Ticagrelor's benefits appear to carry over time, according to an analysis that found ticagrelor treatment resulted in not only fewer primary outcome events (MI, cardiovascular death, stroke) but also fewer subsequent events compared with clopidogrel. But an accompanying editorial questioned the use of composite endpoints to track subsequent events, and suggested a protocol to define and report recurrent endpoints more specifically.

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD), according to a meta-analysis.

The FDA has notified healthcare professionals of a Class I recall of St. Jude Medical’s Amplatzer TorqVue FX delivery system because, in a small number of cases, the distal end of the core wire potentially could fracture when exposed to a combination of certain cardiac anatomies and usage conditions.

The FDA has approved Medtronic's Advisa DR MRI SureScan pacing system, and the company has immediately commenced its U.S. launch. The Advisa MRI system is Medtronic’s second-generation MR-Conditional pacemaker.

Bayer HealthCare has submitted the oral investigational drug riociguat to treat patients with inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary arterial hypertension for regulatory approval in the U.S. and in the European Union (EU).

A meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) in the emergency department (ED) for patients presenting with chest pain found CCTA use was associated with shorter lengths of stay and decreased costs but increased invasive coronary angiography and revascularization.

The FDA is requesting additional cardiovascular data from a dedicated cardiovascular outcomes trial from Novo Nordisk for insulin degludec (Tresiba) and insulin degludec/insulin aspart (Ryzodeg). Results must be available for review before the FDA will complete the new drug applications.

PET with 11C-PIB provides a noninvasive method for visualizing amyloid deposits in the heart, according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine. The researchers suggest that 11C-PIB eventually may be used in the clinical setting as both a diagnostic tool and a treatment follow-up method.