Orientador: Leonardo Antonio Mamede Zornoff / Resumo: Clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo. / Abstract: Click electronic access below. / Mestre

Orientador: Kleber Gomes Franchini / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-07T01:54:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ribeiro_GustavoCaladodeAguiar_D.pdf: 2448805 bytes, checksum: 884ae49c4ce46337410548bb393439fa (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: A insuficiência cardíaca é um dos maiores problemas de saúde publica da atualidade. Esforços têm sido feitos para a obtenção do entendimento dos mecanismos que resultam no comprometimento funcional e estrutural do miocárdio, responsáveis, em última instância, pela síndrome clínica. A doença isquêmica resulta em infarto do miocárdio e hipertrofia excêntrica das câmaras ventriculares que têm papel central no estabelecimento e evolução das alterações estruturais que acompanham a deterioração funcional do miocárdio e, por conseguinte, a da função global das câmaras cardíacas. No presente estudo foram avaliados pacientes portadores de insuficiência cardíaca decorrente de infarto do miocárdio e apresentando acinesia na parede anterior com indicação clínica de tratamento cirúrgico, com o objetivo de avaliar alterações estruturais e funcionais do miocárdio. Os pacientes foram avaliados clinicamente, por ecocardiografia e ressonância magnética no período pré-operatório e clínica e ecocardiograficamente em seguimento de 2 anos após a cirurgia. Foram realizadas biópsias intra-operatórias do endocárdio ventricular para avaliação de área de fibrose. A percentagem da área de fibrose encontrada na biópsia foi comparada com a percentagem de fibrose encontrada na ressonância magnética e comparada com a evolução. Os pacientes foram divididos de acordo com os territórios vasculares do miocárdio infartados e comparados na evolução. Os pacientes apresentavam sintomas importantes de insuficiência cardíaca (CF III-IV) no pré-operatório de cirurgia para correção da geometria do ventrículo esquerdo. A média da fração de ejeção era de 35,6% e o volume sistólico final do ventrículo esquerdo era de 150,6 ml. Foram verificadas reduções dos sintomas de insuficiência cardíaca (NYHA) no período de seguimento pós-operatório ( de 3,7± 0,4 para 1,53± 0,6, p<0,001) e melhora da fração de ejeção (de 35,5± 5,4 para 47,3± 7,3, p<0,001). Houve também redução do remodelamento no período de seguimento pós-operatório (de 150,6 ± 52,8 ml para 91,92± 32,7 ml, p<0,001). Houve correlação inversa entre o volume sistólico final do ventrículo esquerdo e as frações de ejeções do pré (r= -0,6) e pós-operatório (r=-0,88). Houve uma correlação positiva entre o percentual da área de fibrose tanto com o volume sistólico final (r=0,67) e correlação inversa com a fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo (r=-0,78). Pacientes com menor percentual da área de fibrose do ventrículo esquerdo evoluíram com menor número de eventos cardiovasculares (p<0,001), assim como pacientes com menor volumes sistólico (p=0,004). Houve correlação com área de fibrose analisada pela ressonância magnética e mensurada pela biópsia (r=0,89) Os achados deste estudo são que pacientes com múltiplas áreas acinéticas também apresentam benefício com este procedimento e o percentual de área de fibrose mensurada por ressonância magnética correlaciona-se com a biópsia, e com a evolução pós-operatória analisada pelo volume sistólico final do ventrículo esquerdo, com a fração de ejeção do pós-operatório e com menor número de eventos. Esses achados permitem concluir que a cirurgia de reconstrução geométrica do ventrículo esquerdo alivia sintomas, melhora a remodelamento do ventrículo esquerdo em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca com sintomas avançados. Finalmente, que a análise do percentual de área de fibrose avaliada por ressonância nuclear magnética sugere ser um importante método não-invasivo para análise da evolução / Abstract: Heart failure is one of the biggest problems faced by public health. Efforts have been made in order to achieve full understanding of the mechanisms that result in the myocardium structural and functional deterioration, which is responsible for advanced symptoms. Coronary disease results in myocardium infarction and eccentric hypertrophy of the ventricular chambers, which play a central role in the setting up and evolution of the structural alterations that follow myocardium functional deterioration and, consequently, the global ventricular dysfunction. In the present study patients presenting heart failure due to myocardium infarction and akinesia in the anterior wall that underwent surgery were evaluated, aiming at analyzing structural and functional alterations of the myocardium. These patients were evaluated by clinical exams, echocardiography, and magnetic resonance in the pre-operative period and underwent clinical and echocardiograph exams for a period of two years after surgery. Endomyocardial biopsy were done intra-operatively in all patients for fibrosis analysis. The fibrosis area in endomyocardium tissue was correlated with percentage of fibrosis found in magnetic resonance. The patients were separated in two groups, according of the number of myocardium infarctions. The patients presented advanced symptoms of heart failure (CF III-IV) in the pre-operative for the reconstruction of the left ventricle. The average ejection fraction was 35,6% and the left ventricle end systolic volume was 150,6ml. Patients with multiterritory myocardial infarction were evaluated and correlated with the percentage of scar tissue was measured by magnetic resonance imaging and was correlated to the patient¿s evolution and biopsy. Significant reductions in number and intensity of symptoms in the post-operative outcome were verified (from 3.7± 0.4 to 1.53± 0.6, p<0.001). There was correlation between the left ventricle final systolic volume (from 150.6 ± 52.8 ml to 91.92± 32.7 ml, p<0.001). and the ejection fractions in the pre and port-operative (from 35.5± 5.4 to 47.3± 7.3, p<0.001). There was also a correlation between the percentage of the scar tissue both in the final systolic volume (r=0.67) and in the ejection fraction (r=-0,88) of the left ventricle. Patients having a smaller percentage of the scar tissue area evolved with a smaller number of cardiovascular events (p<0.001) Patients with multiple ventricle territories presenting myocardium infarction evolved with larger left ventricle final systolic volume (p=0.004) The findings of this study are patients presenting akinetic multiple areas are benefited by this type of procedure and the percentage of scar tissue area measured by resonance magnetic correlates to the left ventricle final systolic volume in post-operative, with an ejection fraction of the post-operative and with a smaller number of events. These findings lead to the conclusion that geometric reconstruction surgery of the left ventricle relieves symptoms, improve left ventricle remodeling in patients with advanced symptoms of heart failure. Finally, the analysis of the percentage of scar tissue evaluated magnetic resonance is an important non-invasive method to analyze evolution / Doutorado / Biologia Estrutural, Celular, Molecular e do Desenvolvimento / Doutor em Fisiopatologia Medica

Background: Stroke volume (SV) and aortic valve area calculations require the left ventricular (LV) outflow tract (LVOT) or aortic annular area calculations that involve squaring the respective diameters. Area calculation errors became evident with transcatheter aortic valve replacement where areas were underestimated due to an elliptical annulus. We hypothesized that LVOT and annular shape are more elliptical in patients with greater relative LV wall thickness (RWT) leading to underestimation of SV index using 2D Doppler echocardiography. Methods: We studied 203 consecutive patients referred to an outpatient noninvasive laboratory for Doppler echocardiograms which included acceptable 3-dimensional images. 3-dimensional assessment of the LVOT at 3–5 mm from the valve insertion, at the site of valve insertion, and at the sinus of Valsalva (SOV) was performed with assessment of the minor axis (MN), major axis (MJ), and areas at mid-systole. SV index was calculated from LVOT and annular diameters obtained from 2-dimensional echo and from 3-dimensional LVOT areas. Results: An inverse relation of RWT with MN/MJ at mid-systole for the LVOT (r = 0.5812, P < 0.0001) and annulus (r = 0.6865, P < 0.0001) was noted. LVOT and annulus areas were similar among groups at mid-systole. SV index calculated from 2D LVOT dimensions was significantly smaller than using 3D LVOT areas (35.6 ± 8.9 vs 53.6 ± 16.1 mL, P < 0.0001). Conclusion: There is an inverse relation between MN/MJ and RWT at the LVOT and aortic annulus despite the LVOT and annular areas being similar across most geometries resulting in SV index underestimation calculated using LVOT diameters vs 3D LVOT areas.

Cardiac remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (MI) is an important process that leads to progressive ventricular enlargement and heart failure. Several variables have been identified to predict an increase in left ventricular (LV) volume and a decrease of LV ejection fraction (LVEF) after an acute MI including infarct size, anterior location, cardiac enzyme level, transmurality of the infarct, patency of the infarct-related artery, end systolic volume (ESV) and mitral deceleration time, etc. / Regional disturbances of LV wall motion have long been recognized to occur in patients with cardiac diseases, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, unstable angina, acute ischemia, and MI. Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) is recently established for detecting regional contractile abnormalities and asynchrony, and can predict reverse remodeling and improved synchronicity after biventricular pacing therapy in heart failure patients. However, it is unclear whether LV asynchrony plays an important role in the evolutionary changes of LV remodeling after an acute infarction and whether it can predict the changes independently. / The identification of transmural extent of myocardial necrosis and degree of non-viability after acute MI is clinically important. TDI-derived strain rate imaging (SRI) quantifies local rate of myocardial deformation and has the potential to differentiate viable from infarcted myocardium. / Therefore, in this study we aimed to investigate: (1) Whether SRI may differentiate transmural from non-transmural MI as assessed by ce-MRI in routine patients post acute infarction, and establish practical cutoff values for identifying transmural scar tissue from non-transmural or subendocardial infarction with viable myocardium. (2) Whether LV systolic and diastolic asynchrony measured by TDI occurs early after acute MI even in the absence of widening of QRS complexes, and determine if this is explained by the site and extent of the infarction measured by ce-MRI. (3) The relationships between serial measurements of infarct size on ce-MRI and LV remodeling process after an acute infarction, and determine whether early assessment of infarct size predicts progressive ventricular enlargement and cardiac dysfunction, and whether it differs with infarct location. (4) The relationships between LV asynchrony, infarct size and LV remodeling, and determine whether early assessment of LV asynchrony by TDI compared with standard clinical correlates of LV remodeling and infarct size predicts progressive ventricular enlargement and cardiac dysfunction. (Abstract shortened by UMI.) / Zhang Yan. / "April 2005." / Adviser: John E. Sanderson. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-01, Section: B, page: 0175. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 161-192). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Thesis (MSc (Physiological Sciences))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / Physiological cardiac hypertrophy is characterized by the heart’s ability to increase mass in a reversible fashion without leading to heart failure. In contrast, pathological cardiac hypertrophy leads to the onset of heart failure. For this study, we investigated a model of physiological hypobaric hypoxia-mediated right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy (RVH). Here our hypothesis was that the hypertrophic response and associated changes triggered in the RV in response to chronic hypobaric hypoxia (CHH) (increased RV mass, function and respiratory capacity) are reversible. To test our hypothesis we exposed male Wistar rats to 3 weeks of CHH and thereafter removed the hypoxic stimulus for 3 and 6 weeks, respectively. Adaptation to 3 weeks of CHH increased the RV to left ventricle (LV) plus interventricular septum ratio by increased (223.5 ± 7.03 vs. 397.4 ± 29.8, p<0.001 versus normoxic controls), indicative of RVH. Hematocrit levels, RV systolic pressure and RV developed pressure (RVDP) were increased in parallel. Mitochondrial respiratory capacity was not significantly altered when using both carbohydrate and fatty acid oxidative substrates. After the 3-week normoxia recovery period, the RV to LV ratio was increased but to a lesser extent compared to the 3-week hypoxic time-point, i.e. 244.7 ± 11.2 vs. 349.64 ± 3.8, p<0.001 versus normoxic controls. Moreover, hematocrit levels were completely normalized. However, the RV systolic pressure and the functional adaptations, i.e. increased RVDP induced by CHH exposure still persisted in the 3-week recovery (3HRe) group. Also, pyruvate utilization was increased versus matched controls (p<0.04 vs. matched controls). Interestingly, we found that at the 6-week recovery time point functional parameters were largely normalized. However, the RV to LV ratio was still increased by 269.3 ± 14.03 vs. 333.9 ± 11.7, p<0.0001 vs. matched controls. Furthermore, palmitoylcarnitine utilization was increased (p<0.03 vs. matched controls). In conclusion, we found that exposure to CHH resulted in various adaptive physiological changes, i.e. enhanced hematocrit levels, increased RV mass linked to greater RV contractility and respiratory function. It is important to note that all these changes only occurred in the RV and not in the LV. Furthermore, when a normoxic recovery period (3 and 6 weeks, respectively) were initiated, these physiological parameters largely normalized. Together, the findings of this thesis clearly show the establishment of a reversible model of RV physiological hypertrophy. Our future work will focus on disrupting signaling pathways underlying this process and to thereafter ascertain whether reversibility is abolished. Elucidation of such targets should provide a unique opportunity to develop novel therapeutic agents to treat patients and thereby reduce the burden of heart disease.

Orientador: Silméia Garcia Zanati Silméia Garcia Bazan / Resumo: Fundamento: A hipertensão arterial sistêmica (HAS) é um dos principais fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento de doença cardiovascular. Quando a mulher hipertensa engravida, ocorre uma nova condição hemodinâmica, com adição da situação de sobrecarga crônica de pressão à situação de sobrecarga crônica de volume. Essa nova condição hemodinâmica pode propiciar maior hipertrofia miocárdica (HVE), sendo que sua evolução após o parto ainda é pouco estudada na literatura. Suspeita-se que as mulheres hipertensas que apresentaram HVE durante gestação mantenham essa alteração cardíaca após o parto. Objetivos: Avaliar a hipertrofia miocárdica em mulheres hipertensas no terceiro trimestre da gestação e após seis meses do parto e estabelecer quais variáveis clínicas estão associadas com risco aumentado de hipertrofia miocárdica. Métodos: Estudo prospectivo longitudinal incluindo 41 mulheres gestantes com idade gestacional acima de 35 semanas e com diagnóstico prévio de HAS, acompanhadas no Ambulatório de Pré-Natal de Hipertensão Arterial do Serviço de Obstetrícia do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu - UNESP. Foram submetidas às avaliações clínica e ecocardiográfica em dois momentos, período gestacional e período de seis meses após o parto. A HVE foi definida para índice de massa do ventrículo esquerdo indexada pela altura (IMVE) ≥ 45g/m2,7. Análise estatística: regressão logística multivariada com as exposições mais fortemente associadas com a manutenção da HVE n... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Background: Systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) is one of the principal risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease. When a hypertensive woman becomes pregnant, a new hemodynamic condition is installed, with addition from chronic pressure overload to chronic volume overload. This new hemodynamic condition can provides greater myocardial hypertrophy (LVH), whose postpartum evolution has been little studied in the literature. It is suspected that hypertensive women who presented LVH during pregnancy maintain this cardiac alteration after delivery. Objectives: To evaluate myocardial hypertrophy in hypertensive women in the third trimester of pregnancy and six months after delivery and to establish which clinical variables are associated with elevated risk of myocardial hypertrophy. Methods: Prospective longitudinal study including 41 pregnant women beyond 35 gestational weeks and with previous SAH diagnosis, monitored at the Hypertension Clinic of the Obstetrics Unit of the Botucatu School of Medicine - UNESP. They were submitted to clinical and echocardiographic evaluation at two moments, the gestational period and six months postpartum. LVH was defined for the left ventricular mass index as (LVMI) ≥ 45g/m2.7. Statistical analysis: multivariate logistic regression with the exposures most strongly associated with maintenance of hypertrophy in univariate analysis. Significance level: p<0.05. Results: The mean age was 29±6.2 years; mean gestacional age was 36.7±1.18 weeks;... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Orientador: Silméia Garcia Zanati Bazan / Resumo: Introdução: A doença arterial coronariana é a primeira causa isolada de morte e responsável por elevado número de hospitalizações em todo o mundo. O desenvolvimento de remodelação ventricular está associado com pior prognóstico após o infarto agudo do miocárdio com supradesnivelamento do segmento ST (IAMCST), representando fator de risco para a disfunção ventricular e insuficiência cardíaca. Objetivos: Identificar quais variáveis são preditoras da remodelação ventricular após o IAMCST e avaliar as características clínicas, laboratoriais e ecocardiográficas em pacientes na fase aguda do IAMCST de parede anterior submetidos à angioplastia primária e após seis meses do infarto. Metodologia: Foi realizado um estudo prospectivo, observacional e longitudinal, composto por pacientes com diagnóstico de IAMCST de parede anterior admitidos na Unidade Coronariana (UCO) do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu no período de julho de 2017 a agosto de 2018. Foram incluídos 50 pacientes, sendo que quatro perderam o seguimento em seis meses e cinco evoluíram a óbito no mesmo período. Durante o período da internação na UCO, os pacientes foram avaliados diariamente e submetidos ao primeiro ecocardiograma em 2 a 3 dias após o IAMCST. No sexto mês após o IAMCST, os pacientes foram submetidos à reavaliação clínica e a novo ecocardiograma, conforme protocolo do serviço. A remodelação cardíaca foi considerada como aumento no volume diastólico superior a 15%. Análise estatística... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Introduction: Coronary arterial disease is the first isolated death cause and is responsible for an elevated number of hospitalizations all over the world. The development of ventricular remodeling is associated with worse prognosis after ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), representing a risk factor for ventricular dysfunction and heart failure. Objectives: To identify which variables are predictors of ventricular remodeling after STEMI and to evaluate clinical, laboratorial and echocardiographic characteristics of patients early post anterior STEMI who went through primary percutaneous intervention and six month after infarction. Methods: This was a prospective, observational and longitudinal study, with anterior STEMI patients admitted to the coronary care unit (CCU) of the Botucatu Medical School Clinics Hospital within July 2017 and August 2018. A total of 50 patients were included, four lost follow-up in six months and five died within the same period. During CCU stay, patients were daily evaluated and submitted to an echocardiogram within the first three days after STEMI. After six months, patients were submitted to a new clinical evaluation and a new echocardiogram, according to local protocol. Ventricular remodeling was considered as a raise in diastolic volume greater than 15%. Statistical analysis: continuous variable both normal and non-normal distribution were presented in either average and standard deviation or median and 25 and 75 percentiles, ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics of the remodeling of the heart right ventricle as well as the changes in the interstitial fibrillar collagen network of myocardium during pre-infarction, acute myocardial infarction and post-infarction development stages of IHD.Indications of right ventricle remodeling are estimated in all development stages of IHD. The concentric type of the right ventricle hypertrophy develops in patients with chronic IHD yet till the first acute MI occurs, i.e. in the pre-infarction period, due to the prolonged myocardial ischemia: its mass and endocardial surface area was bigger than the same parameters of the control group. In this stage of the development of the IHD the variation of right and left ventricle geometrical (endocardial area) and mass parameters was toughly related (linear relationship, r≥0, 5, p<0,05) and irrespective from the total stenotic lesion of the coronary arteries (index of stenosis). In the periods of acute MI and post-infarction IHD these parameters did not vary significantly, i.e. the concentric type hypertrophy of the right ventricle persists. The percentage volume, perimeter, number of bundles areas of the interstitial fibrillar collagen network increase significantly in the pre-infarction period, comparing with the control group and persists in later stages of IHD.

Myocardial infarctions induce a maladaptive ventricular remodeling process that independently contributes to heart failure. In order to develop effective treatments, it is necessary to understand the way and extent to which the heart undergoes remodeling over the course of healing. There have been few studies to produce any data on the in-vivo material properties of infarcts, and much less on the properties over the time course of healing. In this paper, the in-vivo passive material properties of an infarcted porcine model were estimated through a combined use of magnetic resonance imaging, catheterization, finite element modeling, and a genetic algorithm optimization scheme. The collagen fiber orientation at the epicardial and endocardial surfaces of the infarct were included in the optimization. Data from porcine hearts (N=6) were taken at various time points after infarction, specifically 1 week, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks post-MI. The optimized results shared similarities with previous studies. In particular, the infarcted region was shown to dramatically increase in stiffness at 1 week post-MI. There was also evidence of a subsequent softening of the infarcted region at later time points post infarction. Fiber orientation results varied greatly but showed a shift toward a more circumferential orientation.

Introdução: Níveis de fator de necrose tumoral–alfa (TNF-α), N-peptídeo do pró-colágeno III (PIIINP) e metaloproteinase de matriz –1 (MMP-1), marcadores biológicos de remodelamento ventricular, estão elevados em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca (IC), talvez refletindo elevadas pressões de enchimento. A correlação destes marcadores com variáveis clínicas e hemodinâmicas permanece pouco compreendida, particularmente no contexto ambulatorial da IC. Objetivo: Avaliar níveis séricos de marcadores biológicos de remodelamento ventricular em pacientes com IC, comparando tratamento guiado por ecocardiografia (ECO), buscando redução de pressões de enchimento, versus tratamento convencional (CLÍNICO), baseado em sinais e sintomas. Métodos: Ensaio clínico randomizado. Pacientes estáveis com IC e fração de ejeção menor do que 40% foram alocados entre os grupos de tratamento e submetidos a ecocardiograma e coletas de sangue no início do estudo e em 180 dias. TNF-α e MMP- 1 foram medidos por ELISA, e PIIINP, por radioimunoensaio. Resultados: Incluiu-se 80 pacientes, com 59 ± 15 anos e fração de ejeção de 26 ± 7%; 25% isquêmicos e 52% masculinos. Houve redução dos marcadores biológicos intragrupos, não havendo diferença entre os tratamentos. No grupo CLÍNICO, os níveis de TNF-α, MMP-1 e PIIINP apresentaram diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os momentos basal e final (respectivamente, 3,11 ± 2,90 versus 1,24 ± 0,60 pg/mL p < 0,0003; 2,66 ± 1,00 versus 1,16 ± 0,40 ng/mL p < 0,0001; 6,12 ± 2,60 versus 3,89 ± 1,60 μg/L p < 0,0001). De maneira semelhante, tal diferença também foi observada no grupo ECO para os três marcadores (respectivamente, 3,90 ± 4,90 versus 1,40 ± 1,30 pg/mL p < 0,0001; 2,50 ± 0,90 versus 1,09 ± 0,40 ng/mL p < 0,0001; 6,09 ± 2,60 versus 3,50 ± 1,30 μg/L p<0,0001). Ao final da intervenção, no entanto, não foi observada diferença significativa dos valores de TNF-α , MMP-1 e PIIINP entre os dois grupos de tratamento (p = 0,7; p = 0,8; e p = 0,2; respectivamente). A combinação dos valores basais das variáveis biológicas gerou um escore que se associou significativamente com o comportamento final das pressões atrial direita e sistólica da artéria pulmonar. Pacientes com marcadores biológicos basais no quartil 75% mantiveram níveis superiores de pressões atrial direita (13 mmHg; p = 0,034) e sistólica de artéria pulmonar (60 mmHg; p = 0,007) ao final do seguimento. Conclusão: Independente do tratamento alocado, houve redução dos níveis de marcadores biológicos ao final do seguimento; no entanto, níveis basais mais elevados destes marcadores foram preditores de menor redução das pressões em átrio direito e sistólica da artéria pulmonar. Os dados sugerem que indicativos de intenso processo de remodelamento ventricular se associam à progressão da IC e a pressões de enchimento elevadas. / Introduction: Levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), N-terminal propeptide of type III collagen (PIIINP) and type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-1), biological markers of ventricular remodeling, are elevated in heart failure (HF) patients, perhaps reflecting elevated filling pressures. The correlation of these markers with clinical and hemodynamic variables remains poorly understood, particularly in the outpatient setting. Objective: To evaluate serum levels of ventricular remodeling biological markers in patients with HF, comparing a conventional clinically-oriented treatment (Conventional Therapy), based on clinical signs and symptoms, to an echocardiography-guided treatment (Echo-guided Therapy), aiming at a reduction in filling pressure levels. Methods: Randomized trial. Stable patients with HF and ejection fraction lower than 40% were allocated to the treatment groups and submitted to echocardiography and blood sampling at the beginning of the study and after 180 days. TNF-α and MMP-1 were measured by ELISA, and PIIINP, by radioimmunoassay. Results: Eighty patients at 59 ± 15 years and a mean ejection fraction of 26 ± 7% were included; 25% were ischemic and 52%, males. There was a reduction in intragroup biological markers, without difference between treatments. TNF-α, MMP-1 and PIIINP levels were statistically different between baseline and final in patients allocated to Conventional Therapy (respectively, 3.11 ± 2.90 versus 1.24 ± 0.60 pg/mL p < 0.0003; 2.66 ± 1.00 versus 1.16 ± 0.40 ng/mL p < 0.0001; 6.12 ± 2.60 versus 3.89 ± 1.60 μg/L, p < 0.0001). Similarly, such a difference was also observed in the Echo-guided Therapy for the 3 markers (respectively, 3.90 ± 4.90 versus 1.40 ± 1.30 pg/mL p < 0.0001; 2.50 ± 0.90 versus 1.09 ± 0.40 ng/mL p < 0.0001; 6.09 ± 2.60 versus 3.50 ± 1.30 mg/L p<0.0001). By the completion of the intervention, however, no significant difference was observed in the values of TNF-α, MMP- 1 and PIIINP between the 2 treatment groups (p = 0.7; p = 0.8; and p = 0.2; respectively). A composite score incorporating baseline biological marker levels was statistically associated to final right-sided pressure levels (right atrial pressure and pulmonary artery systolic pressure). Patients with baseline biological marker levels over percentile 75 maintained higher right atrial (13 mmHg; p = 0.034) and pulmonary artery systolic pressures (60 mmHg; p = 0.007) at the end of protocol. Conclusion: Regardless of allocated treatment group, biological marker levels were lower at the end of the follow-up; however, higher baseline levels of these markers were predictive of lower reductions in right atrial pressure and pulmonary artery systolic pressure. The data obtained suggest that indicators of an intense remodeling process are associated with elevated filling pressures and progression of HF.