Heart Failure

Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump as much blood as the body requires. This ineffective pumping can lead to enlargement of the heart as the myocardium works harder pump the same amount of blood. Heart failure may be caused by defects in the myocardium, such as an a heart attack infarct, or due to structural issues such as severe heart valve regurgitation. Heart failure can be divided into HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), and HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The disease is further divided into four New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes. Stage IV heart failure is when the heart is completely failing and requires a heart transplant or hemodynamic support from a left ventricular assist device (LVAD).

Beta-blockers equally effective for blacks, whites with HFrEF

A study published May 8 in the Journal of the American Heart Association suggests black and white patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) derive similar benefit from beta-blockers, despite conflicting previous reports.

Thumbnail

Excessive patient deaths spur investigation into Houston heart transplant center

Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center in Houston continues to tout itself as one of the top heart transplant centers in the country, even as quality measures lag well behind national averages.

Thumbnail

His bundle pacing trumps right ventricular approach in single-center study

A His bundle pacing (HBP) strategy was associated with a significant reduction in hospitalizations for heart failure when compared to pacemaker implantation via the right ventricle, according to a study published online May 14 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Thumbnail

Cardiovascular mortality rates for IHD, CHF vary 'significantly' across VA hospitals

Risk-standardized cardiovascular mortality rates vary ‘substantially’ for ischemic heart disease (IHD) and chronic heart failure (CHF) across the Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers (VAMCs), according to a study published online May 16 in JAMA Cardiology.

Thumbnail

Genetic variant may contribute to alcoholic cardiomyopathy

Researchers have identified a genetic variant that may predispose individuals to alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM), possibly opening the door for genetic testing and familial evaluation.

High BNP levels linked to increased mortality regardless of heart failure status

High concentrations of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) are equally predictive of mortality in patients with and without heart failure, according to a study published May 7 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Thumbnail

Hospital-to-home transitional care reduces deaths, readmissions for heart failure

The use of “virtual wards” may be helpful in preventing death and rehospitalizations for patients with congestive heart failure, according to a study published April 30 in PLOS One.

Eidos Therapeutics Initiates Phase 2 Clinical Trial for AG10 Targeting Transthyretin Amyloidosis Cardiomyopathy

SAN FRANCISCO, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Eidos Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing a novel oral therapy to treat transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis (ATTR), today announced dosing of the first patient in the Phase 2 clinical trial of AG10 in patients with ATTR cardiomyopathy.