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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Renal denervation results remain positive

Evidence continues to point favorably to the efficacy and safety of renal denervation as a treatment for resistant hypertensive patients. Findings from Symplicity HTN-2, published Dec. 18 in Circulation, showed benefits persisted at one-year while control patients who crossed over to renal denervation after the six-month primary endpoint was met experienced drops in blood pressure similar to the treatment group.

Boehringer pulls plug on dabigatran’s heart valve trial

Boehringer Ingelheim has voluntarily discontinued treatment with dabigatran (Pradaxa) in a Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with artificial heart valves.

FDA: Smoking cessation drug increases CV events, a little

The FDA is informing the public about results of a meta-analysis that compared patients who received the smoking cessation drug varenicline (Chantix, Pfizer) with patients who received a placebo. The meta-analysis found a higher occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular (CV) events (a combined outcome of CV-related death, nonfatal heart attack and nonfatal stroke) in patients using Chantix.

Nationwide study gives tobacco ban advocates a smoking gun

A nationwide analysis may snuff out lingering doubts about the health benefits of smoking bans in indoor places. A study that examined the association between smoking bans enacted in the U.S. between 1991 and 2008 and hospital admissions for smoking-related illnesses found a significant drop in admissions for acute MI and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Canada gives apixaban go-ahead for AF patients

Apixaban has been approved in Canada for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Low BMI emerges as long-term risk of death, stroke post-TAVI

Low body mass index (BMI) is a primary predictor of stroke and death after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) during long-term follow-up, whereas transapical access emerged as a predictor of kidney injury and access-site and bleeding complications in a study published online Nov. 20 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions. However, the authors noted that the long-term risk of stroke or death after TAVI is low.

Coating on aspirin may mask drug’s benefits

A study designed to tease out genetic factors for drug resistance to aspirin failed to identify even one case of true drug resistance. Instead, researchers reported online Dec. 4 in Circulation, the enteric coating on aspirin appears to lead to delayed or reduced absorption of the drug.

Baxter expands dialysis line with $4B purchase of Gambro

Baxter International has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Gambro, a privately held dialysis product company based in Lund, Sweden, for total consideration of 26.5 billion SEK, or approximately $4 billion U.S. at current exchange rates.

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