CardioExchange Archive

March 3rd, 2014

Case: Palpitations in a Young Runner with Lamin A/C Deficiency

Anna Catino, MD and James Fang, MD

Anna Catino presents our latest case: A young, male, long-distance runner experiencing palpitations, who has lamin A/C deficiency and a family history of cardiac disease. How would you manage this patient?

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February 25th, 2014

FDA Approves New Catheter for Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation

Larry Husten, PHD

The FDA has granted marketing approval for the Thermocool Smarttouch ablation catheter for use in patients with drug-resistant paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF), sustained monomorphic ischemic ventricular tachycardia, and type I atrial flutter. The device is manufactured by Biosense Webster, a Johnson & Johnson company. The device, according to the company, “is the first therapeutic catheter approved in the […]

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February 18th, 2014

Trial Offers Little Support for Early Use of Radiofrequency Ablation in Atrial Fibrillation

Larry Husten, PHD

A new trial offers little support for early use of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to treat atrial fibrillation (AF). Current guidelines state that RFA may be indicated in patients with symptomatic paroxysmal AF after antiarrhythmic drug therapy has failed. Although earlier hopes have been dashed that RFA would prove to be a cure for AF, some experts […]

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February 14th, 2014

FDA Once Again Rejects New Indication For Rivaroxaban

Larry Husten, PHD

The third time wasn’t the charm. The FDA today turned turned down — for the third time — the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for rivaroxaban (Xarelto, Johnson & Johnson) for use in acute coronary syndrome patients to reduce MI, stroke, or death. In addition, the FDA — for the second time — turned down the sNDA for rivaroxaban in […]

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January 7th, 2014

Is It Time to Sunset the Holter Monitor?

Paddy Barrett, MB BCh BAO MRCPI MCTI

Paddy M. Barrett discusses his research group’s study comparing 24-hour Holter monitoring with the Zio Patch 14-day single-lead ECG device.

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January 3rd, 2014

FDA Plans New Safety Assessment of Dabigatran (Pradaxa)

Larry Husten, PHD

Since the approval of dabigatran (Pradaxa, Boehringer Ingelheim) in Europe in 2008 and in the U.S. in 2010 there have been persistent and lingering concerns about the drug’s safety. Now the FDA plans to perform a large new assessment of the drug compared to warfarin. On December 30 the FDA posted a request for public comment on a proposed […]

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December 18th, 2013

New Trial Confirms Role for Dabigatran in Venous Thromboembolism

Larry Husten, PHD

A new study helps support a role for  the new oral anticoagulant dabigatran (Pradaxa, Boehringer Ingelheim) in patients with venous thrombosis (VTE).  The RE-COVER II trial, published online in Circulation, confirms the finding of the earlier and highly similar RE-COVER trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2009, that dabigatran is as safe and effective as warfarin for […]

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December 18th, 2013

Doc, Do I Really Need a New Battery?

Tariq Ahmad, MD, MPH and James Fang, MD

A 45-year-old man with nonischemic cardiomyopathy, diagnosed 8 years ago, presents for annual follow-up. A transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE), taken 3 years ago, showed an LV ejection fraction of 25%. Since then, the patient has improved a great deal and now has barely any signs or symptoms of heart failure. Repeat TTE right before the current visit showed an […]

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December 12th, 2013

FDA Panel Gives Support to Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device

Larry Husten, PHD

The FDA’s Circulatory System Devices Panel yesterday gave a vote of confidence to Boston Scientific’s Watchman left atrial appendage closure device for the prevention of stroke in atrial fibrillation patients. By a large majority, the panel agreed that the device was effective, that it was safe, and that the benefits outweighed the risks. In each case the […]

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November 19th, 2013

Another New Anticoagulant Works Well in AF Patients

Larry Husten, PHD

Edoxaban, a direct oral factor Xa inhibitor, is the latest in the series of new oral anticoagulants seeking to take over the troubled role of warfarin in clinical practice. The results of ENGAGE-AF-TIMI 48 were presented at the American Heart Association meeting in Dallas and published simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine. In the trial, more than 21,000 […]

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