Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome characterized by the inability of the heart to provide adequate perfusion to tissues and organs, resulting in typical symptoms such as fatigue, dyspnea, dyspepsia, or swelling due to decreased cardiac output. With its increasing prevalence, heart failure has become one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, imposing a significant burden on the population by reducing long-term life expectancy and raising hospital costs. Indeed, over 20 million people worldwide suffer from heart failure, with a 5-year mortality rate of 60-70%. As heart failure progresses, various structural and metabolic changes occur within the myocardium and organ systems. In the past two decades, therapeutic options for heart failure patients have significantly expanded. In addition to novel pharmacological treatment, advanced surgical methods such as heart transplantation (HTx) and the implantation of durable left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are available for patients with end-stage heart failure. This review discusses the pathophysiological aspects and metabolic consequences of heart failure and metabolic changes, as well as the benefits and challenges of implanting a left ventricular assist device. Furthermore, future targets for heart failure diagnostics and therapy will be highlighted.

• Klíčová slova
• cachexia, diabetes, gliflozins, heart failure, left ventricular assist device, mechanical circulatory support, metabolism, obesity,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

OBJECTIVES: In patients supported by a durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD), infections are a frequently reported adverse event with increased morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible association between infections and thromboembolic events, most notable cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs), in LVAD patients. METHODS: An analysis of the multicentre European Registry for Patients Assisted with Mechanical Circulatory Support was performed. Infections were categorized as VAD-specific infections, VAD-related infections and non-VAD-related infections. An extended Kaplan-Meier analysis for the risk of CVA with infection as a time-dependent covariate and a multivariable Cox proportional hazard model were performed. RESULTS: For this analysis, 3282 patients with an LVAD were included with the majority of patients being male (83.1%). During follow-up, 1262 patients suffered from infection, and 457 patients had a CVA. Cox regression analysis with first infection as time-dependent covariate revealed a hazard ratio (HR) for CVA of 1.90 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.55-2.33; P < 0.001]. Multivariable analysis confirmed the association for infection and CVAs with an HR of 1.99 (95% CI: 1.62-2.45; P < 0.001). With infections subcategorized, VAD-specific HR was 1.56 (95% CI: 1.18-2.08; P 0.002) and VAD-related infections [HR: 1.99 (95% CI: 1.41-2.82; P < 0.001)] remained associated with CVAs, while non-VAD-related infections (P = 0.102) were not. CONCLUSIONS: Infection during LVAD support is associated with an increased risk of developing an ischaemic or haemorrhagic CVA, particularly in the setting of VAD-related or VAD-specific infections. This suggests the need of a stringent anticoagulation management and adequate antibiotic treatment during an infection in LVAD-supported patients.

• Klíčová slova
• Cerebrovascular accidents, Heart failure, Infection, Left ventricular assist device, Thromboembolic events,
• MeSH
• antibakteriální látky MeSH
• antikoagulancia MeSH
• cévní mozková příhoda * epidemiologie   etiologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• podpůrné srdeční systémy * škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• registrace MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• srdeční selhání * MeSH
• výsledek terapie MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antibakteriální látky MeSH
• antikoagulancia MeSH

AIMS: Recipients of left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) are exposed to increased risk of adverse clinical events. One of the potential contributing factors is non-pulsatile flow generated by LVAD. We evaluated the association of flow patterns in carotid arteries and of increased arterial stiffness with death and cerebrovascular events in LVAD recipients. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analysed data from 83 patients [mean age 54 ± 15 years; 12 women; HeartMate II (HMII), n = 34; HeartMate 3 (HM3), n = 49]. Pulsatile and resistive indexes, atherosclerotic changes in carotid arteries (measured by duplex ultrasound), and arterial stiffness [measured by Endo-PAT 2000 as the augmentation index standardized for heart rate (AI@75)] were evaluated 3 and 6 months after LVAD implantation. Sixteen patients died during follow-up (27.3 months; interquartile range 15.7-44.3). After adjusting for the main variables examined, the pulsatility index measured at 3 months was positively associated with increased hazard ratios (HR) for death and cerebrovascular events [HR 9.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.62-59.42], with HR increasing after adding AI@75 to the model (HR 18.8, 95% CI 2.44-145.50). In HM3 recipients, HR was significantly lower than in HMII recipients (HR 0.31, 95% CI 0.11-0.91), but the significance disappeared after adding AI@75 to the model (HR 0.33, 95% CI 0.09-1.18). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of death and cerebrovascular events in LVAD recipients is associated with increased pulsatility index in carotid arteries and potentiated by increased arterial stiffness. The same risk is attenuated by HM3 LVAD implantation, but this effect is weakened by increased arterial stiffness.

• Klíčová slova
• Clinical events, Mechanical circulatory support, Pulsatility index,
• MeSH
• ateroskleróza * MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• podpůrné srdeční systémy * MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• srdeční selhání * MeSH
• výsledek terapie MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

AIMS: Over decades, left ventricular assist device (LVAD) technology has transitioned from less durable bulky pumps to smaller continuous-flow pumps which have substantially improved long-term outcomes and quality of life. Contemporary LVAD therapy is beleaguered by haemocompatibility-related adverse events including thrombosis, stroke and bleeding. A fully magnetically levitated pump, the HeartMate 3 (HM3, Abbott, USA) LVAD, has been shown to be superior to the older HeartMate II (HMII, Abbott, USA) pump by improving haemocompatibility. Experience with the HM3 LVAD suggests near elimination of de-novo pump thrombosis, a marked reduction in stroke rates, and only a modest decrease in bleeding complications. Since the advent of continuous-flow LVAD therapy, patients have been prescribed a combination of aspirin and anticoagulation therapy on the presumption that platelet activation and perturbations to the haemostatic axis determine their necessity. Observational studies in patients implanted with the HM3 LVAD who suffer bleeding have suggested a signal of reduced subsequent bleeding events with withdrawal of aspirin. The notion of whether antiplatelet therapy can be avoided in an effort to reduce bleeding complications has now been advanced. METHODS: To evaluate this hypothesis and its clinical benefits, the Antiplatelet Removal and Hemocompatibility Events with the HeartMate 3 Pump (ARIES HM3) has been introduced as the first-ever international prospective, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled, non-inferiority trial in a patient population implanted with a LVAD. CONCLUSION: This paper reviews the biological and clinical role of aspirin (100 mg) with LVADs and discusses the rationale and design of the ARIES HM3 trial.

• Klíčová slova
• Advanced heart failure, Aspirin, Assist devices, Bleeding, Hemocompatibility, LVAD, Mechanical Circulatory Support, Outcomes,
• MeSH
• Aspirin MeSH
• kvalita života MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• podpůrné srdeční systémy * MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• randomizované kontrolované studie jako téma MeSH
• srdeční selhání * terapie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• Aspirin MeSH