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).

interventional cardiology heart failure cleveland clinic

4 promising heart failure therapies interventional cardiologists should keep an eye on

The devices, currently being investigated by teams of heart specialists, could make a big impact in the years ahead. 

mavacamten

FDA approves mavacamten for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

The FDA’s approval was based on data from the EXPLORER-HCM trial, which showed that mavacamten was superior to a placebo for treating obstructive HCM and associated with no significant long-term, treatment-related adverse events.

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Internal pump malfunction in the Medtronic HVAD found in three patients

The FDA and Medtronic warn some Heartware Ventricular Assist Device (HVAD) systems have a defect that may cause pump thrombosis.

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Heart failure hospitalizations among young adults are getting more common and more expensive

Researchers examined data from more than 750,000 heart failure hospitalizations, sharing their findings in JACC: Heart Failure

Machinist Patrick Leibich of Penn State College of Medicine’s division of Applied Biomedical Engineering works to create artificial heart parts. Image courtesy of Penn State.

Penn State researchers receive more than $3 million to develop new-look artificial heart

The group will be working to develop a wireless artificial heart that can last at least 10 years. 

fda recall Accupril pfizer

FDA announces another recall of common hypertension medication due to potential cancer risk

The new recall includes five lots of medications distributed from December 2019 to April 2022. Similar products were also recalled back in March for the same reason.

TricValve Transcatheter Bicaval Valves System Cleveland Clinic

Interventional cardiologists complete first heart procedure of its kind in North America

While the system used during the procedure has not yet gained full FDA approval, this patient was treated under a compassionate-use clearance from the agency.

Women who experience infertility may face higher heart failure risk

Researchers examined the health outcomes of 38,528 postmenopausal women—14% of whom had a history of infertility—over a 15-year period. 

Around the web

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

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