Cardiology Trials
Episodes
Special episode (AHA 2025: OCEAN, ADAPT AF-DES)
29 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at cardiologytrials.substack.com/subscribe
Special episode (AHA 2025: VESALIUS-CV, DECAF)
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at cardiologytrials.substack.com/subscribe
Summary and discussion of PARADIGM-HF and PIONEER-HF
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For full review of the trials, please visit https://cardiologytrials.substack.com/ Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at cardiologytrial...
Special episode (ESC 2025: AQUATIC, VICTOR)
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at cardiologytrials.substack.com/subscribe
Special episode (ESC 2025: REBOOT-CNIC, BETAMI-DANBLOCK, DIGIT-HF)
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Discussion of landmark trials presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) congress 2025 Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at ...
Summary and discussion of BEST and SENIORS
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For full review of the trials, please visit https://cardiologytrials.substack.com/ Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at cardiologytrial...
Review of the A-HeFT trial
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2004;351:2049-2057Background: Endothelial dysfunction, reduced nitric oxide availability, and increased oxidative stress occur in patient...
Review of the CHARM-Alternative trial
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
THE LANCET 2003;362:772-776Background: Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) reduce mortality and morbidity in patients with systolic heart ...
Summary and discussion of Carvedilol Prospective Randomized Cumulative Survival Study, Val-HeFT, CHARM-Added and CIBIS-II
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For full review of the trials, please visit https://cardiologytrials.substack.com/ Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at cardiologytrial...
Review of the CIBIS-II Trial
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Lancet Volume 353, Issue 9146 p9-13 January 02, 1999Background: Accumulating data at the time suggested functional benefits of antagonism of beta-...
Review of the CHARM-Added trial
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
THE LANCET 2003;362:767-771Background: Angiotensin II which plays a role in ventricular remodeling and progression of heart failure can be produced by...
Review of the Val-HeFT trial
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2001;345:1667-1675Background: Angiotensin II is a peptide hormone that is part of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS). An...
Review of the Carvedilol Prospective Randomized Cumulative Survival Study
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2001;344:1651-1658Background: The MERIT-HF trial demonstrated the efficacy of the selective beta blocker metoprolol CR/XL for well select...
Summary and discussion of U.S. Carvedilol Heart Failure, DIG, RALES, MERIT-HF, and ATLAS
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For full review of the trials, please visit https://cardiologytrials.substack.com/ Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at cardiologytrial...
Review of the ATLAS trial
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Circulation 1999;100:2312-2318Background: The CONSENSUS and SOLVD trials established the effectiveness of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (AC...
Review of the MERIT-HF trial
22 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lancet 1999;353:2001-07Background: Beta-blockers directly reduce cardiac contractility and myocardial oxygen demand. For decades, they were avoided in...
Review of the RALES trial
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 1999;341:709-717Background: The renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) is activated in patients with systolic heart failure. Whi...
Review of the DIG trial
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 1997;336:525-33Background: Digoxin is a natural drug that comes from the Foxglove plant (Digitalis purpurea). It has been used for the tr...
Review of the U.S. Carvedilol Heart Failure Study
14 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 1996;334:1349-1355Background Before 1990, the prevailing idea held that the negative inotropy of beta-blockers would harm patients with i...
Summary and discussion of V-HEFT II and SOLVD
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For full review of the trials, please visit https://cardiologytrials.substack.com/ Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at cardiologytrial...
Review of the SOLVD trials
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 1991;325:293-302N Engl J Med 1992;327:685-691Cardiology Trial’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and su...
Review of the V-HEFT II trial
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 1991; 325:303-10Background Enalapril was found to be superior to placebo for patients with severe, class IV heart failure in the CONSENSU...
Summary and discussion of V-HEFT I and CONSENSUS
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For full review of the trials, please visit https://cardiologytrials.substack.com/ Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at cardiologytrial...
Review of the CONSENSUS trial
01 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 1987; 314:1429-35Background Prior to the publication of this study, digoxin and diuretics were the mainstay of chronic heart failure mana...
Review of the V-HEFT I Trial
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 1986; 314:1547-52Background Into the mid-1980’s, digoxin and diuretics were the mainstay of chronic disease management for congestive h...
Review of the CULPRIT-SHOCK Trial
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2017;377:2419-2432Background: A small fraction of patients with acute myocardial infarction (5-10%) have cardiogenic shock. These patient...
Summary and discussion of MOSCA-FRAIL and SENIOR-RITA
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For full review of the trials, please see https://cardiologytrials.substack.com/ Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at cardiologytrials....
Review of the SENIOR-RITA trial
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2024;391:1673-1684Background: Non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) is the most common acute coronary syndrome subtype in adult...
Review of the MOSCA-FRAIL trial
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
JAMA Intern Med 2023;183:407-415Background: As we have previously discussed, trials comparing invasive versus conservative management in patients with...
Summary and discussion of TACTICS-TIMI 18, RITA 3 and ICTUS
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For full review of the trials, please visit https://cardiologytrials.substack.com/ Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at cardiologytrial...
Review of the ICTUS trial
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2005;353:1095-1104Background: Prior trials on revascularization in patients with acute coronary syndromes without ST-segment elevation ha...
Review of the RITA 3 trial
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Lancet 2002;360:743-751Background: The TACTICS-TIMI 18 trial showed that an early invasive strategy in beneficial in selected patients with unstab...
Review of the TACTICS-TIMI 18 trial
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2001;344:1879-1887Background: Acute coronary syndrome is broadly categorized into unstable angina, non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction...
Summary and discussion of PRAMI, COMPLETE and FULL REVASC
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For full review of the trials, please visit https://cardiologytrials.substack.com/ Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at cardiologytrial...
Review of the FULL REVASC trial
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2024;390:1481-1492Background: In patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), opening the culprit artery improves outcomes. ...
Review of the COMPLETE trial
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2019;381:1411-1421Background Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) had been clearly established as the standard of care for ST elevati...
Review of the PRAMI Trial
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2013;369:1115-23Background: The COURAGE trial was published in 2007. It compared up-front PCI to medical therapy alone in patients with s...
Summary and discussion of TAPAS and TASTE
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For full review of the trials, please visit https://cardiologytrials.substack.com/ Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at cardiologytrial...
Summary and discussion of trials of fibrinolysis vs invasive strategy in STEMI
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For full review of the trials, please visit https://cardiologytrials.substack.com/ Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at cardiologytrial...
Review of the TASTE trial
18 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2013;369:1587-1597N Engl J Med 2014;371:1111-1120Cardiology Trial’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts an...
Summary and discussion of OAT
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For full review of the trial, please visit https://cardiologytrials.substack.com/ Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at cardiologytrials...
Review of the TAPAS trial
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2008;358:557-567Background: ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is caused by disruption of an atherosclerotic plaque, lead...
Review of the STREAM trial
09 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2013;368:1379-1387Background In 2013, it had been established that primary PCI for STEMI was the preferred strategy. Yet many patients di...
Summary and discussion of FAME and RIVAL
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For full review of the trials, please visit https://cardiologytrials.substack.com/ Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at cardiologytrial...
Review of the OAT Trial
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2006;355:2395-407Am Heart J 2011;161:611-21Background: Registry data suggests that 10-20% of patients with a STEMI present more than 12 h...
Review of the DANAMI-2 trial
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2003;349:733-742Background: In patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction, treatment with balloon angioplasty improved outcomes com...
Review of the Primary Angioplasty in Myocardial Infarction Study Group trial
21 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 1993;328:673-679Background: Previous trials established that thrombolysis improves mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarctio...
Review of the RIVAL trial
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
THE LANCET 2011;377:1409-1420Background: When patients undergo coronary angiography, a hollow tube called a sheath is inserted into an artery. The pri...
Review of the FAME trial
15 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2009;360:213-24Lancet 2015;386:1853-60Background: Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is a measure of the physiologic significance of a coronar...
Summary and discussion of NORSTENT
09 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For full review of the trial, please visit https://cardiologytrials.substack.com/ Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at cardiologytrials...
Review of the NORSTENT trial
02 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2016;375:1242-1252Background: The first drug-eluting stent (DES) was approved by the FDA in 2003 following the publication of the RAVEL t...
Our discussion of "Revisiting the PLATO trial"
23 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at cardiologytrials.substack.com/subscribe
Revisiting the PLATO trial
23 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our initial review of the PLATO trial, published in April 2024, was based on the data available to us at that time. We have since became aware of new ...
Summary and discussion of RAVEL, TAXUS-IV and SPIRIT IV
19 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For full review of the trials, please visit https://cardiologytrials.substack.com/ Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at cardiologytrial...
Review of the SPIRIT IV Trial
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2010;362:1663-74.Background: The RAVEL and TAXUS-IV trials compared the sirolimus- and paclitaxel-eluting 2nd generation stents to 1st ge...
Review of the TAXUS-IV trial
12 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2004;350:221-31Background: For the past year we have been posting reviews of seminal trials in cardiovascular medicine. It is our anticip...
Review of the RAVEL trial
10 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2002;346:1773-1780Background: Percutaneous revascularization of the coronary arteries is frequently performed for patients with stable an...
Summary and discussion of FAME 3, BARI 2D and PREVENT
06 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For full review of the trials, please visit https://cardiologytrials.substack.com/ Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at cardiologytrial...
Review of the PREVENT trial
04 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Lancet Volume 403, Issue 10438 p1753-1765May 04, 2024Background Cardiologist have long been taught that acute plaque rupture leading to myocardial...
Summary and discussion of trials of PCI vs CABG
02 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For full review of the trials, please visit https://cardiologytrials.substack.com/ Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at cardiologytrial...
Review of the BARI 2D trial
22 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2009;360:2503-2515Background: Type 2 diabetes increases the risk of cardiovascular events and death. Previous trials comparing revascula...
Review of the FAME 3 trial
07 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2022;386:128-137Background: Patients with three-vessel coronary artery disease have better outcomes when revascularization is performed ...
Review of the EXCEL trial
01 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2016;375:2223-2235Background: Smaller randomized trials have shown that outcomes are not significantly different when patients with left ...
Review of the NOBLE Trial
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Lancet 2016;388:2743-52Background: PCI was commonly used for the management of patients with left main coronary artery disease and favorable pathology...
Review of the FREEDOM trial
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2012;367:2375-2384Background: The first large trial to compare PCI vs CABG was SYNTAX. In the subgroup of patients with diabetes, which ...
Review of the SYNTAX trial
22 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2009;360:961-972Background: After its introduction in 1968, the use of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with coronary ...
Review of the ORBITA-2 trial
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2023;389:2319-2330Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) does not reduce mortality or myocardial infarction as seen in COU...
Summary and discussion of ISCHEMIA, ISCHEMIA-CKD, ORBITA and REVIVED-BCIS2
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For full review of the trials, please visit https://cardiologytrials.substack.com/ Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at cardiologytrial...
Review of the REVIVED-BCIS2 trial
01 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2022;387:1351-1360Background: Systolic heart failure and obstructive coronary artery disease often coexist. Some patients show improveme...
Review of the ORBITA trial
26 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Lancet Volume 391, Issue 10115, 6–12 January 2018, Pages 31-40Background: For decades, cardiologists commonly used percutaneous coronary inte...
Review of the ISCHEMIA and ISCHEMIA-CKD trials
23 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2020;382:1395-407 - ISCHEMIAN Engl J Med 2020;382:1608-16 - ISCHEMIA-CKDBackground: The COURAGE trial, published in 2007, represented a m...
Summary and discussion of RITA-2, atorvastatin vs angioplasty, COURAGE and FAME 2
17 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For full review of the trials, please visit https://cardiologytrials.substack.com/ Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at cardiologytrial...
Review of the FAME 2 Trial
12 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2012;367:991-1001Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) did not improve the outcome of death or nonfatal myocardial infarc...
Review of the COURAGE Trial
10 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2007;356:1503-1516Background: By the turn of the 21st century more than 1 million coronary stent procedures were performed each year in t...
Review of the Atorvastatin versus Revascularization Treatment Investigators Trial
05 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 1999;341:70-76Background: Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was widely used in the 1990s for its potential benefit i...
Review of the RITA-2 trial
27 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Lancet 1997;350(9076):461-468Background: In the ACME trial, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) improved symptoms in patients with s...
Summary and discussion of STICH and ACME
22 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For full review of the trials, please visit https://cardiologytrials.substack.com/ Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at cardiologytrial...
Review of the ACME trial
20 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 1992;326:10-16Background: Revascularization with coronary artery bypass surgery improves symptoms in patients with chronic stable angina...
Review of the STICH trial
15 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2011;364:1607-1616Background: The three pivotal trials of coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) we previously reviewed, largely in...
Summary and discussion of trials of coronary artery bypass surgery in stable angina
13 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For full review of the trials, please visit https://cardiologytrials.substack.com/ Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at cardiologytrial...
Review of the Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery Trialists Collaboration
09 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Lancet 1994;344(8922):563-570Background: Several randomized trials have assessed the benefits of coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) in patien...
Review of the Coronary Artery Surgery Study (CASS)
06 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Circulation 68, No. 5, 939-950, 1983Background Coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) had grown in popularity through the 1970s and 1980s. By 1981, a...
Review of the European Coronary Surgery Study
01 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Lancet 1982;320:1173-1180Background: The first coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) was performed in 1964 and by the 1970’s it was commonly u...
Review of the Veterans Administration Cooperative Study
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Circulation 1976; 54:Suppl:III-107-III-117N Engl J Med 1977;297:621-627Cardiology Trial’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive n...
A review of medical management after acute coronary syndrome
12 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at cardiologytrials.substack.com/subscribe
Summary and discussion of REDUCE-AMI
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For full review of the trial, please visit https://cardiologytrials.substack.com/ Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at cardiologytrials...
Review of the REDUCE-AMI trial
02 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2024;390:1372-1381Background: Beta-blockers are prescribed to the majority of patients with acute myocardial infarction. The bulk of evi...
Summary and discussion of PARADISE-MI and EMPACT-MI
28 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For full review of the trials, please visit https://cardiologytrials.substack.com/ Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at cardiologytrial...
Review of the EMPACT-MI Trial
27 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2024;390:1455-1466BackgroundDespite advances in the care of patients after myocardial infarction, there remains residual risk of heart f...
Review of the PARADISE-MI Trial
25 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
NEJM 2021:385:1845-55.Background Over two decades had passed since the publications of the seminal trials comparing ACE inhibitors with placebo in pos...
Summary and discussion of IMPROVE-IT, CANTOS, CIRT and COLCOT
20 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For full review of the trials, please visit https://cardiologytrials.substack.com/ Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at cardiologytrial...
Review of the COLCOT trial
13 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2019;381:2497-2505Background: Inflammation increases the risk of atherosclerosis, and reducing inflammation with canakinumab, a monoclon...
Review of the CIRT trial
10 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2019;380:752-762Background: Growing body of evidence suggests the role of inflammation in atherosclerosis. The CANTOS trial, discussed e...
Review of the CANTOS Trial
03 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2017;377:1119-1131Background The hypothesis tested in the CANTOS Trial reflected an emerging view of atherosclerosis development and prog...
Review of the IMPROVE-IT trial
28 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2015;372:2387-2397Background: Statins, inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, effectively lower low-density lipo...
Summary and discussion of ACCOAST and ISAR-REACT 5
23 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For full review of the trials, please see https://cardiologytrials.substack.com/ Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at cardiologytrials....
Review of the ISAR-REACT 5 Trial
16 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2019;381:1524-1534Background Dual antiplatelet therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention had become a standard of care. Both pras...
Review of the ACCOAST trial
14 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2013;369:999-1010Background: Adding P2Y12 inhibitors to aspirin improves outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Yet, debate ...
Summary and discussion of TACT and ATLANTIC
09 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For full review of the trials, please see our substack https://cardiologytrials.substack.com/ Get full access to Cardiology Trial’s Substack at card...
Review of the ATLANTIC trial
02 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
N Engl J Med 2014;371:1016-1027Background: Prior trials have demonstrated that combining P2Y12 inhibitors with aspirin in patients with acute coron...