In patients with unstable angina and myocardial infarction without ST-segment elevation who were treated with the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor tirofiban, the use of an early invasive strategy significantly reduced the incidence of major cardiac events. These data support a policy involving broader use of the early inhibition of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa in combination with an early invasive strategy in such patients.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in clinical practice. Recent studies have indicated that inflammation might play a significant role in the initiation, maintenance, and perpetuation of AF. Inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein are elevated in AF and correlate to longer duration of AF, success of cardioversion, and thrombogenesis. Furthermore, the inflammatory process might be modulated by the use of statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, or glucocorticoids. The purpose of this study is to analyze the current published reports on the relationship between inflammation and AF and the potential therapeutic options available to modulate the inflammatory milieu in AF.

LV filling pressures can be estimated with reasonable accuracy in HCM patients by measuring E velocity/flow propagation velocity or E/Ea. These ratios also track changes in filling pressures.

Background-Antiplatelet therapy and antithrombin therapy have been demonstrated to reduce the risk of cardiac events in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome, yet all effective therapies also increase the risk of bleeding. Methods and Results-In the Clopidogrel in Unstable angina to prevent Recurrent ischemic Events (CURE) trial, 12 562 patients were randomized to clopidogrel or placebo in addition to aspirin, and the primary outcome was cardiovascular (CV) death, myocardial infarction (MI), or stroke. The benefits were consistent among those undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) [9.6% for clopidogrel, 13.2% for placebo; relative risk (RR), 0.72; 95% CI, 0.57 to 0.90], coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery (14.5% for clopidogrel 16.2% for placebo; RR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.71 to 1.11), and medical therapy only (8.1% for clopidogrel, 10.0% for placebo; RR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.69 to 0.92; test for interaction among strata, 0.53). For CABG during the initial hospitalization (530 for placebo, 485 for clopidogrel), the frequency of CV death, MI or stroke before CABG was 4.7% for placebo and 2.9% for clopidogrel (RR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.29 to 1.08). For the entire study, there was a 1% excess of major bleeding but no significant excess of life-threatening bleeding. Among patients undergoing CABG, the rates of life-threatening bleeding were 5.6% for clopidogrel and 4.2% for placebo (RR, 1.30; 95% CI, 0.91 to 1.95; both nonsignificant). Conclusions-The benefits versus risks of early and long-term clopidogrel therapy (freedom from CV death, MI, stroke, or life-threatening bleeding) are similar in those undergoing revascularization (CABG or PCI) and in the study population as a whole. Overall, the benefits of starting clopidogrel on admission appear to outweigh the risks, even among those who proceed to CABG during the initial hospitalization.