Genetic Tests in AF Patients May Flag Heart Failure Risk

Genetic testing in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) may identify those at higher risk of developing incident cardiomyopathy or heart failure, new research from the Netherlands suggested. In a study that included two longitudinal cohorts (the All of Us Research program and the UK Biobank), the prevalence of inherited rare gene variants associated with cardiomyopathy … Read more

Long-term study confirms safety and effectiveness of rivaroxaban for children

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a life-threatening complication in children with serious underlying conditions such as heart defects or cancer. Treatment or prevention of thrombosis poses an additional challenge in everyday clinical practice. A therapy using the active ingredient rivaroxaban specifically tailored to children was successfully tested for the first time in 2020. Now, long-term data … Read more

Quick Turn to Mechanical Thrombectomy Improves PE Outcomes

Patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) who were treated with mechanical thrombectomy (MT) within 12 hours of hospital admission had significantly better pulmonary outcomes than patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy more than 12 hours after admission, based on new data from the FLASH registry. The benefits of prompt treatment with MT for patients with high-risk PE … Read more

Novel Autoantibodies Linked to Thrombosis Risk in Lupus

TOPLINE: Anti–transcription factor A, mitochondrial (anti-TFAM) antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were associated with a threefold increased risk for thrombotic events.  METHODOLOGY: Researchers discovered the autoantibody in an exploratory sample of 22 patients with SLE and nine healthy controls. The findings were validated using a sample of 158 patients with SLE and … Read more

Dangerous Drug Interactions: A Quick Quiz

Prostate Cancer Treatment: Navigating Drug Interactions Bucharest – May 9, 2024 – Prostate cancer treatment involves careful management of drug interactions, as certain medications can pose risks when combined. This article explores the challenges of navigating these interactions,specifically concerning relugolix,a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist. When is it a concern? Healthcare providers and patients must be aware … Read more

Anticoagulation in Subclinical AF May Offer Little Benefit

TOPLINE: In a modeling analysis, initiating direct acting or nonvitamin K oral anticoagulants (DOAC/NOAC) in patients with device-detected subclinical atrial fibrillation (AF) provided a net gain of approximately 1 additional quality-adjusted week of life per patient over 10 years, equating to a 65.8% chance of treatment offering more benefits than withholding it. METHODOLOGY: Previous randomized … Read more

Apr 04 2025 This Week in Cardiology

Please note that the text below is not a full transcript and has not been copyedited. For more insight and commentary on these stories, subscribe to the This Week in Cardiology podcast, download the Medscape app or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast provider. This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only. … Read more

GLP-1s and Joint Surgery: Mixed Picture

The popularity of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists has led to a concomitant increase in the need to understand the potential perioperative ramifications of taking these drugs, from increased aspiration risk to prosthetic joint infections. At the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2025 Annual Meeting, researchers presented an array of studies looking at the … Read more

Low-Dose Apixaban Best for Long-Term Use in Cancer

CHICAGO — Extended therapy with reduced-dose apixaban is just as effective as the high dose in preventing recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with active cancer who completed at least 6 months of anticoagulant treatment after a clot, and results in a lower rate of clinically relevant bleeding, the API-CAT trial shows. “Our results indicate … Read more

Mar 28 2025 This Week in Cardiology

Please note that the text below is not a full transcript and has not been copyedited. For more insight and commentary on these stories, subscribe to the This Week in Cardiology podcast, download the Medscape app or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast provider. This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only. … Read more