Enormous Rivaroxaban Study Stopped Early For ‘Overwhelming Efficacy’

(Updated) –Oral anticoagulant reduced CV events in patients with coronary and peripheral disease. The very large COMPASS study has been stopped early for “overwhelming efficacy,” according to a press release issued by Bayer AG and Janssen, manufacturers of rivaroxaban (Xarelto). The phase 3 trial randomized 27,402 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and peripheral artery…

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FDA Approves New Medtronic Drug-Coated Balloon To Open Blocked Leg Arteries

Medtronic said today that it had received approval from the FDA to market its In.Pact Admiral drug-coated balloon (DCB) to treat peripheral artery disease (PAD) in the upper leg. The device is the second DCB to gain FDA approval. Last October the FDA approved CR Bard’s Lutonix DCB for a similar indication. … Click here to read the full post on Forbes.  …

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First Drug-Coated Balloon Approved By FDA For Leg Blockages

The FDA today announced that it had approved for use in the US the first drug-coated angioplasty balloon catheter to re-open blocked arteries in the thigh and knee (superficial femoral and popliteal arteries). The Lutonix 035 Drug Coated Balloon Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty Catheter (Lutonix DCB) is manufactured by CR Bard and has been available in Europe since 2012. … Click here to…

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ACE Inhibitor Improves Walking In People with Peripheral Artery Disease

Giving an ACE inhibitor to people with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and intermittent claudication reduces pain and increases walking time, according to a new study published in JAMA. Currently the pharmacologic options for this patient population are few and have limited efficacy. Researchers at three Australian hospitals randomized 212 patients with PAD to receive the ACE…

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FDA Approves Zilver PTX Drug-Eluting Stent For Peripheral Arterial Disease

The FDA today approved Cook Medical’s Zilver PTX stent. It is the first drug-eluting stent (DES) approved for the treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in the superficial femoral and proximal (i.e., above the knee) popliteal artery. The new stent will provide a new treatment option for treating patients with PAD. Current treatments include exercise,…

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Observational Study Links Common Household Chemical To Cardiovascular Disease

High levels of a manmade chemical widely used in common household products and detectable in more than 98% of people may increase the risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease and peripheral arterial disease (PAD), according to a study published in Archives of Internal Medicine. (The study was published online in September and will appear in this week’s print…

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AHA Scientific Statement Spotlights Peripheral Artery Disease in Women

Although peripheral artery disease (PAD) raises the risk of heart disease and stroke, it often goes undiagnosed and untreated, especially in women, according to a scientific statement issued by the American Heart Association and published in Circulation. Here are a few highlights of the statement: Although women develop PAD later than men, the total number…

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