Clinical Cardiology Alert – April 1, 2021
April 1, 2021
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Is Empagliflozin Safe in Combination with a Neprilysin Inhibitor for Heart Failure?
A prespecified subgroup analysis of heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction who were on neprilysin inhibitors before empagliflozin was administered (vs. those not on neprilysin inhibitors) showed the reduction in mortality and hospital admissions for heart failure were not attenuated by concurrent neprilysin use.
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Can Left Ventricular Strain Detect Early Cardiac Toxicity of Cancer Chemotherapy?
Using left ventricular peak systolic global longitudinal strain vs. left ventricular ejection fraction to survey patients undergoing potentially cardiotoxic chemotherapy with at least one other risk factor for heart failure showed no difference in the primary endpoint of the difference in ejection fraction between the two groups at one year.
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Intracranial Plaque Rupture and Stroke
An MRI study of cerebral circulation in patients with embolic stroke of undetermined etiology showed evidence of atherosclerotic plaque in most patients, supporting the theory that unstable intracranial artery plaques play an etiologic role in embolic stroke.
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PFO Closure for Resistant Migraines: Finding an Elusive Link
A meta-analysis of two randomized trials of patent foramen ovale closure in resistant migraine showed a significant benefit in three of four clinical endpoints.
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Low BNP Levels in Up to 16% of Heart Failure Patients
In patients with clinical heart failure and low B-type natriuretic peptide levels, the authors found these patients usually are young and obese, with higher ejection fraction and better renal function.