CardioExchange Archive

June 16th, 2014

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: June 16th

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include statins and physical activity in older men, transitional care interventions to prevent heart-failure readmissions, and more.

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June 16th, 2014

European Regulators Investigate Cardiovascular Safety of Ibuprofen

Larry Husten, PHD

The European Medicines Agency announced on Friday that it had initiated a review of the cardiovascular safety of ibuprofen when taken in high doses over an extended period of time. The review will be performed by the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC). The EMA said that people taking ibuprofen should continue to take it as long as they follow the […]

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June 16th, 2014

Positive Results for New Oral Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Drug

Larry Husten, PHD

Actelion has announced positive top-line results for a phase III trial of a new oral drug for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The drug, selexipag, is a first-in-class orally available selective prostacyclin IP receptor agonist. The pivotal, double-blind GRIPHON study was the largest outcome trial ever performed in PAH. A total of 1,156 PAH patients were randomized to selexipag or placebo. […]

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June 16th, 2014

European Medicines Agency Initiates Review of Ivabradine

Larry Husten, PHD

There may be trouble on the horizon for ivabradine, a heart drug marketed by Servier under the brand names of Corlentor and Procoralan. The drug is widely available in Europe and elsewhere, though it is not available in the U.S., where it is under development by Amgen. Although it hasn’t been widely reported,  the European […]

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June 13th, 2014

FDA Advisory Panel Supports Novel Drug-Coated Balloon

Larry Husten, PHD

The FDA’s Circulatory System Devices advisory panel voted unanimously on Thursday to support approval of CR Bard’s Lutonix Drug-Coated Balloon (DCB). It would be used to enlarge arteries in a subset of patients who have peripheral arterial disease — including obstructive de novo or nonstented restenotic lesions (≤ 15 cm in length) in native femoropopliteal arteries […]

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June 10th, 2014

Major Medical Organizations Establish Ambitious Diabetes Registry

Larry Husten, PHD

Our knowledge of diabetes today is a bit like the way blind men understand an elephant. With a myriad of isolated perspectives it’s nearly impossible to gain a broad overview. Now, a new initiative from a group of major medical organization will seek to provide the tools to better see a full picture of the elephantine […]

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June 9th, 2014

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: June 9th

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include the CORONARY trial, the association of azithromycin with mortality and CV events among older patients hospitalized with pneumonia, and more.

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June 9th, 2014

Wide Range of Radiation Dose in Children Undergoing Cardiac Procedures

Larry Husten, PHD

Children with heart disease are at increased risk for developing cancer later in life due to their exposure to radiation during imaging procedures. Since an ever-growing number of children with heart disease now reach adulthood, this may become an increasingly important public health issue. A new study published in Circulation offers some reassurance in finding that […]

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June 5th, 2014

An Adverse Event on Lisinopril: What Do You Say to Your Patient?

John Ryan, MD

In this scenario of an adverse event after taking a guideline-recommended dosage of lisinopril to lower BP, John Ryan asks, “What do you say to your patient?”

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June 4th, 2014

My Fellow Doctors, Are You Miserable?

Enrique Guadiana, MD

CardioExchange member Enrique Guadiana asks other physicians whether they’re still happy practicing medicine.

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