Juventas Therapeutics has begun to evaluate the safety and efficacy of treatments for patients with Class III heart failure by conducting a phase I clinical trial to assess the use of JVS-100, an encoder of Stromal-cell Derived Factor 1.

Medtronic will collaborate with the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) to initiate the Every Patient First Challenge health equity program and other collaboratives that will aid in decreasing the healthcare disparities that exist across the U.S.

ATLANTA--In utilizing the Seattle Heart Failure Model (SHFM), overall survival scores for patients admitted with acutely decompensated heart failure (ADHF) may be improved, according to Samira Bahrainy, MD, department of cardiology at the University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, and colleagues during the poster presentations held on March 15 at the 59th annual American College of Cardiology (ACC) conference.

Now that continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) are available as a destination therapy, rather than just a bridge-to-transplant therapy, options for late-stage heart failure patients have expanded. The new indication is welcome news, but the debate has begun regarding which patients are the best candidates, and when in their care cycle to implant LVADs.

The FDA has warned that a review of additional data indicates an increased risk of heart attack and stroke in patients with a history of cardiovascular disease using sibutramine (Meridia, Abbott Laboratories), a drug used to curb obesity and enhance weight loss.

Most patients with heart failure likely to benefit from a pacemaker including with the capacity for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) do not receive such an implantable device, according to a study in the December issue of the American Heart Journal.

Advanced heart failure patients treated via a continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) showed increased survival rates and a decrease in adverse events and device replacements compared to those treated with pulsatile-flow LVADs, a trial published Nov. 17 in the New England Journal of Medicine found.

Orlando, Fla.Using a higher dose of the angiotensin-receptor blocker (ARB) losartan reduces death or hospital admission for heart failure, based on the findings of the HEAAL study, presented Tuesday at the American Heart Association conference.