[Dilated cardiomyopathy: etiopathogenesis].
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Cardiomyopathy, Alcoholic↗
Biomedical subjects
F Camerini
Publications and source records attributed to F Camerini.
A reappraisal of the factors affecting early patency of aortocoronary saphenous vein bypass grafts. Current experience with extensive revascularization employing sequential grafting techniques.
A number of factors potentially influencing the patency rates of aortocoronary bypass grafts were investigated in a consecutive series of 50 patients by control angiography at 28 +/- 26 days and by univariate and multivariate analysis of a selected set of clinical, surgical and angiographic predictors. There were 234 anastomoses in this series, a mean of 4.7 per patient (range 1 to 9), 215 of which were connected to sequential vein grafts. After surgery, 40 patients were treated with anticoagulants and/or platelet inhibitors. Of the 234 coronary anastomoses studied, 219 were patent (93.6%). Coronary artery diameter, patient's age and previous myocardial infarction were shown to be independent predictors of increased risk of anastomotic occlusion. Arteries less than 1.5 mm in diameter had a patency rate of 84.9%, versus 96.1% for vessels 1.5 mm or larger (p = 0.009). The use of side-to-side anastomoses with sequential grafts seemed to counterbalance the unfavourable effect of small arterial size. Patients aged 65 or older had a lower probability of having all their grafts patent than younger patients did (50 vs 89%, p = 0.01). Patients with previous myocardial infarction similarly had a lower probability of having all their grafts patent compared to patients without previous infarction (68 vs 95%, p less than 0.05); this correlation was explained by a more frequent occlusion rate of grafts directed to fibrotic left ventricular areas. The effect of anticoagulants and of platelet-inhibitors was favourable, but did not reach statistical significance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Aged↗
May early exercise testing after myocardial infarction predict the extent of coronary artery disease?
To determine whether exercise testing performed soon after myocardial infarction may predict the degree of coronary artery disease, 78 patients performed stress testing and coronary angiography 15 +/- 5 and 64 +/- 35 days, respectively, after myocardial infarction. Out of 34 patients with a positive test, 22 (65%) demonstrated a multivessel disease, and 37 (84%) out of 44 patients with a negative test had normal coronary angiograms or single vessel disease (p = .0006). In addition to stress testing, no clinical parameter considered (infarct location, heart failure and cardiomegaly) was predictive of the extent of coronary artery disease.
Coronary Angiography↗
Right precordial ST and QRS changes in the diagnosis of right ventricular infarction.
Two groups of patients with anatomically proved acute myocardial infarction were compared in order to study specificity and sensitivity of the ECG criteria previously described in clinical and experimental right ventricular infarction ( RVI ). Group 1 included 21 patients with left inferior infarction and with a variable degree of right ventricular involvement; group 2 included nine patients with myocardial infarction confined to the left inferior wall. In both groups the presence of ST elevation (at least 0.05 mV) and the morphology of the QRS complex in V4R , V3R, and V1 were assessed in ECGs performed at the time of admission. Also, in order to evaluate the morphology of the ST segment and QRS complex in right precordial leads in normal subjects, an ECG with 12 standard and four right precordial leads ( V6R to V3R) was performed in 82 subjects (group 3) without clinical and ECG evidence of heart disease. Our data reveal that in normal subjects an rS pattern is always present in V3R and frequently (91%) in V4R . On the contrary, the presence of QS or QR complexes in both V4R and V3R are specific markers of right ventricular necrosis (specificity 100%; sensitivity 78%). The presence of injury and necrosis waves in V4R or V4R to V3R during inferior infarction is a useful diagnostic criterion in that it insures a highly specific diagnosis of acute RVI in the great majority (76 and 71%, respectively) of the cases with autopsy evidence of right ventricular involvement.
Aged↗
[Retrospective study of coxsackie B virus infections and congestive cardiomyopathy].
Thirty patients with congestive cardiomyopathy (C.C.) have been studied for the prevalence of neutralizing antibodies to coxsackie B viruses in comparison with age and sex matched controls. Seropositivity toward each antigen was similar in cases and controls: an exception was coxsackie B5 virus, where a significantly seropositivity was found in the control group. As a whole, high antibody titers to any antigen were observed more frequently on sera of cardiopathic patients; however the difference between cases and controls of g.m.t. to each antigen tested was not statistically significant, with the exception of coxsackie B1 virus. The absence of a clear relationship between C.C. and viral infections might be explained through biological as well as epidemiological considerations; of particular relevance, the long duration of cardiac disease (average length 71 months, median 54). Final considerations are offered regarding the methodologic approach for a better understanding of the etiology of this elusive disease.
Adolescent↗
[Coronary spasm as a mechanism of ischemia or myocardial necrosis immediately after coronary surgery. Considerations on 5 cases and review of the literature].
Several recent reports suggest that coronary artery spasm may represent a major complication of coronary artery bypass surgery, and that it may have gone unrecognized in the past. During a three-year interval ending July 1983 we have encountered 5 cases in whom reversible S-T changes, angina, arterial hypotension, major arrythmias and/or angiography prompted the diagnosis of coronary arterial spasm early after aorto-coronary bypass surgery. Our experience and the review of 15 previously reported cases reveals that in most cases the clinical presentation was that of an acute, severe, ischemic cardiac event that occurred few hours after termination of cardiopulmonary bypass. A more benign course took place in a minority of cases, although some of them showed evidence of myocardial necrosis on ECG and/or left ventriculography. The mortality rate in the collective series was 20%, and the rate of perioperative non fatal myocardial infarction was 25%. Glyceryl trinitrate administration into the ascending aorta or into the spastic coronary artery appeared to be the most effective way of treating this condition, while the same drug was seemingly uneffective when administered intravenously. The use of calcium antagonists was associated with a favourable outcome in some patients, but on the whole the results were unpredictable. Prompt consideration of the possibility of coronary artery spasm and aggressive treatment are required in order to minimize its impact on perioperative mortality and morbidity rates.
Adult↗
Vasodilators in left ventricular failure.
Vasodilator drugs are generally classified according to their prevalent site of action: arteriolar vasodilators (e.g. phentolamine, hydralazine, nifedipine) which reduce peripheral resistance and, therefore, increase stroke volume and cardiac output; venodilators (e.g. nitrates), which decrease filling pressure, redistributing intravascular blood volume from the central to the peripheral reservoirs and therefore relieve signs and symptoms of congestion; "balanced" vasodilators (e.g. nitroprusside, prazosin, captopril) which present both effects. Vasodilator therapy is indicated in heart failure caused by impaired contractility (congestive cardiomyopathy, ischemic heart disease) and volume overload (mitral and aortic regurgitation, ventricular septal defect). Hemodynamic studies of acute pharmacological effects are necessary for a correct drug choice, even if they are not always predictive of the long-term efficacy. Non-invasive studies (in particular echocardiography) don't seem actually adequate for vasodilator therapy evaluation. Finally it is not known if vasodilator treatment influence prognosis of chronic heart failure (especially survival), but there is evidence that it can lessen symptoms and increase effort tolerance.
Blood Pressure↗
Ventricular arrhythmias in congestive cardiomyopathy.
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Amiodarone↗
Myocardial reperfusion after acute occlusion of the left main coronary artery.
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Coronary Angiography↗
Acute hemodynamic effects of nifedipine at rest and during stress in severe aortic incompetence.
To determine whether afterload reduction with nifedipine is effective both at rest and during stress tests (rapid atrial pacing and contrast material overload), 14 patients with chronic severe isolated aortic insufficiency (10 asymptomatic) underwent right and left cardiac catheterization. Forty-five minutes after 20 mg of nifedipine (sublingually), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, peak aortic pressure, systemic vascular resistance and double product decreased significantly at rest, at peak paced rate, and after angiography (P values from less than 0.05 to less than 0.001). Cardiac index increased at resting heart rate (P less than 0.01) but was unchanged during pacing. The reduction of systemic vascular resistances was inversely correlated with its initial value (r = -0.69). After nifedipine, average regurgitant fraction did not change; however its variations were significantly correlated with those of systemic vascular resistance (r = 0.69). It is concluded that in severe aortic insufficiency, nifedipine induces an effective reduction of left ventricular pre- and afterload, accompanied by an enhanced mechanical efficiency (unchanged or increased cardiac index with lower double product), both at rest and during stress tests.
Adult↗
[Captopril therapy in chronic congestive heart failure].
Acute and chronic effects of captopril (C) were studied in 14 patients (12 males, 2 females; mean age 56 +/- 15 years) with chronic congestive heart failure (CCHF) refractory to digitalis and diuretics. All patients underwent hemodynamic evaluation before and after increasing doses of C (6.25-100 mg). Nine patients were evaluated during long term therapy by means of clinical examination, exercise testing, chest-X-ray and echocardiography. After C the following acute haemodynamic changes were observed. Mean right atrial pressure: -25% (p less than 0.01), left ventricular filling pressure: -22% (p less than 0.01), mean systemic arterial pressure: -15% (p less than 0.01), systemic vascular resistance: -31% (p less than 0.01), cardiac index: +36% (p less than 0.01). Of the 9 patients who were evaluated during long term C treatment, 7 (group A, mean follow up 6.4 +/- 4.2 months) improved in 1 or 2 NYHA functional classes and showed an increased exercise tolerance during the first 3-6 months of therapy. In this period, however, two sudden deaths and one drop-out were observed. Moreover, after the seventh month two patients of this group deteriorated clinically. Two patients (group B) developed a progressively weight gain during the first 15 days of C treatment. In the majority of our patients with refractory CCHF, captopril improves cardiac performance in the acute phase and in the first 3-6 months of therapy. Controlled studies and longer follow up are needed to understand better the long term effects of C in CCHF patients.
Adult↗
[Early exercise test after myocardial infarct: prognostic stratification].
Exercise testing in myocardial infarction before discharge has been used for treatment and exercise prescription in the post-hospital phase. Aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance, within one year after the infarction, of submaximal exercise testing before discharge. 428 patients performed the test 14.5 days after the acute episode and were followed for 12 months. The following variables were examined: heart rate, blood pressure, rate-pressure product at maximum exercise, total work and reasons for stopping the test (fatigue, submaximal HR, BP greater than or equal to 200/110, hypotension, ischemic or arrhythmic response). Two events were considered: 1) non fatal reinfarction; 2) cardiac death. Two methods of multivariate analysis (Cox's model regression analysis and discriminant analysis) were used. None of the considered variables was found to be predictive of non fatal reinfarction. According to Cox's model total performed work and hypertensive response were found to be predictive of cardiac death, while using discriminant analysis only total work had a predictive value (discriminant function: L = 0.00094 X total work performed + 1.48643; p less than 0.01). In detail, the higher the total work, the better the probabilities of survival, while in patients who stopped the test because of hypertension, the probabilities of cardiac death were lower. Exercise testing performed in uncomplicated myocardial infarction before hospital discharge provides, the basis for a more rational management of patients in the post-infarction phase, and contributes to identify a subset of high-risk patients.
Aged↗
[Status of the "cure" of non-complicated myocardial infarct in Italy].
To analyze the state of health care for patients with myocardial infarction, questionnaires were sent to 191 Italian general hospital and university cardiological departments equipped with an intensive coronary care unit (ICCU). A total of 139 returned the questionnaire (72.7%), of which 138 were usefully completed. The mean number of beds per ICCU is 5.7 and still today 14% of the ICCU's transfer their patients to a medical department. The mean time to admission is 7 hours. In the acute phase, rehabilitation is begun in 49% of the ICCU; mobilization and hospitalization times are shorter than in 1978. The most widely employed pharmacological treatment in the acute phase is the glucose-potassium-insulin infusion (74%). Prior to discharge, 16% of the institutions obtain an exercise test, 74% an echocardiogram and 42% a dynamic ECG. Health education programs, on the other hand, are very poor: only a few Centers provide educational material. In the case of recurrent chest pain, 81% of the institutions advise the patients to take nitroglycerin, and 67% with the patients to report to the hospital. Eighty-nine percent of the Centers carry out follow-up tests on all their patients 1 month after discharge. Calcium antagonists and nitrates are prescribed on discharge by one half of the departments. In the post-infarction period an effort test is performed in 54% of Centers; coronary angiography is carried out on the youngest patients in 9% of Centers; in 30% of Centers, coronary angiography is only performed in patients with severe symptoms. Sixty-five institutions administer their own rehabilitation programs, while 35 send their patients to other institutions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Coronary Care Units↗
Calcium antagonists in heart failure.
Clinical experience with calcium antagonists in congestive heart failure has, to date, been mainly restricted to the use of nifedipine but there is either no or only a limited extent of information available on diltiazem and verapamil. In patients with acute and chronic congestive heart failure, single-dose administration of nifedipine was seen to lead to a decrease in systemic vascular resistance, left ventricular filling pressure and ventricular volumes as well as to an increase in stroke volume, ejection fraction and mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening. These favorable effects could not be detected in eight patients during a three-week treatment phase with 80 mg nifedipine daily: resting blood pressure, cardiac volumes, echocardiographically-dimensions and exercise tolerance were unchanged as compared with placebo. In patients with ischemic heart disease and impaired ventricular function, in addition to an improvement in systolic function, single-dose nifedipine administration led to favorable effects on diastolic function with a shift of the diastolic pressure-volume relationship downward and to the diastolic pressure-volume relationship downward and to the left. In patients with severe aortic regurgitation, the observed increase in effective cardiac output affected by nifedipine was primarily attributable to an increase in heart rate. In the presence of an initially-elevated systemic vascular resistance, the regurgitation fraction decreased. In pulmonary hypertension, favorable hemodynamic effects have been reported after acute administration of verapamil as well as diltiazem and nifedipine. In individual cases, promising results in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension have been reported during long-term therapy with nifedipine provided that a favorable initial response could be documented.
Aortic Valve Insufficiency↗
[Pharmacologic myocardial revascularization in acute infarct. Experience with 52 cases].
Coronary thrombosis is frequently demonstrated in the early hours of acute myocardial infarction. Local infusion of thrombolytic agents has been proposed in order to dissolve intracoronary thrombi and to restore myocardial perfusion. We report our initial experience in 52 patients. Thirty-nine males and 13 females had a coronary angiogram performed within 5 hours from the beginning of persistent ischemic pain (mean 2h 34 min +/- 68 min; range 20 min--5h 30 min). In all an ST segment elevation was documented on an ECG recording. Coronary occlusion was found in 86.5% (45/52) of our cases. Flow restoration was obtained in 39 of 45 of patients (86.6%) within 45 +/- 28 min. The mean dose of streptokinase employed was 272,140 +/- 112,484 IU (range 120,000--400,000 IU). Myocardial reperfusion was accompanied by the reduction of ischemic pain and ST elevation. In 8 cases severe ventricular arrhythmias occurred. Serious haemorrhagic complications were observed only in one patient. Eight patients developed a new myocardial infarction within few days from the procedure and two died 2 hours and 6 days respectively after myocardial revascularization. Thirty-two of thirty-nine patients underwent a angiographic control study within 11-128 days and coronary patency was shown in 75% (24/32). Seven patients underwent a coronary artery bypass procedure. At surgical inspection no clear evidence of myocardial necrosis was observed. Coronary flow restoration is rapidly and safely obtained i acute myocardial infarction by means of intracoronary streptokinase infusion but the efficacy of the procedure in salvaging myocardium has not been demonstrated yet.
Adult↗
[Problems appearing after pharmacologic thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarct].
Pharmacologic myocardial reperfusion is a new strategy in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction, but its widespread use has raised several problems which are still unsolved. The time limit from the onset of ischemic pain until the beginning of thrombolysis is undefined yet. Experimental and clinical observations set this time within three hours. A reopened vessel is still at risk for reocclusion and anticoagulants are not always effective in the prevention of this. It is likely therefore that pharmacologic thrombolysis is only one step in the process of myocardial salvage and that other techniques like transluminal coronary angioplasty and/or coronary bypass surgery, should follow shortly. Intracoronary thrombolysis does not carry an increased risk for acute myocardial infarction patients. However haemorrhagic complications are expected to occur in less than 6% of cases during their hospital stay. To evaluate the extent of myocardial salvage quantitative ventriculography and intracoronary thallium 201 scintigraphy represent the most reliable techniques. Only the results of the continuing randomized trials will clarify the efficacy of this new way of therapy for morbidity, mortality and myocardial salvage.
Fibrinolytic Agents↗
Afterload reduction with nifedipine in aortic insufficiency.
The acute hemodynamic effects of nifedipine were assessed in 12 patients with severe aortic insufficiency during control conditions and 30 minutes after administration of nifedipine (20 mg sublingually). Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure decreased from 19 +/- 8 (mean +/- standard deviation) to 9 +/- 5 mm Hg (probability [p] less than 0.0001), mean aortic pressure from 98 +/- 12 to 80 +/- 9 mm Hg (p less than 0.00001), systemic vascular resistance from 1,135 +/- 280 to 794 +/- 176 dynes . s. cm-5 (p less than 0.0002) and rate-pressure product from 11,732 +/- 1,727 to 10,022 +/- 1,103 mm Hg beats/min (p less than 0.01). Forward cardiac index increased by 24 percent, from 3.8 +/- 1.1 to 4.4 to 0.8 liters/min per m2 (p less than 0.04). Left ventricular end-diastolic volume, ejection fraction and total stroke work index did not change significantly. Regurgitant fraction, measured in five patients, changed parallel with systemic vascular resistance. Left ventricular function was maintained while both preload and afterload were decreased. Regurgitant flow was moderated and myocardial oxygen demand decreased. This hemodynamically favorable condition, due to nifedipine, is clinically important and suggests the need for further therapeutic trials.
Adult↗
[Endocoronary thrombolysis in evolving myocardial infarct].
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Animals↗