Genetic beta-blockade
What are the implications of an exciting discovery of intrinsic genetic beta-blockade common to 40% of people of African ancestry?

Dr Eric Topol invites you to share your opinions.

Click here to view the video blog and join the discussion.

HeartWire clips
On moving to industry: Interview with Dr Terry Ferguson
In conversation with heartwire news and features editor Larry Husten, Dr Terry Ferguson muses on changes to daily life, decision making processes, and patient care from a different perspective resulting from his new position in industry.
The Cardiology Show
Surrogate end points on trial: ENHANCE and other controversies
Part 2 is now live!
Nine of the world's top cardiologists gathered in Chicago to take on the issues raised by data released at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions.

Dr Valentin Fuster moderates this frank and sometimes heated discussion on the results of ENHANCE, STRADIVARIUS, ONTARGET, and PERISCOPE, and the questions they raise about the responsibility of industry and the relevance of surrogate end points.
Forum
Smoking ban?
Read about our forum moderator's heroic and sometimes comic efforts to get a smoking ban passed by her city council in tobacco country.
Thumbs up, thumbs down
Controversies: ENHANCE and ACCORD
Clinical trials are under attack and in the headlines. What is the proper role of the investigators? What are the responsibilities of industry? Join Drs Eric J Topol and Robert M Califf in a discussion of the many issues surrounding ENHANCE and ACCORD.
Question
Do you think the ACC and SCAI should continue to combine their annual meetings in future years?
(See:Arranged marriage: Funding and "cultural differences" may dictate whether SCAI-ACC/i2 stay hitched)
No
Yes
Vote








   
Slides and resources
Jun 8, 2007 12:00 EDT / The optimal management of patients with ACS continues to evolve as the data is published and distilled into evidence-based practice. The appropriate utilization of antiplatelet therapies is a critical component. Slides and references with links to abstracts or full text, when available, are provided for ease of access to evidence from randomized trials and outcome studies with antiplatelet therapies.
Features
Antiplatelet therapies
Highlights from Antiplatelet Therapy During PCI: New Perspectives
Apr 21, 2008 13:00 EDT / Dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel is the standard of care for patients during PCI. Even utilizing this standard, adverse clinical events do occur. This activity will review clinical data pertinent to the current state of antiplatelet therapy for the management of patients during PCI. This will include a discussion of the scope of adverse clinical events, efficacy of current antiplatet agents, antiplatelet resistance, and next-generation antiplatelet therapies, which will give attendees current and emerging treatment options for the management of patients during PCI.
Antiplatelet trials: What is to come in 2008 and beyond
Apr 17, 2008 12:00 EDT / Antiplatelet therapy is the mainstay for the treatment of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Currently, there are several new investigational agents being studied to treat ACS. Please join Dr Magnus Ohman as he describes the design and rationale of their ongoing clinical trials and puts the potential impact of these future data into perspective.
The FellowShip Series: Late stent thrombosis — a case study panel discussion
Apr 14, 2008 17:30 EDT / Dr Topol leads a case-study based discussion with three Fellows on late stent thrombosis.
High-risk ACS
An update from the American College of Cardiology 2008 Scientific Sessions/i2 Summit-SCAI Annual Meeting
Apr 14, 2008 10:13 EDT / Antiplatelet therapy involves a balance between the prevention of thrombosis and bleeding. The AHA 2007 Scientific Sessions program included the long-awaited results from TRITON and presentations on areas of uncertainty, including cost-effectiveness, loading dose, duration of therapy and resistance.
Optimizing outcomes in STEMI patients
Apr 10, 2008 10:00 EDT / The volume of recently released - and sometimes conflicting - clinical trial data surrounding the treatment of patients with ACS has led to confusion as to what is the best therapeutic option for a given patient. Because of the varying results from these trials, clinicians currently struggle with what constitutes optimum antithrombin/antiplatelet strategy for patients with ACS. Join Dr Eric Bates and panelists Drs Peter Berger and Gregg Stone as they contextualize these data and discuss their applicability to clinical practice.
Steering Committee Members
Mar 3, 2008 16:00 EST / The CME programs of the High-Risk ACS Topic are under the medical direction of Drs Eric Bates, Christian Hamm, Gabriel Steg and Paul Teirstein.
Other ACS programs
Antiplatelet therapy for atherothrombotic disease: Translating the evidence from clinical trial into practice
Feb 29, 2008 10:54 EST / This program will review the guidelines recommendations for and actual use of antiplatelet therapy in patients with atherothrombotic disease, practical issues in the use of antiplatelet therapy, and new trials of antiplatelet agents
Acute STEMI: Overcoming Peri-Procedural Challenges in Patients Undergoing PCI
Dec 21, 2007 10:30 EST / As continued refinements in catheter-based device technology continue to occur, further increases in the number of interventional procedures will likely result. Despite the demonstrated clinical benefit of reperfusion strategies, substantial challenges exist in identifying the precise combination of therapeutic agents and interventional procedures that will maximize patient outcomes. In addition, intra-procedural complications occur and remain an important source of patient morbidity and mortality. Through a combination of lectures, case-based discussions, and audience interaction this activity will address the complexities of acute STEMI management, available reperfusion strategies, challenges to minimizing intra-procedural complications, and overall strategies to optimize patient outcomes. The faculty will discuss unique clinical challenges while emphasizing evidence-based treatment strategies.
What is the optimal pharmacological management of STEMI?
Nov 30, 2007 13:30 EST / What is the optimal pharmacological management of STEMI? Please join Dr Michael Gibson as he explores recent clinical trial data, including FINESSE, HORIZONS AMI and EXPIRA.


Heartwire - Acute Coronary Syndromes - Latest news