WHAT: Late-breaker study: Statins to manage high cholesterol are among the most widely prescribed drugs in the world; as many as 20 million Americans take them. Once considered a wonder drug, statins’ safety has come under considerable scrutiny in recent weeks with concerns raised about possible memory loss, diabetes mellitus and muscle pain. Results of a phase II study evaluating a new approach to lowering cholesterol is being presented March 26 at the American College of Cardiology. The study examined the safety and efficacy of a monoclonal antibody in patients with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) who were taking stable atorvastatin therapy. The injectable monoclonal antibody blocks a protein pathway which results in upregulation of LDL-C receptors, a novel mechanism for lowering LDL-C.
Other studies of interest: • Longitudinal stent deformation: Pooled analysis from the PERSEUS and PLATINUM randomized controlled clinical trials. The issue of longitudinal stent compression has gained considerable recent attention. Dr. Kereiakes will present the study results at ACC. • Transcatheter aortic valve procedures (TAVR): Several ACC presentations will focus on TAVR, including two-year outcomes comparing transcatheter versus surgical aortic valve replacement; examining the importance of vascular complications after transcatheter valve replacement; looking at incidence, predictors and bleeding events after TAVR and selecting the best patient, valve and vascular approach. As the principal investigator for The Christ Hospital’s Partner II (TAVR) trial, Dr. Kereiakes can offer insights and information about this approach.
WHO: Dean Kereiakes, M.D., Medical Director of The Lindner Research Center at The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, is an investigator and co-author on the late-breaking monoclonal antibody study. He is a nationally-recognized physician practicing in America’s heartland, as well as an active investigator on more than 100 clinical trials. He has published more than 700 peer-reviewed medical articles and abstracts and serves on the editorial boards of multiple prestigious medical journals.
WHEN: Dr. Kereiakes is available by phone prior to the ACC meeting or on-site during the meeting 3/25 – 3/27.
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