Table of contents
March 2005 Volume 2 No 3
Editorial
Viewpoints
2004 ACC/AHA guideline for the management of patients with STEMI: the implications for clinicians
114In 2004 the ACC/AHA guideline for the management of patients with STEMI was refocused and expanded. It has become the ultimate reference for managing patients with STEMI, and here Robert Giugliano and Eugene Braunwald highlight the significant changes between the 1999 and 2004 versions that will most affect practicing clinicians.
The Fontan operation in clinical practice: indications and controversies
116Since its inception over 30 years ago, the Fontan principle has become well established for the management of single-ventricle circulations. In this Viewpoint, Carin van Doorn and Marc de Leval discuss the procedure's selection criteria, the surgical technique and the management of the Fontan state.
Research Highlights
C-reactive protein levels and cardiovascular risk after statin therapy
118C-reactive protein and LDL cholesterol in atherosclerosis
118Vasopressin versus epinephrine in cardiopulmonary resuscitation
119The 'visual stethoscope': portable ultrasound in the outpatient clinic
120Prevention of sudden death in congestive heart failure patients
122Training laypersons to use external defibrillators
122Practice Points
Should patients with stable coronary artery disease be treated with ACE inhibitor therapy?
124Do radial-artery grafts have a superior 1-year patency to saphenous-vein grafts?
126Val-HeFT: do angiotensin-receptor blockers benefit heart failure patients already receiving ACE inhibitor therapy?
128How common is rhabdomyolysis in patients receiving lipid-lowering therapy?
130Can recent-onset atrial fibrillation be safely and successfully treated with self-administered antiarrhythmic drugs?
132Is obesity a risk factor for atrial fibrillation?
134Reviews
Gene transfer for ischemic cardiovascular disease: is this the end of the beginning or the beginning of the end?
138The preclinical data for gene therapy's role in revascularization heralded much promise. In the phase II studies, though, little progress seems to have been made. Pislaru and Simari chart gene therapy's course to date and discuss whether and where research can continue, and conclude that all hope is not lost.
doi:10.1038/ncpcardio0136 | Full Text | PDF (115K)
Therapy Insight: interactions between atrial fibrillation and obstructive sleep apnea
145Atrial fibrillation and obesity share obstructive sleep apnea as a comorbidity. The data on the relationship between atrial fibrillation and obstructive sleep apnea have, however, generally been extrapolated from studies with other focuses. Gami et al. present the findings so far to summarize current understanding and identify avenues for future study.
doi:10.1038/ncpcardio0130 | Full Text | PDF (105K)
Technology Insight: assessment of myocardial viability by delayed-enhancement magnetic resonance imaging
150In patients who require revascularization after myocardial infarction, noninvasive imaging tests can be useful to assess whether target areas of the myocardium are viable. Delayed-enhancement MRI allows direct visualization of potentially damaged regions, but it is still a new technique. This review explores its role in the routine evaluation of coronary artery disease patients.
doi:10.1038/ncpcardio0134 | Full Text | PDF (581K)
Technology Insight: catheter ablation of the pulmonary veins in the treatment of atrial fibrillation
159Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation has rapidly become used worldwide. This review provides an overview of the three main approaches currently used to perform ablation of the pulmonary veins. The efforts being made to raise efficacy from its current 70–80% and lower the risk of major complications from 5% are also discussed.
doi:10.1038/ncpcardio0137 | Full Text | PDF (467K)
Case Study
A rare case of acute 'infective' myocardial infarction triggered by acute parvovirus B19 myocarditis
167doi:10.1038/ncpcardio0126 | Full Text | PDF (376K)
