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Blockade of the renin-angiotensin system. Effect on mortality in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Blockade of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) has been shown to be effective in reducing morbidity and mortality in patients with symptomatic left ventricular dysfunction. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) should be administered to all patients with symptomatic left ventricular dysfunction unless contraindicated or not tolerated. Although ACE-Is are effective, there is reason to believe that further blockade of the RAAS by aldosterone antagonists and/or alternative means of blocking the RAAS by use of renin inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blocking agents may have an important role in the future. The finding in the SOLVD and SAVE trials that ACE-Is are effective in reducing recurrent ischemic events in patients with left ventricular dysfunction also holds great promise for the future, not only for patients with left ventricular dysfunction but also as a possible secondary prevention of ischemic heart disease in patients without left ventricular dysfunction.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

[Is the treatment of left ventricular systolic dysfunction different according to the etiology?].

Cardiac failure is the terminal stage of evolution, the finality of many valvular, vascular, myocardial, general, congenital or acquired conditions. The therapeutic decisions should be based on the search for a curable cause of a predisposing factor and the evaluation of the severity of the cardiac failure. At advanced stages of ventricular dysfunction when the myocardial lesions are constituted, when cardiac and vascular remodelling has occurred, the aetiological treatment, which is the constant objective, is unfortunately too late. The treatment is the same, whatever the aetiology, in order to improve functional problems. At early stages, and, if possible, preventively, surgery, revascularisation techniques, the correction of an arrhythmia, the suppression of a cardiotoxic factor, are essential. The different therapeutic classes used could have different efficacies depending on the aetiology, but, finally, this point is negligible: the medications are based on the results of large scale, controlled, therapeutic trials.

Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures↗

[Obesity and the heart].

Obesity has been identified as an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease and congestive heart failure. Although congestive heart failure can be secondary to coronary heart disease, in morbid obesity these conditions can be independent. Cardiac structure and function can be altered even in the absence of systemic hypertension and underlying organic heart disease. In obese patients total blood volume increases and creates a high cardiac output state that may cause ventricular dilatation and ultimately eccentric hypertrophy of the left (and possibly the right) ventricle. Eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy produces diastolic dysfunction. Systolic dysfunction may ensue due to excessive wall stress if wall thickening fails to keep pace with dilatation. This disorder is referred to as obesity cardiomyopathy. The frequent coexistence of systemic hypertension in obese individuals facilitates development of left ventricular dilatation and hypertrophy. Congestive heart failure may occur and may be attributable to left ventricular diastolic dysfunction or to combined diastolic and systolic dysfunction. The risk of coronary heart disease seems to be more strictly correlated to central obesity than to increased body mass index. Insulin resistance seems to be the key factor that links obesity and ischaemic heart disease. In such a condition the so called Syndrome X appears. It is characterized by: obesity, systemic hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypertriglyceridaemia and reduced HDL cholesterol levels. Considering that left ventricular hypertrophy is often present, many risk factors coexist in obese patients. Weight loss is very useful in obese patients. It may reduce mortality and morbidity for coronary heart disease and delay or avoid the appearance of congestive heart failure. It is proved that after weight loss, blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides and left ventricular mass decrease.

English Abstract↗

Obesity and the heart.

Obesity can result in alterations in cardiac structure and function even in the absence of systemic hypertension and underlying organic heart disease. Increased total blood volume creates a high cardiac output state that may cause ventricular dilatation and ultimately eccentric hypertrophy of the left (and possibly the right) ventricle. Eccentric left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy produces diastolic dysfunction. Systolic dysfunction may ensue due to excessive wall stress if wall thickening fails to keep pace with dilatation. This disorder is referred to as obesity cardiomyopathy. The presence of systemic hypertension in obese individuals facilitates development of LV dilatation and hypertrophy. Congestive heart failure may occur in such individuals, and may be attributable to LV diastolic dysfunction or to combined LV diastolic and systolic dysfunction. The sleep apnea/obesity hypoventilation syndrome occurs in 5% of morbidly obese individuals and is potentially life-threatening. Treatment of obesity cardiomyopathy consists of weight loss, salt restriction, and diuretics. Digitalis and vasodilators may be useful in selected cases. Central obesity is probably a risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease. Alterations in lipid and insulin metabolism may facilitate development of coronary heart disease in obese patients.

Heart Diseases↗

Chronic heart failure: developments and perspectives.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and contemporary treatment of chronic heart failure (CHF) while emphasizing the important role of the pharmacist. DATA SOURCES: English-language articles from MEDLINE pertinent to CHF. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: All relevant publications addressing CHF management were considered, including prospective comparative trials, epidemiological studies, guideline statements, review articles, and editorials. Particular focus occurred on the primary literature published after the release of noted guidelines. The Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA), and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). DATA SYNTHESIS: Heart failure is a common disorder, especially in the elderly. To determine appropriate pharmacotherapy, one must establish the type of dysfunction (systolic versus diastolic) as well as characterize the patient's disease state according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification system and from the American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA), stage of diseases. Although most patients have systolic dysfunction ([ejection fraction] less than 40%), the prevalence of diastolic dysfunction (a normal to elevated ejection fraction) is rising and it accounts for at least one-third of all cases. Six drugs/drug classes are contemporary treatments in systolic heart failure, depending on NYHA functional class: angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors, diuretics, beta-blockers, aldosterone antagonists, angiotensin II receptor-blockers, and digoxin. Clinicians should be aware that studies demonstrate all these drugs/drug classes prolong survival in systolic heart failure, except diuretics and digoxin. Some patients with systolic dysfunction also may be candidates for the combination of hydralazine/isosorbide dinitrate as well as nonpharmacological approaches with biventricular pacemakers and/or implantable cardioverter defibrillators. Treatment of diastolic heart failure is less evidence-based, and speculative treatments focus on control of blood pressure, tachycardia, volume overload, and myocardial ischemia. CONCLUSIONS: CHF treatment remains a therapeutic challenge. Pharmacists have an essential role in the care of these patients by avoiding drugs known to exacerbate the disease, promoting optimal pharmacotherapy, and ensuring compliance with prescribed drugs and dietary modifications.

Journal Article↗

Long-term blood pressure monitoring and echocardiographic findings in patients with end-stage renal disease: reverse epidemiology explained?

BACKGROUND: In patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) hypertension is common and often leads to left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction, but hypotension at the onset of dialysis is associated with increased mortality. We studied blood pressure data over longer periods of time in patients on haemodialysis and related them to echocardiographic outcome, in order to elucidate these contradictory findings. METHODS: In 50 haemodialysis patients mean arterial pressure (MAP) and pulse pressure (PP) were calculated in the first three months of haemodialysis, the complete period from the start of haemodialysis until echocardiography and the last three months of haemodialysis before echocardiography. Hypertension load, pulse pressure and interdialytic weight gain were quantified and related to echocardiography. RESULTS: LV mass index was associated with MAP in all three periods, and also with the hypertension load, PP and PP load. In patients with LV dilatation, MAP and PP averaged over the complete period of dialysis were 5 to 7 mmHg higher than in patients without LV dilatation. Blood pressure parameters were the same in patients with or without LV diastolic dysfunction or systolic dysfunction. Systolic dysfunction was more frequent in patients undergoing long-term haemodialysis treatment. Interdialytic weight gain was not associated with any of the echocardiographic variables. CONCLUSION: When long-term blood pressure values are considered, hypertension is associated with parameters of early cardiac damage such as increased LV mass index and not with parameters of advanced heart failure such as systolic dysfunction. This supports the hypothesis that the presence of advanced heart failure reciprocally influences blood pressure in a negative way, thereby explaining the 'reverse epidemiology' of blood pressure and mortality in ESRD.

Adult↗