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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CoreValve, Sapien/Sapien XT demonstrate equal outcomes at 30 days, 1 year

There were no observed differences between the transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) Sapien/Sapien XT and CoreValve devices in an adjusted analysis in Valve Academic Research Consortium (VARC) outcomes, except for the need for permanent pacemakers with the CoreValve. The PRAGMATIC registry analysis was published online Jan. 16 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

EU body recommends suspending Tredaptive

The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) confirmed recommending suspension of the marketing authorizations of Merck’s Tredaptive, Pelzont and Trevaclyn (nicotinic acid/laropiprant) used to treat adults with dyslipidemia. 

Pooled blood plasma product OK’d in U.S.

The FDA has approved Octaplas, a pooled human plasma blood product for the replacement of coagulation factors in certain medical conditions where patients have insufficient levels.

Aspirin therapy: Effective but underused

In a perspective piece published Jan. 17 in the New England Journal of Medicine, officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation bemoaned the low rate of aspirin therapy for appropriate patients while lauding public and private initiatives to promote it.

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Statins unlikely to increase diabetes risk in some patients

Patients who do not have risk factors for diabetes are unlikely to develop the disease due to statin use, and although statins may increase the rate of new onset diabetes in patients at high risk of the disease, the benefits of reducing cardiovascular events outweigh the complications of diabetes, according to one meta-analysis.

Polypill proves cost-effective, even in poorer nations

A polypill designed to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease would be cost-effective in Latin America, even in countries with low gross national incomes, according to an analysis published in the January issue of Health Affairs.

FDA panel favors diabetes drug despite CV safety concerns

An FDA advisory panel recommended on a 10-5 vote approval for canagliflozin (Invokana, Janssen Research & Development) to treat type 2 diabetes in adult patients. But the panel also expressed concerns about the drug’s cardiovascular safety. In a separate vote on cardiovascular safety, the panel voted 8-7.

Merck suspends global availability of Tredaptive

Merck, known as MSd outside the U.S. and Canada, is taking steps to suspend the availability of nicotinic acid/laropiprant (Tredaptive) modified-release tablets worldwide.

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