[BNP or NT-proBNP: "that is the question"]. / BNP ou NT-proBNP : "mon coeur balance"

Blood measurements of BNP and NT-proBNP, its catabolite, improve diagnosis for patients admitted to emergency departments with dyspnoea. In this paper, we have compared the BNP to the NT-proBNP for 119 dyspnoeic patients using at random clear clinical status. Among the test group of 119 patients, 57 showed coherent biological results for the 2 markers. These results confirm the final clinical diagnosis. Nine patients with congestive heart failure had abnormally low BNP and NT-proBNP rates. Six of these patients experienced long delays (longer than 48 hours and less than 72 hours) between their admission in emergency and the biological measurement of the natriuretic biomarkers. Three of the other patients could be not only flash OAP cases with a fast growth and a fast normalisation of BNP but also could have existing genetical factors. These genetical factors leading to high variability in BNP synthesis are not related to physiological or cardiac factors. 43 patients showed a mismatch between BNP and NT-proBNP. BNP appeared to be unstable in vitro. The lack of stability in whole blood or plasma samples is increased by sampling in a glass EDTA collection tube and too long delays in transferring the samples from the emergency area and the laboratory in a big hospital. Ten patients showed a mismatch with abnormally high NT-proBNP or false positive results. Among these 10 patients, 5 had renal dysfunction with a high level of creatinine concentration. It is clear that all Diagnostics Manufacturers should now propose different cut-off for natriuretic peptides tests according to the degree of patients' renal impairment.

Heart failure with preserved systolic function: a diagnostic algorithm for a pragmatic definition.

Heart failure is a major health problem which often concerns the elderly. Prevalence of heart failure with preserved systolic function is increasing and varies from 40 to 50%. In the literature, and in the large epidemiological studies, it is commonly designed with the term of "diastolic heart failure", even if a precise analysis of diastolic function is not performed. A diagnostic algorithm is proposed in order to better define the concept of heart failure with preserved systolic function. It consists of seven steps from symptoms and clinical signs to the echocardiographic analysis of diastolic function, in order to confirm the definition of heart failure with preserved systolic function.

[Evaluation of a multidisciplinary management by a health care network for patients with chronic heart failure]. / Evaluation d'un réseau ville-hôpital pour la prise en charge multidisciplinaire des patients insuffisants cardiaques chroniques.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact, at three months, of a multidisciplinary management by a health care network for patients with chronic heart failure, compared with a historic control group. METHODS: We carried out an exhaustive prospective investigation of 68 patients included in the network in 2001 (stage II to IV of NYHA classification). The historic control was 64 patients hospitalized in 2000 with the same inclusion criteria. RESULTS: Mean age (78 years) and the initial severity of heart failure (stage NYHA II: 43%, III: 55%, IV: 2%) did not differ between the two groups. Seven parameters significantly improved at three months in intervention group: systolic blood pressure, heart frequency, walking distance covered in six minutes, quality of life score, prescription of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor at maximal dose, prescription of beta-blocker and the patient's compliance with therapy. The three months survival without event (hospital readmission or death) did not significantly differ between the two groups: 45% [33-57] in 2000 versus 41% [29-53] in 2001. CONCLUSION: The functional status and treatments of the patients significantly improved three months after their inclusion in health care network. The impact of the health care network for chronic heart failure management should be studied by randomised trials.

[Which coronary tests to use in asymptomatic diabetics?]. / Quelles explorations à visée coronaire chez le diabétique asymptomatique?

Coronary artery disease is a common, serious and insidious complication of diabetes. Myocardial ischaemia is often silent. All diabetics do not have the same coronary risk and, therefore, it is important to determine which investigations to perform and which patients. This strategy is justified because it allows identification of these cases which require a medical or an invasive (angioplasty, surgical revascularisation) approach, as these interventions may improve the prognosis. The first stage is clinical (investigation of cardiovascular risk factors). When more than two risk factors are found, further investigations are justified. Exercise stress testing provide reassuring diagnostic and prognostic data when maximal and negative. When sub-maximal, impossible or significantly ischaemic, a second investigation is useful. Holter ECG recording with analysis of ST variation lacks sensitivity and, above all, specificity. The diagnostic value of perfusion myocardial scintigraphy in the diabetic is not as good as that observed in the general population, but its prognostic value remains good. Ischaemia involving over 20% of the myocardium justifies therapeutic investigation. Stress echocardiography has been validated in the diagnosis and prognosis of coronary artery disease and its sensitivity and specificity are probably the same as those of scintigraphy. The authors conclude that the asymptomatic diabetic requires clinical and staged paraclinical investigation to assess prognosis and, depending on the results, the adoption of a beneficial therapeutic strategy.

Treatment of heart failure with preserved systolic function.

Heart failure is a major public health problem. Heart failure with preserved systolic function (HF-PSF) is a common form, which is difficult to diagnose. Results of recent studies show that HF-PSF has a poor prognosis, with an annual survival rate similar to that of heart failure with left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Despite these findings, the therapeutic management of HF-PSF is not clearly defined. We will discuss in this review of the literature the current therapeutic management of HF-PSF, including the role of precipitating factors such as hypertension, myocardial ischaemia and supraventricular arrhythmias, and the main results of epidemiological registries and randomized controlled clinical trials in this disease. Only four large therapeutic trials have assessed the impact of different classes of drugs (digoxin, angiotensin II converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptors type I blockers and beta-blockers) on morbidity and mortality in HF-PSF. Results of these trials are disappointing. Apart from the beta-blockers, the other three classes of drugs did not show benefit on the outcome of the disease. Moreover, the results of the beta-blocker trial are controversial as a mixed population of heart failure with and without preserved systolic function was studied. Finally, the current therapeutic management of patients with HF-PSF is still based on our pathophysiological knowledge: education, low salt diet, diuretics, slowing heart rate and controlling triggering factors. Other large randomized controlled multicenter trials, which may help us in the understanding of HF-PSP and its therapeutic management, are ongoing.