The need for dual antiplatelet therapy following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) also imposes a significant bleeding risk. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with poorer outcomes following PCI, and in addition a detrimental effect on platelet function is well described. In this study the authors investigated the outcomes of patients with chronic renal impairment (defined […]
Latest articles
Inferior MI greater risk for CABG than anterior
Among patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), those with a history of previous myocardial infarction (PMI) have poorer post-operative cardiovascular outcomes than those without. However it remains unclear whether there are differences in outcomes after CABG between patients with anterior PMI versus those with inferior PMI. […]
Fasting blood glucose levels identify high-risk individuals across the ACS spectrum
Elevated blood glucose at hospital admission, and elevated fasting blood glucose levels during admission, have been shown to predict worse outcome among patients with STEMI, however, the contribution of glucose levels to risk predictive algorithms involving patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) remains unclear. […]
Carbon-dating suggests spontaneous cardiomyocyte renewal in humans
When cardiac muscle is lost, the heart mostly heals through the formation of scar tissue.Although the heart cannot undergo large-scale tissue regeneration, stem/progenitor cells with the potential to generate cardiomyocytes in vitro remain in the adult human myocardium, and mature cardiomyocytes have been suggested to have the ability to re-enter the cell cycle and duplicate. […]
Stent vs Surgery – a subgroup meta-analysis
The outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), when compared with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) might vary according to the patient characteristics, such as the presence of diabetes or the number of diseased vessels. However, no randomized trial to date has been large enough to provide adequate statistical power for sub-group analysis, and meta-analyses have […]
MONICA – evidence based medicine in the real world
Previous studies, such as the World Health Organisation MONICA (monitoring trends and determinants in cardiovascular disease) project, have demonstrated the rapid and progressive uptake of medical care that has been shown in randomised clinical trials to reduce cardiovascular mortality [Lancet 2000;355:688-700]. However, there are relatively few population based studies available that describe how this apparent […]
Catheter-based treatment of hypertension shows promise
Renal sympathetic efferent and afferent nerves are crucial for the initiation and maintenance of systemic hypertension, and as such renal sympathetic denervation is a potential therapeutic target for hypertension.Krum et al. describe the development of a novel, percutanoeus, catheter-based approach to renal sympathetic denervation.The lumen of the main renal artery is cannulated and the surrounding […]
A new test for Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC)
The diagnosis and management of Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC) can be problematic – the disease has a highly variable clinical presentation, and cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death occur frequently. Currently the diagnosis is usually made clinically using criteria that have been defined by an international task force -whilst these are specific they are […]
CT Angiography may negatively impact other imaging modalities
The role of Computed Tomography (CT) of the coronary arteries in the diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery disease remains is in evolution. Yet in several areas of the world, this technique is already in widespread use, and it is not yet known what effect this has had on other areas of the diagnosis and […]
Fasting blood glucose levels identify high-risk individuals across the ACS spectrum
Elevated blood glucose at hospital admission, and elevated fasting blood glucose levels during admission, have been shown to predict worse outcome among patients with STEMI, however, the contribution of glucose levels to risk predictive algorithms involving patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) remains unclear. […]