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Looking Beyond LDL in Cardiovascular Risk Screening for Women

In a 30-year prospective study of nearly 28,000 initially healthy U.S. women, baseline levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol or lipoprotein(a) independently and additively predicted major cardiovascular events.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

And Then What Happens?

You are consulted on the electrocardiogram (ECG) in the figure — but without the benefit of any clinical information. This tracing was assessed as showing AFib (atrial fibrillation) with a controlled ventricular response. Do you agree?

Use of Coronary Calcium Score in Familial Coronary Artery Disease

A randomized trial of computed tomography (CT) coronary artery calcium score augmented management vs. usual care of primary prevention patients at moderate risk of a coronary event and with a family history of premature coronary events has shown that, after three years of follow-up, the calcium score group had lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and smaller total plaque volumes by CT angiography.

Systolic Blood Pressure Targets in Octogenarians

An analysis of a U.S. national database of patients 80 years of age or older taking antihypertensive agents was analyzed to determine the optimal systolic blood pressure associated with the lowest cardiovascular mortality and found that the ideal target was < 130 mmHg.

Systolic Blood Pressure Targets in Octogenarians

An analysis of a U.S. national database of patients 80 years of age or older taking antihypertensive agents was analyzed to determine the optimal systolic blood pressure associated with the lowest cardiovascular mortality and found that the ideal target was < 130 mmHg.