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Biomedical subjects

M Lins

Publications and source records attributed to M Lins.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[The thrombophilic status of patients with inflammatory diseases].

BASIC PROBLEM AND OBJECTIVE OF STUDY: Inflammatory reactions are taken to be nonspecific defensive measures of the organism and are associated with complex changes at cellular and humoral level. Activation of blood coagulation plays an important part in this, especially as it is accompanied by an increased risk of thromboembolism. It was the aim of this investigation to assess this risk by measuring sensitive markers of coagulation activation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Biochemical markers of coagulation activation (prothrombin-fragment F1 + 2 and thrombin-antithrombin III complex [TAT]) and fibrin formation (D-dimer) were measured in 130 patients (61 men, 69 women; mean age 56.9 [20-89] years). 44 had pneumonia, 44 bronchitis and 42 urinary tract infections. A healthy control group for comparison consisted of 11 men and 15 women (mean age 48.7 [23-79] years). RESULTS: F1 + 2, TAT and D-dimer were significantly increased, compared with the controls, in all three patient groups (P < 0.01). The greatest rises occurred in the patients with pneumonia: F1 + 2: median 1.2 vs 0.6 nmol/I, TAT: 6.2 vs 2.1 micrograms/l and D-dimer 2476 vs 223 ng/ml. CONCLUSION: These findings underline the importance of consistent thrombosis prophylaxis in patients with inflammatory disease, especially those at an increased risk.

Adult↗

Chylous cardiac tamponade in acute pancreatitis.

A 47-year-old woman with acute necrotizing pancreatitis developed sudden cardiorespiratory arrest and needed resuscitation. A pericardial effusion was found, and 350 ml of a white nontransparent milky fluid was aspirated that contained 1020 mg triglycerides/100 ml. The diagnosis of chylous cardiac tamponade was made. Absence of amylase in the chylous effusion militates against the popular hypothesis that lymphatic transport of exocrine digestive enzymes from the inflamed pancreas produces the frequent intrathoracic serosal effusions in acute pancreatitis. The data of our patient rather suggest that these effusions result from the leakage of pancreatic inflammatory exudates through the diaphragm which, apparently, may even result in the loss of pericardial and adjacent thoracic lymph vessel integrity. Although pericardial tamponade is a rare complication, it should be considered if otherwise unexplained circulatory deterioration occurs in a patient with acute pancreatitis.

Acute Disease↗

Early postoperative flow rates after internal thoracic artery grafting for the left coronary artery system.

OBJECTIVE: The low perioperative flow rates of internal thoracic artery (ITA) conduits have been regarded as a limitation of their use in critical coronary situations with a high myocardial blood demand. To clarify whether these restrictions are justified, early postoperative flow rates were determined. METHODS: Following bilateral ITA grafting, 48 of 106 patients (April 1993-September 1994) underwent recatheterization. Subsequent to control angiography between days 8 and 12, 20 of these patients were studied by intravascular Doppler techniques applied for ITA grafts supplying the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and branches of the circumflex system (CX) (n = 20). Doppler spectral analysis allowed for determination of the average peak velocity and diastolic-systolic velocity ratio. Vascular diameters were assessed by simultaneously performed quantitative angiography and mean flow rates were calculated. All parameters were recorded at rest and following selective stimulation with nitroglycerin (0.2 mg) and papaverine (12.5 mg) to evaluate the graft flow capacity. RESULTS: Baseline values of average peak velocity at rest were 24.6 +/- 11.5 cm/s for ITA-LAD conduits and 21.9 +/- 6.8 cm/s for ITA-CX pedicles. Following dilative stimulation with papaverine, a significant increase in average peak velocities were obtained for both locations (ITA-LAD: 47.3 +/- 17.1 cm/s, ITA-CX: 42.3 +/- 11.8 cm/s). The application of nitroglycerin had a similar effect (ITA-LAD: 42.6 +/- 15.3 cm/s, ITA-CX: 40.3 +/- 10.7 cm/s). The vascular diameters of ITA conduits remained unchanged on nitroglycerin stimulation, whereas papaverine effected significant dilatation in both locations. Flow rates at rest were not significantly different (ITA-LAD: 51.0 +/- 34.2 ml/min, ITA-CX: 44.7 +/- 16.4 ml/min) and maximal flow increase was observed following papaverine stimulation of the LAD conduits (116.1 +/- 90.6 ml/min). Dilative stimulation effected an increase in diastolic-systolic velocity ratios from average values at rest in a range between 34% and 41.7% for both groups and substances. CONCLUSIONS: The basic blood flow in functioning ITA grafts appears to be similar in conduits supplying the LAD and marginal branches. Flow rates between 50 and 60 ml/min at rest should meet myocardial demands, even in the LAD position. Increased flow rates were predominantly based on higher flow velocities with an increased diastolic flow proportion. Enlargement of the graft diameter may exert additional effects, at least following papaverine stimulation at a particular concentration.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

[Pseudo-stenosis caused by vessel wall invagination during interventional treatment of 2 coronary vessels in a patient].

We report on a 59-year-old man who underwent a combined procedure of directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) and PTCA of significant lesions of the right coronary artery (RCA) and the left circumflex artery (LCX). Already after positioning of a standard guide wire in the right coronary artery a new excentric "pseudo-stenosis" was observed in the proximal part of the right coronary artery. Since the patient remained symptom free, a 7F DCA catheter was introduced to the stenotic area in the mid RCA, which led to an extension of the narrowing, involving the total segment proximal to the DCA catheter. Directional coronary atherectomy was performed without complications. Removal of the catheter, after successful DCA, and administration of intracoronary nitroglycerin did not relieve the proximal narrowing, which disappeared spontaneously after the guide wire was pulled out. During PTCA of the left circumflex using a standard guide wire and a 3.0 mm Monorail balloon catheter, a similar tight narrowing of the origin of the LCX was observed, which could also not be influenced by vasodilator drugs, but relieved after wire removal. Until now, this phenomenon has only been described for the right coronary artery. The reason underlying intimal folding is a shifting of the intimal layer against the medial layer of the vessel wall. Our observation firstly describes this phenomenon of "pseudo narrowing" in two different vessels in one patient. We, like other authors before, recommend that interventional therapy of these pseudo-lesions should be avoided.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

[Hemodynamic effects of non-ionic iomeprol 350 and ionic diatrizoate 370 during levocardiography and coronary angiography--double-blind randomized comparison of 2 contrast media].

A double-blind randomized study was performed in 49 patients to compare the hemodynamic changes induced by two contrast agents: non-ionic low osmolar lomeprol 350 (IO, n = 25) and ionic high osmolar Diatrizoat 370 (DIA, n = 24). We observed significant changes in hemodynamic parameters after laevocardiography with DIA: a decrease in LVSP from 125 +/- 14 to 113 +/- 14 mmHg, a decrease in mean aortic pressure from 96 +/- 9 to 84 +/- 10 mmHg and in max dp/dt from 2086 +/- 628 to 1861 +/- 654 mm Hg/sec. LVEDP increased from 13 +/- 5 to 17 +/- 6 mmHg and cardiac output from 5.9 +/- 1.2 to 7.7 +/- 1.2 l/min. Heart-rate also rose slightly, but insignificant. IO did not alter these parameters. After selective coronary angiography both groups did not differ significantly in systolic aortic pressure, but DIA caused a drop in diastolic aortic pressure after 10 to 15 sec and a bradycardia in the first five sec, in contrast to IO. These effects can be explained by a cardiodepressive action of contrast agents on left ventricular function, an increase in circulating volume and a reduced peripheral vessel resistance. Differences between both agents are probably due to their different osmolality. IO is a safe contrast agent, compatible in contrast to DIA. In patients with borderline left-ventricular function, IO is preferable, it exerts only very slight effects on cardiovascular function.

Adult↗

[Directional coronary atherectomy: effect of vessel size on primary results and long-term results].

Of 325 consecutive patients undergoing DCA, 263 patients with 277 stenoses were successfully treated with DCA alone and had angiographic follow-up 3-6 months later. Depending upon the initial reference diameter (RD) patients were divided into two subgroups: group I (n = 159) with a RD > 3 mm and group II (n = 104) showing a RD < or = 3 mm. In contrast to other series DCA was predominantly performed with 7F atherectomy devices using balloon inflation pressures of approximately 5 atm. Angiographic data including the minimal luminal diameter (MLD), percentage of stenosis (%D) and reference diameter (RD) were assessed by quantitative computer-assisted analysis before (pre), after (post) DCA and at a 3-6 months angiographic follow-up (FU). The percentage of diameter stenosis pre/post/FU in group I was 59.9 +/- 12.6%/18.4 +/- 12.8%/29.8 +/- 17.6%, and in group II 55.6 +/- 10.8%/17.8 +/- 12.3%/33.7 +/- 16.1% with a net gain at FU of 1.0 +/- 0.89 mm for group I and 0.86 +/- 0.66 mm for group II. Based on an angiographic restenosis criterion of at least 50% diameter obstruction at FU and or recurrence of symptoms warranting interventional re-treatment of the target lesion, the incidence of restenosis in group I was 20.6% and in group II 28.0% (p: n.s.). There was no significant difference between the two groups concerning complications. Our data show that DCA leads to a satisfying long-term result.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Time course of left ventricular function and coronary patency after saruplase vs streptokinase in acute myocardial infarction. The PRIMI Trial Study Group.

As part of a prospective randomized double-blind trial (PRIMI) to study the early patency rate of the infarct-related artery after saruplase (INN for recombinant unglycosylated full-length human single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator) vs streptokinase in a subgroup of patients, left ventricular function was compared between both treatment groups at 90 min and 24 h after thrombolysis and at discharge, and ventricular function was related to the coronary perfusion grade. Despite a higher patency rate in the saruplase group 60 min after initiating thrombolysis, neither global ejection fraction nor hypokinesia at the infarct site were significantly different between the treatment groups at any of the three time points when function was measured. Hypokinesia at the infarct site remained almost equally severe throughout the study in patients with perfusion grade O, I, and II, and was consistently significantly milder in patients with perfusion grade III. In contrast, in patients with perfusion grade II there was a significant drop in hyperkinesia at the opposite wall at 24 h after thrombolysis and before discharge despite unchanged wall motion at the infarct site. Although patients treated with saruplase had a higher patency rate in the infarct related vessel shortly after the start of thrombolysis, no difference was found in left ventricular function compared to patients treated with streptokinase. Complete reperfusion (TIMI grade III) seems to be a prerequisite for left ventricular function recovery after thrombolysis, whereas only an occluded vessel (TIMI grade O and I) seems to be related to a longer lasting hyperkinesia at the opposite wall.

Double-Blind Method↗

Foreign body masquerading as a ruptured globe.

Low density orbital foreign bodies may not be detected on plain x-ray. In this case, a large anterior orbital foreign body was seen by examiners, but was misinterpreted as a ruptured globe. This misdiagnosis was supported by conventional x-rays which failed to show the object. It was later easily visualized on CT scan.

Adult↗