The US FDA has approved the first combination of an angiotensin receptor blocker--valsartan--with a calcium blocker--amlodipine--for the initial treatment of hypertension. The product, known as Exforge, was first cleared for marketing last year. Heartwire
A study shows that abdominal aortic aneurysm repair or rupture is 4 times more likely to occur in women who smoke vs women who have quit smoking and 8 times more likely vs women who have never smoked. Medscape Medical News
The association between low vitamin D levels and peripheral artery disease was observed in a representative sample and was present even after adjustment for multiple cardiovascular risk factors. Medscape Medical News
A prospective study shows that a streamlined protocol of minimally interrupted cardiopulmonary resuscitation improves survival-to-hospital discharge in patients with an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Medscape Medical News
Thrombocytopenia occurred frequently after prolonged heparin therapy and was strongly associated with worse short-term clinical outcome, a study shows. Medscape Medical News
