Clinical Cardiology
RSSArticles
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Are Frequent PVCs Causing Left Ventricular Dysfunction?
Premature ventricular contraction-induced cardiomyopathy was phenotypically different than a tachycardia-mediated cardiomyopathy in a swine model. Paced ventricular bigeminy led to left ventricular dyssynchrony, a decline in left ventricular ejection fraction associated with biventricular myocardial fibrosis, and a widening of the sinus QRS.
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In-Ambulance Troponin Measurements
A study of triaging suspected non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome patients by employing in-ambulance troponin measurements augmented the predictive value for 45-day major adverse cardiac events. This could help identify very high-risk patients who would benefit from urgent coronary angiography.
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The Natural History of Tricuspid Regurgitation
A retrospective analysis of patients with moderate or severe tricuspid valve regurgitation (TR) and who underwent an earlier echo with no or mild TR showed that progression of TR was independently associated with age, female sex, new device leads, and right ventricular or tricuspid annular dilation.
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TAVR Beneficial for Patients With Severely Reduced Ejection Fraction
In patients with low-flow, low-gradient aortic stenosis and severe left ventricular dysfunction, transcatheter aortic valve replacement was associated with significant improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction and similar mortality compared to patients with milder left ventricular dysfunction.
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Late Mortality With Paclitaxel-Coated Balloons and Stents in Peripheral Arterial Disease
A newly published meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials concerning paclitaxel-coated balloons and stents in femoral popliteal disease patients revealed a marked increase in all-cause death at two and five years.
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Noninvasive Mapping and Ablation of Ventricular Tachycardia: Evidence Builds for Novel Approach
In 19 patients with treatment-refractory episodes of ventricular tachycardia or frequent premature ventricular contractions, stereotactic body radiation therapy was highly effective at reducing arrhythmia burden without acute toxicity.
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Chronic Kidney Disease Discourages Appropriate Use of Angiography and PCI in NSTEMI
This retrospective study of patients presenting with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction showed higher mortality among patients with chronic kidney disease and lower use of coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention.
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Cardiac MRI for Prognosis in Aortic Stenosis
The authors of a consortium observational study of patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing valve replacement found that a pre-procedure cardiac MRI that detects myocardial fibrosis is predictive of post-procedure mortality and may be useful for making decisions about valve replacement in asymptomatic patients.
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Testing Safety, Efficacy of Pharmacotherapy in Hospitalized Heart Failure Patients
In patients hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, administering sacubitril-valsartan led to more improvement in levels of cardiac biomarkers compared to enalapril, with no adverse safety signals.
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PCSK9 Inhibitors in Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients
Compared to adding placebo, using the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor alirocumab in post-acute coronary syndrome patients on maximally tolerated, high-intensity statins with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels higher than 70 mg/dL lowered LDL and reduced the number of major adverse cardiac events.