Clinical Cardiology Alert – February 1, 2007
February 1, 2007
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Can Chemotherapy Cardiotoxicity Be Prevented?
The cardiotoxicity of anthracyclines and other agents may negatively affect clinical outcomes in cancer survivors. Data in other clinical situations and animal data on anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy suggests that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) may ameliorate this cardiotoxicity. -
Can Beta-Blockers Prevent Anthracycline-Induced Cardiomyopathy?
Anthracyclines may produce cardiotoxicity by apoptosis and free radical formation. Carvedilol, in addition to being a nonselective beta-blocker and alpha 1 blocker, is antioxidant and antiapoptotic. -
The Best Stent for Saphenous Vein Grafts Is?
After 8-10 years, atherosclerosis of saphenous vein grafts and symptoms of ischemia are common. Since repeat bypass surgery is associated with a higher mortality than first surgeries, percutaneous interventions (PCI) are preferred for vein graft disease. -
Ablation vs Drug Therapy for Intermittent Atrial Fibrillation
In this paper Pappone and his colleagues report a randomized study comparing circumferential pulmonary vein ablation (CPVA) to antiarrhythmic drug therapy in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who had previously failed at least one trial with antiarrhythmic drugs. -
Do All Brugada Patients Need an ICD?
Sacher and colleagues collected data on all patients diagnosed with Brugada syndrome who received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in 14 centers between 1993 and 2005. -
Biomarkers, Better Than Conventional Risk Factors?
In recent years there has been considerable interest in the utilization of biomarkers to assist in the prediction of risk for cardiovascular events, including mortality. -
Pharmacology Watch
Several important papers have been published in the last 2 months, none more important than the realization that breast cancer rates have dropped precipitously since the publication of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) in 2002. -
Clinical Briefs in Primary Care Supplement