LAS VEGASThe late-breaking CATHETER DCM trial, presented May 10 at the 35th annual meeting of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI), showed some trends toward progress for bone marrow stem cells to improve heart function in some patients with progressive heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy. However, principal investigator Timothy D. Henry, MD, of the Minneapolis Heart Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, explained the results in the context of cell therapy for multiple cardiac conditions.

BOSTONDynamic Atrial Overdrive (DAO) does not prevent new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF), is often not well tolerated and increases the risk of premature battery depletion, based on the results of ASSERT, a late-breaking clinical trial presented May 11 at the 33rd annual scientific sessions of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS). Therefore, the study authors recommended that implantable devices no longer get developed with this software.

Source: J Nucl Med 2012;53(3):407-414.BOSTONPatients with ischemic cardiomyopathy at highest risk of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) can be identified by evaluating inhomogeneity of scar volume and ejection fraction, stated James A. Fallavollita, MD, professor of medicine at the University of Buffalo in Buffalo, N.Y., May 10 during a late breaking clinical trial presentation at the 33rd annual scientific sessions of the Heart Rhythm Society.

BOSTONUsing the ADVANCE III trial, which randomized primary and secondary prevention patients with single, dual and triple chamber implantable devices to number of intervals to detect (NID) 30/40 or 18/24, researchers from Italy found that the long NID 30/40 detection window was safe and effective in reducing unnecessary implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy in both types of patients of any etiology.

BOSTONWhile implantable-cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) utilization is improving, some subsets of patients still see underuse, said Sana M. Al-Khatib, MD, MHS, of the Duke Clinical Research Institute in Durham, N.C., during a presentation May 9 at the 33rd annual scientifc sessions of the Heart Rhythm Society. She added that more research and education could help to close this gap.

BOSTONWhile previous trials have shown that women see greater benefits from cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) compared with men, better efforts are needed to explain why, said Aysha Arshad, MD, of the Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, N.J., and New York City, during a presentation May 9 at the 33rd annual scientific sessions of the Heart Rhythm Society. Additionally, she said that women are underrepresented in trial enrollments, which should be rectified.

BOSTONShock therapy in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) can be decreased by aggressive programming changes, according to findings of the PROVIDE trial presented May 11 at the 33rd annual scientific sessions of the Heart Rhythm Society.

CHICAGOAlthough nearly nine in 10 transthoracic echocardiograms (TTEs) met appropriate use criteria (AUC) by 2011, fewer than one-third resulted in a change in care, according to a single-center study presented March 26 as a scientific poster at the 61st annual American College of Cardiology (ACC) scientific session.