Cerebrovascular Diseases

Guidelines recommend AF catheter ablation to help avoid use of oral anticoagulation. True or False? Answer this and 2 other queries on ablation.

Results of the BELIEF study presented at ESC 2015 suggest the adjunctive ablation procedure may enhance long-term rhythm control.

The first results from the largest ongoing international registry of newly diagnosed AF patients were long awaited, and worth the wait.

Results of a new study suggest that changes in cognitive function may reflect more global vascular damage and serve as a surrogate marker.

Is eating chocolate good for your patients’ health or bad? Savor these slides for a concise summary of this favorite food’s medicinal pros and cons.

A new analysis of the ALLHAT study finds greater morbidity among patients with visit-to-visit variation in systolic BP than among those with more consistent measures.

A multi-step inflammatory cascade appears to connect hyperglycemia and brain dysfunction.

It’s time to rethink aspirin; there’s optimism about the PCSK9 inhibitors; and new help for people with valvular heart disease. What else is new in cardiology?

No monitoring necessary; don't use them before electrical cardioversion; and count them out for periprocedural use during AF ablation. Really?

Stroke and TIA rates are down and fewer patients arrive by ambulance in national emergency department survey.

A small study highlights a big point: manage risk factors that affect the atrial fibrillation substrate and ablation therapy success rates improve (ARREST-AF Cohort Study).

Cancer may be an under-appreciated, but common risk factor for stroke, which is most common the first month after cancer diagnosis.

Results of a new large study may offer some clarity in an area replete with conflicting findings from small studies in older men or registry studies in special populations.

Results of a recent study suggest the presence or absence of CMBs may help refine risk prognostication in patients with AF.

The cost vs the benefit of community screening for disease is often hotly debated. A new study suggests that detection and treatment of asymptomatic AF may be worth that effort.

Unlike other research into the association between vitamin D and dementia, this large study quantified and graded levels of vitamin D deficiency to determine at what point intervention might be warranted.

A young woman was admitted at 36 weeks' gestation with severe preeclampsia. During delivery, she experienced generalized seizures. She remained postictal throughout the normal vaginal birth.

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

Bilateral strokes of the corpus callosum are uncommon because of the rich blood supply of this structure from three main arterial systems.

Brain infarcts among crack cocaine users may be secondary to large cerebral artery vasospasm with secondary intravascular thrombosis (with or without distal embolization).

Nonadherence to antihypertensive drug therapy increased risk of stroke, hospitalization for stroke and stroke-related mortality.

Pulmonary embolism was the diagnosis in these 3 women, each of whom presented with positional right flank pain.

ASH 2013 has uncovered 2 glaring gaps in the management of people with sleep disorders (OSA as well as others) and appropriate care after a stroke. Both cohorts frequent primary care practice.

The CHA2DS2-VASc score improves risk determination by incorporating age 65 to 74 years, female sex, and history of vascular disease.

Heart disease and stroke risk prediction tools may be more useful in predicting cognitive decline in middle-aged patients than a dementia risk test, according to a new study.

Persons who eat a high-fiber diet experience a lower risk of first-time stroke, according to a new meta-analysis that supports current guidelines to increase fiber consumption.

Interruption of anticoagulation with rivaroxaban or warfarin should be bridged with an agent such as low-molecular weight heparin.

Depending on the specific type of event, stroke at age 50 years or younger increased mortality at least 3-fold.

Sleep apnea in adults aged 65 years or older posed an increased risk for silent cerebral infarction and lacunar infarction.

Typical interventions in persons without CKD are essential. SHARP and TNT have added to our knowledge. Aggressive cholesterol lowering (probably also affecting LDL particle number as well as traditional measures of LDL) seems to afford better outcomes by lessening residual risk in those with chronic kidney disease.