Introduction Orthotopic heart transplantation is the current treatment of choice for selected patients with end-stage heart failure. With the improvement of surgical techniques and the efficiency of new immunosuppressive treatments, short-term survival has markedly improved throughout the years. However, these patients still suffer from important comorbidities caused by chronic transplant complications such as rejection, coronary allograft vasculopathy (CAV) and malignancy. Rhythm disorders are common in heart transplant patients and in some circumstances, they can be the first clinical manifestation of […]

Introduction Heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) leads to mortality and impairment in one’s quality of life, and causes a major impact on the healthcare system. Despite trials showing the benefits of angiotensin receptor–neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) over angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi), and the superiority of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) over placebos, current guidelines still recommend ACEi, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA), and beta-blockers as first-line therapy in HFrEF.– In this letter, we will discuss the potential benefits and risks […]

Abstract Background Studies have shown that heart failure (HF) patients with heart rate (HR) < 70 bpm have had a better clinical outcome and lower morbidity and mortality compared with those with HR > 70 bpm. However, many HF patients maintain an elevated HR. Objective To evaluate HR and the prescription of medications known to reduce mortality in HF patients attending an outpatient cardiology clinic. Methods We consecutively evaluated patients seen in an outpatient cardiology clinic, aged older than 18 […]

The treatment of hypertension comprises numerous pharmacological options, which may hinder patient management standardization, thus contributing to therapeutic failure. However, in more recent years, several studies and guidelines from diverse hypertension and cardiology societies have suggested preferential pharmacological classes to treat hypertension. – Based on this evidence, the present report aims to propose a simple and practical pharmacological treatment algorithm that can be applied to patients ranging from stage 1 to refractory hypertension cases ( ). […]

Background: Chemotherapeutic agents of anthracyclines class and humanized monoclonal antibodies are effective treatments for breast cancer, however, they present a potential risk of cardiotoxicity. Several predictors have been recognized as predictors in the development of cardiac toxicity, and the evaluation of left ventricular segmental wall motion abnormalities (LVSWMA) has not been studied. Objective: To analyze prospectively the role of LVSWMA among echocardiographic parameters in the prediction of development of cardiotoxicity in breast cancer patients undergoing treatment with chemotherapy. Methods: Prospective […]