Platelet Function Testing to Guide Cangrelor Dosing in Patients with Temporary Mechanical Circulatory Support or as a Bridge to Procedure.

Cangrelor is a rapid-acting, intravenous P2Y12 inhibitor that can be used in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention who require mechanical circulatory support or as a bridge to procedure. We retrospectively reviewed adult patients who received platelet function testing (PFT) with the VerifyNow P2Y12 assay while on cangrelor from March 2021 through November 2022. All patients were initiated on 0.

Comparison of clinical outcomes with cangrelor plus aspirin versus oral dual antiplatelet therapy in patients supported with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Background: Patients with refractory cardiogenic shock from an acute myocardial infarction may receive percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and require the use of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). The purpose of this study was to compare bleeding and thrombotic events in patients treated with cangrelor plus aspirin versus oral dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) while supported with VA-ECMO.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of patients who received PCI, were supported with VA-ECMO, and were treated with either cangrelor plus aspirin or oral DAPT from February 2016 through May 2021 at Allegheny General Hospital.

Incidence and Timing of Thrombocytopenia in Patients Receiving Impella Ventricular Assist Device Support.

Impella devices are used in patients with cardiogenic shock or during high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention. Although thrombocytopenia is a known complication in patients receiving Impella support, the incidence and timing of thrombocytopenia remain unknown in this patient population. We retrospectively reviewed adult patients with a left-sided Impella device inserted for more than 24 hours between February 2016 and December 2019.

An expert panel Delphi consensus statement on the use of palliative care in the management of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Mortality in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remains high and referral to palliative or supportive care (P/SC) specialist services is recommended when appropriate. However, access to P/SC is frequently a challenge for patients with a noncancer diagnosis and few patients living with PAH report P/SC involvement in their care. A modified Delphi process of three questionnaires completed by a multidisciplinary panel ( = 15) was used to develop expert consensus statements regarding the use of P/SC to support patients with PAH.

Vericiguat in Heart Failure with a Reduced Ejection Fraction: Patient Selection and Special Considerations.

With improvement in the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), several drug classes have been developed targeting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, the beta adrenergic system, and to a certain extent the nitric oxide pathway. Recently, the use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors has resulted in a reduction in heart failure hospitalizations and cardiovascular death. As a result, SGLT-2 inhibitors are now the fourth drug class recommended as part of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for HFrEF.

Transition from parenteral prostacyclins to selexipag: safety and feasibility in selected patients.

There are limited data regarding the feasibility of transitioning from intravenous prostacyclins to selexipag in pulmonary arterial hypertension patients. We present a case series of successful transitions from intravenous prostacyclins to selexipag in the majority of carefully selected five stable pulmonary arterial hypertension patients using a standardized protocol in the outpatient setting.

Safety and efficacy of transitioning from the combination of bosentan and sildenafil to alternative therapy in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

The combination of bosentan and sildenafil is commonly used to treat patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH); however, there is evidence of a significant drug interaction between these two medications. We sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of transitioning patients with PAH from the combination of bosentan and sildenafil to alternative therapy. A retrospective database review was performed on 16 patients with PAH who were treated with the combination of bosentan and sildenafil and transitioned to alternative treatment at our center.

A Case Report of a Patient With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Transitioned From Inhaled Iloprost to Selexipag.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease characterized by elevated pulmonary vascular resistance that can lead to right ventricular failure and death. The use of medications that affect the prostacyclin pathway is an important treatment strategy in PAH. Inhaled iloprost is a prostacyclin analogue, and selexipag is an oral, non-prostanoid, prostacyclin IP receptor agonist.

Triple Antithrombotic Therapy With Aspirin, P2Y12 Inhibitor, and Warfarin After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: An Evaluation of Prasugrel or Ticagrelor Versus Clopidogrel.

Background: Triple antithrombotic therapy is used in patients who require systemic anticoagulation and undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) requiring dual antiplatelet therapy. Bleeding with this combination is significant; however, few studies have described outcomes with the use of newer oral P2Y inhibitors in this setting.

Objectives: We aimed to compare outcomes among patients prescribed triple therapy with prasugrel or ticagrelor compared to triple therapy with clopidogrel in patients who underwent PCI and required warfarin.

Disopyramide for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Pragmatic Reappraisal of an Old Drug.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic cardiac disorder characterized by unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy in the absence of other cardiac or systemic etiologies. Approximately two-thirds of patients with HCM develop left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction with or without provocation, whereas nearly half develop heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Medical management of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is based on the presence of symptoms and LVOT obstruction and frequently includes β-blockers or verapamil.