Cardiology news: award winning coverage by heartwire

Thrombosis

1 COMMENT - Feb 10, 2012 14:00 EST

A new study has suggested that the anticoagulant effects of edoxaban could be reversed by several hemostatic agents currently used to control excessive bleeding in other situations.

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.

Prevention

Like father, like son: Y-chromosome variant may explain CAD

Feb 8, 2012 18:30 EST

New genetic work has unveiled an association between some lineages of the relatively empty male Y chromosome and coronary artery disease. The hypothesis, while "intriguing," requires more research to confirm, says one expert.

Acute Coronary Syndromes

SWITCH III: Bivalirudin is as safe as heparin after fondaparinux in PCI patients

Feb 7, 2012 12:30 EST

Recent studies have shown that ACS patients on fondaparinux prior to PCI should switch to another anticoagulant prior to the procedure to avoid thrombus. The SWITCH III trial compares bivalirudin and unfractionated heparin in a small group of these patients.

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.

Acute Coronary Syndromes

"Irrational" choices stall adoption of new antiplatelets

7 COMMENTS - Feb 6, 2012 09:15 EST

Dr David Cohen points out some of physicians' potential "psychological" barriers to more rapid adoption of new antiplatelet agents, even though they may be the best choice for their patients.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

Interventional/Surgery

Women do better after TAVI, hints small study

Jan 30, 2012 16:00 EST

The first foray into possible gender differences in presentation and outcome among patients undergoing TAVI for severe aortic stenosis hints that women may fare better than men after this procedure.

Acute Coronary Syndromes

Heart attack deaths plummet in three EU nations

36 COMMENTS - Jan 26, 2012 12:15 EST

New statistics from Denmark, England, and Poland show a roughly 50% drop in deaths due to acute AMI in recent decades.

Prevention

Heart disease risk begins with middle-age risk factors

3 COMMENTS - Jan 25, 2012 17:00 EST

Risk-factor-reduction efforts are usually based on short-term risk scores, but most Americans at low risk for cardiovascular disease over the next 10 years are actually at much higher risk for heart problems over the rest of their lives.

Murmurs

Cardiologists flagging woeful patient care say they paid with their jobs

8 COMMENTS - Jan 25, 2012 15:30 EST

An echocardiographer and cardiac surgeon who say their jobs were axed in retaliation after they lodged numerous complaints of substandard patient care at a county hospital in Santa Clara are suing some of their former bosses, including two other cardiologists. The plaintiffs also claim they suffered severe harassment as a result of expressing their concerns. The defendants' attorney says the case "is hotly disputed."

Medscape Medical News

Pay for SGR repeal with war savings, say medical groups

3 COMMENTS - Jan 24, 2012 15:45 EST

A letter to Rep Dave Camp from 110 medical societies admits that war savings from military pullbacks are a "budget gimmick" but says they could retire SGR debt, another budget gimmick.

Thrombosis

PLATO: PPI analysis "raises flag" but should not change practice

7 COMMENTS - Jan 24, 2012 13:00 EST

A new analysis of the PLATO study has found that use of a proton-pump inhibitor was independently associated with a higher rate of cardiovascular events but that this was apparent in both the ticagrelor and clopidogrel arms. The finding is likely due to confounding and should not precipitate any change in advice on this subject, says the lead author.

Acute Coronary Syndromes

Pillow talk: First AHA advice on sex and CVD

Jan 19, 2012 16:00 EST

The first-ever guidance on sexual activity and cardiovascular disease from the AHA encourages doctors, patients, and their partners to discuss the subject during consultations. The majority of those with heart disease can safely engage in sex, which is important to quality of life, it concludes.

Interventional/Surgery

FFR shows benefit in FAME II; enrollment halted

12 COMMENTS - Jan 18, 2012 12:00 EST

An interim analysis of the FAME II study shows a significant benefit of fractional-flow-reserve-guided stenting plus optimal medical therapy over and above optimal medical therapy alone; as a result the data safety monitoring board has said no further patients should be randomized to medical therapy alone.

Heart failure

Mortality climbs with rising PA pressure in heart failure: Community-based study

Jan 18, 2012 09:45 EST

The finding in a broad community-based HF population confirms and extends what is recognized in the hospital setting.

Thrombosis

Contemporary look at VTE after joint surgery

Jan 17, 2012 16:00 EST

One in 100 patients who have knee-replacement surgery and one in 200 who undergo hip replacement will have a venous thromboembolic event in the hospital, despite receiving modern anticoagulant prophylaxis, a new review shows. These numbers will help inform patients and clinicians, say the authors, but an editorialist notes that to get a better picture, it will be necessary to look at a longer postsurgery time frame.

Interventional/Surgery

BRIDGE study published: Cangrelor suited for important antiplatelet niche

7 COMMENTS - Jan 17, 2012 16:00 EST

The intravenous antiplatelet with a very short half-life is the ideal candidate for bridging patients on clopidogrel or other thienopyridines to surgery, the authors say.