Search for Angina in Cardiology

Symptom control in patients with CAD merits more attention.

In a primary care setting, patients with angina alone do not necessarily fare better than those with other manifestations of ischemic heart disease.

For patients with chronic CAD, an observed advantage of early PCI over initial medical management was small and transient.

An analysis of registry data reveals several patient factors that should prompt heightened vigilance for angina after MI.

A focused update of the 2002 ACC/AHA guidelines amends secondary prevention recommendations.

In our summary Health Status and Angina Relief Results from COURAGE, published online on August 13, 2008, we incorrectly described an initial treatment strategy . . .

More evidence that the presence of ischemic symptoms without underlying obstructive arteriostenosis warrants heightened vigilance, if not intervention

In a randomized comparison of bivalirudin and heparin, a significant reduction in bleeding events in the bivalirudin group did not translate into reductions in overall morbidity or mortality.

In a prospective study, inducible ischemia predicted adverse events better than angina symptoms did, but the evidence does not yet support a change in clinical practice.
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To identify the patient characteristics most associated with quality-of-life (QOL) improvement after elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), researchers studied patients without acute MI who underwent . . .

In pooled results from 17 randomized trials, PCI was associated with a survival advantage compared with medical therapy.

The 2007 guidelines emphasize early diagnosis and risk stratification to guide decisions on invasive vs. noninvasive treatment.
CME Exam

Derived from outpatient data in 34 European countries

A new model derived from data from the ACTION trial

A new scoring system could facilitate clinical decision making.

Several studies have raised concerns about the safety of calcium-channel blockers (CCBs). Now, in a manufacturer-sponsored, multinational, randomized, double-blind trial, researchers have compared the long-acting . . .

Changes in left-ventricle size and shape (LV remodeling) are associated with increased mortality risk after MI. To assess the potential link between pre-MI angina pectoris . . .

Ranolazine, a new antianginal drug that partially inhibits fatty-acid oxidation, has been shown to increase exercise duration. In a manufacturer-supported, multicenter, double-blind, randomized trial, researchers . . .

And should symptoms alone guide management decisions in these patients?

These revised guidelines for chronic stable angina outline how best to manage not only symptomatic -- but also asymptomatic -- patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease.