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Biomedical subjects

E Lindberg

Publications and source records attributed to E Lindberg.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Increased levels of circulating soluble CD14 but not CD83 in infants are associated with early intestinal colonization with Staphylococcus aureus.

BACKGROUND: Soluble forms of the monocyte marker CD14 and the mature dendritic cell marker CD83 are plasma proteins with immunoregulatory functions. The physiological stimulus for their production is unclear and their possible role in allergy development is unknown. METHODS: We measured the plasma levels of soluble CD14 (sCD14) and soluble CD83 (sCD83) in 64 Swedish children in relation to intestinal bacterial colonization pattern in a prospective birth cohort. Soluble CD14 and sCD83 levels were quantified by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay in plasma obtained at birth and at 4, 18 and 36 months of age. All major aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were quantified in faecal samples obtained regularly over the first 8 weeks of life. Clinical allergy and IgE levels were evaluated at 18 months of age. RESULTS: Soluble CD14 in plasma increased during the first 18 months of life while sCD83 peaked at 4 months of age. Children who were perinatally colonized with Staphylococcus aureus had significantly higher levels of sCD14 in plasma at 4 months of age relative to non-colonized children. The levels of sCD14 were unrelated to colonization with Escherichia coli, other enterobacteria, enterococci, clostridia, Bacteroides, bifidobacteria or lactobacilli. Further, children with food allergy by 18 months tended to have lower levels of sCD14 than healthy children. Plasma levels of sCD83 were not related to either bacterial colonization pattern or allergy development. CONCLUSIONS: Perinatal colonization with S. aureus may trigger the occurrence of sCD14 in plasma, which may influence development of the infantile immune system and risk of allergy development.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed2006

Altered colonic glycoprotein expression in unaffected monozygotic twins of inflammatory bowel disease patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Previous chromatographic analysis of colonic mucins from monozygotic twins with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) suggested a genetic mucin alteration in ulcerative colitis (UC). This study explores this further by assessing mucosal expression of the oncofetal carbohydrate antigen TF (galactose beta1, 3 N-acetylgalactosamine alpha-), among the same IBD twins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Formalin fixed paraffin embedded rectal biopsies were studied from 22 monozygotic twin pairs with IBD. These included eight UC twin pairs and 14 Crohn's disease (CD) twin pairs, with six pairs concordant for disease and 16 unaffected twin siblings. Closely adjacent sections were assessed by peanut lectin histochemistry for TF expression and immunohistochemically for nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB) activation with investigators blinded to the diagnosis. RESULTS: Unaffected twins were almost all TF positive (15/16) compared with 5/29 histologically normal controls (p<0.0001). Unaffected UC (7/8) and CD twins (8/8) were similarly TF positive. TF positivity was confined mainly to the superficial epithelium and absent from the stem cell compartment of the lower crypts, suggesting that glycosylation changes are acquired rather than genetically determined. Activated NFkappaB was present in the surface epithelium of mucosal biopsies from 13/14 unaffected IBD twins but in only 6/22 histologically normal controls (p=0.0004). All 22 affected IBD twins were TF positive and 18 were positive for activated NFkappaB. CONCLUSIONS: Altered mucosal glycosylation in unaffected identical twins of IBD patients was confirmed in this study. This occurred in both UC and CD twins. The changes are probably acquired rather than congenital and may reflect "preinflammatory" NFkappaB activation.

Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate↗
PubMed2006

Prevalence and incidence of respiratory symptoms in relation to indoor dampness: the RHINE study.

BACKGROUND: An association between indoor dampness and respiratory symptoms has been reported, but dampness as a risk factor for the onset or remission of respiratory symptoms and asthma is not well documented. METHOD: This follow up study included 16 190 subjects from Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Estonia who had participated in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS I). Eight years later the same subjects answered a postal questionnaire that included questions on respiratory symptoms and indicators of indoor dampness. RESULTS: Subjects living in damp housing (18%) had a significantly (p<0.001) higher prevalence of wheeze (19.1% v 26.0%), nocturnal breathlessness (4.4% v 8.4%), nocturnal cough (27.2% v 36.5%), productive cough (16.6% v 22.3%) and asthma (6.0% v 7.7%). These associations remained significant after adjusting for possible confounders. Indoor dampness was a risk factor for onset of respiratory symptoms but not for asthma onset in the longitudinal analysis (OR 1.13, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.40). Remission of nocturnal symptoms was less common in damp homes (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.97). CONCLUSIONS: Subjects living in damp housing had a higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms and asthma. Onset of respiratory symptoms was more common and remission of nocturnal respiratory symptoms was less common in subjects living in damp housing.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Insomnia is more common among subjects living in damp buildings.

BACKGROUND: Insomnia is a condition with a high prevalence and a great impact on quality of life. Little is known about the relation between and sleep disturbances and the home environment. AIM: To analyse the association between insomnia and building dampness. METHODS: In a cross-sectional, multicentre, population study, 16 190 subjects (mean age 40 years, 53% women) were studied from Reykjavik in Iceland, Bergen in Norway, Umeå, Uppsala, and Göteborg in Sweden, Aarhus in Denmark, and Tartu in Estonia. Symptoms related to insomnia were assessed by questionnaire. RESULTS: Subjects living in houses with reported signs of building dampness (n = 2873) had a higher prevalence of insomnia (29.4 v 23.6%; crude odds ratio 1.35, 95% CI 1.23 to 1.48). The association between insomnia and different indicators of building dampness was strongest for floor dampness: "bubbles or discoloration on plastic floor covering or discoloration of parquet floor" (crude odds ratio 1.96, 95% CI 1.66 to 2.32). The associations remained significant after adjusting for possible confounders such as sex, age, smoking history, housing, body mass index, and respiratory diseases. There was no significant difference between the centres in the association between insomnia and building dampness. CONCLUSION: Insomnia is more common in subjects living in damp buildings. This indicates that avoiding dampness in building constructions and improving ventilation in homes may possibly have a positive effect on the quality of sleep.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Risk factors for rehospitalisation in COPD: role of health status, anxiety and depression.

The aim of the present study was to analyse the risk of rehospitalisation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and associated risk factors. This prospective study included 416 patients from a university hospital in each of the five Nordic countries. Data included demographic information, spirometry, comorbidity and 12 month follow-up for 406 patients. The hospital anxiety and depression scale and St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) were applied to all patients. The number of patients that had a re-admission within 12 months was 246 (60.6%). Patients that had a re-admission had lower lung function and health status. A low forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and health status were independent predictors for re-admission. Hazard ratio (HR; 95% CI) was 0.82 (0.74-0.90) per 10% increase of the predicted FEV1 and 1.06 (1.02-1.10) per 4 units increase in total SGRQ score. The risk of rehospitalisation was also increased in subjects with anxiety (HR 1.76 (1.16-2.68)) and in subjects with low health status (total SGRQ score >60 units). When comparing the different subscales in the SGRQ, the closest relation between the risk of rehospitalisation was seen with the activity scale (HR 1.07 (1.03-1.11) per 4 unit increase). In patients with low health status, anxiety is an important risk factor for rehospitalisation. This may be important for patient treatment and warrants further studies.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Trainee anaesthetists understand their work in different ways: implications for specialist education.

BACKGROUND: Traditionally, programmes for specialist education in anaesthesia and intensive care have been based on lists of attributes such as skills and knowledge. However, modern research in the science of teaching has shown that competence development is linked to changes in the way professionals understand their work. The aim of this study was to define the different ways in which trainee anaesthetists understand their work. METHODS: Nineteen Swedish trainee anaesthetists were interviewed. The interviews sought the answers to three open-ended questions. (i). When do you feel you have been successful in your work? (ii). What is difficult or what hinders you in your work? (iii). What is the core of your anaesthesia work? Transcripts of the interviews were analysed by a phenomenographic approach, a research method aiming to determine the various ways a group of people understand a phenomenon. RESULTS: Six ways of understanding their work were defined: giving anaesthesia according to a standard plan; taking responsibility for the patient's vital functions; minimizing the patient's suffering and making them feel safe; giving service to specialist doctors to facilitate their care of patients; organizing and leading the operating theatre and team; and developing one's own competence, using the experience gained from every new patient for learning. CONCLUSIONS: Trainee anaesthetists understand their work in different ways. The trainee's understanding affects both his/her way of performing work tasks and how he/she develops new competences. A major task for teachers of anaesthesia is to create learning situations whereby trainees can focus on new aspects of their professional work and thus develop new ways of understanding it.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus colonising the intestines of Swedish infants.

Staphylococcus aureus has become a frequent coloniser of the intestinal tract of infants, but the health effects of such colonisation are not clear. In this study, the antibiotic resistance patterns of 116 S. aureus strains from the commensal intestinal microflora were determined. The strains were obtained from 81 Swedish infants who had been followed with regular stool samples and registration of antibiotic usage during their first year of life. The faecal population levels of the individual strains and the duration of their persistence in the microflora had been determined previously. The prevalence of antibiotic resistance among the 116 strains was modest: methicillin, 0%; penicillin G, 78%; erythromycin A, 3%; tetracycline, 2%; clindamycin, 0.9%; and fusidic acid, 0.9%. Colonisation by antibiotic-resistant strains was unrelated to antibiotic consumption by individual infants. Antibiotic-resistant strains were as capable of persisting in the intestinal microflora and reaching high faecal population levels as fully susceptible strains. No strain lost or acquired resistance during the colonisation period. Thus, antibiotic-resistant strains of S. aureus seem to be as fit for competition in the large bowel microflora as susceptible strains, even in the absence of selective pressure from antibiotics. This may aggravate the ecological consequences of antibiotic resistance development.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2004

Oats to children with newly diagnosed coeliac disease: a randomised double blind study.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of coeliac disease (CD) requires lifelong adherence to a strict gluten free diet (GFD) which hitherto has consisted of a diet free of wheat, rye, barley, and oats. Recent studies, mainly in adults, have shown that oats are non-toxic to CD patients. In children, only open studies comprising a small number of patients have been performed. AIM: To determine if children with CD tolerate oats in their GFD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this double blind multicentre study involving eight paediatric clinics, 116 children with newly diagnosed CD were randomised to one of two groups: one group was given a standard GFD (GFD-std) and one group was given a GFD with additional wheat free oat products (GFD-oats). The study period was one year. Small bowel biopsy was performed at the beginning and end of the study. Serum IgA antigliadin, antiendomysium, and antitissue transglutaminase antibodies were monitored at 0, 3, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: Ninety three patients completed the study. Median (range) daily oat intake in the GFD-oats group (n = 42) was 15 (5-40) g at the six month control and 15 (0-43) g at the end of the study. All patients were in clinical remission after the study period. The GFD-oats and GFD-std groups did not differ significantly at the end of the study regarding coeliac serology markers or small bowel mucosal architecture, including numbers of intraepithelial lymphocytes. Significantly more children in the youngest age group withdrew. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first randomised double blind study showing that the addition of moderate amounts of oats to a GFD does not prevent clinical or small bowel mucosal healing, or humoral immunological downregulation in coeliac children. This is in accordance with the findings of studies in adult coeliacs and indicates that oats, added to the otherwise GFD, can be accepted and tolerated by the majority of children with CD.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Obesity and nocturnal gastro-oesophageal reflux are related to onset of asthma and respiratory symptoms.

Several studies have identified obesity as a risk factor for asthma in both children and adults. An increased prevalence of asthma in subjects with gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome has also been reported. The aim of this investigation was to study obesity, nocturnal GOR and snoring as independent risk factors for onset of asthma and respiratory symptoms in a Nordic population. In a 5-10 yr follow-up study of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey in Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Estonia, a postal questionnaire was sent to previous respondents. A total of 16,191 participants responded to the questionnaire. Reported onset of asthma, wheeze and night-time symptoms as well as nocturnal GOR and habitual snoring increased in prevalence along with the increase in body mass index (BMI). After adjusting for nocturnal GOR, habitual snoring and other confounders, obesity (BMI >30) remained significantly related to the onset of asthma, wheeze and night-time symptoms. Nocturnal GOR was independently related to the onset of asthma and in addition, both nocturnal GOR and habitual snoring were independently related to onset of wheeze and night-time symptoms. This study adds evidence to an independent relationship between obesity, nocturnal gastro-oesophageal reflux and habitual snoring and the onset of asthma and respiratory symptoms in adults.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Small bowel biopsy in Swedish paediatric clinics.

AIM: A correct diagnosis of coeliac disease, one of the most common chronic diseases in Swedish children, demands small bowel biopsy, which can be performed endoscopically or by means of a peroral capsule. Recently there was a debate among Swedish paediatric gastroenterologists, with some advocating the cessation of capsule biopsy in favour of endoscopic biopsies. To gain information on which to base a recommendation for which technique to use, the Swedish Working Group for Childhood Coeliac Disease was commissioned to carry out a national questionnaire study on current small bowel biopsy routines in Swedish paediatric clinics. METHODS: A questionnaire concerning biopsy routines in the year 2000 was sent to all paediatric clinics performing biopsies. A reply was obtained from 39 of 40 clinics, covering 98% of the Swedish population. RESULTS: Some 1400 biopsies were performed, 64% of which were capsule biopsies and 36% endoscopic. Three clinics performed all biopsies endoscopically and 11 clinics all via a capsule. At endoscopy all children were under deep sedation or full anaesthesia, while most children undergoing capsule biopsy were under light or deep sedation. The oxygen saturation was monitored during endoscopy but less often or never during routine capsule biopsy. The presence of the parents during biopsy varied according to the degree of sedation: at 97% of the clinics performing capsule biopsy on children under light sedation, the parents were present during the whole procedure, whereas no parents were present at clinics where the biopsy was performed endoscopically under anaesthesia. CONCLUSION: Compared with the results of a similar questionnaire concerning biopsy routines performed in the early 1990s, children are now more effectively sedated. Furthermore, there is an obvious trend from capsule towards endoscopic biopsy. Both the endoscopic and the capsule biopsy techniques are useful and satisfactory for obtaining small bowel mucosal samples providing that the children are effectively sedated. For practical and economic reasons the capsule biopsy technique will probably continue to be used, although to a lesser extent than today.

Biopsy↗
PubMed2002

Prevalence of sleep apnoea and snoring in hypertensive men: a population based study.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have reported an association between sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and hypertension (HT) but there is still a debate as to whether this is an effect of confounders. Some researchers have found an age dependent relationship between SDB and HT with higher risk at lower ages. A case-control study was performed in hypertensive men and non-hypertensive male controls matched for age and body mass index to assess whether there is an independent association between SDB and HT. If so, we further wanted to investigate whether this effect is age dependent. METHODS: An overnight sleep study was performed in a population based, age stratified sample of 102 hypertensive men aged 43-82 years and 102 non-hypertensive controls. RESULTS: Hypertensive subjects had a significantly higher prevalence of SDB than non-hypertensive subjects (apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI): 10.8 v 7.3; desaturation index (DI): 8.5 v 5.2; AHI >or=10: 37% v 24%, p<0.05; DI >or=10: 29% v 12%; lowest desaturation: mean (SD) 81.9 (7.3) v 84.7 (6.1), p<0.01). After adjusting for neck circumference and physical inactivity, DI >or=10 and lowest desaturation were still independent predictors of HT with adjusted odds ratios of 2.3 (95% CI 1.0 to 5.3) and 0.94 (95% CI 0.89 to 0.99), respectively. When the subjects were split into two groups according to age (<60 and >or=60 years), the influence of DI >or=10 on HT was strongest in the younger men (adjusted OR 4.3 (95% CI 1.0 to 19.3 v 2.1 (95% CI 0.7 to 6.5)) and the association between minimum oxygen saturation (SaO(2)) and HT reached statistical significance in the younger men only. CONCLUSION: SDB is more prevalent in men with HT than in controls. DI >or=10 and lowest desaturation are independent predictors of HT irrespective of confounders. The results indicate that the influence of SDB on HT is more pronounced in younger and middle aged men than in those above 60 years.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Obstructive sleep apnoea and urine catecholamines in hypertensive males: a population-based study.

Studies addressing the relationship between obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and sympathoadrenal activity have been criticized for poor control of factors known to confound sympathetic function, including hypertension. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between OSA and urinary catecholamines in a population-based sample of hypertensive males. In 1994, 2,668 males aged 40-79 yrs answered a questionnaire regarding sleep disorders and somatic diseases. Of those who reported hypertension, an age-stratified sample of 116 was selected for monitoring of breathing during sleep and overnight urine analysis. Subjects with OSA, defined as apnoea-hypopnoea index > or = 10 x h(-1), had higher concentrations of urinary normetanephrine (182+/-57 versus 141+/-45 micromol x mol(-1) creatinine, p<0.001) and metanephrine (70+/-28 versus 61+/-28 micromol mol(-1) creatinine, p<0.05) in comparison to subjects without OSA. In a multiple regression analysis, there was an association between variables of sleep-disordered breathing and normetanephrine and metanephrine concentrations, independent of major confounding factors. The authors concluded that, in a population-based sample of hypertensive males, obstructive sleep apnoea is associated with increased urinary concentrations of extraneuronal metabolites of catecholamines independent of major confounding factors, suggesting increased sympathoadrenal activity. Elevated sympathoadrenal activity may explain the increased cardiovascular morbidity associated with obstructive sleep apnoea.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Role of snoring and daytime sleepiness in occupational accidents.

To establish whether snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), the main symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, influence the risk of occupational accidents a population-based, prospective study was performed. In 1984, 2,874 men aged 30-64 answered questions on snoring and EDS. Ten years later 2,009 (73.8% of the survivors) responded to a follow-up questionnaire including work-related questions and potential confounders. Information on occupational accidents during 1985-1994 was obtained from national register data. A total of 345 occupational accidents were reported by 247 of the men (12.3%). Multivariate analysis revealed that men who reported both snoring and EDS at baseline were at an increased risk of occupational accidents during the following 10 yr, with an adjusted odds ratio of 2.2 (95% CI 1.3-3.8) after adjusting for age, body mass index, smoking, alcohol dependence, years at work, blue-collar job, shift work, and exposure to noise, organic solvents, exhaust fumes, and whole-body vibrations. However, no significant increased risk was found for snorers without EDS or nonsnorers with EDS. We conclude that sleepy, male snorers have an increased risk of occupational accidents. The results indicate that early identification and treatment of sleep-disordered breathing may reduce the number of injuries at work.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed2001

Insomnia in men-a 10-year prospective population based study.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: to prospectively analyze changes in the prevalence of insomnia and the relationship between insomnia, aging, lifestyle, and medical disorders DESIGN: a longitudinal population survey. PARTICIPANTS: a randomly selected population sample of 2,602 men (age 30-69 years) from Uppsala in Sweden. INTERVENTION: all participants answered a questionnaire on sleep disturbances, lifestyle factors, and medical disorders in 1984 and again in 1994. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The prevalence of INSOMNIA was 10.3% in 1984 and 12.8% in 1994. No significant correlation was found between age and insomnia in any of the two time periods. Insomnia in 1994 was independently related to having insomnia in 1984 (OR=6.45), being over-weight (BMI> 27 kg/m2) (OR=1.35), physical inactivity (OR=1.42), alcohol dependence (OR=1.75), psychiatric disorders (OR=8.27) and joint/low back disorders (OR=2.95). The number of subject with reported insomnia in 1984 but not 1994 was 149. Subjects that quit smoking during the time period had an increased likeliness of remission (OR=2.70) while men who were overweight were less likely to remit (OR=0.43). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that in men insomnia is related to lifestyle factors such as obesity, physical inactivity and alcohol dependency but not to aging. Medical disorders such as joint and low back disorders and psychiatric illnesses also increase the risk of reporting insomnia. This study demonstrates the close relationship between quality of sleep and overall health status.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Sleep-disordered breathing and glucose metabolism in hypertensive men: a population-based study.

OBJECTIVES: Diabetes mellitus and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) are two prevalent medical problems. Both are strongly associated with obesity and hypertension. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the association between OSA and diabetes is entirely dependent on obesity in hypertensive men. DESIGN: A population-based study. SETTING: The municipality of Uppsala, Sweden. Subjects and methods. In 1994, 2668 men aged 40-79 years answered a questionnaire regarding snoring, sleep disturbances and somatic diseases. An age-stratified sample of 116 hypertensive men was selected for a whole-night sleep study. Twenty-five of them had diabetes, defined as reporting regular medical controls for diabetes or having a fasting blood glucose > or =6.1 mmol L(-1). RESULTS: The prevalence of severe OSA, defined as apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) > or =20 h(-1) was significantly higher in diabetic patients than in normoglycaemic subjects (36 vs. 14.5%, P < 0.05). The sample was divided into four groups based on the presence or absence of severe OSA and the presence or absence of central obesity, defined as waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) > or =1.0. In a logistic regression model with the non-OSA, WHR <1.0 as the reference group, the adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for diabetes was 11.8 (2.0-69.8) in the OSA, WHR > or =1.0 group, whilst it was 3.6 (0.9-14.8) in the non-OSA, WHR > or =1.0 group and 5.7 (0.3-112) in the OSA, WHR <1.0 group. In a linear regression model, after adjustment for WHR, there was a significant relationship between variables of sleep-disordered breathing and fasting insulin, glucose and haemoglobin A1c. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that, in hypertensive men, although obesity is the main risk factor for diabetes, coexistent severe OSA may add to this risk. Sleep breathing disorders, independent of central obesity, may influence plasma insulin and glycaemia.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Effect of mibefradil, a T-type calcium channel blocker, on morbidity and mortality in moderate to severe congestive heart failure: the MACH-1 study. Mortality Assessment in Congestive Heart Failure Trial.

BACKGROUND: Calcium antagonists have proved disappointing in long-term congestive heart failure (CHF) studies. Mibefradil, a new calcium antagonist that selectively blocks T-type calcium channels, has been shown to be an effective antihypertensive, antianginal, and anti-ischemic agent, and because of its different mechanism of action, it may be beneficial as adjunct therapy in CHF patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: This multicenter, randomized, double-blind study compared mibefradil with placebo as adjunct to usual therapy in 2590 CHF patients (NYHA class II to IV; left ventricular fraction <35%). The initial 50-mg daily dose of mibefradil was uptitrated to 100 mg after 1 month and continued up to 3 years. Patients were monitored at 1 week; 1, 2, and 3 months; and every 3 months thereafter. All-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and cardiovascular morbidity/mortality were analyzed by use of the log-rank test (alpha=0.05). Substudies included exercise tolerance, plasma hormone and cytokines, echocardiography, and quality of life. Total mortality was similar between mibefradil- and placebo-treated patients (P=0.151). The 14% increased risk of mortality with mibefradil in the first 3 months was not statistically significant (P=0.093). Treatment groups had similar cardiovascular mortality (P=0.246), cardiovascular morbidity/mortality (P=0.783), and reasons for death or hospitalization. Patients comedicated with mibefradil and antiarrhythmics (class I or III), including amiodarone, had a significantly increased risk of death. Substudies demonstrated no significant differences between treatments. CONCLUSIONS: When used as adjunct therapy, mibefradil did not affect the usual outcome of CHF. The potential interaction with antiarrhythmic drugs, especially amiodarone, and drugs associated with torsade de pointes may have contributed to poor outcomes early in the study.

Aged↗