Browse Cardiology General Articles by Topic

What Are Hyperacute T-Waves and What Do They Mean?

A retrospective study of emergency department patients suspected of having an acute coronary syndrome has shown that a computer system for determining a new quantitative high-amplitude electrocardiogram (ECG) T-wave score has a high specificity and reasonable sensitivity for identifying patients with acute coronary occlusion that performs as well as ECG ST-elevation myocardial infarction criteria.

Statins for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

An analysis of two large, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening populations from Denmark has shown that high-dose statin therapy reduces the rate of AAA growth, the need for repair, and adverse outcomes, such as rupture and death.

Withdrawing Heart Failure Medications After Restoring Sinus Rhythm in AF Cardiomyopathy Patients

A small trial of withdrawing guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for reduced ejection fraction (EF) heart failure in patients with atrial fibrillation in whom EF recovered after restoration of normal sinus rhythm has shown that withdrawal of GDMT was not associated with a decline in EF over 12 months in most patients.

Beta-Blocker Interruption Post-MI

An analysis of the secondary outcomes in the French multicentered study of beta-blocker withdrawal in patients with uncomplicated myocardial infarction after one year led to increases in heart rate and blood pressure with potentially deleterious outcomes, especially in patients with a history of hypertension.

Routine CCTA Imaging of Left Main PCI Patients Falls Short in Randomized Trial

In this randomized trial of patients undergoing left main percutaneous coronary intervention, routine surveillance coronary computed tomography angiography six months after intervention did not reduce the composite endpoint of all-cause death, myocardial infarction (MI), unstable angina, or stent thrombosis at 18 months, but was associated with fewer spontaneous MIs and more imaging-triggered revascularization procedures.

Treatment Window for Lowering Blood Pressure in Acute ICH

Effective treatment for acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) has remained elusive, with inconclusive results from surgical evacuations, as well as blood pressure management. The investigators performed a pooled analysis of four INTERACT trials that studied the effect of aggressive blood pressure lowering in patients with acute ICH. Ultra-early treatment (< 3 hours from onset) may be beneficial, but most patients are not so quickly diagnosed or treated.

Contemporary Cardiovascular Disease Deaths in Asian Americans

An analysis of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention database has shown the cardiovascular disease mortality rate is higher in Asian Americans than in non-Asian Americans and that this excess mortality is particularly prevalent in Filipino Americans.

Contemporary Cardiovascular Disease Deaths in Asian Americans

An analysis of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention database has shown the cardiovascular disease mortality rate is higher in Asian Americans than in non-Asian Americans and that this excess mortality is particularly prevalent in Filipino Americans.

Surgery or Fibrinolysis for Thrombosed Mechanical Valves

A randomized trial of urgent surgery vs. thrombolytic therapy for symptomatic left-sided mechanical valve thrombosis has shown that surgery completely restores valve function in all patients compared to three-quarters of patients with thrombolytic therapy, but at a cost of higher in-hospital complications and mortality.

Left Ventricular Size and Outcomes in Aortic Regurgitation

A multinational, retrospective, observational registry study of patients with significant aortic valve regurgitation has shown that left ventricular end-systolic dimension and volume measurements are valuable for risk-stratifying such patients and should be incorporated into the guidelines for when to intervene.