title: Short-term effects of hypertonic saline solution in acute heart failure and long-term effects of a moderate sodium restriction in patients with compensated heart failure with New York Heart Association class III (Class C) (SMAC-HF Study).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypertonic saline solution (HSS) and a moderate Na restriction plus high furosemide dose showed beneficial effects in compensated heart failure (HF), in short and long terms. The study was aimed to verify the effects of this combination on hospitalization time, readmissions and mortality in patients in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chronic ischemic or nonischemic cardiomyopathy uncompensated patients with HF in NYHA III functional class with ejection fraction <40%, serum creatinine <2.5 mg/dL, blood urea nitrogen <60 mg/dL and reduced urinary volume were single-blind randomized in 2 groups: the first group received a 30-minute intravenous infusion of furosemide (250 mg) plus HSS (150 mL) twice daily and a moderate Na restriction (120 mmol); the second group received furosemide intravenous bolus (250 mg) twice a day, without HSS and a low Na diet (80 mmol); both groups received a fluid intake of 1000 mL/d. After discharge, the HSS group continued with 120 mmol Na/d; the second group continued with 80 mmol Na/d.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1771 patients (881 HSS group and 890 without HSS group) met inclusion criteria: the first group (881 patients), compared with the second (890 patients), showed an increase in diuresis and serum Na levels, a reduction in hospitalization time (3.5 + 1 versus 5.5 + 1 days, P < 0.0001) and, during follow-up (57 + 15 months), a lower rate in readmissions (18.5% versus 34.2%, P < 0.0001) and mortality (12.9% versus 23.8%, P < 0.0001); the second group also showed a significant increase in blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that in-hospital HSS administration, combined with moderate Na restriction, reduces hospitalization time and that a moderate sodium diet restriction determines long-term benefit in patients with NYHA class III HF.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Department of Internal Medicine, University of Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paterna
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fasullo
authors.forename: Gaspare
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Parrinello
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cannizzaro
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Basile
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vitrano
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Terrazzino
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maringhini
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ganci
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scalzo
authors.forename: Filippo M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Sarullo
authors.forename: Gennaro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cice
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Di Pasquale
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004039:Diet, Sodium-Restricted; D004231:Diuresis; D005260:Female; D005665:Furosemide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010359:Patient Readmission; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic; D005665:Furosemide; D012964:Sodium