Ado-trastuzumab emtansine is a novel ADC effective for HER2-positive MBC in patients previously treated with trastuzumab, lapatinib, and a taxane. Further studies will determine its use in the adjuvant and neoadjuvant setting and in combination with pertuzumab.

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Colchicine is one of the oldest medications still in use today and is commonly used for the treatment of gout and familial Mediterranean fever. Its anti-inflammatory properties have raised the question of its utility in managing several cardiovascular diseases, including postoperative atrial fibrillation and pericarditis. This article will review the evidence for colchicine in these conditions and provide recommendations for use.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety of outpatient anticoagulation bridging following left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. Methods: This study is a retrospective, single-center cohort of adult patients who underwent LVAD implantation (HeartMate II™ or HeartMate 3™) and received warfarin and at least one dose of therapeutic enoxaparin or fondaparinux for outpatient anticoagulation bridging. The primary endpoint was the incidence of bleeding complications within one week of completing the bridging episode. Secondary endpoints included the incidence of new hemolysis or thrombosis within 30 days, INR at the time of bridge initiation, duration of anticoagulation bridge, and management of bleeding events associated with the bridging episode. Results: Data from 155 bridging episodes in 44 patients were analyzed. The primary endpoint occurred 30 times during 26 encounters. Of these events, 14 systemic bleeding episodes (9.03%) occurred. Localized bleeding complications consisted of injection site adverse reactions, including bruising (7.74%), bleeding (1.94%), and hematomas (0.65%). The majority of bleeding episodes were successfully self-managed by the patient and required monitoring only (83.33%). Only one new hemolysis event occurred (0.65%) and no new thrombotic events occurred within 30 days of any bridging episode. Conclusion: Results of this study suggest that outpatient anticoagulation bridging in the LVAD patient population is associated with a moderate risk of localized bleeding and warrants careful follow-up monitoring.