Clinical Cardiology Alert – December 1, 2003
December 1, 2003
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Late-Breaking Trials from the American Heart Association Annual Scientific Sessions: SPORTIF V
The efficacy and safety study of oral direct thrombin Inhibitor Ximelagatran Compared with Dose-Adjusted Warfarin in the Prevention of Stroke and Systemic Embolic Events in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation (SPORTIF V) was presented by Dr. Jonathan Halperin. -
Late-Breaking Trials from the American Heart Association Annual Scientific Sessions: DEFINITE
Studies of selected patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy have shown improved survival with the use of prophylactic implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD). Thus, DEFibrillators in Non-Ischemic Cardiomyopathy Treatment Evaluation (DEFINITE) was designed to test the survival benefit of ICDs in patients with heart failure but without coronary artery disease. -
Late-Breaking Trials from the American Heart Association Annual Scientific Sessions: PAD
Dr. Joseph Ornato presented the Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) study, which evaluated the efficacy of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest treatment by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) alone vs CPR plus use of an automatic external defibrillator (AED) performed by trained laypersons. -
Late-Breaking Trials from the American Heart Association Annual Scientific Sessions: VALIANT
In the Valsartan in Acute Myocardial Infarction Trial (VALIANT) the angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) valsartan (V) was evaluated in 14,703 high-risk acute MI patients to determine its efficacy and safety profile compared to the ACE inhibitor captopril (C). -
Late-Breaking Trials from the American Heart Association Annual Scientific Sessions: REVERSAL
Reversing Atherosclerosis with Aggressive Lipid Lowering (REVERSAL) is a prospective, randomized, controlled trial assessing the effectiveness of an intensive or aggressive lipid-lowering approach (atorvastatin 80 mg) to a moderate one (pravastatin 40 mg). -
Thoracoscopic Obliteration of the Left Atrial Appendage in Atrial Fibrillation
In this study, Blackshear and colleagues report on their experience with thoracoscopic surgical techniques to close the left atrial appendage as prophylaxis against stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. -
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy for Heart Failure in Patients With Malignant Ventricular Tachyarrhythmias
In this report, Higgins and colleagues report on a multicenter trial on the efficacy of cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with an indication for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. -
Pharmacology Watch: Eplerenone Cleared for CHF Patients with Sustained MI
The FDA has approved Pfizer's eplerenone (Inspra) for the treatment of congestive heart failure (CHF) in patients who have sustained a myocardial infarction.