Reversible catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy due to pheochromocytoma: case report.

Pheochromocytoma is a tumor originating from chromaffin tissue. It commonly presents with symptoms and signs of catecholamine excess, such as hypertension, tachycardia, headache and sweating. Cardiovascular manifestations include catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy, which may present as severe left ventricular dysfunction and congestive heart failure. We report a case of pheochromocytoma which was diagnosed following investigation of dilated cardiomyopathy. We highlight the dramatic symptomatic improvement and reversal of cardiomyopathy, with recovery of left ventricular function after treatment.

Heart rate reduction with ivabradine in patients with acute decompensated systolic heart failure.

INTRODUCTION: In patients with acute decompensated systolic heart failure (ADSHF) high resting heart rate (HR) could be either a compensatory mechanism or contribute to worsening heart failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in patients with ADSHF and resting HR >70 bpm, the early (within 24 h) and late (at discharge) effects of oral administration of ivabradine on HR reduction. METHODS: Ten consecutive patients with ADSHF, left ventricular ejection fraction <40 % and HR >70 bpm, without other acute conditions or inotropic therapy, began open-label treatment with oral ivabradine according to a pre-established Heart Failure Unit protocol. We obtained clinical and laboratory data at four periods: admission (T0), immediately before initiation of ivabradine (T2), 24 h after initiation of ivabradine (T3), and at discharge (T4). RESULTS: Ivabradine was administered in 60 % of the patients before the second day. HR decreased 10.7 ± 7.2 bpm at T3 (p < 0.001) and 16.3 ± 8.2 bpm at T4 (p = 0.002). The systolic blood pressure decreased at T3 (p = 0.012), returning to baseline values at T4. There was no change in diastolic and mean blood pressure. New York Heart Association (NYHA) class improvement by two levels was associated with lower HR at T4 (p = 0.033). HR and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (Nt-ProBNP) at baseline correlated significantly [Spearman correlation coefficient (rs) = 0.789, p = 0.013]. Total Nt-ProBNP reduction correlated with the HR before (r = 0.762, p = 0.028) and after (T3: r = 0.647, p = 0.083; T4: r = 0.738, p = 0.037) ivabradine addition. CONCLUSION: In the present cohort of patients with ADSHF and HR >70 bpm, the selective reduction of HR with oral ivabradine was safe and efficient.

Early NT-proBNP decrease with ivabradine in ambulatory patients with systolic heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Heart rate (HR) reduction in patients with systolic heart failure (HF) is a cornerstone of current therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term effect of the HR reduction with ivabradine on N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in outpatients with systolic HF. HYPOTHESIS: Ivabradine improves survival and promotes left ventricle remodelling by reducing resting heart rate. Nt-ProBNP absolute and trends predict prognosis. We hypothesized a possible association between heart rate decrease and Nt-ProBNP values. METHODS: We included 25 outpatients with systolic HF on optimized medical therapy (80% on angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, 56% on spironolactone, and 88% on ß-blocker therapy), left ventricle ejection fraction <40%, and sinus rhythm and HR >70/bpm. After a 1 month running-out period, to establish the clinical and NT-proBNP stability, patients were started on ivabradine for 3 months. RESULTS: Ivabradine decreased NT-proBNP (P = 0.002) from a median of 2850 pg/mL to 1802 pg/mL, corresponding to a median absolute and percent decrease of 964 pg/mL and 44.5%, respectively. The baseline HR correlated significantly with the baseline NT-proBNP (rs = 0.411, P = 0.041). The absolute and percent HR decrease correlated with the absolute NT-proBNP decrease (rs = 0.442, P = 0.027; rs = 0.395, P = 0.05). The greater the NT-proBNP absolute decrease tertile, the greater the baseline HR (P = 0.023) and the absolute (P = 0.028) and percent (P = 0.064) HR variation. CONCLUSIONS: In outpatients with systolic HF, the NT-proBNP reduction obtained by short-term ivabradine treatment correlates closely with the degree of HR reduction.