Heart Failure

Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump as much blood as the body requires. This ineffective pumping can lead to enlargement of the heart as the myocardium works harder pump the same amount of blood. Heart failure may be caused by defects in the myocardium, such as an a heart attack infarct, or due to structural issues such as severe heart valve regurgitation. Heart failure can be divided into HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), and HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The disease is further divided into four New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes. Stage IV heart failure is when the heart is completely failing and requires a heart transplant or hemodynamic support from a left ventricular assist device (LVAD).

RSS icon

ICD use improves survival in less severe heart failure patients

Heart failure patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) between 30 and 35 percent do better with an implantable cardioverter-defibrilators (ICD) than without, a study published June 4 in JAMA confirmed. The findings also support guideline recommendations for use of ICDs in patients with LVEF of less than 30.

Severe heart failure may put patients at risk for diabetes

Patients receiving an increased loop-diuretic dose rate of heart failure drugs may have a greater risk of developing diabetes.

Thumbnail

CardioMEMS gets FDA approval and buyout offer

Persistence paid off for CardioMEMS, maker of a miniaturized implantable system for monitoring patients with heart failure. After several years, the company received FDA approval for its namesake device, which has opened the doors for its acquisition by St. Jude Medical.

Temple scientists receive $11.5 million grant for heart failure research

Innovative treatments for heart failure are lacking, leaving the nearly six million Americans who suffer from the condition with little hope for a cure. But thanks to an $11.5-million Program Project Grant (PPG) from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), scientists at Temple University School of Medicine are now set to further their investigation of key molecular mechanisms in heart failure, an effort that is expected to lead to the development of new heart therapies.

Abiomed receives Continuous Access Protocol (CAP) for RECOVER RIGHT Impella RP study

Abiomed, Inc., a leading provider of breakthrough heart support technologies, today announced it has received approval for implementation of a Continuous Access Protocol (CAP) from the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for RECOVER RIGHT, an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) study of the Impella(R) RP (Right Peripheral) System.

HF patients change resuscitation preferences near end of life

Many heart failure (HF) patients change their final resuscitation decisions close to the end of life, often while in the hospital. The findings may help cardiologists better counsel these patients. 

SynCardia Total Artificial Heart with SynHall valves receives CE mark

On April 17, 2014, SynCardia Systems, Inc. received the CE Mark for the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart with SynHall valves, providing the company with control over the last key component required for heart manufacturing.

FDA says ‘no’ to serelaxin for heart failure

The FDA followed the lead of its counterpart in Europe by rejecting a bid from Novartis to approve serelaxin as a treatment for acute heart failure. The FDA stated that it needed more proof of the drug’s efficacy.

Displaying 1017 - 1024 of 1270

Around the web

Health Imaging
Use of AI opportunistic screening in CT for cardiovascular disease

Ron Blankstein, MD, professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the use of artificial intelligence to detect heart disease in non-cardiac CT exams.

Health Imaging
New imaging protocols proposed to curb rise of cardiovascular infections

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.