Cardiology: Archives

LETTER TO READERS

News from AHA 2009Free

• November 18, 2009
• The Editors

This week, Journal Watch Cardiology brings you breaking news from the American Heart Association meeting in Orlando, Florida. Please have a look at our coverage . . .

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Hospital Report Cards: What's the EFFECT?

• November 18, 2009
• Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH

In a Canadian study, public reporting of performance data did not significantly improve quality measures but might have improved patient outcomes.

• Reviewing:
• Tu JV et al., JAMA 2009 Nov 18

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Iron Status and Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension

• November 18, 2009
• JoAnne M. Foody, MD

In patients with altitude-induced hypoxia, iron availability had a significant effect on pulmonary artery pressure.

• Reviewing:
• Smith TG et al., JAMA 2009 Oct 7; 302:1444

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Should Patients with Heart Failure "Pump" Iron?

• November 17, 2009
• Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH

In a randomized trial, intravenous iron improved symptoms, even in patients without anemia.

• Reviewing:
• Anker SD et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Nov 17 Dec GW., N Engl J Med 2009 Nov 17

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

LV Assistance for End-Stage Heart Failure: Have We Reached Our Destination?

• November 17, 2009
• William T. Abraham, MD

A continuous-flow device achieves impressive results in a randomized trial.

• Reviewing:
• Slaughter MS et al. for the HeartMate II Investigators., N Engl J Med 2009 Nov 17 Fang JC., N Engl J Med 2009 Nov 17

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Angiotensin-Receptor Blockers in Heart Failure: What Difference Does a Dose Make?

• November 17, 2009
• Joel M. Gore, MD

In a randomized trial, high-dose losartan was associated with small but significant improvements in clinical outcomes, compared with a lower dose.

• Reviewing:
• Konstam MA et al., Lancet 2009 Nov 17 Krum H., Lancet 2009 Nov 17

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Again I Say, Again: Avoid Pacing the Right Ventricle!

• November 15, 2009
• Mark S. Link, MD

Findings from yet another study show the detriment of RV pacing; however, the benefits of CRT in patients with preserved LV function remain unclear.

• Reviewing:
• Yu C-M et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Nov 15

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Cangrelor Is Not the New ChampionFree

• November 15, 2009
• Howard C. Herrmann, MD

Unexpected setbacks for a promising new antiplatelet agent illustrate the gap between laboratory results and clinical efficacy.

• Reviewing:
• Bhatt DL et al for the CHAMPION PLATFORM Investigators., N Engl J Med 2009 Nov 15 Harrington RA et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Nov 15 Kastrati A and Ndrepepa G., N Engl J Med 2009 Nov 15

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

ARBITER 6-HALTS: A Surprise KnockoutFree

• November 15, 2009
• Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM

Niacin's clear win over ezetimibe as an adjunct to statin therapy challenges assumptions about lipid management.

• Reviewing:
• Taylor AJ et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Nov 16

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

What Can the Antiphospholipid Syndrome Teach Us About HDL?

• November 10, 2009
• JoAnne M. Foody, MD

Low paraoxonase activity in women with APS correlated with dysfunctional HDL and arterial abnormalities.

• Reviewing:
• Charakida M et al., JAMA 2009 Sep 16; 302:1210