Clinical Cardiology Alert – June 1, 2025

Favorable One-Year Results Reported from the LuX TTVR Device

One-year results from the TRAVEL study of the LuX transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement (TTVR) device demonstrates sustained reduction of tricuspid regurgitation to mild or less in more than 95% of patients, with improved functional status and reverse remodeling of the right ventricle.

Best Long-Term Antiplatelet Monotherapy Post-PCI

In a multicenter, randomized, open-label trial of clopidogrel vs. aspirin monotherapy in patients post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) who had been on dual antiplatelet therapy for the recommended period, those randomized to clopidogrel showed fewer major cardiovascular or cerebral events over a two-year follow-up period than those on aspirin without an increase in bleeding events.

Stroke Risk in Patients with New AF During Hospitalization for Other Reasons

In a Canadian administrative database study of patients who developed atrial fibrillation during a hospitalization for other reasons, researchers followed the patients for one year to ascertain the risk of subsequent stroke. The incidence of stroke in those not anticoagulated generally was below the 2% per year threshold recommended for treatment with anticoagulants. However, in those with a CHA₂DS₂-VA score ≥ 5 (sex not included based on new data) and in those admitted for cardiac medical problems, the 95% confidence intervals of stroke risk did cross 2%. Thus, selected patients may be candidates for anticoagulation.

Echocardiography vs. CMR for Quantitating Aortic Regurgitation

A small study of echocardiography compared to cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in patients with chronic aortic regurgitation of variable severity has shown that the simple use of the color Doppler regurgitant jet vena contracta width and the end-diastolic left ventricular volume index by two-dimensional echocardiographic imaging can accurately predict who has clinically significant regurgitation.

Does Thoracentesis Speed Recovery from Heart Failure?

An unblinded, multicentered, randomized trial of patients with acute heart failure hospital admissions and significant pleural effusions showed that early thoracentesis, in addition to recommended medical therapy, did not reduce mortality or length of stay, or increase days alive out of the hospital for 90 days. However, it was relatively safe and could be employed in selected persistently symptomatic patients with very large effusions.