Elisabetta De Tommasi
University of Bari
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Featured researches published by Elisabetta De Tommasi.
European Journal of Heart Failure | 2006
Maria Vittoria Pitzalis; John M. Hamlyn; Elisabetta Messaggio; Massimo Iacoviello; Cinzia Forleo; Roberta Romito; Elisabetta De Tommasi; Paolo Rizzon; Giuseppe Bianchi; Paolo Manunta
Increased circulating levels of endogenous ouabain (EO) have been observed in some heart failure patients, but their long term clinical significance is unknown. This study investigated the prognostic value of EO for worsening heart failure among 140 optimally treated patients (age 50±14 years; 104 male; NYHA class 1.9±0.7) with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Plasma EO was determined by RIA and by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, values were linearly correlated (r=0.89) in regression analysis. During follow‐up (13±5 months), heart failure progression was defined as worsening clinical condition leading to one or more of the following: sustained increase in conventional therapies, hospitalization, cardiac transplant, or death. NYHA functional class, age, LVEF, peak VO2 and plasma levels of EO were predictive for heart failure progression. Heart failure worsened 1.5 fold (HR: 1.005; 95% CI: 1.001—1.007; p<0.01) for each 100 pmol/L increase in plasma EO. Moreover, those patients with higher plasma EO values had an odds ratio of 5.417 (95% CI: 2.044—14.355; p<0.001) for heart failure progression. Following multivariate analysis, LVEF, NYHA class and plasma EO remained significantly linked with clinical events. This study provides the first evidence that circulating EO is a novel, independent and incremental marker that predicts the progression of heart failure.
Journal of Hypertension | 2005
Paolo Manunta; Massimo Iacoviello; Cinzia Forleo; Elisabetta Messaggio; John M. Hamlyn; Katia Lucarelli; Pietro Guida; Roberta Romito; Elisabetta De Tommasi; Giuseppe Bianchi; Paolo Rizzon; Maria Vittoria Pitzalis
Objective Impaired diastolic function and left ventricular hypertrophy can occur early in the natural history of essential hypertension. High circulating levels of endogenous ouabain (EO) have been described in essential hypertension and have also been associated with left ventricular hypertrophy. The aim of this study was to investigate whether these cardiac modifications are related to plasma EO levels in the offspring of hypertensive families. Methods The study involved 41 subjects with (FAM+) and 45 subjects without (FAM−) a family history of hypertension. Arterial blood pressure, left ventricular geometry and function, and plasma EO levels were measured in each subject. Results Plasma EO levels were higher in the FAM+ subjects (221.5 ± 10.95 versus 179.6 ± 9.58 pmol/l, P = 0.004), and directly correlated with both systolic (r = 0.417, P < 0.0001) and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.333, P = 0.002). Plasma EO was inversely related to an index of cardiac diastolic function determined as the ratio between the early and late peak flow velocity (r = −0.286, P = 0.012) and isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT) (r = 0.32, P = 0.003). The IVRT was also significantly higher in FAM+, correlated with the IVRT (r = 0.32, P = 0.003). The IVRT was also significantly higher in FAM+, whereas the other echocardiographic parameters were similar to FAM−. Conclusions Among the offspring of families with a positive history of hypertension, circulating EO levels and blood pressure are increased. Plasma EO levels are related to alterations of some indexes of diastolic heart function in these individuals.
European Journal of Heart Failure | 2006
Mariavittoria Pitzalis; Massimo Iacoviello; Francesca Di Serio; Roberta Romito; Pietro Guida; Elisabetta De Tommasi; Giovanni Luzzi; Matteo Anaclerio; Lucia Varraso; Cinzia Forleo; Nicola Pansini
To evaluate the role of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in predicting the progression of heart failure (HF) after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).
American Heart Journal | 2003
Elisabetta De Tommasi; Massimo Iacoviello; Roberta Romito; Claudio Ceconi; Pietro Guida; Francesco Massari; Gloria Francolini; Federico Bertocchi; Roberto Ferrari; Paolo Rizzon; Maria Vittoria Pitzalis
BACKGROUND In chronic heart failure (CHF), the derangement of autonomic nervous system activity has a deep impact on the progression of the disease. It has been demonstrated that modulation of the renin-angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) increases autonomic control of heart rate and reduces adrenergic activity. We sought to evaluate, in CHF, the different effects of an ACE inhibitor (lisinopril) and of an AT1 receptor antagonist (valsartan) on heart rate variability, baroreflex sensitivity and norepinephrine plasma levels. METHODS Ninety patients (61 +/- 10 years, 2.3 +/- 0.5, New York Heart Association class) with CHF and left ventricular ejection fraction <40% were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to receive lisinopril (uptitrated to 20 mg/d) or valsartan (uptitrated to 160 mg/d) therapy for 16 weeks. Heart rate variability (evaluated by measuring standard deviation of normal R-R intervals on 24-hour ECG recordings), spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity and aldosterone and norepinephrine plasma levels were assessed before and after drug therapy. RESULTS There were no significant differences between valsartan and lisinopril in their effects on left ventricular function, arterial pressure, aldosterone plasma levels and autonomic control of heart rate. Both lisinopril and valsartan significantly reduced plasma norepinephrine levels, but the reduction induced by valsartan was significantly greater than that observed for lisinopril (27% vs 6%, P <.05). CONCLUSIONS This study shows a comparable effect of ACE inhibition (lisinopril) and of AT1 receptor antagonism (valsartan) on cardiac vagal control of heart rate, whereas valsartan has shown a more effective modulation of sympathetic activity measured by plasma norepinephrine levels.
Journal of the American College of Cardiology | 2005
Maria Vittoria Pitzalis; Massimo Iacoviello; Roberta Romito; Pietro Guida; Elisabetta De Tommasi; Giovanni Luzzi; Matteo Anaclerio; Cinzia Forleo; Paolo Rizzon
The American Journal of Medicine | 2004
Cinzia Forleo; Nicoletta Resta; Sandro Sorrentino; Pietro Guida; Andrea Manghisi; Viviana De Luca; Roberta Romito; Massimo Iacoviello; Elisabetta De Tommasi; Federica Troisi; Brian Rizzon; Ginevra Guanti; Paolo Rizzon; Maria Vittoria Pitzalis
Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine | 2007
Cinzia Forleo; Sandro Sorrentino; Pietro Guida; Roberta Romito; Elisabetta De Tommasi; Massimo Iacoviello; Maria Vittoria Pitzalis
Italian heart journal: official journal of the Italian Federation of Cardiology | 2002
Katya Lucarelli; Massimo Iacoviello; Paolo Dessì-Fulgheri; Riccardo Sarzani; Roberta Romito; Sandro Sorrentino; Cinzia Forleo; Brian Rizzon; Elisabetta De Tommasi; Alessandro Rappelli; Paolo Rizzon; Maria Vittoria Pitzalis
Archive | 2011
Paolo Rizzon; Elisabetta De Tommasi; Giovanni Luzzi; Matteo Anaclerio; Cinzia Forleo; Maria Vittoria Pitzalis; Massimo Iacoviello; Roberta Romito; Pietro Guida
Journal of the American College of Cardiology | 2004
Maria Vittoria Pitzalis; Massimo Iavoviello; Roberta Romito; Pietro Guida; Giovanni Luzzi; Stefania Greco; Cinzia Forleo; Brian Rizzon; Elisabetta De Tommasi; Luigi Di Biase; Paolo Rizzon