March 16th, 2015
A Requiem for Routine Thrombectomy?
Larry Husten, PHD
Primary PCI is the treatment of choice in the early period of an acute MI. One limitation is the risk of dislodging part of the clot, leading to new downstream blockages of the microvasculature. One strategy that has been under development for a long time is thrombectomy, in which a device extracts the clot prior […]
January 14th, 2015
Ticagrelor Improves Outcomes After Myocardial Infarction
Larry Husten, PHD
For the first time, a very large trial has shown that dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) improves cardiovascular outcomes when given to patients 1 to 3 years after a myocardial infarction. Because DAPT has been shown previously to reduce the high risk of recurrent events for up to a year following an MI, it is considered to be standard […]
September 23rd, 2014
ACC and AHA Release New Guideline for Non–ST-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes
Larry Husten, PHD
A new guideline released today by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association reflects important changes in the last 7 years in the understanding of what is now known as non–ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS). The previous 2007 guideline used different terminology and referred to the same patient population as “unstable angina and […]
September 22nd, 2014
ACC Withdraws ‘Choosing Wisely’ Recommendation Against Revascularization of Nonculprit Lesions
Larry Husten, PHD
The American College of Cardiology said today that it was withdrawing one of its five recommendations in the “Choosing Wisely” campaign. In 2012 the ACC recommended that heart attack patients should have only their culprit artery unblocked. It said that patients and caregivers should question whether complete revascularization of all nonculprit lesions in heart attack […]
May 14th, 2014
Informed Interpretation of the 20-Year Results of the DIGAMI Trial
Valentin Fuster, MD
Darren McGuire gives us his perspective on the DIGAMI trial results.
April 29th, 2014
Dietary Fiber After MI Linked to Improved Survival
Larry Husten, PHD
Consuming more dietary fiber after myocardial infarction is associated with a reduced risk for death. In a report published in BMJ, researchers analyzed long-term data about diet and other risk factors from more than 4000 healthcare professionals who had an MI. Nine years after the MI, people who were in the highest quintile of fiber consumption had a […]
March 30th, 2014
High-Sensitivity Troponin Test Could Identify Low-Risk Chest Pain Patients in the ED
Larry Husten, PHD
Approximately 15-20 million people in Europe and the United States go to the emergency department every year with chest pain. Many can be discharged early if they are not having an acute coronary syndrome. A large, new, single-center observational study, presented at the American College of Cardiology meeting in Washington, DC and published simultaneously in the Journal […]
January 13th, 2014
Merck’s Vorapaxar Gets Positive FDA Review
Larry Husten, PHD
A few years ago a novel antiplatelet agent from Merck seemed all but dead. Vorapaxar, a thrombin receptor antagonist, was widely thought to have no future after unacceptably high serious bleeding rates were found in two large clinical trials studying the drug in a wide variety of acute and chronic cardiovascular patients. But hopes for the drug resurfaced with […]
December 16th, 2013
Possible New Lease on Life for Vorapaxar and Rivaroxaban for ACS
Larry Husten, PHD
Early next year an FDA panel will review a new drug from Merck and a new indication for Xarelto (rivaroxaban), Johnson & Johnson’s highly successful new oral anticoagulant. Both drugs have had a rocky road getting to this stage and their success is by no means assured, but the announcement of the meeting of the FDA’s Cardiovascular and […]
November 26th, 2013
Little Difference in Chest Pain Between Men and Women
Larry Husten, PHD
In recent years, the medical community has grown increasingly concerned that women with heart attacks may be less likely to receive prompt and effective treatment. The difference between the sexes in the presentation of symptoms is thought to be a major barrier to better treatment for women. But now a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine finds that […]