Browse Clinical Cardiology Articles by Topic

Left Ventricular Assist Devices for Ambulatory Heart Failure: Weighing the Risks and Benefits

Recent data support the use of the HeartMate II left ventricular assist devices in functionally limited, non-inotrope-dependent heart failure patients who have poor quality of life and meet FDA criteria for destination therapy LVAD.

Utility of Non-traditional Risk Factors

Adding additional risk factors not in the pooled risk equation to low-risk subjects identified a sub-group with an observed event rate > 7.5% who may warrant statin therapy.

Temporal Relationship Between Atrial Fibrillation and Ischemic Stroke?

Multiple hours of atrial fibrillation had a strong but transient effect raising stroke risk, suggesting that a strategy of intermittent targeted usage of rapidly acting anticoagulants might merit further consideration by a randomized trial.

Aortic Valve Replacement in Asymptomatic Patients: Can Registry Data Replace Randomized, Controlled Trials?

Patients with severe asymptomatic aortic stenosis managed conservatively have “dismal” outcomes in real-world practice.

Optimal Beta-blocker Dose Post-MI

ABSTRACT & COMMENTARY: A look at survival rates using high and low doses of beta blockers.

Blood Pressure Targets in Flux Again

Trial could be a game changer if the results are robust.

Finally, a Positive Outcomes Study for Platelet Function Testing

Platelet function testing-defined clopidogrel nonresponsiveness can be overcome by prasugrel treatment, and that this is a modifiable risk factor whose treatment can improve outcomes.

Slow Down, Save Lives? Rate Control in Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation patients receiving beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers had lower risk of mortality compared to those not taking rate-control drugs, with the lowest mortality rate in the beta-blocker group, while digoxin use was associated with a higher risk of mortality.

Beta-blocker Dose More Important Than Heart Rate in Systolic Heart Failure

In chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, titrating beta-blocker doses may confer a greater benefit than reducing heart rate.

Reduced Leaflet Motion in Bioprosthetic Valves

ABSTRACT & COMMENTARY: It's in a significant proportion of surgical and transcatheter bioprosthetic aortic valves by volume-rendered CT scans.