Three coauthors of the recent Heart Rhythm Society preliminary guidelines explain the shortfalls that made their document necessary and why there's enough blame to go around.
While experts no longer seriously envision MRI as a one-stop cardiac imaging shop. future roles for the technology in vascular disease as well as in targeted. patient-specific treatments get bigger and more promising everyday.
Improved deliverability is the focus of the next generation. but innovative "third-generation" devices reflect inventive designs and a growing unease about permanent polymers. Although they still have major hoops to hop through. bioabsorbable polymers on metal devices are coming soon. to a stent near you.
CRP levels have been proven to predict risk of future heart disease independent of other risk factors. and some argue that routine screening will save lives. Others believe that CRP has been overhyped and routine measurement would not be cost-effective. Can a consensus be reached?
Contrary to previous doctrine. a new epidemiologic study shows that ACE inhibitors can cause birth defects when prescribed during the first trimester of pregnancy. Their use should therefore be avoided during this time.


Pregnancy