HFSA, HeartBytes, and Controversies

December 17, 2003

Cardiology MedPulse®

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ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:NEWSMEMBER NEWSUSER SUPPORT

NEW FEATURES THIS WEEK

HIGHLIGHTS

The "Hyde Park Session" at This Year's HFSA Meeting -- Plus, the Take-Home Message of the TEN-HMS, COMET, and CHARM Trials

Should digoxin be dropped? Does "diastolic heart failure" really exist? Are the heart and the uterus closely related? Barry Greenberg, MD, reviews both the new and the controversial information presented at the HFSA meeting.

Hypertension Highlights. New Hypertension Data Says It's the Blood Pressure -- Whether With CCBs, a New Alternative to ARBs, Weight Loss -- or T-type Calcium Channels

New data on calcium channel blockers vs beta-blockers; alternatives to ARBs: findings show equivalency; and what about weight loss?

DRUG-ELUTING STENTS AND THE RISK OF SUBACUTE THROMBOSIS

Concerns About Subacute Thrombosis and the Sirolimus-Eluting Stent: Hype or Reality?

Drug-eluting stents continue to gain momentum despite recent concerns about subacute thrombosis associated with sirolimus-eluting stents; physicians and industry describe rates as "within the norm."

Subacute Stent Thrombosis and the Sirolimus-Eluting Cypher Stent: A Physician's Perspective

Gruberg, MD comments on the recent warnings issued by the FDA regarding the risk of subacute stent thrombosis associated with the implantation of the Cypher sirolimus-eluting stent and believes they may be overstated.

INTERACTIVE DIAGNOSTICS

ECG of the Week. What Is the Cause for the ST-segment Elevation?

Test your diagnostic skills with our most recent interactive case.

ECG Puzzler: Non-Conducted P Waves

This 85-year-old was admitted for the evaluation of syncope. What can be observed from this patient's tracing?Am J Crit Care 12(6) 2003

PUBLISHER'S CIRCLE: READ FULL-TEXT ARTICLES

Atrial Fibrillation from Scientific American

Commentary on rate vs rhythm control; antiarrhythmic drugs in the outpatient setting; and anticoagulation recommendations.WebMD Scientific American. Medicine 2003

Can Dietary Intake of Phase 2 Protein Inducers Affect the Rising Epidemic of Diseases Such as Type 2 Diabetes?

Does natural selection favor people who are resistant to developing type 2 diabetes? Read one researcher's interesting hypothesis. Medscape General Medicine 5(4) 2003

LIPID LOWERING

Meeting Lipid-Lowering Guidelines With Statin Treatment (Part I): Analysis and Implementation of Guidelines

Lowering LDL-C is the main focus of lipid-lowering therapies. Despite the availability of therapies effective in reducing LDL, goals promoted in authoritative guidelines remain unmet in many patients.Cardiovasc Rev Rep 24(11) 2003

Bridging the Treatment Gap: Improving Compliance With Lipid-Modifying Agents and Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes

Review highlights the current climate of undertreatment of CHD, discusses the role of noncompliance in undermining effective lipid management, and outlines measures that may increase compliance.Prev Cardiol 6(4) 2003

HEART FAILURE

Angiotensin Receptor Blockers Might Have a Role in Treating Diastolic Heart Failure

Weber comments on the CHARM trial and its implications in treating patients with diastolic heart failure.Cardiovasc Rev Rep 24(10) 2003

New Insight Into Left Ventricular Reverse Remodeling After Biventricular Pacing Therapy for Heart Failure

Biventricular pacing has been shown to progressively improve LV systolic function and clinical status. The benefits are pacing dependent and disappeared gradually when pacing was withdrawn.CHF 9(5) 2003

How Should Diuretic-Refractory, Volume-Overloaded Heart Failure Patients Be Managed?

This review focuses on the rationale for greater involvement in the care of patients with decompensated volume overload, in particular when such patients are diuretic refractory.J Invasive Cardiol 15(10) 2003

FOCUS ON HEART FAILURE: CARDIAC RESYNCHRONIZATION THERAPY

Mandeep R. Mehra, MD, addresses clinical issues surrounding heart failure, including pacing terminology, criteria, and outcomes. Read the Medscape Expert Interview "Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

(CRT) and Biventricular Pacing: Future Guidelines and Current

Issues," NEW in the Heart Failure: Cardiac Resynchronization

Therapy Resource Center.

NEWS

Low Ejection Fraction and Extensive Scar Tissue Predict Recurrent Ventricular Arrhythmias or Death in Cardiac Arrest Survivors

Medscape CRM News 2003

Driving and Moderate Exertion Studied as Triggers of VT/VF Leading to ICD Discharge

Medscape CRM News 2003

MEDSCAPE MEDICAL NEWS & REUTERS HEALTH

Coaching Patients on Cardiovascular Health: A Newsmaker Interview With Margarite J. Vale, PhD

Medscape Medical News 2003

Causal Link Questioned Between Depression and CVD Risk