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Biomedical subjects

A Frustaci

Publications and source records attributed to A Frustaci.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy simulating an infiltrative myocardial disease.

Congestive heart failure developed in a patient with low electrocardiographic QRS voltages, diffuse thickening of the septum and free cardiac wall, and a reduction in left ventricular internal diameter, which suggested an infiltrative heart muscle disease. Histological examination at necropsy showed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with symmetrical left ventricular hypertrophy. Myocardial disarray of type 1A disorganisation was extensive and equally distributed in the ventricular septum and the left anterior and left posterior ventricular free walls. Severe fibrosis (40%) was also present and may have been a possible cause of the electrocardiographic abnormalities as well as of the lack of ventricular dilatation.

Aged↗

Arthritis of the middle ear in ankylosing spondylitis.

A case of ankylosing spondylitis with aortic valve disease and hearing loss is described. A series of radiographic and audiometric investigations showed the hearing loss to be of a conductive type. It seemed most likely that the hearing loss was related to an inflammatory involvement of the ossicular joints due to the primary disease. No other case of conductive hearing loss has previously been reported due to otoarthritis in ankylosing spondylitis. This is important both theoretically and practically.

Arthritis↗

Myocardial damage due to hypokalaemia and hypophosphataemia.

A case of severe hypokalaemia with stupor, skeletal muscle and heart muscle damage is reported. An initial infusion of glucose-insulin and potassium (GIK) produced a temporary clinical improvement with reduction of creatine kinase (CKMB) and elevation of serum K+. On the 4th day of treatment, neuromuscular and cardiovascular deterioration occurred accompanied by a further rise of CKMB. This deterioration was coincident with a serum phosphate of 0.26 mmol/l. The impaired left ventricular (LV) function was measured using echocardiography and detecting the ejection fraction (EF). GIK was stopped and a potassium phosphate infusion commenced. As the phosphate and potassium deficiencies were corrected, the neuromuscular and cardiac abnormalities resolved, CKMB fell to normal and LVEF rose from 40% to 72%. We suggest that additional cardiac damage due to hypophosphataemia may have occurred in this patient, who already had cardiac impairment as a result of profound hypokalaemia. Possible mechanisms are discussed.

Echocardiography↗

[Ectopic calcifications in adult hypophosphatasia].

The first case of hypophosphatasia in adults reported in Italy (20th in the world) is described with remarks on the epidemiology, pathogenesis and therapeutic possibilities. The formation of renal and cholecystic calculi after long-term, intensive vitamin D and Calcium therapy indicates the limited capacity of pyrophosphate (PPi), even in large doses, to prevent the precipitation in man of calcium and phosphorus and the subsequent formation of ectopic calcifications.

Aged↗