|
|
|
|
|
 GW Cardiology to Participate in NIH Clinical Trial
Dr. Lisa Martin is launching GW's participation in a National Institutes of Health multicenter clinical trial for patients who have progressive coronary disease despite treatment with statins. The study is reviewing the potential benefits of adding methotrexate, an older drug, to reduce inflammation, the cause of coronary artery plaque, to arrest progression of atherosclerosis. Low-dose methotrexate will be used in this study. This low-dose therapy has been used for other inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis.
|
|
Panjrath Leads Testing of New Treatment of Amyloidosis
Dr. Gurusher Panjrath of the GW Heart & Vascular Institute is leading two new studies at GW targeted at familial cardiac amyloidosis. Both studies are multicenter clinical trials and are aimed at genetic testing based diagnosis as well as testing a novel medication for the treatment of familial cardiac amyloidosis. Familial cardiac amyloidosis is a disease which deposits protein in the heart muscle leading to severe heart failure. Until now, the quality of life and prognosis attached to this diagnosis has been poor. There are no existing therapies. It is estimated that between 4-5% of African Americans and West Africans may carry a gene mutation leading to this condition. The new drug is being tested to try to lower the level of this protein in the body and improve the morbidity and mortality associated with cardiac amyloidosis. GW is the study site in Washington, DC for this program.
|
|
 Second Annual Heart Failure and Arrhythmia Symposium to be held May 30, 2015
Dr. Marco Mercader, Associate Professor of Medicine, Director of Electrophysiology Research, and Dr. Gurusher Panjrath, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Director of Heart Failure and Mechanical Support Program, are hosting the Second Annual Heart Failure and Arrhythmia Symposium at the Westin Hotel Georgetown in Washington, DC on May 30, 2015, to educate clinicians involved in multidisciplinary cardiology care. The symposium will provide cardiologists, internal medicine physicians, nurses, physician assistants, and other health care professionals with the most clinically relevant information regarding heart failure, arrhythmias, and structural, ischemic and vascular issues. To attend, please register online.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
