Structural Heart Disease

Structural heart diseases include any issues preventing normal cardiovascular function due to damage or alteration to the anatomical components of the heart. This is caused by aging, advanced atherosclerosis, calcification, tissue degeneration, congenital heart defects and heart failure. The most commonly treated areas are the heart valves, in particular the mitral and aortic valves. These can be replaced through open heart surgery or using cath lab-based transcatheter valves or repairs to eliminate regurgitation due to faulty valve leaflets. This includes transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Other common procedures include left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion and closing congenital holes in the heart, such as PFO and ASD. A growing area includes transcatheter mitral repair or replacement and transcatheter tricuspid valve repair and replacement.

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Metformin may not offer cardiovascular benefits

Although research has suggested some cardiovascular benefit to the glucose-lowering drug metformin, a study published online Nov. 7 in The Lancet found that the drug had no effect on carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and little to no effect on other cardiovascular disease markers in patients who are at high risk for cardiovascular disease who take statins but do not have diabetes.

Calcium-channel blocker/clarithromycin combo increases risk for AKI hospitalization

Older adults who take calcium-channel blockers with clarithromycin are at higher risk for 30-day hospitalization for acute kidney injury (AKI) compared with the combination of calcium-channel blockers and azithromycin, a study published online Nov. 9 in JAMA found. 

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FDA gives food industry 60 days to chew the fat

In a move that may have the processed food industry blubbering, the FDA is attempting to require premarket approval for partially hydrogenated oils.

George Magovern, pioneering surgeon, dies at 89

George J. Magovern, MD, a pioneering cardiac surgeon who co-developed the sutureless Magovern-Cromie Heart Valve, died Nov. 4 at the age of 89. His obituary was published on Pittsburgh’s post-gazette.com website.

Mortality rates higher in TAVR patients with severe mitral regurgitation

Mortality rates for patients with moderate to severe mitral regurgitation who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) were significantly higher than for patients with mild or no mitral regurgitation in an analysis of multicenter registry data.

Acusphere appoints Dr. William Ramage as chief development officer

Acusphere, Inc. (ACUSD.PK) today announced that William I. Ramage, D. Phil., has been appointed Chief Development Officer of the Company. Acusphere is focused on the development of Imagify™ (Perflubutane Polymer Microspheres for Injectable Suspension), which if approved for sale, will be a novel cardiovascular drug for the detection of coronary artery disease (CAD), the leading cause of death in the United States and Europe.

Treating overall risk more effective at reining in heart disease

Targeting specific blood pressure numbers may not be as effective as tailoring therapy to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease events in hypertensive patients, according to a study published online Nov. 4 in Circulation. Benefit-based tailored treatment was more effective and required less antihypertensive medication than therapy geared toward lowering blood pressure.

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Study casts doubt on safety of testosterone therapy

Testosterone therapy may increase the risk of death, MI or ischemic stroke, according to results from a Veterans Affairs study. Whether those findings apply to a broader population of men is unclear, an editorialist wrote, but “prescribers and patients should be wary.” The study and editorial were published Nov. 6 in JAMA.

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