CardioExchange Archive

March 19th, 2012

Merck Drops Development of Oral Vernakalant for Atrial Fibrillation

Larry Husten, PHD

Merck has discontinued its development of oral vernakalant for the long-term prevention of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence. Cardiome Pharma, Merck’s partner in the drug, said today that the “decision was based on Merck’s assessment of the regulatory environment and projected development timeline.” Merck and Cardiome will continue their partnership with the intravenous formulation of vernakalant, Brinavess, […]

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March 8th, 2012

Michael Ezekowitz Joining Cardiovascular Research Foundation to Establish AFib Research Center

Larry Husten, PHD

Michael Ezekowitz is joining the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) in New York City to start a new center for atrial fibrillation research. Ezekowitz, a cardiologist at the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research in Philadelphia, had been a professor and vice president for clinical research at Lankenau. Recently, Ezekowitz was a co-principal investigator of the RE-LY […]

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March 7th, 2012

Software Tool Could Provide Early Warning of ICD Lead Failure

Larry Husten, PHD

In recent years, defects in ICD leads have caused recalls and provoked broad concerns among healthcare professionals and patients alike about the safety and reliability of ICDs and other implanted cardiac devices. Now a key player in these events proposes that a computer software program can better monitor ICD leads and provide earlier warnings of […]

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March 1st, 2012

Decision on Apixaban (Eliquis) Pushed Back By 3 Months

Larry Husten, PHD

Confirming earlier speculation by a Wall Street analyst, Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb announced on Wednesday evening that the FDA had extended by 3 months the action date for the new drug application (NDA) for the highly anticipated oral anticoagulant apixaban (Eliquis). The application is for their important indication of stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation. The […]

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February 16th, 2012

What Are the Lessons of the Riata ICD Lead Recall?

Edward J. Schloss, MD

Let’s enforce a robust, active postmarket surveillance system that will allow doctors in the field to draw their own conclusions about the safety of devices based on much better data without hampering innovation.

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February 6th, 2012

Women and ICDs: More Complications, Fewer Benefits

Larry Husten, PHD

After consulting an electrophysiologist, women are just as likely as men to receive an ICD but they suffer more complications and are less likely to benefit from the device, according to a new study from Canada published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Derek MacFadden and colleagues analyzed data from 6021 patients treated at 18 ICD […]

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February 2nd, 2012

Study Explores Role of Periprocedural Dabigatran in AF Ablation

Larry Husten, PHD

As dabigatran becomes more widely used in AF patients, electrophysiologists are trying to figure out how to handle anticoagulation in patients taking the drug and for whom AF ablation is planned. In a new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy and colleagues report on a multicenter, observational study of 290 patients […]

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January 27th, 2012

Plaque Rupture with Thrombosis, After Shooting Hoops

Indu Poornima, MD and James Fang, MD

A 22-year-old white man presented to the ER with acute non-ST-segment-elevation MI, after playing basketball. He had experienced chest pain on and off for more than 10 hours before presentation. His initial EKG showed T-wave inversions in leads III and avF (see image), and his troponin T level was 1.2 ng/mL. The patient’s initial pain […]

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January 20th, 2012

Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation and the Risk of Stroke: An Interview

Daniela J Lamas, MD and Gervasio Antonio Lamas, MD

A NEJM editorial fellow interviews a NEJM editorialist about subclinical AF and the risk of stroke.

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January 12th, 2012

The Safety of the Long Distance Runner

Larry Husten, PHD

Long distance runners may be lonely but they are not at high risk for sudden cardiac arrest, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The RACER (Race Associated Cardiac Arrest Event Registry) investigators analyzed data from 10.9 million registered participants in marathons and half-marathons that took place in the U.S. during the first decade of this century. […]

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