CardioExchange Archive

June 18th, 2013

Statin Toxicity Associated with CYP3A4-Inhibiting Antibiotics

Higher rates of hospitalization for rhabdomyolysis occur among patients on statins who also start taking clarithromycin or erythromycin, which inhibit statin metabolism, according to an Annals of Internal Medicine study. Using provincial databases, researchers examined 30-day outcomes among some 140,000 Ontario residents who were taking a statin metabolized by the cytochrome P450 isoenzyme 3A4 (CYP3A4). All […]

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June 10th, 2013

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: June 10th

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include controlling diabetes through surgery or medical management, the risk for diabetes among those taking statins, and aspirin vs. low-molecular-weight heparin for extended VTE prophlyaxis after total hip replacement.

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June 4th, 2013

Study Finds More Musculoskeletal Problems in People Who Take Statins

Larry Husten, PHD

An observational study published in JAMA Internal Medicine provides new evidence suggesting that people who take statins are more likely to develop musculoskeletal problems. Ishak Mansi and colleagues analyzed data from 6,967 statin users and an equal number of propensity-matched nonusers who were active-duty soldiers, veterans, and their families in the San Antonio Military Area. They found that the […]

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June 3rd, 2013

Waiting For ATP IV In Las Vegas

Reva Balakrishnan, MD, MPH

May 31– Today was the first full day of the National Lipid Association meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada. As a first time attendee, I notice many differences compared to the larger meetings. Firstly, there are ~ 700 people in attendance; this dwarfs in comparison to the AHA and ACC which count attendees in the thousands. […]

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May 30th, 2013

True or False: Fitness Program + Statin = No Fitness Program?

Catherine R Mikus, PhD and John Thyfault, PhD

Catherine Mikus and John Thyfault discuss their study group’s small randomized trial suggesting that statin use may blunt the benefits of exercise.

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May 23rd, 2013

Small Study Suggests Statins May Blunt Benefits of Exercise

Larry Husten, PHD

A small study is raising big questions about whether statins may blunt the beneficial effects of exercise. The study has been published online in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and is the subject of a New York Times blog. Some 37 previously sedentary, overweight or obese adults with at least two other risk factors underwent 12 weeks of aerobic […]

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May 3rd, 2013

FDA Approves Combination of Ezetimibe and Atorvastatin

Larry Husten, PHD

The FDA has approved a new combination drug from Merck for lowering cholesterol. The drug, which will carry the brand name of Liptruzet, is a combination of two previously approved cholesterol-lowering drugs, ezetimibe and atorvastatin. Merck said the new drug (pronounced “LIP-true-zett”) would be commercially available starting next week. Liptruzet will be available as a once-daily […]

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April 29th, 2013

Unconventional Analysis Finds Threshold for LDL Reduction with Statins

Larry Husten, PHD

Using an unconventional mathematical approach, a group of Japanese researchers say there may be no good reason to reduce LDL cholesterol more than 40 mg/dl. Their research letter has been published online in JAMA Internal Medicine. According to the authors, members of the ALICE (All-Literature Investigation of Cardiovascular Evidence) Group, most meta-analyses use linear models that […]

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April 8th, 2013

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

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include an article on open science through data sharing, primary prevention of CVD with a Mediterranean diet, atherosclerosis found in mummies, and more.

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April 2nd, 2013

Lifelong Statin Sentence Now Includes Furloughs

Larry Husten, PHD

Although the benefits of statins are among the best documented in all of medicine, continuous lifelong statin therapy is not always easy to achieve in clinical practice. Now a new retrospective study suggests that although clinical events causing temporary cessation of statin therapy occur often, most of these patients are later able to resume statin therapy. […]

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