The Role of Testosterone in Patients With Heart Failure: A Systematic Review
The objective of this systematic review was to assess the efficacy (mortality, hospitalization, cardiac function, and quality of life) and safety of testosterone in HF patients. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. Four electronic databases were searched from inception until November 30, 2019. The initial search yielded 1308 articles, and 10 randomized controlled trials with exogenous testosterone in patients with HF were included after exclusion criteria were applied. One study evaluated the impact of testosterone on mortality and HF hospitalization; no ...
Source: Cardiology in Review - April 17, 2021 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research
Loeffler’s Endocarditis and Hypereosinophilic Syndrome
Loeffler’s endocarditis and hypereosinophilic syndromes are a unique group of infiltrative disorders characterized by hypereosinophilia, inflammatory thrombotic, and ultimately, fibrotic involvement of the heart leading to multiple complications including valve involvement, thromboembolic phenomena, heart failure. Clinical recognition, comprehensive laboratory and multimodality imaging diagnostic workup, and early initiation of treatment have been shown to slow down the progression and promote remission. This review addresses a detailed analysis of Loeffler’s endocarditis and hypereosinophilic syndromes. (Source: Cardiology in Review)
Source: Cardiology in Review - April 17, 2021 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research
Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Complications With COVID-19
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 has affected the health of people across the globe. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have a significant relationship with COVID-19, both as a risk factor and prognostic indicator, and as a complication of the disease itself. In addition to predisposing to CVD complications, the ongoing pandemic has severely affected the delivery of timely and appropriate care for cardiovascular conditions resulting in increased mortality. The etiology behind the cardiac injury associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 i...
Source: Cardiology in Review - April 17, 2021 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research
Arrhythmia in Cardiac Sarcoidosis
Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is a complex disease that can manifest as a diverse array of arrhythmias. CS patients may be at higher risk for sudden cardiac death (SCD), and, in some cases, SCD may be the first presenting symptom of the underlying disease. As such, identification, risk stratification, and management of CS-related arrhythmia are crucial in the care of these patients. Left untreated, CS carries significant arrhythmogenic morbidity and mortality. Cardiac manifestations of CS are a consequence of an inflammatory process resulting in the myocardial deposition of noncaseating granulomas. Endomyocardial biopsy remains...
Source: Cardiology in Review - April 17, 2021 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research
Direct-Acting Oral Anticoagulants in Atrial Fibrillation: What’s New in the Literature
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is considered the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, and it is associated with a significant risk of adverse events, especially ischemic stroke. Oral anticoagulation is the cornerstone for stroke prevention in AF; for many years, only vitamin K antagonists were used for this purpose, with an absolute risk reduction>60%. However, these agents have limitations, such as narrow therapeutic margins and drug–food and drug–drug interactions. More recently, 4 direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs)—non–vitamin K antagonists—have become available for patients with AF: dabigatran, rivaroxa...
Source: Cardiology in Review - April 17, 2021 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research
Treatment of Peripheral Pulmonary Artery Stenosis
Peripheral pulmonary artery stenosis (PAS) is an abnormal narrowing of the pulmonary vasculature and can form anywhere within the pulmonary artery tree. PAS is a congenital or an acquired disease, and its severity depends on the etiology, location, and number of stenoses. Most often seen in infants and young children, some symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, and tachycardia. Symptoms can progressively worsen over time as right ventricular pressure increases, leading to further complications including pulmonary artery hypertension and systolic and diastolic dysfunctions. The current treatment options for PAS incl...
Source: Cardiology in Review - April 17, 2021 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research
Myocardial Infarction With Nonobstructive Coronary Arteries
Myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is the current term used to describe patients who have a myocardial infarction but have normal, non-obstructed coronary arteries on a coronary angiogram. There is still much debate over the definition, diagnosis, management and treatment of MINOCA. However, MINOCA is not a benign condition; prompt recognition and diagnosis can lead to better management and treatment and thus improve patient outcomes. This review article will update the most recent definition of MINOCA, discuss epidemiology and etiology, and review the diagnostic workup and management opti...
Source: Cardiology in Review - April 17, 2021 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research
The 11th Trial of a Cardiovascular Clinical Trialist: Coronavirus-2: Part 5
No abstract available (Source: Cardiology in Review)
Source: Cardiology in Review - April 17, 2021 Category: Cardiology Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
Semaglutide: A Novel Oral Glucagon-Like Peptide Receptor Agonist for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
This article will provide an overview of the GLP-1 receptor agonists, including the pharmacology of semaglutide, its clinical evidence and role in therapy in type 2 DM. (Source: Cardiology in Review)
Source: Cardiology in Review - February 14, 2021 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research
Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement: Procedural Planning, Utility, and Applicability
Since the first native transcatheter mitral valve implantation in 2012, transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) has expanded its use to degenerated bioprostheses, failed annuloplasty ring repair, and mitral annular calcification. However, high-screen failure rates in trials have persisted due to predicted left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and unfavorable anatomy. Preprocedural planning in this patient population with multidetector computed tomography and transesophageal echocardiography is paramount to intraprocedural success. In patients with favorable left ventricular outflow tract anatomy who are not surg...
Source: Cardiology in Review - February 14, 2021 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research
Pulmonary Artery Denervation as an Innovative Treatment for Pulmonary Hypertension With and Without Heart Failure
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is categorized into 5 groups based on etiology. The 2 most prevalent forms are pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and PH due to left heart disease (PH-LHD). Therapeutic options do exist for PAH to decrease symptoms and improve functional capacity; however, the mortality rate remains high and clinical improvements are limited. PH-LHD is the most common cause of PH; however, no treatment exists and the use of PAH-therapies is discouraged. Pulmonary artery denervation (PADN) is an innovative catheter-based ablation technique targeting the afferent and efferent fibers of a baroreceptor reflex in ...
Source: Cardiology in Review - February 14, 2021 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research
Diastolic Heart Failure: A Review of Current and Future Treatment Options
This article will review the epidemiology and pathophysiology of HFpEF, and discuss the current therapeutic modalities, and clinical trials. In addition, we will discuss an ongoing clinical trial and the impact it may hold on future treatment options. (Source: Cardiology in Review)
Source: Cardiology in Review - February 14, 2021 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research
Diuretic Resistance in Heart Failure
Decompensated heart failure accounts for approximately 1 million hospitalizations in the United States annually, and this number is expected to increase significantly in the near future. Diuretics provide the initial management in most patients with fluid overload. However, the development of diuretic resistance remains a significant challenge in the treatment of heart failure. Due to the lack of a standard definition, the prevalence of this phenomenon remains difficult to determine, with some estimates suggesting that 25–30% of patients with heart failure have diuretic resistance. Certain characteristics, including low ...
Source: Cardiology in Review - February 14, 2021 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research
Proarrhythmic Manifestations of Neuromuscular Dystrophinopathies
Muscular dystrophy has been an elusive term ever since it was first described in the 19th century. Introduced in 1891 by Wilhelm Heinrich Erb, muscular dystrophy has been classified as part of a larger group of genetically determined, progressive degenerative neuromuscular disorders termed “dystrophinopathies.” Cardiac arrhythmias may occur during the neurologic course of the disease. Although descriptions of the dystrophinopathies have been reported in the literature, few articles address the use of antiarrhythmic pharmacotherapy in patients with muscular dystrophy. We discuss the pathophysiology of the most common dy...
Source: Cardiology in Review - February 14, 2021 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research
Timing of Repair in Tetralogy of Fallot: Effects on Outcomes and Myocardial Health
In conclusion, we emphasize the importance of myocardial health and the relationship to early repair and advocate for the use of magnetic resonance imaging in adult patients with repaired ToF to detect myocardial fibrosis. (Source: Cardiology in Review)
Source: Cardiology in Review - February 14, 2021 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research
