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.

Sun exposure advice recommended for anti-TNF users

Rheumatology patients using antitumor necrosis factor treatment should be given sun exposure education to reduce their risk for skin cancer, say Irish researchers.

2 Jul 2012

Hay fever symptom severity plateau identified

Study findings suggest that individuals sensitized to Poaceae, a family of land grasses, experience increasing severity in hay fever symptoms in line with daily levels, up to a saturation point.

2 Jul 2012

Eight-year trends in pediatric drug use examined

A review of US outpatient pediatric drug use over the past 8 years shows a decrease in systemic antibiotic, allergy, pain, and depression prescriptions, and an increase in asthma, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and contraceptive prescriptions.

29 Jun 2012

Link between phthalates and early eczema uncovered

Research published in Environmental Health Perspectives suggests that prenatal exposure to butylbenzyl phthalate, a common component of vinyl flooring, may increase a child’s risk for developing early eczema.

29 Jun 2012

Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb receive FDA CRL for ELIQUIS NDA

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Pfizer announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Complete Response Letter (CRL) regarding the New Drug Application (NDA) for ELIQUIS (apixaban) for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

25 Jun 2012

Janssen receives FDA complete response letter for XARELTO sNDA

Janssen Research & Development, LLC (Janssen R&D) announced today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a complete response letter regarding a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for XARELTO (rivaroxaban) for the reduction of the risk of secondary cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

22 Jun 2012

Short-term antiarrhythmic drug treatment postcardioversion could be effective

Short-term antiarrhythmic drug treatment after cardioversion is less effective than long-term treatment, but prevents most recurrences of atrial fibrillation, a study in The Lancet shows.

21 Jun 2012

Cardiovascular risks for excessive endurance training highlighted

Ironman triathlons, ultramarathons, and even marathons are potentially associated with a risk for adverse cardiovascular effects.

19 Jun 2012

Antiarrhythmic short-term treatment useful for some patients

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequently sustained arrhythmia of the heart. It affects several million people in Europe. AF causes a loss of contraction in the atria and gives rise to heart failure. Moreover, it is associated with a high risk of stroke. One in five strokes is due to AF.

19 Jun 2012

Long-term rhythm, not rate, control may prolong life with AF

Rhythm control therapy for atrial fibrillation may improve survival rates compared with rate control therapy when used long term, show study results published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

15 Jun 2012

Minimally invasive procedure to treat high blood pressure

A radically different approach to treating high blood pressure – using a minimally invasive procedure – is being evaluated as part of a Pivotal Phase III 90-site national trial that includes The Carl H. and Edyth Lindner Center for Research and Education at The Christ Hospital.

14 Jun 2012

New scientific findings in anticoagulation for stroke prevention

New scientific findings in anticoagulation for stroke prevention are paving the way for updates to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation.

14 Jun 2012

Enrollment complete in Endosense’s TactiCath catheter clinical study for paroxysmal AF

Endosense,a pioneer and leader in force-sensing technology focused on improving the efficacy and safety of catheter ablation for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, has announced enrollment completion in the TOCCASTAR clinical study.

14 Jun 2012

HRS, eCardio partner to raise awareness of heart rhythm disorders

eCardio Diagnostics, a leading provider of remote cardiac arrhythmia monitoring, was among eight corporate sponsors teaming up with the Heart Rhythm Society to raise the level of awareness for heart rhythm disorders, particularly Atrial Fibrillation (AF) and Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

8 Jun 2012

Boehringer Ingelheim updates U.S. prescribing information for Pradaxa with FDA

Boehringer Ingelheim has today announced that it has updated the US prescribing information for Pradaxa (dabigatran etexilate) in alignment with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to affirm that "Pradaxa 150mg twice daily was superior in reducing ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes relative to warfarin."

7 Jun 2012

New data from CardioFocus’ HeartLight EAS clinical study on AF

CardioFocus, Inc., developer of the HeartLight Endoscopic Ablation System (EAS) for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF), announces new worldwide data with its technology was presented during the scientific sessions at Heart Rhythm 2012, the Heart Rhythm Society's 33rd Annual Scientific Sessions, in Boston, MA last month.

5 Jun 2012

Regular and moderate exercise most beneficial for cardiovascular health

Micah True, legendary ultra-marathoner, died suddenly while on a routine 12-mile training run March 27, 2012. The mythic Caballo Blanco in the best-selling book, Born to Run, True would run as far as 100 miles in a day. On autopsy his heart was enlarged and scarred; he died of a lethal arrhythmia (irregularity of the heart rhythm). Although speculative, the pathologic changes in the heart of this 58 year-old veteran extreme endurance athlete may have been manifestations of "Phidippides cardiomyopathy," a condition caused by chronic excessive endurance exercise.

4 Jun 2012

Strong causal link between alcohol consumption and serious palpitations in patients with AF

The term "holiday heart syndrome" was coined in a 1978 study to describe patients with atrial fibrillation who experienced a common and potentially dangerous form of heart palpitation after excessive drinking, which can be common during the winter holiday season. The symptoms usually went away when the revelers stopped drinking. Now, research from UCSF builds on that finding, establishing a stronger causal link between alcohol consumption and serious palpitations in patients with atrial fibrillation, the most common form of arrhythmia.

2 Jun 2012

Moderately higher risk of stroke for women than men with irregular heart rhythm

Women with irregular heart rhythm (known as atrial fibrillation) have a moderately increased risk of stroke compared with men, suggesting that female sex should be considered when making decisions about anti-clotting treatment, finds a study published on bmj.com today.

1 Jun 2012

Million Hearts, ACP aim to prevent heart attacks and strokes in five years

The American College of Physicians (ACP), the second-largest physician group in the United States, has joined Million Hearts, a public-private sector initiative that aims to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes in five years. Million Hearts has two primary goals:

30 May 2012