Iron substitution in the treatment of chronic heart failure.

Iron deficiency is a prevalent and clinically relevant comorbidity in up to 50% of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Iron deficiency in CHF patients is associated with impaired quality of life, reduced exercise capacity and increased mortality, irrespective of the presence of anaemia. It is diagnosed by determining circulating ferritin levels and transferrin saturation. Three randomised trials (CONFIRM-HF, FAIR-HF, and EFFECT-HF) of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose in the treatment of iron deficiency in CHF patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction demonstrated improvement of symptoms, functional capacity and quality of life. These beneficial effects were independent of the presence of anaemia. In addition, CONFIRM-HF and subsequent meta-analyses indicated that treatment of iron deficiency may reduce the rate of hospitalisations for worsening CHF. Oral iron is available at lower cost than intravenous iron, but its use did not translate into beneficial effects in CHF patients with iron deficiency. Large randomised trials designed to assess long-term clinical outcomes of iron treatment in CHF patients are pending. Current guidelines advise establishing evidence-based pharmacological and device therapy to improve symptoms and prognosis in patients with CHF. In addition, screening for iron deficiency is recommended. Intravenous ferric carboxymaltose should be considered for treating iron deficiency in ambulatory symptomatic patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction in order to alleviate heart failure symptoms, and to improve exercise capacity and quality of life.

Two-year outcomes after percutaneous mitral valve repair with the MitraClip system: durability of the procedure and predictors of outcome.

OBJECTIVE: Analyse 2-year outcomes after MitraClip therapy and identify predictors of outcome. METHODS: Consecutive patients (n=74) undergoing MitraClip therapy were included in the MitraSWISS registry and followed prospectively. RESULTS: A reduction of mitral regurgitation (MR) to ≤ mild was achieved in 32 (43%) patients and to moderate in 31 (42%) patients; 16/63 (25%) patients with initially successful treatment developed recurrent moderate to severe or severe MR during the first year and only 1 patient did so during the second year. At 2 years, moderate or less MR was more frequently present in patients with a transmitral mean gradient <3 mm Hg at baseline (73% vs 23%, p < 0.01) and in patients with a left atrial volume index (LAVI) <50 mL/m(2) at baseline (86% vs 52%, p=0.03). More than mild MR post MitraClip, N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide ≥5000 ng/L at baseline, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) were associated with reduced survival. CONCLUSIONS: A mean transmitral gradient <3 mm Hg at baseline, an LAVI <50 mL/m(2), the absence of COPD and CKD, and reduction of MR to less than moderate were associated with favourable outcome. Given a suitable anatomy, such patients may be excellent candidates for MitraClip therapy. Between 1 and 2 years follow-up, clinical and echocardiographic outcomes were stable, suggesting favourable, long-term durability of the device.

Optimization of initial energy for cardioversion of atrial tachyarrhythmias with biphasic shocks.

OBJECTIVE: Recommendations for optimal first-shock energies with biphasic waveforms are conflicting. We evaluated prospectively the relation between type and duration of atrial tachyarrhythmias and the probability of successful cardioversion with a specific biphasic shock waveform to develop recommendations for the initial energy setting aiming at the lowest total cumulative energy with 2 or less consecutive shocks. METHODS: We analyzed 453 consecutive patients undergoing their first transthoracic electrical cardioversion, including 358 attempts for atrial fibrillation (AF) and 95 attempts for atrial flutter (AFL) or atrial tachycardia (AT). A step-up protocol with a truncated exponential biphasic waveform starting at 50 J was used. Total cumulative energies were estimated under the assumption of a 2-tiered escalating shock protocol with different initial energy settings and a "rescue shock" of 250 J for AFL/AT or 360 J for AF. The initial energy setting leading to the lowest total cumulative energy was regarded as the optimal first-shock level. RESULTS: Cardioversion was successful in 448 patients (cumulative efficacy, 99 %). In patients with AFL/AT, the lowest total cumulative energy was attained with an initial energy setting of 50 J. In patients with AF, lowest values were achieved with an initial energy of 100 J for arrhythmia durations of 2 days or less and an initial energy of 150 J for arrhythmia durations of more than 2 days. CONCLUSION: We recommend an initial energy setting of 50 J in patients with AFL/AT, of 100 J in patients with AF 2 days or less, and of 150 J with AF more than 2 days.