The effect of digoxin on renal function in patients with heart failure.

INTRODUCTION: Digoxin is used in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) who remain symptomatic despite optimal medical treatment. Impaired renal function is commonly associated with CHF. We investigated the relation between digoxin use and change in renal function over time in patients with CHF. METHODS: One thousand two hundred forty-one patients with symptoms and signs of CHF (average age 72 years (64% male), and median NTproBNP 1426 ng/l (interquartile range 632-2897) were divided into four groups: never on digoxin (N = 394); digoxin throughout (N = 449); started digoxin at some point after baseline (N = 367); and stopped digoxin at some point after baseline (N = 31). The rate of change of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using linear regression. RESULTS: Patients on digoxin throughout had a significantly greater rate of decline in eGFR per year than patients not on digoxin throughout (mean (± standard deviation); - 5 (14) ml/min/1.73m2 per year v - 2 (11) ml/min/1.73m2 per year, P = 0.02). In those patients who started digoxin during follow up, there was no significant difference in the rate of decline in eGFR before and after starting digoxin. There was no correlation between baseline eGFR (or rate of decline in eGFR) and age, haemoglobin or NTproBNP. Compared to patients taking both angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) and beta-blocker (BB), patients who were not taking an ACEi/ARB or BB had a numerically faster rate of decline in eGFR, although this was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The rate of decline in renal function is greater in patients with CHF who are taking digoxin.

Relationship of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein to prognosis and other prognostic markers in outpatients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory markers are increased in chronic heart failure (CHF), including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), but there is little information on its relationship to prognosis or other prognostic markers. We aimed to investigate the relationship between hsCRP and prognosis in patients with CHF and left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD). METHODS: Patients with CHF and LVSD (n = 957), but without infection or inflammatory disease, were identified. Patients had their medical history taken, underwent physical examination, had electrocardiographic and echocardiographic assessment, and had a 6-minute corridor walk test (6MWT) and blood tests, including hsCRP and N-terminal pro-B natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP). RESULTS: Patients with worse New York Heart Association class (P = .02), shorter 6-minute corridor walk test distance (P < .001), higher NT-pro-BNP levels (P < .001), anemia (P < .001), and renal dysfunction (P < .001), but not lower LV ejection fraction, had higher plasma concentrations of hsCRP. Patients with a CRP of >11.0 pg/mL had a hazard ratio for death of 3.0 compared with those with a CRP of <2.8 pg/mL (P < .001). Of 402 patients who had a second sample taken for hsCRP at 1 year, 46% showed a substantial change from baseline levels. Marked increases in hsCRP were associated with a fall in hemoglobin level. NT-pro-BNP was noted to be a more accurate prognostic marker than hsCRP (area under the curve of 0.74 compared with 0.67 for hsCRP, P < .05). CONCLUSION: Patients with CHF and LVSD have increased serum concentrations of hsCRP that are related to functional limitation and prognosis but not to the severity of LV ejection fraction.

Crystals seen on CSF microscopy in a case of suspected subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Although crystals are rarely identified on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) microscopy, their presence can be of significant diagnostic value. We report a case of oxalate crystals seen on CSF microscopy of a 43-year-old woman. The patient presented with headaches, nausea and vomiting. CT of the head showed a small focus of hyper-density, suspicious of haemorrhage, in the right side of the pontine cistern. CSF cell count was within the normal range. Although no organisms were seen on microscopy, copious oxalate crystals were seen. The same crystals were seen on microscopy of CSF collected in a fluoride oxalate container used for glucose analysis. A follow-up contrast-enhanced CT angiogram did not demonstrate any abnormalities. It transpired that excess CSF had been collected into a fluoride oxalate container. This had subsequently been decanted into a plain container for microbiological analysis. Correct specimen collection should be emphasised when teaching lumbar puncture technique.

Triploid pregnancy detected incidentally by Down's syndrome screening.

Maternal serum screening for Down's syndrome and trisomy 18 identifies pregnancies with a greater risk of these abnormalities, which are then followed-up by karyotyping of cells collected either by amniocentesis or by chorionic villus sampling. These techniques complement ultrasonography, which gives accurate gestational dating as well as identifying structural abnormalities. Other chromosomal abnormalities are sometimes detected by virtue of atypical maternal screening results. This report illustrates a case of triploidy, a lethal abnormality, detected incidentally due to an exceptionally high human chorionic gonadotrophin result identified during Down's syndrome screening. This allowed appropriate counselling of the parents followed by a decision to terminate the pregnancy, avoiding the potential trauma of a spontaneous miscarriage or, if born live, death of the baby. Termination of the pregnancy also resolved associated maternal hyperthyroidism.