PMID: 19947190Dec 2, 2009Paper

What underlies NYHA class in elderly patients with heart failure? Role of diastolic dysfunction, functional mitral regurgitation and abnormal ventilation during exercise

Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease = Archivio Monaldi Per Le Malattie Del Torace
Gabriella MalfattoMario Facchini

Abstract

Color-Doppler ecocardiography and cardiopulmonary stress test are pivotal in the evaluation of patients with heart failure. Besides determining systolic function through left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), color-Doppler ecocardiography evaluates the presence and degree of functional mitral regurgitation and the severity of diastolic dysfunction. Moreover, in addition to the aerobic capacity indicated by peak O2 consumption, other parameters of cardiopulmonary stress have proven useful for diagnostic purposes, such as the peak VE/VCO2 ratio or ventilatory efficiency. Since in elderly patients with heart failure the functional impairment often is a combination of the effects of aging with those of disease, the relationship between symptoms, i.e. the NYHA class, ventricular pump function and aerobic performance is sometimes difficult to estabilish. In 60 elderly with systolic heart failure (75 +/- 3 years, EF 30 +/- 6%), we correlated symptoms (i.e. NYHA class) with [1] degree of functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) determined by color-Doppler echocardiography; [2] degree of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, measured by Doppler analysis of transmitralic and pulmonary veins flow; [3] VO2 and VE/VCO2 at peak exercise at ...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.