Statin Efficacy in Elders
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Rosuvastatin lowered risk for major cardiovascular events.
By Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, FASAM
May 25, 2010
Covering:
Glynn RJ et al., Ann Intern Med 2010 Apr 20; 152:488
Zieman SJ and Ouyang P., Ann Intern Med 2010 Apr 20; 152:528
Immune-Mediated Necrotizing Myopathy Associated with Statins
Neurology Summary and Comment
Unlike toxic myopathies, this condition persists despite statin discontinuation but responds to immunosuppressive therapy.
By Andrea Swenson, MD
May 18, 2010
Covering:
Grable-Esposito P et al., Muscle Nerve 2010 Feb; 41:185
Addicted to Food
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A study in rats reveals dysfunction in the reward system with unlimited access to rich foods, similar to cocaine addictions.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
May 17, 2010
Covering:
Johnson PM and Kenny PJ., Nat Neurosci 2010 May; 13:635
Statins for Primary Cardiovascular Prevention in Elders
Cardiology Summary and Comment
A secondary analysis of JUPITER data supports statin treatment for primary prevention of cardiovascular events in many adults older than 70.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
May 5, 2010
Covering:
Glynn RJ et al., Ann Intern Med 2010 Apr 20; 152:488
Zieman SJ and Ouyang P., Ann Intern Med 2010 Apr 20; 152:528
Dietary Sugars and Lipid Metabolism
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Added sugar intake is associated with some markers of dyslipidemia.
Statistics: Producing Unreliable Facts from Reliable Figures?
Editorialists disagree on how to interpret recent findings on rates of hospitalizations for acute cardiovascular diseases in patients with psoriasis.
Women from JUPITER . . .
Cardiology Summary and Comment
. . . benefited from rosuvastatin as much as men did.
By JoAnne M. Foody, MD
April 14, 2010
Covering:
Mora S et al., Circulation 2010 Mar 9; 121:1069
Pravastatin Doesn't Lower Blood Pressure in Patients with Mild Hypertension and Hyperlipidemia
General Medicine Summary and Comment
The same is likely true for other statins, as well.
The ACCORD Lipid Study: Fenofibrate Doesn't Help
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Free
Although triglyceride levels improved markedly with fenofibrate, incidence of adverse cardiovascular events was not affected.
A New Agent for Lowering Lipid Levels?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
In a phase II study, eprotirome, a thyromimetic, yielded promising results when added to statins in patients with treatment-resistant hypercholesterolemia.
By JoAnne M. Foody, MD
March 10, 2010
Covering:
Ladenson PW et al., N Engl J Med 2010 Mar 11; 362:906
Strong Evidence Linking Lp(a) to Coronary Artery Disease
Cardiology Summary and Comment
A genetic association study bolsters the case for a causal mechanism.
By JoAnne M. Foody, MD
March 10, 2010
Covering:
Clarke R et al. for the PROCARDIS Consortium., N Engl J Med 2009 Dec 24; 361:2518
Omega-3s for Prodromal Psychosis
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
A relatively safe intervention yields early positive results.
By Barbara Geller, MD
March 8, 2010
Covering:
Amminger GP et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2010 Feb; 67:146
Cardiovascular Benefits of Statins vs. Risk for Incident Diabetes
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
One additional case of incident diabetes occurred for every 255 patients who received statins for 4 years.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
March 4, 2010
Covering:
Sattar N et al., Lancet 2010 Feb 27; 375:735
Statins and Stroke Prevention: Is It All About the Cholesterol?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
In a meta-analysis of statin and nonstatin treatment trials, stroke reduction was proportional to the lipid-lowering effect of the intervention.
By JoAnne M. Foody, MD
March 3, 2010
Covering:
De Caterina R et al., J Am Coll Cardiol 2010 Jan 19; 55:198
Sharing Cardiovascular Risk Information with Patients
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Patients benefit from getting their risk scores, but only if it's done repeatedly or reinforced with counseling.
By Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH
March 3, 2010
Covering:
Sheridan SL et al., Arch Intern Med 2010 Feb 8; 170:230
Ahmad T and Mora S., Arch Intern Med 2010 Feb 8; 170:227
Lipid-Lowering Therapy and Risk for Bleeding Among Warfarin Users
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Bleeding risk was elevated after cytochrome P450 enzyme inhibitors were added to warfarin regimens.
Methuselah's Genotype?
Neurology Summary and Comment
A longevity gene also protects against cognitive decline.
By David Knopman, MD
March 2, 2010
Covering:
Sanders AE et al., JAMA 2010 Jan 13; 303:150
Optimizing Statin Use at the Population Level: What Is the Best Approach?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
In a simulation study, improving patient adherence produced better outcomes than lowering the treatment threshold.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
February 17, 2010
Covering:
Shroufi A and Powles JW., J Epidemiol Community Health 2010 Feb; 64:109
Switching from a Protease Inhibitor to an Integrase Inhibitor
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Such a switch resulted in lower lipid levels but more viremia in two identical HIV trials.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
February 16, 2010
Covering:
Eron JJ et al., Lancet 2010 Jan 30; 375:396
Risk-Based Statin Treatment
General Medicine Summary and Comment
A simple risk-based approach might be better than titrating to a specific cholesterol level.
Breast-Feeding: The Heart of the Matter
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Breast-feeding was associated with lower likelihood of maternal subclinical CVD.
By Ann J. Davis, MD
February 11, 2010
Covering:
Schwarz EB et al., Obstet Gynecol 2010 Jan; 115:41
Childhood Obesity, Glucose Intolerance, and Hypertension Increase Risk for Premature Adult Mortality
A possible association between childhood obesity and premature death might be partially mediated by childhood glucose intolerance and hypertension.
What Is the Best Approach to Lipid Management?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Free
In a simulation study, basing statin treatment on overall cardiovascular risk produced better outcomes than basing treatment on target LDL levels.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
January 27, 2010
Covering:
Hayward RA et al., Ann Intern Med 2010 Jan 19; 152:69
High-Dose Statins Before Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Cardiology Summary and Comment
In statin-naive patients, a single loading dose of atorvastatin within 24 hours before PCI significantly reduced the rate of periprocedural MI.
By Howard C. Herrmann, MD
January 13, 2010
Covering:
Briguori C et al., J Am Coll Cardiol 2009 Dec 1; 54:2157
Tsimikas S., J Am Coll Cardiol 2009 Dec 1; 54:2164
Perimenopausal Changes in Cardiac Risk Factors
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Lipid levels are particularly sensitive to the menopausal transition.
