CFR - Volume 2 Issue 1 Spring 2016
We have great pleasure in introducing the second volume of Cardiac Failure Review to our readers. In recent weeks we have attended innovative conferences that have highlighted new devices that show great promise in heart failure treatment, one in Brussels, Belgium that coincided with the tragic events there, and one in Seoul, Korea – an impressive emerging Asian superstar.
In heart failure news, the UK’s NICE committee has recommended the combination agent sacubitril–valsartan (LCZ696) for rapid uptake by the NHS. This follows US Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency approval.
We also await with great anticipation the launch of the 2016 European Society of Cardiology/Heart Failure Association guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure at the Heart Failure Association meeting in Florence, Italy. This is the first update of these important guidelines since 2012 and we wait to see how pivotal studies such as the Echo-CRT (Echocardiography Guided Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy)1 and PARADIGM-HF (Prospective Comparison of ARNI With ACEI to Determine Impact on Global Mortality and Morbidity in Heart Failure)2 studies have altered the recommendations. It is an exciting time in heart failure globally.
In this issue we have leading experts review a crucial list of subjects relevant to the practising heart failure specialist and interested generalist alike.