No abstract

Objective: To evaluate uric acid renal excretion, hyperuricemia, renal dysfunction, and prognosis in patients with decompensated severe heart failure, as there are few data available. Methods: One hundred and twenty-two patients, hospitalized for heart failure decompensation, in NYHA class IV, were classified into 3 groups as follows. Pilot group [ejection fraction (EF)V0.45, n=16], group 1 (EFV0.45, n=90), and group 2 (EFN0.45 and valvular dysfunction, n=16). The patients in groups 1 and 2 underwent assessment of creatinine and uric acid clearance before and after pyrazinamide, to estimate uric acid tubular secretion. Uric acid clearance b6.8 mL/min and secretion b170 Ag/min were considered reduced. In groups 1 and pilot (n=106), mortality was analyzed by Cox regression model, and the prognostic value of hyperuricemia was assessed by ROC curve. Results: In groups 1 and 2, respectively, serum uric acid was 511.7 and 422.5 Amol/L, and creatinine clearance was 46.7 and 61.4 mL/min. Uric acid clearance (3.2 vs. 3.9 mL/min) and tubular secretion (116 vs. 128 Ag/min) were not different, but lower than normal values. In groups 1 and pilot, the 12-month mortality was 46.4% (CI 95%: 36.7%-56.0%). At end of follow-up, mortality was associated with impaired creatinine clearance ( pb0.001), but not with hyperuricemia ( p=0.236). Conclusions: In patients with decompensated severe heart failure, the tubular secretion and the clearance of uric acid were reduced. Renal dysfunction was associated with mortality, but hyperuricemia was not.

Aims Patients with advanced heart failure (HF) with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF) and concurrent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) might have a higher risk of severe events. Methods and results We retrospectively studied 16 patients with advanced HFrEF who developed COVID-19 between 1 March and 29 May 2020. Follow-up lasted until 30 September. Ten patients previously hospitalized with decompensated HFrEF were infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during hospitalization. Six patients undergoing ambulatory care at initiation of COVID-19 symptoms were hospitalized because of advanced HFrEF. All patients who experienced worsening of HFrEF due to COVID-19 required higher doses or introduction of additional inotropic drugs or intra-aortic balloon pump in the intensive care unit. The mean intravenous dobutamine dose before SARS-CoV-2 infection in previously hospitalized patients (n = 10) and the median (inter-quartile range) peak intravenous dobutamine dose during SARS-CoV-2 infection in all patients (n = 16) were 2 (0-7) μg/kg/min and 20 (14-20) (P < 0.001), respectively. During follow-up, 56% underwent heart transplantation (n = 2) or died (n = 7). Four patients died during hospitalization from mixed shock consequent to severe acute respiratory syndrome with inflammatory storm syndrome associated with septic and cardiogenic shock during COVID-19. After COVID-19 recovery, two patients died from mixed septic and cardiogenic shock and one from sustained ventricular tachycardia and cardiogenic shock. Five patients were discharged from hospital to ambulatory care. Four were awaiting heart transplantation. Conclusion Worsening of advanced HF by COVID-19 is associated with high mortality. This report highlights the importance of preventing COVID-19 in patients with advanced HF.

A 38-year-old male underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). A saphenous vein graft was attached to the left marginal branch. The left internal thoracic artery was anastomosed to the left anterior descending artery (LAD). The early recovery was uneventful and the patient was discharged on the 5th postoperative day. After three months, he came back to the hospital complaining of weight loss, weakness, and dyspnea on mild exertion. Chest X-rays showed left pleural effusion. On physical examination, a decreased vesicular murmur was detected. After six days, the diagnosis of chylothorax was made after a milky fluid was detected in the plural cavity and total pulmonary expansion did not occur. On the next day, both anterior and posterior pleural drainage were performed by videothoracoscopy, and prolonged parenteral nutrition (PPN) was instituted for ten days. After seven days the patient was put on a low-fat diet for 8 days. The fluid accumulation ceased, the drains were removed and the patient was discharged with normal pulmonary expansion

Background: Patients with heart failure (HF) who are admitted showing poor perfusion and congestion (clinicalhemodynamic profile C) are the group that evolves with the worst prognosis in decompensated heart failure. However, there is little information in literature on the etiology of cardiopathy influences the outcome of patients in advanced stage.