Cardiology

New ACC/AHA guidelines abolish specific lipid targets, reclassify populations at risk, and recommend statins for their pleiotropic effects.

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus should be monitored with ABPM if they are at high risk for cardiovascular complications, according to the results of a new study.

Andexanet alfa is a recombinant factor Xa molecule that binds to and sequesters factor Xa inhibitors in the blood, making them unavailable to bind to native factor Xa.

In new-onset atrial fibrillation there is good evidence for obtaining a troponin T level. High levels are associated with highest rates of stroke, embolism, and cardiac mortality.

Prevention guidelines focus on assessment of CV risk, lifestyle modifications to reduce CV risk, and management of elevated blood cholesterol and body weight in adults.

Dabigatran was shown in post-hoc analysis of the RE-LY trial to be associated with an increased risk of MI compared with warfarin.

Rivaroxaban when used to treat patients with atrial fibrillation who have had a previous MI is associated with higher risk for adverse events.

OSA is associated with subclinical myocardial injury as indicated by increased high-sensitivity troponin T levels, according to this study.

Whether to prescribe an antiplatelet or antithrombotic agent for a patient who has AF but is otherwise healthy can be a difficult decision.

Cardioversion for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation must include pre- and post-procedure anticoagulation to avoid thromboembolic risk.

Only one agent can be used for anticoagulation in individuals with mechanical valves.

The real impact of nutritious menu changes at fast food chains like McDonalds remains to be seen, but these-along with modifying the dosage schedules of patients who appear to be statin-intolerant-may prove to have long-term salubrious effects.

I was taught how to take blood pressures early in medical school. If a few “dos and don’ts” were respected, things seemed to proceed uneventfully (with attention to cuff placement and size, Korotkoff sounds, etc).

Nearly three-quarters of patients who are initially "statin-intolerant" are able to re-start therapy on a graduated-dosing schedule and continue on an intermittent dosing regimen.

Vitamin D supplementation in the VitDISH study did not improve isolated systolic hypertension in elderly patients who were deficient.

Electronic cigarettes may be the next big thing in helping smokers who want to quit. But, they may also be a new "gateway" product for youngsters who have yet to pick up. More, here.

Trimethylamine-N-oxide, TMAO, is a by-product of the metabolic breakdown of certain foods; elevated levels have been correlated with coronary atherosclerosis.

A new study finds that intermittent dosing of a statin can be an effective treatment option for some patients who previously demonstrated intolerance to statins.

A patient no-shows. What's your gut reaction? Be honest. Relief, right? But after the relief is drowned in a flood of walk-ins and emergencies, I wonder about my role in community medicine.

A little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing, and I am proof. There is a lot more to the saga and much of the information is essential to decision making in primary care practice on whether or not testosterone replacement is indicated.

Multiple itchy red bumps on a man’s ankles; relative contraindications to lumbar puncture; stroke in an addict. . . 5 more questions for you to test the breadth of your clinical knowledge.

ECG findings that are specific for high-grade stenosis of the proximal left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery.

Epigastric pain after meals occurs in the absence of physical or laboratory abnormalities in a 66-year-old woman slated for surgery.

Persons with type 2 diabetes are at risk for asymptomatic atrial fibrillation and subsequent cerebrovascular events.

Undiagnosed AF was discovered in 3% of individuals; 2% of individuals with known AF who were not on oral anticoagulation were also identified.

Pulmonary vein ablation has not gained recognition as a "cure" for atrial fibrillation so a new approach would be welcomed.

Heatstroke is a true medical emergency with associated mortality rates close to 12% in adults as high as 80% in untreated patients.

Statins used for primary prevention in elderly patients result in a significant reduction in MI and stroke.

Influenza infection may contribute to increases in cardiovascular hospitalizations and elevated rates of acute myocardial infarction (MI).

Patients with mechanical heart valves are not candidates for dabigatran; excess bleeding curtailed the first study to test it.