MDedge Cardiocast

This week in cardiology news, revised atrial fibrillation guidelines revamp anticoagulation, the SPRINT MIND results showing that tight BP control staves off mild cognitive impairment are published, the FDA discovers that nitrosamine-contaminated ARBs have been on the market for years, and subclinical hypothyroidism boosts the immediate risk of heart failure.

Elevated CAC in highly active men doesn't raise risk of death, Life's Simple 7 scores can be used to modify PAD risk, medical guidance often leads atrial fibrillation patients to needlessly seek emergency care, and thinking of pregnancy as a stress test can help predict women's future cardiovascular risk.

This week, a novel drug that reverses ticagrelor’s effect looks promising, a new certification process for cardiologists is unveiled, intensive blood pressure monitoring may not help prevent a second stroke, and the FDA cautions against using paclitaxel coated devices.

This week from MDedge Cardiology, a biodegradable polymer shows no long-term benefit in heart stents, appropriate use criteria for imaging in nonvalvular heart disease are released, ACOG updates guidance on hypertension in pregnancy, and more losartan lots are recalled.

This week’s Cardiocast is devoted entirely to Card Talk with cardiologist brothers Jim and Jerry Dwyer. They welcome two structural interventionalists at the Structural Heart and Valve Center at Emory Healthcare, Kendra J. Grubb, MD, and Isida Byku, MD. Both followed a unique track, training in both cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology and practicing in the fast-moving field of structural heart disease.

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From the “picture that went around the world” of an all-female transcatheter aortic valve replacement team at Emory to advances in structural heart disease treatment, this interview includes expanding TAVR beyond the aortic valve and interventional heart failure treatment using “hooks and anchors and pulleys” to reshape the heart.

Dr. Grubb is assistant professor in surgery and medicine at Emory University in Atlanta and surgical director of the Structural Heart and Valve Center at Emory Healthcare. On Twitter @KendraGrubb. She is an adviser, consultant, and/or speaker for Boston Scientific, Edwards, and Medtronic. She is also a principal investigator in Medtronic’s Optimize PRO trial and Ancora’s CorCinch PMVI studies.

Dr. Isida Byku is an assistant professor at Emory University. On Twitter @IsidaByku. She has no disclosures.

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