Cardiology news: award winning coverage by heartwire

Arrhythmia/EP

Fidelis failures climb: "Strongly consider" replacement at ICD change-out

Feb 10, 2012 17:00 EST

It may be a good time to replace patients' Medtronic Sprint Fidelis leads, which were recalled due to an increased fracture risk, if they are getting new ICD generators anyway—even if the Fidelis hasn't shown signs of trouble, a group recommends.

Features

The doctor will see you now (from the other side of the world)

5 COMMENTS - Feb 10, 2012 12:30 EST

A unique "medical mission" using handheld echo in a remote rural population in India is being hailed as a success after cardiologists around the globe logged on over a two-day period to read the echocardiograms of unseen patients half a world away.

Thrombosis

US judge upholds FDA approval of generic enoxaparin

Feb 9, 2012 16:30 EST

Sanofi-Aventis had sued the agency in 2010, saying it had failed to follow its own rules and had not appropriately established that a generic drug made by a rival company included the same active ingredient as Lovenox.

Medscape Medical News

Biomarker may distinguish ICH from ischemic stroke

Feb 9, 2012 15:15 EST

The test might eventually be applied at the point of care to help triage patients for treatment.

Arrhythmia/EP

More bleeding, thromboembolic events with dabigatran in AF ablation

Feb 8, 2012 16:45 EST

Dabigatran was stopped the morning of the procedure; its long half-life combined with the use of unfractionated heparin during the procedure likely explains the increased risk of bleeding.

Brain/Kidney/Peripheral

For stroke risk, look for novel lipid/lipoprotein biomarkers

4 COMMENTS - Feb 8, 2012 11:15 EST

Women with triglyceride levels in the highest quartile had a significant 56% increased risk of stroke compared with women in the lowest quartile. Similarly, for women with highest quartile of VLDL particle size and IDL particle number, there was a significant 59% and 46% increased risk of ischemic stroke compared with women in the lowest quartile.

Medscape Medical News

Wake-up stroke patients may still benefit from thrombolysis

Feb 7, 2012 15:00 EST

A new study shows tPA was safe for patients who woke up with stroke symptoms, a population not normally treated since they could exceed the 4.5-hour window.

Acute Coronary Syndromes

TRA 2°P: Vorapaxar meets end point but ups bleeding

Feb 7, 2012 12:20 EST

In its second phase 3 trial, Merck's novel antiplatelet agent reduced ischemic events but increased bleeding, including ICH. Results looked more promising in patients without a history of stroke.

Arrhythmia/EP

ICDs charged with sex discrimination: Women get fewer shocks

Feb 6, 2012 17:00 EST

Differences in appropriate-therapy and device-related complication rates in a prospective study question (once again) whether women and men should have the same ICD-eligibility criteria.

Acute Coronary Syndromes

MI-shock proposal is cold comfort: Hypothermia might boost survival

1 COMMENT - Feb 6, 2012 16:00 EST

Some data suggest therapeutic hypothermia might reduce the currently high mortality from cardiogenic shock; let's do the necessary clinical studies to see whether it might be true, urges a published viewpoint.

Brain/Kidney/Peripheral

KEEP: Focus on CKD patients with highest SBP

Feb 6, 2012 12:30 EST

A new, contemporary study in real-world patients with chronic kidney disease finds that those with systolic BPs of 140 mm Hg and higher are at the greatest risk of developing end-stage renal disease. Hence the current "goal" in CKD patients of 130 mm Hg should be revised upward, say the authors, making the target easier to achieve and allowing physicians to focus on other aspects of care.

Medscape Medical News

No recurrent stroke prevention seen with clopidogrel plus aspirin

1 COMMENT - Feb 3, 2012 17:15 EST

A new study shows that the combination of clopidogrel and aspirin increases risk of hemorrhage and mortality, including nonvascular mortality, vs aspirin alone.

Heart failure

Heart failure linked to loss of brain gray matter

Feb 3, 2012 16:15 EST

Heart failure is associated with a decline in mental function and loss of gray matter in the brain, which may make it more difficult for patients to follow instructions regarding their medication, a new Australian study has found.

Medscape Medical News

Aspirin as effective as warfarin in heart failure: WARCEF

3 COMMENTS - Feb 3, 2012 14:55 EST

Although there was an edge for warfarin for those treated for four or more years, there is "no compelling" reason to anticoagulate these patients, researchers say.

Interventional/Surgery

CMS draft of proposed coverage for TAVI

Feb 3, 2012 09:30 EST

The CMS has issued a draft of the conditions under which it will provide coverage for transcatheter aortic-valve replacements, as the technology begins to be rolled out in the US.

Medscape Medical News

Cardiac telemetry identifies AF in cryptogenic stroke

2 COMMENTS - Feb 2, 2012 16:00 EST

Outpatient monitoring for 21 days detected atrial fibrillation in 17% of patients, and this could change management.

Features

The flap over flavonoids

7 COMMENTS - Feb 2, 2012 15:15 EST

The field of flavonoids and polyphenols continues to attract a massive amount of interest, from researchers and the public alike. But can health really be improved by eating chocolate and drinking red wine?

Medscape Medical News

Severe, rapid memory loss could herald stroke

Feb 2, 2012 14:15 EST

A new study finds that victims of fatal stroke had sharp memory declines before the event.

Interventional/Surgery

US "roadmap" for TAVI rollout published

1 COMMENT - Feb 1, 2012 15:00 EST

A new US expert-consensus document on transcatheter aortic-valve implantation aims to smooth the rollout of this new technology stateside.

Restenosis similar with carotid stenting or surgery: CREST

Medscape Medical News

Feb 1, 2012 13:30 EST

At two years, carotid restenosis is infrequent and appears similar whether patients were treated with carotid stenting or endarterectomy.

Medscape Medical News

Stroke risk linked to infections in children

Feb 1, 2012 09:00 EST

A new study finds the risk is highest closer to infection, then tapers off.

Heart failure

Shifty and dangerous: Worsening diastolic dysfunction ups mortality

Jan 31, 2012 16:45 EST

Actually, it was just as strong a mortality predictor as worsening systolic function in a retrospective series of patients followed with echocardiography.

Imaging

New data will shed light on cancer risk from imaging

Jan 31, 2012 13:00 EST

Ongoing epidemiological studies in children who have undergone CT scans should help provide a better understanding of radiation-associated cancer risks from cardiac imaging over the next few years.

Interventional/Surgery

PARTNER CAP data show transapical outcomes improve with practice

Jan 31, 2012 10:15 EST

Only 104 of the 799 high-risk patients in the PARTNER A trial of the Sapien transcatheter valve were treated with the transapical approach, so it can be considered to be only the preliminary experience with this technique. Now data from 822 patients in the continued-access protocol are available.

Heart failure

Don't routinely replace spent ICDs: Proposal

1 COMMENT - Jan 27, 2012 17:00 EST

It may have little to offer and it might not be what the patient wants, argues a perspective in the New England Journal of Medicine.