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.

Key takeaways from ACC.25: Advances in cardiovascular science
Former American College of Cardiology president Hadley Wilson, MD, executive vice chair of Atrium Health Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute, explains his main takeaway messages from the ACC 2025 late-breaking trials.
New TAVR research explores adverse outcomes, disease progression in patients with asymptomatic severe AS
Two separate studies at ACC.25 explored data from the EARLY TAVR trial. One analysis included stroke findings that surprised researchers.
Dapagliflozin improves outcomes for elderly TAVR patients with heart failure
The positive data were presented as part of a late-breaking clinical trial at ACC.25 in Chicago. One cardiologist on stage for the presentation said these findings will impact the way he manages certain TAVR patients.
Bringing state-of-the-art healthcare to Florida heart patients
Naples Comprehensive Health is building up what it hopes will be a nationally recognized cardiology program. Robert Cubeddu, MD, and Dee Dee Wang, MD, spoke with Cardiovascular Business about the journey so far.
Cardiologists make case against routine interventions for asymptomatic severe AS
Aortic valve replacement is likely inevitable for patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis. Immediately performing TAVR or SAVR, however, may not always be the answer.

FDA, EMEA launch initiative to better clinical trials

The FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) have launched a bilateral Good Clinical Practices initiative, designed to ensure that clinical trials submitted for drug marketing applications in the United States and Europe are conducted uniformly, appropriately and ethically.

Gastroenterology: Metformin can reduce risk of pancreatic cancer

Taking the most commonly-prescribed anti-diabetic drug, metformin, reduces an individual's risk of developing pancreatic cancer by 62 percent, according to research from the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, published in the Aug. 1 issue of Gastroenterology.

Sanofi begins selling Multaq in U.S.

Sanofi-Aventis has made Multaq (dronedarone) 400 mg tablets available in pharmacies in the U.S. Multaq, an anti-arrhythmic drug, is indicated to reduce the risk of cardiovascular (CV) hospitalization in patients with paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter (AFL), with a recent episode of AF/AFL and associated CV risk factors, who are in sinus rhythm or who will be cardioverted.

BMS Q2 income rises 36% due to Plavix sales, reduced spending

Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) has reported its financial earnings for the 2009 second quarter, recording a 36 percent increase in net income over the previous-year quarter.

Lilly books 21% income growth for Q2

Eli Lilly has reported its financial results, recording $1.16 billion for the 2009 second quarter, compared with $958 million in the year-ago quarter--an increase of 21 percent.

Keeping the Numbers Down for Diabetics

The care and treatment of diabetics is a rapidly growing segment of cardiovascular medicine. Those with diabetes need to maintain their glucose levels, keep their blood pressure stable and not be bogged down with a daily panoply of pills. Several articles over the past month attest to these needs.

AIM: Delays in defibrillation not explained by traditional hospital factors

Traditional hospital factors--such as case volume and academic status--do not appear to predict whether patients with cardiac arrest at that facility are likely to experience delays in receiving defibrillation, according to a large registry study in the July 27 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.

Lancet: Avandia does not increase overall cardiovascular death in diabetes

The addition of rosiglitazone (Avandia from GlaxoSmithKline) to glucose-lowering therapy in people with type 2 diabetes does not increase the risk of overall cardiovascular morbidity or mortality compared with standard glucose-lowering drugs, according to the RECORD trial in the June 20 edition of the Lancet.

Around the web

Radiology Business

The impact of Trump tariffs on iodine contrast media costs

GE HealthCare said the price of iodine contrast increased by more than 200% between 2017 to 2023. Will new Chinese tariffs drive costs even higher?

Radiology Business

Key takeaways from RSNA 2024 for AI, CT, MRI and the radiology staffing shortage

Several key trends were evident at the Radiological Society of North America 2024 meeting, including new CT and MR technology and evolving adoption of artificial intelligence.

Structural Heart Disease

Key takeaways from ACC.25: Advances in cardiovascular science

New TAVR research explores adverse outcomes, disease progression in patients with asymptomatic severe AS

Dapagliflozin improves outcomes for elderly TAVR patients with heart failure

Bringing state-of-the-art healthcare to Florida heart patients

Cardiologists make case against routine interventions for asymptomatic severe AS

Around the web