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

Aims Although loop diuretics are widely used to treat heart failure (HF), there is scarce contemporary data to guide diuretic adjustments in the outpatient setting. Methods and results In a prospective, randomized and double-blind protocol, we tested the safety and tolerability of withdrawing low-dose furosemide in stable HF outpatients at 11 HF clinics in Brazil. The trial had two blindly adjudicated co-primary outcomes: (i) symptoms assessment quantified as the area under the curve (AUC) of a dyspnoea score on a visual-analogue scale evaluated at 4 time-points (baseline, Day 15, Day 45, and Day 90) and (ii) the proportion of patients maintained without diuretic reuse during follow-up. We enrolled 188 patients (25% females; 59 ± 13 years old; left ventricular ejection fraction = 32 ± 8%) that were randomized to furosemide withdrawal (n = 95) or maintenance (n = 93). For the first co-primary endpoint, no significant difference in patients’ assessment of dyspnoea was observed in the comparison of furosemide withdrawal with continuous administration [median AUC 1875 (interquartile range, IQR 383–3360) and 1541 (IQR 474–3124), respectively; P = 0.94]. For the second co-primary endpoint, 70 patients (75.3%) in the withdrawal group and 77 patients (83.7%) in the maintenance group were free of furosemide reuse during follow-up (odds ratio for additional furosemide use with withdrawal 1.69, 95% confidence interval 0.82–3.49; P = 0.16). Heart failure-related events (hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and deaths) were infrequent and similar between groups (P = 1.0). Conclusions Diuretic withdrawal did not result in neither increased self-perception of dyspnoea nor increased need of furosemide reuse. Diuretic discontinuation may deserve consideration in stable outpatients with no signs of fluid retention receiving optimal medical therapy. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02689180.

Nota: Estas atualizações se prestam a informar e não a substituir o julgamento clínico do médico que, em última análise, deve determinar o tratamento apropriado para seus pacientes.

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RationaleMyocardial injury associates significantly and independently with mortality in COVID-19 patients. However, the pathogenesis of myocardial injury in COVID-19 remains unclear, and cardiac involvement by SARS-CoV-2 presents a major challenge worldwide.ObjectiveThis histological and immunohistochemical study sought to clarify the pathogenesis and propose a mechanism with pathways involved in COVID-19 myocardial injury.Methods and ResultsPostmortem minimally invasive autopsies were performed in six patients who died from COVID-19, and the myocardium samples were compared to a control group (n=11). Histological analysis was performed using hematoxylin-eosin and toluidine blue staining. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was performed using monoclonal antibodies against targets: caspase-1, caspase-9, gasdermin-d, ICAM-1, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, CD163, TNF-α, TGF-β, MMP-9, type 1 and type 3 collagen. The samples were also assessed for apoptotic cells by TUNEL. Histological analysis showed severe pericardiocyte interstitial edema and higher mast cells counts per high-power field in all COVID-19 myocardium samples. The IHC analysis showed increased expression of caspase-1, ICAM-1, IL-1β, IL-6, MMP-9, TNF-α, and other markers in the hearts of COVID-19 patients. Expression of caspase-9 did not differ from the controls, while gasdermin-d expression was less. The TUNEL assay was positive in all the COVID-19 samples supporting endothelial apoptosis.ConclusionsThe pathogenesis of COVID-19 myocardial injury does not seem to relate to primary myocardiocyte involvement but to local inflammation with associated interstitial edema. We found heightened TGF-β and interstitial collagen expression in COVID-affected hearts, a potential harbinger of chronic myocardial fibrosis. These results suggest a need for continued clinical surveillance of patients for myocardial dysfunction and arrythmias after recovery from the acute phase of COVID-19.

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SUMMARY Background:The origin of dyspnea in chronic heart failure (HF) is multifactorial, and excessive ventilation is thought to play a role in inducing this symptom. Chemosensivity is augmented in HF, correlates with increased pulmonary ventilation (VE), and is an adverse prognostic marker. Despite increased blood levels of natriuretic peptides in clinical conditions associated with dyspnea, their effect on pulmonary VE and chemoreceptor activity remains unexplored. Methods: We tested in a prospective, placebo-controlled, three-way cross-over, double-blind randomized study the effects of the recombinant form of the natural human B-type natriuretic peptide (R-BNP) in comparison with placebo and levosimendan on chemoreflex sensitivity at rest, as well as their effects on pulmonary VE, systemic blood pressure, heart rate and sympathetic serum activity both at rest and during exercise. Results: Eleven stable chronic HF patients were randomized to sessions of 6-min treadmillwalking tests during placebo, or levosimendan or R-BNP intravenous infusion in the following conditions: room air, hypoxia, and hypercapnia. R-BNP administration determined higher pulmonary ventilatory response at rest and during exercise (P < 0.001) consequent to a boost of respiratory rate (P < 0.001) under room air and hypoxia conditions. Norepinephrine blood levels increased from rest to exercise in all conditions without differences among placebo, levosimendan, and R-BNP effects. BNP blood levels remained unchanged. Conclusions:The novelty of the present findings is that R-BNP infusion in HF patients can boost pulmonary ventilatory response at rest and during exercise.

Aims: Treatment with mechanical circulatory support (MCS) has been proposed to mitigate mortality in cardiogenic shock (CS). However, there is a lack of data on MCS programs implementation and the effect of the learning curve on its outcomes in limited resources countries such as Brazil. Methods: Prospective cohort of patients with CS admitted in four tertiary-care centers treated with Impella CP or veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). Clinical outcomes were peri-procedural complications, short-term mortality rate, and the centers’ learning curve. The cohort was divided into two periods: from April 2017 to July 2018 ( n = 24), and from August 2018 to December 2020 ( n = 25). Results: The study enrolled 49 patients [age 59 (43–63) years; 34 (70%) males]. The most common causes for CS were acute myocardial infarction in 22 (45%) and acute decompensation of chronic heart failure in 10 (20%). VA-ECMO was employed in 35 (71%) and Impella CP in 14 (29%) of patients. Overall complications occurred in 37 (76%) of patients, where major bleeding in 19 (38%) was the most common. The overall mortality rate was 61%, but it was lower in the second period (40%) in comparison to the first period (83%), p = 0.002. The learning curve analysis showed a decrease in the mortality rate after 40 consecutive cases. Conclusions: Implementation of a temporary MCS program for refractory CS in a limited resource country is feasible. The learning curve effect might have played a role on survival rate since high morbimortality has decreased within time reaching optimal results by the end of the study.