Health News
BALTIMORE, Jan. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Most Americans know their cholesterol level, but do they know how "sticky" their platelets are? Research findings from Dr. Paul A. Gurbel, an interventional cardiologist and Director of the Sinai Center for Thrombosis Research based at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, indicate that platelet aggregation or "stickiness" may be the single largest factor in determining the likelihood of developing serious complications, including heart attack, in patients treated with coronary artery stents.
"We currently measure the cholesterol level in everyone with vascular disease, yet the pivotal event that kills the patient - platelet aggregation isn't being assessed in any way," said Dr. Gurbel.
Dr. Gurbel's findings may explain why someone with no cardiac history could die suddenly of a massive heart attack, while an individual with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and plaque-filled arteries may never have a cardiac event because they had low platelet aggregation.
Along with his team at Sinai, Dr. Gurbel demonstrated that patients with platelets most prone to aggregate had the highest prevalence of complications, including heart attack, after coronary artery stenting.
Their work is helping to revolutionize the testing and treatment of patients with coronary artery disease, offering further evidence that a more personalized approach to anti-platelet therapy needs to be established.
Dr. Gurbel was one of the first researchers in the world to discover that up to 30 percent of patients taking clopidogrel, a drug designed to decrease platelet aggregation, do not respond to treatment.
"Of the millions of cardiac patients treated with clopidogrel, a significant percentage are non-responsive and remain at high risk for a major cardiac event," said Dr. Gurbel. "The platelet aggregation of each patient needs to be precisely measured to determine how well the drug is working. The blind administration of anti-platelet drugs without confirming a good response, in our opinion, will soon be reaching an end."
Click here for a recent story on Dr. Gurbel's research - http://www.wbaltv.com/video/17929792/index.html
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Health News
New Research Suggests Platelet 'Stickiness' May be the Single Most Important Risk Factor in Patients Treated with Coronary Stents
"We currently measure the cholesterol level in everyone with vascular disease, yet the pivotal event that kills the patient - platelet aggregation isn't being assessed in any way," said Dr. Gurbel.
Dr. Gurbel's findings may explain why someone with no cardiac history could die suddenly of a massive heart attack, while an individual with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and plaque-filled arteries may never have a cardiac event because they had low platelet aggregation.
Along with his team at Sinai, Dr. Gurbel demonstrated that patients with platelets most prone to aggregate had the highest prevalence of complications, including heart attack, after coronary artery stenting.
Their work is helping to revolutionize the testing and treatment of patients with coronary artery disease, offering further evidence that a more personalized approach to anti-platelet therapy needs to be established.
Dr. Gurbel was one of the first researchers in the world to discover that up to 30 percent of patients taking clopidogrel, a drug designed to decrease platelet aggregation, do not respond to treatment.
"Of the millions of cardiac patients treated with clopidogrel, a significant percentage are non-responsive and remain at high risk for a major cardiac event," said Dr. Gurbel. "The platelet aggregation of each patient needs to be precisely measured to determine how well the drug is working. The blind administration of anti-platelet drugs without confirming a good response, in our opinion, will soon be reaching an end."
Click here for a recent story on Dr. Gurbel's research - http://www.wbaltv.com/video/17929792/index.html
- Sinai Hospital Of Baltimore Earns Designation As Cardiac Interventional Center
The Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) designated Sinai Hospital of Baltimore as a Cardiac Interventional Center on April 1, 2011. This distinction means that Sinai complies with state standards so that emergency medical...
- Cardiac Rehabilitation Can Lead To Better Outcomes
By Paul A. Gurbel, M.D. Director of Cardiovascular Research at the Center for Thrombosis Research at Sinai Hospital Results of a recent study published in Circulation reveal that patients who complete a full complement of 36 cardiac rehabilitation sessions...
- Cardiac Arrest Requires Immediate Response
After the death of Michael Jackson, there are a lot of questions about cardiac arrest. The American Heart Association, headed by Sinai Hospital President Neil Meltzer as of July 1, recommends knowing the warning signs of cardiac arrest, such as a loss...
- Straight To The Heart - Sinai?s Heart Center Offers Comprehensive Care
It pays to know your numbers. To take a free online heart risk assessment and enter a drawing to receive one of 500 free Omron pedometers*, visit KnowYourNumbersBaltimore.com. *While supplies last. The Heart Center at Sinai Hospital is one of the...
- Know Your Numbers To Watch Heart Health
It pays to know your numbers. To take a free online heart risk assessment and enter a drawing to receive one of 500 free Omron pedometers*, visit KnowYourNumbersBaltimore.com. *While supplies last. Last year, Nadine Williams-Holmes began having chest...