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PubMed2000

Antimyosin autoantibodies are associated with deterioration of systolic and diastolic left ventricular function in patients with chronic myocarditis.

OBJECTIVES: The study evaluates the clinical course and the development of systolic and diastolic left ventricular function in patients with chronic myocarditis with or without autoantibodies against cardiac myosin. BACKGROUND: Patients with myocarditis often show autoantibodies against cardiac myosin. The clinical and pathophysiologic significance of these antimyosin autoantibodies (AMAAB) is yet unknown. The results from studies comparing the clinical course and the development of left ventricular function in patients with chronic myocarditis with or without AMAAB are not yet available. METHODS: Thirty-three patients with biopsy proven chronic myocarditis underwent analysis of AMAAB, right and left heart catheterization and left ventriculography at baseline and after six months. Left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction as well as the time constant of left ventricular relaxation "tau" and the constant of myocardial stiffness "b" were determined at baseline and at follow-up. RESULTS: In 17 (52%) patients, AMAAB could be detected at baseline. After six months, AMAAB were still found in 13 (76%) initially antibody-positive patients. No initially antibody-negative (n = 16) patient developed AMAAB during follow-up. Clinical symptoms improved slightly in antibody-negative patients and remained stable in antibody-positive patients. Left ventricular ejection fraction developed significantly better in antibody-negative patients (+8.9 +/- 10.1%) compared with antibody-positive patients (-0.1 +/- 9.4%) (p < 0.012). Stroke volume (SV) and stroke volume index (SVI) also improved in antibody-negative patients (SV: +20 +/- 31 ml; SVI: +10 +/- 17 ml) compared with antibody-positive patients (SV: -14 +/- 43 ml; SVI: -8 +/- 22 ml) (SV: p < 0.015; SVI: p < 0.016). Left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes and the time constant of left ventricular relaxation "tau" did not change significantly different in antibody-positive and antibody-negative patients. The constant of myocardial stiffness "b" improved significantly in antibody-negative patients (-6.1 +/- 10.8) compared with antibody-positive patients (+7.3 +/- 22.6) (p < 0.040). Analyzing only the persistently antibody-positive patients yielded essentially the same results. CONCLUSIONS: Antimyosin autoantibodies are associated with worse development of left ventricular systolic function and diastolic stiffness in patients with chronic myocarditis.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Unwashed shed blood infusion causes deterioration in right ventricular function after coronary artery surgery.

We investigated right ventricular function after infusion of unwashed shed blood collected from mediastinal and chest tube drainage. Changes in thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, which are stable metabolites of thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and prostacyclin respectively, were also investigated. The amount of infused shed blood was 484 +/- 76 ml (mean +/- SD). Right ventricular ejection fraction decreased rapidly after the infusion and did not return to its original level until 120 minutes later (P < 0.05). Mean pulmonary artery pressure rose after infusion of the shed blood (P < 0.05). The TXB2 level in the unwashed shed blood was about 20,000 times higher than the preoperative plasma level. The plasma TXB2 level at 30 minutes after the infusion was significantly elevated (P < 0.05), and at 120 minutes it had returned to the original level. Unwashed shed blood may contain vasoactive substances that induce the release of TXA2 and increase right ventricular afterload.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Ventricular function curves with and without pericardium: analysis of pericardial pressures].

Simultaneous right and left ventricular function curves (VFC, R, L) were obtained in a canine model, (open chest preparation), with and without pericardium. Preload and afterload conditions for the right and left ventricles were controlled. VFC were constructed from zero to 25 mmHg of ventricular end-diastolic pressures and by increasing the cardiac output from 50 to 250 mL/kg-1min-1. Both, right and left VFC showed an initial steep rise at low filling pressures and then flattened off to a plateau at high filling pressures. The best mathematical model that fitted with the VFC, with and without the pericardium was the parabola (r2 = 0.71, 0.72 respectively). After pericardiectomy R and L VFC were displaced to the left of the VFC with pericardium and a decrease in filling pressures were noted at the same points of cardiac output, findings that suggest a restraining effect of the pericardium. By subtracting the filling pressures obtained with pericardium from those without pericardium at the same levels of cardiac output, pericardial pressures were derived. In all the range of the VFC the pericardial pressures were positive, and this pressure increase as cardiac output increase. Thus the transmural pressure was never cero, for both right and left ventricles. The observed relation for the R and L filling pressures, derived from a polynomial equation of second order suggest a small although not unimportant effect of the pericardium at normal filling pressures, and a very substantial influence at high levels of cardiac output. The demarcation between small and major effects appears in the upper range of normal filling pressures in this dynamic approach of the pericardial pressures.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1982

Left ventricular function in trained and untrained healthy subjects.

Left ventricular function was compared in 18 normal sedentary controls (mean age 28 years, range 22 - 34 years) and nine endurance-trained athletes (mean age 19 years, range 15 - 25 years) at rest and during supine bicycle exercise. Gated radionuclide angiocardiograms were performed at rest and at each level of graded maximal supine bicycle exercise. Heart rate, blood pressure, left ventricular ejection fraction and the relative changes in left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes were assessed. Athletes attained a much greater work load than controls (mean 22.1 kpm/kg body weight vs 13 kpm/Kg body weight). Both groups achieved similar increased in heart rate, blood pressure and ejection fractions. In the controls, the mean end-diastolic volume increased to 124% of that at rest (p less than 0.02) during exercise and the mean end-systolic volume decreased to 81% of the rest level (p less than 0.02). In contrast, the mean end-diastolic volume did not significantly change during exercise in the athletes, and the mean end-systolic volume decreased to 64% of rest (p less than 0.05). Thus, although trained and untrained healthy subjects had similar increases in the left ventricular ejection fraction during exercise, different mechanisms were used to achieve these increases. Untrained subjects increased end-diastolic volumes, whereas trained subjects decreased the end-systolic volumes. The ability of athletes to exercise without increasing preload may be an effect of training amd might have important implications in reducing myocardial oxygen demand during exercise.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Pressure/volume ratio and pressure/volume ratio exercise quotient: an echocardiographic comparative study of left ventricular function indicators.

Noninvasive evaluation of left ventricular function (LVF) has been performed with two-dimensional echocardiography (TDE). Ejection fraction (EF), end systolic volume index (ESVI) and systolic blood pressure/end systolic volume index ratio (PVR)--an indicator which is independent of preload and afterload changes in a wide physiologic range--were assessed at rest and after exercise. Twenty-seven postmyocardial infarction (MI) patients were compared to 27 normal controls in an attempt to examine the above parameters of LVF in each group, measured by TDE. Correlation of TDE EF with radionuclide angiography EF proved the reliability of TDE. Rest and postexercise values of EF and PVR showed highly significant differences between the two groups. Using ESVI, a relatively lesser significant difference was found. PVR values at rest were 4.86 mm Hg/ml/m2 in the study group and 9.51 in the control group. These values increased to 5.34 and 15.15, respectively, after exercise. The ratio of PVR after exercise to PVR at rest, expressed as percentage change (PVREQ), seemed to be an additional tool in separating between both groups. This indicator merges pressure, volume, and the influence of exercise on both; a PVREQ of at least 145% correlated well with absence of MI in most of our patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Left ventricular function at rest and during Raynaud's phenomenon in patients with scleroderma.

We evaluated left ventricular function in 10 scleroderma patients with signs and symptoms suggestive of congestive heart failure. M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography demonstrated normal to increased systolic function in all patients. The presence of pulmonary venous congestion on the chest radiograph was not useful in assessing left ventricular systolic function. Five of nine patients with normal to increased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) had increased cardiothoracic ratios and increased pulmonary vascular markings. Left ventricular hypertrophy was associated with a worse New York Heart Association functional class, more pulmonary vascular congestion, and greater left atrial size. In the presence of normal systolic function and ventricular hypertrophy, diminished left ventricular diastolic compliance may account for the cardiac dysfunction in these patients. Cold pressor testing induced peripheral Raynaud's phenomenon in nine of nine patients; however, no ST segment changes or chest pain was provoked. In seven of nine patients there was no abnormal fall in LVEF. The mechanism for the fall in ejection fraction seen in two patients may be related to an increase in afterload or myocardial ischemia secondary to coronary atherosclerosis. We found little to suggest that a myocardial Raynaud's phenomenon affects left ventricular perfusion or systolic function. Clinical signs and symptoms of congestive failure as well as chest radiographs are poor indicators of impaired systolic function in scleroderma patients. Based on these findings, it appears that evaluation of left ventricular systolic function should include echocardiographic or angiographic study before such patients are treated for heart failure with inotropic agents.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Severity of residual stenosis of infarct-related lesion and left ventricular function after single-vessel anterior wall myocardial infarction: implication of ST-segment elevation in lead aVL of the admission electrocardiograms.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between the severity of chronic-phase stenosis of infarct-related lesions (IRLs) and chronic left ventricular function in anterior acute myocardial infarctions (AMI) has not been adequately investigated. HYPOTHESIS: This study investigated whether ST elevation in lead aVL of admission electrocardiogram (ECG) would be a determinant factor of the relationship between the severity of stenosis of the IRL and chronic left ventricular function after anterior wall AMI. METHODS: One month after AMI, the IRL was evaluated by coronary angiography in 98 patients with anterior AMI, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was determined using multigated radionuclide angiocardiography. Patients were classified according to the severity of the IRL: patients with 100% occlusion (Group O), patients with 90 to 99% stenosis (Group H), and patients with < or =75% stenosis (Group L). Patients with ST elevation > or =0.1 mV in the aVL lead on their admission ECG were included in the ST-elevation group, and those with ST elevation <0.1 mV were included in the non-ST-elevation group. RESULTS: The LVEF was greater in the non-ST-elevation group than in the ST-elevation group (p<0.0001), and the LVEF in a whole group as follows: Group L LVEF>Group H LVEF>Group O LVEF (p = 0.0160). In the ST-elevation group, LVEF was higher in Group L than in the other groups (p = 0.0251). There were three independent predictors of a reduced LVEF: ST-elevation in aVL [odds ratio (OR): 3.38, p = 0.0044], IRL stenosis > or =90% (OR: 2.90, p = 0.0044), and the IRL occurring in the left anterior descending artery proximal to the first diagonal branch (OR: 6.31, p = 0.0024). CONCLUSION: Left ventricular function was preserved, regardless of the severity of residual stenosis, in patients without ST elevation in aVL if the IRL was not totally occluded. In patients with ST elevation in aVL, LVEF was lower in patients with more severe stenosis, even if the IRL was patent.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Assessment of right ventricular function with nonimaging first pass ventriculography and comparison of results with gamma camera studies.

A new technique has been developed for measuring right ventricular function by nonimaging first pass ventriculography. The right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) obtained by non-imaging first pass ventriculography was compared with that obtained by gamma camera first pass and equilibrium ventriculography. The data has demonstrated that the correlation of RVEFs obtained by the nonimaging nuclear cardiac probe and by gamma camera first pass ventriculography in 15 subjects was comparable (r = 0.93). There was also a good correlation between RVEFs obtained by the nonimaging nuclear probe and by equilibrium gated blood pool studies in 33 subjects (r = 0.89). RVEF was significantly reduced in 15 patients with right ventricular and/or inferior myocardial infarction compared to normal subjects (28 +/- 9% v. 45 +/- 9%). The data suggests that nonimaging probes may be used for assessing right ventricular function accurately.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Lung uptake of technetium 99m sestamibi: relation to clinical, exercise, hemodynamic, and left ventricular function variables.

BACKGROUND: Technetium 99m sestamibi (2-methoxyisobutyl isonitrile [MIBI]) is a relatively new radiopharmaceutical with improved imaging characteristics for exercise myocardial perfusion studies compared with thallium 201. Although increased lung uptake of 201Tl has been shown to have important clinical significance, reflecting severity of coronary artery disease and left ventricular function, the factors affecting MIBI lung uptake are unknown. Therefore we examined the potential clinical, exercise, hemodynamic, myocardial perfusion, and ventricular function determinants of lung uptake of MIBI on exercise myocardial perfusion studies. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study cohort consisted of 103 patients referred for evaluation of coronary artery disease with exercise MIBI myocardial perfusion imaging. All patients underwent both a standard 1-day rest-stress MIBI planar imaging protocol and rest echocardiography. With the anterior-view stress images obtained 1 hour after MIBI injection, regions of interest were drawn over peak lung and myocardial activities and a lung/heart ratio was calculated. Multivariate regression analysis was used to relate the lung/heart ratio to clinical, exercise and hemodynamic, myocardial perfusion, and echocardiographic left ventricular function scores. We found no significant relation between lung/heart ratio and any patient variable. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike 201Tl, lung uptake of MIBI is not related to indexes of exercise, left ventricular dysfunction, or perfusion abnormalities. Thus MIBI lung uptake does not appear to have the same clinical significance as 201Tl lung uptake.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Comparison of radionuclide angiography with three echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular function in patients after myocardial infarction.

AIMS: Left ventricular function is an important outcome measure in patients with coronary artery disease, in particular in patients after myocardial infarction. It is reliably assessed by radionuclide angiography, but echocardiographic wall motion scoring might be an attractive alternative. METHODS: Four days after reperfusion therapy for acute myocardial infarction both radionuclide angiography and echocardiography were performed in 90 patients. Segmental wall motion scoring (WMSI) and visual estimation of the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was done by 2 independent observers. Repeated analysis was performed 1 month after the first reading. In 41 patients the LVEF was assessed quantitatively by tracing of endocardial outlines of the left ventricle. RESULTS: Both correlation with radionuclide angiography (estimated LVEF: r = 0.71, WMSI: r = -0.68, Tracing: r = 0.59) and inter- and intra-observer variability (estimated LVEF: 19% and 15%, WMSI: 65% and 59%) were in favour of the LVEF estimation method. Correlation with radionuclide angiography measurements was related to the quality of the echocardiogram and to the extent of coronary artery disease. CONCLUSION: Simple echocardiographic estimation of left ventricular ejection fraction in patients after reperfusion therapy for acute myocardial infarction proved to be superior to quantitative assessment of ejection fraction and to segmental wall motion scoring in comparison with radionuclide angiography.

Humans↗
PubMed1987

Myocardial structure and left ventricular function in hypertrophic and dilative cardiomyopathy and aortic valve disease.

Left ventricular biopsies from 126 patients with advanced (EF less than 50%, n = 45) and mild (EF 50-60%, n = 21) and latent cardiomyopathy (EF greater than 60%, n = 60) and 18 additional patients with aortic valve disease and 22 cases with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were analyzed to define possible correlations between myocardial structure and function. Deterioration of ventricular function was combined with increasing muscle cell diameters (r = 0.47) and increasing nuclear size of the myocytes (r = 0.74) in latent and dilative cardiomyopathies and in patients with aortic valve disease (cell diameter, r = 0.6; nuclear size, r = 0.9). Patients with HCM showed a wide range of cell diameter and nuclear size. 24% of the latter patients had no bioptic evidence of myocardial hypertrophy. The mitochondrial volume of the myocytes was 23% in the normal and hypertrophied myocardium independent of the kind of disease and ventricular function. The volume fraction of the myofibrils continuously decreased with worsening of the left ventricular function in patients with latent and dilative cardiomyopathy (from 45 +/- 6.9 to 37.6 +/- 6.3%) and aortic valve disease (from 46.2 +/- 3.4 to 27.9 +/- 9.3%). Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy presented with normal or slightly decreased values of myofibrils consistent with normal ventricular function (42.5 +/- 5.0). The data demonstrate that the degree of myocardial hypertrophy and certain ultrastructural findings are inversely correlated with left ventricular function.

Aortic Valve↗
PubMed2001

Effects of carvedilol on left ventricular function, mass, and scintigraphic findings in isolated left ventricular non-compaction.

A four month old infant with isolated left ventricular non-compaction was treated with carvedilol. Haemodynamic studies and various types of imaging-including echocardiography, radiographic angiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and single photon emission computed tomography with (201)Tl, (123)I-beta-methyliodophenylpentadecanoic acid (BMIPP), and (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG)-were performed before and 14 months after treatment. Left ventricular ejection fraction increased from 30% to 57%, and left ventricular end diastolic volume, end systolic volume, and end diastolic pressure showed striking reductions during treatment. Left ventricular mass decreased to about two thirds of the baseline value after treatment. Per cent wall thickening increased after carvedilol in the segments corresponding to non-compacted myocardium. A mismatch between (201)Tl and BMIPP uptake in the area of non-compaction observed before carvedilol disappeared after treatment. Impaired sympathetic neuronal function shown by MIBG recovered after treatment. Thus carvedilol had beneficial effects on left ventricular function, hypertrophy, and both metabolic and adrenergic abnormalities in isolated left ventricular non-compaction.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗
PubMed1987

[Hemodynamic effects of intravenously administered celiprolol in patient with coronary heart disease and depressed left ventricular function].

Hemodynamic changes after intravenous application of 10 mg celiprolol-HCl (3-[3-acetyl-4-(3-tert-butylamino-2-hydroxy-propoxy)-phenyl]-1,1-diethyl urea hydrochloride. Selectol; in the following briefly called celiprolol) were investigated over an interval of 30 min in 15 patients with angiographically determined coronary heart disease and depressed left ventricular function (ejection fraction less than 60%, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) greater than 12 mmHg). One patient suffered from severe left ventricular failure with lung edema and could not be evaluated. The heart rate was not influenced, the arterial pressure was significantly reduced (p less than 0.01), similarly LVEDP (p less than 0.001), and pulmonary pressure (p less than 0.01). Cardiac output and total peripheral resistance were not changed significantly. The hemodynamic working profile of celiprolol in patients with depressed left ventricular function is that of a beta 1-receptor blocker with a strong intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (ISA = Intrinsic Sympathetic Activity) and vasodilating properties--even on preload. The intravenous application of celiprolol in patients with severely depressed left ventricular function can cause pump failure.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1979

Left ventricular function in rheumatic mitral stenosis. Clinical echocardiographic study.

Echocardiography was used to examine the extent and significance of impairment in left ventricular function in 20 patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis. Indices of left ventricular performance--normalised mean rate of circumferential fibre shortening (Vcf), ejection fraction, normalised posterior wall velocity, and stroke volume were reduced. The impairment in left ventricular function was related to the degree of functional disability (NYHA), right ventricular dilatation, and left atrial enlargement. Vcf was inversely related to both the internal right ventricular diameter (r=-0.767, P less than 0.001) and the degree of left atrial enlargement (r=-0.554; P less than 0.05). The normalised velocity of the interventricular septum and the maximum systolic and diastolic endocardial velocities were also reduced. These results suggest that abnormalities in contractility of left ventricular myocardium are responsible for the impaired myocardial function in patients with mitral stenosis and that such impairment is clinically significant.

Echocardiography↗
PubMed1981

Myocardial and ventricular function. Part II: Intact heart.

Factors affecting the contraction of isolated cardiac muscle, preload, afterload and contractility, in addition to the heart rate, are also the primary determinants of the cardiac output in the intact ventricle. In the intact heart, ventricular end-diastolic wall stress is analogous to the preload and within physiologic limits ultimately determines the resting length of the sarcomeres in the ventricular wall. The relationship between the end-diastolic pressure and the stroke volume can be used to describe ventricular function and the relationship between stroke volume and end-diastolic volume represents the ejection fraction. The stroke volume, in turn, is inversely proportional to the afterload during the ejection phase. Since the afterload decreases during the ejection phase, the contraction of the intact ventricle can be characterized as being auxotonic. The contractility is reflected by the maximum force development as well as rate of shortening. Changes in the contractility represent changes in the ventricular function which are independent of the preload and afterload. Increasing the heart rate has little effect on the stroke volume despite an increase in the contractility. The relationship between pressure, flow and radius can be used to assess ventricular function since this nearly approximates that of the force-velocity-length relationship. The stiffness and stiffness constant of the muscle can be derived from the stress-strain relationship while the stiffness of the ventricular chamber may be described by the relationship between pressure and volume. The contractility indexes of the isovolumic phase are, to a certain degree, indicative of the force-velocity-length relationship of the heart muscle. The contractility indexes of the ejection phase are afterload-dependent but correlate well with the contractility of the myocardium. Construction of a line connecting points of end-systolic pressure-volume values corresponds with that of the force-velocity relationship, the slope of which may accurately reflect the ventricular contractility. None of these indexes, however, completely represents the force-velocity-length relationship of the intact heart. At present, the best measurements of contractility combine use of various parameters as well as data obtained from a series of contractions.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prophylactic lidocaine hydrochloride does not reduce ventricular arrhythmias after coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with poor left ventricular function.

Prophylactic lidocaine hydrochloride infusion followed by oral mexiletine hydrochloride was administered in the early post operative period to patients with poor left ventricular function undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery, to determine whether this decreased the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death due to arrhythmias. Patients were randomly allocated to two groups of 50 each, the lidocaine prophylaxis group and the placebo infusion group. In the lidocaine prophylaxis group bolus dose of 1.5 mg/kg lidocaine hydrochloride was administered just before release of aortic cross clamp followed by an infusion at the rate of 2 mg/min. Oral mexiletine hydrochloride 150 mg 8 hourly was started after 24 hours and continued till discharge. The results showed that 17/50, patients developed ventricular arrhythmias in the lidocaine prophylaxis group and 22/50, in the placebo group in the first postoperative week. The incidence of ventricular arrhythmias apart from ventricular fibrillation was almost similar in both groups, 13/50, and 14/50, in the lidocaine prophylaxis and placebo infusion groups respectively. The incidence of ventricular fibrillation was 4/50, in the placebo infusion group and 2/50, in the lidocaine prophylaxis group (p < 0.05). Total number of deaths were 3 in each group. We concluded that this antiarrhythmic regimen in patients with poor left ventricular function did not decrease the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias or death due to arrhythmias in the early post operative period.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Effects of exercise training on ventricular function in patients with recent myocardial infarction.

We evaluated the effects of 6 months of exercise training (bicycle ergometry, walking and jogging) on exercise performance and ventricular function in patients with recent myocardial infarction. Fifteen patients were selected on the basis of myocardial infarction at least 6 weeks but not more than 6 months before the study and age younger than 65 years. The patients were evaluated by maximal treadmill exercise testing and radionuclide angiography at rest and exercise before and after training. Before exercise training, maximal treadmill exercise time ranged from 1.5 to 11 minutes, ejection fraction at rest from 18% and 67% and end-diastolic volume from 108 to 208 ml. The mean EF was 48 +/- 5% (+/- SD) at rest and did not change at maximal exercise (48.5 +/- 5%). All 11 patients who completed the exercise training program achieved a significant training effect, as defined by a reduction in heart rate at 50% maximal pretraining effort or an increase in maximal treadmill time. The mean ejection fraction and end-diastolic volume and wall motion abnormalities at rest and at comparable pretraining exercise work loads and heart rates were not significantly different after training. Despite a wide range of rest and exercise ventricular function, patients with recent uncomplicated myocardial infarcts significantly increased their exercise performance. Because rest and exercise ventricular function were comparable before and after training, improvement in exercise performance probably resulted from training effects on the peripheral vasculature.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Combined use of thrombolysis and PTCA in myocardial infarct. Effect on global and regional ventricular function].

The study was performed to evaluate the combined effect of thrombolysis therapy and percutaneous coronary transluminal angioplasty (PTCA) on global and regional left ventricular function. In 127 patients with acute transmural myocardial infarction combined intravenous (250 000 U) and intracoronary (50 000 U) streptokinase therapy was started. When the infarct related vessel was occluded mechanical recanalization was performed with recanalization by Gruentzig balloon catheters. Patients were randomized in two groups, group I, n = 64, thrombolysis without PTCA; group II, n = 63, thrombolysis with PTCA. Both groups demonstrated no difference in relation to sex, age, infarct location, as well as CPK levels and time between onset of symptoms and start of treatment. First coronary angiography showed an open vessel in 23/64 patients (36%) of group I and in 12/63 patients (19%) of group II (p less than 0.001). Mechanical recanalization with 3 F catheters could be achieved in 27/41 patients (66%) of group I and with 4 F catheters in 26/51 patients (51%) of group II. In 9/41 patients (22%) of group I and in 18/51 patients (35%) in group II reperfusion took place before mechanical recanalization could be performed or occurred during superselective thrombolysis therapy, when mechanical recanalization failed. Thus, reperfusion rate in group I was 59/64 patients (92%) and in group II 56/63 patients (89%). PTCA was attempted in 55/56 patients in group II with a success rate of 65% and reocclusion rate of 4%. During hospital stay, reocclusion occurred in 10/59 patients in group I (17%) and in group II in 9/55 patients (16%). The patients were divided in those with and without successful angioplasty. Reocclusion was found in 3/36 patients (8%) and 6/17 patients (35%), respectively. Improvement with PTCA of regional and global left ventricular function was observed in patients with anterior myocardial infarction. With combined medical-mechanical recanalization, reperfusion rate can be increased and infarct time shortened, thus, providing the possibility of full revascularization by PTCA, improving coronary blood flow as well as improving global and regional left ventricular function.

Angioplasty, Balloon↗