CardioExchange Archive

October 31st, 2012

PCSK9 Inhibitor Enhances Cholesterol-Lowering Effect of Atorvastatin

Larry Husten, PHD

When added to low-dose atorvastatin, a much-discussed new monoclonal antibody to PCSK9 significantly lowers cholesterol more effectively than atorvastatin alone, according to a phase 2 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Earlier this year, in March, the findings of three phase 1 trials demonstrating the cholesterol-lowering effects of the drug in healthy […]

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October 30th, 2012

The Research Agrees: Smoking Is Really Bad for You

Larry Husten, PHD

Four new studies offer powerful evidence of the dangers of smoking and the health benefits of quitting or not being exposed to secondhand smoke. Smoking in the U.K. — Between 1996 amd 2001, the Million Women Study started following more than one million women aged 50 to 65 years of age. In  a report published in […]

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October 29th, 2012

L.A. Confidential: Preview of AHA Scientific Sessions 2012

Larry Husten, PHD

The American Heart Association scientific sessions, which start next weekend in Los Angeles, will be bigger than ever, with 853 separate sessions — 111 more than last year — and 27 late-breaking clinical trials — 6 more than last year. Elliott Antman, chair of the scientific sessions program committee, provided a preview of some of the […]

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October 25th, 2012

TCT: Two PFO Closure Trials Miss Primary Endpoints

Larry Husten, PHD

Two trials presented today at the TCT meeting in Miami testing the benefits of PFO closure in patients with cryptogenic stroke have failed to convincingly demonstrate any significant  benefit for the controversial procedure. The RESPECT (Randomized Evaluation of Recurrent Stroke Comparing PFO Closure to Established Current Standard of Care Treatment) trial randomized 980 patients to PFO closure with the […]

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October 24th, 2012

Atrial Fibrillation: Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation and Antiarrhythmic Drug Therapy Compared

Larry Husten, PHD

A trial comparing radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) to antiarrhythmic drug therapy (AAD) as initial therapy for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) found no difference in the overall burden of AF between the groups. But the trial also turned up evidence supporting the use of RFA as an initial treatment strategy in some patients. In a paper published in […]

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October 24th, 2012

TCT: Impressive Survival Benefit for TAVR in Inoperable Patients at 3 Years

Larry Husten, PHD

At the TCT meeting in Miami, Murat Tuzcu presented the latest findings from the PARTNER B trial comparing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with standard therapy in patients who are not considered eligible for surgical valve replacement. At 3 years, the mortality advantage continued to grow for TAVR over standard therapy. All-cause mortality at 3 years: 80.9% […]

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October 23rd, 2012

Setback for Trial Studying Dabigatran After Mechanical Valve Surgery

Larry Husten, PHD

Despite the recent advent of novel oral anticoagulants, the much-maligned warfarin remains the only current option available for patients who have received a mechanical valve. Now the first trial to explore this indication for a newer oral anticoagulant has suffered a setback. Last year, Boehringer Ingelheim announced the launch of the RE-ALIGN trial, a phase 2, […]

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October 23rd, 2012

High Rate of Warfarin Discontinuation Observed in Study

Larry Husten, PHD

One of the many potential problems with warfarin-based anticoagulant therapy is the poor rate of adherence and persistence among patients who are prescribed the drug. Now an observational study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine raises the possibility that the problem may be even worse than many have suspected, as discontinuation rates in clinical trials appear […]

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October 22nd, 2012

NIH Trial of Lifestyle Intervention for Type 2 Diabetes Stopped for Futility After 11 Years

Larry Husten, PHD

The NIH today announced the early termination of a large randomized trial testing a lifestyle intervention approach to weight loss in type 2 diabetics. More than 5,000 patients with type 2 diabetes were randomized to participate in an intensive lifestyle intervention program or a traditional program of diabetes support and education in Look AHEAD (Action for Health […]

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October 22nd, 2012

FDA Approves the Sapien Transcatheter Heart Valve for High-Risk Patients

Larry Husten, PHD

The FDA today approved an expanded indication for Edwards Lifesciences’ Sapien transcatheter heart valve (THV). The device can now be implanted in patients who are eligible for aortic valve replacement surgery but are at high risk for serious surgical complications or death. Previously the Sapien valve was approved only for use in patients who were […]

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