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By Michael H. Crawford, MD
Synopsis: BNP levels are significantly elevated in RCM patients as compared to CP patients, and should be a useful noninvasive marker to distinguish the 2 conditions.
Source: Leya FS, et al. The Efficacy of Brain Natriuretic Peptide Levels in Differentiating Constrictive Pericarditis From Restrictive Cardiomyopathy. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2005;45:1900-1902.
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By Jonathan Abrams, MD
Synopsis: A majority of patients report improvement in functional quality of life early after AVR. Similar functional recovery was demonstrated for patients along the full spectrum of valve sizes indexed to body size, even for values considered to represent severe mismatch for patient size. Factors other than prosthesis-patient size influence functional quality of life early after AVR.
Source: Koch CG, et al. Impact of Prosthesis-Patient Size on Functional Recovery After Aortic Valve Replacement. Circulation. 2005:111:3221-3229.
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By Jonathan Abrams, MD
Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque Dr. Abrams serves on the speakers bureau for Merck, Pfizer, and Parke-Davis.
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By Michael H. Crawford, MD
Synopsis: Acute acetylcholinesterase inhibition reduced standing heart rate and symptoms in POTS patients.
Source: Raj SR, et al. Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition Improves Tachycardia in Postural Tachycardia Syndrome. Circulation. 2005;111:2734-2740.
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By Michael H. Crawford, MD
Synopsis: BiV capture can be accurately detected by observing the R/S ratio in leads V1 and I of the 12-lead ECG.
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By John P. DiMarco, MD, PhD
Synopsis: The absolute risk for sudden death or cardiac arrest is greatest in the early period after myocardial infarction, and the event rate declines significantly over time.
Source: Solomon SD, et al. Sudden Death in Patients With Myocardial Infarction and Left Ventricular Dysfunction, Heart Failure, or Both. N Engl J Med. 2005;352:2581-2588.
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By John P. DiMarco, MD, PhD Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
Dr. DiMarco is a consultant for Novartis and does research for Medtronic and Guidant.
Synopsis: Amiodarone and sotalol have a similar efficacy for converting atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm, that the drugs do not significantly impair electrical cardioversion and that amiodarone is superior to sotalol which, in turn, is better than placebo, for maintaining sinus rhythm.
Source: Singh BN, et al. Amiodarone Versus Sotalol for Atrial Fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2005;352:1861-1872.
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Roche is Under Pressure Over Its Antiviral Drug Tamiflu; ACE Inhibitors or ARBs for Prediabetics?; Xigris is Approved for Severe Sepsis; ACE Inhibitors Inhibiting Aortic Valve Stenosis?; FDA Actions
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