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Biomedical subjects

M B Secchi

Publications and source records attributed to M B Secchi.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Presence of bites in VCGrams of a high coronary risk population (author's transl)].

The association between the presence of areas of myocardial fibrosis and the appearance of unexpected DEVIATIONS OF THE QRS loop-outline on the vectorcardiographic tracing (bites) has been reported. In order to re-evaluate the correlation between the presence of bites and the possible existence of scars we have studied 511 patients. On the basis of clinical data, laboratory data, rest and exercise electrocardiograms, the subjects have been divided into four groups; 195 normal subjects; 267 with ischemic heart disease, 16 with arterial hypertension and 33 with diabetes mellitus (the last two groups as representative of subjects with higher risk for myocardial ischemia). Bites in at least one plane were detected in 9.7% of normal subjects, 27.8% of ischemic patients, 56.3% of hypertensive patients and 18.2% of diabetics (less than 0.001). The genesis of bites and reliability of the diagnostic criteria are discussed. With more restrictive criteria the frequency in the normal subjects falls to 1%, while in the other three groups it remains much higher (10.1%-12.5%-6.1%).

Adult↗

[Comparison of the efficacy of monotherapy with a beta-blocker, a diuretic, and ACE inhibitors in the control of blood pressure during stress].

In order to compare the efficacy of beta-blocking, diuretics and ACE-inhibiting monotherapy in controlling the blood pressure increase to stress, a study was conducted on 30 subjects (10 treated with atenolol, 10 with hydrochlorothiazide/amiloride combination, 10 with enalapril) with mild or moderate essential hypertension whose resting blood pressures were normalised by therapy. In the 3 groups of subjects blood pressure values at rest, during mental stress, static and dynamic exercise did not significantly differ before antihypertensive therapy. Atenolol and enalapril significantly reduced systolic and diastolic pressure below pretreatment values throughout and immediately after each test, differing from diuretic therapy which did not show any significant reduction in diastolic rises at the peak of hand-grip or in both systolic and diastolic pressures at the highest work-loads during dynamic exercise. In the recovery period of the exercise cycle test diuretics also produced a later normalisation of diastolic pressure. In conclusion, beta-blockers and ACE-inhibitors seem to be more effective than diuretics in the control of the blood pressure response to stress in hypertensive patients, suggesting that these drugs are the first choice treatment of mild to moderate hypertension.

Adult↗

[Coexistence of renovascular hypertension and pheochromocytoma. Description of 2 clinical cases].

The two unusual clinical cases described here illustrate the importance of correct application of clinical methodology. Two patients, a 55-year-old man and a 50-year-old woman, presented with severe hypertension due to the coexistence of renal artery stenosis and pheochromocytoma. Their symptoms were indicative of renovascular hypertension which was verified by the finding of extremely elevated plasma renin activity and angiographic detection of critical renal artery stenosis. Further consideration of specific clinical findings led to the suspicion of coexisting pathologies: the detection of elevated plasma catecholamine levels and abdominal computed tomography and iodobenzylguanidine imaging confirmed the presence of pheochromocytoma. The first patient repeatedly refused surgical treatment and died after 9 months; the second patient recovered after undergoing combined nephrectomy and tumor removal. These cases underscore the importance of a carefully planned sequence of studies in patients presenting with uncommon or equivocal clinical manifestations, particularly when conclusive diagnosis is essential to successful treatment.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

[Prospective evaluation of the captopril test in diagnosing renal artery stenosis in hypertensive patients].

In order to verify the utility of the captopril test (CT) in diagnosing renal artery stenosis we performed a prospective study in 94 consecutive patients (40 females, 54 males, mean age 52.4 +/- 12.3 years) suspected of having renovascular hypertension and with a serum level of creatinine < 2 mg/dl. Antihypertensive drugs were withdrawn one week before the CT or, if this was considered unsafe, patients were treated with nifedipine or diltiazem (53 subjects; 56.4%). We used renal angiography and the Muller criteria to interpret the CT. Our results were as follows: sensitivity, 92%; specificity, 96%; positive predictive value, 88%; and negative predictive value, 97%. In our study a simplified criterion for positive CT-postcaptopril plasma renin activity > 10 ng/mL/h-provided a similar diagnostic value. We conclude that the captopril test is a useful screening test for the detection of renal artery stenosis in selected hypertensive patients and that it can also be reliably performed in patients who are taking calcium antagonists.

Adult↗