CardioExchange Archive

February 9th, 2011

Trial Finds Benefit in Wireless Pulmonary Artery Monitoring in HF

Larry Husten, PHD

Results of a new trial suggest that an implanted device that provides continuous wireless sensing of pulmonary artery pressures can reduce hospitalizations in patients with heart failure (HF). In a report published online in the Lancet, William Abraham and members of the CHAMPION (CardioMEMS Heart Sensor Allows Monitoring of Pressure to Improve Outcomes in NYHA Class III Patients) Trial Study Group randomized 550 patients […]

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February 8th, 2011

FDA Approves First Pacemaker Designed For Use with MRI

Larry Husten, PHD

The FDA has approved Medtronic’s Revo MRI SureScan Pacing System, the first pacemaker designed for safe use during MRI exams. Here is Medtronic’s description in a press release of how the pacemaker differs from traditional pacemakers: “The pacemaker system includes hardware modifications to the device and leads that are designed to reduce or eliminate several hazards […]

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February 8th, 2011

Biomarker Levels Post-CABG Strongly Linked to Mortality

Larry Husten, PHD

Creatine kinase (CK-MB) and troponin levels obtained in the first day after CABG are a strong predictor of long-term mortality, according to a new report appearing in JAMA. Michael Domanski and colleagues analyzed data from 7 studies that included 18,908 patients who underwent CABG and for whom data on biomarkers and mortality were available. Mortality was […]

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February 3rd, 2011

Lancet Papers Outline Worldwide Trends in Obesity, Hypertension, and Cholesterol

Larry Husten, PHD

Three papers published in the Lancet provide the most detailed view yet of worldwide trends over the last 3 decades in body-mass index (BMI), blood pressure, and cholesterol, and also include numerous details about different regions and countries. Here are a few highlights of the reports from the Global Burden of Metabolic Risk Factors of Chronic […]

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February 2nd, 2011

CDC Details the Persistent Problem of Hypertension and Elevated LDL in the U.S.

Larry Husten, PHD

New data from the CDC show that in the years 2005 to 2008, 31% of adults in the U.S. had hypertension and 33.5% had high LDL cholesterol. The two reports are based on statistics gathered from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and have been published online by Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Of the nearly […]

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February 1st, 2011

New Guidelines Lend More Support for Carotid Stenting

Larry Husten, PHD

Newly issued guidelines provide increased support for carotid stenting as an alternative to carotid endarterectomy, but don’t favor widespread screening or the routine use of ultrasound to assess the risk for stroke. The Guideline on the Management of Patients With Extracranial Carotid and Vertebral Artery Disease, developed by the AHA, the ACC, and multiple other organizations, […]

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January 31st, 2011

Women and Younger Patients May Be At Higher Risk For Sprint Fidelis Failure

Larry Husten, PHD

Women, younger patients, those with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and those with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia or channelopathies may be more likely to develop Sprint Fidelis lead failure. Robert Hauser and colleagues at the Minneapolis Heart Institute, the Mayo Clinic, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center analyzed data from 1023 patients who received Fidelis leads and 1668 […]

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January 28th, 2011

Justice Department Files New Suit Against Boston Scientific

Larry Husten, PHD

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed another suit against Boston Scientific. The government claims that Guidant (bought by Boston Scientific in 2006) sold the Ventak Prizm 2 and the Renewal 1 and 2 devices even after the company knew they were defective. Earlier this month Boston Scientific was convicted and sentenced in a criminal case to pay more […]

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January 27th, 2011

HPS Results Suggest Baseline CRP Doesn’t Predict Statin Efficacy

Larry Husten, PHD

Analysis of data from the Heart Protection Study (HPS) indicates that a CRP measurement obtained at baseline does not predict the effect of statin therapy. In a paper published online in the Lancet, the HPS Collaborative Group report the results of the more than 20,000-patient HPS study based on CRP category at baseline. As previously reported, […]

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January 27th, 2011

Shockable Arrhythmias Less Frequent in the Home

Larry Husten, PHD

Cardiac arrest with a shockable arrhythmia (VF or pulseless VT) is less likely to occur at home than in public, according to a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Myron Weisfeldt and investigators from the Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium (ROC) Investigators evaluated nearly 13,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests and found that shockable arrhythmias occurred more […]

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