Long-term treatment with a platelet glycoprotein-receptor antagonist after percutaneous coronary revascularization

Article Abstract:

A drug that blocks platelet aggregation does not appear to reduce the risk of heart attack or death in patients who have severe coronary artery disease. Platelets are blood cells involved in blood clotting, and platelet aggregation is the beginning of the clotting process. Researchers randomly assigned 7,232 patients who received a treatment to open clogged arteries to also take a platelet aggregation inhibitor or a placebo before the treatment and for up to six months after. The rate of heart attack or death was similar in both groups.

Drug therapy, Coronary heart disease, Blood platelets, Cell aggregation

---

A comparison of immediate angioplasty with thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction

Article Abstract:

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) may be more effective than thrombolytic therapy for treatment of patients who have suffered a heart attack. Thrombolytic therapy involves treatment with drugs to break up blood clots. Among 395 heart attack patients who were treated with intravenous heparin and aspirin, 195 underwent immediate PTCA and 200 underwent treatment with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) within 12 hours of the onset of their heart attack. Three percent of the patients who underwent PTCA died in the hospital, compared with 7% of the patients treated with t-PA. Five percent of the patients who underwent PTCA suffered another heart attack or died in the hospital, compared with 12% of the patients treated with t-PA. None of the patients who underwent PTCA suffered intracranial bleeding, compared with 2% of the patients treated with t-PA.

Care and treatment, Evaluation, Heart attack, Thrombolytic therapy, Angioplasty

---

Radiographic detection of strut separations in Bjork-Shiley convexoconcave mitral valves

Article Abstract:

Moving x-ray images, known as cineradiograms, may be used to detect cracks in artificial convexo-concave mitral valves that can lead to death. The outlet struts on Bjork-Shiley convexo-concave heart valves have been known to fracture, resulting in death in 67% of these fractures. Researchers performed cineradiographic imaging on 315 patients with these valves. Five cineradiograms were rated with a definite fracture and six were rated as with a probable fracture. When these 11 valves were removed, all but one of the probable fractures were confirmed. Two fatal strut fractures that were undetected on radiographs occurred within 7 months of examination. No new definite fractures were detected in the 288 patients who underwent imaging six months after the first cineradiogram. Thus, cineradiograms may be used to reduce the risk of valve fracture and determine which patients might benefit from valve replacement.

Product defects and recalls, Heart valve prosthesis, Artificial heart valves, Cineradiography

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Treatment of acromegaly with the growth hormone-receptor antagonist pegvisomant. Growth hormone for the elderly?
• Abstracts: Effects of central angiotensin II receptor antagonism on fetal swallowing and cardiovascular activity. Nitric oxide modulates angiotensin II-induced drinking behavior in the near-term ovine fetus
• Abstracts: Activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB in the rat air pouch model of inflammation. Oxygen free radicals, inflammation, and synovitis: the current status
• Abstracts: Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte invasion through glycophorin C and selection for Gerbich negativity in himan populations

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.