Men are from mars, women are from venus: Factors responsible for gender differences in outcomes after surgical and trans-catheter aortic valve replacement.

Females suffer higher operative (30-day) mortality than males after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). In contrast, outcomes after trans-catheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) seem to favor females, both in terms of procedural mortality, and more prominently, medium to long-term survival. With an ever-greater number of TAVR procedures being performed, an understanding of factors responsible for gender differences in outcomes after the two AVR modalities is critical for better patient selection. Current evidence suggests that this gender difference in outcomes after SAVR and TAVR stems from differences in baseline risk profiles, as well as inherent anatomic/physiological differences between genders. This review attempts to examine these clinical and physiological factors, with a goal of guiding better patient selection for each AVR modality, and to highlight areas that beg further investigation.

Hyperlipidemia: Management with Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 (PCSK9) Inhibitors.

Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in United States. Hyperlipidemia is an independent and potentially reversible risk factor for coronary artery disease. The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, collectively known as statins, have been the mainstay of pharmacologic therapy. Their availability, ease of administration, low cost, and strong evidence behind safety and efficacy makes them one of the most widely prescribed lipid-lowering agents. However, some patients may be intolerant to statins, and few others suffer from very high serum levels of cholesterol in which statin therapy alone or in combination with other cholesterol-lowering agents is insufficient in reducing serum lipid levels to achieve desired levels. In 2015, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new family of lipid-lowering agents, collectively known as proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors.PCSK9 inhibitors are biologically active molecules that decrease serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol compared with statin therapy alone. They serve as an alternative to statins for patients who are intolerant to statin or as supplemental therapy in those patients for whom lower levels in serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol are not achieved by statins alone. This article discusses PCSK9 inhibitors, their mechanism of action, indications, efficacy, safety, costs and limitations.

When the gold standard is not always golden: The value of invasive hemodynamic assessment to overcome the pitfalls of echocardiography in challenging cases of mitral stenosis.

Mitral stenosis is a uncommon valvular lesion in the developed countries. Noninvasive evaluation is the first-line modality for assessment of mitral stenosis, however the noninvasive methods may have limitations in certain cases. Invasive hemodynamics can be used as adjunct tool for assessment of mitral stenosis in such difficult cases. Mitral valve using three-dimensional planimetry is a promising technique for assessment of mitral stenosis.

Heart failure with a normal left ventricular ejection fraction: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and management.

Heart failure (HF) with a normal left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (HFNEF) occurs in 40-71% of patients with HF and carries a prognosis similar to that of HF with a reduced LV ejection fraction (LVEF). The pathophysiology of HFNEF is distinct from that of HF with a reduced LVEF and is characterized by impaired relaxation of myocardium, LV stiffness and, in many cases, increased arterial stiffness. Systemic hypertension accounts for most cases of HFNEF in the United States. Those with HFNEF tend to be older and obese. Diabetes mellitus and atrial fibrillation occur with disproportionately high frequency in HFNEF. The diagnosis of HFNEF requires the presence of symptoms or signs of HF, a normal or near-normal LVEF and evidence of LV diastolic dysfunction based on cardiac catheterization or Doppler echocardiographic techniques and/or elevation of plasma natriuretic peptide levels. Current guidelines for management of HFNEF include control of systolic and diastolic hypertension, control of the ventricular rate in patients with atrial fibrillation and judicious use of diuretics. In selected cases, coronary revascularization or restoration of sinus rhythm in those with atrial fibrillation may be indicated. To date, no drug or drug group has consistently improved survival in HFNEF. For this reason and because of the poor long-term prognosis, preventative measures and effective treatment of underlying causes and precipitating factors are particularly important in avoiding HF exacerbations in patients with HFNEF.