Heart Transplantation for Hepatitis C Virus Non-Viremic Recipients From Hepatitis C Virus Viremic Donors
Multiple strategies have been implemented to increase the donor pool to avoid transplant wait-list mortality. The approval of highly effective direct-acting antiviral regimens for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) has enabled expansion of the donor pool by allowing the transplantation of organs from HCV-viremic donors to HCV-negative recipients. Multiple centers have recently published data on outcomes of heart transplantation from HCV-viremic heart donors to HCV-negative recipients, with acceptable posttransplant outcomes. However, areas of uncertainty remain, particularly in the long-term risks of intentional HCV ...
Source: Cardiology in Review - June 11, 2019 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research
Cardiovascular Effects of Drugs Used to Treat Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Part 2: Impact on Cardiovascular Events and Recommendations for Evaluation and Monitoring
A variety of psychostimulant and nonpsychostimulant medications have proven to be successful in reducing inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity in individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Psychostimulants used to treat ADHD include methylphenidate and related drugs and various amphetamine preparations. Nonpsychostimulant medications used to treat ADHD include atomoxetine and 2 α-2 adrenergic agonists: guanfacine extended-release and clonidine extended-release. The psychostimulants and atomoxetine have been shown, on average, to increase heart rate by 3–10 beats/min, systolic blood pressure ...
Source: Cardiology in Review - June 11, 2019 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research
The Brain–Heart Connection and the Northridge Earthquake
No abstract available (Source: Cardiology in Review)
Source: Cardiology in Review - June 11, 2019 Category: Cardiology Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
Angiotensin II (Giapreza): A Distinct Mechanism for the Treatment of Vasodilatory Shock
Septic shock, a form of vasodilatory shock associated with high morbidity and mortality, requires early and effective therapy to improve patient outcomes. Current management of septic shock includes the use of intravenous fluids, catecholamines, and vasopressin for hemodynamic support to ensure adequate perfusion. Despite these interventions, hospital mortality rates are still greater than 40%. Practitioners are continuously faced with cases of refractory shock that are associated with poor clinical outcomes. In December of 2017, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first synthetic human angiotensin II, a potent v...
Source: Cardiology in Review - April 6, 2019 Category: Cardiology Tags: New Therapy Update Source Type: research
Impact of Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Interventions on All-Cause Mortality in Heart Failure Patients: A Meta-Analysis
Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) have a unique role in the primary and secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death. However, appropriate and inappropriate ICD interventions [antitachycardia pacing (ATP) or shocks] can result in deleterious effects. The aim of our study was to systematically review the existing data about the impact of ICD interventions on all-cause mortality in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). We systematically searched MEDLINE (by using PubMed Web-based search engine) without any limits until September 30, 2017. After screening 17,752 records, a total of 17 stu...
Source: Cardiology in Review - April 6, 2019 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research
Evolving Use of Biomarkers in the Management of Heart Failure
Objective, noninvasive, clinical assessment of patients with heart failure can be made using biomarker measurements, including natriuretic peptides, cardiac troponins, soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2, and galectin-3. The aim of this review is to provide clinicians with guidance on the use of heart failure biomarkers in clinical practice. The authors provide a didactic narrative based on current literature, an exemplary case study, and their clinical experience. (Source: Cardiology in Review)
Source: Cardiology in Review - April 6, 2019 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research
Searching for the Genetic Determinants of Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Review of the Literature and Future Directions
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a significant but under-recognized disease that is poorly understood despite population-scale genetic studies. To address this morbid disease, clinicians need additional tools to identify, prevent, and treat patients at risk for PAD. Genetic studies of coronary artery disease have yielded promising results for clinical application, which have thus far been lacking in PAD. In this article, we review recent findings, discuss limitations, and propose future directions of genomic study and clinical application. However, despite many studies, we still lack definitive genetic markers for PAD....
Source: Cardiology in Review - April 6, 2019 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research
Thermodilution Cardiac Output: A Concept Over 250 Years in the Making
The need to quantify blood flow through the heart has led to the development of different techniques for its measurement. The 3 main approaches are the Fick method, dye dilution, and thermodilution techniques. The latter 2 are based on the use of indicators that indirectly quantify blood flow. These have slowly been developed over centuries, from the concept of measuring blood flow, to a technique, and its clinical utility. Thermodilution is the most popular dilution method used for measuring cardiac output (CO) in the clinical setting. The information obtained during this procedure is relevant in the process of clinical d...
Source: Cardiology in Review - April 6, 2019 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research
Cardiac Manifestations in Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies: An Overview
Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies are a group of autoimmune diseases that are characterized by muscle inflammation resulting in elevated muscle enzyme release and distinctive biopsy findings. This group of conditions includes polymyositis, dermatomyositis, inclusion body myositis, and necrotizing autoimmune myopathy. Although they have many similarities, the inflammatory myopathies differ in their clinical, pathological, and treatment realms. Extramuscular manifestations may involve many organs that include the skin, joints, heart, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract. Cardiovascular involvement is one of the leading causes ...
Source: Cardiology in Review - April 6, 2019 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research
The Mediterranean Diet and Cardiovascular Disease: Gaps in the Evidence and Research Challenges
In conclusion, the evidence indicates that the MD prevents CVD. There is a need for RCTs that test the effectiveness of the MD for preventing CVD. Key design features for such a study are proposed. (Source: Cardiology in Review)
Source: Cardiology in Review - April 6, 2019 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research
Effects of Spaceflight on Cardiovascular Physiology and Health
This article reviews the knowledge gained in human experiments in the past half century of spaceflight, and summarizes our knowledge on the effects of short- and long-duration microgravity exposure on cardiovascular physiology and functioning, including fluid redistribution, autonomic reflexes, cardiac parameters, orthostatic intolerance, arrhythmias, aerobic capacity, and cardiac atrophy. This review also discusses current countermeasures for risk reduction during spaceflight, as well as future directions in cardiovascular research in space. (Source: Cardiology in Review)
Source: Cardiology in Review - April 6, 2019 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research
Cardiovascular Effects of Drugs Used to Treat Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Part 1: Epidemiology, Pharmacology, and Impact on Hemodynamics and Ventricular Repolarization
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a clinical syndrome characterized by persistent inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. It is most commonly encountered in children and adolescents but may persist into adulthood. A variety of psychostimulant and nonpsychostimulant medications have proven to be successful in reducing inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity in those with ADHD. Psychostimulants used to treat ADHD include methylphenidate and related drugs and various amphetamine preparations. Non-psychostimulant medications used to treat ADHD include atomoxetine and two alpha-2 adrenergic agonists: g...
Source: Cardiology in Review - April 6, 2019 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research
Racial Disparities in the Cardiac Computed Tomography Assessment of Coronary Artery Disease: Does Gender Matter: Erratum
No abstract available (Source: Cardiology in Review)
Source: Cardiology in Review - February 16, 2019 Category: Cardiology Tags: Erratum Source Type: research
Andexanet Alfa for Reversing Factor Xa Inhibition
The direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have gained popularity recently among both patients and providers for their comparable or better efficacy and safety profiles compared with warfarin and the lack of need for routine monitoring of anticoagulant effect. One obstacle for the more widespread use of the DOACs in clinical practice has been the lack of a reversal agent. Most DOACs act by directly binding to and inhibiting the effects of factor Xa. Andexanet alfa (Andexxa, Portola Pharmaceuticals, San Francisco, CA) is a modified form of factor Xa that acts as a decoy binding entity for DOACs, thereby allowing endogenous fact...
Source: Cardiology in Review - February 16, 2019 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research
Cardiac Immune-Related Adverse Events in Immune Checkpoint Inhibition Therapy
Immune checkpoint inhibitors present clinicians with both an exciting step forward in cancer treatment and the unknown possibilities of an unshackled immune system. The latter phenomena, known as immune-related adverse events (irAEs), are of particular interest because they may affect any organ system with autoimmune-like pathologies, such as hepatitis and colitis. Within the cardiovascular system, irAEs associated with immune checkpoint blockade exist as a broad clinical spectrum, with autoimmune myocarditis being the best-characterized entity at this time. In general, irAEs are often reversible with immunosuppression. Ho...
Source: Cardiology in Review - February 16, 2019 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research
