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Editors Note: The following reports from the annual scientific sessions of the American College of Cardiology held March 30 to April 2, 2003, were obtained by handwritten notes, press releases, and news reports.
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In one of the more bizarre stories of the year, the FDA has uncovered files of counterfeit Procrit (epoetin alfaJohnson & Johnson) in routine surveillance. To make matters worse, the fake vials have been contaminated with bacteria and many contain no active ingredient.
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Synopsis: When RALES and EPHESUS are considered together, one clearly can recommend the use of an aldosterone receptor blocker for all very ill patients with congestive heart failure and significant LV dysfunction, whether or not related to acute myocardial infarction.
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Rea and colleagues report a longitudinal survey of cardiac arrests in King County, Wash, (excluding the city of Seattle) from 1977 to 2001. The study, from a region with perhaps the best emergency medical system in the country, adds important data.
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This study, following on the heels of the recent negative trial in postpercutaneous coronary stenting patients, suggests that we have more to learn about the role of folic acid and homocysteine in CAD.
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Current supportive heart failure therapy has reduced morbidity and mortality, but adverse outcomes are still frequent. Clearly, an approach based upon eliminating the cause of myocardial dysfunction would be advantageous. This study is an attempt to pursue this line of therapy for viral myocarditis using the antiviral agent INFB.
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Sutton and colleagues from New Zealand explored the concept that natriuretic peptide levels (ANP, BNP) may aide in the determination of the severity of mitral regurgitation.
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Sweeney and colleagues from the Mode Selection Trial report on the effects of ventricular pacing in patients with sinus node dysfunction.
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This report is a detailed analysis of the approximate 6000 diabetics in the Heart Protection Study, which investigated the efficacy of simvastatin (simva) and antioxidant vitamins.
