We hear from so many afib patients every day about the trials, tribulations, and fears regarding being on amiodarone, or their refusal to take it. Since the FDA approved Multaq® (dronedarone) recently, the most frequent question I’ve fielded has been “When will Multaq® be available?” That happened this week, and the excitement they have shared [...]
Help Us Pass Senate Resolution 220 Designating September as National Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month
StopAfib.org and the Atrial Fibrillation Blog are proud to announce our involvement in, and support of, a bill just introduced into the U.S. Senate, S. Res. 220, which would officially designate September as National Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month. This is the companion bill to H. Res. 255 introduced earlier this year into the U.S. House [...]
Medtronic Completes Follow up in Arctic Front® Cryoballoon Clinical Trial for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
Medtronic has completed 12 months of follow up in their U.S.-based STOP-AF clinical trial (Sustained Treatment of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation) for treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. This trial evaluated their cryoballoon catheter, the Arctic Front® CryoAblation Catheter System, which is already approved for use in Europe, Australia and Hong Kong. Learn more: Medtronic Clinical Trial [...]
Another Gene Found That Increases Risk of Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke
We continue to learn more about the family connection in atrial fibrillation. A second gene was just found that increases the risk of afib and stroke. At least one third of those of European descent carry one copy of the newly-discovered variant in the ZFHX3 gene and have a 20% increase in risk of afib [...]
Dr. Steven Hao Discusses THERMOCOOL® Catheter Trial for Atrial Fibrillation Ablation – Video
In this video interview, Dr. Steven Hao talks about the atrial fibrillation ablation trial, using the THERMOCOOL® catheter, which was presented at the Heart Rhythm Society 2009 annual meeting. He also discussed upcoming catheter ablation studies for afib and improvements in technology to customize atrial fibrillation treatment to a patient’s individual anatomy. Video Interview with [...]
Atrial Fibrillation Treatment Is a Top Federal Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) Priority
Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the US federal government has allocated $1.1 billion for research into the comparative effectiveness of different medical treatments. New reports just out prioritize atrial fibrillation treatment on this comparative effectiveness research agenda. Comparative effectiveness research has the potential to improve atrial fibrillation patient treatment and save [...]
