New therapy for high LDL - PCSK9 inhibitor

From an advertisement by AmGen in Cardiology News August 2015:

New therapy for high LDL level.

PCSK9 inhibitor

PCSK9 (Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) degrades LDL receptors in hepatocytes.

Injection Praluent (Alirocumab) 75 mg or 150 mg. self-administer, q2weeks, recently approved by FDA.

Hyperkalemia therapy - Patriomer

From Cardiology News Aug 2015

Patiromer - a pottasium binding polymer. Binds with K in GI tract and enables excretion in stool.

JAMA 2015:314:129-30.

New Heart Failure Medication - Sacubitril (Neprilysin inhibitor)

From Cardiology News Aug 2015:

RE: FDA approval for a combination medication (Sacubitril + Valsartan)

Sacubitril - a neprilysin inhibitor

Valsartaion - an angiotensin receptor blocker

Prenatal Detection Rate of CHD in US

From Pediatrics 2015;136(2):e378-e385.

ARVD criteria

Importance of CMR within the task force criteria for the diagnosis of ARVC in children and adolescents.
Etoom Y, et al. JACC 2015;65:987-995.

Pulmonary arterial capacitance

Pulmonary arterial capacitance is an important predictor of mortality in heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction.

Al-Naamani et al. JACC: Heart Failure 2015;3(6):467-74.

Several definitions are explained in the introduction of this article.

Pulmonary hypertension secondary left heart disease is defined as mean PAP > 25 mmHg and mean PAWP > 15 mmHg.

Transpulmonary gradient > 12 mmHg is considered "disproportionate" increase in mean PAP relative to mean PAWP.

These two groups (disproportionate vs. proportionate increase in mPAP) may be better discriminated by diastolic pressure gradient > or = 7 mmHg vs. < 7 mmHg (ref:  Vachiery JL et al. Pulmonary hypertension due to left heart disease. JACC 2013 Dec;62(25 Suppl):D100-8).

Physical Examination of Arteriovenous Fistula