Acute Dyspnea and Decompensated Heart Failure

Unraveling the complex pathophysiology of heart failure: insights into the role of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and sympathetic nervous system (SNS)

Heart failure (HF) is a widespread disease with significantly elevated mortality, morbidity, and hospitalization rates. Dysregulation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) are both postulated to be significant regulators of cardiovascular function, thereby playing a pivotal role in its pathophysiology. The RAAS is a sophisticated hormonal system that controls electrolyte homeostasis, fluid balance, and blood pressure. Angiotensin II, which operates to constrict blood vessels and raise blood pressure, is its principal effector molecule. The RAAS is frequently hyperactive in HF, which increases fluid retention and worsens cardiac function. The SNS is frequently hyperactive in heart failure, which increases the workload on the heart and worsens symptoms. This review will discuss what is currently known about the pathophysiology of heart failure, specifically in the context of RAAS and the SNS, in-depth to emphasize the knowledge gap that necessitates more research.

Clinical Characteristics of De Novo Heart Failure and Acute Decompensated Chronic Heart Failure: Are They Distinctive Phenotypes That Contribute to Different Outcomes?

Heart failure is currently one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Patients with heart failure often present with acute symptoms and may have a poor prognosis. Recent evidence shows differences in clinical characteristics and outcomes between de novo heart failure (DNHF) and acute decompensated chronic heart failure (ADCHF). Based on a better understanding of the distinct pathophysiology of these two conditions, new strategies may be considered to treat heart failure patients and improve outcomes. In this review, the authors elaborate distinctions regarding the clinical characteristics and outcomes of DNHF and ADCHF and their respective pathophysiology. Future clinical trials of therapies should address the potentially different phenotypes between DNHF and ADCHF if meaningful discoveries are to be made.

Hipercoagulabilidad, trombosis intravascular y trombocitosis asociada al COVID-19. Reporte de un caso

Una nueva pandemia en el siglo XXI, generada por un agente viral del tipo coronavirus denominado SARS CoV-2, que produce la enfermedad COVID-19, la misma que debutó a finales del 2019 en China, con una mortalidad importante, que afecta el tracto respiratorio inferior y se manifiesta como neumonía en humanos. A medida de su expansión mundial, el virus ha presentado mutaciones y por ende variantes fenitípicas que han generado cuadros clínicos que distan mucho de los síntomas descritos inicialmente; más bien, las alteraciones de la coagulación y la intensa inflamación (tormenta de citoquinas) han generado síntomas atípicos y enfoques terapéuticos diferentes; situando a la ferritina y el dímero D como biomarcadores cardinales para decidir anticoagulación y/o terapia anti inflamatoria como corticoterapia, el monoclonal anti IL6 Tocilizumab o el metotrexate, entre otros. A continuación, presentamos el caso de un paciente diagnosticado de COVID-19 con RT-PCR, que presenta a más de sus manifestaciones respiratorias, un estado protrombótico que desencadenó trombosis intravasculares y posiblemente embolismo pulmonar, con valores elevados de ferritina y dimero D, que luego de anticoagulación y administración de corticoides superó su estado de gravedad extrema y egreso de Terapia Intensiva.

Acutely decompensated versus acute heart failure: two different entities

Heart failure (HF) has been classified in chronic HF (CHF) and acute HF (AHF). The latter has been subdivided in acutely decompensated chronic HF (ADCHF) defined as the deterioration of preexisting CHF and de novo AHF defined as the rapid development of new symptoms and signs of HF that requires urgent medical attention. However, ADCHF and de novo AHF have fundamental pathophysiological differences. Most importantly, the typical illness trajectory of HF, which is similar to that of other chronic organ diseases including lung, renal, and liver failure, features a gradual decline, with acute episodes usually related to disease evolution followed by partial recovery. Thus, ADCHF should be considered part of the natural history of CHF and renamed CHF exacerbation (CHFE) in accordance with the appropriate terminology used in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. AHF, in turn, should include only acute de novo HF. The clinical implications of this paradigm shift will be in CHFE the change in focus from in-hospital to optimal ambulatory CHF management aiming at primary and secondary CHFE prevention, while in AHF, the institution of measures for in-hospital limitation of cardiac injury and prevention or retardation of symptomatic CHF development.