Background - The X-linked Danon disease (DD) manifests by severe cardiomyopathy, myopathy, and neuropsychiatric problems. We designed this registry to generate a comprehensive picture of clinical presentations and outcome of patients with Danon disease (DD) in cardiomyopathy centers throughout Europe. Methods - Clinical and genetic data were collected in 16 cardiology centers from 8 European countries. Results - The cohort comprised 30 male and 27 female patients. The age at diagnosis was birth to 42 yr. in males and 2-65 in females. Cardiac involvement was observed in 96%. Extracardiac manifestations were prominent in males but not in females. Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy was reported in 73% of male and 74% of female patients. LV systolic dysfunction was reported in 40% of males (who had LVEF 34±11%) and 59% of females (LVEF 28±13%). The risk of arrhythmia and heart failure (HF) were comparable among genders. The age of first HF hospitalization was lower in males (18 ± 6 vs. 28 ±17 yr., p<0.003). HF was the leading cause of death (10/17, 59%), and LV systolic dysfunction predicted an adverse outcome. Eight males and 8 females (28%) underwent heart transplantation or received a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Our cohort suggests better prognosis of female compared to male heart transplant recipients. Conclusions - DD presents earlier in males than females and runs a malignant course in both genders, due to cardiac complications. Cardiomyopathy features: heart failure and arrhythmia, are similar among the genders. Clinical diagnosis and management is extremely challenging in females due to phenotypic diversity and absence of extracardiac manifestations.

Aims The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety profile in terms of changes in renal function after co-treatment with sacubitril/valsartan and empagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Methods and results This multicentre observational analysis included 108 patients with T2D and HFrEF treated with both agents: baseline sacubitril/valsartan (Group A; n = 43), baseline empagliflozin (Group B; n = 42), or both agents initiated simultaneously (Group C; n = 23). The primary endpoint was estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) dynamics across treatment groups. A binary characterization of worsening renal function (WRF)/improved renal function (IRF) was included in the primary endpoint. WRF and IRF were defined as an increase/decrease in serum creatinine ≥ 0.3 mg/dL or GFR ≥ 20%. Changes in quantitative variables were evaluated using joint modelling of survival and longitudinal data (JM). Rates and their treatment differences were determined by Poisson regression. The mean left ventricle ejection fraction and eGFR were 32 ± 6% and 70 ± 28 mL/min/1.73 m 2 , respectively. At a median follow-up of 1.01 years (inter-quartile range 0.71-1.50), 377 outpatient visits were recorded. Although there were differences in GFR trajectories over time within each treatment, they did not achieve statistical significance (omnibus P = 0.154). However, when these differences were contrasted among groups, there was a significant decrease in GFR in Group A as compared with Group B (P = 0.002). The contrast between Groups C and B was not significant (P = 0.430). These differences were also reflected when the rates for WRF and IRF were contrasted among treatments. Conclusions The co-administration of sacubitril/valsartan and empagliflozin in patients with HFrEF and concomitant T2D appears to be safe in terms of renal function.

Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors were initially conceived as glucose-lowering agents. However, striking renal and cardiovascular benefits were observed in type 2 diabetes trials. This led to evaluate it in dedicated studies in chronic heart failure (HF) and chronic kidney disease, which also showed remarkable clinical results. Given this findings, and taking into account the multiple mechanisms of action, the use of SGLT2 inhibitors in acute heart failure seemed promising. Sotagliflozin was the first SGLT2 inhibitor to reduce heart failure hospitalizations within the acute setting in the SOLOIST-WHF trial. Only type 2 diabetes patients were included, with a preserved and reduced ejection fraction. In slightly less than half of the cohort, this medication was started when the diuretic therapy was transitioned from intravenous to oral, during the hospital admission. In the rest of the patients, sotagliflozin was started early after discharge. Empagliflozin proved to be safe, well-tolerated, increased diuresis, and reduced a combined clinical endpoint (worsening HF, rehospitalization for HF, or death at 60 days) when administered within the first 24 hours of an acute heart failure hospitalization in the EMPA-RESPONSE-AHF trial. More recently, empagliflozin showed a reduction in a composite primary endpoint of death, heart failure events, and quality of life compared to placebo in the EMPULSE trial. Empagliflozin was started after the initial stabilization phase, but while patients were still admitted and receiving intravenous loop diuretics. Less than half of the patients were diabetic and two-thirds had a left ventricular ejection fraction below 40%. Dapagliflozin is currently being tested in the DAPA ACT HF-TIMI 68 trial, which plans to enroll 2400 patients admitted with acute heart failure and reduced ejection fraction. We envision SGLT2 inhibitors as a useful tool in acute heart failure syndrome given the additive diuretic effect, and minimal impact on blood pressure, kidney function, and electrolytes. Its dosage schedule is simple and can help initiation and tolerance of other medical therapy. However, there is an increased risk of genital infections and euglycaemic ketoacidosis. Notwithstanding, once critically ill and fasting patients are excluded, early administration of SGLT2 inhibitors is safe. This review summarizes the development of SGLT2 inhibitors and the available evidence supporting their use during an acute heart failure admission. We also propose a practical guideline for in-hospital initiation and monitoring.

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