Beta-blocker tolerability in elderly heart failure patients

Beta-blocker therapy is well established for patients with chronic heart failure. In clinical practice, questions of tolerability and recommended target dose therapy remain important topics

Renal replacement therapy: physical properties of hollow fibers influence efficiency

Introduction: Physical properties of filters for continous renal replacement therapy have a great impact on biocompatibility. According to Poiseuille's law a filter with more and shorter hollow fibers should offer a decreased pressure drop and, therefore, lower transmembrane pressure (TMP). The aim of this study was to study the effect of a new filter configuration in terms of TMP and clotting compared with the standard configuration. Methods: In a prospective randomized cross-over study 2 polysulphone hollow fiber hemofilters, one handmade, which differed only in length and number of hollow fibers were compared. In each group 12 filters were investigated during continous venovenous hemofiltration in patients with acute renal failure due to septic shock. Pressures were measured every 3 hours and running time until filter clotting was documented. Mediators before and after the filter, at the end of treatment and in filtrate were assessed. Results: The standard filter with longer hollow fibers had significantly lower TMPs (106 vs. 194 mmHg, p=0.02) and longer running times (1276 vs. 851 min, p=0,04). There were no differences in hematocrit, total protein, cellular and plasmatic coagulation or blood temperature. No significant elimination of mediators was shown. Conclusion: In contrast to our expectations, the filter with the longer hollow fibers had a better performance, as it ran longer and had lower TMP. This may be due to slower blood flow leading to an increase in blood viscosity in a filter with a larger cross section

Is target dose the treatment target? Uptitrating beta-blockers for heart failure in the elderly

BACKGROUND: Guideline-recommended beta-blocker (BB) target doses for patients with chronic heart failure can often not be reached. This secondary analysis of the CIBIS-ELD trial was carried out to better understand reasons for not achieving target doses. METHODS: Changes in heart rate (HR) and other parameters during a 12-week up-titration period in 302 BB naïve patients were evaluated in the subgroups achieving 12.5, 25, 50, and 100% of the target dose (groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively). RESULTS: Achieved doses predominantly depended on baseline HR (means 68, 74, 76, and 84bpm in groups 1-4, respectively, P<0.001). HR was consistently reduced with each dose level to 65, 63, and 62bpm in groups 1-3 and to 71bpm in group 4 (P<0.001). When adjusted for baseline, HR reduction achieved in group 3 was better than in group 4 (difference -5.4bpm, P<0.05). More patients in groups 3/4 than in groups 1/2 improved in NYHA class (P=0.01). NTproBNP increased by 38% in group 4 (P<0.01) but not in the others (P<0.05 between groups). Changes in blood pressure, six-minute walk distance and self-rated health were comparable in all groups. CONCLUSIONS: The desired effect of HR reduction appears to be a predominant limitation for BB up-titration. Vice versa, achieving the target dose may be a sign of insufficient response rather than successful treatment. In view of these results and the well-known importance of HR for survival, not target doses, but HR control should be given priority in BB treatment for heart failure

The Biomaterialbank of the German Competence Network of Heart Failure (CNHF) is a valuable resource for biomedical and genetic research

Genetic research on heart failure (HF) requires large cohorts of well-phenotyped patients. The German Competence Network of Heart Failure (CNHF) organized a biobank in 2004 to supply the necessary infrastructure and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for a centralized collection of blood specimen. We centralized data and collected serum, plasma and DNA of well characterized HF subjects all over Germany. Different pseudonyms were created automatically to address data safety and other concerns about privacy. Thus far, we have collected 85,000 sample specimen from 9,500 prospectively evaluated patients with HF. Detailed medical data were prospectively acquired together with corresponding blood samples. In 2008 clinician-scientists can apply for access to the material. Our biobank represents a major facet of the CNHF and has already documented research and clinical utility

Bisoprolol vs. carvedilol in elderly patients with heart failure: rationale and design of the CIBIS-ELD trial

BACKGROUND: Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a widespread disease with severe quality of life impairment and a poor prognosis. Beta-blockers are the mainstay of CHF therapy; yet they are under-prescribed and under-dosed in clinical practice. This is particularly evident in elderly patients, which may be due to a fear of side-effects or intolerance. Beta-blockers have further not been adequately tested in patients with diastolic CHF, which is particularly common in elderly patients. Finally, comparative data on the use of different beta-blockers in patients with CHF is scarce. AIM: To compare the tolerance of bisoprolol and carvedilol in elderly patients with CHF. METHODS: CIBIS-ELD is an investigator-initiated, multi-centre, 1:1 randomised, double-blind, phase III trial comparing bisoprolol and carvedilol in patients >/=65 years with systolic or diastolic CHF. Recruitment started in April 2005 and is anticipated to be completed by April 2008 with at least 800 patients enrolled. PERSPECTIVE: This is the first large scale head to head beta-blockers trial in an elderly population with CHF. Besides determining which of two standard beta-blockers is best tolerated in elderly patients with systolic or diastolic CHF, we expect to gain further insight into the treatment of the particular population of patients with diastolic CHF

A network against failing hearts - introducing the German "Competence Network Heart Failure"

Heart failure (HF) has been identified as one of the most threatening diseases for the western civilisation, posing a risk to health for a rising number of patients. Acknowledging the medical problem of HF to be both economically and socially threatening the German Federal Ministry of Research and Education (BMBF) initiated a nationwide research network aiming to find new ways in prevention, alleviation and treatment of the widespread disease. The "Competence Network Heart Failure" (CNHF), initiated in 2003, bundles the scientific expertise in a large-scale research network; its aims are the coordination of basic and applied clinical research as well as dissemination of findings into clinical practice in order to consolidate and perpetuate the achieved improvements. The scope of this paper is to introduce the CNHF and to provide an overview of the tasks and hitherto attained achievements to a broad spectrum of health care providers