Atrial Fibrillation News and Research

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Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia. An arrhythmia is a problem with the speed or rhythm of the heartbeat. A disorder in the heart’s electrical system causes AF and other types of arrhythmia. AF occurs when rapid, disorganized electrical signals in the heart’s two upper chambers, called the atria, cause them to contract very fast and irregularly (this is called fibrillation). As a result, blood pools in the atria and isn’t pumped completely into the heart’s two lower chambers, called the ventricles. When this happens, the heart’s upper and lower chambers don’t work together as they should. Often, people who have AF may not even feel symptoms. However, even when not noticed, AF can lead to an increased risk of stroke. In many patients, particularly when the rhythm is extremely rapid, AF can cause chest pain, heart attack, or heart failure. AF may occur rarely or every now and then, or it may become a persistent or permanent heart rhythm lasting for years.

FDA expands Janssen’s Xarelto use to reduce risk of DVT and PE

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today expanded the approved use of Xarelto (rivaroxaban) to include treating deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE), and to reduce the risk of recurrent DVT and PE following initial treatment.

3 Nov 2012

Allergic rhinitis common in otitis media patients

Allergic rhinitis is a common comorbidity in children with otitis media with effusion, suggest study findings.

2 Nov 2012

The PLAN for stroke prognosis

Researchers have developed a new prediction rule, which they say predicts both short-term and 1-year mortality after acute ischemic stroke.

29 Oct 2012

Carotid ultrasound improves risk management in rheumatoid arthritis

A trial of radiofrequency ultrasound in patients with rheumatoid arthritis has shown that carotid intima-media thickness is significantly greater in patients treated only with synthetic therapeutics compared with those who are also taking biologics.

29 Oct 2012

Autoantibody aids identification of hyperexcitability disorders

Researchers have found that testing for a glycine receptor autoantibody aids the identification of a broad spectrum of autoimmune brainstem/spinal cord hyperexcitability disorders.

29 Oct 2012

Routine ECG can help doctors identify patients at higher risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes

Canadian scientists have determined that routine electrocardiogram results for patients with atrial fibrillation - the most common form of irregular heart beat - can help doctors identify those at higher risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, including death.

29 Oct 2012

UK remains at risk of devastating stroke crisis, new report confirms

The UK remains at risk of a devastating stroke crisis, according to UK health experts launching Reports published today, on World Stroke Day, by Action for Stroke Prevention, an alliance of renowned health experts and patient organisations.

29 Oct 2012

Europe remains at risk of a devastating stroke crisis

Europe remains at risk of a devastating stroke crisis, according to a major new Report, "How Can We Avoid a Stroke Crisis in Europe?" published today, on World Stroke Day, by Action for Stroke Prevention (ASP).

29 Oct 2012

New anti-thrombotic treatments in AF patients can reduce risk of stroke

Atrial fibrillation, whose prevalence continues to rise, was described last year as the "new epidemic" in cardiovascular disease, even though AF can be successfully controlled by the detection and management of risk factors, by rhythm control treatments, and by the use of antithrombotic therapies.

29 Oct 2012

Cardiac arrhythmias: latest developments in diagnosis and treatment

A new Lancet Series explores the latest developments in the diagnosis, treatment and biology of cardiac arrhythmias, ahead of the American Heart Association’s annual meeting taking place this year on Nov 3–7 in Los Angeles, CA, USA.

26 Oct 2012

PFO closure with investigational device may prevent cryptogenic ischemic stroke

A clinical trial indicates that using an investigational medical device to close a PFO, or "hole in the heart," may be superior to medical management alone in the prevention of a repeated stroke.

26 Oct 2012

Computed tomography aids scleroderma lung disease prognosis

High-resolution computed tomography is useful for the prognosis of patients with systemic scleroderma-related interstitial lung disease, research shows.

22 Oct 2012

Patients with AF experience more GI bleeding with rivaroxaban use

Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) experienced more major and non-major clinically relevant GI bleeding when taking rivaroxaban than patients taking warfarin.

22 Oct 2012

Gender gap in myocardial infarction mortality

Women are more likely to die from a myocardial infarction than men, according to research presented at the Acute Cardiac Care Congress 2012. The gender gap in mortality was independent of patient characteristics, revascularisation delays and revascularisation modalities.

20 Oct 2012