Cardiotoxicity Induced by Capecitabine and Oxaliplatin in Gastric Cancer Treatment: A Rare Case of Cardiac Arrest and Cardiogenic Shock.

Introduction: Combination-based adjuvant chemotherapy utilising capecitabine and oxaliplatin is widely used in gastric cancer treatment. Rare but severe cardiac events such as prolonged QT, cardiac arrest and cardiogenic shock can result from their use. Case description: A 45-year-old female with gastric adenocarcinoma was started on capecitabine-oxaliplatin chemotherapy one week before presenting to the emergency department with weakness. Blood pressure was 78/56 mmHg, heart rate 140 bpm and oxygen saturation 85%. She became unresponsive with pulseless ventricular fibrillation; CPR was initiated with immediate intubation. She received two shocks with a return of spontaneous circulation. Laboratory tests revealed serum potassium (3.1 mmol/l), magnesium (1.1 mg/dl) and troponin (0.46 ng/ml). An EKG revealed sinus tachycardia with a prolonged QT interval (556 ms). The combined effects of capecitabine, oxaliplatin and electrolyte abnormalities likely contributed to the QT prolongation. An echocardiogram demonstrated an ejection fraction of 10%-15%. An emergent right-heart catheterisation showed right atrial pressure of 10 mmHg and pulmonary artery pressure of 30/18 mmHg; cardiac output and index were not recorded. An intra-aortic balloon pump was placed, and she was admitted to the ICU for cardiogenic shock requiring norepinephrine, vasopressin and dobutamine. A repeat echocardiogram showed a significantly improved ejection fraction of 65%, and she was discharged. Discussion: Capecitabine and oxaliplatin cardiotoxicity is an exceedingly rare occurrence, with both drugs reported to cause QT prolongation. Conclusion: Healthcare providers must recognise the QT prolongation effects of capecitabine and oxaliplatin, leading to life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. LEARNING POINTS: Recognise the QT-prolonging effects of capecitabine and oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy.Recognise that cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest with capecitabine and oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy can occur in individuals with benign cardiac history, especially early in treatment.

Active Surveillance and Contact Precautions for Preventing Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Healthcare-Associated Infections During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Statistically significant decreases in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) occurred in Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals from 2007 to 2019 using a national policy of active surveillance (AS) for facility admissions and contact precautions for MRSA colonized (CPC) or infected (CPI) patients, but the impact of suspending these measures to free up laboratory resources for testing and conserve personal protective equipment for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on MRSA HAI rates is not known. METHODS: From July 2020 to June 2022 all 123 acute care VA hospitals nationwide were given the rolling option to suspend (or re-initiate) any combination of AS, CPC, or CPI each month, and MRSA HAIs in intensive care units (ICUs) and non-ICUs were tracked. RESULTS: There were 917 591 admissions, 5 225 174 patient-days, and 568 MRSA HAIs. The MRSA HAI rate/1000 patient-days in ICUs was 0.20 (95% confidence interval [CI], .15-.26) for facilities practicing "AS + CPC + CPI" compared to 0.65 (95% CI, .41-.98; P < .001) for those not practicing any of these strategies, and in non-ICUs was 0.07 (95% CI, .05-.08) and 0.12 (95% CI, .08-.19; P = .01) for the respective policies. Accounting for monthly COVID-19 facility admissions using a negative binomial regression model did not change the relationships between facility policy and MRSA HAI rates. There was no significant difference in monthly facility urinary catheter-associated infection rates, a non-equivalent dependent variable, in the policy categories in either ICUs or non-ICUs. CONCLUSIONS: Facility removal of MRSA prevention practices was associated with higher rates of MRSA HAIs in ICUs and non-ICUs.

Hospital coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health reporting: Lessons from validation of an automated surveillance tool to facilitate data collection.

A comparison of computer-extracted and facility-reported counts of hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients for public health reporting at 36 hospitals revealed 42% of days with matching counts between the data sources. Miscategorization of suspect cases was a primary driver of discordance. Clear reporting definitions and data validation facilitate emerging disease surveillance.

Healthcare-associated infections in Veterans Affairs acute-care and long-term healthcare facilities during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) reported from 128 acute-care and 132 long-term care Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities. METHODS: We compared central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), ventilator-associated events (VAEs), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and Clostridioides difficile infections and rates reported from each facility monthly to a centralized database before the pandemic (February 2019 through January 2020) and during the pandemic (July 2020 through June 2021). RESULTS: Nationwide VA COVID-19 admissions peaked in January 2021. Significant increases in the rates of CLABSIs, VAEs, and MRSA all-site HAIs (but not MRSA CLABSIs) were observed during the pandemic in acute-care facilities. There was no significant change in CAUTI rates, and C. difficile rates significantly decreased. There were no significant increases in HAIs in long-term care facilities. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic had a differential impact on HAIs of various types in VA acute care, with many rates increasing. The decrease in CDI HAIs may be due, in part, to evolving diagnostic testing. The minimal impact of COVID-19 in VA long-term facilities may reflect differences in patient numbers and acuity and early recognition of the impact of the pandemic on nursing home residents leading to increased vigilance and optimization of infection prevention and control practices in that setting. These data support the need for building and sustaining conventional infection prevention and control strategies before and during a pandemic.

Lack of correlation between standardized antimicrobial administration ratios (SAARs) and healthcare-facility-onset Clostridioides difficile infection rates in Veterans Affairs medical facilities.

We detected no correlation between standardized antimicrobial administration ratios (SAARs) and healthcare facility-onset Clostridioides difficile infection (HO-CDI) rates in 102 acute-care Veterans Affairs medical centers over 16 months. SAARs may be useful for investigating trends in local antimicrobial use, but no ratio threshold demarcated HO-CDI risk.

Hemodynamic effects of left atrial appendage occlusion.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) devices have emerged as alternatives to anticoagulation for embolic stroke prevention in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). The left atrial appendage is known to produce vasoactive neuroendocrine hormones involved in cardiovascular homeostasis. The hemodynamic impact of LAA occlusion on cardiac function remains poorly characterized. METHODS: This is a single-center, retrospective study of sixty-seven consecutive patients who received LAAO utilizing the WATCHMAN device from May 2017 to June 2019. All patients received a comprehensive 2D transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) prior to the procedure and a post-procedural TTE. 2D echocardiographic pre-/post-procedural measurements including left ventricular ejection fraction, tricuspid regurgitation, estimated pulmonary artery pressure, diastolic parameters, and left atrial and right ventricular strain were statistically analyzed using the paired t-test. RESULTS: Seventy percent of study patients were male with an overall mean age of 73.0 ± 9.0 years. Analysis of post-procedural LAAO revealed statistically significant improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (52.4 ± 12.6 vs. 56.7 ± 12.7, p < 0.001), an increase in mitral E/e' (14.1 ± 6.5 vs. 18.3 ± 10.8, p < 0.001), and a decrease right ventricular global longitudinal strain (RVGLS) (- 17.5 ± 4.6 vs. - 19.6 ± 5.7, p = 0.027) as compared to pre-procedural TTE. Peak left atrial longitudinal strain (PALS) improved post-LAAO (20.6 ± 12.2 to 22.9 ± 12.9, p = 0.040) with adjustment for cardiac arrhythmias. Post-LAAO, heart failure hospitalizations occurred in 23.9% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous LAAO results in real-time atrial and ventricular hemodynamic changes as assessed by echocardiographic evaluation of LV filling pressures (E/e'), PALS, RVGLS, and LVEF.

Association between Clostridioides difficile infection testing results and decision to treat.

We sought to determine how often patients with a negative toxin enzyme immunoassay following a positive nucleic acid amplification test for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) were treated for CDI in Veterans Affairs facilities. From October 2018 through March 2021, 702 (29.5%) of 2,374 unique patients with these test results were treated.

MitraClip for Secondary Mitral Regurgitation: Approach to the 2020 ACC/AHA Valvular Heart Disease Guidelines.

We describe the case of an 83-year-old man with a history of ischemic cardiomyopathy and severe secondary mitral regurgitation. This case highlights the role of transcatheter edge-to-edge repair with the MitraClip in the management of symptomatic functional mitral regurgitation in a surgically unfavorable patient. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).

Effect of testing methods on incidence of Clostridioides difficile infection rates in Veterans' Affairs medical centers.

Clostridioidesdifficile infection rates from 7 facilities that used nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) alone for 12 months then switched to NAAT plus toxin enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and reported the latter result for 12 months were compared to 70 facilities that used NAAT alone for all 24 months. There was no significant difference in rates between facility groups over the first 12 months (P = .21, linear regression), but we detected a decrease in rates for the facilities that changed to NAAT+EIA (P < .0001).

Aortic Valve Calcification as a Predictor of Post-Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Pacemaker Dependence.

BACKGROUND: Atrioventricular block requiring permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation is a common complication of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The mechanism of atrioventricular (AV) block during TAVR is not fully understood, but it may be due to the mechanical stress of TAVR deployment, resulting in possible injury to the nearby compact AV node. Aortic valve calcification (AVC) may worsen this condition and has been associated with an increased risk for post-TAVR PPM implantation. We performed a retrospective analysis to determine if AVC is predictive for long-term right ventricular (RV) pacing in post-TAVR pacemaker patients at 30 days. METHODS: A total of 262 consecutive patients who underwent TAVR with a balloon-expandable valve were analyzed. AVC data were derived from contrast-enhanced computed tomography and characterized by leaflet sector and region. RESULTS: A total of 25 patients (11.1%) required post-TAVR PPM implantation. Seventeen patients did not require RV pacing at 30 days. Nine of these 17 patients had no RV pacing requirement within 10 days. The presence of intra-procedural heart block (P = 0.004) was the only significant difference between patients who did not require PPM and those who required PPM but they were not RV pacing-dependent at 30 days. Non-coronary cusp (NCC) calcium volume was significantly higher in patients who were pacemaker-dependent at 30 days (P = 0.01) and a calcium volume of > 239.2 mm3 in the NCC was strongly predictive of pacemaker dependence at 30 days (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.813). Pre-existing right bundle branch block (RBBB) (odds ratio (OR) 105.4, P = 0.004), bifascicular block (OR 12.5, P = 0.02), QRS duration (OR 70.43, P = 0.007) and intra-procedural complete heart block (OR 12.83, P = 0.03) were also predictive of pacemaker dependence at 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: In patients who required PPM after TAVR, quantification of AVC by non-coronary leaflet calcium volume was found to be a novel predictor for RV pacing dependence at 30 days. The association of NCC calcification and PPM dependence may be related to the proximity of the conduction bundle to the non-coronary leaflet. Further studies are necessary to improve risk prediction for long-term RV pacing requirements following TAVR.

Sudden death in a patient with long QT syndrome presenting with an epileptic phenotype.

Patients with epilepsy suffer from a higher mortality rate than the general population, a portion of which is not due to epilepsy itself or comorbid conditions. Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a common but poorly understood cause of death in patients with intractable epilepsy and often afflicts younger patients. The pathophysiology of SUDEP is poorly defined but does not appear to be related to prolonged seizure activity or resultant injury. Interestingly, a subset of patients with confirmed long QT syndrome (LQTS) present with a seizure phenotype and may have concurrent epilepsy. In this case, we present a patient who initially presented with a seizure phenotype. Further workup captured PMVT on an outpatient event monitor, and the patient was subsequently diagnosed with LQTS1. A substantial number of patients with LQTS initially present with a seizure phenotype. These patients may represent a subset of SUDEP cases resulting from ventricular arrhythmias. Appropriate suspicion for ventricular arrhythmias is necessary for proper arrhythmia evaluation and management in patients presenting with epilepsy.

A targeted assessment for prevention strategy to decrease Clostridioides difficile infections in Veterans Affairs acute-care medical centers.

OBJECTIVE: A guideline for the prevention of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in 127 Veterans Health Administration acute-care facilities was implemented in July 2012. Beginning in 2015, a targeted assessment for prevention strategy was used to evaluate facilities for hospital-onset healthcare-facility-associated CDIs to focus prevention efforts where they might have the most impact in reaching a reduction goal of 30% nationwide. METHODS: We calculated standardized infection ratios (SIRs) and cumulative attributable differences (CADs) using a national data baseline. Facilities were ranked by CAD, and those with the 10 highest CAD values were targeted for periodic conference calls or a site visit from January 2016-September 2019. RESULTS: The hospital-onset healthcare-facility-associated CDI rate in the 10 facilities with the highest CADs declined 56% during the process improvement period, compared to a 44% decline in the 117 nonintervention facilities (P = .03). CONCLUSION: Process improvement interventions targeting facilities ranked by CAD values may be an efficient strategy for decreasing CDI rates in a large healthcare system.

Molecular signatures of X chromosome inactivation and associations with clinical outcomes in epithelial ovarian cancer.

X chromosome inactivation (XCI) is a key epigenetic gene expression regulatory process, which may play a role in women's cancer. In particular tissues, some genes are known to escape XCI, yet patterns of XCI in ovarian cancer (OC) and their clinical associations are largely unknown. To examine XCI in OC, we integrated germline genotype with tumor copy number, gene expression and DNA methylation information from 99 OC patients. Approximately 10% of genes showed different XCI status (either escaping or being subject to XCI) compared with the studies of other tissues. Many of these genes are known oncogenes or tumor suppressors (e.g. DDX3X, TRAPPC2 and TCEANC). We also observed strong association between cis promoter DNA methylation and allele-specific expression imbalance (P = 2.0 × 10-10). Cluster analyses of the integrated data identified two molecular subgroups of OC patients representing those with regulated (N = 47) and dysregulated (N = 52) XCI. This XCI cluster membership was associated with expression of X inactive specific transcript (P = 0.002), a known driver of XCI, as well as age, grade, stage, tumor histology and extent of residual disease following surgical debulking. Patients with dysregulated XCI (N = 52) had shorter time to recurrence (HR = 2.34, P = 0.001) and overall survival time (HR = 1.87, P = 0.02) than those with regulated XCI, although results were attenuated after covariate adjustment. Similar findings were observed when restricted to high-grade serous tumors. We found evidence of a unique OC XCI profile, suggesting that XCI may play an important role in OC biology. Additional studies to examine somatic changes with paired tumor-normal tissue are needed.

Spectral analysis of heart rate variability predicts mortality and instability from vascular injury.

BACKGROUND: Spectral analysis of continuous blood pressure and heart rate variability provides a quantitative assessment of autonomic response to hemorrhage. This may reveal markers of mortality as well as endpoints of resuscitation. METHODS: Fourteen male Yorkshire pigs, ranging in weight from 33 to 36 kg, were included in the analysis. All pigs underwent laparotomy and then sustained a standardized retrohepatic inferior vena cava injury. Animals were then allowed to progress to class 3 hemorrhagic shock and where then treated with abdominal sponge packing followed by 6 h of crystalloid resuscitation. If the pigs survived the 6 h resuscitation, they were in the survival (S) group, otherwise they were placed in the nonsurvival (NS) group. Fast Fourier transformation calculations were used to convert the components of blood pressure and heart rate variability into corresponding frequency classifications. Autonomic tones are represented as the following: high frequency (HF) = parasympathetic tone, low frequency (LF) = sympathetic, and very low frequency (VLF) = renin-angiotensin aldosterone system. The relative sympathetic to parasympathetic tone was expressed as LF/HF ratio. RESULTS: Baseline hemodynamic parameters were equal for the S (n = 11) and NS groups. LF/HF was lower at baseline for the NS group but was higher after hemorrhage and the resuscitation period indicative of a predominately parasympathetic response during hemorrhagic shock before mortality. HF signal was lower in the NS group during the resuscitation indicating a relatively lower sympathetic tone during hemorrhagic shock, which may have contributed to mortality. Finally, the NS group had a lower VLF signal at baseline (e.g., [S] 16.3 ± 2.5 versus [NS] 4.6 ± 2.9 P < 0.05,) which was predictive of mortality and hemodynamic instability in response to a similar hemorrhagic injury. CONCLUSIONS: An increased LF/HF ratio, indicative of parasympathetic predominance following injury and during resuscitation of hemorrhagic shock was a marker of impending death. Spectral analysis of heart rate variability can also identify autonomic lability following hemorrhagic injuries with implications for first responder triage. Furthermore, a decreased VLF signal at baseline indicates an additional marker of hemodynamic instability and marker of mortality following a hemorrhagic injury. These data indicate that continuous quantitative assessment of autonomic response can be a predictor of mortality and potentially guide resuscitation of patients in hemorrhagic shock.

Leadless Cardiac Pacemakers: The Next Evolution in Pacemaker Technology.

Implantable pacemakers stand as a mainstay in our therapeutic arsenal, affording those suffering from advanced cardiac conduction system disease both an improved quality of life and reduced mortality. Annually, over 225,000 new pacemakers are implanted in the United States for bradyarrhythmias and heart block. The first implantable transvenous pacemakers appeared in 1965; they were bulky devices, hobbled by a short battery life, and a single pacing mode. Modern transvenous pacemakers have evolved considerably with significant improvements in battery life, pacing options, and lead technology but are still subject to a spectrum of complications stemming from either the subcutaneous pocket or the leads, including: hematoma, infection, wound dehiscence, pneumothorax, cardiac tamponade, lead dislodgment, upper extremity deep vein thrombosis, lead failure, venous obstruction, tricuspid valve insufficiency, and endocarditis. Single-chamber right ventricular (RV) leadless cardiac pacemakers, a concept from the past, has been revitalized to address these complications. Improvements in battery life, device miniaturization, catheter-based delivery tools, and advanced programming have made leadless cardiac pacemakers a viable option. In this review, we will discuss single-component leadless cardiac pacemaker technology, provide an overview of the two approved devices, and discuss their benefits as well as their limitations. [Full article available at http://rimed.org/rimedicaljournal-2017-11.asp].

Minimally Invasive Closure of the Left Atrial Appendage: A Non-Pharmacologic Approach to Prevention of Stroke in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

Atrial Fibrillation's (AF) role in the pathogenesis of thromboembolic stroke has been well established, with estimates from trials of approximately 15-20% of all strokes in the U.S. Research shows more than 90% of atrial thrombi originate from the left atrial appendage (LAA). Traditionally, oral anticoagulants (OACs) have been the keystone of management for AF in reducing the risk of thromboembolic stroke. However, OACs also pose a non-negligible risk of bleeding with between 30-50% of eligible patients not receiving OACs due to absolute contraindications or perceived increased bleeding risk. New technologies aimed at isolating the LAA through ligation, exclusion, or occlusion are attempting to mitigate the embolic risk posed by LAA thrombi while simultaneously reducing the bleeding risk associated with OAC. In this review, we discuss the safety, efficacy, and clinical utility of these technologies as alternatives to OACs. [Full article available at http://rimed.org/rimedicaljournal-2017-05.asp].

Kaolin-based hemostatic dressing improves hemorrhage control from a penetrating inferior vena cava injury in coagulopathic swine.

BACKGROUND: Retrohepatic inferior vena cava (RIVC) injuries are often lethal due to challenges in obtaining hemorrhage control. We hypothesized that packing with a new kaolin-based hemostatic dressing (Control+; Z-Medica, Wallingford, CT) would improve hemorrhage control from a penetrating RIVC injury compared with packing with standard laparotomy sponges alone. METHODS: Twelve male Yorkshire pigs received a 25% exchange transfusion of blood for refrigerated normal saline to induce a hypothermic coagulopathy. A laparotomy was performed and a standardized 1.5 cm injury to the RIVC was created which was followed by temporary abdominal closure and a period of uncontrolled hemorrhage. When the mean arterial pressure reached 70% of baseline, demonstrating hemorrhagic shock, the abdomen was re-entered, and the injury was treated with perihepatic packing using standard laparotomy sponges (L; n = 6) or a new kaolin-based hemostatic dressing (K; n = 6). Animals were then resuscitated for 6 hours with crystalloid solution. The two groups were compared using the Wilcoxon rank sum test and Fisher exact test. A p value of 0.05 or less was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: There was no difference in the animal's temperature, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, cardiac output, and blood loss at baseline or before packing was performed (all p > 0.05). In the laparotomy sponge group, five of six pigs survived the entire study period, whereas all six pigs treated with kaolin-based D2 hemostatic dressings survived. Importantly, there was significantly less blood loss after packing with the new hemostatic kaolin-based dressing compared with packing with laparotomy sponge (651 ± 180 mL vs. 1073 ± 342 mL; p ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that the use of this new hemostatic kaolin-based dressing improved hemorrhage control and significantly decreased blood loss in this penetrating RIVC model. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: This is basic science research based on a large animal model, level V.

Estimation of oxygen consumption in elderly patients with aortic stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Invasive evaluation of aortic stenosis requires measuring cardiac output. With the Fick equation, a measure of oxygen consumption (VO2) is required. Standard equations for estimating VO2 were derived in younger and healthier populations than the ones referred for possible transcatheter aortic valve replacement. The goal of this study was to determine the best method of estimating VO2 in elderly patients with aortic stenosis. METHODS: We directly measured VO2 in elderly patients undergoing invasive assessment of aortic stenosis. We compared standard equations estimating VO2 and two prespecified hypothesized equations for VO2 to determine which was most accurate. We also examined the subgroup of patients with low flow. RESULTS: Among 51 patients, aged 80-97 years, the mean VO2 was 198 mL/min. Using 125*body surface area (BSA) to estimate VO2 the average error was 35 mL/min, and 67% of values were within 25% of the true value. Using 3*Weight to estimate VO2, those numbers were 29 mL/min and 65%. The hypothesized equations did better: 100*BSA had error of -12 mL/min and 90% within 25% of measured VO2; for 2.5*Weight it was -9 mL/min and 84%. Among the 20 patients with low flow, hypothesized equations performed best. Using 2.5*Weight and 100*BSA there were 90% and 85% within 25% of measured VO2, respectively, compared to 55% and 75% when 3*Weight and 125*BSA were used. Weight and BSA were the only independent predictors of VO2. CONCLUSIONS: When estimating VO2 in an elderly population with aortic stenosis, the best equations are 2.5*Weight and 100*BSA.

Biochemical evidence of mild hepatic dysfunction identifies decompensated heart failure patients with reversible renal dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Differentiation of HF-induced renal dysfunction (RD) from irreversible intrinsic kidney disease is challenging, likely related to the multifactorial pathophysiology underlying HF-induced RD. In contrast, HF-induced liver dysfunction results in characteristic laboratory abnormalities. Given that similar pathophysiologic factors are thought to underlie both conditions, and that the liver and kidneys share a common circulatory environment, patients with laboratory evidence of HF-induced liver dysfunction may also have a high incidence of potentially reversible HF-induced RD. METHODS AND RESULTS: Hospitalized patients with a discharge diagnosis of HF were reviewed (n = 823). Improvement in renal function (IRF) was defined as a 20% improvement in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). An elevated international normalized ratio (INR; odds ratio [OR] 2.8; P < .001), bilirubin (BIL; OR 2.2; P < .001), aspartate aminotransferase (AST; OR 1.8; P = .004), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT; OR 2.1; P = .001) were all significantly associated with IRF. Among patients with baseline RD (eGFR ≤45 mL min(-1) 1.73 m(-2)), associations between liver dysfunction and IRF were particularly strong (INR: OR 5.7 [P < .001]; BIL: OR 5.1 [P < .001]; AST: OR 2.9 [P = .005]; ALT: OR 4.8 [P < .001]). CONCLUSIONS: Biochemical evidence of mild liver dysfunction is associated with reversible RD in decompensated HF patients. In the absence of methodology to directly identify HF-induced RD, signs of HF-induced dysfunction of other organs may serve as an accessible method by which HF-induced RD is recognized.