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Biomedical subjects

B Rabinowitz

Publications and source records attributed to B Rabinowitz.

133 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Safety of prostaglandin E1 for the treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease in patients with congestive heart failure. The Alprostadil Investigators.

OBJECTIVES: To confirm the safety of prostaglandin E ( 1 ) (PGE ( 1 ) ) when administered in 100 mL normal saline to patients with severe peripheral occlusive disease (PAOD; Fontaine class III or IV) and concomitant compensated chronic congestive heart failure (CHF) and to explore possible hemodynamic benefits of PGE ( 1 ) in CHF. BACKGROUND: PGE ( 1 ) has been found to be effective in the treatment of severe PAOD. The agent may beneficially affect left ventricular performance or hemodynamics in patients with CHF. However, it must be administered intravenously (in saline diluent, adding potential hazard in patients with volume CHF). METHODS: In a randomized, double-blinded protocol, 50 patients received intravenous (i.v.) infusion of either 60 microg PGE ( 1 ) or placebo, each dissolved in 100 mL saline solution administered over 2 hours each day for 14 days. During the succeeding 14 days, i.v. PGE ( 1 ) was administered to all patients in open-label fashion. Safety was assessed by clinical evaluation of symptoms and signs of CHF or other adverse events, by catheter-based and echocardiographic search for objective cardiac functional influences, and by echocardiogram monitoring for cardiac rhythm. PAOD status also was defined. RESULTS: No evidence of clinical or objective cardiac functional influence was detected. With the usual dosage approved in PAOD, no significant influence on cardiac performance was observed. CONCLUSION: PGE ( 1 ) is safe for treatment of PAOD in patients with concomitant chronic, compensated CHF.

Adult↗

Prostaglandin E1 during angioplasty as preventative therapy for coronary restenosis.

The effect of intravenous prostaglandin E ( 1 ) (PGE ( 1 ) ) on the incidence of restenosis after elective percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was studied in a prospective, single-blind, randomized trial of 30 patients. Group I (12 patients) received only the conventional medications before and after protocol, and group II (18 patients) received intravenous PGE ( 1 ) infusion for 24 hours starting at least 2 hours before angiography after hemodynamically based titration to a mean dosage of 16 +/- 3 ng/kg/min (range, 10-20 ng/kg/min). All patients received aspirin orally, beginning 24 hours before PTCA and continuing for 6 months, and intravenous heparin at 1000 U/h for 24 hours commencing with the beginning of catheterization before PTCA. Recatheterization was performed routinely at 6 months after PTCA, or earlier when clinically indicated. Angiographic evaluations were made by both visual and quantitative assessment. No significant side effects of PGE ( 1 ) treatment were observed. Only 17% of patients treated by PGE ( 1 ) experienced angina pectoris during 6-month follow-up period, as compared with 42% of patients who received conventional treatment (p = 0.13). Re-PTCA was more frequent in patients receiving conventional therapy than in those receiving PGE ( 1 ) (42% versus 11%; p = 0.06). The use of PGE ( 1 ) during PTCA was associated with 17% restenosis (both by computer and by visual evaluation) 6 months post-PTCA as compared with 33% and 50% restenosis (by computer and by visual evaluations, respectively) in the conventional group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, PGE ( 1 ) appears to decrease coronary restenosis 6 months after PTCA.

Adult↗

Prostaglandin E1 : electrophysiological safety in patients with congestive heart failure and peripheral arterial occlusive disease. The Alprostadil Investigators.

Prostaglandin E ( 1 ) (PGE ( 1 ) ), the active ingredient of the drug alprostadil-alpha-cyclodextrin, has been effective in mitigating the clinical manifestations of peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD). PGE ( 1 ) often is administered to patients with the potential for developing serious arrhythmias, presenting potential safety hazards if the drug caused or potentiated arrhythmias. However, PGE ( 1 ) has antiadrenergic properties and, theoretically, might have an antiarrhythmic action. Therefore, the effect of PGE ( 1 ) on frequency and severity of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias was evaluated from 48-hour electrocardiographic recordings in patients receiving PGE ( 1 ) therapy for severe PAOD. No significant effects on arrhythmia frequency or severity, and no evidence of proarrhythmia, was apparent after PGE ( 1 ) administration.

Alprostadil↗

Brain and atrial natriuretic peptides in patients with ischemic heart disease with and without heart failure.

The objective of the study was the evaluation of natriuretic peptides in ischemic heart disease. Atrial and brain peptides (ANP, BNP) were elevated in patients with ischemic heart failure, as compared with patients with angina without over failure, and controls (p < 0.01). BNP/ANP ratio was higher in NYHA class IV than in class III patients (2.67 +/- 0.87 vs. 1.52 +/- 0.59, respectively). Patients in the angina group, in whom elevated BNP or ANP was found, had subclinical systolic or diastolic dysfunction. There was inverse correlation between BNP, ANP and the left-ventricular ejection fraction (each r = 0.78, p < 0.001). We conclude that BNP is elevated as a result of myocardial dysfunction, but not of ischemia and seems to be a better index of disease stage and prognosis than ANP.

Adult↗

Effects of antegrade versus combined antegrade/retrograde cardioplegia on postoperative septal wall motion in patients undergoing open heart surgery.

To evaluate the influence of two techniques of myocardial protection on septal wall motion (SWM) and left ventricular ejection fraction, 21 patients with a normal SWM underwent surgery using either conventional antegrade cardioplegia (group I, n = 9) or combined antegrade/retrograde cardioplegia (group II, n = 12). The patients were assessed pre- and postoperatively by radionuclide ventriculography. A resting thallium-201 study was performed in patients (n = 6) with a postoperatively abnormal SWM: in 2 of 9 (22%) in group I and in 4 of 12 (33%) in group II (p = NS). The left ventricular ejection fraction was similar in both groups before surgery (57 +/- 3% in group I vs. 57 +/- 8% in group II; p = NS) and did not change significantly after surgery. All 6 patients with an abnormal SWM had a normal septal thallium-201 uptake. Thus, (1) an abnormal SWM after cardiac surgery is common: (2) it is not due to perioperative ischemia or infarction, and (3) neither the incidence of an abnormal SWM not the global left ventricular function is influenced by the addition of retrograde cardioplegia during open heart surgery.

Adult↗