April 5th, 2011
MAGELLAN: Higher Bleeding Rates Cloud Rivaroxaban’s Effect in VTE Prevention in Acutely Ill Medical Patients
Larry Husten, PHD
The novel anticoagulant rivaroxaban is successful in preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) in acutely ill medical patients, but a high bleeding rate means the drug probably won’t be used for this indication. Alexander Cohen, presenting the results of the MAGELLAN trial at the ACC in New Orleans, explained by way of background that 50% to 70% […]
March 22nd, 2011
AHA Releases New Recommendations for Management of Acute VTE
Larry Husten, PHD
The AHA is offering new guidance for the management of patients with pulmonary embolism, iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis, and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. The scientific statement is published online in Circulation. In addition to advice about anticoagulant therapy, the statement offers extensive recommendations about the appropriate use of fibrinolytic agents, catheter-based and surgical interventions, and […]
February 11th, 2011
SCAST Trial Provides No Support for Blood Pressure Lowering in Acute Stroke
Larry Husten, PHD
Lowering blood pressure with an angiotensin-receptor blocker in patients with acute stroke and hypertension produces no benefits, according to a new study presented at the International Stroke Conference and published simultaneously online in the Lancet. In the Scandinavian Candesartan Acute Stroke Trial (SCAST), investigators randomized 2029 acute stroke patients in 9 north European countries who had a […]
January 27th, 2011
HPS Results Suggest Baseline CRP Doesn’t Predict Statin Efficacy
Larry Husten, PHD
Analysis of data from the Heart Protection Study (HPS) indicates that a CRP measurement obtained at baseline does not predict the effect of statin therapy. In a paper published online in the Lancet, the HPS Collaborative Group report the results of the more than 20,000-patient HPS study based on CRP category at baseline. As previously reported, […]
December 14th, 2010
Study Finds Inverse Correlation Between HDL and Alzheimer’s
Larry Husten, PHD
High levels of HDL are linked to a lower risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), according to a new study published in Archives of Neurology. Researchers at Columbia University followed 1,130 Medicare recipients in New York City with no cognitive impairment. After 4,469 person-years of follow-up, they identified 101 cases of AD (89 probable and 12 […]
December 4th, 2010
Rivaroxaban Found Safe and Effective for DVT
Larry Husten, PHD
In the EINSTEIN-DVT noninferiority study, 3449 patients with acute DVT were randomized to receive open label oral rivaroxaban or conventional therapy with enoxaparin followed by warfarin or acenocoumarol for 3, 6, or 12 months. The rate of recurrent VTE, the primary efficacy outcome, was lower with rivaroxaban treatment than with enoxaparin treatment, successfully demonstrating noninferiority for […]
November 30th, 2010
New Performance Measures for Peripheral Artery Disease Issued
Larry Husten, PHD
Performance measures to improve the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral artery disease (PAD) in adults have been published for the first time. The document was produced by the ACC, the AHA, and several other medical organizations. Here are a few key details of the performance measures: Measuring the ankle brachial index (ABI) is an easy and […]
November 15th, 2010
ROCKET AF Hits Chicago
Larry Husten, PHD
ROCKET AF hit the AHA on Monday morning. Results of ROCKET AF (Stroke Prevention Using the Oral Direct Factor Xa Inhibitor Rivaroxaban Compared With Warfarin in Patients with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation) had been the topic of intense speculation and interest. The trial showed that the experimental factor Xa inhibitor rivaroxaban was as effective as warfarin in […]
November 10th, 2010
Alzheimer’s Disease and Cholesterol: A Tricky Relationship
Larry Husten, PHD
A recent study in Neurology found that cholesterol levels in mid-life were not linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease in older age. In fact, the study by Michelle Mielke and colleagues found that large drops in cholesterol levels in old age were a harbinger of Alzheimer’s. CardioExchange asked Cynthia Carlsson, Assistant Professor and Alzheimer’s researcher […]
October 8th, 2010
Analysis of ADVANCE Explores Role of Hypoglycemia
Larry Husten, PHD
A new analysis of the ADVANCE (Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Preterax and Diamicron Modified Release Controlled Evaluation) trial sheds light on the role of hypoglycemia in recent trials of glucose control. In a paper in the New England Journal of Medicine, the ADVANCE investigators report that 2.1% of 11,140 patients with type 2 diabetes […]
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