Publications by authors named "Patrick Antoun"

Heart valve replacement with a mechanical valve requires lifelong anticoagulation. Guidelines currently recommend using a vitamin K antagonist (VKA) such as warfarin. Given the teratogenic effects of VKAs, it is often favorable to switch to heparin-derived therapies in pregnant patients since they do not cross the placenta.

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Weight loss is one of the most researched and marketed topics in American society. Dietary regimens, medications that claim to boost the metabolism, and the constant pressure to fit into society all play a role in our patient's choices regarding new dietary products. One of the products that are well known to suppress appetite and cause weight loss is amphetamines.

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Objectives: This study sought to assess the pharmacodynamic (PD) effects of switching to ticagrelor patients who were treated with prasugrel after undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention in the setting of an acute coronary syndrome.

Background: In clinical practice, there is a frequent need to switch between P2Y12 receptor inhibitors. However, concerns on drug interactions have emerged when switching therapies.

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Background: Platelet inhibitory effects induced by oral P2Y12 receptor antagonists are delayed in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI), which may be attributed to impaired absorption affecting drug pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD). Crushing tablets has been suggested to lead to more favorable PK/PD profiles. To date, no studies have investigated the PK/PD effects of crushing prasugrel.

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Background: The mechanism of sinoatrial node (SAN) dysfunction in atrial fibrillation (AF) is unclear.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that defective spontaneous sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+) release (Ca(2+) clock) is in part responsible for SAN dysfunction in AF.

Methods: Arrhythmic events and SAN function were evaluated in pacing-induced AF dogs (n = 7) and in normal dogs (n = 19) with simultaneous intracellular calcium (Ca(i)) and membrane potential recording.

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Over the years, alcohol septal ablation has become an effective and well-accepted modality in the treatment of patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy refractory to standard medical therapy. Malignant tachyarrythmias infrequently complicates the procedure and are usually self-terminating. We describe a case of alcohol septal ablation complicated by sudden cardiac death occurring immediately following the procedure requiring prolonged resuscitative efforts with eventual complete recovery.

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Neurocardiogenic syncope is not an uncommon occurrence in the general population and affects people across a wide range of age groups. Several sub-specialties are involved in the management of this phenomenon and quite often a multidisciplinary approach is needed for arriving at the final diagnosis and deciding on the optimal treatment for this condition. Often, a thorough history and physical examination will aid in narrowing the differential of syncope and, in the right setting, both passive and provocative testing can be complementary.

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