Cardiology

Obesity increases the risk of acute kidney injury following cardiac surgery, according to a Vanderbilt study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. Read More

An international study co-led by researchers at Vanderbilt University has uncovered six new “susceptibility loci,” chromosomal regions located in or near genes that may play a role in atrial fibrillation, the most commonly diagnosed heart condition. Read More

Vanderbilt researchers have discovered a rare, but important risk posed by the antibiotic azithromycin, commonly called a “Z-pack.” The study found a 2.5-fold higher risk of death from cardiac arrhythmia in the first five days of taking azithromycin when compared with another common antibiotic or no antibiotics at all. Read More

Vanderbilt Heart recently used a newly approved medical device to open narrowed coronary arteries, even in heart disease patients who also have diabetes. Read More

Vanderbilt researchers are seeking genetic clues to explain why risk factors for AF are more prevalent in African-Americans but their incidence of the disease is lower than European-Americans. Read More

NFL Hall of Famer Raymond Berry (center) wore a Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular necktie in honor of his friend Andre Churchwell, associate professor of medicine (cardiology), radiology and biomedical engineering, at Super Bowl XLVI on Feb. 5. Image courtesy of Super Bowl XLVI broadcast. Raymond… Read More

Dr. Andre Churchwell and NFL Hall of Famer Raymond Berry with Berry's Hall of Fame jacket and the tie he plans to wear when presenting the Vince Lobardi Trophy at Super Bowl XLVI Feb. 5. Raymond Berry, a former wide receiver for the Baltimore Colts, member of the Pro Football… Read More

During National Heart Month in February and National Nutrition Month in March, Health Plus reminds you to love your heart by participating in a variety of fun and informative programs designed to lower your risk for heart disease. Know Your Numbers – Keep… Read More

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) medications do not increase the risk for heart disease or heart attack in children and young adults, according to a Vanderbilt study of 1.2 million patients taking drugs including Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta and Strattera between 1998 and 2005. Read More

Longtime treatment for IPF ineffective and even dangerous. Read More

Vanderbilt University Medical Center doctors announced today they will begin screening patients who take commonly prescribed statin drugs for a rare genetic variation that can increase risks for side effects from these drugs such as muscle aches, kidney damage and even death. Read More

The Department of Cardiac Surgery and the Division of Cardiology are collaborating on a study to better understand the genetic profile of mitral valve regurgitation. Read More

Vanderbilt cardiothoracic anesthesiologists and surgeons are pioneering the use of a tool that many in the cardiac field are calling the “new stethoscope” when it comes to monitoring critically ill patients. Read More

Vanderbilt Heart will soon begin testing the safety of a novel, non-surgical approach to treating aortic stenosis, a common heart problem caused by an abnormal narrowing of the heart's aortic valve. Read More