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Biomedical subjects

A C Barretto

Publications and source records attributed to A C Barretto.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

[Radiological findings in endomyocardial fibrosis].

PURPOSE: To determine through conventional radiology the type of ventricular involvement in endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF). METHODS: We analyzed 56 cases with EMF confirmed by angiocardiography and 9 by postmortem study, aged between 16 and 56 years (mean 32); there were 42 females. Only one radiologist analyzed X-rays without any knowledge of the cineangiography findings. RESULTS: The right side of the heart was primarily involved in 9 patients and the cardiac silhouette was characteristically globular and had oligemic pulmonary fields (66.66%). The cardiothoracic ratio was 0.62 +/- 0.11. Out of 9 patients, 8 were female. The left side of the heart was established as being primarily involved in 11 cases and simulated rheumatic mitral disease. The cardiothoracic ratio was 0.51 +/- 0.09 and there were increased pulmonary fields in 63.6%. The biventricular disease occurred in 36 cases. There were radiologic findings of right and left side. The cardiothoracic ratio was 0.63 +/- 0.06 and there was oligemic pulmonary fields in 38.8%, increased pulmonary fields in 33.3% and was normal in 27.7%. There were 4:1 females. CONCLUSION: The radiological study is fundamental in the initial diagnosis of EMF. The type of involvement could be done in 66.07% of all cases by chest X-ray.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

[Clinical profile of aged patients with severe aortic stenosis].

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical symptoms and echocardiographic findings in elderly patients with severe aortic stenosis and possible gender differences. METHODS: We studied 54 patients, 24 (44.5%) males and 30 (55.5%) females aged 80.7 +/- 5.2 years with severe aortic stenosis. The following variables were analyzed: presence of clinical manifestations (dyspnea, angina, and syncope) and echocardiographic indices (left ventricular [LV] dimensions, ejection fraction [EF], and mass index). RESULTS: Dyspnea was the most frequent symptom with overall prevalence of 44%. EF was lower than 50% in only 2 patients. There were no gender differences in the prevalence of any of the clinical manifestations. Male patients had higher LV volumes (p < 0.05) and lower EF (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: The data showing dyspnea as the most common clinical manifestation; EF > 50%; lower LV volumes and greater EF in female patients suggest that the adaptive mechanisms to this condition may be different between the two sexes.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

[The effects of aerobic physical training of short duration using upper limbs in paraplegic persons with mild hypertension].

PURPOSE: To study the modifications induced by physical training (PT) using upper limbs in aerobic condition of short duration on cardiovascular and metabolic variables. METHODS: Eleven paraplegic persons, with a mean age of 59 years, 7 men and 4 women with lesions at T9 through T11 and mild hypertension (HAS) were studied. The patients were studied before and after 12 weeks of a supervised program of PT, through exercise tests in a mechanic ergometer (ST) adapted for the arms. We employed an intermittent protocol with stress increments of 125 (20w) and 140 kgm/min (25w) for women and men, respectively every 3 min. The ergometric speed ranged from 83 to 95 rpm. The oxygen consumption (VO2) was estimated according to American College of Sports Medicine equation for arms. The exercise intensity during the TF program was estimated through the Karvonen cardiac frequency reserve, with a variation of 65% to 85% and the Borg stress scale of subjective perception during the stress test. RESULTS: The mean maximal aerobic capacity increased in 22% (930 +/- 349 vs 1138 +/- 290 mL/min; p = 0.003); there was a reduction of systolic and diastolic pressures at rest and after submaximal exercise of 4%, 15% and 5% and 5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Physical training of mild to moderate intensity using the upper limbs in paraplegic persons, besides inducing functional capacity increment, is an important model of non drug control of the hypertensive response.

Arm↗
PubMed1996

[When does the treatment with captopril show a better improvement in physical performance in patients with heart failure?].

PURPOSE: Considering that heart failure reduces exercise capacity and that converting enzyme inhibitor increases this capacity, using the 6 min walk test we try to demonstrate when the treatment with captopril shows a better improvement in exercise capacity in patients with heart failure. METHODS: Twenty one patients with functional class II or III heart failure (NYHA), left ventricular diastolic diameter greater than 55 mm and with ejection fraction less than 45% were studied. Twelve were male, and the patients mean age was 48 years. The patients were first treated with digital and diuretics and after stabilized they received captopril 25 mg three times a day and underwent the 6 min walk test before the treatment and after four and 16 weeks. RESULTS: The use of captopril showed important improvement in exercise capacity in patients with heart failure. The mean walking distance on the 6 min test was 451 m at the beginning, 476 m in four weeks and 504 in 16 weeks of treatment (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Our data show important improvement in exercise capacity with 16 weeks of treatment and that 50% of this improvement occurred after four weeks of treatment. We concluded that the results are already observed within four weeks of treatment and continues to improve during at least four months of treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Risk factors in elderly patients selected by primary care physicians for hypolipemic treatment].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of age on response to pravastatin treatment in patients treated by community physicians. METHODS: According to age, 873 patients were divided in three groups: group A with ages ranging from 45 to 59 years (n = 55), group B with ages from 60 to 64 years (n = 182) and group C with ages from 65 to 70 years (n = 143). After four weeks only with diet orientation, patients received 10 mg/day of pravastatin for 12 weeks. RESULTS: There was a greater prevalence of risk factors in elderly patients: hypertension (45.7%, 54.4% and 57.1% in groups A, B and C respectively p = 0.0165), diabetes mellitus (9.3%, 17.6% and 25.8% respectively in groups A, B and C p < 0.0001), and previous heart disease (23.1%, 34.3% and 34.7% in groups A, B and C respectively p < 0.001). During the period of diet orientation there was a similar total cholesterol reduction in the three groups (about 10.5%), the reduction reached 30.0% with the introduction of pravastatin for 12 weeks. Low density cholesterol level decreased during the diet period in the three groups (about 10.5%), pravastatin prescription induced further reduction (about 31.7%). The high density cholesterol level (HDL) increased significantly with pravastatin treatment (12.7%). After pravastatin treatment the increase in HDL levels was more significantly among those patients with initial low levels of HDL (< 35 mg/dL) in the three groups. CONCLUSION: In patients selected by community physicians to receive lipid lowering therapy, increased age was associated with greater prevalence of risk factors and heart disease. Regardless of age, there was a good response to pravastatin treatment, however less than half of patients had received treatment prior to the protocol.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1995

[Exercise capacity evaluation in patients with mild to moderate left ventricular dysfunction. Influence of captopril].

PURPOSE: To analyse the captopril influence on physical activity on the six or nine minute walk test in patients with left ventricular dysfunction and mild or moderate failure. METHODS: Twenty one patients with functional class II or III heart failure and left ventricular diastolic diameter greater than 55 mm and with ejection fraction less than 45% were studied. Twelve were male, and the patients age range from 34 to 63 years old (mean 48 years). The protocol has 18 weeks of duration, the first two weeks constitute a washout period, and 16 of effective use of captopril 25 mg tid. The patients were submitted to clinical and laboratory evaluations, to echocardiogram study and six and nine minute walk test (distance of walk), before, through out, and after the protocol. RESULTS: The distance of walk on six minute test were 451 m at the beginning, and 476 m in 4 weeks and 504 m at 16 weeks of treatment (p < 0.0001). At nine minute test it was respectively 599, 652 and 692 m (p < 0.001). The echocardiographic evaluation showed significative reduction of the left ventricular diastolic diameter and an increase of the left ventricular ejection fraction. The clinical evaluation after the treatment showed that 45% comes to functional class I, and only 10% stayed in class III. CONCLUSION: Captopril 25 mg tid improves clinical performance significantly, with improvement of walk distance at six or nine minute of test, and with reduction of left ventricular end diastolic diameter and systolic function improvement. The results permits to conclude that captopril improves significantly the physical activity of patients with heart failure, this improves were observed with one months of therapy but is more evident with four months of effective treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Relationship between ventricular arrhythmia and cardiac function in Chagas disease].

PURPOSE: It is well established the association between heart failure and arrhythmias in different cardiopathies. There are no studies in Chagas' myocardiopathy that analyze the relation between arrhythmias and left ventricular function. METHODS: We studied 629 patients with Chagas' disease, divided in 3 groups, according to ejection fraction obtained through echocardiographic study (normal, between 0.64 and 0.45, and below 0.44). RESULTS: At conventional ECG, the presence of ventricular arrhythmias was respectively in the 3 groups: 15%, 36% and 64%, showing higher incidence when left ventricular function was getting worse. CONCLUSION: Ventricular arrhythmias in Chagas' disease are frequent in patients with normal ejection fraction, and become more intense as ventricular dysfunction progresses.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Survival and predictors of survival in patients with congestive heart failure due to Chagas' cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: The fundamental determinant of the natural history of Chagas' disease is cardiac involvement. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 104 male patients with congestive heart failure due to Chagas' disease to estimate the survival distribution function and to evaluate age, functional class (FC), maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), and ejection fraction (EF) as predictors of survival. Statistical evaluation was performed through univariate (Student's t test and chi 2 test) and multivariate analyses (Cox's regression model). Overall survival was 66% at 1 year, 56% at 3 years, and 48% at 5 years. Ages were not statistically different (P = .9811) between survivor (40.3 +/- 8.7) and nonsurvivor (40.3 +/- 9.4) groups. The ejection fraction(s) were statistically different (P = .0001) between survival (43.6 +/- 9.9) and nonsurvival (30.6 +/- 8.1) groups, as was VO2max (P = .0001) (21.0 +/- 4.7 and 15.0 +/- 4.9, respectively). Most of the surviving patients were in FC II and most of the nonsurvivors were in FC IV (P = .0001). VO2max (P = .0001) and EF (P = .0008) are highly associated with survival time in the multivariate analysis, but FC (P = .0578) is less important. Age (P = .9811) did not influence survival. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that 50% of the patients with heart failure due to Chagas' disease die in 47 months and that VO2max and EF are important indices of survival in this group.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Comparative study between ibopamine and captopril in mild and moderate heart failure. A double-blind study].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect on symptoms, exercise capacity (stress test) and myocardial response (Echo, and Holter) of ibopamine or captopril in patients with congestive heart failure. METHODS: Double-blind, parallel randomized study of 18 patients, 9 in each group, studied during three months at the outpatient clinic. Twelve were male, 6 female, all in heart failure functional class II or III. The age ranged from 27 to 67 year-old (mean 48.7 years). The patients received captopril 50 mg tid or ibopamine 100 mg tid. RESULTS: The patients presented clinical improvement in both groups. At the stress test there was an increase of exercise time from 9 to 17 minutes and from 12 to 16 minutes with captopril and ibopamine respectively. The Echo study showed respectively to captopril and ibopamine groups a left ventricular and diastolic diameter increase from 72 to 74 and from 74 to 75mm and a increase from 0.35 to 0.38 and from 0.35 to 0.39 of the left ventricular ejection fraction. The incidence of ventricular arrhythmias was similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: These data show that ibopamine improved cardiac function, increasing the cardiac output, ejection fraction and exercise time and did not increase the incidence of arrhythmias. This effect is similar to that observed with captopril.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Dynamics of patient selection for heart transplantation or cardiomyoplasty].

PURPOSE: To evaluate patient selection for heart transplantation or dynamic cardiomyoplasty. METHODS: We evaluated 380 patients from April 1991 to July 1993. The ages ranged between 16 and 68 (mean 43.5 +/- 11.46) years, 303 (79.7%) were male. The diagnoses were dilated cardiomyopathy in 163 (42.9%), Chagas' cardiomyopathy in 70 (18.4%), ischemic heart disease in 61 (16.1%), hypertensive heart disease in 40 (10.5%), valvular heart disease in 23 (6.1%), alcoholic cardiomyopathy in 12(3.2%), peripartum cardiomyopathy in 5 (1.3%) and myocarditis of unknown etiology in 5 (1.3%). RESULTS: The indication of heart transplantation was eventually done in 55 (14.4%), and 19 (5%) were submitted to transplantation. Dynamic cardiomyoplasty was indicated in 9 (2.3%) patients and was performed in 8 (2.1%). In 30 (7.8%) patients there were clinical contraindications for transplantation. Conventional surgical treatment was indicated for 12 (3.1%) patients: myocardial revascularization and/or ventricular aneurismectomy in 5, surgical treatment of valvular heart disease in 6 and of atrial fibrillation in 1. Socioeconomic limitations precluded transplantation in 43 (11.3%) and psychic limitations hindered transplantation in 23 (6.0%) patients. Refusal of procedure by the patient occurred in 10 (2.6%) cases. Improvement of the symptoms occurred in 69 (18.1%) patients. CONCLUSION: A small percentage of patients are eligible and are eventually submitted to heart transplantation or dynamic cardiomyoplasty. New strategies may be delineated during follow up, as deferring transplantation or conventional surgical treatment of ischemic or valvular heart disease. Sociopsychic evaluation is an important step in the care of the patients.

Adolescent↗