Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to D Luke Glancy.
The congenitally bicuspid aortic valve occurs in more than 1% of the population. Although it may never cause difficulty and first be discovered at autopsy, more often it results in some hemodynamic abnormality. Its clinical manifestations are varied, and its early recognition is essential if we are to prevent the dreaded complication of infective endocarditis.
Treadmill exercise electrocardiography is a test commonly employed to diagnose coronary artery disease and has powerful prognostic value. It is most accurate when the resting ECG is normal, and because of significant limitations in sensitivity and specificity, the test is most useful when the pretest probability of disease is in the intermediate range. The usual criterion for diagnosing myocardial ischemia is horizontal or downsloping ST-segment depression that measures > or = 1 mm (0.1 mv) 0.08 seconds after the J point, and the specificity of this finding is greatly enhanced by the patient's developing typical angina during the test. Sensitivity and/or specificity may be improved by modifications of the ECG-lead system, computer-assisted measurement of more complex exercise-test variables, using test scores that incorporate coronary risk factors, and by adding radionuclide or echocardiographic imaging modalities that assess myocardial perfusion and/or the metabolic or contractile consequence of myocardial ischemia, as well as the electrocardiographic and symptomatic ones.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Because of the dramatic decline in the incidence of acute rheumatic fever in the United States and much of the developed world over the past 70 years, mitral stenosis, once a common valvular problem, is now distinctly uncommon in many countries. Nevertheless, because mitral stenosis maintains a high prevalence in developing countries and among emigrants from those countries to the United States, continued awareness of the condition is warranted. Furthermore, failure to recognize mitral stenosis not only precludes many effective therapies but in so doing may result in serious complications.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Since 1992 the Brugada syndrome has gained recognition as a cause of ventricular fibrillation. The syndrome was originally described in patients with the diagnostic triad of (1) right bundle branch block, (2) an electrocardiogram (ECG) with persistent ST-segment elevation in leads V1, V2, and V3, and (3) sudden cardiac death. Two different types of ST-segment elevation, coved and saddleback, have been described. All patients originally described had structurally normal hearts. The definition of the Brugada electrocardiogram (originally right bundle branch block and ST-segment elevation in V1, V2, and V3 in characteristic coved or saddleback configuration) has been evolving since the initial description, and not all patients with the Brugada electrocardiogram have the Brugada syndrome. We designed a trial to determine the prevalence in our population at the Medical Center of Louisiana in New Orleans of the Brugada ECG as it was originally defined. ECGs performed in 1997 were examined for changes consistent with the Brugada electrocardiogram. Those ECGs with changes secondary to another identifiable cause were excluded. The amount and type of ST-segment elevation in leads V1, V2, and V3 were recorded for the remaining ECGs. From a total of 55,446 electrocardiograms performed on 27,328 patients, we were able to identify only 18 ECGs with the changes originally described by Brugada, and none of them meet current criteria. Our study suggests that in our patient population the ECG now considered typical of the Brugada syndrome is rare.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Worldwide, infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is increasing. At the same time, new treatments allow patients to live longer. Consequently, cardiovascular manifestations, most of which occur relatively late in the course of the infection, are becoming more frequent. Pericardial effusion, the most common cardiovascular manifestation of HIV infection, usually is small and causes no hemodynamic compromise or symptoms. It does, however, augur a grim prognosis, as do other cardiovascular conditions associated with the infection: myocarditis, dilated cardiomyopathy, pulmonary arterial hypertension, cardiac lymphoma, and Kaposi's sarcoma of the heart. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), especially when incorporating protease inhibitors, greatly improves overall outlook in these patients, but appears not only to cause a lipodystrophic syndrome, but to accelerate atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease by inducing glucose intolerance, frank diabetes mellitus, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, increased lipoprotein (a), and decreased HDL cholesterol. Recent ongoing prospective trials also are showing an association of HAART with increased coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.