HIV DRUG COMBO MAY INCREASE RISK FOR ARRHYTHMIA

February 23, 2010 (Silver Spring, Maryland)— The FDA is warning physicians and patients about heart rhythm disturbances that may arise when two HIV medications--saquinavir (Invirase, Genentech) and ritonavir (Norvir, Abbott Laboratories)--are combined [1]. According to an alert issued by the agency on February 23, 2010, preliminary clinical-trial data suggest that, used in combination, saquinavir and ritonavir may cause prolongation of the QT and PR intervals, leading to an increased risk of torsades de pointes and heart block, respectively.

In a safety announcement posted online, the FDA advises physicians to avoid use of saquinavir in patients with preexisting conduction system disease, ischemic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, or underlying structural heart disease. In particular, the alert notes that the risk of rhythm side effects is greater in patients with a history of QT-interval prolongation or in patients who are already taking drugs known to prolong the QT interval. These include class IA drugs, such as quinidine, or class III antiarrhythmic drugs, such as amiodarone.

According to the FDA, ritonavir is often given at a low dose with saquinavir in order to boost levels of the latter in the body. Physicians treating patients who appear to develop rhythm disturbances from treatment are urged to report adverse events to the FDA's MedWatch program.

Source:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/717486

Childhood Cholesterol Predicts Adult Heart Disease

Did you know that high cholesterol levels during childhood could be a predictor of heart disease in adulthood? Recent research has indicated this very fact. Normally, children do not need to worry about high cholesterol levels. However, if the child has a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease, leads a sedentary lifestyle, or consumes a diet high in fats, periodically checking his or her cholesterol may be a good idea.

Heart Problems: Female>Male?

Research by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) indicates that women often experience new or different physical symptoms as long as a month or more before experiencing heart attacks.

Among the 515 women studied, 95-percent said they knew their symptoms were new or different a month or more before experiencing their heart attack, or Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI). The symptoms most commonly reported were unusual fatigue (70.6-percent), sleep disturbance (47.8-percent), and shortness of breath (42.1-percent).

Many women never had chest pains
Surprisingly, fewer than 30% reported having chest pain or discomfort prior to their heart attacks, and 43% reported have no chest pain during any phase of the attack. Most doctors, however, continue to consider chest pain as the most important heart attack symptom in both women and men.

The NIH study, titled "Women's Early Warning Symptoms of AMI" is one of the first to investigate women's experience with heart attacks, and how this experience differs from men's. Recognition of symptoms that provide an early indication of heart attack, either imminently or in the near future, is critical to forestalling or preventing the disease.

In a NIH press release, Jean McSweeney, PhD, RN, Principal Investigator of the study at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, said, "Symptoms such as indigestion, sleep disturbances, or weakness in the arms, which many of us experience on a daily basis, were recognized by many women in the study as warning signals for AMI. Because there was considerable variability in the frequency and severity of symptoms," she added, "we need to know at what point these symptoms help us predict a cardiac event."

Women's symptoms not as predictable
According to Patricia A.Grady, PhD, RN, Director of the NINR, "Increasingly, it is evident that women's symptoms are not as predictable as men's. This study offers hope that both women and clinicians will realize the wide range of symptoms that can indicate heart attack. It is important not to miss the earliest possible opportunity to prevent or ease AMI, which is the number one cause of death in both women and men."

Top 10 Causes of Death Among Adults

In 2003 there were a total of 2,448,288 deaths in the United States. The list here represents the number of deaths for the leading causes of deaths overall.

The information is from the latest data on the leading causes of death overall from the Center for Disease Control's National Center for Health Statistics. The data is based on the latest statistics available from 2003.

1. Heart disease accounting for 654,092 deaths.
2. Cancer accounting for 550,270 deaths.
3. Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases) accounting for 150,147 deaths.
4. Chronic lower respiratory diseases accounting for 123,884 deaths.
5. Accidents (unintentional injuries) accounting for 108,694 deaths.
6. Diabetes accounting for 72,815 deaths.
7. Alzheimer's disease accounting for 65,829 deaths.
8. Influenza and Pneumonia accounting for 61,472 deaths.
9. Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis accounting for 42,762 deaths.
10. Septicemia accounting for 33,464 deaths.

Beating Heart Surgery

Beating heart or "off pump" coronary artery surgery is the latest revolution in the management coronary disease. It is being embraced world-wide by increasing numbers of surgeons. Many of the advantages are subtle but reduced mortality, stroke, and bleeding as well as earlier discharge are well-established benefits. A cardiac stabiliser is mandatory for this surgery, most are single use only and very expensive, this one is multiple use and is saving many healthcare dollars.

Source:
www.beating-heart.com