Objective To assess the effectiveness and safety of meglumine adenosine cyclophosphate (MAC) for chronic heart failure. Methods The databases such as Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Issue 3, 2011), MEDLINE (1950 to March 2011), EMbase (1980 to March 2011), CNKI (1995 to March 2011), and VIP (1989 to March 2011) were searched, and the relevant journals and conference proceedings were also manually retrieved. Then the studies were screened according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and their quality was evaluated. Meta-analyses were performed by using RevMan 5.0 software. Results Seventeen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 1 281 patients were included. All of the included RCTs were Grade C in methodological quality. The results of meta-analyses showed that MAC plus routine treatment was superior to routine treatment in improving the left ventricular ejection fraction (WMD=5.75, 95%CI 3.61 to 7.89), stroke volume (SV) (WMD=5.55, 95%CI 3.71 to 7.38), E/A (WMD=0.09, 95%CI 0.05 to 0.14) and 6 min walk test (WMD=43.52, 95%CI 21.00 to 66.04). But MAC plus routine treatment was similar to routine treatment in regulating cardiac index (CO) (WMD=0.20, 95%CI –0.31 to 0.71) and heart rate (WMD=0.64, 95%CI –7.49 to 8.77). No significant adverse effects or allergic reactions were reported. Conclusion The current evidence shows that MAC may improve the left ventricular ejection fraction, stroke volume, E/A and 6 min walk test. Due to a high risk of selection bias and detection bias in the included studies, the evidence is insufficient to determine the effectiveness of MCA. Further large-scale trials are required to define the role of MAC in the treatment of chronic heart failure.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of trimetazidine (TMZ) for chronic congestive heart failure. Methods We searched The Cochrane Library (Issue 3, 2006), MEDLINE (1990-2006), EMBASE (1990-2004), and the Chinese Biomedicine Database (1990- 2006 ) for parallel group randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cross-over design trials comparing TMZ and placebo or open controls for patients with heart failure.We used The Cochrane Collaboration’s RevMan 4.2 software for data analyses. Results Four RCTs and two cross-over design trials were included. Meta-analyses showed that: compared with the control group, TMZ may improve the NYHA cardiac functional grade (RR 0.85, 95%CI 0.76 to 0.95), increase the total exercise time (WMD 51.40 seconds, 95%CI 15.56 to 87.25), the maximal metabolic equivalents (WMD 0.82, 95%CI 0.28 to 1.37), and the ejection fraction (WMD 7.29%, 95%CI 6.28 to 8.31), but may decrease the left ventricular end-diastolic volume (WMD –12.19 ml, 95%CI –15.29 to –9.09), the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (WMD –6.05 mm, 95%CI –7.10 to –4.99), the left ventricular end-systolic volume (WMD –16.94 ml, 95%CI –20.34 to –13.55), the left ventricular end-systolic diameter (WMD –5.42 mm, 95%CI –5.98 to –4.86), and the serum brain natriuretic peptide (WMD –239.59 pg/ml, 95%CI –276.53 to –202.65). TMZ may also improve the quality of life (WMD 12.36, 95%CI 5.16 to 19.55). Conclusions TMZ plus standard medical therapy has a beneficial effect on the indices of cardiac function, and may also improve the patient’s quality of life. However, because available RCTs for this systematic review are too small and poor quality, (mainly focusing on the heart failure induced by ischemic heart diseases and merely taking intermediate indices as outcome measures), further high-quality large-scale RCTs with death as the endpoint and which include subgroup analysis of non-ischemic heart failure, are required in order to provide more reliable evidence.
Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) for cardiac dyspnea.Methods Plasma BNP levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in dyspnea patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) (n=52) or without CHF (n=30) and normal control group (n=28).Results The BNP level in dyspnea patients with CHF was significantly higher than that of dyspnea patients without CHF and normal control group [(649.80±141.72) pg/mL vs (59.08±18.60) pg/mL and (65.20±16.32) pg/mL，respectively,Plt;0.05].There was no significant difference of BNP level between dyspnea patients without CHF and normal group (Pgt;0.05).The plasma BNP level elevated with the worsening of heart failure (NYHA Classiffication).The BNP level in dyspnea patients with CHF was negatively correlated with left ventricle ejection fraction (r=－0.673，Plt;0.001).The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) is 0.91(0.88-0.98，Plt;0.001) with a sensitivity of 87.2% and a specificity of 86.8% at the cutoff value of 206 pg/mL.Conclusion Measurement of plasma BNP is a rapid diagnostic method for cardiac dyspnea.
Objective To report an acute ischemic left ventricular heart failure model of safe, simple, relatively steady, and reproducible in sheep. Methods Fourteen female sheep with a body weight of 36.80±3.43kg were used in this study. Heart failure model was induced by partial occluding the middle left circumflex coronary artery （LCX） combined with pacemaker-induced tachycardia. Hemodynamic measurement was done before and after heart failure, myocardial examination was observed. Results Heart failure model was induced successfully in 10 sheep. Cardiac output dropped from 3.74±0.48L/min to 2.02±0. 51L/min （P〈0. 01）, mean arterial pressure decreased from 116. 10± 14.15 mmHg（1kPa = 7.5mmHg） to 68. 10± 14. 72mmHg （P〈0.01）, central venous pressure rose from 7. 10±2.18mmHg to 10. 70± 3.50 mmHg （P〈0.05）, right ventricular end-diastolic pressure increased from 6.10±3.57mmHg to 9.90±4.41mmHg（P〈0.05）, left atrial pressure increased from 8.10±2.13 mmHg to 12.00± 4.57mmHg （P〈0. 01 ）, and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure increased from 8. 50± 4. 17mmHg to 13.10± 10. 64mmHg（P〉 0. 05）. The myocardial ultrastructure injuries was marked. Conclusions Acute ischemic left ventricular heart failure could be induced by partial occlusion of the middle LCX combined with pacemaker-induced taehyeardia in sheep. This model is simple, easy to manipulate, relatively steady, and reproducible . It may be used for assessing cardiac assist devices.
Objective To report a reliable left heart failure model in sheep using selected ligation of the diagonal branch. Methods Four male sheep were used. After a left anterior thoracotomy in sheep, the diagonal branch of coronary artery was ligated at a point approximately 40% of the distance from the apex to the base of the heart. Hemodynamic and echocardiography measurements were done preligation, 30 minutes and 7 days after the coronary artery of diagonal branch ligation. The electrocardiograms were obtained as needed, and cardiac function was also evaluated. The sheep were killed for postmortem examination of their hearts. Results Four sheep survived the experimental procedures. Comparing with before surgery, systemic arterial blood pressure and cardiac output were decreased, pulmonaryartery systolic pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and central venous pressure were increased at 30 min and 7 days after selected ligation of the coronary artery of diagonal branch; left ventricular end-diastolic dimension and left ventricular end-systolic dimension were increased; left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular fractional shortening were also decreased (Plt;0.05). Conclusion A reliable ovine model of left ventricular failure using selected ligation of the diagonal branch of the coronary artery can be achieved. This animal model is comparable to the clinical correlation.
Objective To assess the efficiency and safety of pulsatile catheter (PUCA) pump support during acute ischemic heart failure in sheep. Methods After heart failure model was induced successfully in 10 sheep, PUCA pump was inserted through aorta and the aortic valve orifice with its tip located in the left ventricle. It was then activated to support the hemodynamics for 3 hours. Hemodynamic parameters were monitored and recorded before thoracotomy, heart failure, and every 60 min after the support. Platelet and plasma free hemoglobin were tested during the experiment. Thrombosis in kidney, membrane-pump, and catheter were examined at the end of study. Results PUCA pump support was successful in 7 sheep for 3 hours and failed in 3 due to technical problems. During support with the PUCA pump, mean arterial pressure(MAP), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure(DBP) increased gradually and close to the baseline at the end of experiment. No significant change in platelet and plasma free hemoglobin were found during the whole period of the PUCA pump support. No thrombosis was found as well by means of examining kidney, membrane-pump and catheter. Conclusions PUCA pump can successfully maintain the hemodynamics in a sheep acute heart failure model associated with few blood destruction and thrombosis. It is thus suitable for clinical application to heart failure patients for the maintenance of hemodynamics.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy of recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide (rhBNP) on Chinese patients with congestive heart failure by meta analysis. Methods Both foreign language databases including PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library (Issue 3, 2009) and Chinese databases involving CBM, VIP and CJFD were searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that reported the effect of rhBNP on the heart function (left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and the recent level of improvement in cardiac function) and its side effects of Chinese patients with congestive heart failure. Two reviewers assessed the quality of each trial and extracted data independently. The Cochrane Collaboration’s RevMan 4.2.8 software was used for statistical analysis. Results Nineteen RCTs were included, all of which came from internal. The methodological quality of the included studies was good. The baseline data of each trial were comparable. The results of meta-analyses showed: (1) the improvement of LVEF was higher in the rhBNP group than that in the blank control group (WMD=7.22, 95%CI 3.15 to 11.291, P=0.000 5). The level of improvement in cardiac function was better in the rhBNP group than those in the blank control group (OR=5.48, 95%CI 1.61 to 18.65, P=0.007), the nitroglycerin group (OR=3.60, 95%CI 2.02 to 6.41, Plt;0.000 1), and the sodium nitroprusside group (OR=3.21, 95%CI 0.12 to 85.20, P=0.49). The incidence of side effects was lower in the rhBNP group than that in the nitroglycerin group (OR=0.23, 95%CI 0.11 to 0.47, Plt;0.000 1), and the sodium nitroprusside group (OR=0.30, 95%CI 0.11 to 0.82, P=0.02). Moreover, the results of sensitivity analysis were also consistent with the above findings. Conclusion Recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide can effectively improve the hemodynamics and cardiac function level of Chinese population of patients with heart failure. The treatment doses are safe and tolerant, so it is recommended to clinical use.
Objective To access the efficacy and safety of different doses of metoprolol for patients with chronic heart failure. Methods We searched databases such as MEDLINE, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CBM and CMCC. The search was conducted in March 2006. Randomised controlled trials, systematic reviews, and current guidelines of chronic heart failure were reviewed. The efficacy and safety of the high-dose (≥100 mg/d) and low-dose metoprolol (lt;100 mg/d) were compared. Results Only one small-scale, short-term randomised trial met our inclusion criteria. This found that metoprolol 100 mg/d was more effective than 25 mg/d and 50 mg/d. A sub-group analysis of MERIT-HF recommended individualized titration for drug administration. Most guidelines suggested that the administration of metoprolol CR/XL for chronic left ventricular systolic dysfunction should be performed by titrating up to 200 mg/d or the maximum tolerance dose. Patients receiving 100 mg/d might have more adverse events than those receiving a lower dose than this. However, in the long-term, it’s the benefits of high-dose treatment outweighed its risks. Race-related differences in tolerance or dose-related adverse effects were not found. Conclusion We couldn’t determine an optimal dose based on the existing evidence, but a target dose of metoprolol CR/XL 200 mg/d is safe and effective. We are unable to draw any conclusions about the relationship between dose and adverse effects.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) on the left ventricular texture parameters, blood kinetics parameters, degree of cardiac function and rate of side effects of patients with heart failure when compared to angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB). Methods We searched MEDLINE (1966 to 2004), EMBASE (1989 to 2000), The Cochrane Library (Issue 1, 2004), IPA (1970 to 2004), and Chinese Biomedicine Database (1980 to 2003). The quality of included studies such as randomization, blinding, allocation concealment and loss of follow up was evaluated and meta-analysis was performd by RevMan 4.2 software. Results Eighteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. The meta-analysis of efficacy didn’t show statistical significance when comparing the pooled effect size of left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), cardiac output (CO), heart rate (HR), degree of cardiac function. The pooled RR rate of side effects was 2.17, 95%CI 1.53 to 3.07, P＜0.000 01. Conclusions No evidence shows significant difference of ACEI group from ARB group in the improvement of cardiac function and left ventricle remodeling. The rate of side effects of ACEI is statistically higher than that of ARB.