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Recent major advances in cardiovascular pharmacotherapy

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Abstract

The field of cardiovascular pharmacotherapy remains extremely active. The aim of this review is to summarize the recent major advances in cardiovascular pharmacotherapy, with a focus on (1) the new approved drug for treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction—sacubitril/valsartan; (2) proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors; (3) the novel reversal agents for non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs); and finally, (4) new evidence on pharmacological treatment of coronary artery disease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiology Department, Coimbra Hospital and Universitary Centre, Coimbra, Portugal

    James Milner & Natália António

  2. Institute of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Andreia Cunha, Carlota Gamboa-Cruz, Julie Reis, Márcia Campos & Natália António

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  1. James Milner
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  2. Andreia Cunha
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  3. Carlota Gamboa-Cruz
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  4. Julie Reis
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Contributions

All authors listed meet the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors criteria for authorship. The first draft was written by Milner J, Cunha A, Gamboa-Cruz C, and Reis J, and Campos M designed the work. António N critically revised the manuscript. All authors take responsibility for the integrity of the work as a whole, and have given final approval for the version to be published.

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Correspondence to Natália António.

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Preamble

The year 2017 saw the release of many landmark studies regarding cardiovascular pharmacotherapy, some of which have already translated into new recommendations in international guidelines and directly impacted clinical practice. New insights this past year include findings regarding the angiotensin II receptor blocker neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) sacubitril/valsartan, which promises to change the paradigm in the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), as well as the treatment of hypercholesterolemia through inhibition of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) and its impact on cardiovascular outcomes. Other important findings during the past year included data on the reversal of anticoagulation with non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs), further reinforcing the safety of these drugs in the treatment of non-valvular atrial fibrillation. The field of coronary artery disease was also stage to exciting new evidence, including the use of anti-inflammatory therapy in atherosclerotic disease, as well as the role of oral anticoagulants in stable coronary disease. The intent of this review is to summarize new recently published evidence concerning cardiovascular pharmacotherapy.

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Milner, J., Cunha, A., Gamboa-Cruz, C. et al. Recent major advances in cardiovascular pharmacotherapy. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 74, 853–862 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-018-2453-1

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