Faramarz Tehrani

Value of Medical Therapy in Patients >80 Years of Age With Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction

Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (EF) has a high prevalence in the geriatric population, and this cohort may be at risk of complications caused by polypharmacy. Effects of commonly used cardiac medications on long-term survival of patients >80 years with HF and preserved left ventricular EF were assessed. One hundred forty-two patients were evaluated. During a 5-year follow-up, 98 patients died (69%). There were no significant differences in baseline parameters in patients who died compared with those who survived at 5 years. None of the drug therapies appeared to make a significant difference in long-term survival, including beta blockers (p = 0.89), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers (p = 0.91), calcium channel blockers (p = 0.69), diuretics (p = 0.30), digoxin (p = 0.22), and statins (p = 0.32). In conclusion, based on the present data, it appears that use of certain common cardiac medications may not be associated with a significant effect on long-term survival in octogenarians with HF and preserved EF.

How does the heart (not) die? The role of autophagy in cardiomyocyte homeostasis and cell death

Autophagy plays a critical and seemingly dual-purposed role in cardiomyocytes, being implicated as a mechanism of both cellular survival, for example, during ischemia/reperfusion injury and a mechanism of cell death at stages in which progressive myocyte alterations are beyond repair. This review aims to highlight the current literature as it relates to autophagy in cardiomyocytes. It provides background into the mechanisms of cell death, discusses the details that are known about the ubiquitin proteasome system and autophagy, delves into the pathways that are known to initiate and inhibit autophagy, and comments on the role of autophagy in cardiomyocyte homeostasis and cell death.

Statin Therapy in Patients with Diastolic Heart Failure

There is controversy regarding the potential effects of statin therapy on mortality in patients with heart failure. The present study analyzed the possible effects of statin therapy on morbidity and mortality in patients with diastolic heart failure over long‐term follow‐up.

Detection of Left Ventricular Thrombus by Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography

Left ventricular thrombus is a recognized complication of acute myocardial infarction. The following case report presents a rare case of left ventricular thrombus detection originally via coronary computed tomography angiography, followed by a brief review of imaging modalities that have been used for the detection of left ventricular thrombus in the past.

IMPLANTATION OF VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICES TO MEDIATE WEIGHT LOSS IN OBESE HEART FAILURE PATIENTS

Background: Obesity is not only a risk factor for heart failure (HF) but is also associated with poor outcomes after cardiac transplantation (Tx) and is therefore regarded as a relative contra-indication. Achieving adequate weight loss appears difficult among patients (pts) obese heart failure patients who are unable to exercise due to de-conditioning and reduced cardiac capacity. We assessed weight loss in obese HF pts after implantation of left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) compared to patients with normal BMI.