The relationship between obesity and mortality in patients with heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to evaluate the role of obesity in the prognosis of patients with heart failure (HF). BACKGROUND: Previous reports link obesity to the development of HF. However, the impact of obesity in patients with established HF has not been studied. METHODS: We analyzed 1,203 patients with advanced HF followed in a comprehensive HF management program. The patients were subclassified into categories of body mass index (BMI) defined as: underweight BMI <20.7 (n = 164), recommended BMI 20.7 to 27.7 (n = 692), overweight BMI 27.8 to 31 (n = 168) and obese BMI >31 (n = 179). This sample size allows the detection of small effects (0.02), with a power of 0.80 and an alpha level of 0.05 for comparing one-year survival between BMI groups. RESULTS: The four BMI groups had similar profiles in terms of ejection fraction (mean 0.22), sodium, creatinine and smoking. The obese and overweight groups had significantly higher rates of hypertension and diabetes, as well as higher levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein cholesterol. The four BMI groups had similar survival rates. Ejection fraction, HF etiology and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor use predicted survival on univariate analysis (p < 0.01), although BMI did not. On multivariate analysis, cardiopulmonary exercise tests, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and serum sodium were strong predictors of survival (p < 0.05). Higher BMI was not a risk factor for increased mortality, but was associated with a trend toward improved survival. CONCLUSIONS: In a large cohort of patients with advanced HF of multiple etiologies, obesity is not associated with increased mortality and may confer a more favorable prognosis. Further studies need to delineate whether weight loss promotion in medically optimized patients with HF is a worthwhile therapeutic goal.

Improved treatment of coronary heart disease by implementation of a Cardiac Hospitalization Atherosclerosis Management Program (CHAMP).

Despite scientific evidence that secondary prevention medical therapies reduce mortality in patients with established coronary artery disease, these therapies continue to be underutilized in patients receiving conventional care. To address this issue, a Cardiac Hospital Atherosclerosis Management Program (CHAMP) focused on initiation of aspirin, cholesterol-lowering medication (hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A [HMG CoA] reductase inhibitor titrated to achieve low-density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol < or =100 mg/dl), beta blocker, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor therapy in conjunction with diet and exercise counseling before hospital discharge in patients with established coronary artery disease. Treatment rates and clinical outcome were compared in patients discharged after myocardial infarction in the 2-year period before (1992 to 1993) and the 2-year period after (1994 to 1995) CHAMP was implemented. In the pre- and post-CHAMP patient groups, aspirin use at discharge improved from 68% to 92% (p <0.01), beta blocker use improved from 12% to 62% (p <0.01), ACE inhibitor use increased from 6% to 58% (p <0.01), and statin use increased from 6% to 86% (p <0.01). This increased use of treatment persisted during subsequent follow-up. There was also a significant increase in patients achieving a LDL cholesterol < or =100 mg/dl (6% vs 58%, p <0.001) and a reduction in recurrent myocardial infarction and 1-year mortality. Compared with conventional guidelines and care, CHAMP was associated with a significant increase in use of medications that have been previously demonstrated to reduce mortality; more patients achieved an LDL cholesterol < or =100 mg/dl, and there were improved clinical outcomes in patients after hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction.

Impact of a comprehensive heart failure management program on hospital readmission and functional status of patients with advanced heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of a comprehensive heart failure management program, functional status, hospital readmission rate and estimated hospital costs were determined and compared for the 6 months before and the 6 months after referral. BACKGROUND: The course of advanced heart failure is characterized by progressive clinical deterioration reflected in frequent hospital admissions, which comprise the major financial cost. METHODS: Over a 3-year period, 214 patients were accepted for heart transplantation and discharged after evaluation, which included adjustments in medical therapy and intensive patient education. Patients were in New York Heart Association functional class III or IV (94 and 120 patients, respectively), with a mean left ventricular ejection fraction of 0.21, peak oxygen consumption of 11 ml/kg per min and a total of 429 hospital admissions in the previous 6 months (average 2.0 per patient). Changes in the medical regimen included a 98% increase in angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor dose and a flexible diuretic regimen after 4.2-liter net diuresis, with counseling also regarding diet and progressive exercise. RESULTS: During the 6 months after referral, there were only 63 hospital readmissions (85% reduction), with 0.29/patient (p < 0.0001). Functional status improved as assessed by functional class (p < 0.0001) and peak oxygen consumption (15.2 vs. 11.0 ml/kg per min, p < 0.001). The same results were seen after excluding the 35 patients without full 6-month follow-up (9 deaths, 14 urgent transplant procedures during hospital readmission, 12 elective transplant procedures from home); 34 hospital admissions occurred after referral, compared with 344 before referral. Even when adding in the initial hospital admission after referral for these 179 patients, there was a 35% decrease in total hospital admissions in the 6-month period. The estimated savings in hospital readmission costs after subtracting the initial hospital costs for management was $9,800 per patient. CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive heart failure management led to improved functional status and an 85% decrease in the hospital admission rate for transplant candidates discharged after evaluation. The potential to reduce both symptoms and costs suggests that referral to a heart failure program may be appropriate not only for potential heart transplantation, but also for medical management of persistent functional class III and IV heart failure.

Sustained hemodynamic efficacy of therapy tailored to reduce filling pressures in survivors with advanced heart failure.

BACKGROUND: During therapy to relieve congestion in advanced heart failure, cardiac filling pressures can frequently be reduced to near-normal levels with improved cardiac output. It is not known whether the early hemodynamic improvement and drug response can be maintained long term. METHODS AND RESULTS: After referral for cardiac transplantation with initially severe hemodynamic decompensation, 25 patients survived without transplantation to undergo hemodynamic reassessment after 8+/-6 months of treatment tailored to early hemodynamic response. Initial changes included net diuresis, increased ACE inhibitor doses, and frequent addition of nitrates. After 8 months of therapy, early reductions were sustained for pulmonary wedge pressure (24+/-9 to 15+/-5 mm Hg early; 12+/-6 mm Hg late) and systemic vascular resistance (1651+/-369 to 1207+/-281 dynes x s(-1) x cm(-5) early; 1003+/-193 dynes x s(-1) x cm(-5) late). Acute response to doses persisted at reevaluation. Sustained reduction in filling pressures was accompanied by a progressive increase in stroke volume (42+/-10 to 56+/-13 mL early; 79+/-20 mL late), improved functional class, and freedom from resting symptoms. Study design did not control for amiodarone, which was initiated for arrhythmias in 12 patients and associated with greater improvement in cardiac index (1.8 to 3.2 L min(-1) x m(-2) late on amiodarone versus 2.0 to 2.6 L x min(-1) x m(-2), P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: During chronic therapy tailored to early hemodynamic response in advanced heart failure, acute vasodilator response persists, and near-normal filling pressures can be maintained in patients who survive without transplantation. Stroke volumes at low filling pressures increase further over time. Chronic hemodynamic improvement was accompanied by symptomatic improvement, but the contributions of the monitored hemodynamic approach, increased vasodilator doses, and comprehensive outpatient management have not yet been established.

Improving survival for patients with atrial fibrillation and advanced heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: We attempted to determine whether changes in heart failure therapy since 1989 have altered the prognostic significance of atrial fibrillation. BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation occurs in 15% to 30% of patients with heart failure. Despite the recognized potential for adverse effects, the impact of atrial fibrillation on prognosis is controversial. METHODS: Two-year survival for 750 consecutive patients discharged from a single hospital after evaluation for heart transplantation from 1985 to 1989 (Group I, n = 359) and from 1990 to April 1993 (Group II, n = 391) was analyzed in relation to atrial fibrillation. In Group I, class I antiarrhythmic drugs and hydralazine vasodilator therapy were routinely allowed. In Group II, amiodarone and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were first-line antiarrhythmic and vasodilating drugs. RESULTS: A history of atrial fibrillation was present in 20% of patients in Group I and 24% of those in Group II. Patients with atrial fibrillation in the two groups had similar clinical and hemodynamic profiles. Among patients with atrial fibrillation, those in Group II had a markedly better 2-year survival (0.66 vs. 0.39, p = 0.001) and sudden death-free survival (0.84 vs. 0.70, p = 0.01) than those in Group I. In each time period, survival was worse for patients with than without atrial fibrillation in Group I (0.39 vs. 0.55, p = 0.002) but not in Group II (0.66 vs. 0.75, p = 0.09). CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of patients with advanced heart failure and atrial fibrillation is improving. These findings support the practice of avoiding class I antiarrhythmic drugs in this group and may reflect recent beneficial changes in heart failure therapy.

Improvement in exercise capacity of candidates awaiting heart transplantation.

OBJECTIVES: This study determined the frequency of improvement in peak oxygen uptake and its role in reevaluation of candidates awaiting heart transplantation. BACKGROUND: Ambulatory candidates for transplantation usually wait > 6 months to undergo the procedure, and during this period symptoms may lessen, and peak oxygen uptake may improve. Whereas initial transplant candidacy is based increasingly on objective criteria, there are no established guidelines for reevaluation to determine who can leave the active waiting list. METHODS: All ambulatory transplant candidates with initial peak oxygen uptake < 14 ml/kg per min were identified. Of 107 such patients listed, 68 survived without early deterioration or transplantation to undergo repeat exercise. A strategy of reevaluation using specific clinical criteria and exercise performance was tested to determine whether patients with improved oxygen uptake could safely be followed without transplantation. RESULTS: In 38 of the 68 patients, peak oxygen uptake increased by > or = 2 ml/kg per min to a level > or = 12 ml/kg per min after 6 +/- 5 months, together with an increase in anaerobic threshold, peak oxygen pulse and exercise heart rate reserve and a decrease in heart rate at rest. Increased peak oxygen uptake was accompanied by stable clinical status without congestion in 31 of 38 patients, and these 31 were taken off the active waiting list. At 2 years, their actuarial survival rate was 100%, and the survival rate without relisting for transplantation was 85%. CONCLUSION: Reevaluation of exercise capacity and clinical status allowed removal of 31 (29%) of 107 ambulatory transplant candidates from the waiting list with excellent early survival despite low peak oxygen uptake on initial testing. The ability to increase peak oxygen uptake, particularly with increased peak oxygen pulse, may indicate improved prognosis as well as functional capacity and, in combination with stable clinical status, may be an indication to defer transplantation in favor of more compromised candidates.

The impending crisis awaiting cardiac transplantation. Modeling a solution based on selection.

BACKGROUND: Each month, the number of transplant candidates added to the waiting list exceeds the number of transplantations performed, and many outpatients deteriorate to require transplantation urgently. The current list of 2400 candidates and the average wait of 8 months continue to increase. METHODS AND RESULTS: To determine the size at which the outpatient and critical candidate pools will stabilize, population models were constructed using current statistics for donor hearts, candidate listing, sudden death, and outpatient decline to urgent status and revised to predict the impact of alterations in policies of candidate listing. If current practices continue, within 48 months the predicted list will stabilize as the sum of an estimated 270 hospitalized candidates, among whom, together with newly listed urgent candidates, all hearts will be distributed and 3700 outpatient candidates with virtually no chance of transplantation unless they deteriorate to an urgent status. Decreasing the upper age limit now to 55 years would reduce the number listed each month by 30% and result within 48 months in a list of only 1490. The list could also be decreased by 30%, however, if it were possible to list only a candidate group with an 80% chance (compared with 52% estimated currently) of sudden death or deterioration during the next year. With this strategy, the waiting list would equilibrate within 48 months to one-third the current size, with 50% of hearts for outpatient candidates, who would then have an 11% chance each month of receiving a heart compared with 0% if recent policies prevail. Total deaths, with and without transplantation, would be minimized by this rigorous selection of outpatient candidates. CONCLUSIONS: This study implies that immediate provisions should be made to limit candidate listing and revise expectations to reflect the diminishing likelihood of transplantation for outpatient candidates. Future emphasis should be on improved selection of candidates at highest risk without transplantation.

Effect of direct vasodilation with hydralazine versus angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition with captopril on mortality in advanced heart failure: the Hy-C trial.

To compare the benefit of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition and direct vasodilation on the prognosis of advanced heart failure, 117 patients evaluated for cardiac transplantation who had severe symptoms and abnormal hemodynamic status at rest were randomized to treatment with either captopril or hydralazine plus isosorbide dinitrate (Hy-C Trial). Comparable hemodynamic effects of the two regimens were sought by titrating vasodilator doses to match the hemodynamic status achieved with nitroprusside and diuretic agents, attempting to achieve a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure of 15 mm Hg and a systemic vascular resistance of 1,200 dynes.s.cm-5. Treatment with the alternate vasodilator was started because of poor hemodynamic response or side effects (40% of patients in the captopril group and 22% in the hydralazine group). Adequate hemodynamic response in patients with a serum sodium level less than 135 mg/dl was more likely with hydralazine than with captopril (71% vs. 33%, p = 0.04). Isosorbide dinitrate was prescribed in 88% of the hydralazine-treated patients and 84% of the captopril-treated patients. The hemodynamic improvements from each regimen were equivalent. After 8 +/- 7 months of follow-up, the actuarial 1-year survival rate was 81% in the captopril-treated patients and 51% in the hydralazine-treated patients (p = 0.05). The improved survival with captopril resulted from a lower rate of sudden death, which occurred in only 3 of 44 captopril-treated patients compared with 17 of 60 hydralazine-treated patients (p = 0.01). In the subset of patients who continued treatment with the initial vasodilator, results were similar to those for the entire treatment group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Prevention of sudden death in survivors of myocardial infarction: a decision analysis approach.

During the first year after myocardial infarction, 5% to 15% of patients die, and the majority of deaths occur suddenly. Highly efficacious therapy, such as the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, may reduce the chance of sudden death, but broad application is limited by associated risks. Hence, attempts to identify patients at high risk so they can receive therapy are desirable. Subgroups with high or low sudden death risks can be identified based on left ventricular function. Further risk stratification using programmed electrical stimulation and the signal-averaged ECG has been advocated, but the best strategy is unknown. Using a decision analysis model, we compared the 1-year survival rates in survivors of myocardial infarction treated with the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator either empirically or based on screening with the signal-averaged ECG and programmed electrical stimulation. The best strategy for selecting patients for therapy depended on the pre-therapy sudden death risk. For patients at low risk, such as those with well-preserved ventricular function, antiarrhythmic therapy selected with screening tests or given empirically increased both the mortality rate resulting from the adverse effects of therapy and the excellent survival rate without therapy. In the moderate-risk population, both empiric and stratified approaches reduced mortality, but stratification substantially limited the number of patients receiving unnecessary therapy. In the high-risk population, empiric treatment achieved the best survival rate, and screening resulted in only a small reduction in the number of patients treated unnecessarily.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Importance of hemodynamic response to therapy in predicting survival with ejection fraction less than or equal to 20% secondary to ischemic or nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

To identify patients with left ventricular ejection fractions less than 20% who are likely to survive on tailored medical therapy after referral to transplantation, this study of 152 patients addressed the hypotheses that (1) severely elevated filling pressures initially measured at referral would not necessarily predict poor outcome, (2) survival would be best when low pulmonary wedge pressures could be achieved with therapy tailored for hemodynamic goals, and (3) coronary artery disease would be an independent risk factor for early mortality. Despite an average initial ejection fraction of 0.15, cardiac index of 2.0 liters/min/m2 and pulmonary artery wedge pressure of 28 mm Hg, the actuarial survival with tailored therapy was 63% at 1 year, with 34 of 41 (83%) deaths occurring suddenly. Survival was not related to initial filling pressure elevation, but was best predicted by the pulmonary artery wedge pressures during therapy; patients achieving pressure of less than or equal to 16 mm Hg had 1-year survival of 83 vs 38% (p = 0.0001). The other independent predictors were serum sodium and coronary artery disease. Patients with high filling pressures during therapy and coronary artery disease had 21% survival at 1 year. Survival after referral to transplantation with an ejection fraction less than or equal to 20% is better than previously described. Patients in whom left ventricular filling pressures cannot be adequately reduced by tailored therapy, particularly if coronary artery disease is present, should be considered for early transplantation.

Exercise capacity for survivors of cardiac transplantation or sustained medical therapy for stable heart failure.

Cardiac transplantation is predicted to improve survival for patients with severe symptoms of heart failure and ejection fraction of 20% or less, but the exercise capacity after cardiac transplantation is less than normal. Patients responding to vasodilators and diuretics have progressive improvement in exercise capacity despite low ejection fraction. We hypothesized that among patients currently considered appropriate for transplantation who could nonetheless subsequently be stabilized on medical therapy tailored to hemodynamic goals, survivors after 6 months of sustained medical therapy would demonstrate exercise capacity comparable to that of survivors of transplantation. Of 146 patients referred, 118 (81%) were discharged on tailored therapy without transplantation, and 88 (60%) were stable for at least 1 month. Stability after discharge was more likely in patients with lower right atrial pressures and better renal function on therapy. Of the 88 stable patients, 45 patients were listed for transplant, and 43 were ineligible or unwilling. From these patients, 42 survivors for more than 6 months follow-up after cardiac transplantation or tailoring of medical therapy underwent exercise testing. Baseline functional and hemodynamic status and left ventricular ejection fraction (15 +/- 4%) were not different between the transplant and sustained medical survivor groups at the time of initial evaluation. After 14 +/- 6 months, left ventricular ejection fraction had increased to 62 +/- 7% after transplantation (p less than 0.01) and only 22 +/- 9% after sustained medical therapy (p less than 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the maximum workload, oxygen uptake, anaerobic threshold, or maximum oxygen pulse between survivors of cardiac transplantation and survivors on sustained medical therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Afterload reduction with vasodilators and diuretics decreases mitral regurgitation during upright exercise in advanced heart failure.

In advanced heart failure, mitral regurgitation increases the burden of the failing ventricle and decreases effective stroke volume. Although tailored afterload reduction decreases mitral regurgitation at rest, it is not known if this benefit is maintained during upright exercise. Simultaneous radionuclide ventriculography and thermodilution stroke volumes were compared to measure the forward ejection fraction in 10 patients during upright bicycle exercise before and after therapy with vasodilators and diuretics tailored to decrease pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and systemic vascular resistance. Ventricular volumes, total ejection fraction and the forward ejection fraction did not change during exercise at baseline. At rest, tailored therapy decreased average pulmonary capillary wedge pressure from 36 to 19 mm Hg (p less than 0.01), systemic vascular resistance from 1,570 to 1,210 dynes.s.cm-5 (p less than 0.05), and left ventricular volume index from 251 to 177 ml/m2 (p less than 0.01), while increasing the forward ejection fraction from 0.53 to 0.85 (p less than 0.01) without change in total ejection fraction (0.18 from 0.17). During steady state exercise at low work load, tailored therapy decreased left ventricular volume index from 279 to 213 (p less than 0.05) and increased forward ejection fraction from 0.52 to 0.79 (p less than 0.01) without change in total ejection fraction (0.20 from 0.19). The total stroke volume during exercise was not increased after therapy; the increase in forward stroke volume after therapy appeared to result instead from the decrease in mitral regurgitant flow. The benefits of tailored afterload reduction are maintained throughout upright exercise.

Facilitation of ventricular tachycardia initiation by procainamide during programmed ventricular stimulation in patients with heart failure.

Antiarrhythmic drugs occasionally facilitate, rather than prevent, ventricular tachycardia. The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of procainamide facilitation of ventricular tachycardia initiation during programmed electrical stimulation in patients with no history of spontaneous sustained ventricular tachycardia but who are at high risk. Twenty patients with advanced heart failure (mean left ventricular ejection fraction 0.19 +/- 0.09) and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia and in whom sustained ventricular tachycardia was not inducible by programmed electrical stimulation in the basal state were studied. Six patients had coronary artery disease, 13 had idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, and 1 had valvular heart disease. All patients received programmed stimulation from the right ventricular apex with one to three extra-stimuli before and after the intravenous infusion of 10 mg/kg of procainamide (serum level 6.6 +/- 2.4 mcg/l). In two patients (10%) sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia was initiated only after the administration of procainamide. One of these patients later died in ventricular tachycardia during hyperkalemia. Of the noninducible patients, during a follow-up period of 6 +/- 5 months, two died suddenly and one developed symptomatic ventricular tachycardia. Thus, procainamide can unmask potential reentry circuits in some patients who have not had spontaneous sustained ventricular tachycardia. In patients with heart failure, this risk, as assessed by programmed stimulation after a single dose of procainamide, appears to be low.

Efficacy of medical therapy tailored for severe congestive heart failure in patients transferred for urgent cardiac transplantation.

Cardiac transplantation can only be performed in a few patients with severe congestive heart failure (CHF), due to the shortage of donor hearts. The efficacy of current medical therapy tailored for severe CHF, which has not previously been determined for transplant candidates, is of particular importance in patients considered for urgent cardiac transplantation. In this study, 50 consecutive in-patients transferred from other hospitals for urgent transplantation underwent intensive afterload reduction therapy, initially with intravenous and subsequently with oral vasodilators and diuretics tailored to hemodynamic goals. Oral regimens allowed hospital discharge without surgery for 40 of 50 patients. Nineteen of these patients had arrived on inotropic infusions and 32 had received oral vasodilators in the previous month. Cardiac index increased from 1.9 +/- 0.6 to 2.8 +/- 0.7 liters/min/m2, while pulmonary capillary wedge pressure decreased from 30 +/- 8 to 15 +/- 4 mm Hg and systemic vascular resistance decreased from 1,800 +/- 800 to 1,100 +/- 200 dynes-s-cm-5. Despite poor initial hemodynamics, ejection fraction 16 +/- 4%, serum sodium 131 +/- 6 mEq/liter, and apparent failure of previous medical therapy, actuarial survival for 24 discharged patients receiving sustained medical therapy alone was 67% at 1 year, with 67% of survivors employed full- or part-time, and 14 of 16 (88%) discharged transplant candidates survived until transplantation. By decreasing the need for transplantation to be performed urgently, increased emphasis on the design of medical therapy may allow more effective distribution of limited donor hearts.

Inducible ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death during vasodilator therapy of severe heart failure.

Sudden death is common in patients with severe heart failure, but antiarrhythmic drug therapy has potential risks as well as benefits. Programmed electrical stimulation may offer a means of identifying lower risk patients who are less likely to benefit from antiarrhythmic therapy and who could potentially be spared the risk of adverse drug effects. Therefore 72 consecutive patients referred for management of severe heart failure (left ventricular ejection fraction 0.18 +/- 0.06) were studied. The mean age was 47 +/- 12 years; 45 (61%) patients had idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and 24 (33%) had coronary artery disease. Fifty-eight (82%) patients had nonsustained ventricular tachycardia. Following adjustment of vasodilators and diuretics, programmed stimulation was performed from the right ventricular apex with one, two, and three extrastimuli. Sustained ventricular tachycardia was initiated in nine (13%) patients and all received chronic antiarrhythmic drug therapy. During follow-up of 176 +/- 187 days, 1 of 13 patients treated for inducible ventricular tachycardia and 13 of 63 noninducible patients died suddenly (p = 0.20). The actuarial risk of sudden death in the noninducible patients was 13% at 6 weeks and 30% at 6 months. The only independent predictors of sudden death were pulmonary artery systolic pressure greater than 55% mm Hg and a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure with vasodilator therapy greater than 16 mm Hg. Of the 63 noninducible patients, 11 (17%) received long-term antiarrhythmic agents due to atrial fibrillation or referring physician preference, and antiarrhythmic therapy was not associated with a lower risk of sudden death in these patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of afterload reduction (diuretics and vasodilators) on left ventricular volume and mitral regurgitation in severe congestive heart failure secondary to ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

The mechanism by which afterload reduction increases left ventricular stroke volume while decreasing left ventricular filling pressure has not previously been established. In 15 patients with severe congestive heart failure due to ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, absolute ventricular volume, ejection fraction and total stroke volume from radionuclide ventriculography were compared with thermodilution stroke volume before and after intensive afterload reduction with vasodilators and diuretics titrated to hemodynamic goals. After 48 to 72 hours, pulmonary artery wedge pressure decreased from 32 +/- 8 to 16 +/- 4 mm Hg and systemic vascular resistance from 1,960 +/- 700 to 1,200 +/- 400 dynes s cm-5. End-diastolic volume decreased from 390 +/- 138 to 301 +/- 126 ml (p less than 0.01) and end-systolic volume from 316 +/- 127 to 241 +/- 111 (p less than 0.01). Ejection fraction did not change and total stroke volume decreased from 74 +/- 22 to 59 +/- 20 ml (p less than 0.01). Simultaneous forward stroke volume by thermodilution increased from 37 +/- 14 to 52 +/- 14 ml (p less than 0.01), and forward fraction increased from 0.55 +/- 0.40 to 0.96 +/- 0.42. Intensive reduction of ventricular filling pressure and systemic vascular resistance decreased total ventricular stroke volume by 20% but increased forward stroke volume by 40%. The major effect of intensive afterload reduction for severe congestive heart failure may be the reduction of ventricular volume and mitral regurgitation.

Beneficial effect of residual anterograde flow on tissue viability as assessed by positron emission tomography in patients with myocardial infarction.

With the advent of therapeutic interventions to restore blood flow in patients with acute infarction, early identification of salvageable myocardium has gained clinical importance. It was the purpose of this study to define regional blood flow and glucose metabolism in patients with acute myocardial infarction as assessed by positron emission tomography (PET) and to correlate these findings with coronary anatomy. In 15 patients blood flow as determined by N-13 ammonia was reduced in 37 left ventricular segments. In 20 segments there was a similar decrease in FDG uptake, consistent with tissue necrosis. In contrast, 17 segments with reduced blood flow revealed maintained FDG uptake suggesting residual viability in the electrocardiographically defined 'infarct segment'. PET viability and necrosis was significantly associated with presence or absence of anterograde flow in the infarct artery. Evaluation of regional wall motion did not distinguish segments with PET criteria for viability from segments with necrosis. Thus, in patients without thrombolytic therapy during evolving myocardial infarction, spontaneous reperfusion appears to be beneficial for tissue survival. PET offers the unique possibility to assess tissue viability early after the ischaemic injury where evaluation of wall motion fails to identify salvageable myocardium.