TCTMD’s Top 10 Most Popular News Stories for 2012

The most popular news stories that appeared on TCTMD in 2012 provide a snapshot of the year in interventional cardiology with a strong focus on emerging device-based therapies and adjunctive antiplatelet agents. Below are the 10 most read stories from the past year in descending order. Interestingly, the 2 most popular stories both involved guideline updates, 1 for treatment of stable heart disease and the other for the novel P2Y12 inhibitor ticagrelor.

1. From ACC/AHA: New Guidelines Take Integrated Approach to Stable Ischemic Heart Disease

In the first substantial revision in a decade, an expert panel has produced comprehensive clinical guidelines featuring an integrated approach to evaluation and management of patients with stable ischemic heart disease. The complete guidelines, along with an executive summary, were developed jointly by 7 professional societies including the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA). (Read more…)

2. From ACC/AHA: Guidelines Elevate Ticagrelor to First-line Antiplatelet Status in Unstable Angina

Updated guidelines issued by the ACC/AHA rank the P2Y12 inhibitor ticagrelor alongside the 2 other currently approved antiplatelet agents, prasugrel and clopidogrel, as acceptable therapeutic options in addition to aspirin for patients with unstable angina/non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). (Read more…)

3. From TCT 2012: Two Trials Examine Device-Based PFO Closure

MIAMI BEACH, FLA—Results from two randomized trials presented at TCT 2012—RESPECT and PC—address patent foramen ovale closure for secondary stroke prevention in patients with cryptogenic embolism, showing some positive results with device therapy but by no means providing a final answer for this clinical area. (Read more…)

4. From TCT 2012: Paclitaxel-Eluting Balloons Best for Treatment of Limus-Eluting Restenosis

MIAMI BEACH, FLA—In patients presenting with limus-DES restenosis, treatment with a paclitaxel-eluting balloon is noninferior to repeat stenting with a paclitaxel-eluting stent, and both are superior to balloon angioplasty alone, according to results of a multicenter study presented in a late breaking clinical trial session. (Read more…)

5. From Circulation: PRODIGY Published: No Advantage to Long-term Clopidogrel

Extending dual antiplatelet therapy beyond 6 months after stenting not only fails to reduce thrombotic events but doubles the risk of major bleeding, according to a large all-comers trial published online March 21, 2012, ahead of print in Circulation. (Read more…)

6. From Circulation: First Implanted Biodegradable Stent Shows Positive Safety at 10 Years

The first fully biodegradable stent implanted in human patients shows major adverse event rates similar to those of bare-metal stents and overall acceptable long-term safety out to 10 years, according to research published online April 16, 2012, ahead of print in Circulation. The findings should aid in the development of the drug-eluting version of the technology, the authors say. (Read more…)

7. From TCTMD: Renal Denervation Part 2: How Far, How Fast for Promising New Therapy?

In a 2-part series, TCTMD looked at the concept behind renal denervation and the enthusiasm generated by early data showing a significant impact on resistant hypertension.

The swift uptake of renal denervation has been facilitated by the relative straightforwardness of the procedure. “With the Symplicity system, there are certain algorithms to help get the catheter in the right place and get the right level of impedance so that the [radiofrequency] dosing is right,” Murray D. Esler, MD, of the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute (Melbourne, Australia), told TCTMD in a telephone interview. (Read more…)

8. From EuroPCR 2012: No Clear Winner in Tests Between Biodegradable-Polymer DES vs. Conventional SES

PARIS, France—Two large randomized trials presented May 17 at EuroPCR 2012 showed nearly identical results for biodegradeable-polymer DES compared with first-generation sirolimus-eluting stents SES containing permanent polymers. Yet noninferiority criteria proved hard to meet, with only 1 of the newer stents reaching that goal. (Read more…)

9. From Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions: Stent Fractures Persist Among Newer-Generation Devices

While praised for their safety and efficacy, everolimus-eluting stents (EES) nevertheless carry a low rate of device fracture, according to a study appearing on line September 25, 2012, ahead of print in Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions. Such breaks, though rare, sharply increase the likelihood of adverse events. (Read more…)

10: From TCT 2012: DAPT Cessation Within 1 Year Increased Risk for Major Adverse Events

MIAMI BEACH, FLA—Patients who stopped dual antiplatelet therapy within 1 year following PCI are at increased risk for major adverse events, according to results from the real-world PARIS registry. In over 5,000 patients who received stent implantation, cessation of dual antiplatelet therapy was associated with higher incidence of spontaneous MI (4.8% vs. 1.4%), major bleeding (9% vs. 1%), and MACE (11% vs. 6.5%; P<.001 for all). (Read more…)

 

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Jason R. Kahn, the former News Editor of TCTMD, worked at CRF for 11 years until his death in 2014…

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