TCTMD’s Top 10 Most Popular Stories for May 2021

Our most-popular list this month was overrun with studies presented at the American College of Cardiology 2021 Scientific Session, with HOST-EXAM, PARADISE-MI, and ATLANTIS taking top spots, along with our COVID-19 Daily Dispatch. Details on the immune reaction responsible for the increased clotting risk seen after certain types of COVID-19 vaccinations, as well as news that US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) add-on reimbursement had been granted for a coronary lithotripsy device, also made our top 10. Find full coverage of the ACC 2021 and EuroPCR 2021 meetings on our conference pages.

1. Clopidogrel, Not Aspirin, for Post-DAPT Monotherapy After PCI: HOST-EXAM

The Korean study will require replication in larger, more-diverse populations, and extended follow-up is welcome, experts say.

2. PARADISE-MI: ARNI Doesn’t Surpass ACE Inhibitor After Acute MI

Despite the missed endpoint, sacubitril/valsartan was safe and supports an incremental clinical benefit, researchers conclude.

3. COVID-19: TCTMD’s Daily Dispatch for May 26

We’re curating a list of COVID-19 research and other useful content, and updating it daily.

4. ATLANTIS: Apixaban Has No Benefit Over Standard of Care Post-TAVI

Future research needs to consider the longer-term impact of thrombus and whether certain patient subsets could benefit.

5. Blood Clots After COVID-19 Vaccination Linked to Immune Response: UK Report

This is the second NEJM paper to highlight anti-PF4 antibodies as a cause for thrombotic events with the AstraZeneca/Oxford shot.

6. RAFT-AF: No Benefit of AF Ablation for Heart Failure Patients

The trial was stopped early for futility and missed its primary endpoint, but secondary outcomes point to potential gains.

7. Renal Denervation Lowers BP vs Sham Procedure: RADIANCE-HTN TRIO

Renal denervation cut systolic BP by 8.0 mm Hg in patients resistant to meds. One expert still urges lifestyle changes first.

8. Occluding the LAA During Surgery Lowers Stroke Risk: LAAOS III

Calling the trial conclusive, a researcher says, “We have a safe, effective intervention that can be done at low cost, low risk for patients.”

9. Add-on CMS Payment Sweetens Shockwave Choice, but Cost Still Rankles

At $4,700, the new intravascular lithotripsy system was priced high in the hopes of an NTAP. Some say the math still irks them.

10. Complete Revascularization Analysis of ISCHEMIA Opens ‘Pandora’s Box’

Gregg Stone calls the data hypothesis-generating, but William Boden disagrees, calling them “interventional science fiction.”

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Also this month:

OFF SCRIPT Even in the Depths of Hell, It’s Still Possible to Dream

A young medical student, passionate about cardiology research, found a way to keep learning through the terror and uncertainty of war.

ACC INTERVIEWS

Apixaban After TAVI for Aortic Stenosis: ATLANTIS

HOST-EXAM: Aspirin vs Clopidogrel During Chronic Maintenance Monotherapy After PCI

PARADISE-MI: ARNI vs ACE Inhibitor to Reduce HF Events After MI