Clinical Cardiology Alert – June 1, 2005
June 1, 2005
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BNP for Aortic Stenosis
Valve replacement surgery is usually delayed until symptoms develop in patients with severe aortic stenosis by echocardiography. However, symptoms may be unreliable in older patients who are more sedentary. Thus, Gerber and colleagues from New Zealand evaluated the value of serial BNP measurements to predict the development of symptoms in 29 initially asymptomatic patients with moderate to severe aortic stenosis. -
CABG for ACS: The European Experience
The in-hospital outcomes of CABG patients were equivalent to non-CABG patients, suggesting that CABG remains a viable alternative to PCI in selected patients with ACS. -
Doppler Diastolic Dysfunction in the Elderly
The observed age-related changes in mitral Doppler filling velocity characteristics are not due to differences in left atrial pressure over the physiologic range of pressures. -
Tissue Doppler for Estimating LV Filling Pressure
E/E´ is useful for detecting elevated LV filling pressures in patients with heart failure and may be especially useful for excluding high filling pressures in those with diastolic dysfunction. -
Disopyramide for Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy
Disopyramide has a useful role in the therapeutic armamentarium for obstructive cardiomyopathy. -
Catheter Ablation of Right Ventricular Outflow Tract PVCs
Eliminating frequent right ventricular outflow tract PVCs improves left ventricular function, particularly in patients with extremely high density arrhythmias. -
Obesity—Overrated As A Coronary Risk Factor?
Overweight is associated with no excess mortality, particularly in the older age groups. -
Clinical Briefs in Primary Care Supplement
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Pharmacology Watch: Is Nesiritide Associated with a Higher Death Rate?
Nesiritide, Scios' intravenous recombinant form of human B-type naturetic peptide, has been widely used for the treatment of congestive heart failure in hospitalized patients.