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Biomedical subjects

A Castaigne

Publications and source records attributed to A Castaigne.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

[Coronary disease in patient following heart transplantation].

Coronary artery disease is a common and particularly severe complication of cardiac transplantation because it may cause progressive destruction of the graft by acute or chronic ischemia. The ischemia is usually silent because of cardiac denervation. Cardiac failure related to graft dysfunction, asymptomatic infarction on the ECG, or sudden death, are sometimes the only signs of severe coronary disease. The prevalence of coronary lesions has been evaluated by coronary angiography at nearly 25% at 2 years and 50% at 5 years. The distribution and morphology of the lesions are characteristic: diffuse concentric, irregular and occlusive, predominantly distal stenoses, without a distal and usually without a collateral circulation. The histological features are variable: the association of medial necrosis, severe endothelial lesions and intense parietal inflammation are suggestive of acute arteriolitis, often present during acute rejection, may be related to a common pathological process. Diffuse obliterative arteriolar lesions with concentric proliferation of medial smooth muscle are the usual appearances in transplant patients who have died or been retransplanted. There is no non-invasive diagnostic method sufficiently sensitive of specific which justifies the practice of many groups of systematic annual coronary angiography in transplanted patients. The pathogenesis is poorly understood and probably multifactorial: disorders of lipid metabolism, immunological factors, the atherogenic role of Cytomegalovirus infection. The absence of an identifiable risk factor makes preventive measures difficult. The evolutive risk justifies retransplantation in selected patients, the results of which are less satisfactory but which reduces the risk of acute coronary events and sudden death.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Coronary Angiography↗
PubMed1991

[Valvotomy and congenital aortic valve stenosis. Long-term results].

Twenty nine patients (average age 11 years) underwent valvotomy for congenital valvular aortic stenosis from 1967 to 1983. The medium and long-term results were analysed retrospectively: 14 children have been reoperated; 11 for restenosis and 3 for aortic regurgitation after an average period of 11 years. Thirteen of the other 15 patients have been regularly followed-up for about 10 years: there are 7 good results, 3 average results and 3 restenoses. One patient was lost to follow-up after 9 years and the other patient died secondarily of a non-cardiac cause. This series was compared to a previous one of 35 cases of valvular aortic stenosis who underwent valvotomy between 1954 and 1964. There were 6 deaths in the perioperative period and 6 during follow-up (on average 11 years after surgery), including 3 sudden deaths. Eleven patients were reoperated: 2 for endocarditis, 5 for restenosis and 4 for aortic regurgitation (on average after 13 years). Three patients were lost to follow-up and there are 9 survivors who have not been reoperated (average follow-up 27 years): 5 of these patients were reexamined; there were 2 excellent results, 2 average results and 1 restenosis. These results show that conservative surgery of congenital valvular aortic stenosis is now a low risk procedure in children, but it is a palliative solution. The main problem is that of follow-up to detect restenosis because of the risk of sudden death. This follow-up is much easier since the introduction of Doppler echocardiography, eventually associated with exercise stress testing in doubtful cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[The treatment of chronic left ventricular insufficiency].

Left ventricular failure is caused by a variety of myocardial diseases and its symptoms results from adjustments attempted by the left ventricle and the circulatory system to cope with the initial myocardial pathology. Treatment of heart failure has various objectives, depending on whether one tries to correct the initial myocardial disease, or its consequences on the myocardium, or its repercussions on blood circulation, or, more simply, to alleviate the symptoms experienced by the patient. The ideal treatment of heart failure would include a drug acting on its cause, another drug to restore a degree of contraction and relaxation adjusted to the amount of load, a third drug bringing back to normal a perturbed peripheral circulation and a fourth drug to relieve the symptoms due to sodium retention. Such a treatment does not exist, and the management of chronic left ventricular failure can only be composite. Should it be prescribed from the start? This, increasingly, is the current trend.

Cardiovascular Agents↗
PubMed1990

Effect of plasma volume expansion on hemodynamics and atrial natriuretic factor release in heart-transplant recipients.

Plasma atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), plasma cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), plasma aldosterone, plasma-renin activity (PRA) and hemodynamic parameters were measured in heart-transplant recipients and control patients (chest pain syndrome) during right-sided heart catheterization under basal conditions and in response to an intravenous saline load. Basal plasma ANF and cGMP were higher in heart-transplant recipients than in control patients, whereas PRA and plasma aldosterone did not differ. The high plasma ANF levels in heart-transplant recipients did not result from high atrial pressures but appeared to be related with elevated atrial dimensions and cyclosporine-induced renal failure. During volume expansion, plasma ANF increased in control patients and remained elevated during the postinfusion period. In heart-transplant recipients, the changes in plasma ANF were less marked despite identical increases of atrial pressures. The sluggish response of plasma ANF in this group was associated in the postinfusion period with a nonreturn of the hemodynamic parameters to their basal values in contrast with what was observed in control patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

"Silent" heart failure as observed by a French cardiologist.

As the precursor of overt heart failure, with its grim prognosis, "silent" heart failure is a concept that bears examination. The pathophysiology of congestive heart failure and the mechanisms of the impact of hypertension on the development of left ventricular hypertrophy, and silent and overt heart failure are investigated. In addition, the reasons why diuretics, especially potassium-sparing diuretics such as spironolactone, remain the most effective treatment of mild congestive heart failure, and their role in preventing the evolution of silent to overt heart failure are explained.

Diuretics↗
PubMed1990

Enoximone improves selection of candidates for urgent cardiac transplantation.

Immediate cardiac transplantation, or urgent implantation of devices for mechanical support of the failing heart, has been shown to be effective as life-saving procedures in patients with cardiogenic shock unresponsive to maximal sympathomimetic treatment. The intravenous administration of enoximone in these patients, in addition to previous inotropic support, should permit a 'buying of time' strategy, leading to a reduction in the need for complex, invasive and costly techniques, such as artificial hearts. In addition, it should permit improved selection of candidates for cardiac transplantation. A prospective study was started in 1985 to obtain data on the haemodynamic and clinical efficacy of intravenous enoximone in these critically ill patients, and to determine the time gained for evaluation of the need for urgent transplantation. Cardiac index rose from 1.82 +/- 0.26 litres/minute/m2 to 2.67 +/- 0.56 litres/minute/m2 after 30 minutes, while pulmonary capillary wedge pressure decreased from 29.9 +/- 7 mm Hg to 18.0 +/- 7 mm Hg (n = 30). This early beneficial effect waned progressively after 6 hours. Prior to the next intravenous infusion at 8 hours, cardiac index was 2.07 +/- 0.53 litres/minute/m2 and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure was 25 +/- 8.5 mm Hg. Only four patients could not wait for a biological graft and had to be implanted with a complete artificial heart (3 patients), or a ventricular assist device (1 patient). In all, 30 patients improved and their increased survival allowed a re-evaluation for cardiac transplantation itself; 13 were rapidly (1.7 days; range 0.5-5) confirmed as good candidates. As a whole, this strategy compares favourably with the results of a strategy based on mechanical bridging alone.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Recovery of a normal coronary vascular reserve after rejection therapy in acute human cardiac allograft rejection.

During acute rejection, coronary vascular reserve is severely impaired in human orthotopic heart transplants. To evaluate the effects of rejection therapy on coronary vascular reserve, the ratio of peak-to-resting coronary flow velocity was assessed with a coronary Doppler catheter and a maximally vasodilating dose of intracoronary papaverine (12 mg) in nine allograft recipients without rejection (group 1) and in six recipients before and after treatment of an acute episode of rejection (group 2). All the patients had normal epicardial coronary arteries and were free of left ventricular hypertrophy. In group 2 during rejection, the coronary vascular reserve was significantly lower than in group 1, in which all the patients had a peak-to-resting coronary flow velocity ratio greater than 4 (2.3 +/- 0.5 vs. 5.4 +/- 0.8, respectively, p less than 0.001). In group 2 after treatment of rejection, the peak-to-resting coronary flow velocity ratio was similar to that of group 1 (4.7 +/- 0.8). Heart rate, left ventricular volumes and pressures, hemoglobin concentration, and arterial oxygen pressure were similar in the two groups. This study provides evidence that alterations of coronary vascular reserve because of acute rejection were reversible after treatment of the rejection episode.

Angiography↗
PubMed1990

[Dipyridamole echocardiography test during the acute phase of lower myocardial infarction].

Two-dimensional echocardiography with intravenous injection of dipyridamole (0.56 mg/kg) was performed in 33 consecutive patients with acute (2 +/- 2 days) postero-inferior myocardial infarction for semiquantitative segmental wall motion analysis. The results were compared with those of coronary angiography which was carried out during the hospital period. After a second evaluation of the recordings the following results were obtained: feasibility: 94 per cent with 85 per cent of segments analysed. Residual ischaemia in the first days of myocardial necrosis was common (70%). The ischaemia was often clinically silent including during the investigation (61%). When pain occurred, it always followed changes in regional wall motion. The dipyridamole test suggested multivessel disease with a sensitivity of 72 per cent and a specificity of 90 per cent, and residual arterial stenosis with a sensitivity of 75 per cent ans specificity of 80 per cent the secondary effects were minor. The main limitation of the test is related to the distinction between pharmacological and physiologic ischaemia. A positive test was associated with lesions justifying myocardial revascularisation (coronary bypass or angioplasty) in 19 out of 23 cases but with a very poor correlation with the topography of the coronary lesions. A negative test indicated arterial occlusion, residual stenosis with extensive myocardial damage or a normal coronary angiogram. Therefore, the dipyridamole echocardiography test may help identify a group of patients with little or no myocardial ischaemia in whom invasive investigations could be deferred; these patients contrast with the group with a positive test indicating residual ischaemia in which the coronary lesions should be documented by coronary angiography.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[Pre-hospital thrombolysis].

Too few myocardial infarctions are thrombolysed, and the thrombolytic agent is usually administered too late. This situation can conceivably be improved by educating both physicians and patients, by promoting thrombolysis in all hospitals and by performing thrombolysis before admission. We report here our experience of pre-hospital thrombolysis with Eminase in the Val-de-Marne department. This preliminary study is just a small stone added to the big heap of small series of thrombolysis at home published throughout the world. But while the feasibility of pre-admission thrombolysis has been well demonstrated, its effectiveness remains to be accurately determined. Two studies involving large groups of patients are currently in progress: one in Seattle with the left ventricular function as principal criterion of judgment, the other in Europe (The European Myocardial Infarction Project) with mortality as main criterion of judgment. We must wait for the results of these studies to know whether pre-hospital thrombolysis will become the standard treatment of myocardial infarction and if so, to implement the relevant changes required in health structures.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[Methods for evaluating thrombolytic drugs].

There are two conceptually quite separate objectives to be attained in evaluating a new class of therapeutic agents: the establishment of benefit-risk relationships which allow assessment of their clinical utility; the evaluation of the underlying physiopathological concepts. These two distinct objectives overlap; the criteria of assessment of the benefit-risk studies are based on the physiopathological concepts. Similarly, the relationships observed after analysing the results of the benefit-risk studies increase our understanding of the physiopathology of a disease process. With respect to the use of thrombolytic drugs in the acute phase of myocardial infarction: --the usual criteria of evaluation of the benefits of treatment are coronary artery patency, left ventricular ejection fraction and patient mortality; the severity of blood clotting abnormalities and the frequency of haemorrhage are used to assess the risks; --the physiopathological reasoning behind this choice of criteria of assessment is the direct relationship between coronary artery patency, ejection fraction and mortality. Also, the severity of blood clotting abnormalities seems to be related to the frequency of haemorrhagic complications; We have reviewed these criteria of assessment of the benefit-risk ratio of thrombolysis in the acute stage of myocardial infarction. Our analysis indicates that mortality is the only indiscutable criterion of assessment and that the classical physiopathological concepts are not validated by the results of therapeutic trials.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed1990

[Cardiac transplantation. Indications, delays, surveillance].

The number cardiac transplantation has been dramatically increasing for the last year and the results are satisfactory regarding survival or functional capacity. The observed increase of cardiac transplantation may tend to vulgarize it. However, this intervention should be only considered in a selected group of patients who have no other option. Many reports concerned various technical approach for a clearcut determination of high and low risk population of patients with congestive heart failure. But, considering individual patients, the value of each prognostic parameter remains unresolved. Nevertheless the more discriminant parameters for the prognosis assessment are: the left ventricular ejection fraction, the NYHA class, right heart catheterization data, the functional capacity, the cardiothoracic ratio on chest X ray, the ischemic etiology of the disease. The role of neuro-hormonal determinant such as norepinephrine circulating concentration or cardiac uptake on MIBG imaging should be further investigated, especially for patients treated by ACE inhibitors or beta blockers. Contraindications for cardiac transplantation are less restrictive, nowadays. Concerning patients selected, and waiting for heart transplantation or patients non primary selected survival can be improved by adjusting medical therapy on objective efficacy criteria.

Contraindications↗
PubMed1990

[Treatment of chronic left ventricular insufficiency].

Left ventricular failure results from many myocardial diseases: the symptoms of left ventricular failure are the consequence of adaptations which the left ventricle and circulatory system activate to counteract the initial myocardial disease. The aims of treatment of cardiac failure are diverse depending on whether treatment is directed to correct the initial myocardial disease, its myocardial consequences, its circulatory consequences or, more simply, the patient's symptoms. The ideal treatment of cardiac failure would include a drug acting on the cause, a drug restoring left ventricular contraction and relaxation adapted to the conditions of cardiac load, a drug correcting regional blood flow disturbances and a drug relieving symptoms related to salt retention. An ideal drug for chronic left ventricular failure does not exist, and so treatment is a composite effort. Should it be in first intention? This is the current trend.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗
PubMed1990

[Medical strategy in patients awaiting emergency heart transplantation].

Cardiac transplantation is theoretically the optimal final treatment of terminal cardiac failure but the indications, especially in the emergency situation, should be carefully considered. Sympathomimetic agents are of limited use in patients with severe cardiac failure partly because of the down regulation of the myocardial beta-receptors. The phosphodiesterase inhibitors, represented by enoximone, are valuable because of their action on the cardiac muscle (inotropic and lusitropic) and their direct systemic vasodilator effect. Enoximone can be administered by intravenous bolus resulting in a rapid onset of action (peak at 30 minutes) with a prolonged effect due to its hepatic metabolites. The authors' experience in this indication dates over 5 years and over 50 patients were included. A preliminary study in 34 patients with cardiac failure resistant to betamimetic drugs, referred to the intensive care unit for urgent cardiac transplantation, or, in the absence of a donor, circulatory assistance is reported. A Swan Ganz catheter and radial artery canula were inserted for haemodynamic monitoring and enoximone was administered in an intravenous bolus over 15 minutes every 8 hours in addition to sympathomimetic agents. A haemodynamic improvement was observed after the 30th minute in 30 patients. The cardiac index increased from 1.82 to 2.67 l/mn/m2 and the pulmonary capillary pressures decreased from 30.8 to 18.9 mmHg. Systemic arterial resistances fell from 2,170 to 1,520 dynes.s.cm-5. No haemodynamic improvement was observed in 4 patients who were treated by mechanical ventricular assistance. After investigations to detect contra-indications to cardiac transplantation, 12 of the 30 patients remained candidates for cardiac transplantation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗