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Elderly coronary artery bypass graft patients with left ventricular dysfunction are hemodynamically stable after two different doses of rocuronium.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the detailed hemodynamic responses to bolus administration of 2x 95% effective dose (ED95) and 3x ED95 of rocuronium in elderly patients with left ventricular dysfunction undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, clinical study. SETTING: University hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty patients aged older than 65 who had coronary artery disease with left ventricular ejection fractions equal to or less than 40%. INTERVENTIONS: Using invasive cardiac monitoring, the detailed hemodynamic profile was obtained before and at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 minutes after the injection of rocuronium. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Minor changes in all the measured or derived hemodynamic variables within the two groups did not attain statistical significance. Except for a higher baseline and the subsequent mean arterial pressures in one group, there were neither statistically nor clinically significant differences between two different doses of rocuronium in any of the variables at any time. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that bolus administration of rocuronium (2x to 3x ED95) in combination with high-dose fentanyl provides sufficient cardiovascular stability among elderly CABG patients with left ventricular dysfunction. The cardiovascular profile of the two different bolus doses was similar. Rocuronium, in both doses, appears to be a suitable agent for muscle relaxation, especially for patients who require a high degree of cardiovascular stability.

Aged↗

A common variant of the AMPD1 gene predicts improved survival in patients with ischemic left ventricular dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: A recent retrospective study suggested that the adenosine monophosphate deaminase (AMPD)-1 gene variant C34T predicts outcome in heart failure patients. This variant might lead to ischemic preconditioning by increasing tissue adenosine. We tested whether the survival benefit of C34T occurs preferentially in the setting of ischemic left ventricular dysfunction. METHODS AND RESULTS: A consecutive cohort of patients (n=390) with left ventricular ejection fraction <40% was evaluated. In the ischemic patient subgroup (n=210) multivariate analysis identified AMPD1 T allele carriage (hazard ratio=0.43, confidence interval=0.20-0.94, P=.035) as an independent predictor of transplant-free cardiovascular survival. No benefit was found in the nonischemic group although the number of events was too small to reliably exclude a benefit by genotype. CONCLUSION: The AMPD1 C34T polymorphism influences transplant-free cardiovascular survival in the setting of ischemic left ventricular dysfunction.

AMP Deaminase↗

[Aortic stenosis with left ventricular dysfunction: evaluation and management].

Aortic stenosis is the most frequent valvulopathy in France today. Valve replacement has transformed the prognosis, when indications are present before the appearance of irreversible left ventricular dysfunction. However, some patients are still not seen before this time or their surgery was deferred. Thus, the postoperative prognosis depends on the reversibility of this dysfunction which can occur even when the stenosis is severe and essentially reflects the elevated afterload. The prognosis is less favorable once myocardial fibrosis has developed in response to left ventricular hypertrophy or when ischemic cardiopathy contributes to this dysfunction. The diagnosis and prognosis are based on the confirmation of the presence of a severe stenosis and that the removal of this obstacle will lead to regression of the dysfunction. For this, Doppler echocardiography is determinant, as combined with a dobutamine test, it is able to evaluate the tightness of the stenosis, the severity of the left ventricular dysfunction and its reversibility. When the stenosis is severe with contractile reserve, indicating a better postoperative prognosis, dobutamine does not induce an appreciable change of the aortic area, but the mean pressure gradient, often low prior to dobutamine administration, rises. Although the surgical risk remains higher in the presence of left ventricular dysfunction, the ultimate prognosis is more favorable when the test suggests regression is possible.

Aortic Valve Stenosis↗

Dobutamine stress echocardiography and the effects of trimetazidine on left ventricular dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease.

Trimetazidine, a metabolic agent that is opening the way to a new class of 3-ketoacyl coenzymeA thiolase inhibitors, has been shown to improve exercise tolerance and increase the ischaemic threshold in patients with effort angina, both in monotherapy or in combination with other anti-anginal drugs. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of oral trimetazidine on the ischaemic threshold and left ventricular dysfunction of patients with coronary artery disease. Dobutamine stress echocardiography was used, a technique that allows direct visualisation of localised left ventricular dysfunction that occurs as a result of ischaemia. Dobutamine increases heart rate and contractility thus augmenting oxygen demand. In coronary artery disease, this increased demand leads to metabolic changes responsible for decreased wall thickness and abnormal wall motion.

Aged↗

[Serum copper levels in patients with chronic heart failure associated with systolic left ventricular dysfunction and its relation to the severity of cardiac failure].

UNLABELLED: The authors examined the serum copper concentrations in a group of 40 patients with chronic heart failure and significant systolic left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of less than 35%. In 21 patients the examination was made on admission to hospital on account of deterioration of cardiac insufficiency (group A), in 19 patients with stable chronic cardiac failure the examination was made at the out-patient department (group B). Assessment of serum copper concentrations was made by the method of absorption spectrophotometry under standard conditions. Assessment of the ejection fraction of the left ventricle and dimensions of the cardiac compartments was made by two-dimensional echocardiography. The heart rate was assessed from the electrocardiogram at rest. RESULTS: The authors found statistically significantly higher copper concentrations in patients of group A (19.78 +/- 1.67 mumol/l) as compared with group B (14.80 +/- 1.54 mumol/l, p < 0.001). The correlation between copper concentrations, the left ventricular ejection fraction, dimensions of the cardiac compartments and heart rate are not significant. CONCLUSION: Serum copper concentrations in patients with chronic heart failure and significant systolic left ventricular dysfunction are related to the severity of the disease and are higher in patients admitted on account of cardiac insufficiency than in patients with stable cardiac failure.

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[Results of aortic stenosis surgery in patients with severe ventricular dysfunction].

PURPOSE: To study the short and long term clinical course of patients with severe aortic stenosis after surgical treatment of the valvular lesion. METHODS: Thirty survivors among 31 consecutive patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) due to aortic stenosis (AS) were submitted to clinical and echocardiographic follow-up during a mean of 30 months after surgical treatment of the valvular lesion. Twenty five (83.3%) patients were male with a mean age of 50 years (25 to 74). Before operation the following parameters were obtained: diastolic left ventricular diameter (DLVD), shortening fraction (SF), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), aortic valve area (AVA), left ventricular-aortic pressure gradient (PG) and NYHA functional class (FC). During the follow up, after the surgical procedure, FC, DLVD, LVEF and SF could be analysed and compared with previous data. RESULTS: A significant rise in SF (p = 0.001) and LVEF (p = 0.0001), as well as a decrease in DLVD (p = 0.001) were observed in the follow up. Symptoms lessened in severity in the majority of patients. Three of our patients died with progressive LVD and heart failure, after at least 36 months of follow-up. These results indicate that when operation is carried out in patients with AS and left ventricular failure, a significant improvement in left ventricular function and in symptoms takes place. Although the risk of surgical treatment is increased in this group of patients, LVD should not be considered a contraindication to the procedure. CONCLUSION: The left ventricular dysfunction is not a contraindiction for the surgical treatment of the aortic stenosis.

Adult↗

Percutaneous (nonsurgical) supported angioplasty in unprotected left main disease and severe left ventricular dysfunction.

A 69-year-old patient with the equivalent of severe, unprotected left main coronary artery disease associated with marked left ventricular dysfunction with ventricular aneurysm who had Class IV angina, underwent supported angioplasty utilizing a total percutaneous approach. The patient tolerated occlusion of his main left coronary artery for a total of 7 minutes without difficulty, during dilatation of left anterior descending and two circumflex lesions. He was discharged the following day, symptom free.

Aged↗

Right ventricular dysfunction following cold potassium cardioplegia.

Right coronary artery stenoses limit cardioplegic delivery to the right ventricle and may contribute to postoperative right ventricular dysfunction. Right ventricular function was evaluated in 39 patients with right coronary artery stenoses following elective coronary bypass operations. Hemodynamic and nuclear ventriculographic measurements, made between 3 and 6 hours postoperatively, revealed a progressive increase in pulmonary arterial pressure, pulse rate, and right ventricular ejection fraction (p less than 0.05). Right ventricular end-diastolic volume index (calculated from the thermodilution stroke index divided by the nuclear ejection fraction) decreased, but right atrial pressure increased (suggesting a decrease in compliance). The response to the infusion of 2 units of plasma (volume loading) was evaluated 3 hours postoperatively (EARLY) and again 5 hours postoperatively (LATE) in 21 patients. Right ventricular performance (the relation between cardiac index or right ventricular stroke work index and right ventricular end-diastolic volume index) and right ventricular systolic function (the relation between systolic pulmonary arterial pressure and right ventricular end-systolic volume index) were depressed EARLY and improved LATE (p less than 0.01 in analysis of covariance). Left ventricular performance (the relation between cardiac index or left ventricular stroke work index and left ventricular end-diastolic volume index) and left ventricular systolic function (the relation between systolic blood pressure and left ventricular end-systolic volume index) were similar EARLY and LATE. Right ventricular diastolic function (the relation between right atrial pressure and right ventricular end-diastolic volume index) and left ventricular diastolic function (the relation between left atrial pressure and left ventricular end-diastolic volume index) were significantly greater LATE than EARLY. Right, but not left, ventricular performance and systolic function were transiently depressed, and right and left ventricular diastolic stiffness were transiently decreased in the EARLY postoperative period. In patients with right coronary artery stenoses, current methods of cardioplegia may inadequately protect the right ventricle, but further studies are required to establish the relation between intraoperative protection and postoperative function.

Blood Pressure↗

Adverse effects of epinephrine in patients with advanced left ventricular dysfunction: analysis of ventriculo-arterial coupling.

We examined the response of ventriculo-arterial coupling to epinephrine in 19 patients with normal left ventricular function and with left ventricular dysfunction of various degrees using a conductance catheter. They were divided into three groups: group I, seven patients without left ventricular wall motion abnormality; group II, six patients with ejection fraction of 45-60%; group III, six patients with ejection fraction of 28-40%. Changes in the slope of the end-systolic pressure-volume relationship (end-systolic elastance), the effective arterial elastance, the ratio of effective arterial elastance to end-systolic elastance and the ventricular work efficiency during administration of two different doses of epinephrine (0.05 and 0.1 micrograms/kg/min) were compared among the three groups. At baseline there were no significant differences among the three groups in the ratio of effective arterial elastance to end-systolic elastance, or ventricular work efficiency. At the lower dose of epinephrine, the mean ratio of effective arterial elastance to end-systolic elastance decreased and the mean ventricular work efficiency increased in any groups. At the higher dose of epinephrine the mean ratio of effective arterial elastance to end-systolic elastance further decreased and the mean ventricular work efficiency further increased in groups I and II. However, the mean ratio of effective arterial elastance to end-systolic elastance did not decrease but the mean ventricular work efficiency even decreased in group III. Thus, in patients with advanced left ventricular dysfunction, even a high dose of epinephrine does not modulate the ventriculo-arterial coupling to increase ventricular work efficiency.

Aged↗

Severe left ventricular dysfunction in critical aortic stenosis--reversal following aortic valve replacement.

A case of aortic valve stenosis is reported with progressive left ventricular dysfunction demonstrated by radionuclide angiography. A gradient of 120 mmHg was present across the aortic valve. At the time of surgery, the patient was in severe cardiac failure with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 22%. Two months postoperatively, the patient was asymptomatic, and repeat radionuclide angiography demonstrated an ejection fraction of 93%. The reversible nature of this patient's ventricular dysfunction suggests that the cardiac failure was related to 'afterload mismatch' caused by the stenotic valve, rather than due to depressed contractility. The encouraging result in this patient reinforces the view that surgical intervention is warranted in some patients with critical aortic stenosis and extreme impairment of left ventricular function, and that the close relation between ejection fraction and operative survival may not hold true in aortic stenosis.

Aged↗

Delay in revascularization is associated with increased mortality rate in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction and viable myocardium on fluorine 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography imaging.

BACKGROUND: The identification of high-risk patients who require early revascularization has become increasingly important with the present emphasis on reducing health care resources. This is particularly relevant to health care systems with prolonged waiting times for interventions. Myocardial viability imaging with the use of fluorine 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET may help to identify high-risk patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the consequences of prolonged waiting time on cardiac outcomes in patients with left ventricular dysfunction directed to revascularization based on FDG PET imaging. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty-six patients with coronary disease and an ejection fraction of < or = 35% were considered candidates for revascularization based on FDG PET viability imaging. Thirty-five of 46 patients were subsequently accepted for revascularization. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the median waiting time after PET: an early group (< 35 days; n = 18) and a late group (> or = 35 days; n = 17). Preoperative mortality rates were significantly increased in the late group (4 of 17 [24%] versus 0 of 18 in the early group; P < 0.05). In postoperative follow-up (17 +/- 7 months), cardiac events occurred in 2 of 18 (11%) and 1 of 13 (7.8%) patients in the early and late groups, respectively. Left ventricular ejection fraction increased after early revascularization (24 +/- 7% to 29 +/- 8%, P < 0.001, baseline versus 3 months) but not in the late group (27 +/- 5% to 28 +/- 6%, P = NS). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative FDG PET can be used to identify a high-risk group of patients who may benefit from early revascularization. A long waiting time for revascularization is associated with a high mortality rate and suggests that early revascularization is desirable after the identification of hibernating viable myocardium.

Aged↗

[The role of exercise testing in evaluation of functional capacity at patients with ischemic ventricular dysfunction].

UNLABELLED: The assessment of functional capacity represents an important parameter in the prognostic stratification of patients with heart failure. The objective of the paper is the testing of exercise capacity at patients with ischemic ventricular dysfunction. METHODS: There have been selected 80 patients with coronary heart disease (old myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, ischemic cardiomiopathy) admitted in the Department of Internal Medicine, Rehabilitation Hospital, Iasi, during 1.01.1998-31.12.1999. They were divided into two groups: group A (46 patients) with proper ventricular function and ejection fraction (EF) above 50% and group B (34 patients) with EF under 50%. They underwent exercise testing at the ergometric bicycle. RESULTS: Patients of group B had higher values of resting heart rate (74 +/- 9 vs 70 +/- 11, p = 0.04). There were registered similar levels at the maximal exercise at both groups (time-tension index, watt, MET). The evolution of the group with ventricular dysfunction is distinguished by a lower length of time of exercise (8.6 +/- 4.4 vs 9.8 +/- 5.2 min, p = 0.05) and by a significantly greater value of the ST depression (1.6 +/- 1.4 vs 0.9 +/- 1.1 mm, p = 0.01). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The higher resting heart rate at patients with heart failure suggests the activation of neuroumoral mechanisms, especially the adrenergic activation. These patients reach maximal levels similar to those with good systolic function but in a shorter length of time, due to a physical deconditioning or to the same neuroumoral mechanisms. Ischemia is higher at these patients.

Adult↗

Characteristic clinical findings of reversible left ventricular dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, clinical findings were evaluated in 16 patients with reversible left ventricular dysfunction (RLVD) who showed a clinical picture similar to that of acute myocardial infarction, in addition to akinesis or dyskinesis of the left ventricular apex without showing any abnormalities in the coronary artery. RESULTS: The frequency of RLVD was markedly higher in women than in men in these 16 patients (men:women = 1:7). In addition, these patients showed ECG changes similar to those observed in ischemic heart diseases, such as ST elevation or depression, negative T waves and QT prolongation. However, the serum cardiac markers were only slightly increased, and no specific changes were detected by histological examinations of the heart muscle. CONCLUSION: These patients also showed a clinical picture similar to the stunned myocardium caused by myocardial ischemia. However, the frequency of RLVD was higher in women than in men compared to the frequency of other coronary artery diseases, and there was no severe stenosis in the coronary artery. Moreover, most of these patients showed negative results for the coronary spasm provocation test. Therefore, RLVD may be an atypical ischemic heart disease if it is caused by coronary arteriosclerosis. Since RLVD developed during the course of other diseases or under severe mental stress, autonomic nerves may be involved in the etiology of RLVD. Furthermore, 2 patients who received the coronary spasm provocation test during the acute phase showed positive results. Therefore, other factors that transiently increase the sensitivity of the coronary artery may also be involved in the etiology of RLVD.

Aged↗

[Pharmacological stress echocardiography for diagnosing of viable myocardium in severe left ventricular dysfunction].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of low dose dobutamine (Dob), isosorbide dinitrate and their combination in stress echocardiography to predict regional movement recovery after coronary revascularization (CRV) in patients with old myocardial infarction (OMI) and severe left ventricular dysfunction. METHODS: Fourty patients (mean age 52 +/- 8 years, male 39, female 1) with OMI waiting for CRV with mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (39.4 +/- 5.1)%, underwent Dob (3, 5 and 10 microg.kg(-1).min(-1)), isosorbide dinitrate (270 +/- 56) microg/min and their combination (nitrate plus Dob 3, 5 microg.kg(-1).min(-1)) stress echocardiography. Twenty-six patients completed follow-up rest two dimension echocardiography (2DE) (6.8 +/- 2.9) months after CRV. RESULTS: During Dob 2DE, side effects rates increased by dosage, the drug even induced ischemia at a dosage of 10 microg.kg(-1).min(-1). When Dob was combined with nitrate, no ischemia happened. Among 272 abnormal segments in 26 patients after CRV, 156 segments showed contractile improvement. In Dob 2DE, both the sensitivity (46.8% to 88.6%) and accuracy (64.1% to 77.9%) increased by dosage gradient, while the specificities decreased from 87.1% to 64.2%. When combined with nitrate, the sensitivities and accuracy were higher than either drugs used alone (P < 0.05). The detecting effect in isosorbide dinitrate + Dob 5 microg 2DE was comparable to that of Dob 10 microg.kg(-1).min(-1) 2DE. CONCLUSIONS: In identifying myocardial viability in patients with OMI and severe left ventricular dysfunction, Dob 5-10 microg.kg(-1).min(-1) 2DE have good detecting effects, but could induce ischemia. When nitrate was combined with Dob, no ischemia happened, and the sensitivity and accuracy improved significantly. Isosorbide dinitrate + Dob 5 microg.kg(-1).min(-1) 2DE has identifying effect comparable to Dob 10 microg.kg(-1).min(-1) 2DE.

Cardiotonic Agents↗

Myocarditis and cardiotropic viral infection associated with severe left ventricular dysfunction in late-stage infection with human immunodeficiency virus.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to characterize the histologic and immunopathologic results of 37 endomyocardial biopsy samples from patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) who were evaluated for unexplained global left ventricular dysfunction. BACKGROUND: Recent studies have identified a growing number of patients infected with HIV-1 who develop unexplained left ventricular dysfunction and congestive heart failure. Myocarditis has been confirmed at autopsy in small numbers of such patients, although a pathogenic opportunistic infectious agent can rarely be identified. METHODS: All patients had moderate to severe global left ventricular hypokinesia on two-dimensional echocardiography. Endomyocardial biopsy samples were evaluated by standard histologic studies, immunoperoxidase staining and in situ hybridization for cytomegalovirus and HIV-1 gene sequences. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients presented with New York Heart Association functional class III or IV congestive heart failure. Four patients had myocarditis secondary to known etiologies (opportunistic infection n = 2; drug-induced hypersensitivity myocarditis n = 2). Of the remaining 33 samples, 17 (51%) showed histologic evidence of idiopathic active or borderline myocarditis. Immunohistologic findings revealed induced expression of major histocompatibility class I antigen on myocytes and increased numbers of infiltrating CD8+ T lymphocytes. Specific hybridization within myocytes was observed in 5 of 33 samples with the HIV-1 antisense riboprobe and in 16 of 33 samples with the cytomegalovirus immediate early (IE-2) antisense riboprobe. All but one patient with specific myocyte hybridization presented with congestive heart failure; all patients had myocarditis and CD4+ cell counts < 100/mm3. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that cardiotropic virus infection and myocarditis may be important in the pathogenesis of symptomatic HIV-associated cardiomyopathy.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Comparison of technetium 99m-tetrofosmin and thallium-201 single photon emission computed tomographic imaging for the assessment of viable myocardium in patients with left ventricular dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Tetrofosmin is a new technetium 99m-labeled myocardial perfusion agent that has demonstrated favorable imaging characteristics in recent clinical trials. However, it is not certain whether 99mTc-tetrofosmin compared with thallium 201 would underestimate myocardial viability in regions with left ventricular dysfunction. METHODS: To this end 15 patients (mean age 52+/-7 years) with coronary artery disease and left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction 35%+/-8%) documented on angiography underwent both quantitative rest-redistribution 201Tl and rest 99mTc-tetrofosmin single photon emission computed tomography imaging. RESULTS; Of 240 total segments on rest-redistribution 201Tl protocol 139 (58%) segments had irreversible 201Tl defects. Of these segments 79 (57%) had only mild to moderate reduction of 201Tl uptake (51% to 85% of normal uptake), whereas the remaining 60 (43%) had severely reduced tracer uptake (< or = 50% of normal uptake). On 99mTc-tetrofosmin protocol 180 (75%) segments had abnormal 99mTc-tetrofosmin uptake; of these segments 120 (67%) had mild to moderate reduction of 99mTc-tetrofosmin uptake, whereas 60 (33%) had severely reduced activity. Among hypokinetic regions concordance between 201Tl and 99mTc-tetrofosmin regarding myocardial viability with a cutoff point of 50% of peak activity was obtained in 28 (90%) of 31 segments (K' = 0.80), leaving only 3 of 31 regions discordant (p = NS). Similarly, among akinetic or dyskinetic regions concordance between the two tracers regarding myocardial viability was achieved in 54 (93%) regions (K' = 0.75), leaving only 4 of the 58 regions discordant (p = NS). CONCLUSIONS: These data show that when the severity of uptake was considered within abnormal segments, a similar amount of 201Tl viable regions were observed by 99mTc-tetrofosmin. Thus these two agents may provide comparable information about myocardial viability when quantitative analysis of defect severity is performed.

Adult↗

Effect of physical exercise training on health-related quality of life and exercise tolerance in patients with left ventricular dysfunction.

OBJECTIVES: The improvement of exercise tolerance and quality of life (QOL) are essential in the treatment of patients with heart failure. The influence of physical exercise training on QOL was investigated in patients with left ventricular dysfunction. METHODS: Health-related QOL was evaluated using the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 Health Status Survey (SF-36) before and 3 months after individualized exercise training determined by cardiopulmonary exercise testing in 65 patients. The 44 patients who could carry out more than two-thirds of the prescribed exercise were classified into two groups: Group A (11 patients)with left ventricular ejection fraction < 40% and Group B (33 patients) with left ventricular ejection fraction > or = 40%. The remaining 21 patients served as the control group. RESULTS: The mean value of SF-36 improved significantly with exercise training only in Group A (50.8 +/- 25.3 to 62.1 +/- 22.2, p < 0.05). Group A also had an increase in peak Vo2 (18.9 +/- 3.5 to 21.4 +/- 3.6 ml/min/kg, p < 0.005) and a decrease in brain natriuretic peptide. The 24 patients (9 in Group A, 15 in Group B) with improved SF-36 values after the exercise training showed a negative correlation between the change of the mental component summary and the peak Vo2 (r = - 0.606, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Exercise training improves both the QOL, especially the mental component, and the exercise tolerance in patients with left ventricular dysfunction.

Adult↗

Effect of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor trandolapril on mortality and morbidity in diabetic patients with left ventricular dysfunction after acute myocardial infarction. Trace Study Group.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the efficacy of long-term treatment with the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor trandolapril in diabetic patients with left ventricular dysfunction after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). BACKGROUND: Patients with diabetes mellitus have a high mortality following AMI, probably due to a high risk of congestive heart failure and reinfarction. Because ACE inhibition effectively reduces progression of heart failure, it could be particularly beneficial in diabetic patients after AMI. METHODS: The study is a retrospective analysis using data from the Trandolapril Cardiac Evaluation (TRACE) study, which was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of trandolapril in 1,749 patients with AMI and ejection fraction < or =35%. The mean follow-up time was 26 months. RESULTS: A history of diabetes was found in 237 (14%) of the 1,749 patients. Treatment with trandolapril resulted in a relative risk (RR) of death from any cause for the diabetic group of 0.64 (95% confidence interval 0.45 to 0.91) versus 0.82 (0.69 to 0.97) for the nondiabetic group. In the diabetic group, trandolapril reduced the risk of progression to severe heart failure markedly (RR, 0.38 [0.21 to 0.67]), and no significant reduction of this end point was found in the nondiabetic group. CONCLUSIONS: The ACE inhibition after myocardial infarction complicated by left ventricular dysfunction appears to be of considerable importance in patients with diabetes mellitus by saving lives and substantially reducing the risk of progression to severe heart failure.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗