Giant Cell Arteritis and Stroke
Neurology Summary and Comment
A case series documents an uncommon and underrecognized association.
By Richard J. Caselli, MD
January 6, 2009
Covering:
Solans-Laqué R et al., Medicine 2008 Nov; 87:335
Prevention of Recurrent Ischemic Stroke
Cost and side effects, not effectiveness, might be the discriminators between aspirin plus dipyridamole and clopidogrel.
Short Sleep Duration as a Predictor of Cardiovascular Events
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Sleeping less than 7.5 hours nightly and having nighttime rises in SBP were associated with excess cardiovascular risk in older patients with hypertension.
Sex Differences in IV tPA Use and Stroke Outcomes
Neurology Summary and Comment
Despite improving data, whether true biologic differences exist remains unclear.
By Autumn Klein, MD, PhD
December 16, 2008
Covering:
Kent DM et al., Neurology 2008 Sep 30; 71:1080
Prabhakaran S and Elkind MSV., Neurology 2008 Sep 30; 71:1048
Reid JM et al., Stroke 2008 Apr; 39:1090
Beta-Blockers Should Not Be First in Line for Treating Hypertension
Cardiology Summary and Comment
In a meta-analysis, lowering of heart rate was associated with increases in cardiac mortality, risk for nonfatal MI, and heart failure.
By Mark S. Link, MD
December 10, 2008
Covering:
Bangalore S et al., J Am Coll Cardiol 2008 Oct 28; 52:1482
Kaplan NM., J Am Coll Cardiol 2008 Oct 28; 52:1490
Postthrombotic Syndrome After Acute Deep Venous Thrombosis
Severe PTS was relatively uncommon in patients who received standard anticoagulation therapy.
By David Green, MD, PhD
December 9, 2008
Covering:
Kahn SR et al., Ann Intern Med 2008 Nov 18; 149:698
Migraine with Aura, Gene Polymorphisms, and Stroke Risk
Neurology Summary and Comment
Free
In this analysis from the Women’s Health Study, the twofold increased risk for stroke associated with migraine with aura was increased to four-fold in patients with a common polymorphism of the <$EMPH_O>MTHFR<$EMPH_C> gene.
By Till Sprenger, MD, and Peter J. Goadsby, MD, PhD
December 9, 2008
Covering:
Schürks M et al., Neurology 2008 Aug 12; 71:505
Venous Thromboembolism and Pregnancy
An approach to managing VTE in pregnant patients
By David Green, MD, PhD
December 2, 2008
Covering:
Marik PE and Plante LA., N Engl J Med 2008 Nov 6; 359:2025
β-Blockers to Prevent Heart Failure in Hypertensive Patients?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
β-blockers were similar to other agents for preventing HF but conferred risk for stroke in older patients.
By Kirsten E. Fleischmann, MD, MPH
November 26, 2008
Covering:
Bangalore S et al., J Am Coll Cardiol 2008 Sep 23; 52:1062
Fowler MB., J Am Coll Cardiol 2008 Sep 23; 52:1073
Antihypertensive Treatment and Cognition in Elders
Neurology Summary and Comment
Hypertension can lead to cognitive decline, but can "overtreatment" contribute to decline as well?
By Vladimir Hachinski, MD, FRCPC, DSc
November 25, 2008
Covering:
Hadjiev DI and Mineva PP., Acta Neurol Scand 2008 Sep; 118:139
Further Concerns about COX-2 Inhibitors
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Follow-up of participants in the APPROVe trial indicated that cardiovascular effects persist 1 year after ending treatment with rofecoxib.
How Common Is Aspirin Resistance?
Oncology and Hematology Summary and Comment
Free
True resistance occurred in only 5% of patients; other "resistance" was attributed to dosing nonadherence.
By David Green, MD, PhD
November 18, 2008
Covering:
Pignatelli P et al., J Thromb Haemost 2008 Oct; 6:1832
Predicting Venous Thromboembolism in Cancer Patients
Patients with VTE had higher levels of soluble platelet selectin than did those without VTE.
More on Cerebral Microbleeds in Elders
Neurology Summary and Comment
In a community-dwelling cohort, CMBs were common and associated with the APOE
By Anand Viswanathan, MD, PhD
November 18, 2008
Covering:
Sveinbjornsdottir S et al., J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2008 Sep; 79:1002
Aspirin or Antioxidants for Primary Prevention? Not so Fast!
Cardiology Summary and Comment
In a randomized, controlled trial, neither strategy conferred any benefit in patients with diabetes and asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease.
By Beat J. Meyer, MD
November 13, 2008
Covering:
Belch J et al., BMJ 2008 Oct 16; 337:a1840
Hiatt WR., BMJ 2008 Oct 16; 337:a1806
No Role for Vitamin E or Vitamin C in the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Men
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Free
Findings from a large randomized trial confirm that supplementation confers no benefit and suggest that vitamin E might increase risk for hemorrhagic stroke.
Benefits of Prehospital Notification for Stroke Patients
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Prehospital ED notification decreased door-to-CT time by 23% and doubled use of thrombolytic therapy.
Clinical Findings in Anterior Choroidal Artery Infarction
Neurology Summary and Comment
A rare analysis provides data on prevalence, symptoms, etiology, and outcomes.
By José Biller, MD
November 4, 2008
Covering:
Palomeras E et al., Acta Neurol Scand 2008 Jul; 118:42
C-Reactive Protein and Atherosclerosis: No Case for Causality
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Free
But a genetics study confirms CRP’s role as a marker for cardiovascular events.
By Beat J. Meyer, MD
October 29, 2008
Covering:
Zacho J et al., N Engl J Med 2008 Oct 30; 359:1897
Prediction of Outcome in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Neurology Summary and Comment
Free
In predicting risks for vasospasm, delayed infarction, and poor outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, the modified Fisher scale has advantages over the traditional Fisher scale.
By Alejandro Rabinstein, MD
October 28, 2008
Covering:
Kramer AH et al., J Neurosurg 2008 Aug; 109:199
Heparin or Enoxaparin Bridging for Cardioembolic-Stroke Patients
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Whether bridging is beneficial still is not clear.
By Jamaluddin Moloo, MD, MPH
October 21, 2008
Covering:
Hallevi H et al., Arch Neurol 2008 Sep; 65:1169
Wityk RJ., Arch Neurol 2008 Sep; 65:1157
Oral Treatment for Deep Venous Thrombosis
In a phase II trial, rivaroxaban was as effective and as safe as low-molecular-weight heparin.
Hemorrhagic Stroke in an Atorvastatin Stroke-Prevention Trial
Neurology Summary and Comment
Analysis of the hemorrhagic-stroke events in the SPARCL study demonstrates higher risk in certain subgroups, independent of the statin.
By Michael A. Kelly, MD
October 21, 2008
Covering:
Goldstein LB et al., Neurology 2008 Jun 10; 70:2364
Jacobs BS and Greenberg SM., Neurology 2008 Jun 10; 70:2355
Antiplatelet Agents to Prevent Recurrent Stroke
Aspirin plus dipyridamole showed similar efficacy compared with clopidogrel.
By David Green, MD, PhD
October 14, 2008
Covering:
for the PRoFESS Study Group., N Engl J Med 2008 Sep 18; 359:1238
Kent DM and Thaler DE., N Engl J Med 2008 Sep 18; 359:1287
Carotid Stenting vs. Endarterectomy: Longer-Term Outcomes
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Among patients without periprocedural complications, adverse outcomes at
By Allan S. Brett, MD
October 9, 2008
Covering:
Eckstein H-H et al., Lancet Neurol 2008 Oct; 7:893
Mas J-L et al., Lancet Neurol 2008 Oct; 7:885
