CardioExchange Archive

October 13th, 2014

First Drug-Coated Balloon Approved by FDA for Leg Blockages

Larry Husten, PHD

The FDA today announced that it had approved for use in the U.S. the first drug-coated angioplasty balloon catheter to re-open blocked arteries in the superficial femoral and popliteal arteries. The Lutonix 035 Drug Coated Balloon Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty Catheter (Lutonix DCB) is manufactured by CR Bard and has been available in Europe since 2012. “Peripheral artery disease can be quite serious. Preventing […]

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October 3rd, 2013

ABI-Based Screening for PAD: Which Guidelines Are Right?

Rita F Redberg, MD, MSc and Mark A. Creager, MD

Rita Redberg and Mark Creager discuss the differences between the USPSTF and the ACCF/AHA guideline recommendations on whether to use the ankle-brachial index to screen patients for peripheral artery disease.

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July 8th, 2013

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: July 8th

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include a home-based walking intervention for those with PAD, BNP screening and collaborative care for HF, clopidogrel with aspirin in acute minor stroke or transient ischemic attack, and more.

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February 11th, 2013

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: February 11th

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include the effect of ramipril on walking times and quality of life among those with PAD and intermittent claudication, genetic associations with valvular calcification and aortic stenosis, and more.

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February 5th, 2013

ACE Inhibitor Improves Walking in People with Peripheral Artery Disease

Larry Husten, PHD

Giving an ACE inhibitor to people with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and intermittent claudication reduces pain and increases walking time, according to a new study published in JAMA. Currently the pharmacologic options for this patient population are few and have limited efficacy. Researchers at three Australian hospitals randomized 212 patients with PAD to receive the ACE inhibitor ramipril or placebo for 24 […]

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October 29th, 2012

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: October 29th

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include CV risk factors and peripheral artery disease in men, radiofrequency ablation in paroxysmal AF, CPR duration and survival after in-hospital cardiac arrest, an everolimus-eluting stent vs. a bare-metal stent in STEMI, job strain and CHD, and more.

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August 20th, 2012

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: August 20th

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include studies on the benefits of drug-eluting vs. bare-metal stents, using walking speed and blood pressure measurements to predict mortality in the elderly, stroke and bleeding in AF with chronic kidney disease, and the diagnosis and management of peripheral artery disease.

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February 15th, 2012

AHA Scientific Statement Spotlights Peripheral Artery Disease in Women

Larry Husten, PHD

Although peripheral artery disease (PAD) raises the risk for heart disease and stroke, it often goes undiagnosed and untreated, especially in women, according to a scientific statement issued by the American Heart Association and published in Circulation. Here are a few highlights of the statement: Although women develop PAD later than men, the total number of women with PAD […]

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October 3rd, 2011

Guidelines for Managing Peripheral Artery Disease Updated

Larry Husten, PHD

The ACC and the AHA have released updated guidelines for managing peripheral artery disease (PAD). The document is available online in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and in Circulation. The new guidelines place a greater emphasis on tobacco cessation, requesting healthcare providers to consistently ask patients about their smoking status and to offer support to help them […]

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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 […]

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