At least 30% of patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis are not deemed surgical candidates owing to advanced age, left ventricular dysfunction, or the presence of multiple coexisting conditions. In the perceived absence of effective alternative treatment options, Transcatheter Aortic-Valve Implantation (TAVI), which was first demonstrated in 2002, has been rapidly adopted as a treatment […]
Latest articles
Meta-analysis of carotid stenting highlights risk in the elderly
In the majority of trials performed to date, carotid stenting has been associated with a higher periprocedural risk of stroke than endarterectomy, particularly in patients with symptomatic stenosis. However, no individual trail has been large enough to examine the effect of either treatment in any particular patient subgroup with any certainty. […]
Ivabradine—a paradigm SHIFT in heart failure?
A raised resting heart rate is a known risk factor for adverse outcomes in patients with chronic heart failure. In addition, the benefit of many drugs for heart failure appear to be at least in part caused by their ability to lower the heart rate, perhaps thereby attenuating the effect of energy starvation of the […]
Hypertension targets in the elderly
Successful hypertension treatment decreases risk for adverse outcomes among lower-risk and younger patient groups; however, for the very old (>80 years), results have been conflicting. Additionally, for the very old with hypertension and coronary disease, information is very limited. […]
Clinical descriptors identify high risk for cardiovascular events
The Reduction of Atherosclerosis for Continued Health registry (REACH) is a contemporary cohort of patients with various stages of atherosclerosis, from asymptomatic patients with risk factors to patients who have had previous ischaemic events. The aim of this 4-year follow-up study was to determine the risk of cardiovascular events in stable outpatients with various initial […]
Fibrosis markers in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
Fibrosis markers in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) HCM is the commonest cardiac single-gene disorder, with a prevalence of approximately 1 in 500 in the general population. The diagnosis depends on the identification of unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy, but this finding is present only in people with established disease and is typically absent in childhood. In contrast, […]
Rimonabant fails to reach a CRESCENDO
Rimonabant is a selective cannabinoid-1 receptor antagonist that has previously been shown to reduce waist circumference and body weight, in addition to improving metabolic factors such as high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, adiponectin, triglyceride, insulin and leptin levels. However, no previous trial has been adequately powered to assess whether this can lead to improved clinical outcomes. […]
No role for routine balloon pump in high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)
In patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction, PCI is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, particularly if large amounts of viable myocardium are supplied by the diseased coronary arteries. Although observational studies have suggested that intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) insertion may decrease patient risk in this setting, no previous randomised controlled trial has examined this […]
Fibrosis markers in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
HCM is the commonest cardiac single-gene disorder, with a prevalence of approximately 1 in 500 in the general population. The diagnosis depends on the identification of unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy, but this finding is present only in people with established disease and is typically absent in childhood. In contrast, genetic diagnosis can identify carriers without […]
Rimonabant fails to reach a CRESCENDO
Rimonabant is a selective cannabinoid-1 receptor antagonist that has previously been shown to reduce waist circumference and body weight, in addition to improving metabolic factors such as highdensity lipoprotein-cholesterol, adiponectin, triglyceride, insulin and leptin levels. However, no previous trial has been adequately powered to assess whether this can lead to improved clinical outcomes. […]