Valsartan reduces the incidence of atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure: results from the Valsartan Heart Failure Trial (Val-HeFT).

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) in heart failure (HF) is generally considered a negative prognostic factor. Recent studies indicate that the incidence of AF might be decreased by renin angiotensin aldosterone system inhibitors. The identification of a treatment to prevent its occurrence is likely to improve patients outcome.

Silent acute myocardial infarction following a wasp sting.

Hymenoptera sting can lead to an acute myocardial infarction by different pathogenetic mechanisms depending on the presence of preexistent coronary atherosclerosis, the development of shock or the therapeutic use of epinephrine. The case of a 67-year-old man with acute myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation after a wasp sting treated with fibrinolysis and without significant coronary atherosclerosis is reported. Of particular interest in the present case report is the silent presentation and the absence of any pharmacological interference.

[Oral anticoagulants combined with aspirin in the prolonged treatment after acute coronary syndrome].

The incidence of death or myocardial infarction after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is still high despite the widespread use of aspirin. Oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) reducing thrombin activity has the potential to be beneficial when administered alone or in combination with aspirin after ACS. Low-intensity OAT in combination with aspirin is not superior to aspirin alone.

[Concomitant left atrial myxoma and atrial fibrillation in patients with peripheral embolism].

In the present article, 2 cases of left atrial myxoma and peripheral embolism in patients with concomitant paroxysmal or permanent atrial fibrillation are reported. In both cases, the embolic event was considered to be related to atrial fibrillation and the diagnosis of atrial myxoma was established later on at echocardiography. In view of the above, transesophageal echocardiography should be always performed after an embolic event, even in patients with established atrial fibrillation.