AHA’s 16 late-breakers

The American Heart Association (AHA) will kick off its 2014 scientific sessions this weekend in Chicago. The lineup of clinical trials is intriguing.

General sessions start Saturday with a focus on early career topics, among other options. The late-breaking clinical trials get under way on Sunday, with each day themed.

Sunday should be an eye-opener, with researchers sharing results from studies looking at dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). The four trials on the docket are:

  • Increased Risk of Ischemic Events Upon Discontinuation of Prasugrel After 12 or 30 Months of Therapy Following Placement of the Taxus Liberté Paclitaxel- Eluting Coronary Stent
  • Randomized, Double Blind Trial of Six vs. 12 Months Of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy After DES-Implantation (ISAR-SAFE)
  • Is Six Months DAPT Post Coronary Stenting Noninferior to 24 Months? The Italic/ Italic+ Randomized Trial. Results of the One-year Primary Endpoint
  • Risk and Benefit of Prolonged Dual Antiplatelet Therapy after Drug-eluting Coronary Stents: Primary Endpoint Results from the Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Study

Monday’s late-breakers focus on anti-lipid therapy and the prevention of coronary artery disease. The therapies include low-dose aspirin and statins, but imaging modalities also get their due.

  • Low-Dose Aspirin for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Events in Elderly Patients with Multiple Atherosclerotic Risk Factors: A Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Screening For Asymptomatic Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease among High-Risk Diabetic Patients Using Coronary CT Angiography: Primary Results of FACTOR-64, a Randomized Controlled Trial
  • ODYSSEY ALTERNATIVE: Efficacy and Safety of the Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/kexin Type 9 Monoclonal Antibody, Alirocumab, vs. Ezetimibe, in Patients with Statin Intolerance as Defined by a Placebo Run-in and Statin Rechallenge Arm
  • IMPROVE-IT Trial: A Comparison of Ezetimibe/Simvastatin vs. Simvastatin Monotherapy on Cardiovascular Outcomes after Acute Coronary Syndromes

Tuesday’s theme is structural heart disease.

  • Randomized Trial of Atenolol vs. Losartan in Children and Young Adults with Marfan Syndrome
  • A Randomized Trial of Losartan in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy - The INHERIT Trial
  • The Incidence of Infective Endocarditis in England Is Increasing - An Assessment of the Impact of Cessation of Antibiotic Prophylaxis Using Population Statistics
  • The Surgical Treatment of Moderate Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation: A Randomized Clinical Trial from The Cardiothoracic Surgical Trials Network

Wednesday, the last day for trials, puts ischemic heart disease on center stage.

  • Long-term Outcome of Biodegradable Compared to Durable Polymer Drug-eluting Stents and Bare Metal Stents - Main Results of a Prospective Randomized Trial
  • Primary Outcomes of the EVOLVE II Trial: A Prospective Randomized Investigation of a Novel Bioabsorbable Polymer-Coated, Everolimus-Eluting Coronary Stent
  • A Randomized Controlled Trial of Oxygen Therapy in Acute St-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: The Air Versus Oxygen in Myocardial Infarction (AVOID) Study
  • Developing Regional STEMI Systems of Care: Final Results of the Mission: Lifeline STEMI ACCELERATOR Study

The conference planners made DAPT and bioresorbable technologies bookends to the event, a move that likely will keep the diverse cardiovascular community buzzing. We will find out soon which of these trials rank as game changers. Stay tuned.

Candace Stuart

Editor, Cardiovascular Business

Candace Stuart, Contributor

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