Cardiology

Ever since the observation in the 1950s that high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was inversely correlated with coronary artery disease, there have been confounding data that have not been reconciled.

Management of atrial fibrillation remains one of the most difficult challenges for physicians and patients.

In journals for cardiac surgeons and anesthesiologists, the term heparin rebound has predominantly described an anticoagulant condition. In journals for cardiologists and internists, however, the term has been used to describe a procoagulant state. Because precision is one of the fundamental rules in medicine, it may be helpful to foster a more precise understanding of this term.

New fibrate effective in treating mixed dyslipidemia when combined with rosuvastatin

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus have decreased platelet inhibition and decreased responsiveness to standard doses of clopidogrel compared with patients without diabetes. In this pilot study, we showed that increasing the maintenance dose of clopidogrel to 150 mg leads to enhanced platelet inhibition compared with the standard dose of 75 mg in patients with type 2 diabetes with suboptimal responsiveness. The clinical implications of these findings are unknown, however, and need to be evaluated in large-scale clinical trials.

As outlined by the authors, use of metformin is an appealing option because it is safe, produces few side effects, and is a cost-effective way to target some of the defects known to contribute to the metabolic defects associated with diabetes.

In the cohort study conducted by Ahmed and colleagues, the investigators assessed whether diabetes was associated with worse outcomes in heart failure regardless of the associated risk factors and comorbidities.

We recruited 973 patients (mean age, 81 years) with atrial fibrillation from the primary care setting and randomly assigned them to receive anticoagulation with warfarin or aspirin.

The article by Mant and colleagues concerning the Birmingham Atrial Fibrillation Treatment of the Aged (BAFTA) study is a welcomed addition to the now vast literature regarding the relative benefits of warfarin anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation.

We conducted a study to determine whether high lipoprotein(a) levels predicted the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and ischemic heart disease. Unlike other studies, we measured lipoprotein(a) levels shortly after sampling and corrected for regression dilution bias.

The well-established causative role of low-density lipoprotein particles in atherosclerotic plaque development has led to this biomarker being a primary target of treatment in the prevention of coronary artery disease.

A 10-year-old girl was brought to her primary care provider by her mother because she complained of chest pain earlier that morning. She also reported abdominal pain and nausea.

According to the Electronic Blood Pressure (e-BP) study, reported in the June 25 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association ...

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), which includes coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension, stroke, and other CVDs, continues to be the leading cause of mortality among both men and women. For women, however, increasing awareness and understanding of how CVD affects them remains a challenge.

SORT OUT II trial results support our current understanding of drug-eluting stent use: (1) there is no difference in efficacy or safety among different drug-eluting stents; (2) stent thrombosis rates are highest in the first month after stent implantation; and (3) late stent thrombosis rates are low and not influenced by discontinuation of clopidogrel therapy at 12 months.

The SORT OUT II trial showed that the first generation of drug-eluting stents, Cypher® and Taxus®, exhibit similar efficacy and safety when used for percutaneous coronary intervention in everyday practice, including in a high proportion of off-label situations.

Atrial fibrillation affects over 2.2 million Americans and is estimated to affect up to 10 million by 2050.

The following questions can assist candidates prepare for the Maintenance of Certification Exam in Peripheral Arterial Disease.

We have seen a dramatic increase in use of ICDs along with expanded indications for these devices.

The benefits of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) have been shown in randomized clinical trials. The factors that affect the risk–benefit ratio in a community setting, however, have not been evaluated.

According to the World Health Organization,about 30% of deaths worldwide result from cardiovascular diseases, many of which may be preventable by modifying or treating risk factors, such as unhealthy diet, smoking, and diabetes.

Cardiovascular risk factors vary somewhat for each specific atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease event; however, there is sufficient commonality to enable crafting of a global CVD risk-assessment instrument that accurately predicts total CVD risk and the risk of its individual components.

While most patients are concerned about their risk for myocardial infarction, it is important to remember that the risk factors for death from all cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, peripheral arterial disease, and coronary artery disease, are similar.