Esta atualização da Diretriz de Insuficiência Cardíaca Crônica (IC) - 2012 surge para reavaliar as recomendações através de uma avaliação criteriosa das pesquisas (considerando-se a qualidade dos estudos), fundamental para que se atinja esse propósito. Para tanto, foi dada ênfase ao efeito em desfechos de morte, à qualidade "CONSORT" (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials), à descrição qualitativa e quantitativa da otimização da medicação, à população realmente incluída, às metanálises somente de estudos qualidade "CONSORT", à custo-efetividade, à existência de efeito de classe, ao número de pacientes incluídos e à análise de subgrupos apenas para gerar hipóteses. Na área da epidemiologia, as recentes abordagens das características da IC com fração de ejeção preservada (ICFEP) e da importância da IC como causa de morte no Brasil foram revisadas. Além disso, este documento contempla a reavaliação do valor dos biomarcadores no diagnóstico e no seguimento da IC, o papel diagnóstico da angiotomografia coronariana nos casos de risco intermediário ou baixo risco de doença coronariana, a não recomendação de rotina do telemonitoramento; o surgimento da avaliação familiar como recomendação importante, e a reavaliação da restrição da adição de sal na dieta. As clínicas de IC e reabilitação física, apesar de alguns resultados negativos ou controversos quanto à mortalidade, continuam com recomendação importante. No campo do tratamento farmacológico, abrange-se a reavaliação da indicação do nebivolol, introduz-se a ivabradina como um novo paradigma no tratamento, os antagonistas da aldosterona não têm efeito de classe reconhecido, o ômega 3 passa a ser recomendado, o ferro administrado por via endovenosa e o sildenafil recebem indicação em casos selecionados. Todas as recomendações para outras etiologias são expandidas para a Doença de Chagas. Na área da anticoagulação, recomenda-se a utilização dos escores CHA2DS2VASC e o HAS-BLED na fibrilação atrial, com introdução de inibidores da trombina e do fator Xa como alternativas na anticoagulação. No tratamento cirúrgico da IC, considerou-se que resultados neutros do estudo STICH influenciaram as recomendações, o transplante cardíaco continua a ser o tratamento indicado nas fases evolutivas tardias de IC, os dispositivos de assistência circulatória mecânica para terapia de destino passam a ter recomendação, a duração do QRS foi fundamental na indicação de TRV-AV, e o CDI continua com recomendação I para miocardiopatia isquêmica. Entretanto, baseada em análise crítica dos estudos considerando-se o custo-efetividade, o CDI não atingiu recomendação I para classes menos graves devido as limitações dos estudos. Também a importância da cardiotoxicidade por drogas para tratamento de neoplasias foi ressaltada, o tratamento da IC na gravidez e da miocardite foi revisado. Novos potenciais métodos de tratamento em fase de pesquisa são apresentados e novos fluxogramas de diagnóstico e tratamento da IC, reformulados, foram incluído

Purpose: We performed a survey on acute heart failure (AHF) in nine countries in four continents. We aimed to describe characteristics and management of AHF among various countries, to compare patients with de novo AHF versus patients with a pre-existing episode of AHF, and to describe subpopulations hospitalized in intensive care unit (ICU) versus cardiac care unit (CCU) versus ward. Methods and results: Data from 4,953 patients with AHF were collected via questionnaire from 666 hospitals. Clinical presentation included decompensated congestive HF (38.6%), pulmonary oedema (36.7%) and cardiogenic shock (11.7%). Patients with de novo episode of AHF (36.2%) were younger, had less comorbidities and lower blood pressure despite greater left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and were more often admitted to ICU.Overall, intravenous (IV) diuretics were given in 89.7%, vasodilators in 41.1%, and inotropic agents (dobutamine, dopamine, adrenaline, noradrenaline and levosimendan) in 39% of cases. Overall hospital death rate was 12%, the majority due to cardiogenic shock (43%). More patients with de novo AHF (14.2%) than patients with a pre-existing episode of AHF (10.8%) (p = 0.0007) died. There was graded mortality in ICU, CCU and ward patients with mortality in ICU patients being the highest (17.8%) (p \ 0.0001). Conclusions: Our data demonstrated the existence of different subgroups based on de novo or pre-existing episode(s) of AHF and the site of hospitalization. Recognition of these subgroups might improve management and outcome by defining specific therapeutic requirements.

and Venezuela have the domestic, peridomicile and sylvatic cycles, with high prevalence of human infection and prevalence of chronic Chagas' cardiomyopathy (CCC).Group II -Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico, characterized by domestic and peridomicile cycles with presence of CCC.Group III -El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama have domestic, peridomicile and sylvatic cycles with poor clinical information. AbstractMuch has been achieved in one century after Carlos Chagas' discovery. However, there is surely much to be done in the next decades. At present, we are witnessing many remarkable efforts to monitor the epidemiology of the disease, to better understand the biology of the T. cruzi and its interaction with human beings as well as the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of the complications in the chronic phase, and deal more appropriately and effectively with late cardiac and digestive manifestations.

Chagas' disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi infection, is one of the main causes of death due to heart failure in Latin American countries. Benznidazole, the chemotherapeutic agent most often used for the treatment of chagasic patients, is highly toxic and has limited efficacy, especially in the chronic phase of the disease. In the present study we used a mouse model of chronic Chagas' disease to investigate the effects of benznidazole treatment during the chronic phase on disease progression. The hearts of benznidazole-treated mice had decreased parasitism and myocarditis compared to the hearts of untreated chagasic mice. Both groups of Trypanosoma cruzi-infected mice had significant alterations in their electrocardiograms compared to those of the healthy mice. However, untreated mice had significantly higher cardiac conduction disturbances than benznidazole-treated mice, including intraventricular conduction disturbances, atrioventricular blocks, and extrasystoles. The levels of antibodies against T. cruzi antigens (epimastigote extract, P 2 ␤, and transsialidase) as well as antibodies against peptides of the second extracellular loops of ␤ 1 -adrenergic and M 2 -muscarinic cardiac receptors were also lower in the sera from benznidazole-treated mice than in the sera from untreated mice. These results demonstrate that treatment with benznidazole in the chronic phase of infection prevents the development of severe chronic cardiomyopathy, despite the lack of complete parasite eradication. In addition, our data highlight the role of parasite persistence in the development of chronic Chagas' disease and reinforce the importance of T. cruzi elimination in order to decrease or prevent the development of severe chagasic cardiomyopathy.

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Aims Acute pulmonary oedema (APE) is the second, after acutely decompensated chronic heart failure (ADHF), most frequent form of acute heart failure (AHF). This subanalysis examines the clinical profile, prognostic factors, and management of APE patients (n = 1820, 36.7%) included in the Acute Heart Failure Global Survey of Standard Treatment (ALARM‐HF). Methods and results ALARM‐HF included a total of 4953 patients hospitalized for AHF in Europe, Latin America, and Australia. The final diagnosis was made at discharge, and patients were classified according to European Society of Cardiology guidelines. Patients with APE had higher in‐hospital mortality (7.4 vs. 6.0%, P = 0.057) compared with ADHF patients (n = 1911, 38.5%), and APE patients exhibited higher systolic blood pressures (P < 0.001) at admission and higher left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF, P < 0.01) than those with ADHF. These patients also had a higher prevalence of diabetes (P < 0.01), arterial hypertension (P < 0.001), peripheral vascular disease (P < 0.001), and chronic renal disease (P < 0.05). They were also more likely to receive intravenous (i.v.) diuretics (P < 0.001), i.v. nitrates (P < 0.01), dopamine (P < 0.05), and non‐invasive ventilation (P < 0.001). Low systolic blood pressure (P < 0.001), low LVEF (<0.05), serum creatinine ≥1.4 mg/dL (P < 0.001), history of cardiomyopathy (P < 0.05), and previous cardiovascular event (P < 0.001) were independently associated with increased in‐hospital mortality in the APE population. Conclusion APE differs in clinical profile, in‐hospital management, and mortality compared with ADHF. Admission characteristics (systolic blood pressure and LVEF), renal function, and history may identify high‐risk APE patients.