Data from the GISSI-Prevenzione study[Lancet 1999;354:447-55] suggested that omega-3 fatty acids may have the ability to reduce death from cardiovascular causes, mainly through a reduction in sudden cardiac death (SCD). However, subsequent studies among patients with implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICD) failed to demonstrate any reduction in device therapy with supplemental fish oils, possibly due to […]
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Stent or Surgery? It depends on the SYNTAX
As percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) continues to evolve, its ability to treat complex coronary artery disease (CAD) continues to improve.The SYNTAX (Synergy between PCI with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery) trial was designed to assess whether modern percutaneous techniques have assumed parity with coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) for the treatment of complex (3 vessel or […]
A new anti-arrhythmic for the treatment of AF
Dronedarone is a benzofuran derivative with an electropharmacological profile similar to amiodarone but with different effects on individual ion channels. In two previous randomised controlled trials dronedarone was shown to be more effective than placebo in maintaining sinus rhythm and controlling ventricular rate during recurrences of AF. […]
CT Angiography – the need for PROTECTION
The potential risks from exposure to ionizing radiation during cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) have led many to question the role of this technique.The Prospective Multicenter StudyOn Radiation Dose Estimates Of Cardiac CT Angiography In Daily PracticeI (PROTECTION I) was an observational study of estimated radiation dose in 1965 patients undergoing CCTA over an 11 […]
No Benefit from Late Invasive Therapy for Occluded Arteries
A third of patients hospitalized with an acute myocardial infarction (MI) have persistent occlusion of the infarct related artery at 72 hours, despite the availability of several effective reperfusion strategies. This has led to interest as to whether some of the benefits seen with early opening of the artery could be achieved with later opening, […]
Novel enzyme inhibitor shows promise for atherosclerosis inhibition
Secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) enzymes are involved in the production of bioactive lipids that contribute to atherosclerosis. They are highly expressed in human and mouse atherosclerosis, and different groups of the enzyme contribute differently to atherosclerosis. A-002 (1-H-indole-3-glyoxamide, veraslpadib methyl, Anthera pharmaceuticals, CA) is a novel inhibitor of sPLA2 in humand with specificity towards sPLA2-I1A, […]
Assessing Risk in ACS – Risk Scores More Reliable
How well do physicians assess risk in non-ST elevation (NSTEMI) acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients? Recent studies have suggested that often high-risk patients are the ones who receive less aggressive therapy – the so called “treatment-risk paradox”. This study sought to identify the patient characteristics that physicians considered to be high-risk, and to examine how […]
Prasugrel proves powerful in STEMI
Prasugrel is novel third-generation thienopyridine which is a more potent blocker of the platelet P2Y12 receptor than clopidogrel.The TRITON-TIMI 38 (Trial to assess Improvement in Therapeutic Outcomes by optimizing platelet inhibition with prasugrel – Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 38) study compared clopidogrel with prasugrel in the setting of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). […]
Depression and reduced survival among patients with heart failure
In order to evaluate the association of long-term mortality with antidepressant use and severity of depression, assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), O’Connor and colleagues studied 1,006 patients, aged 18 years or older who were admitted to hospital with clinical (NYHA ≥ II) and/or echocardiographic evidence of systolic heart failure (left ventricular ejection fraction […]
Role of thrombolysis for PE not yet clear
Standard therapy for the treatment of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) consists of regimes involving anticoagulation therapy alone. Thrombolytic therapy (TT) may provide a mechanism for more rapid thrombus resolution and improvement in pulmonary blood flow and may therefore offer benefit among certain patient groups, such as those presenting with features of cardiopulmonary compromise. However, previous […]