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Biomedical subjects

F Follath

Publications and source records attributed to F Follath.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

[Fever of long standing in atrial myxoma].

A 39-year-old man is described who presented with the unspecific signs of systemic disease (elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, increased gamma-globulins, positive rheumatoid factor; clubbing, splenomegaly) and with fever whose origin remained undiagnosed for 8 years despite numerous investigations. Later in the course of the disease, the signs of mitral stenosis appeared, suggesting left atrial myxoma even in the absence of arterial embolization. This diagnosis was established by echocardiography and confirmed by angiocardiography as well as at operation, after which all the systemic signs and symptoms disappeared.

Fever↗
PubMed1978

Intrinsic sympathomimetic activity of beta-adrenoceptor blocking agents.

The pharmacological methods used to assess the intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (ISA) of beta-blockers are discussed. The clinical relevance of ISA to respiratory function, peripheral resistance and cardiac function is reviewed. It appears doubtful whether ISA is always of predominant clinical significance and an alternative explanation is offered for many clinical effects observed with certain beta-blockers, e.g. pindolol, oxprenolol, tolamolol, metoprolol, etc. Some effects of these beta-blockers resemble those of labetalol, a new drug with both alpha and beta-blocking activity. Some clinical effects of certain beta-blockers are more likely to be due to alpha-blocking activity than to their ISA.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗
PubMed1977

[Determination of serum digoxin: a path to better control of therapy?].

The usefulness of serum digoxin measurements in the diagnosis of digitalis toxicity was studied prospectively in hospitalized patients. Serum levels were increased above 2 ng/ml in 28 of 32 cases with digoxin-induced arrhythmias and/or gastrointestinal symptoms, whereas only 1 of 35 non-toxic patients had an abnormal serum concentration. There was, however, no direct relationship between the type of toxic manifestation and absolute values of serum digoxin.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗
PubMed1977

[Echocardiography in infectious endocarditis].

The effectiveness of echocardiography was evaluated in 36 cases of anatomically documented infective endocarditis during the period 1972 to 1976. Valvular vegetations were found in 47% and destructions in 58% of this group. Echocardiography is a valuable tool in the certification of clinically suspected infective endocarditis and in the delineation of a subgroup of patients with valvular vegetations and destruction of aortic and mitral valve leaflets. Echocardiography may therefore play a decisive role in the selection of patients for surgical intervention despite active infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

[Echocardiography as a method for the determination of the severity of aortic insufficiency].

4 groups of patients with different degrees of aortic regurgitation (mild n = 7, moderate n = 3, severe n = 21, and aortic regurgitation combined with organic mitral stenosis n = 5) were examined by means of echocardiography and compared with a control group of 10 healthy subjects. The purpose was to determine what information echocardiography may provide in regard to the severity of aortic regurgitation and whether patients with organic mitral stenosis can be distinguished from patients with Austin Flint murmur. Patients with mild or moderate aortic regurgitation could not be clearly distinguished by echocardiographic features from subjects with normal cardiac findings. However, patients with severe aortic regurgitation were likely to show the following characteristic changes: (1) early mitral valve closure, (2) diastolic flutter, (3) absence of the a-wave. If a premature mitral valve closure, i.e. a negative QC time or a diastolic flutter or absent a-wave are found, the aortic regurgitation is likely to be of severe degree. This finding will be particularly useful in patients with acute aortic regurgitation, no left ventricular enlargement and no left ventricular hypertrophy in the ECG. Being a noninvasive method, echocardiography may also be used in follow-up examinations. Furthermore, organic mitral stenosis can be distinguished from Austin Flint murmur.

Aortic Valve Insufficiency↗
PubMed1976

[Echocardiography in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy].

The echocardiographic anomalies seen in 16 patients with proven hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) are described. With use of a standardized technique and critical evaluation of the individual signs, echocardiography provides a simple and accurate means of confirming the diagnosis of HOCM, following the course and evaluating therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Cardiovascular effects of a new inotropic drug in dog and normal man.

Cardiovascular effects of 1-butyl-3(1-(6,7-dimethoxyquinazolin-4-yl) piperidin 4 yl urea) (BDPU) were studied in 16 anesthetized dogs and in 7 healthy male volunteers. In animal experiments intravenous doses of 100, 250, and 500 mug/kg/min produced dose-related, significant increases in cardiac output and peak left ventricular dp/dt. No changes in heart rate and blood pressure occurred at 100 mug/kg/min, whereas higher doses caused falls in both systolic and diastolic blood pressures, accompanied by significant rises in heart rate. Inotropic effects could also be demonstrated in man. Changes of the systolic time intervals were dose-related and began at 64 mug/kg/min. At 250 mug/kg/min, the highest dose administered, the pre-ejection period decreased by 14.8 +/- 4.42 msec and its ratio with left ventricular ejection time by 0.049 +/- 0.017 against their respective control values (p less than 0.01). In contrast to animal experiments, no hypotension or tachycardia was observed in any subject. Pharmacokinetic studies showed a plasma elimination half-life of 76 +/- 3 min (mean +/- SE). There were no subjective side effects and standard laboratory tests were not altered, but there was a slight but significant rise in the urinary enzymes, lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), which persisted up to 7 days.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

A comparison of cardiovascular effects of dobutamine and isoprenaline after open heart surgery.

In a cross-over study, the cardiovascular effects of dobutamine were assessed in 11 patients who had undergone operation for replacement of the mitral or aortic valve approximately four hours earlier. In 9 of these the effects of isoprenaline were assessed for comparison. Dose-response curves were obtained using four dose levels of dobutamine in the range 1.25-10 mug/kg per min and of isoprenaline in the range of 0.005-0.04 mug/kg per min. Both drugs produced similar dose-dependent increases in heart rate and cardiac output and a dose-dependent decrease in peripheral resistance. Mean arterial pressure was only slightly increased by either drug. The positive inotropic effect of dobutamine was confirmed, but the chronotropic effect was not significantly different from that of isoprenaline. This contrasts with the findings of previous studies, and possible reasons for this are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

[Proceedings: The echocardiogram in the differential diagnosis of mitral valve insufficiency].

54 patients with mitral incompetence of varying origin have been studied by echocardiography. Echocardiography was usually not helpful in the diagnosis of pure mitral incompetence of mixed mitral valve lesions. However, it proved to be a sensitive method for recognition of the typical anomaly in "mid systolic click/late systolic murmur syndrome", which is ballooning of one or both leaflets toward the left atrium (17 out of 22 patients). The echo was equally useful for documentation of an abnormal systolic motion of the anterior mitral leaflet toward the septum, which was found in 7 of the 11 studied cases of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Echocardiography↗
PubMed1975

[Cardiac myxoma (author's transl)].

Between 1965 and 1974 ten patients were operared on for cardiac myxoma. There was a striking variety of signs and symptoms caused by tumour embolization, haemodynamic obstruction, and auto-immunological reactions. The diagnosis should be made early before the occurrence of irreversible complications, especially cerebral embolism. Echocardiography is a simple technique for the detection of atrial myxoma but a negative result does not exclude it, and diagnosis has to be confirmed by angiocardiography. The tumour should be removed as soon as possible after diagnosis. There is danger of tumour embolization in the course of operation. Operative mortality is low in patients with only haemodynamic complications, but in patients with previous cerebral embolism the risk is higher because of possible bleeding in the infarcted areas of the brain resulting from anticoagulation during cardio-pulmonary bypass. Nonetheless, the operation is indicated in all cases. If removal of the myxoma is complete, recurrence is rate and long-term results are good.

Adolescent↗