Brain Natriuretic Peptide Levels Predict Morbidity and Mortality in Haemodialysis Patients

Background: Brain natriuretic peptide is a predictor of mortality in multiple cardiovascular diseases but its value in patients with chronic kidney disease is still a matter of debate. Patients and methods: We studied 48 haemodialysis patients with mean age 70.0±13.9 years,62.5% female, 43.8% diabetics, with a mean haemodialysis time of 38.1±29.3 months. To evaluate the role of brain natriuretic peptide as a prognostic factor in this population we performed a two-session evaluation of pre- and postmid-week haemodialysis plasma brain natriuretic peptide concentrations and correlated them with hospitalisation and overall and cardiovascular mortality over a two-year period. Results: There were no significant variations in pre– and post-haemodialysis plasma brain natriuretic peptide concentrations. Pre- and post-haemodialysis brain natriuretic peptide concentrations were significantly greater in patients who died from all causes(p=0.034 and p=0.001, respectively) and from cardiovascular causes (p=0.043 and p=0.001, respectively). Patients who were hospitalised in the two-year study period also presented greater pre- and posthaemodialysis brain natriuretic peptide concentrations(p=0.03 and p=0.036, respectively). Patients with mean brain natriuretic peptide concentrations ≥ 390 pg/mL showed a significantly lower survival at the end of the two-year study period. Conclusion: Brain natriuretic peptide was a good predictor of morbidity and mortality (overall and cardiovascular) in our population.

Coronary Revascularization Induces a Shift From Cardiac Toward Noncardiac Mortality Without Improving Survival in Vascular Surgery Patient

OBJECTIVE: Although evidence has shown that ischemic heart disease (IHD) in vascular surgery patients has a negative impact on the prognosis after surgery, it is unclear whether directed treatment of IHD may influence cause-specific and overall mortality. The objective of this study was to determine the prognostic implication of coronary revascularization (CR) on overall and cause-specific mortality in vascular surgery patients. METHODS: Patients undergoing surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm, carotid artery stenosis, or peripheral artery disease in a university hospital in The Netherlands between January 2003 and December 2011 were retrospectively included. Survival estimates were obtained by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1104 patients were included. Adjusted survival analyses showed that IHD significantly increased the risk of overall mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.21-1.87) and cardiovascular death (HR, 1.93; 95% confidence interval, 1.35-2.76). Compared with those without CR, patients previously undergoing CR had similar overall mortality (HR, 1.38 vs 1.62; P = .274) and cardiovascular mortality (HR, 1.83 vs 2.02; P = .656). Nonrevascularized IHD patients were more likely to die of IHD (6.9% vs 35.7%), whereas revascularized IHD patients more frequently died of cardiovascular causes unrelated to IHD (39.1% vs 64.3%; P = .018). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the significance of IHD for postoperative survival of vascular surgery patients. CR was associated with lower IHD-related death rates. However, it failed to provide an overall survival benefit because of an increased rate of cardiovascular mortality unrelated to IHD. Intensification of secondary prevention regimens may be required to prevent this shift toward non-IHD-related death and thereby improve life expectancy.

Influence of Remote Monitoring on Long-Term Cardiovascular Outcomes after Cardioverter-Defibrillator Implantation

AIMS: Device-based remote monitoring (RM) has been linked to improved clinical outcomes at short to medium-term follow-up. Whether this benefit extends to long-term follow-up is unknown. We sought to assess the effect of device-based RM on long-term clinical outcomes in recipients of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD). METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients who underwent ICD implantation for primary prevention. RM was initiated with patient consent according to availability of RM hardware at implantation. Patients with concomitant cardiac resynchronization therapy were excluded. Data on hospitalizations, mortality and cause of death were systematically assessed using a nationwide healthcare platform. A Cox proportional hazards model was employed to estimate the effect of RM on mortality and a composite endpoint of cardiovascular mortality and hospital admission due to heart failure (HF). RESULTS: 312 patients were included with a median follow-up of 37.7months (range 1 to 146). 121 patients (38.2%) were under RM since the first outpatient visit post-ICD and 191 were in conventional follow-up. No differences were found regarding age, left ventricular ejection fraction, heart failure etiology or NYHA class at implantation. Patients under RM had higher long-term survival (hazard ratio [HR] 0.50, CI 0.27-0.93, p=0.029) and lower incidence of the composite outcome (HR 0.47, CI 0.27-0.82, p=0.008). After multivariate survival analysis, overall survival was independently associated with younger age, higher LVEF, NYHA class lower than 3 and RM. CONCLUSION: RM was independently associated with increased long-term survival and a lower incidence of a composite endpoint of hospitalization for HF or cardiovascular mortality.

Alcohol Septal Ablation in Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Four Years of Experience at a Reference Center

INTRODUCTION: We describe our center's initial experience with alcohol septal ablation (ASA) for the treatment of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The procedure, its indications, results and clinical outcomes will be addressed, as will its current position compared to surgical myectomy. OBJECTIVE: To assess the results of ASA in all patients treated in the first four years of activity at our center. METHODS: We retrospectively studied all consecutive and unselected patients treated by ASA between January 2009 and February 2013. RESULTS: In the first four years of experience 40 patients were treated in our center. In three patients (7.5%) the intervention was repeated. Procedural success was 84%. Minor complications occurred in 7.5%. Two patients received a permanent pacemaker for atrioventricular block (6% of those without previous pacemaker). The major complication rate was 5%. There were no in-hospital deaths; during clinical follow-up (22 ± 14 months) cardiovascular mortality was 2.5% and overall mortality was 5%. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The results presented reflect the initial experience of our center with ASA. The success rate was high and in line with published results, but with room to improve with better patient selection. ASA was shown to be safe, with a low complication rate and no procedure-related mortality. Our experience confirms ASA as a percutaneous alternative to myectomy for the treatment of symptomatic patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy refractory to medical treatment.

Benefits of Selective Vitamin D Receptor Activators in Kidney Transplanted Patients

Severe chronic kidney disease may lead to disturbances, such as hyperphosphatemia, increased secretion of fibroblast growth factor -23 (FGF -23) and vitamin D deficiency. These may increase plasmatic levels of parathyroid hormone, and decrease plasmatic levels of calcium. Altogether, these may contribute to the development of secondary hyperparathyroidism, and to abnormalities in mineral metabolism. Kidney transplantation is the best option to improve longevity and quality of life in end -stage chronic kidney disease patients. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death in chronic kidney disease. Therefore, diagnosing this deficiency may be pivotal for minimizing mortality in chronic kidney disease, because pharmacological treatments for this deficiency may be prescribed. Calcitriol is indicated for the treatment of vitamin D deficiency, both in chronic kidney disease and in kidney transplanted patients. However, calcitriol may increase the plasmatic levels of calcium and phosphorous, which can lead to vascular calcifications, that have been associated with cardiovascular mortality. Selective vitamin D receptor activators are indicated for the treatment of vitamin D deficiency in chronic kidney disease. These have the advantage of being associated with lower increases of plasmatic levels of calcium and phosphorous. These drugs also seem to have additional effects that may minimise patient morbidity and mortality, especially due to potentially reducing cardiovascular events. Unfortunately, there are few studies about the use of these drugs in kidney transplanted patients. Here we present a review about the physiology of vitamin D, the consequences of its deficiency in chronic kidney disease and in kidney transplanted patients, and about the diagnosis and treatment of this deficiency. Finally, we discuss the new line of research about the efficacy and safety of selective vitamin D receptor activators in kidney transplanted patients.

Peripheral Artery Disease Patients May Benefit More from Aggressive Secondary Prevention than Aneurysm Patients to Improve Survival

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Although it has become clear that aneurysmal and occlusive arterial disease represent two distinct etiologic entities, it is still unknown whether the two vascular pathologies are prognostically different. We aim to assess the long-term vital prognosis of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysmal disease (AAA) or peripheral artery disease (PAD), focusing on possible differences in survival, prognostic risk profiles and causes of death. METHODS: Patients undergoing elective surgery for isolated AAA or PAD between 2003 and 2011 were retrospectively included. Differences in postoperative survival were determined using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis. Prognostic risk profiles were also established with Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: 429 and 338 patients were included in the AAA and PAD groups, respectively. AAA patients were older (71.7 vs. 63.3 years, p < 0.001), yet overall survival following surgery did not differ (HR: 1.16, 95% CI: 0.87-1.54). Neither was type of vascular disease associated with postoperative cardiovascular nor cancer-related death. However, in comparison with age- and gender-matched general populations, cardiovascular mortality was higher in PAD than AAA patients (48.3% vs. 17.3%). Survival of AAA and PAD patients was negatively affected by age, history of cancer and renal insufficiency. Additional determinants in the PAD group were diabetes and ischemic heart disease. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term survival after surgery for PAD and AAA is similar. However, overall life expectancy is significantly worse among PAD patients. The contribution of cardiovascular disease towards mortality in PAD patients warrants more aggressive secondary prevention to reduce cardiovascular mortality and improve longevity.

Mortality after Discharge from Intensive Care: the Impact of Organ System Failure and Nursing Workload Use at Discharge

OBJECTIVES: Mortality after ICU discharge accounts for approx. 20-30% of deaths. We examined whether post-ICU discharge mortality is associated with the presence and severity of organ dysfunction/failure just before ICU discharge. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study used the database of the EURICUS-II study, with a total of 4,621 patients, including 2,958 discharged alive to the general wards (post-ICU mortality 8.6%). Over a 4-month period we collected clinical and demographic characteristics, including the Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS II), Nine Equivalents of Nursing Manpower Use Score, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score. RESULTS: Those who died in the hospital after ICU discharge had a higher SAPS II score, were more frequently nonoperative, admitted from the ward, and had stayed longer in the ICU. Their degree of organ dysfunction/failure was higher (admission, maximum, and delta SOFA scores). They required more nursing workload resources while in the ICU. Both the amount of organ dysfunction/failure (especially cardiovascular, neurological, renal, and respiratory) and the amount of nursing workload that they required on the day before discharge were higher. The presence of residual CNS and renal dysfunction/failure were especially prognostic factors at ICU discharge. Multivariate analysis showed only predischarge organ dysfunction/failure to be important; thus the increased use of nursing workload resources before discharge probably reflects only the underlying organ dysfunction/failure. CONCLUSIONS: It is better to delay the discharge of a patient with organ dysfunction/failure from the ICU, unless adequate monitoring and therapeutic resources are available in the ward.

A Comparative Study of Cardiovascular Tolerability with Slow Extended Dialysis Versus Continuous Haemodiafiltration in the Critical Patient

Background: In the haemodynamically unstable patient the method of treatment of acute renal failure is still largely controversial. The purpose of our study was to compare slow extended dialysis with continuous haemodiafiltration in the critical patient with indication for renal replacement therapy and haemodynamic instability. Patients and Methods: This is a cohort study comparing in 63 ventilated critical patients a 12 month period when only continuous haemodiafiltration was used (n=25) with an equal period of slow extended dialysis (n=38). Our primary objective was to evaluate the impact of the dialytic procedure on cardiovascular stability in those patients. As secondary aims we considered system coagulation/thrombosis and predictors of mortality. In the two groups we analysed the first session performed, the second session performed and the average of all the sessions performed in each patient. Results: In these patients, mortality in the intensive care unit was high (68% in the continuous haemodiafiltration group and 63% in the slow extended dialysis group). We did not find any association between the dialytic technique used and death; only the APACHE score was a predictor of death. Slow extended dialysis was a predictor of haemodynamic stability, a negative predictor of sessions that had to be interrupted for haemodynamic instability, and a predictor of achieving the volume removal initially sought. Slow extended dialysis was also associated with less coagulation of the system. Conclusions: Our data suggested that slow extended dialysis use was not inferior to continuous haemodiafiltration use in terms of cardiovascular tolerability.

Risco Cardiovascular em Doentes com Infecção por Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana

O aumento do risco cardiovascular é considerada uma importante complicação da infecção Infecção por Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana (VIH) e da terapêutica anti-retroviral (TARV). À disfunção endotelial característica do processo inflamatório crónico desencadeado pela infecção retroviral, associa-se a disfunção metabólica induzida pela terapêutica, predispondo, em conjunto, para a aterogénese precoce. O reconhecimento deste aumento de risco cardiovascular permite-nos elaborar estratégias de prevenção e optimização terapêutica que passam pelo uso criterioso de hipolipemiantes e modificação da TARV, consoante a avaliação do risco cardiovascular global de cada doente.

Morbilidade Cardiovascular em Crianças com Infecção pelo Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana

Na infecção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana (VIH) estão descritas alterações cardiovasculares, tanto estruturais como funcionais. Com o objectivo de fazer o rastreio das referidas alterações no propósito de uma intervenção terapêutica precoce, foi efectuada uma avaliação clínica e laboratorial prospectiva em 32 crianças com infecção pelo VIH, com idades compreendidas entre três meses e 13 anos (média = 3.11 +/- 3.51 anos). Em 90% dos doentes identificou-se transmissão perinatal. Vinte e duas crianças (69%) estavam sintomáticas, sendo a sintomatologia moderada em nove e grave em oito. Catorze doentes tinham alterações imunológicas e oito delas apresentavam imunosupressão grave. Vinte e oito crianças (88%)tinham infecção pelo VIH 1 e seis tinham infecção recente pelo Vírus de Ebstein-Barr. Dezanove doentes receberam tratamento com zidovudina e 14 com imunoglobulinas por via endovenosa. Foram detectadas 19 alterações cardiovasculares em 15 doentes (47%), nomeadamente: 11 casos de hipertensão pulmonar por critérios ecocardiográficos, (oito delas tinham infiltrados intersticiais na radiografia do tórax) e quatro casos de disfunção ventricular esquerda que, por isso, iniciaram terapêutica anticongestiva. As restantes anomalias estruturais ou funcionais foram: persistência de canal arterial; hipertrofia do septo interventricular; prolapso da válvula mitral e derrame pericárdico cada uma delas em um caso. No electrocardiograma de superfície quatro crianças apresentaram critérios de hipertrofia ventricular direita, uma tinha hipertrofia ventricular esquerda e duas tinham alterações inespecíficas de repolarização ventricular. Em 14 doentes (44%) verificou-se no ECG de 24 horas taquicardia sinusal com uma frequência cardíaca média superior ao percentil 95. As anomalias cardiovasculares foram mais frequentes nas crianças com estadios mais avançados de doença. Conclusões: As anomalias cardiovasculares são frequentes em crianças com infecção pelo VIH em estadios avançados; a hipertensão pulmonar é a anomalia cardiovascular mais frequentemente detectada e está associada a patologia respiratória crónica ou recorrente; o acompanhamento cardiológico está indicado nas crianças com infecção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana.

Técnicas e "Truques": Utilizações Diferentes para o Catéter de Foley na Cirurgia Cardiovascular

A utilização do catéter de Foley na prática da algaliação está desde há muito definida. Os autores têm, no entanto, utilizado o catéter Foley em diversas situações de recurso, no âmbito da cirurgia cardíaca. A utilização deste método de enorme simplicidade e de muito baixo custo representa um verdadeiro "ovo de Colombo" e deve fazer parte do armentarium cirúrgico alternativo de cada um de nós. Descreve-se o uso do catéter Foley, como alternativa de recurso, nas seguintes situações: 1. Laceração de uma cavidade cardíaca na re-esternotomia com hemorragia catastrófica; 2. Realização de anastomoses proximais em aortas que não devem ou podem ser clampadas (calcificações extensas); 3. Realização de anastomoses de condutos ventrículo-direito artéria pulmonar com o coração a bater.

Nutrição e Doença Cardiovascular. 1ª Parte

O autor descreve de forma resumida a classificação dos factores de risco cardiovascular e a sua influência na modulação dos estilos de vida ocidentalizados. Os padrões alimentares são também sumariamente referidos, bem como o seu papel na pandemia das doenças do conglomerado. Para terminar, as principais características alimentares e nutricionais da alimentação mediterrânea, como paradigma do padrão alimentar saudável, e o seu papel na prevenção das referidas doenças são também expostas.

Nutrição e Doença Cardiovascular. 2ª Parte

O autor descreve de forma mais detalhada a abordagem nutricional das dislipidemias e da hipertensão arterial. Quanto à primeira questão, aspectos como o papel dos ácidos gordos, a relação entre o colesterol alimentar e o colesterol plasmático, o papel dos vegetais, frutos e do amido e as indicações para a utilização de suplementos vitamínicos são referidos. Quanto à segunda, aspectos como a redução do excesso de peso e do sal, a utilização de suplementos de potássio, cálcio e magnésio, os macronutrientes, a cafeína, o álcool e o papel da actividade física são expostos.

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy in Heart Disease

Cardiovascular disease is among the main causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Despite significant advances in medical and interventional therapy, the prognosis of conditions such as ischemic heart disease is still dismal. There is thus a need to investigate new therapeutic tools, one of which is stem cell therapy. Hematopoietic stem cells are the most studied type, and the fact that their biology is relatively well understood has led to their being used in preclinical research and clinical trials. However, the results of some of these studies have been controversial, which has opened the way for studies on other cell types, such as mesenchymal stem cells. These cells have immunomodulatory properties which suggest that they have therapeutic potential in cardiology. In the present article, the authors review the state of the art regarding mesenchymal stem cells, from basic and translational research to their use in clinical trials on ischemic heart disease, heart failure and arrhythmias, and discuss possible future uses.

Sepsis Mortality Prediction Based on Predisposition, Infection and Response

OBJECTIVE: To empirically test, based on a large multicenter, multinational database, whether a modified PIRO (predisposition, insult, response, and organ dysfunction) concept could be applied to predict mortality in patients with infection and sepsis. DESIGN: Substudy of a multicenter multinational cohort study (SAPS 3). PATIENTS: A total of 2,628 patients with signs of infection or sepsis who stayed in the ICU for >48 h. Three boxes of variables were defined, according to the PIRO concept. Box 1 (Predisposition) contained information about the patient's condition before ICU admission. Box 2 (Injury) contained information about the infection at ICU admission. Box 3 (Response) was defined as the response to the infection, expressed as a Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score after 48 h. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Most of the infections were community acquired (59.6%); 32.5% were hospital acquired. The median age of the patients was 65 (50-75) years, and 41.1% were female. About 22% (n=576) of the patients presented with infection only, 36.3% (n=953) with signs of sepsis, 23.6% (n=619) with severe sepsis, and 18.3% (n=480) with septic shock. Hospital mortality was 40.6% overall, greater in those with septic shock (52.5%) than in those with infection (34.7%). Several factors related to predisposition, infection and response were associated with hospital mortality. CONCLUSION: The proposed three-level system, by using objectively defined criteria for risk of mortality in sepsis, could be used by physicians to stratify patients at ICU admission or shortly thereafter, contributing to a better selection of management according to the risk of death.