June 14th, 2011
CRT for HF Patients with Moderately Prolonged QRS Interval: Unethical?
Larry Husten, PHD
Approximately 40% of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices are implanted in patients with QRS intervals below 150 msecs, but a meta-analysis published in Archives in Internal Medicine finds that these patients may not benefit from the device. Ilke Sipahi and colleagues performed a meta-analysis that included five CRT clinical trials (COMPANION, CARE-HF, REVERSE, MADIT-CRT, RAFT) […]
June 13th, 2011
Increased Mortality Found in MI Patients During Ambulance Diversion
Larry Husten, PHD
MI patients who are diverted to other emergency departments (EDs) while their local EDs are closed have an increased risk for death, according to a new study published in JAMA. Yu-Chu Shen and Renee Hsia analyzed data on all Medicare patients with MI from four California counties who were admitted to the hospital between 2000 […]
June 12th, 2011
CardioExchange Panel: Whither High-Dose Simvastatin?
CardioExchange Editors, Staff
Last week, the FDA issued a warning high-dose simvastatin because of the risk of myopathy. CardioExchange got the reactions from a panel we assembled. Whose views do you agree with? What points did our panelists miss? See a similar panel’s reactions the publication of the SHARP Trial here. Given the FDA warning, do you see […]
June 12th, 2011
CardioExchange Panel: Ezetimibe + Simvastatin for Chronic Kidney Disease — What’s the Point of SHARP?
CardioExchange Editors, Staff
Last week saw the publication of the SHARP trial (Study of Heart and Renal Protection) in which some 9,200 patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) were randomized to either placebo or the combination of simvastatin and ezetimibe. CardioExchange put questions about these data to a panel of experts. Whose views do you agree with? What points […]
June 10th, 2011
A New Biomarker From the Lungs
Larry Husten, PHD
A new study raises the possibility that a protein produced in the lungs may improve the prediction of cardiovascular disease. In a paper in the European Journal of Cardiology, John Hill and colleagues report on their research with surfactant protein-D (SP-D). Produced in the lungs, SP-D levels increase in the general circulation following lung injury […]
June 10th, 2011
TAVR: A Stroke of Genius or Bad Luck?
Richard A. Lange, MD, MBA and L. David Hillis, MD
After presentations at the ACC and American Association for Thoracic Surgery 2011 meetings, the PARTNER A results are finally published. PARTNER A compared transaortic valve replacement (TAVR, also known as TAVI) with surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients with aortic stenosis who were eligible for AVR but considered to be at high surgical risk . At […]
June 9th, 2011
Pioglitazone (Actos) Suspended in France Over Cancer Concerns
Larry Husten, PHD
Sales of the popular diabetes drug pioglitazone (Actos, Takeda) have been suspended in France after a study carried out by the French health insurance fund (CNAM) found that it may increase the risk of bladder cancer. The French regulatory agency (AFSSAPS) said that new prescriptions for drugs containing pioglitazone may no longer be written, but […]
June 8th, 2011
SHARP Results Published in Lancet
Larry Husten, PHD
The main results of SHARP (Study of Heart and Renal Protection) have now been published in the Lancet, following their preliminary presentation last November at the American Society of Nephrology meeting. The results are also posted online on the trial’s website. In brief, SHARP randomized 9270 patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) — one-third of whom were […]
June 8th, 2011
FDA Recommends Limiting Use of High-Dose Simvastatin
Larry Husten, PHD
The FDA today recommended significant limitations in the use of high-dose (80 mg) simvastatin because of the increased risk for myopathy. The FDA said the 80-mg dose should be used only in people who have been taking the high dose for at least one year and have had no evidence of myopathy. The high dose […]
June 7th, 2011
Scans or Scams? ProPublica Investigates Heart Check America
Larry Husten, PHD
ProPublica, the nonprofit public interest journalism site, has once again focused on a heart-related topic (for previous ProPublica reports see our stories here and here). This time journalist Marshall Allen reports the results of a detailed investigation of Heart Check America, a chain of imaging centers featuring electron-beam CT calcium scans. The story begins with […]