1,721,102 research outputs found
Improved clinical outcome after intracoronary administration of bone marrow-derived progenitor cells in acute myocardial infarction: final 1-year results of the REPAIR-AMI trial
No full textRecent advances in the prevention of radiocontrast-induced nephropathy
No full textRadiocontrast nephropathy is a serious clinical problem associated with increased morbidity and mortality, particularly in patients with chronic renal failure. The optimal strategy to prevent radiocontrast nephropathy has not been established. This article reviews recent clinical researches concerning new developments in the prevention of radiocontrast nephropathy and analyzes unresolved issues
Hemofiltration in the prevention of radiocontrast agent induced nephropathy
Full text linkThe aim of the study was to investigate the role of hemofiltration in preventing contrast nephropathy in patients with renal failure
Continuous ultrafiltration in acute decompensated heart failure: current issues and future directions
No full textMost patients hospitalized for acutely decompensated heart failure (ADHF) present with symptoms and signs of volume overload, which are also associated with high rates of death and re-hospitalization. Several studies have investigated the possible use of extracorporeal ultrafiltration in the management of ADHF, evaluating potential clinical benefits in terms of hospitalization and survival rates versus those of conventional diuretic therapy. Though ultrafiltration remains an extremely appealing therapeutic option for patients with AHDF, some of the most recent studies have reported conflicting results. Differences in the selection of study population, heterogeneity of the indications for the use of ultrafiltration, disparity in the ultrafiltration protocols, and high variability in the pharmacologic therapies used for the control group could explain some of these contradictory findings. The purpose of the present review is to provide an overview and an update on the mechanisms and clinical effects of ultrafiltration and on currently available evidence supporting its use in ADHF
Influence of ACE Inhibition on Fluid Metabolism in Chronic Heart Failure and Its Pathophysiologic Relevance
No full textBACKGROUND: In congestive heart failure with water retention, subtraction of body fluid by ultrafiltration causes greater diuresis and clinical improvement in patients who are angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibited, suggesting an influence of ACE inhibitors on fluid metabolism. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with moderate congestive heart failure were subjected to ultrafiltration (around 2000 mL) and followed up for 3 months. Usual outpatient therapy, consisting of digoxin, furosemide, and ACE inhibitors (18 patients, group A) and of digoxin and furosemide only (18 patients, group B), was continued throughout the trial. Hemodynamics, renal function, body fluid and electrolytes, plasma norepinephrine, renin activity, aldosterone, and plasma volume were monitored. At 30 and 90 days after ultrafiltration, hormones, renal function, functional capacity (based on cardiopulmonary tests), and extravascular lung water (chest radiograph score) were determined. Soon after ultrafiltration, body weight, plasma volume, and diuresis were reduced (hypovolemia) and hormones were raised (reaction to hypovolemia). In the next 4 days, all these variables reverted to the pre-ultrafiltration values in group B; in group A diuresis and plasma volume recovered, body weight was still reduced, and hormones became lower than baseline. These changes persisted in the next 3 months. An early reduction of extravascular lung water continued long term in group A only, associated with increase of exercise tolerance time and oxygen uptake and decrease of the dead space/tidal volume ratio. CONCLUSIONS: In congestive heart failure, ACE inhibition persistently prevented fluid accumulation once the excess of body fluid had been withdrawn with a nonpharmacologic method, resulting in sustained improvement in functional capacity. Reduction in circulating norepinephrine, aldosterone, and renin did not seem to be the cause but the consequence of this action, whose mechanisms remain undefined
Ultrafiltration for congestive heart failure: the past and the present
No full textPurpose of reviewTo provide an overview on the most recent evidence for the use of extracorporeal and peritoneal ultrafiltration in heart failure, focusing on the major publications from the last few years.Recent findingsThere have been several studies investigating the possible use of extracorporeal and peritoneal ultrafiltration in the management of acute and chronic heart failure. These trials have investigated the potential benefits and advantages of ultrafiltration over conventional medical therapy, in terms of clinical outcomes.SummaryAlthough ultrafiltration remains an extremely appealing therapeutic option for patients with heart failure and congestion, with several theoretical beneficial effects, some of the most recent studies have reported inconsistent findings. Differences in the selection of the study population, heterogeneity of the indications for use of ultrafiltration, variation in the ultrafiltration protocols, and high variability in the pharmacologic therapy used for the control group could explain some of these conflicting findings
Hemofiltration in Heart Failure
No full text In patients with severe congestive heart failure (CHF), removal of edema by hemofiltration is associated with significant clinical and hemodynamic improvement, correction of hyponatremia, restoration of urine output and diuretic responsiveness, and with a striking fall in neurohormonal activation. Through these effects, hemofiltration is able to interrupt the progression of CHF toward refractoriness, and to revert the clinical condition of CHF patients to a lower functional class. Fluid refilling from the overhydrated interstitium is the major compensatory mechanism in the prevention of hypovolemia during hemofiltration. Hemofiltration can also be beneficial in patients who have only moderate cardiac insufficiency (NYHA classes II and III) and in whom over-hydration is restricted to the pulmonary district significantly contributing to limiting patients functional capacity. In this setting, hemofiltration, differently from diuretics, is able to remove the increased lung water content and to improve clinical condition, exercise capacity and lung function. </jats:p
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