01- The FDA Approves Ticagrelor for Primary Prevention in High Risk Patients The FDA has approved the indication of ticagrelor as primary prevention in high risk CAD patients with no history of MI or stroke. Read also HERE 02- Estimating the Risk of Infection for Healthcare Personnel Roughly one out of every 100 healthcare workers at...
Vasculitis, Thrombosis and Angiogenesis: Covid-19´s Unique Patters
In this small, yet interesting series, we observe angiogenesis could differentiate pulmonary physiopathology by Covid-19 vs. from viral infections of similar severity (such as influenza). Being quite small, we can hardly consider it universal, or whether it could have clinical impact. Meanwhile, we keep learning about the new virus. Progressive respiratory failure is the main...
SPARCL: Highly Effective Prevention of New Events with Atorvastatin after a Stroke
In patients with recent stroke or transient ischemic attack, the total number of vascular events prevented by atorvastatin was twice as high as the number of prevented index events. In other words, the power of atorvastatin in secondary prevention is far superior to primary prevention. This gigantic reduction, both in index and recurrent events, gives...
Virtual ACC 2020 | VOYAGER PAD: Rivaroxaban Superior to Aspirin in Preventing Events
In patients with peripheral artery disease undergoing revascularization, the combination of rivaroxaban (Xarelto) and low doses of aspirin are superior to aspirin alone in the prevention of acute low limb ischemic events, amputation, cardiovascular events and strokes. The outcomes of VOYAGER PAD add to the COMPASS outcomes, showing the combination of therapies can benefit risk...
Virtual ACC 2020 | COMPASS Sub-Analysis: Diabetes Increases the Benefit of Rivaroxaban Combined with AAS
In patients with stable coronary or peripheral artery disease, diabetes increases the benefit of combining low doses of rivaroxaban and aspirin vs. aspirin alone. This analysis was pre-specified in the COMPASS protocol and was presented virtually for the ACC 2020 and simultaneously published in Circulation. Patients with diabetes, showed numerically greater reduction in terms of...
2020 SOLACI Calendar of Events | A Year Full of Extraordinary Interventional Cardiology Events
SOLACI’s commitment to the development of interventional cardiology in Latin America doubles down in 2020. Our institution is fostering a variety of events, programs, and activities to continue boosting our specialty in our region, a tradition we have never ceased to honor in the past 26 years. From February 28th to March 2nd, 2021, Hilton Buenos...
The Most Read Scientific Articles of February
01- Alternatives for Patients Allergic to Aspirin The new guidelines of chronic coronary syndromes make class IIb recommendations to use prasugrel or ticagrelor in aspirin-intolerant patients. This is not meant to replace dual antiaggregation therapy in aspirin intolerant patients, when needed; it is just a recommendation to use monotherapy with the most potent antiaggregant we...
Drug-Coated Balloons vs. Conventional Angioplasty Below the Knee
This meta-analysis is an update on the role of drug-coated balloons in the treatment of infrapopliteal arterial disease, a difficult pathology for all strategies. The primary endpoint of this meta-analysis was treated lower limb salvage at 12 months. The secondary endpoints included survival at 12 months, amputation free survival, restenosis, and target lesion repeat revascularization rate. This...
How Much Should We Exercises to Reduce Mortality?
Physical activity has been shown to reduce mortality in a dose/response manner, just like any drug. But many still wonder: are there any minimal requirements in terms of amount or intensity? Is there such a thing as “toxic exercise”? And finally, is exercising equally beneficial to all? This study, conducted by Dr Sang-Woo Jeong from...
Angioplasty in Long Femoropopliteal Lesions Offers Reasonable Results
Courtesy of Dr. Carlos Fava. Around half the treated lesions in peripheral disease are femoropopliteal lesions. Long lesions are among the challenges faced: they are associated with higher mortality and morbidity, and revascularization in that setting always entails some degree of difficulty. Nowadays, with the development of nitinol stents and more operator experience, angioplasty is becoming...