results – We included 611 patients from the Trial of Intensified versus standard Medical therapy in Elderly patients with Congestive Heart Failure (TIME-CHF) and assessed cognitive function (Hodkinson Abbreviated Mental Test [AMT]) in relation to severity of HF (New York Heart Association [NYHA] class, N-terminal brain natriuretic peptides [NT-proBNP]) at baseline and 18 months (N=382) and effects on hospitalization-free survival and mortality. SCI (i.e. AMT-score ≤7) was present in 9.2% of patients at baseline, but only 20% of them had a diagnosis of dementia. Prevalence of SCI remained stable during follow-up. SCI was present at baseline more often in NYHA IV patients compared to NYHA II (OR=2.94; 95%-CI=1.15-7.51, p=.025), but it was not related to NT-proBNP levels. SCI was related to higher mortality (HR=1.53, 95%-CI=1.02-2.30, p=.04), but not hospitalization-free survival. Changes in HF severity were not significantly related with changes in cognitive function. Conclusion – SCI is a frequent, but often unrecognized finding in HF patients, but the influence of HF severity and its changes on cognitive function were less than hypothesized. Clinical Trial Registration Information – http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN43596477 ISRCTN43596477
  European Journal of Heart Failure 02/2013;
• Article: DELETION OF CAMK4 GENE DETERMINES A HYPERTENSIVE PHENOTYPE: A HUMAN GENOME WIDE ANALYSIS SUPPORTED BY ANIMAL MODEL AND IN VITRO STUDIES.

  G. Santulli, AS. Maione, E. Cipolletta, D. Sorriento, A. Anastasio, C. Del Giudice, V. Trimarco, B. Trimarco, M. Illario, G. Iaccarino
  European Journal of Heart Failure 01/2010;
• Article: KINASE DEPENDENT AND INDEPENDENT ROLES OF PI3KGAMMA IN HEART PHYSIOLOGY AND DISEASE.

  A. Perino, E. Ferrero, F. Damilano, A. Ghigo, F. Morello, G. Santulli, G. Iaccarino, JD. Scott, E. Hirsch
  European Journal of Heart Failure 01/2010;
• Article: Patient selection for left ventricular assist devices

  Lars Lund Jennifer Cowger Matthews Keith Aaronson
  European Journal of Heart Failure 01/2010; 12(5-12):434.
• Article: Patient Selection for Left Ventricular Assist Devices

  Lars H Lund, Jennifer Matthews Keith D. Aaronson
  European Journal of Heart Failure 01/2010; 12(5-12):434-443.
• Article: KNOCKOUT MICE FOR CAMK4 GENE DISPLAY A HYPERTENSIVE PHENOTYPE.

  G. Santulli, D. Sorriento, E. Cipolletta, C. Del Giudice, A. Anastasio, M. Marino, V. Trimarco, M. Illario, B. Trimarco, G. Iaccarino
  European Journal of Heart Failure 01/2010;
• Article: Heart failure in patients hospitalized with acute coronary syndromes: observations from the Gulf Registry of Acute Coronary Events (Gulf RACE).

  Alsheikh-Ali AA, Al-Mallah MH, Al-Mahmeed W, Albustani N, Al Suwaidi J, Sulaiman K, Zubaid M, Gulf RACE Investigators, Amin H, Noor H, [......], Khoba F, Abd AL-Hakim Al-Hammadi, AL-Absi M, Tantawi M, Al-zanan K, Al-Rubaidi A, Ali F, Abd ARakeeb Al-GHobari, Shehab M, AL- Awlagi M
  European Journal of Heart Failure 12/2009; 11(12):1135-42..
• Article: The QRS interval in patients treated with resynchronization therapy: which value?

  Giuseppe Boriani, Matteo Bertini, Igor Diemberger, Mauro Biffi, Cristian Martignani
  European Journal of Heart Failure 08/2009; 11(7):635-7.
• Article: Decreased beta-adrenergic responsiveness following hypertrophy occurs only in cardiomyocytes that also re-express beta-myosin heavy chain.

  Kumar Pandya, Kristine Porter, Howard A Rockman, Oliver Smithies
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  ABSTRACT: Cardiac hypertrophy is associated with a reduction in the contractile response to beta-adrenergic stimulation, and with re-expression of foetal genes such as beta-myosin heavy chain (MHC). However, whether these two markers of pathology develop concordantly in the same individual cells or independently in different cells is not known. To answer this question, we examined the beta-adrenergic response of individual beta-MHC expressing and non-expressing myocytes from hypertrophic hearts, using a previously generated mouse model (YFP/beta-MHC) in which a yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) is fused to the native beta-MHC protein allowing easy identification of beta-MHC expressing cells. Yellow fluorescent protein/beta-MHC mice were submitted to 4 weeks of transverse aortic constriction (TAC), and the contractile parameters of isolated individual myocytes in response to the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol were assessed. Our results demonstrate that the decrease in isoproterenol-induced cell shortening that develops in TAC hearts occurs only in those hypertrophic myocytes that re-express beta-MHC. Hypertrophic myocytes that do not express beta-MHC have contractility indices indistinguishable from non-TAC controls. These data show that the reduction of beta-adrenergic response occurs only in subsets, rather than in all myocytes, and is coincident with re-expression of beta-MHC.
  European Journal of Heart Failure 08/2009; 11(7):648-52.
• Article: Intractable cardiogenic shock in stress cardiomyopathy with left ventricular outflow tract obstruction: is extra-corporeal life support the best treatment?

  Massimo Bonacchi, Massimo Maiani, Guy Harmelin, Guido Sani
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  ABSTRACT: We report the use of extra-corporeal cardiopulmonary support (ECLS), in a case of complicating refractory severe cardiogenic shock, in a patient with Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy (TC). Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy syndrome is characterized by left ventricular (LV) wall motion abnormalities, usually without coronary artery disease, mimicking the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome. This ventricular dysfunction is typically reversible in the acute phase, though it can progress into refractory cardiogenic shock with limited therapeutic options available. Here, we report for the first time in a Tako-tsubo patient with refractory cardiogenic shock, the use of ECLS treatment in order to unload the heart, sustain circulation and end-organ perfusion, and promote potential ventricular recovery. Extra-corporeal life support allowed inotropic drug weaning while maintaining end-organ function and supported the patient until myocardial recovery. The patient recovered completely, and a normal LV ejection fraction was documented by 2D echocardiography on day 7. From our experience, ECLS can be an appropriate treatment for severe refractory cardiogenic shock in patients with TC. Extra-corporeal life support was an effective ultimate solution.
  European Journal of Heart Failure 08/2009; 11(7):721-7.
• Article: Heart failure in left-sided native valve infective endocarditis: characteristics, prognosis, and results of surgical treatment.

  Georges Nadji, Dan Rusinaru, Jean-Paul Rémadi, Antoine Jeu, Claire Sorel, Christophe Tribouilloy
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  ABSTRACT: Although congestive heart failure (CHF) represents the most common cause of death in native valve infective endocarditis (IE), recent data on the outcome of IE complicated by CHF are lacking. We aimed to analyse the characteristics and prognosis of patients with left-sided native valve IE complicated by CHF and to evaluate the impact of early surgery on 1 year outcome. Two hundred and fifty-nine consecutive patients with definite left-sided native valve IE according to the Duke criteria were included in this analysis. When compared with patients without CHF (n = 151), new heart murmur, high comorbidity index, aortic valve IE, and severe valve regurgitation were more frequently observed in CHF patients (n = 108, 41.6%). Mitral valve IE, embolic events and neurological events were less frequent in CHF patients. Congestive heart failure was independently predictive of in-hospital [OR 3.8 (1.7-9.0); P = 0.0013] and 1 year mortality [HR 1.8 (1.1-3.0); P = 0.007]. Early surgery was performed in 46% of CHF patients with a peri-operative mortality of 10%. In the CHF group, comorbidity index, Staphylococcus aureus IE, uncontrolled infection, and major neurological events were univariate predictors of 1 year mortality. Early surgery was independently associated with improved 1 year survival [HR 0.45 (0.22-0.93); P = 0.03]. Left-sided native valve IE complicated by CHF is more frequent in aortic IE and is associated with severe regurgitation. Congestive heart failure is an independent predictor of in-hospital and 1 year mortality. In CHF patients, early surgery is independently associated with reduced mortality and should be widely considered to improve outcome.
  European Journal of Heart Failure 08/2009; 11(7):668-75.
• Article: Stroke work or systolic dP/dtmax to evaluate acute response to cardiac resynchronization therapy: are they interchangeable?

  Gerjan de Roest, Paul Knaapen, Marco Götte, Thijs Hendriks, Cor Allaart, Carel de Cock, Albert van Rossum
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  ABSTRACT: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is characterized by a approximately 30% non-response. Invasive haemodynamic measurements are a traditional method to evaluate response to CRT. This study evaluates the correlation between acute changes in dP/dt(max) and Stroke Work (SW) during CRT. Thirty-four CRT candidates were haemodynamically evaluated by pressure-volume loop analysis during biventricular pacing. Mean dP/dt(max) and SW at baseline were 854 +/- 198 and 5186 +/- 2349, and displayed an increase during pacing of 106 +/- 117 mmHg/s (13% +/- 14%) and 1303 +/- 3039 mL/mmHg (30% +/- 52%), respectively. No correlation was found between the percentage change in dP/dt(max) and SW (R = 0.06, P = ns). When defining response an augmentation of 10% relative to baseline for both parameters, 16 patients demonstrated an ambiguous response. Although both parameters display an average increase during pacing, the change relative to baseline values of SW and dP/dt(max) is not related.
  European Journal of Heart Failure 08/2009; 11(7):706-8.
• Article: Blockage of receptor for advanced glycation end products prevents development of cardiac dysfunction in db/db type 2 diabetic mice.

  Jan M Nielsen, Steen B Kristiansen, Rikke Nørregaard, Claus L Andersen, Larry Denner, Torsten T Nielsen, Allan Flyvbjerg, Hans E Bøtker
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  ABSTRACT: Activation of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is associated with long-term complications in diabetes mellitus. In this study, we tested whether RAGE activation in the diabetic myocardium is implicated in the development of cardiac dysfunction. Using MRI and conductance catheter techniques, we evaluated cardiac function in a type 2 diabetic mouse model (db/db), and assessed the effect of blocking RAGE with a RAGE antibody. Gene expressions were evaluated in samples of myocardial tissue. Diabetic db/db mice demonstrated an accelerated age-dependent deterioration in cardiac function associated with altered expression of genes related to cardiac structure and function. Blockage of RAGE signalling prevented the reduction in systolic function (preload recruitable stroke work: 109.8 +/- 13.8 vs. 94.5 +/- 14.9 mmHg/microL, P = 0.04) and development of increased LV diastolic chamber stiffness (0.18 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.27 +/- 0.07 mmHg, P = 0.01). The cardiac expression of collagen (col1a1) was reduced by approximately 45% and the expression of myosin was switched from the foetal isoform (MHCbeta) to the adult isoform (MHCalpha). Activation of RAGE is a significant pathogenetic mechanism for the development of cardiac dysfunction in type 2 diabetes. The underlying mechanisms involve not only the passive biophysical properties of the myocardium but also myocyte function.
  European Journal of Heart Failure 08/2009; 11(7):638-47.
• Article: Ethics in human research: when is clinical practice research?

  Lars H Lund, Karl Swedberg
  European Journal of Heart Failure 07/2009; 11(6):531-2.
• Article: Natriuretic peptides and echocardiography in acute dyspnoea: implication of elevated levels with normal systolic function.

  Keyur B Shah, Willem J Kop, Robert H Christenson, Deborah B Diercks, Dick Kuo, Sue Henderson, Karen Hanson, Shu-Ying Li, Christopher R deFilippi
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  ABSTRACT: Previous evaluations of natriuretic peptide (NP) levels in patients with acute dyspnoea presenting to the emergency department (ED) have selected only a minority of patients for echocardiography. We aimed to evaluate the association between NPs and more subtle echocardiographic findings and to assess the potential for NPs to provide additional prognostic information beyond that provided by echocardiography in 'all-comers' with acute dyspnoea. Prospective echocardiograms were performed on 338/412 patients presenting to the ED with acute dyspnoea. B-type natriuretic peptide and NT-proBNP were measured on presentation. Patients were followed-up for 1 year. Decompensated heart failure was diagnosed in 37% of patients and 13% died. The diagnostic accuracy (c-statistic) of BNP and NT-proBNP for identifying LVEF <or= 40% was 0.88 (P < 0.001) and 0.86 (P < 0.001), respectively. The c-statistics for BNP and NT-proBNP for identifying diastolic dysfunction were 0.67 (P < 0.001) and 0.67 (P < 0.001); but only 0.57 (P = 0.09) and 0.60 (P = 0.02) in patients with LVEF >or= 50%. Natriuretic peptides, but not LV mass or diastolic parameters, independently predicted mortality at 1 year in all patients and in those with an LVEF >or= 50%. In an acute dyspnoea population with 'all-comers' undergoing echocardiography, NPs correlate strongly with structural abnormalities and identify those with preserved LVEF at highest risk for death. Careful interpretation of elevated NP values is needed in the presence of preserved systolic function.
  European Journal of Heart Failure 07/2009; 11(7):659-67.