Original Research | By WT Abraham, JA Lindenfeld, P Ponikowski et al.
AIMS - The EMPERIAL (Effect of EMPagliflozin on ExeRcise ability and HF symptoms In patients with chronic heArt faiLure) trials evaluated the effects of empagliflozin on exercise ability and patient-reported outcomes in heart failure (HF) with reduced and preserved ejection fraction (EF), with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D), reporting, for the first time, the effects of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibition in HF with p...
Aspirin with or without Clopidogrel after Transcatheter Aortic-Valve Implantation
Clinical Trial | By J Brouwer, VJ Nijenhuis, R Delewi et al.
BACKGROUND - The effect of single as compared with dual antiplatelet treatment on bleeding and thromboembolic events after transcatheter aortic-valve implantation (TAVI) in patients who do not have an indication for long-term anticoagulation has not been well studied. METHODS - In a randomized, controlled trial, we assigned a subgroup of patients who were undergoing TAVI and did not have an indication for...
Suture- or Plug-Based Large-Bore Arteriotomy Closure: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Clinical Trial | By MP van Wiechen, D Tchétché, N Dumonteil et al.
OBJECTIVES - The authors sought to test the superiority in terms of efficacy and safety of a dedicated plug-based vascular closure device (VCD) during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) over a suture-based VCD. BACKGROUND - Vascular complications after TAVR are relevant and often associated with VCD failure. METHODS - The MASH trial (MANTA vs. Sut...
Right ventricular function and outcome in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement
Original Research | By M Koschutnik, V Dannenberg, C Nitsche et al.
AIMS - Right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) on echocardiography has been shown to predict outcomes in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). However, a comparison with the gold standard, RV ejection fraction (EF) on cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), has never been performed. METHODS AND RESULTS - Consecutive patients scheduled for TAVR underwent echocardiogra...
Original Research | By J Hyun, J H Kim, MAIN-COMPARE Registry.
Review Article | By D Cao, R Chandiramani, M Chiarito et al.
Since its introduction in 1977, percutaneous coronary intervention has become one of the most commonly performed therapeutic procedures worldwide. Such widespread diffusion, however, would have not been possible without a concomitant evolution of the pharmacotherapies associated with this intervention. Antithrombotic agents are fundamental throughout the management of patients undergoing coronary stent implantation, starting from the proc...
Is Acute heart failure a distinctive disorder? An analysis from BIOSTAT-CHF
Review Article | By BA Davison, S Senger, IE Sama et al.
AIMS -This retrospective analysis sought to identify markers that might distinguish between acute heart failure (HF) and worsening HF in chronic outpatients. METHODS AND RESULTS -The BIOSTAT‐CHF index cohort included 2516 patients with new or worsening HF symptoms: 1694 enrolled as inpatients (acute HF) and 822 as outpatients (worsening HF in chronic outpatients). A validati...
Original Research | By AA Matthews, SP Hinton, S Stanway et al.
Original Research | By G Bugani, M Pagnesi, D Tchetchè et al.
OBJECTIVES - To define the incidence of high residual gradient (HRG) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in BAVs and their impact on short term outcome and 1-year mortality. BACKGROUND - Transcatheter heart valves (THVs) offer good performance in tricuspid aortic valves with low rate of HRG. However, data regarding their performance in bicuspid aortic valves (BAV) are still lacking. ...
The pyruvate-lactate axis modulates cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure
Original Research | By AA Cluntun, R Badolia, SG Drakos et al.
The metabolic rewiring of cardiomyocytes is a widely accepted hallmark of heart failure (HF). These metabolic changes include a decrease in mitochondrial pyruvate oxidation and an increased export of lactate. We identify the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) and the cellular lactate exporter monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4) as pivotal nodes in this metabolic axis. We observed that cardiac assist device-induced myocardial recovery i...