A shortened, two-hour infusion of the GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor eptifibatide following nonemergency PCI is just as effective as the standard 18-hour infusion of the drug and is probably safer, according to a new study. Heartwire
At two years, DES were associated with comparable MI rates but statistically significant reductions in mortality and revascularizations. Investigators say they will continue to track the 17 000+ patients for at least five years, but for now the findings are "reassuring." Heartwire
The results will be reassuring to cath labs already substituting the cheaper GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor in STEMI patients, but at least one expert believes proof of equivalence for two GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors does not answer the question of whether these agents should be widely in use for STEMI patients. Heartwire
A review of out of hospital cardiac arrests in 11 cities in the United States and Canada shows an impressive increase in survivors with the public availability of automated external defibrillators. Medscape Medical News
Current methods of measuring platelet function in various clinical and research situations, their advantages and drawbacks, and their clinical and treatment implications are discussed. Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Dr. Stuart Sprague, from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, provides a review of the relationship between chronic kidney disease, hyperphosphatemia, and vascular calcification. Medscape Nephrology
Results of a randomized trial show that simvastatin, but not pravastatin, appears to interfere with sleep quality and increase sleep problems as assessed by patients. Medscape Medical News
A retrospective study from the Mayo Clinic suggests that those who receive early renal replacement therapy may survive longer than those who do not. Medscape Medical News
The test did not predict life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmic events in patients with MADIT-2 criteria for ICD implantation and therefore should not be used to stratify ICD use in this group, researchers said. Heartwire
