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Review
. 2023 Jun 5:9:e10.
doi: 10.15420/cfr.2022.29. eCollection 2023.

Defining Heart Failure Based on Imaging the Heart and Beyond

Fraser J Graham  1 , Antonio Iaconelli  1 , Piotr Sonecki  2 , Ross T Campbell  1 , David Hunter  1 , John Gf Cleland  1 , Pierpaolo Pellicori  1
Affiliations
Review

Defining Heart Failure Based on Imaging the Heart and Beyond

Fraser J Graham et al. Card Fail Rev. .

Abstract

Water and salt retention, in other words congestion, are fundamental to the pathophysiology of heart failure and are important therapeutic targets. Echocardiography is the key tool with which to assess cardiac structure and function in the initial diagnostic workup of patients with suspected heart failure and is essential for guiding treatment and stratifying risk. Ultrasound can also be used to identify and quantify congestion in the great veins, kidneys and lungs. More advanced imaging methods might further clarify the aetiology of heart failure and its consequences for the heart and periphery, thereby improving the efficiency and quality of care tailored with greater precision to individual patient need.

Keywords: Congestion; heart failure; inferior vena cava; jugular vein; ultrasound.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: FJG has received financial support from Pharmacosmos for travel to international meetings. RTC has received grants and honoraria from AstraZeneca and has participated in an advisory board for Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals LLC. JGFC has received funding from British Heart Foundation; personal fees from Abbott, Amgen, Novartis, Medtronic, Idorsia, Servier, AstraZeneca, Innolife, Torrent and Respicardia; grants and personal fees from Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Vifor, Johnson & Johnson, Myokardia and Viscardia; personal fees and non-financial support from Boehringer Ingelheim and NI Medical; and grants from Pharma Nord and Pharmacosmos. PP has received consultancy honoraria and/or sponsorship support from Boehringer Ingelheim, Pharmacosmos, Novartis, Vifor, AstraZeneca and Caption Health; and research support from Bristol Myers Squibb. All other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1:
Figure 1:. Imaging of Venous, Pulmonary and Renal Congestion by Ultrasound
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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