CardioExchange Archive

September 27th, 2010

Carotid Endarterectomy Still Beneficial At 10 Years

Larry Husten, PHD

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in asymptomatic patients under 75 years of age reduces the long-term risk of stroke, according to 10-year results from the Asymptomatic Carotid Surgery Trial (ACST), published in the Lancet. The ACST investigators randomized 3120 asymptomatic patients to immediate CEA or to indefinite deferral of CEA. At 5 years, CEA had been performed […]

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September 26th, 2010

Avandia: Lessons Learned and Unanswered Questions

Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM

The following is republished from Pharmalot, a widely read site that provides commentary on the pharmaceutical industry and related litigation. What should we make of the decisions on Avandia yesterday? There remains some controversy about the risk, but the concerns were sufficient, given the therapeutic alternatives, to bring about action. The Europeans decided to suspend […]

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September 24th, 2010

Xience V Stent Still Strong at 2 Years

Larry Husten, PHD

Two large trials presented at TCT continue to demonstrate the long-term superiority of the everolimus-eluting stent (EES) over the paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES). Gregg Stone presented two-year outcomes from more than 3500 patients randomized in the SPIRIT IV trial to either the Xience V or the Taxus stents. At two years, the rate of target lesion failure — […]

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September 24th, 2010

ACC Will Co-Sponsor TCT Symposium in 2011

Larry Husten, PHD

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) will be a co-sponsor of the TCT Symposium in 2011, the ACC and the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) announced on Thursday. The arrangement will deepen the existing relationship between the two organizations, which already collaborate on the Innovations in Interventions (i2) Summit at ACC’s Annual Scientific Sessions. In a blog […]

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September 23rd, 2010

FDA and EMA Split on Fate of Avandia

Larry Husten, PHD

The FDA and the European Medicines Agency announced separate and divergent decisions on the fate of rosiglitazone (Avandia) today. On the one hand, the FDA announced that it would allow rosiglitazone to remain on the market, though only with severe restrictions on its use. Additionally, the FDA said it would require the drug’s manufacturer “to […]

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September 21st, 2010

What it Really Means to be a “Best Doc”

CardioExchange Editors, Staff

Guest blogger “Dr. Grumpy” tells CardioExchange what it’s really like to be dubbed a “Best Doc” in one’s field by a local magazine. Can you relate to his amusing account? Share your experiences here.

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September 20th, 2010

Encouraging Observational Data on Clopidogrel and PPIs

Larry Husten, PHD

Compared with a PPI alone, the combination of clopidogrel and a PPI does not increase risk for cardiovascular events, according to a large observational study from Denmark published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Mette Charlot and colleagues analyzed data from 56,406 Danish patients discharged after a first MI and found no difference between the […]

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September 17th, 2010

FDA Grants Expanded Indication to CRT-D Devices

Larry Husten, PHD

The FDA has expanded the indication for CRT-D devices made by Boston Scientific. Previously, the devices had been approved only in NYHA Class III and IV patients. The expanded indication now includes Class I and II patients who have left bundle branch block. The expanded indication is based on data from the MADIT-CRT trial. “This […]

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September 16th, 2010

FDA: Dabigatran Gains, Lorcaserin Loses

Larry Husten, PHD

An alternative to warfarin is one step closer to reality. On Thursday, The FDA released briefing documents for next Monday’s meeting of the Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee to discuss the new drug application for dabigatran (Pradaxa, Boehringer Ingelheim) for the prevention of stroke in patients with AF. The FDA reviewers agreed that dabigatran was at […]

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September 15th, 2010

FDA: Ticagrelor Deadline Extended; No Clear Signal on Sibutramine

Larry Husten, PHD

FDA watchers require patience. AstraZeneca announced that the FDA had extended its review of ticagrelor (Brilinta) until December 16. The previous deadline had been September 16. In July, the FDA Cardiovascular and Renal Advisory Committee voted 7-1 in favor of approving ticagrelor for the indication of STEMI and NSTEMI patients, but the committee and the […]

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