Circulation. 2005;111:2865
(Circulation. 2005;111:2865.)
© 2005 American Heart Association, Inc.
Issue Highlights
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FREEDOM FROM ATRIAL TACHYARRHYTHMIAS AFTER CATHETER ABLATION OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION: A RANDOMIZED COMPARISON BETWEEN 2 CURRENT ABLATION STRATEGIES, by Karch et al.
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Catheter ablation for maintaining sinus rhythm increasingly
is considered when atrial fibrillation is highly symptomatic
despite antiarrhythmic drug therapy. Rapidly activating regions
in and around the pulmonary veins are causative in many patients.
Ablation techniques targeting these regions, reported results,
and complications vary among centers. Comparative data for different
approaches are limited. The randomized trial by Karch et al
in this issue of Circulation compared 2 more commonly used approaches:
ablation encircling a wide area around the pulmonary vein ostia
guided by anatomy, versus an electrogram-guided approach ablating
only segments of the pulmonary vein ostia. In contrast to a
previous trial, the segmental ablation approach was associated
with better arrhythmia control. Many recurrences were asymptomatic
in both groups. Serious complications included tamponade, pulmonary
vein stenosis, and thromboemboli. These findings add fuel to
the continuing controversy as to the optimal method and support
the practice of confining this procedure to highly symptomatic
patients. See p
2875.
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PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION VERSUS CONSERVATIVE THERAPY IN NONACUTE CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE: A META-ANALYSIS, by Katritsis and Ioannidis.
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Clinicians have often debated the incremental benefit of percutaneous
coronary interventions for patients with stable angina. This
study sought to synthesize the existing data by conducting a
meta-analysis of the 11 randomized clinical trials of medical
therapy versus percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients
with angiographically documented coronary stenoses in nonacute
coronary artery disease settings. The study specifically sought
to determine whether PCI was associated with a subsequent reduction
in risk of mortality, cardiac death or myocardial infarction,
nonfatal myocardial infarction, and coronary artery bypass grafting
or PCI. The follow-up was more than 2 years for 5 of the studies.
This meta-analysis provides the best current evidence about
whether PCI for patients with stable angina does more than improve
symptoms. See p
2906.
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REDUCED NUMBER OF CIRCULATING ENDOTHELIAL PROGENITOR CELLS PREDICTS FUTURE CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS: PROOF OF CONCEPT FOR THE CLINICAL IMPORTANCE OF ENDOGENOUS VASCULAR REPAIR, by Schmidt-Lucke et al.
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Endothelial function has been linked to the future risk of cardiovascular
events in patients at risk. An emerging concept in vascular
disease is the notion that circulating endothelial progenitor
cells repopulate the vasculature to preserve normal endothelial
function. Cardiovascular risk factors have been associated with
a reduced number of circulating endothelial progenitor cells,
suggesting that availability of these cells is key to maintaining
normal vascular function. In this issue, Schmidt-Lucke and colleagues
add important new information to this paradigm by demonstrating
that the availability of endothelial progenitor cells is directly
linked to the future incidence of cardiovascular events. See
p
2981.
Visit www.circ.ahajournals.org:
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Images in Cardiovascular Medicine
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Spontaneous Left Atrial Dissection Presenting as Pulmonary Edema.
See p
e372.
ST Elevation During Open Heart Surgery: Floating Air Bubble in Saphenous Vein Graft. See p e374.
Fluorine-18–Labeled Deoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography in the Diagnosis and Management of Aortitis With Pulmonary Artery Involvement. See p e375.
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Correspondence
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See p
e377.
Related Articles:
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Spontaneous Left Atrial Dissection Presenting as Pulmonary Edema
- Jung-Hyun Choi, Jun-Kyu Kang, Kyung-Joo Park, Jo-Won Jung, So-Yeon Choi, Myeong-Ho Yoon, Gyo-Seung Hwang, Seung-Jea Tahk, and Joon-Han Shin
Circulation 2005 111: e372-e373.
[Extract]
[Full Text]
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ST Elevation During Open Heart Surgery: Floating Air Bubble in Saphenous Vein Graft
- Ken-ichi Komukai, Keiji Hirooka, Manabu Taneike, Yoshinori Yasuoka, Hiroyoshi Yamamoto, Katsuji Hashimoto, Wakatomi Chin, Yukihiro Koretsune, Hideo Kusuoka, and Yoshio Yasumura
Circulation 2005 111: e374.
[Extract]
[Full Text]
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Fluorine-18–Labeled Deoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography in the Diagnosis and Management of Aortitis With Pulmonary Artery Involvement
- Lisa Mielniczuk, Robert A. deKemp, Carole Dennie, Keiichiro Yoshinaga, Ian G. Burwash, Francois Bénard, Haissam Haddad, Donald S. Beanlands, and Rob S.B. Beanlands
Circulation 2005 111: e375-e376.
[Extract]
[Full Text]
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Letter Regarding Article by Devereux et al, "Regression of Hypertensive Left Ventricular Hypertrophy by Losartan Compared With Atenolol: The Losartan Intervention for Endpoint Reduction in Hypertension (LIFE) Trial"
- Michael F. O’Rourke and Michel E. Safar
Circulation 2005 111: e377.
[Extract]
[Full Text]
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Freedom From Atrial Tachyarrhythmias After Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation: A Randomized Comparison Between 2 Current Ablation Strategies
- Martin R. Karch, Bernhard Zrenner, Isabel Deisenhofer, Jürgen Schreieck, Gjin Ndrepepa, Jun Dong, Katrin Lamprecht, Petra Barthel, Etienne Luciani, Albert Schömig, and Claus Schmitt
Circulation 2005 111: 2875-2880.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
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Reduced Number of Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells Predicts Future Cardiovascular Events: Proof of Concept for the Clinical Importance of Endogenous Vascular Repair
- Caroline Schmidt-Lucke, Lothar Rössig, Stephan Fichtlscherer, Mariuca Vasa, Martina Britten, Ulrike Kämper, Stefanie Dimmeler, and Andreas M. Zeiher
Circulation 2005 111: 2981-2987.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
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Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Versus Conservative Therapy in Nonacute Coronary Artery Disease: A Meta-Analysis
- Demosthenes G. Katritsis and John P.A. Ioannidis
Circulation 2005 111: 2906-2912.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
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