Predictors of permanent pacemaker requirement after cardiac surgery for infective endocarditis.

Background: Infectious endocarditis is often complicated by conduction abnormalities at the time of presentation. Cardiac surgery is the treatment of choice for many infectious endocarditis patients, but carries an additional risk of persistent postoperative conduction abnormality. We sought to define the incidence and clinical predictors of significant postoperative conduction abnormalities necessitating permanent pacemaker implantation after cardiac surgery for infectious endocarditis.

Heart Brake: An Unusual Cardiac Manifestation of COVID-19.

A 49-year-old man presented with worsening high-grade fevers, dry cough, and shortness of breath. He tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 and was noted to have bradycardia with intermittent high-degree atrioventricular block. However, cardiac biomarkers and echocardiographic findings were normal, thus making this an unusual and interesting manifestation of myocardial involvement of this novel coronavirus.

PCSK9 inhibition: A promise fulfilled?

The association of reduced proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) activity with reduced cardiovascular disease (CVD) events--and the need for add-ons to statin therapy to achieve treatment goals--has led to the rapid development and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of monoclonal antibody therapies to inhibit PCSK9. Now that PCSK9 inhibitors are approved by the FDA for use in certain patients, data from ongoing long-term clinical trials addressing tolerability, safety, and proof of additional reduction in CVD events are eagerly awaited.