Cardiac amyloidosis: Reversing the mindset and the cardiomyopathy
Cardiac amyloidosis has an unfortunate historical reputation as an uncommon disease with a poor prognosis and no treatment options. Anecdotally, this has led to an under-diagnosis and under-referral of patients. Recently, interest from the heart failure and cardiac imaging communities has led to an increase in recognition through multimodality imaging, while pharmaceutical companies have several novel treatment options in clinical trials for both light chain (AL) and transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis. (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - July 17, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Brett W. Sperry Source Type: research
Arrhythmias in patients with left ventricular assist devices: Pump fixed; Rhythm … Not so much
Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) provide great benefit to patients with advanced systolic heart failure, including those awaiting heart transplantation. As there is a limited supply of donor hearts, increasing numbers of patients are supported by LVAD therapy for prolonged periods of time. As with most advances, LVADs carry with them both benefits and challenges. (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - July 17, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Daniel P. Morin Source Type: research
Editorial Commentary: Alcohol consumption and cardiovascular health: The challenges of complexity
As Rehm and Roerecke [1] allude to in their brief, focused review, the effects of alcohol when consumed within generally established limits (up to 7 drinks per week among women and up to 14 drinks per week among men) have been studied in formal epidemiological studies for roughly a century [2]. These studies have generally shown that excessive alcohol consumption is harmful and associated with increased incidence of several different diseases and all-cause mortality, while light-to-moderate consumption is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases and, as a consequence, of all-cause mortality —the J-shaped c...
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - July 13, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Simona Costanzo, Kenneth J. Mukamal Source Type: research
Alcohol consumption and cardiovascular health: The challenges of complexity
As Rehm and Roerecke allude to in their brief, focused review [1], the effects of alcohol when consumed within generally established limits (up to 7 drinks per week among women and up to 14 drinks per week among men) have been studied in formal epidemiological studies for roughly a century [2]. These studies have generally shown that excessive alcohol consumption is harmful and associated with increased incidence of several different diseases and all-cause mortality, while light to moderate consumption is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases and, as a consequence, of all-cause mortality – the J-shaped ...
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - July 13, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Simona Costanzo, Kenneth J. Mukamal Source Type: research
Cardiac Amyloidosis: An Update on Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment
The amyloidoses are a group of systemic diseases characterized by organ deposition of misfolded protein fragments of diverse origins. The natural history of the disease, involvement of other organs, and treatment options vary significantly based on the protein of origin. In AL amyloidosis, amyloid protein is derived from immunoglobulin light chains, and most often involves the kidneys and the heart. ATTR amyloidosis is categorized as mutant or wild-type depending on the genetic sequence of the transthyretin (TTR) protein produced by the liver. (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - July 13, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Omar K. Siddiqi, Frederick L. Ruberg Source Type: research
Editorial commentary: Closure of the patent foramen ovale viewed from a different angle
Closure of the patent foramen ovale (PFO) may well be the most simple and the safest intervention in cardiology. It may also have the best net benefit. Surprisingly, it has met little enthusiasm but rather significant head wind since its introduction in 1992 [1]. (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - July 11, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Bernhard Meier, Fabian Nietlispach Source Type: research
Closure of the patent foramen ovale viewed from a different angle
Closure of the patent foramen ovale (PFO) may well be the most simple and the safest intervention in cardiology. It may also have the best net benefit. Surprisingly, it has met little enthusiasm but rather significant head wind since its introduction in 1992 [1]. (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - July 11, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Bernhard Meier, Fabian Nietlispach Source Type: research
Myocardial viability –State of the art: Is it still relevant and how to best assess it with imaging?
Despite major advances, ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) remains a significant cause of death and disability worldwide, with coronary artery disease (CAD) the leading cause of left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction. Coronary revascularization may improve LV function, heart failure symptoms and cardiovascular outcomes in high-risk patients with myocardial viability. Multiple imaging modalities have been utilized to detect viable myocardium and predict functional recovery following revascularization. (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - July 10, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Hena Patel, Wojciech Mazur, Kim Allan Williams, Dinesh K. Kalra Source Type: research
Myocardial Viability - State of the Art: Is it still Relevant and How to Best Assess it with Imaging?
Despite major advances, ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) remains a significant cause of death and disability worldwide, with coronary artery disease (CAD) the leading cause of left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction. Coronary revascularization may improve LV function, heart failure symptoms and cardiovascular outcomes in high-risk patients with myocardial viability. Multiple imaging modalities have been utilized to detect viable myocardium and predict functional recovery following revascularization. (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - July 10, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Hena Patel, Wojciech Mazur, Kim Allan Williams, Dinesh K. Kalra Source Type: research
Arrhythmias After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation: Incidence and Management
The use of mechanical circulatory support has become an increasingly common practice in patients with heart failure, whether used as bridge to transplantation or as destination therapy. The last couple of decades has seen a drastic change in the functioning of the left ventricular assist devices (LVAD), changing from the first generation devices running on pulsatile flow to the current continuous flow devices. Atrial and ventricular arrhythmias are common among heart failure patients, and though the systematic circulation is well supported in patients on mechanical circulatory support, these arrhythmias can still be the ca...
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - July 10, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Anis J. Kadado, Joseph G. Akar, James P. Hummel Source Type: research
Editorial commentary: Keeping the congenitally malformed heart in shape
Congenital heart defects (CHD) are the most common congenital anomaly with a birth prevalence of around 1% [1]. Due to successes of improved diagnostic, operative and interventional techniques, life expectancy of CHD patients has increased significantly, and is continuing to do so. For example, in the year 2000 there were approximately 4 CHD patients per 1,000 individuals [2]; by 2010 this number had already increased by 50% [3], and it is estimated that this prevalence will grow to approximately 7.5 per 1,000 [4]. (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - July 10, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Gert van den Berg, Thomas Krasemann, Alex V. Postma Source Type: research
How to prevent burnout in cardiologists? A review of the current evidence, gaps, and future directions
Burnout is rising in all physicians, and cardiologists are not an exemption. Cardiology is a very popular specialty among medical students as it is associated with outstanding training standards and high prestige and income. In this review, we critically summarize the evidence on consequences, causes, and evidence-based interventions for burnout with a view toward recommending the best strategies for promoting wellness in cardiologists. Only a handful of studies have examined burnout specifically in cardiologists. (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - July 4, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Maria Panagioti, Keith Geraghty, Judith Johnson Source Type: research
Patent foramen ovale and cryptogenic stroke
The presence of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) has been found to be associated with an increased risk of cryptogenic stroke in many case-control studies. This paper reviews the current understanding of the pathophysiology and diagnosis of PFO, and therapeutic options of patients with PFO and cryptogenic stroke. (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - July 4, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Koki Nakanishi, Minoru Yoshiyama, Shunichi Homma Source Type: research
How to prevent burnout in cardiologists? A review of the current evidence, gaps and future directions
Burnout is rising in all physicians and cardiologists are not an exemption. Cardiology is a very popular specialty among medical students as it is associated with outstanding training standards and high prestige and income. In this review, we critically summarize the evidence on consequences, causes, and evidence-based interventions for burnout with a view towards recommending the best strategies for promoting wellness in cardiologists. Only a handful of studies have examined burnout specifically in cardiologists. (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - July 4, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Maria Panagioti, Keith Geraghty, Judith Johnson Source Type: research
Editorial commentary: Optimization of dose selection for nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants
The era of oral anticoagulation dawned in the 1940s, when the first clinical trials of the drug that would become known as warfarin were conducted [1,2]. The introduction of warfarin into practice in the 1950s revolutionized the care of patients with or at risk for thromboembolism [3]. In the ensuing decades, warfarin therapy was shown to be effective for reducing the risk of a variety of thromboembolic disorders, including stroke and thromboembolism associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) [4]. (Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine)
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - June 30, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: James E. Tisdale Source Type: research
