Spironolactone is secure and reduces left ventricular hypertrophy in hemodialysis patients
Conclusion: Spironolactone treatment in hemodialysis patients was secure and effective in regression of left ventricular hypertrophy, a major risk factor for cardiovascular events in these patients. This effect occurred in spite of blood pressure stability. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01128101 (Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease)
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease - September 2, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Feniman-De-Stefano, G. M. M., Zanati-Basan, S. G., De Stefano, L. M., Xavier, P. S., Castro, A. D., Caramori, J. C. T., Barretti, P., Jorge da Silva Franco, R., Martin, L. C. Tags: Original Research Source Type: research

Current approaches to atherosclerotic obstructive renal artery stenosis
Increased lifespan in the last few decades has substantially changed the scenario for renal artery stenosis. Indeed, because older populations show a higher prevalence of atherosclerotic disease, the incidence of atheromatous renal artery stenosis has also increased. Intuitively, one could surmise that stenosis removal should void both the hypertension and the kidney damage resulting from the obstructive stenosis. Surprisingly, a number of important clinical trials have failed to show the reversion seen in experimental models. The reasons for these differences may be linked to chronicity and inflammation associated with th...
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease - September 2, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Juncos, L. I., Textor, S. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research

Combination therapy in chronic kidney disease?
The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a fundamental role in preserving the circulation and yet, it may be injurious to heart and blood vessels and may also allow, and sometimes hasten, kidney disease progression. Thus, effective RAS inhibition may be a major pharmacologic necessity to control hypertension, to decrease cardiovascular complication, and to inhibit kidney disease progression. Unfortunately, the beneficial effects attained in the management of renal disease sometimes are incomplete. The reasons for these inadequate outcomes may include angiotensin escape or excessive local angiotensin production. Two pharmac...
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease - September 2, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Juncos, L. I., Caputo, J. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research

Maternal and fetal outcome in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: the impact of prenatal care
Conclusion: In a tertiary reference hospital, eclampsia and chronic hypertension superimposed on pre-eclampsia are associated with a worst outcome for mothers and fetuses, whereas complete prenatal care is associated with a better maternal and fetal outcome in HDP. (Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease)
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease - September 2, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Barbosa, I. R. C., Silva, W. B. M., Cerqueira, G. S. G., Novo, N. F., Almeida, F. A., Novo, J. L. V. G. Tags: Original Research Source Type: research

Utility of home blood pressure monitoring to evaluate postprandial blood pressure in treated hypertensive patients
Postprandial hypotension, defined as a fall in systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 20 mmHg or greater within 2 hours after a meal, is a risk factor for stroke, coronary events and mortality. The clinical suspicion is typically raised by episodes of postprandial syncope or falls, whereas asymptomatic postprandial hypotension is mostly neglected. The magnitude of the postprandial fall in SBP, as detected by 24-hour recording in apparently healthy middle-aged to elderly subjects, was proportional to the severity of the silent cerebrovascular damage. Postprandial hypotension can also be detected by self-measured blood pressure b...
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease - September 2, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Alfie, J. Tags: Review Source Type: research

Early glucose variability in cardiogenic shock following acute myocardial infarction: a pilot study
Conclusions: According to our results, in patients with CS following acute myocardial infarction, early glycaemic variability is an independent predictor of mortality. Further studies are needed to confirm our results in larger cohorts and eventually to assess the effect of strategies specifically targeting glucose variability reduction on mortality. (Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease)
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease - September 2, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Lazzeri, C., Valente, S., Chiostri, M., Attana, P., Gensini, G. F. Tags: Original Research Source Type: research

Applicability of the current hypertension guidelines in Latin America
Recent research has focused on the development of evidence-based guidelines that are intended to regulate the conduct of physicians in the diagnosis and control of hypertension, with the goal of achieving greater effectiveness and equity at the lowest possible cost. In Latin America, guidelines are available for the management of hypertension at three levels: national, regional and international. The national and regional Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) guidelines are in fact adaptations of the international guidelines. The potential benefit of applying guidelines developed in other regions to local healthcare decision ...
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease - September 2, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Alcocer, L., Meaney, E., Hernandez-Hernandez, H. Tags: Review Source Type: research

Dual renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockade in chronic kidney disease: do the benefits outweigh the risks?
(Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease)
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease - September 2, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Bohlke, M. Tags: Editorial Source Type: research

Editorial
(Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease)
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease - September 2, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Irigoyen, M., Thorne, M., Ferrario, C. M. Tags: Editorials Source Type: research

An unusual case of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia
A 54-year-old woman with advanced cirrhosis secondary to hepatitis C, end-stage kidney failure on hemodialysis, and nonischemic cardiomyopathy was admitted to the medical intensive care unit for treatment of a superior vena cava (SVC) thrombus involving a recently implanted cardioverter–defibrillator (ICD). During her hospitalization, the patient abruptly developed frequent ventricular ectopy with up to 20 beat runs of hemodynamically significant nonsustained ventricular tachycardia. Because ventricular ectopy was not previously seen in the patient, the sudden onset prompted a thorough evaluation. After other causes ...
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease - May 19, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Brandt, J. C., Harman, E., Winchester, D. Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research

A balloon-expandable sheath facilitates transfemoral TAVR in patients with peripheral vascular disease and tortuosity
Conclusions: The SoloPath sheath system permits transfemoral TAVR in patients with PAD small caliber ileofemoral vessels and vascular tortuosity. The transfemoral balloon-expandable sheath allowed these patients to avoid the increased morbidity and mortality risks associated with direct aortic or transapical access. (Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease)
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease - May 19, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Goldsweig, A. M., Faheem, O., Cleman, M. W., Forrest, J. K. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research

The NICE recommendation for drug-coated balloons and its global impact
Conclusions: DCB angioplasty ought to be the preferred treatment option for patients with BMS-ISR and DES-ISR from the payers’ point of view. (Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease)
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease - May 19, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Eccleshall, S., Waliszewski, M. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research

Patients with biopsy-proven nephrosclerosis and moderately impaired renal function have a higher risk for cardiovascular disease: 15 years' experience in a single, kidney disease center
Conclusions: Patients with nephrosclerosis are at high risk of CVD when they have moderately advanced renal impairment. (Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease)
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease - May 19, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Suzuki, H., Kobayashi, K., Ishida, Y., Kikuta, T., Inoue, T., Hamada, U., Okada, H. Tags: Original Research Source Type: research

Cardiovascular disease research activity in the Middle East: a bibliometric analysis
Conclusions: Although there has been a drive towards greater publication of CVD papers in the last decade, research activity in the Middle East still lags behinds developed countries. Greater productivity is anticipated to emerge to accompany the recent significant investment in research in Gulf countries. (Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease)
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease - May 19, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Al-Kindi, S., Al-Juhaishi, T., Haddad, F., Taheri, S., Abi Khalil, C. Tags: Original Research Source Type: research

Endomyocardial biopsy-integrating electrode at the bioptome tip
Conclusions: Using existing technology, the 3DEAM, which integrates unipolar and bipolar signal from the bioptome tip, is feasible, and can be safely added to a standard echocardiographically guided endomyocardial biopsy. Future studies should investigate whether such a technique could increase the safety and diagnostic yield of endomyocardial biopsies in patients with suspected cardiomyopathies. (Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease)
Source: Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease - May 19, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Konecny, T., Noseworthy, P. A., Kapa, S., Cooper, L. T., Mulpuru, S. K., Sandhu, G. S., Asirvatham, S. Tags: Original Research Source Type: research