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Biomedical subjects

R Gorlin

Publications and source records attributed to R Gorlin.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Refractory biventricular heart failure in secondary hemochromatosis.

Cardiac hemochromatosis usually presents with clinical congestive heart failure and an enlarged heart. A woman with secondary hemochromatosis and features of both restrictive and congestive cardiomyopathy with a normal sized heart is described. Despite all interventions she had progressive cardiac impairment and expired eight days following presentation. The clinical and laboratory findings of 49 cases of cardiac hemochromatosis during the last 50 years are reviewed. While the disease usually progresses slowly, a significant minority die within fourteen days of recognition. Not infrequently pericardial tamponade is entertained as a cause for this rapid deterioration; however, both a restrictive and congestive cardiomyopathy appear to be responsible for this catastrophic presentation.

Adult↗

Bayesian comparison of cost-effectiveness of different clinical approaches to diagnose coronary artery disease.

The objective of this study was to compare the cost-effectiveness of four clinical policies (policies I to IV) in the diagnosis of the presence or absence of coronary artery disease. A model based on Bayes' theorem and published clinical data was constructed to make these comparisons. Effectiveness was defined as either the number of patients with coronary disease diagnosed or as the number of quality-adjusted life years extended by therapy after the diagnosis of coronary disease. The following conclusions arise strictly from analysis of the model and may not necessarily be applicable to all situations. As prevalence of coronary disease in the population increased, it caused a linear increase in cost per patient tested, but a hyperbolic decrease in cost per effect, that is, increased cost-effectiveness. Thus, cost-effectiveness of all policies (I to IV) was poor in populations with a prevalence of disease below 10%, for example, asymptomatic people with no risk factors. Analysis of the model also indicates that at prevalences less than 80%, exercise thallium scintigraphy alone as a first test (policy II) is a more cost-effective initial test than is exercise electrocardiography alone as a first test (policy I) or exercise electrocardiography first combined with thallium imaging as a second test (policy IV). Exercise electrocardiography before thallium imaging (policy IV) is more cost-effective than exercise electrocardiography alone (policy I) at prevalences less than 80%. 4) Noninvasive exercise testing before angiography (policies I, II and IV) is more cost-effective than using coronary angiography as the first and only test (policy III) at prevalences less than 80%. 5) Above a threshold value of prevalence of 80% (for example patients with typical angina), proceeding to angiography as the first test (policy III) was more cost-effective than initial noninvasive exercise tests (policies I, II and IV). One advantage of this quantitative model is that it estimates a threshold value of prevalence (80%) at which the rank order of policies changes. The model also allows substitution of different values for any variable as a way of accounting for the uncertainty inherent in the data. In conclusion, it is essential to consider the prevalence of disease when selecting the most cost-effective clinical approach to making a diagnosis.

Angiography↗

Acute coronary hemodynamic response to cigarette smoking in patients with coronary artery disease.

The acute changes in coronary blood flow and coronary resistance that occur in response to cigarette smoking have not been accurately determined. To define the factors that affect this response, coronary sinus blood flow was measured in 16 patients (group I) with coronary artery disease and in 6 patients (group II) without angiographically detectable coronary disease. Seven patients (group IA) had severe (greater than or equal to 75%) proximal left coronary lesions and nine patients (group IB) had significant distal lesions with 50% or less proximal stenoses. Group I had a smaller overall increase (increases 1.6 +/- 5.3%) in coronary sinus blood flow than did group II (increases 7.7 +/- 6.1%) (p less than 0.05). Coronary resistance increased overall (increases 2.7 +/- 5.3%) in group I but decreased (decreases 2.4 +/- 3.4%) in group II (p less than 0.05). Patients in group IA had a highly significant increase in coronary resistance as compared with group IB (increases 7.0 +/- 4.2% versus decreases 0.9 +/- 2.6%) (p less than 0.001). Coronary sinus flow tended to decrease (decreases 1.2 +/- 4.6%) in group IA but to increase (increases 3.8 +/- 5.1%) in group IB (p = 0.06). It is concluded that smoking increases coronary resistance in patients with coronary artery disease. A greater impact is observed in patients with a severe proximal stenosis than in those with a distal stenosis. It is proposed that smoking increases coronary artery tone at the site of the stenosis, limiting the coronary flow response proportionally to the size of the affected vascular bed.

Adult↗

Relation between exercise-induced changes in ejection fraction and systolic loading conditions at rest in aortic regurgitation.

To examine the role of systolic wall stress at rest in determining left ventricular performance during exercise in aortic regurgitation (AR), systolic wall stress (measured by M-mode echocardiography) was related to changes in left ventricular function during maximal exercise (evaluated by radionuclide ventriculography) in 30 patients with chronic aortic regurgitation. Of these 30 patients, 7 had a normal exercise response, defined as an absolute increase in ejection fraction of 5% or greater (Group I) and 23 had abnormal exercise response, defined as no change (less than 5% change) or a decline (less than or equal to 5%) in ejection fraction (Group II). Patients in Group I had a significantly lower radius/wall thickness ratio (2.5 +/- 0.2 versus 3.1 +/- 0.1, p less than 0.01) and lower peak systolic wall stress (123 +/- 11 versus 211 +/- 12 X 10(3) dynes/cm2, p less than 0.01) than patients in Group II. An increase in ejection fraction during exercise was seen in 6 of the 9 patients with normal systolic wall stress at rest (less than 150 X 10(3) dynes/cm2), but in only 1 of 21 patients with elevated systolic wall stress (p less than 0.001). Peak systolic wall stress at rest varied linearly, and inversely with changes in left ventricular ejection fraction during exercise (r = 0.60, p less than 0.001). Groups I and II did not differ in ejection fraction at rest, clinical symptoms or maximal work load achieved.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Coronary vascular reserve in left ventricular hypertrophy secondary to chronic aortic regurgitation.

Coronary vascular reserve was studied in 11 patients with severe chronic aortic regurgitation (AR). Nineteen patients with the chest pain syndrome and normal findings on cardiac catheterization served as control subjects. Resting coronary sinus flow and contrast-agent-induced hyperemia were measured by continuous thermodilution. Left ventricular (LV) dimensions and mass were obtained echocardiographically. All patients had normal coronary arteries. Resting coronary flow was increased and coronary reserve was decreased in patients with AR compared with the control subjects: 310 +/- 38 versus 121 +/- 13 ml/min and 56 +/- 9 versus 86 +/- 7.5%, respectively. The decrease in coronary vascular reserve correlated with the increase in LV mass (r = -0.86, p = 0.001) and LV wall thickness (r = -0.83, p = 0.002) and with the decrease in LV volume/mass ratio (r = 0.761, p = 0.007). There was no significant correlation between the decrease in coronary vascular reserve and LV volume (r = 0.255), LV peak wall stress (r = 0.292), LV systolic pressure (r = -0.495), aortic or LV diastolic pressure (r = 0.322 and -0.318, respectively), or aortic-LV diastolic gradient, nor with the voltage on the electrocardiogram (limb leads r = -0.60, precordial leads r = -0.118). Thus, coronary vascular reserve is decreased in proportion to the degree of left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with chronic AR. Patients with angina pectoris tended to have a lower coronary vascular reserve than those without angina (median 26 versus 76%, difference not significant). LV wall thickness and not LV volume is the critical component of left ventricular mass related to coronary reserve. No significant correlation between the decrease in coronary vascular reserve and the presence of angina pectoris was demonstrated.

Adult↗

Determinants of ventricular tachycardia in patients with coronary artery disease and ventricular aneurysm. Clinical, hemodynamic, and angiographic factors.

Many patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) in whom ventricular tachycardia (VT) develops have transmural scars or frank aneurysms. However, only a minority of patients with ventricular aneurysms go on to develop VT. To determine which factors are associated with the development of VT in patients with aneurysms, we retrospectively reviewed the records of 154 patients with CAD and segments of akinesia or dyskinesia, or both, on left ventriculography. Of the 154 patients, 85 had 24-hour Holter monitoring or 48 consecutive hours of continuous electrocardiographic monitoring in an intensive care unit within 6 months of catheterization. VT occurring at least 10 days after myocardial infarction (MI) or in the chronic phase was recorded in 19 patients (Group I); the remaining 66 patients did not have VT (Group II). The clinical, hemodynamic, and angiographic characteristics of these 2 groups showed no significant difference with respect to age, time from first transmural MI to catheterization, congestive heart failure (CHF), ejection fraction, or presence of dyskinesia. Patients with VT had significantly larger aneurysms and a higher prevalence of septal akinesia or dyskinesia. However, stepwise discriminant analysis revealed septal akinesia or dyskinesia to be the only independently significant variable distinguishing the 2 groups. Thus, septal involvement appears to be a major determinant of VT in patients with CAD and ventricular aneurysm.

Adult↗

The oto-palato-digital syndrome, proposed type II.

We present a follow-up of the infant with oral, cranial, facial, and limb abnormalities described by us in 1976. Since then, several other very similar cases have been reported. We propose that this syndrome be called the oto-palato-digital syndrome, type II.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Can noninvasive exercise test criteria identify patients with left main or 3-vessel coronary disease after a first myocardial infarction?

This study attempts to determine whether exercise treadmill testing with clinical, electrocardiographic, and thallium-201 myocardial perfusion imaging data can identify which patients have left main or 3-vessel (anatomically high-risk) coronary artery disease (CAD) after their first transmural myocardial infarct (MI). Twelve exercise test criteria for high-risk disease were compared in 40 patients referred for cardiac catheterization; 34 had a history of chest pain and 17 had angiographically defined high-risk CAD. A thallium image defect outside the vascular distribution of the MI was the most reliable criterion to distinguish patients with high-risk CAD (p = 0.00052 for Fisher's exact test of discrimination). Thallium imaging was somewhat more sensitive (92 versus 65%, p = 0.108) when patients with negative thallium imaging criteria who failed to achieve 85% of the age-predicted maximal heart rate were excluded. Failure to achieve 85% of predicted heart rate was by itself a useful criterion for detecting high-risk CAD (p = 0.017), especially in patients not taking propranolol (p = 0.004). Development of positive S-T segment depression at less than 70% predicted heart rate also discriminated left main or 3-vessel disease from less extensive CAD (p = 0.016). Other criteria failed to discriminate significantly between high-risk and less extensive CAD in patients after their first MI (p greater than 0.05). S-T segment depression (p = 0.199) or chest pain (p = 0.577) during exercise testing were particularly unreliable. Further, none of the criteria for high-risk CAD were influenced by irreversible left ventricular dysfunction. It is concluded that patients with thallium imaging defects outside the region of the infarct, decreasing blood pressure during exercise, failure to achieve 85% of predicted heart rate, or S-T depression at less than 70% of predicted heart rate have a high probability of having left main or 3-vessel disease. Patients without these criteria have a very low probability of having high-risk CAD and probably do not need coronary angiography for the purpose of excluding these high-risk coronary lesions after a first MI.

Adult↗

Effects of chronic tobacco smoking on the coronary circulation.

The effects of chronic smoking on the coronary circulation were studied by evaluating the coronary vascular reserve in 12 chronic smokers (group 1) and 10 nonsmokers (group 2). All patients were referred to cardiac catheterization for evaluation of chest pain and were found to have normal coronary and left ventricular angiograms. Coronary vascular reserve was measured by analyzing the hyperemic response to selective coronary injection of contrast agent. There was no statistically significant difference between groups 1 and 2 with regard to age, baseline electrocardiogram or response to treadmill or thallium-201 exercise tests. The mean coronary reserve (+/- standard deviation) was 74.1 +/- 20.1% in the smokers versus 117.1 +/- 45.1% in the nonsmokers (p less than 0.02). In patients who smoked 1 pack a day or less and in those who smoked more than 1 pack a day, the mean coronary reserve was 89.5 and 64.9%, respectively (p less than 0.05). Additionally, of 20 patients followed up for an average of 20 months, 7 of 10 smokers and 1 of 10 nonsmokers continued to have chest pain (p less than 0.03). The cause for the chest pain has not been established in these patients. These results suggest that coronary vascular reserve is significantly less in chronic smokers than in nonsmokers, and that this decrease is more pronounced in heavy smokers.

Adult↗

Dynamic vascular factors in the genesis of myocardial ischemia.

While fixed atherosclerotic and thrombotic lesions have long been known to cause myocardial ischemia and cardiac pain, the various transient or dynamic events that may also cause ischemia and pain have become better understood in the past 15 years. These can be classified into two broad categories: those that cause a dynamic reduction in the caliber of the coronary arteries and those that reduce the coronary vasodilatory reserve capacity. In the first group are myocardial compression or "bridging" of an artery; coronary vasoconstriction due to frank spasm or generalized arterial hypertonus, particularly at the site of atherosclerotic lesions; reduced arterial distending pressure and platelet aggregation which may transiently occlude a diseased arterial segment. The causes of inadequate coronary vascular reserve flow capacity can be either anatomic or functional. Among the former, the increased muscle mass to blood vessel ratio occurring in myocardial hypertrophy is most important. The functional causes of limited coronary vascular reserve include diastolic transmural compression and coronary "steal," both of hemodynamic origin. In addition, arteriolar "unresponsiveness" or dysregulation caused by smoking, drugs or other unknown conditions may adversely affect coronary vascular reserve. Hence, myocardial ischemia may result from conditions that limit potential for increase in flow or from conditions that reduce flow from a preexisting level. These conditions, which are transient and dynamic in nature, may modify the threshold for ischemia, particularly in patients with fixed coronary obstructive disease.

Angina Pectoris↗

Hemodynamic characterization of tolerance to long-term hydralazine therapy in severe chronic heart failure.

We performed hemodynamic studies in 11 patients with severe chronic heart failure whose symptoms had returned to their pretreatment status after 37 +/- 15 weeks (mean +/- S.E.M.) of therapy with the vasodilator hydralazine. The cardiac index increased from 1.85 to 3.47 liters per minute per square meter of body-surface area, and systemic vascular resistance decreased from 1748 to 754 dyn . sec. cm-5 (both p less than 0.01) during initial hydralazine administration but returned to pretreatment values on repeat evaluation; withdrawal of the drug produced no hemodynamic deterioration. Responsiveness to hydralazine could not be restored by doubling the oral dose or by intravenous administration; tolerance was associated with fluid retention in five patients but was not reversed by intensive diuresis. In contrast, the responses to nitroprusside evaluated before and after the development of hydralazine tolerance were unaltered; other oral vasodilators were still effective. We conclude that drug-specific tolerance may account for the lack of clinical improvement in some patients with severe heart failure who receive long-term treatment with hydralazine.

Adult↗