CardioExchange Archive

April 14th, 2014

The Uncertain Future of Renal Denervation

Larry Husten, PHD

Following the spectacular crash and burn of the SYMPLICITY HTN-3 trial at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) meeting two weeks ago, the future of renal denervation (RDN) — the once highly promising catheter technology that many thought would cure resistant hypertension — appears in doubt. Although the device has not been approved in the U.S. — and will not be approved […]

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April 9th, 2014

TOPCAT Fails to Find Advantage for Spironolactone in HFPEF

Larry Husten, PHD

Although a significant portion of people with heart failure have preserved ejection fraction, none of the proven heart failure therapies has been shown to be beneficial in this important and growing heart failure subpopulation. Now a new NHLBI-funded study has failed to find a benefit in this group for spironolactone, which is a cornerstone of […]

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April 8th, 2014

Study Suggests Link Between Viagra and Melanoma

Larry Husten, PHD

In recent years, researchers have uncovered a potentially important pathway whereby PDE5A inhibitors (which include sildenafil — Viagra — and other drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension) could potentially increase the risk for developing melanoma. Now a study provides early evidence showing an association between sildenafil and melanoma, though, like all observational […]

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April 7th, 2014

Dabigatran Approved for Treatment of DVT and PE

Larry Husten, PHD

Boehringer Ingelheim announced on Monday that the FDA has approved dabigatran (Pradaxa) for the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE), which includes both deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), and to reduce the risk of recurrent DVT and PE in patients who have been previously treated. All three of the new oral anticoagulants — dabigatran, rivaroxaban (Xarelto), […]

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April 3rd, 2014

Cardiovascular Disease Declines in Rich Countries but Grows Elsewhere

Larry Husten, PHD

A new Global Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Atlas portrays a divided world where rich countries are gradually freeing themselves from the yoke of CVD but where many poor and middle-income countries are still struggling. Ischemic heart disease and stroke were the two biggest contributors to the global burden of disease in 2010, accounting for 5.2% and 4.1%, […]

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March 31st, 2014

Novartis Trial Was Stopped Early Because of a Significant Drop in Cardiovascular Mortality

Larry Husten, PHD

The largest-ever trial in heart failure was stopped early because of a highly statistically significant reduction in cardiovascular mortality, according to one of the trial’s two primary investigators. Earlier today I reported that the PARADIGM-HF trial testing LCZ696, a novel, first-in-class Angiotensin Receptor Neprilysin Inhibitor (ARNI), had been stopped early because the trial had demonstrated a significant reduction in the combined […]

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March 31st, 2014

Early Success for Novel Novartis Heart Failure Drug

Larry Husten, PHD

A large clinical trial testing a novel compound from Novartis for chronic heart failure has been stopped early for efficacy. In a press release Novartis said the Data Monitoring Committee had recommended early closure of the PARADIGM-HF trial because the trial had demonstrated a significant reduction in the combined primary endpoint of cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalization. PARADIGM-HF randomized patients with heart failure […]

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March 31st, 2014

Aspirin and Clonidine Fail to Help Surgery Patients

Larry Husten, PHD

Myocardial infarction (MI) is among the most common and serious side effects of noncardiac surgery. An effective regimen to minimize this risk has been the subject of considerable debate in recent years. The controversy was recently exacerbated because the recommendation to use beta-blockers in this setting was based on research which has now been discredited. Substantial […]

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March 30th, 2014

High-Sensitivity Troponin Test Could Identify Low-Risk Chest Pain Patients in the ED

Larry Husten, PHD

Approximately 15-20 million people in Europe and the United States go to the emergency department every year with chest pain. Many can be discharged early if they are not having an acute coronary syndrome. A large, new, single-center observational study, presented at the American College of Cardiology meeting in Washington, DC and published simultaneously in the Journal […]

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March 30th, 2014

MADIT-CRT Long-Term Follow-Up Shows Survival Benefit with CRT-D

Larry Husten, PHD

MADIT-CRT was an influential trial that showed a reduction in heart failure complications — but not mortality — when cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) was added to an implantable defibrillator in patients with mild heart failure who also had left bundle-branch block (LBBB). Patients in the trial were followed for 2.4 years, raising questions about the long-term effects […]

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