Publications (2)1.24 Total impact
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Article: Long-term prognostic value of the right ventricular myocardial performance index compared to other indexes of right ventricular function in patients with moderate chronic heart failure.
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ABSTRACT: The ventricular myocardial performance index (MPI) is a feasible echocardiographic parameter for the evaluation of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). The long-term prognostic role of right ventricular MPI (RV MPI) has been already assessed in patients with more advanced CHF but data are lacking in moderate CHF. The aim of the study is to evaluate the possible prognostic role of RV MPI in moderate CHF patients compared to others traditional RV parameters. From 2003 to 2004 we enrolled 95 consecutive NYHA class II CHF patients (65 males and 30 females), with the mean age of 66 ± 11 years with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <40%, on optimal medical treatment. All patients were evaluated clinically and by echocardiography with a follow-up of 5 years (combined end point: cardiovascular mortality and hospitalization for HF). RV MPI was 0.45 ± 0.36, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion was 21 ± 8 mm, RV fractional area change was 42 ± 12%, systolic pulmonary artery pressure was 33 ± 9 mmHg, and acceleration time of pulmonic flow was 115.5 + 22.62 msec. After the 5 year follow-up the total mortality was 24.2% and HF hospitalization rate was 33%. At Cox multivariate analysis only an RV MPI superior to median value (>0.38) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion inferior to median value (<18 mm) had shown a significant prognostic role. The RV MPI in a population of moderate CHF showed to have a more long-term powerful prognostic value than other conventional and traditional echocardiographic right ventricular functional parameters.Echocardiography 04/2012; 29(7):773-8. · 1.24 Impact Factor -
Article: Effects of ranolazine on cardiovascular system.
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ABSTRACT: Chronic stable angina affects 6-7 million Americans and contributes to a significant reduction in quality of life and life expectancy. Current pharmacotherapy for reducing episodes of exertional angina includes β-blockers, calcium channel blockers and long-acting nitrates. Patients may have contraindications to the use of one or more of these agents or be unable to tolerate initial or larger therapeutic doses. As a result of the inability of current management strategies to optimally control episodes of chronic angina, new therapies have been investigated that do not have some of the limitations of current therapies. New therapies for chronic stable angina are based on a mechanism involving membrane current such as the funny current and the late Na current. Ranolazine (Ran) is an antianginal drug acting on I(Na). After its current indication in the chronic stable angina, the role of this molecule is still being studied for prophylaxis of certain arrhythmias and treatment of heart failure. Moreover, have been recently developed new interesting patents of novel pharmaceutical effects and derivates of Ran.Recent patents on cardiovascular drug discovery. 08/2011; 6(3):215-21.
