CardioExchange Archive

February 8th, 2013

Xarelto Effective in Medically Ill Patients, But at High Bleeding Cost

Larry Husten, PHD

The recent arrival of novel oral anticoagulants has provided important new options for treating and preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE). New indications for these drugs have been granted for patients with atrial fibrillation and for patients who have undergone orthopedic surgery. But an additional indication, for acutely ill medical patients at risk for VTE, does not […]

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January 22nd, 2013

How Will You PROTECT Your Patients with Nonvalvular Afib?

Eiman Jahangir, MD

For which patients is the Watchman left-atrial appendage closure device a better alternative to warfarin and other anticoagulant medications?

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January 17th, 2013

Revisiting Novel Anticoagulants in Atrial Fibrillation

John Ryan, MD and Christian Thomas Ruff, MD, MPH

Two experts discuss the evolving landscape of novel anticoagulants for patients with AF. Do you agree with their perspectives? What questions do you have? What has your experience taught you?

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December 28th, 2012

FDA Approves Eliquis (Apixaban) for Stroke Prevention in AF

Larry Husten, PHD

The FDA has finally approved apixaban (Eliquis, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer) to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). The action comes after the widely-anticipated drug had been plagued by delays at the FDA but well before the PDUFA deadline of March 17, 2013. Eliquis is the latest member […]

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December 21st, 2012

Dabigatran Shouldn’t Be Used in Patients with Mechanical Heart Valves

Kristin J. Kelley, CardioExchange Staff

Dabigatran (Pradaxa) should not be prescribed to prevent blood clots or stroke in patients with mechanical heart valves, the FDA warned. The warning follows the termination of a European clinical trial in which patients taking dabigatran had more frequent thromboembolic events than those on warfarin. Dabigatran patients also experienced more bleeding after valve surgery. Patients with mechanical […]

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December 19th, 2012

Pradaxa To Be Contraindicated in Patients with Mechanical Heart Valves

Larry Husten, PHD

Boehringer Ingelheim is starting to inform physicians about a new contraindication for its oral anticoagulant drug Pradaxa (dabigatran). The company has told investigators in trials utilizing dabigatran that it will shortly be sending a “Dear Doctor Letter,” also known as a Direct Healthcare Professional Communication (DHPC), to healthcare professionals. The letter will inform physicians that, […]

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December 12th, 2012

Boehringer Ends Phase 2 Trial of Dabigatran in Mechanical Valve Patients

Larry Husten, PHD

Boehringer Ingelheim today announced that it had discontinued a phase 2 trial of its anticoagulant drug dabigatran (Pradaxa) in patients with mechanical heart valves. As reported here in October, the company had previously terminated one arm of the study after an interim review of the data by the trial’s Data Safety Monitoring Board. The RE-ALIGN trial was an open-label, 12-week randomized comparison of […]

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December 12th, 2012

AMPLIFYING Treatment for DVT/PE

John Ryan, MD

John Ryan reviews the latest data and suggests that DVT/PE be managed as a chronic condition. Are you using apixaban in these patients, and how long are you treating them for?

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December 8th, 2012

Prolonged Anticoagulation with Apixaban Beneficial in Venous Thromboembolism

Larry Husten, PHD

A new study suggests that extending anticoagulant therapy for an additional year may be beneficial after patients with venous thromboembolism complete their initial course of therapy. The results of AMPLIFY-EXT (Apixaban after the Initial Management of Pulmonary Embolism and Deep Vein Thrombosis with First-Line Therapy-Extended Treatment) were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society […]

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December 5th, 2012

Aspirin Resistance May Not Be Real

Larry Husten, PHD

Is it resistance or pseudoresistance? According to a new study published in Circulation, aspirin resistance may be a myth, an artifact of the enteric coating of most aspirin tablets. The coating, which is designed to prevent gastrointestinal side effects caused by aspirin, may delay or conceal the effects of the drug, the study suggests, but the antiplatelet effects will […]

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