Clinical Cardiology Alert – December 1, 2012
December 1, 2012
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Bare-Metal or Everolimus-Eluting Stents in STEMI?
Drug-eluting stents (DES) reduce the rate of in-stent restenosis (ISR) compared to bare-metal stents (BMS). However, the first-generation DES had higher rates of late stent thrombosis than BMS, and this was more evident after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). -
Renal Artery and Atrial Ablation for Resistant Hypertension and Atrial Fibrillation
This paper reports the early results from a proof-of-concept study looking at combined renal artery denervation and pulmonary vein isolation in hypertensive patients with atrial fibrillation. The authors randomized patients with drug refractory atrial fibrillation and drug-resistant hypertension to either standard pulmonary vein isolation or pulmonary vein isolation with renal artery denervation in a single procedure. -
Left Atrial Appendage Exclusion Device for Protection From Thromboemboli
The left atrial appendage is thought to be the source of a large proportion of emboli in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. In this paper, Bartus and his colleagues describe an innovative new device that uses a combined transseptal-epicardial approach to ligate the left atrial appendage. -
Long-Term Exercise Training in Heart Failure
Exercise training is associated with short-term improvements in functional capacity in heart failure patients, but its effect on mortality and heart failure readmissions have been mixed. -
Multivitamins Do Not Prevent Cardiovascular Events
Billions of dollars are spent annually in the United States on Multivitamins in the hope they will improve health. -
NSAIDS Post Myocardial Infarction
The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) early after myocardial infarction (MI) has been shown to increase the risk of death or recurrent MI, but little is known about the long-term risks. -
Pharmacology Watch: Menopausal Hormone Therapy and the Risk for VTE, AD
Menopausal hormone therapy and risk of VTE and AD; patients' understanding of chemotherapy benefits; and FDA actions. -
Clinical Briefs in Primary Care Supplement