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.

Medtronic Arctic Front Cardiac CryoAblation Catheter System: PMA submission for FDA approval complete

Medtronic, Inc. today announced it has completed Pre-Market Approval (PMA) submission in consideration for U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the Medtronic Arctic Front® Cardiac CryoAblation Catheter System, which is designed for patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), an irregular quivering of the upper chambers of the heart that starts and stops on its own. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart arrhythmia in the United States, with an estimated three million patients suffering from this condition.

18 Mar 2010

Genetic test helps reduce hospitalization rates for heart patients on warfarin

Hospitalization rates for heart patients taking warfarin, the world's most-prescribed blood thinner, dropped by approximately 30 percent when genetic information was available to doctors prescribing the drug, researchers from Medco Health Solutions, Inc.-- in association with the Medco Research Institute™ -- and Mayo Clinic announced today.

17 Mar 2010

Medtronic launches Every Patient First health equity initiative.

Medtronic, Inc. today introduced Every Patient First, a health equity initiative that, in partnership with health care providers, professional societies and patient advocacy groups, aims to reduce disparities in access to health care in the United States. The announcement was made at the 59th Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology in Atlanta.

17 Mar 2010

RE-LY study: Dabigatran etexilate shows greater reductions in stroke compared to warfarin

Data presented today at the 59th Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology have shown greater reductions in stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) for dabigatran etexilate compared to the current standard of care, warfarin, irrespective of a patient’s risk profile for stroke.

16 Mar 2010

EXPLORE-Xa study: Betrixaban reduces CRNM bleeds compared to dose-adjusted warfarin

Portola Pharmaceuticals and Merck today announced the results of EXPLORE-Xa, a Phase 2 exploratory, dose finding study of betrixaban, an investigational oral direct Factor Xa inhibitor. Results showed that a once-daily dose of oral betrixaban, given to patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter and at least one risk factor for stroke, reduced the incidence of major and clinically relevant non-major (CRNM) bleeds compared to dose-adjusted warfarin.

16 Mar 2010

Metabolic drugs top the list of prescription drug expenses for elderly Medicare beneficiaries

Purchases of cholesterol and diabetes prescription drugs by elderly Medicare beneficiaries reached nearly $19 billion in 2007 - about one-fourth of the approximately $82 billion spent for medications for the elderly, according to the latest AHRQ News and Numbers.

16 Mar 2010

Medtronic announces positive STOP AF clinical trial data at 59th American College of Cardiology session

Medtronic, Inc. today announced data from the STOP AF (Sustained Treatment of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation) clinical trial during late-breaking sessions at the 59th Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology in Atlanta. The data showed superiority over anti-arrhythmic drugs, with 69.9 percent of patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) treated with the Arctic Front® Cardiac CryoAblation Catheter System remaining free of atrial fibrillation (AF) one year after cryoablation, compared to 7.3 percent on drug therapy.

15 Mar 2010

Mitral regurgitation: MitraClip safe, effective alternative option to open heart surgery

NorthShore University HealthSystem (NorthShore) interventional cardiologist, Ted Feldman, MD, presented data today at the American College of Cardiology annual scientific sessions from the EVEREST II trial (Endovascular Valve Edge-to-Edge REpair STudy) demonstrating the MitraClip, a novel, first-in-class catheter-based device, is a safe and effective alternative to open heart surgery for select patients with mitral regurgitation.

15 Mar 2010

St. Jude Medical to exhibit cardiac clinical solution products portfolio at ACC 2010

St. Jude Medical, Inc. today announced it will display products and technologies from the company’s wide array of clinical solutions in the cardiology, cardiac surgery, atrial fibrillation and cardiac rhythm management markets at ACC 2010.

12 Mar 2010

Minimally invasive surgical ablation for AFib: Unapproved, warns whistleblower

As reported in today's Wall Street Journal, the more than 2 million Americans with atrial fibrillation are now on notice that the over-zealous marketing tactics and incentives by manufacturers of expensive medical devices which are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of atrial fibrillation are likely to be influencing doctors' and hospitals' decisions about treatment for their patients' heart conditions.

12 Mar 2010

First Edition: March 11, 2010

Today's headlines offer details of President Obama's continued full-court press on health reform with an appearance in Missouri. Meanwhile, work to move the bill toward a vote continues on Capitol Hill.

11 Mar 2010

Japanese ablation devices market: Emerging trends that will fuel market growth

According to Millennium Research Group, the global authority on medical technology market intelligence, the recent launch of irrigated-tip catheters into the Japanese market will drive the ablation catheter market by a compound annual growth rate of approximately 15% through 2014.

10 Mar 2010

Patients taking warfarin who develop acute stroke more likely to experience brain hemorrhage

Patients already taking warfarin who develop an acute stroke appear more likely to experience a brain hemorrhage following treatment with an intravenous clot-dissolving medication, even if their blood clotting function appears normal, according to a report posted online today that will appear in the May print issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

9 Mar 2010

Apixaban superior to enoxaparin in reducing venous thromboembolism in total knee replacement surgery patients

Apixaban, an oral anticoagulant being developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Pfizer Inc., was statistically superior to 40 mg once daily enoxaparin in reducing the incidence of venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing elective total knee replacement surgery, according to the ADVANCE-2 study results published today in The Lancet. The study results also showed numerically lower rates of major and clinically relevant non-major bleeding in patients treated with apixaban compared with those treated with enoxaparin.

5 Mar 2010

St. Jude Medical publishes clinical results of HOMEOSTASIS trial

St. Jude Medical, Inc. today announced publication of clinical results in the Hemodynamically Guided Home Self-Therapy in Severe Heart Failure Patients (HOMEOSTASIS) trial.

4 Mar 2010

Merck announces updated late-stage pipeline following its recent merger with Schering-Plough

Merck & Co., Inc. today announced its updated, newly integrated, late-stage pipeline following its recent merger with Schering-Plough. The new pipeline features a broad and diversified portfolio of investigational medicines and vaccines, including more than 20 candidates in Phase III or under regulatory review, and more than 20 candidates in Phase II of development.

3 Mar 2010

Drinking coffee may lower risk of hospitalization for heart rhythm disturbances

Coffee drinkers may be less likely to be hospitalized for heart rhythm disturbances, according to a new study by the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, Calif. The researchers, who note the findings may be surprising because patients frequently report palpitations after drinking coffee, are presenting the study at the American Heart Association's 50th Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention in San Francisco on March 5, 2010.

3 Mar 2010

St. Jude Medical's Trifecta valve receives CE Mark approval

St. Jude Medical, Inc. today announced that it has received CE Mark approval for the Trifecta™ valve, marking the Company’s launch into the market for pericardial aortic stented tissue valves.

2 Mar 2010

Blacks less likely to know they have atrial fibrillation or about use of warfarin

A large nationwide study that includes neurologists from Mayo Clinic has found that blacks are substantially less likely than whites to know that they have atrial fibrillation or to use warfarin, the most common treatment for the condition. Atrial fibrillation, an abnormal heart rhythm, significantly increases risk of stroke. Warfarin is known to reduce that risk.

27 Feb 2010

Stroke incidence and treatment: Racial and geographic disparities

Blacks are more likely to have an undiagnosed key risk factor for stroke and are more likely to have a stroke than whites, according to two studies presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2010.

27 Feb 2010

Atrial Fibrillation News and Research

Further Reading

Medtronic Arctic Front Cardiac CryoAblation Catheter System: PMA submission for FDA approval complete

Genetic test helps reduce hospitalization rates for heart patients on warfarin

Medtronic launches Every Patient First health equity initiative.

RE-LY study: Dabigatran etexilate shows greater reductions in stroke compared to warfarin

EXPLORE-Xa study: Betrixaban reduces CRNM bleeds compared to dose-adjusted warfarin

Metabolic drugs top the list of prescription drug expenses for elderly Medicare beneficiaries

Medtronic announces positive STOP AF clinical trial data at 59th American College of Cardiology session

Mitral regurgitation: MitraClip safe, effective alternative option to open heart surgery

St. Jude Medical to exhibit cardiac clinical solution products portfolio at ACC 2010

Minimally invasive surgical ablation for AFib: Unapproved, warns whistleblower

First Edition: March 11, 2010

Japanese ablation devices market: Emerging trends that will fuel market growth

Patients taking warfarin who develop acute stroke more likely to experience brain hemorrhage

Apixaban superior to enoxaparin in reducing venous thromboembolism in total knee replacement surgery patients

St. Jude Medical publishes clinical results of HOMEOSTASIS trial

Merck announces updated late-stage pipeline following its recent merger with Schering-Plough

Drinking coffee may lower risk of hospitalization for heart rhythm disturbances

St. Jude Medical's Trifecta valve receives CE Mark approval

Blacks less likely to know they have atrial fibrillation or about use of warfarin

Stroke incidence and treatment: Racial and geographic disparities

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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