Resistant hypertension is a condition in which blood pressure remains elevated despite using 3 or more antihypertensive medications. Though contemporary antihypertensive drug therapies have been essential in treating hypertension, in recent years different studies have explored renal denervation (RDN) as an adjunctive or a replacement modality. Here we summarize an open-label, Symplicity HTN 2 trial and 7 randomized, sham-controlled clinical trials: Spyral-HTN OFF MEDS (Spyral Pivotal), Spyral-HTN ON MEDS, RADIANCE-HTN SOLO, RADIANCE-HTN TRIO, RADIANCE II, SYMPLICITY-HTN 1, and SYMPLICITY-HTN 3, which evaluated safety and efficacy of multiple renal denervation systems (RDN) at lowering blood pressure from baseline, and in comparison, to control group.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Environ Res Public Health
February 2023
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death globally and here in the United States. Diet has a major impact on the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and subsequent cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. An unhealthy diet is the most significant potential behavioral and modifiable risk factor for ischemic heart disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBACKGROUND Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also referred to as apical ballooning syndrome (ABS), stress cardiomyopathy, or broken heart syndrome, initially described in Japan, is characterized by transient wall motion abnormalities involving the apical segment. Several variants have been described, including reverse type, mid-ventricular type, and the focal type. In the reverse type, there is basal hypokinesis and apical hyperkinesis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMitral regurgitation is the most common valvular disease in the US and the second most common worldwide. Left untreated, it can lead to the development of heart failure, giving rise to increased mortality rates. Mitral valve intervention is usually indicated in severe mitral regurgitation at the onset of symptoms, even if the function of the left ventricle is preserved.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBACKGROUND The eustachian valve is rarely involved in bacterial endocarditis. Patients who present with bacteremia and evidence of organic septic emboli should raise the suspicion of endocarditis as a possible differential diagnosis. This case series describes 2 unique cases of eustachian valve endocarditis (EVE) in patients who had a history of intravenous drug use; although 63% of EVE is caused by Staphylococcus aureus, the causative agent in our first case was methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE), which is only the third reported case of EVE caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPercutaneous coronary intervention with a drug eluting stent requires administration of dual anti platelet therapy (DAPT) to prevent thrombotic complications. Optimal duration of this therapy remains unclear especially for patients with high bleeding risk. Since the risk of stent thrombosis is highest immediately following stent implantation, longer term DAPT therapy may confer additional risk of harm rather than benefit for this subset of patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCongestive heart failure (HF) remains a major cause of cardiac-related morbidity and mortality, despite major therapeutic advancements. A newer class of medications has recently been developed which targets the root cause of HF, which is reduced myocardial contractility. This article aims to highlight the cardiac myosin activator class of drugs and the trials to date highlighting their effects on HF outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSevere coronary artery calcification (CAC) is associated with high rate of procedural complications. The current techniques that facilitate percutaneous coronary interventions in moderate to severe CAC have significant risk of complications, including periprocedural myocardial infarction , dissection, perforation and transient atrioventricular block. Coronary Intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) is a novel technology for the treatment of moderate to severe calcified lesions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHeart failure is a leading global pandemic and a cause of economic burden. Although, treatments exist to help symptomatic alleviation, patient compliance and monitoring is the basis of ensuring efficacy. With devices that allow for remote wireless PA pressure monitoring such as CardioMEMS, the inconsistency in patient reporting and factors such as symptoms and hospitalizations can be reduced.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDespite the currently established treatment for heart failure (HF), HF remains a growing public healthcare problem with an increasing burden. Therefore, novel therapeutic innovations are needed to overcome this issue and improve HF prognosis. Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are state-of-the-art in type 2 diabetes mellitus management.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Probl Cardiol
December 2021
Sarcoidosis is an infiltrative disease known to affect multiple layers of the heart. Although rare, aortic valve involvement has been seen. The role of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has been described in amyloidosis, a well-known infiltrative disease, but not in sarcoidosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInflammation is a major contributing factor in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and has been a popular topic of discussion as it provides a potential therapeutic target to reduce disease progression. Multiple inflammatory markers have been linked with progressive atherosclerosis which includes interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, C-reactive protein amongst others, this article aims to review current literature to evaluate the effectiveness of anti-inflammatory therapies in cardiovascular disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDespite advancements in the field interventional cardiology, the prognosis in patients who suffer from cardiogenic shock is poor. Over the years, the use of percutaneous mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices has increased with the aim to improve short- and long-term outcomes. In this article, we aim to review the different modalities available for MCS devices and current literature comparing their uses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect
June 2020
Over the years, Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (TCMP) has become increasingly apparent, now comprising a significant portion of patients presenting with suspected acute coronary syndrome. The most common presentation of TCMP is ST segment elevation on EKG, troponin elevation, and apical ballooning in the absence of significant coronary artery disease as seen via cardiac catheterization. Although this is the most common presentation, it is important to highlight the less common variants of TCMP.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Probl Cardiol
March 2021
Aortic valve stenosis is the most common primary valvular heart disease leading to either surgical or transcatheter valve replacement in the United States with its prevalence on the rise due to the elderly population. Over the recent years, the rise of transcatheter aortic valve replacement has been exponential due to technologic developments and randomized control trials. In this review article, we aim to review current literature on transcatheter aortic valve replacements.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOptical coherence tomography is a catheter-based imaging modality in heart catheterizations, which provides a significantly higher resolution of intravascular pathology by means of using light as opposed to ultrasound. The applications of this modality may include a detailed assessment of atherosclerotic plaques, stent evaluation including coverage and restenosis and percutaneous coronary intervention optimization. In this article, we provide a review of current literature highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of the use of optical coherence tomography in the catheterization lab.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOver the years, aspiration thrombectomy for management of acute coronary syndrome was the center of discussion however due to multiple randomized control trials which did not provide sufficient evidence supporting use of this approach, this method is not routinely used. The benefit of this approach remains unknown, however, it is important to acknowledge the evolution of aspiration catheters and their potential in minimizing complications which were previously the set back of this approach. We provide a comprehensive review of the previous trials and how those catheters have since evolved significantly.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAcute pulmonary emboli are a major cause of morbidity and mortality and require prompt evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment. To date, anticoagulation using low molecular weight heparin or non-Vitamin K oral anticoagulants has been the mainstay of treatment in the subset of patients in whom pulmonary embolism does not compromise hemodynamics. On the other hand however, patients with massive pulmonary embolism and shock, thrombolytic therapy is necessary.
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