Clinical Cardiology Alert – May 1, 2009
May 1, 2009
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Highlights from the 60th ACC Meeting: Late-breaking Trials
Dr. George Dourgas presented the results of the Harmonizing Outcomes with Revascularization and Stents in Acute Myocardial Infarction (HORIZONS AMI) analysis of predictors of stent thrombosis in more than 3,600 patients, and showed that higher doses of clopidogrel (600 mg) pharmacologic therapy, lesion characteristics, and the length of stents were predictors of early-stent thrombosis. -
Discontinuing Anti-platelet Therapy in Patients with Drug-eluting Stents
The introduction of drug-eluting stents (DES) was met with enthusiasm from the interventional cardiology community because of the dramatic reduction in rates of in-stent restenosis (ISR). However, it came to be recognized that this clinical benefit, due to reduced proliferation of smooth muscle cells, came at a price. -
Cilostazol or Double-dose Clopidogrel in "Clopidogrel Resistance"?
Dual anti-platelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel reduces cardiac events in patients who have acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and in patients who have percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Recently, the phenomenon of "clopidogrel resistance" has received much attention because of the clinical problems of stent thrombosis and recurrent ACS. However, a precise definition of this clinical entity is lacking. -
Sudden Death in Athletes
The U.S. National Registry of Sudden Death in Athletes assembles and analyzes data on the deaths of young athletes who participate in competitive sports. -
ICD Complications
This report from the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) portion of the National Cardiovascular Data Registry focuses on the relationships of gender to in-hospital, ICD-associated adverse events. -
Endothelial Function and Atherosclerosis
Many reports evaluating coronary risk factors in overtly healthy individuals have been highlighted in a variety of preventative cardiology programs, guidelines, and sources. The Framingham Study gave an amazingly powerful kick start to the recognition of coronary risk factors. -
Clinical Briefs in Primary Care Supplement
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Pharmacology Watch
Aspirin dose and cardioprotection; uncovering modafinil's abuse potential; proton-pump inhibitors and clopidogrel; FDA actions.