Sustained benefit from ultrafiltration in moderate congestive heart failure

Body fluids, particularly in the thorax, are increased in moderate congestive heart failure, even if diuretic treatment is appropriate. Ultrafiltration, differently from diuretics, removes isotonic fluid and therefore the greatest possible amount of sodium per unit of fluid withdrawn, providing a physiologic dehydration. This results in improvement in the patient's clinical condition, exercise capacity, lung function, as shown by improvement of standard pulmonary function tests, lung mechanics during exercise, and norepinephrine kinetics during exercise and orthostatic tilting.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition facilitates alveolar-capillary gas transfer and improves ventilation-perfusion coupling in patients with left ventricular dysfunction

OBJECTIVE

The backward effects of left ventricular dysfunction include alterations in alveolar-capillary gas transfer and ventilation-perfusion coupling. Because the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is highly concentrated in the vascular endothelium of the lungs, we examined whether ACE inhibitors may influence the pulmonary function in patients with congestive heart failure.

METHODS

In 20 patients with idiopathic cardiomyopathy, pulmonary function and exercise capacity were evaluated at baseline and 6 and 12 months after treatment with enalapril (10 mg twice a day) was started. The study also included 19 age- and sex-matched control subjects with mild primary hypertension and normal left ventricular function who were given enalapril as a standard treatment of high blood pressure.

RESULTS

In congestive heart failure, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, vital capacity, and total lung capacity did not vary significantly with enalapril; alveolar-capillary diffusion of carbon monoxide (DL(CO)) increased toward normal; exercise tolerance time, peak exercise oxygen uptake (peak VO2), minute ventilation and tidal volume (peak VT) also increased; and the ratio of volume of dead space (VD) to VT (peak VD/VT) at peak exercise reduced. Changes in peak VO2 showed a direct correlation with those in DL(CO) and an inverse correlation with those in peak VD/VT. Results at 6 and 12 months were comparable. Enalapril did not affect these variables in the control population.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with idiopathic cardiomyopathy heart failure, but not in control subjects, gas transfer and ventilation-perfusion improved with ACE inhibition. These pulmonary changes may contribute to the associated increase in exercise tolerance.

[Effects of cardiomegaly on the anatomical and functional state of the lung in chronic heart failure]

Heart and lungs might compete for the intrathoracic space in case of heart enlargement (as in heart failure). Therefore, the pulmonary abnormalities observed in patients with chronic heart failure (restrictive pattern and reduction of diffusion capacity) might be at least in part related to cardiomegaly. In 53 patients (11 women, 42 men, mean age 65 +/- 8 years) with stable heart failure and cardiac enlargement (cardiothoracic ratio-Ctr > or = 50%) we measured carbon monoxide lung diffusion (DLCO), lung tissue content (VT, single breath, expiratory regression of acetylene), alveolar volume (Va, single breath, expiratory regression of methane) and vital capacity (VC). In 16 patients the two subcomponents of DLCO, i.e. alveolar-capillary membrane diffusion (Dm) and diffusion related to capillary volume (Cv), were analyzed. Patients were grouped for Ctr (> or = 60%, Group 1, n = 28 and < 60%, Group 2, n = 25): VT (Group 1 0.62 +/- 0.2 l; Group 2 0.76 +/- 0.2 l, p < 0.01); Va (Group 1 4.21 +/- 0.97 l; Group 2 5.37 +/- 1.12 l, p < 0.0001); VC (Group 1 2.3 +/- 0.6 l; Group 2 3.1 +/- 0.6 l, p < 0.0001); DLCO (Group 1 16.15 +/- 3.95 ml/min x mmHg; Group 2 22.24 +/- 6.57 ml/min x mmHg, p < 0.0001). An inverse correlation was observed between Dm and Ctr (r = -0.47, p < 0.02), which disappeared when Va was accounted for Dm/Va (r = -0.12, NS). Cv was lower in Group 1 vs Group 2. In conclusion, in patients with Ctr > or = 60% (Group 1) "anatomy" (VT, Va, VC and Cv) and function (DLCO) of the lungs are impeded. This is likely due to reduction of space available for the lungs in the thorax by an enlarged heart (no correlation between Dm/Va vs Ctr).

Oxygen transport to muscle during exercise in chronic congestive heart failure secondary to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

In chronic heart failure, oxygen delivery during exercise is impaired mainly because of failure of cardiac output to increase normally. Compensatory mechanisms are hemoglobin concentration increase, right-ward shift in the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve, and blood flow redistribution from the nonexercising organs to the exercising muscles.

Contribution of PO2, P50, and Hb to changes in arteriovenous O2 content during exercise in heart failure

Arteriovenous O2 content (a-vCO2) differences increase during exercise in normal subjects through several mechanisms including PO2, O2 pressure at which hemoglobin (Hb) is half saturated with O2 (P50), and Hb concentration changes. The present study was undertaken to evaluate how much these biochemical changes are relevant to a-vCO2 difference through exercise in patients with heart failure. Twenty-seven patients with congestive heart failure [10 patients in functional class A (peak exercise O2 uptake >20 ml x kg-1 x min-1), 9 in class B (20-15 ml x kg-1 x min-1), and 8 in class C (15-10 ml x kg-1 x min-1)] underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test with once-per-minute simultaneous blood sampling from the pulmonary and systemic arteries for determination of Hb, PO2, PCO2, pH, O2 content (CO2), Hb saturation and lactic acid (pulmonary artery only), and calculation of P50. Analysis of data was done at six exercise stages: the first at rest, the last at peak exercise, and the second to the fifth at one-, two-, three-, and four-fifths of O2 consumption increase. a-vCO2 difference at peak exercise was 14.3 +/- 2.1, 16.9 +/- 2.4, and 14.7 +/- 2.1 (SD) ml/dl in class A, B, and C patients, respectively. The contribution of Hb, P50, and PO2 changes to the increments of a-vCO2 difference during exercise was 21, 17, and 63%, respectively; the only interclass difference observed was for P50, which plays a greater role in a-vCO2 difference in class A. Hb changes act mainly at the arterial site, whereas P50 and PO2 act at the venous site. Hb increase was constant through the test, venous P50 increase was greater above anaerobic threshold, and venous PO2 reduction was most remarkable at the onset of exercise; in class C patients, no venous PO2 change was recorded in the second half of exercise. Thus a-vCO2 difference increase during exercise is notable in patients with heart failure but unrelated to the severity of the syndrome. Hb, P50, and, to the greatest degree, PO2 changes participate in the increment of a-vCO2 difference. In class C patients, the lack of PO2 reduction in the second half of exercise suggests the achievement of a "whole body critical venous PO2."

Lung-heart interaction as a substrate for the improvement in exercise capacity after body fluid volume depletion in moderate congestive heart failure

We investigated exercise capacity after fluid depletion in patients with moderate congestive heart failure (CHF). Twenty-one patients underwent ultrafiltration (mean volume +/- SEM: 1,770 +/- 135 ml). Echocardiography, tests of pulmonary function, and a cardiopulmonary exercise test with hemodynamic and esophageal pressure monitoring were performed before ultrafiltration and 3 months later. Tests without invasive measurements were repeated 4 and 30 days after ultrafiltration. Twenty-one control patients followed the same protocol but did not have ultrafiltration. Patients who underwent ultrafiltration and increased their oxygen consumption at peak exercise (peak VO2) by > 10% at the 3-month evaluation (group A1, n = 9) were separated from those who did not (group A2, n = 8); 3 patients did not complete the follow-up. Four days after the procedure, peak VO2 had risen from 17.3 +/- 0.8 to 19.3 +/- 0.9 ml/min/kg in group A1, and from 11.9 +/- 0.7 to 14.1 +/- 0.7 ml/min/kg in group A2 (p < 0.01). Plasma norepinephrine and pulmonary function were consistent with a greater severity of the syndrome in group A2. At 3 months in group A1, the relations of filling pressure to cardiac index of the right and left ventricles were shifted upward; the esophageal pressure swing (differences between end-expiratory and end-inspiratory pressure) for a given tidal volume was lower; the peak exercise dynamic lung compliance had increased from 0.10 +/- 0.05 to 0.14 +/- 0.03 L/mm Hg (p < 0.01). None of these changes were detected in group A2 and control patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ultrafiltration in moderate heart failure. Exercise oxygen uptake as a predictor of the clinical benefits

OBJECTIVE

Ultrafiltration (UF) can improve the exercise performance of patients with moderate congestive heart failure (CHF). Our aim was to define the starting levels of performance below which UF is beneficial.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

We studied 26 patients in 2 to 3 NYHA class, whose clinical condition was stable, left ventricle ejection fraction (echocardiography) was < 35% and peak exercise oxygen uptake (VO2) was > or = 14 mL/min/kg. They underwent a single extracorporeal UF (about 600 mL of ultrafiltrate per hour). Before that, we evaluated pulmonary function (PFT), functional capacity (cardiopulmonary exercise test [CPX]), cardiac index, left ventricle ejection fraction, ventricular filling pressures, and plasma norepinephrine at rest. The PFTs and CPXs were repeated 3 months after UF.

RESULTS

Sixteen patients had a rise of peak exercise VO2 > 1 mL/min/kg at the 3-month evaluation (group A, ultrafiltrate = 2,040 +/- 241 mL) and 10 did not (group B, ultrafiltrate = 1,870 +/- 169 mL). Forced expiratory volume (1 s), maximal voluntary ventilation, and vital capacity were lower in group A than in group B and improved after UF only in group A. Before UF, VO2 at peak exercise and at anaerobic threshold (15.5 +/- 0.4 mL/min/kg and 11.0 +/- 0.5, respectively) was also lower in group A than in group B (21.2 +/- 0.7 mL/min/kg and 14.8 +/- 0.9, p < 0.01). Patients whose pre-UF peak exercise VO2 was > 18.5 mL/min/kg (group B) had no increase in this variable. No significant group differences were detected regarding norepinephrine, left ventricular ejection fraction, and hemodyanmic parameters at rest.

CONCLUSION

In patients with moderate CHF undergoing UF, exercise capacity improvement is inversely related to the pre-UF level of physical performance and pulmonary function; VO2 at peak exercise seems useful for identification of patients not benefiting from the procedure.

[Measurement of dead space/tidal volume ratio during exercise in patients with heart failure]

Dead space (VD)/tidal volume (VT) ratio is an indirect index of ventilation/perfusion matching. Therefore, it is currently evaluated in patients with congestive heart failure to detect the organ system limiting the exercise tolerance. The VD/VT calculation requires measurement of arterial CO2 partial pressure (PaCO2). For practical reasons, the software of most metabolic carts substitutes the PaCO2 with the end-expiratory CO2 (PETCO2) or the PJCO2 (calculated as PJCO2 = 5.5 +/- 0.9 PETCO2-2.1 VT). Nonetheless, the applicability of these methods in congestive heart failure is unknown. We compared in 63 patients with congestive heart failure 326 measurements of PaCO2 versus PETCO2 and PJCO2 and VD/VT measured with PaCO2 versus VD/VT estimated with PETCO2 (estimation 1) or PJCO2 (estimation 2). Comparisons were made at rest (Phase 1), during submaximal exercise (Phase 2), and at peak exercise (Phase 3). We found a strong correlation, but not an identity, between PaCo2 and PETCO2 (PaCO2 = 7.25 +/- 0.80 PETCO2, r = 0.84; p < 0.0001); similarly for PaCO2 and PETCO2. Several observations were out of 95% confidence interval, and some measurements exceeded mean +/- 2 SD when the differences between PaCo2 and PETCO2 or PJCO2 were plotted against the averages from the two (Bland and Altman method). Measured VD/VTs also strongly correlated with the estimated ones (VD/VT measured = -0.03 +/- 1.11 VD/VT estimated 1 r = 0.90; p < 0.0001 e VD/VT measured = 0.03 +/- 0.92 VD/VT estimated 2 r = 0.90; p < 0.0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Influence of heparin on fibrinogen and D-dimer plasma levels in acute myocardial infarction treated with streptokinase

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether, to what extent, and through which mechanisms intravenous heparin, administered before and after streptokinase, affects the plasma levels of D-dimer and fibrinogen in myocardial infarction. Data concerning mortality and incidence of coronary recanalization in patients receiving heparin and thrombolytic therapy after acute myocardial infarction are controversial; furthermore, the mechanisms through which heparin acts in combination with thrombolytic therapy are unclear. Thirty-eight patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with streptokinase were considered. Nineteen of them received, immediately before the beginning of thrombolytic treatment, a bolus of heparin (100 U.kg-1 intravenously) and, 2 h later, intravenous heparin in doses raising the partial thromboplastin time to 2-2.5 times the normal value (Group 1); the remaining 19 did not receive anticoagulant treatment (Group 2). Multiple determinations of plasma D-dimer and fibrinogen levels were obtained in all patients before, and in the seven days following thrombolytic treatment. Six hours after streptokinase, fibrinogen decreased from 304 +/- 34 to 61 +/- 34 mg.dl-1 in Group 1 and from 312 +/- 29 to 38 +/- 21 mg.dl-1 in Group 2 (P < 0.02 versus Group 1). The same difference between groups persisted at the 12th and at the 18th hour. D-dimer values, from 0.5 +/- 0.1 microgram.dl-1 in Group 1 and 0.4 +/- 0.1 microgram.dl-1 in Group 2, increased at the 1st hour to 37.2 +/- 36.5 micrograms.dl-1 and 52.2 +/- 39.8 micrograms.dl-1, respectively. A peak value was reached in both groups at the 6th hour, which was followed by a slow decrease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Sustained cardiac diastolic changes elicited by ultrafiltration in patients with moderate congestive heart failure: pathophysiological correlates

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the pathophysiological (cardiac function and physical performance) significance of clinically silent interstitial lung water accumulation in patients with moderate heart failure; to use isolated ultrafiltration as a means of extravascular fluid reabsorption.

DESIGN

Echocardiographic, Doppler, chest x-ray evaluations, and cardiopulmonary tests at baseline, soon after ultrafiltration (veno venous extracorporeal circuit), and four days, one month, and three months later.

SETTING

University institute of cardiology.

SUBJECTS

24 patients with heart failure due to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy or ischaemic myocardial disease with sinus rhythm and ejection fraction less than 35%. Twelve were randomised to ultrafiltration and 12 were taken as controls.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Left ventricular systolic function (from ultrasonography); Doppler evaluation of mitral, tricuspid, and aortic flow and echo-Doppler determination of cardiac output; radiological score of extravascular lung water; right and left ventricular filling pressures; oxygen consumption at peak exercise and exercise tolerance time in cardiopulmonary tests.

RESULTS

Soon after ultrafiltration (1976 (760) ml of fluid removed) the following was observed: a reduction in radiological score of extravascular lung water (from 15(1) to 9(1)) and of right (from 7.1 (2.3) to 2.3 (1.7) mm Hg) and left (from 17.6 (8.8) to 9.5 (6.4) mm Hg) ventricular filling pressures; an increase in oxygen consumption at peak exercise (from 15.8 (3.3) to 17.6 (2) ml/min/kg) and of tolerance time (from 444 (138) to 508 (134) s); a slight decrease in atrial and ventricular dimensions; no changes in the systolic function of the left ventricle; a reduction of the early to late filling ratio in both ventricles (mitral valve from 2 (2) to 1.1 (1.1)); (tricuspid valve from 1.3 (1.3) to 0.69 (0.18)) and an increase in the deceleration time of mitral and tricuspid flow, reflecting a redistribution of filling to late diastole. Variations in the ventricular filling pattern, lung water content, and functional performance persisted for three months in all cases. None of these changes was detected in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Reduction of interstitial lung water was probably the mechanism whereby ultrafiltration modified the pattern of filling of the two ventricles and improved functional performance.

[Changes in the physical characteristics of the lung can account for the improvement observed after ultrafiltration in patients with moderate heart failure]

Ultrafiltration improves the clinical condition of patients with moderate congestive heart failure. Ultrafiltration (1895 +/- 120 ml of plasma water, rate 600 ml/h, veno-venous bypass) was performed in 30 patients with moderate congestive heart failure in stable clinical conditions. The effects of ultrafiltration were assessed through pulmonary function and cardiopulmonary exercise tests performed before and 30 days after the procedure. Vital capacity, forced expiratory volume (1 s) and maximal voluntary ventilation improved as improved exercise performance (increase in oxygen consumption at peak exercise and at anaerobic threshold). Tidal volume at anaerobic threshold and at peak exercise increased by 10% with no changes in respiratory rate. This suggests that ultrafiltration induces changes at the physical characteristics of the lungs probably related to changes in lung water content.

[The factors that regulate water-salt metabolism in congestive heart failure]

We investigated the mechanisms involved in the regulation of salt and water metabolism in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Extracorporeal ultrafiltration was utilized as a nonpharmacologic method for withdrawal of body fluids. In 32 consecutive patients with CHF (NYHA class II to IV) and different degrees of water retention, 24-hour diuresis and natriuresis were inversely best correlated with the combination of circulating renin, aldosterone, norepinephrine, and renal perfusion pressure (RPP). Fluid removal (600 to 5,000 ml) at a rate of 500 ml/h, until right atrial pressure decreased to 50% of baseline, caused variable humoral, circulatory, and diuretic effects that were mainly related to the extent of fluid retention. In fact, in 10 patients (Group 1) with overhydration refractory to drug therapy and with urinary output less than 1,000 ml/24 h (mean 370 ml), soon after the procedure, plasma renin (-39%), aldosterone (-50%), and norepinephrine (-47%) were reduced and RPP was increased (+ 16%), and in the subsequent 24 hours, diuresis was increased by 493%; in 9 patients (Group 2) whose baseline urinary output exceeded 1,000 ml/24 h (mean 1,785 ml), renin increased by 40%, norepinephrine, aldosterone and RPP each decreased by 12%, and diuresis remained unchanged; in 13 patients (Group 3) with a daily urinary excretion as in Group 2 and without overhydration, RPP decreased (-7%), renin (+ 196%), aldosterone (+ 170%), and norepinephrine (+ 52%) increased, and diuresis decreased by 45%. There was an overall correlation (p < 0.0001) between the combination of changes in these circulatory and hormonal variables and changes in diuresis and natriuresis with ultrafiltration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Isolated ultrafiltration in moderate congestive heart failure

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether ultrafiltration is beneficial in patients with moderate congestive heart failure.

BACKGROUND

Ultrafiltration is beneficial in patients with severe congestive heart failure.

METHODS

We studied 36 patients in New York Heart Association functional classes II and III in stable clinical condition. Eighteen patients (group A) were randomly selected and underwent a single session of ultrafiltration (venovenous bypass, mean [+/- SEM] ultrafiltrate 1,880 +/- 174 ml, approximately 600 ml/h) and 18 (group B) served as control subjects.

RESULTS

Two patients in group A and three in group B did not complete the 6-month follow-up study. In group A, soon after ultrafiltration there were significant reductions in right atrial pressure (from 8 +/- 1 to 3.4 +/- 0.7 mm Hg, pulmonary wedge pressure (from 18 +/- 2.5 to 10 +/- 1.9 mm Hg) and cardiac index (from 2.8 +/- 0.2 to 2.3 +/- 0.2 liters/min). During the follow-up period, lung function improved, extravascular lung water (X-ray score) decreased and peak oxygen consumption (ml/min per kg) increased significantly from 15.5 +/- 1 (day -1) to 17.6 +/- 0.9 (day 4), to 17.8 +/- 0.9 (day 30), to 18.9 +/- 1 (day 90) and to 19.1 +/- 1 (day 180). Oxygen consumption at anaerobic threshold (ml/min per kg) also increased significantly from 11.6 +/- 0.8 (day -1) to 13 +/- 0.7 (day 4), to 13.7 +/- 0.5 (day 30), to 15.5 +/- 0.8 (day 90) and to 15.2 +/- 0.8 (day 180). These changes were associated with increased ventilation, tidal volume and dead space/tidal volume ratio at peak exercise. The improvement in exercise performance was associated with a decrease in norepinephrine at rest, a downward shift of norepinephrine kinetics at submaximal exercise and an increase in norepinephrine during orthostatic tilt. None of these changes were recorded in group B.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with moderate congestive heart failure, ultrafiltration reduces the severity of the syndrome.