Circ.ahajournals.org: 7/31/12 Until recently, most patients taking warfarin (brand name Coumadin) had to visit a laboratory and/or clinic every few weeks for an international normalized ratio (INR) blood test and adjustment of their warfarin dose. It is now possible for a patient to measure his/her INR (self-testing) with a finger-stick drop of blood with use of […]
Content.onlinejacc.org: 7/31/12 The most recent American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association/Heart Rhythm Society (ACCF/AHA/HRS) guidelines related to pacemaker implantation were published as part of a larger document related to device-based therapy (1). While this document provides some comments on pacemaker mode selection and algorithms to guide selection, it does not provide specific recommendations regarding choices […]
Content.onlinejacc.org: 7/30/12 Objectives This study tested the hypothesis that response to antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) is modulated by 3 common loci associated with atrial fibrillation (AF). Background Recent genome-wide association studies have identified 3 loci, on chromosomes 4q25 (near PITX2), 16q22 (in ZFHX3), and 1q21 (in KCNN3), that associate with either typical or lone AF. These findings indicate that […]
Pccj.eu: 7/26/12. Stroke prevention is sub-optimal in many patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), 70-80% of whom are eligible for anticoagulation (AC). Currently, many of these patients only receive aspirin (ASA) rather than effective AC drugs. The Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation Expert (sAFe) report, was developed by an independent panel of UK experts including leading cardiologists, GPs, patient […]
Circep.ahajournals.org: 7/25/12. The characteristics of atrial electrograms associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) termination are controversial. We investigated the electrogram characteristics that indicate procedural AF termination during continuous complex fractionated electrogram (CFE) ablation. Read More
Medicalxpress.com: 7/24/12. University of Michigan chemists and physicians examine a new method for targeted cardiac ablation that could lead to quicker results for patients with arrhythmias. Credit: University of Michigan Health System University of Michigan heart researchers are shedding light on a safer method for steadying an abnormal heart rhythm that prevents collateral damage to healthy […]
Circ.ahajournals.org: 7/24/12. More than 2.5 million Americans are chronically anticoagulated for indications including venous thromboembolism (VTE), mechanical heart valve(s), or atrial fibrillation (AF).1 Each year, ≈10% of these patients require temporary interruption of anticoagulation for an invasive procedure. Defining the most appropriate management strategy for these patients requires an assessment of the periprocedural risk of thromboembolism and […]
Atrialfibrillationblog.com: July 17, 2012. The Atrial Fibrillation Optimal Treatment Task Force, led by the Alliance for Aging Research, has just released a consensus statement developed by a group of leading afib stroke prevention experts. We at StopAfib.org are proud to have been part of the development of this consensus statement, which recommends a process for […]
Onlinelibrary.wiley.com: Article first published online: 16 JUL 2012 Stroke associated with atrial fibrillation may occur in up to one third of people who experience an ischemic event, and results in greater stroke severity and poorer health outcomes. The ageing population in developed and developing countries will lead to an increase in the prevalence of atrial fibrillation […]
Sciencedirect.com: July 13, 2012. Atrial fibrillation guidelines recommend long-term use of warfarin according to a patient’s predicted risk of stroke. After acute myocardial infarction, however, combining warfarin and antiplatelet medications poses challenges. Methods By using data from more than 69,255 patients with acute myocardial infarction who were enrolled in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry’s Acute […]
