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Biomedical subjects

D Conen

Publications and source records attributed to D Conen.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Short- and long-term cerebrovascular effects of nitrendipine in hypertensive patients.

The aim of our studies was to evaluate the effect of acute treatment in hypertensive emergencies and of chronic and acute treatment in uncomplicated hypertensives with calcium antagonists on blood pressure (BP) and cerebral blood flow (CBF). Ten patients with high blood pressure requiring emergency reduction were randomized to treatment with oral nifedipine or intravenous clonidine. The effect on CBF was investigated using xenon-133. Twenty-one patients with mild to moderate hypertension were randomly assigned to nitrendipine (n = 10) and to verapamil treatment for 4 weeks. After 14 days of washout, all patients received chlorthalidone for 4 weeks. CBF was measured before calcium antagonists, after 4 weeks, after washout, and after 4 weeks of chlorthalidone. Until now, five patients with mild to moderate hypertension entered in an ongoing study. After 14 days of placebo, CBF and BP reduction were measured 2 h and 6 weeks after nitrendipine. In hypertensive emergencies, nifedipine and clonidine lowered BP significantly, whereas CBF increased after nifedipine and decreased after clonidine. After chronic treatment with nitrendipine and verapamil and after chlorthalidone, the BP-lowering effect was significant whereas CBF remained unchanged. Two hours after nitrendipine, BP decreased and CBF remained unchanged. The reason for increasing CBF in hypertensive emergencies after nifedipine is due to its spasmolytic effect on cerebral vessels. The unchanged CBF after short- and long-term treatment with nitrendipine is due to the fact that in these patients the autoregulatory mechanism is intact.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Effects of antihypertensive treatment on cerebral perfusion.

Antihypertensive treatment reduces the risk of ischemic strokes and cerebral hemorrhage as complications of excessive or long-standing hypertension. However, neurologic dysfunction and brain damage may also accompany short-term, and under certain conditions, even long-term antihypertensive treatment. Therefore, treatment should be instituted restrictively and cautiously. Special regard should be given to the action of antihypertensive drugs on cerebral perfusion in patients with an increased risk for the development of treatment-induced cerebral ischemic complications, such as patients with hypertensive encephalopathy or autonomic dysfunction, and elderly patients with suspected sclerotic stenosis of cerebral or neck arteries. The structural and functional lesions of cerebral vessels observed in acute and chronic hypertension are reviewed, as are the effects of antihypertensive drugs on cerebral blood flow. Calcium channel blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors may have advantages as first-line drugs in the treatment of patients with an elevated risk of cerebral hypoperfusion, because of the selective action of these agents on vasoconstricted vessels and their differential effects in varying regional vascular beds. The excellent efficacy of these drugs in the short- and long-term treatment of hypertension may lead to changes in the traditional management of hypertensive emergencies as well as in management strategies for other patients at risk for treatment-induced complications.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1987

Calcium antagonist induced vasodilation in peripheral, coronary and cerebral vasculature as important factors in the treatment of elderly hypertensives.

Increased arteriolar tone is the pathophysiological hallmark of essential hypertension and is determined by the intracellular free calcium concentration in the vascular smooth muscle cell. Calcium influx is an important determinant of vasoconstriction and excess calcium influx-dependent vasoconstriction has been shown by plethysmographical studies in patients with essential hypertension. Calcium antagonists acutely lower BP by reducing calcium influx, calcium concentration and peripheral resistance. The degree of the attendant sympathetic nerve reflex activation and counter-regulatory mechanisms determines the antihypertensive response of the individual. Chronic monotherapy with a calcium antagonist results in an antihypertensive response, which is directly related to the patient's age and pretreatment BP and indirectly related to plasma renin levels. The resulting reduction in after-load neither leads to reduced cerebral blood flow in hypertensive patients, nor aggravates congestive heart failure. Calcium antagonists are a useful alternative to diuretics, primarily in older patients with low renin levels, either alone or combined with any other antihypertensive drug, and provide effective and safe control of blood pressure.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Cerebral blood flow and calcium antagonists in hypertension.

Antihypertensive treatment reduces the risk of ischaemic strokes and cerebral haemorrhage as complications of excessive or long-standing hypertension. However, neurological dysfunction and brain damage may also accompany acute and, under certain conditions, even chronic antihypertensive treatment. Treatment should therefore be instituted restrictively and cautiously, with special regard to the action of antihypertensive drugs on cerebral perfusion in patients with an increased risk for treatment-induced cerebral ischaemic complications, e.g. patients with hypertensive encephalopathy, patients with autonomic dysfunction or elderly patients with suspected sclerotic stenosis of cerebral or neck arteries. The present study is a review of the structural and functional lesions of cerebral vessels observed in acute and chronic hypertension, together with the effects of antihypertensive drugs on cerebral blood flow. Calcium channel blockers such as nifedipine, nitrendipine and verapamil may have advantages as first-line drugs in the treatment of patients with an elevated risk for cerebral hypoperfusion, because of their selective action on vasoconstricted vessels and their differential effects in different regional vascular beds. The particular efficacy of calcium antagonists in acute antihypertensive treatment, with a significant increase in cerebral blood flow in the case of nifedipine, and also in chronic antihypertensive therapy without decreasing cerebral blood flow, may change the traditional management of hypertensive emergencies, as well as of other patients at risk of treatment-induced complications.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Individualized care in patients with chronic congestive heart failure.

Based on our experience with the prospective follow-up study in a group of patients (n = 21) with congestive heart failure (CHF) (NYHA III n = 10, NYHA IV n = 11) and left ventricular ejection fraction below 30%, who were referred to our ordinary care unit by their family physicians after an initial work-up, we investigated the impact of a special treatment program in 25 patients with similar CHF despite therapy (60 +/- 4 years, NYHA III n = 11, NYHA IV n = 14, LVEF less than 30%, 17 +/- 3%). The program focused on three issues: (1) individualized medical therapy of CHF, (2) antiarrhythmic treatment and close follow-up visits, and (3) continuous education of patients and physicians in order to improve treatment compliance and the early management of complications. Medical treatment was based on diuretic and vasodilator therapy in all the patients, while positive inotropic substances including digoxin were given selectively. Vasodilator treatment was started with prazosin in 22 patients and with ACE inhibitors in three patients with low serum sodium. Fifty-five percent of the patients on prazosin had to be changed over to ACE inhibitors. Amiodarone was used as first line drug to treat symptomatic ventricular tachycardia in two patients and two survivors of ventricular fibrillation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anticoagulants↗
PubMed1986

[Importance of ECG and chest x-ray of ambulant patients with chest pain].

107 consecutive outpatients were examined prospectively to evaluate the contribution of clinical history, ECG and chest X-ray to diagnosis of chest pain. Based on patient history, clinical examination, ECG and chest X-ray, 23 (21.5%) of all patients had chest pain related to organic disease, whereas in 84 (78.5%) patients the symptomatology was of a functional/psychosomatic nature. In chest pain of organic origin ECG and chest X-ray contributed to diagnosis in 1/4 of the cases. In patients with so-called functional chest pain, ECG and chest X-ray were of no diagnostic value but had a psychological and therapeutic effect in a way that facilitated patient management.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

[Clinical manifestations of tuberculosis today].

In developed countries tuberculosis has not yet been eradicated and diagnostic problems still remain. The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical pattern, epidemiological data and risk factors in 85 patients (59 males and 26 females, mean age 41 +/- 15 years) seen from 1975-1984 in the medical outpatient clinic of Basle with the diagnosis of tuberculosis. The organ distribution of the tuberculosis was as following: lung n = 54, cervical lymph nodes n = 9, pleura n = 7, peritoneum n = 3, endometrium n = 2, bones n = 2, pericardium n = 1, middle ear n = 1, urinary tract n = 1, skin n = 1, cerebrum n = 1, miliary tuberculosis n = 3. In the younger age group (20-40 years) cervical lymph node tuberculosis predominated, whereas in the age group over 50 pulmonary tuberculosis was most frequent. The leading symptoms were: cough (59%), expectoration (48%), fever (39%), night sweat (24%). Risk factors were: cigarette smoking in 51%, alcoholism in 37%, preexisting lung disease in 20%, past tuberculosis in 19%. In pulmonary tuberculosis the most accurate diagnostic procedure was examination of bronchial secretion, followed by examination of sputum and gastric juice. Histological examination was the most appropriate procedure in tuberculosis of lymph nodes and peritoneum. In all patients treatment was as follows: isoniacid (INH), rifampicin and ethambutol for the first 4 months, followed by isoniacid and ethambutol for 6-10 months. In summary, tuberculosis has no typical clinical pattern and biochemical tests are unhelpful in establishing diagnosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Do doctors understand their patients?].

The extent to which doctors understand the complaints of their patients has been investigated by comparing patient complaints with the observation and assessment of these by the doctor. This involved questioning 259 patients and 30 doctor. From the 259 patients, three groups (a total of 57 patients) were formed, having common main symptomatologies. The extent to which the complaints of each of these patients corresponded with the clinical assessment was evaluated. The results revealed a close agreement between patient complaints and clinical assessment, not only for those patients with organo-medically diffuse symptoms (feeling of illness, tiredness, nervousness) but also for those with organ-medically clearly defined, localised (cardiac and thoracic pain) and mixed diffuse-localised complaints.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

[Does closely monitored control and therapy adjustment improve the prognosis in patients with severe heart insufficiency?].

The one year mortality of patients with severe congestive heart failure ranges between 30 and 70%. The effect was investigated of a stepped care program, including weekly monitoring and frequent adjustment of medical treatment, on the prognosis of 18 consecutive outpatients with severe congestive heart failure (NYHA class III and IV, 60 +/- 3.5 years). The diagnosis of congestive heart failure was proven by an invasively measured cardiac index below 2.5 l/min/m2 or by a left ventricular ejection fraction below 30%. Plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline values and plasma renin activity were substantially increased in all patients compared with 20 normals. 11 of the heart failure patients had coronary heart disease, 10 with a large left ventricular aneurysm, 6 patients had congestive cardiomyopathy and one patient had valvular heart disease with aortic insufficiency. In 9 patients ventricular tachycardias were registered, four had recurrent syncopes, and in 7 other patients atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardias were found. Medical treatment in all patients included pre- and afterload reduction by vasodilators. 11 patients received digoxin and 8 antiarrhythmic drugs. After a mean follow-up of 25 +/- 3.3 months, the one-year mortality was 7% and the two year mortality 15%. The favorable prognosis in patients in this special care program shows the favorable effects of individualized therapy, of frequent patient monitoring and the influence of strict compliance on survival and symptoms in patients with chronic congestive heart failure.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Intestinal parasitosis in irritable colon].

Parasitic infestation of the intestinal tract was investigated in a prospective study of 177 patients from southern Europe and Turkey. In a group of patients (n = 127) who attended the Medical Outpatients Department because of abdominal pain, pathogenic parasites were isolated from a single stool sample in 69 (54%). 19 patients had 2 or more parasites. 22 out of 25 patients reviewed after treatment were free of parasites, and 17 were symptom-free. Abdominal pain persisted unchanged in 8 patients. In a second group of patients (n = 50) with extraabdominal symptoms, 11 (22%) had pathogenic parasites in stool. Multiple infestation did not occur in this group. The results show that in this population group stool examination for parasites should be carried out routinely in the investigation of abdominal pain. The high prevalence rate possibly justifies a search for parasites even where there are no intestinal symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Sick sinus syndrome--clinical presentation, diagnostic and therapeutic measures in an ambulatory patient sample].

Incidence, clinical picture, ECG features, as well as chosen diagnostic and therapeutic measures were investigated in patients attending the Basel University Medical Outpatients Department with the diagnosis of sick sinus syndrome. A retrospective study was conducted by selecting patients' charts with this diagnosis during the period 1979-1983. Forty-four patients (17 women, 27 men, mean age 64.5 +/- 14.5 years) were "discovered" and divided into three groups: Group 1: asymptomatic patients with pathological ECG (n = 7), Group 2: symptomatic patients with pathological ECG (n = 22), Group 3: main symptom syncope (n = 15). All patients had had an ECG and 15 a 24-hour-ECG. Carotid sinus massage was performed in three patients and sinus node recovery time was measured in another three. Seventeen patients remained without treatment, 13 received a permanent pacemaker, 9 of whom had additional medication, while 12 were anticoagulated. Three patients who were not anticoagulated suffered a stroke. More invasive electrophysiological investigations should be undertaken only with caution. In group 1, further diagnostic or therapeutic consequences need to be drawn. In the symptomatic patients from group 2, 24-hour-ECG is indicated when there is a history of palpitations, dizziness or severe heart failure. The immediate implantation of a pacemaker is justifiable in group 3 patients. Drugs with antiarrhythmic activity should be avoided in these patients before pacemaker implantation.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Antihypertensive treatment using calcium antagonists in combination with captopril rather than diuretics.

The antihypertensive efficacy of combination therapy with the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril and a diuretic or a calcium antagonist was compared in 16 patients with essential hypertension with a blood pressure of over 160/95 mm Hg having triple drug therapy. While monotherapy with a calcium antagonist--usually verapamil 500 mg/day or nitrendipine 70 mg/day--did not reduce diastolic blood pressure to greater than 95 mm Hg, this goal was achieved in 15 out of 16 patients with the combination of captopril (53 mg/day) and the calcium antagonists in the above dose (151 +/- 4/88 +/- 2 SEM mm Hg) and in 13 out of 16 patients with captopril (84 mg/day) and a diuretic (158 +/- 4/91 +/- 1 mm Hg). There was a direct relationship between intraindividual pressure responses to the two drug combinations (r = 0.88, p less than 0.001). Heart rate was similar and weight lower on the captopril-diuretic combination. Captopril's antihypertensive efficacy can be equally enhanced by calcium antagonists (without affecting renin long term) as by diuretics, which are thought to work by stimulating the renin-angiotensin system. The calcium antagonist-captopril combination may be of particular advantage in hypertensive patients who are otherwise difficult to treat.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[Preventive chemotherapy of intrapulmonary residual tuberculosis with isoniazid--example of failed compliance by the physician].

Compliance with the recommendations of the Swiss Society for Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases regarding the treatment of patients with fibrotic pulmonary lesions with isoniazid was evaluated over the period March 1981-October 1982. 42 patients (mean age 53 +/- 16 years) were selected for preventive treatment. Diagnostic procedures were correctly performed in 22 patients (52.4%). 32 patients (76.2%) received the recommended drug initially. In 18 patients (42.9%) isoniazid was correctly prescribed for six months. In only 15 patients (35.7%) was the diagnostic and therapeutic approach correct. The reasons for these quality inadequacies on the diagnostic and therapeutic levels are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

[Treatment of hypertension emergencies].

Hypertensive emergencies are defined as situations where a seriously elevated blood pressure threatens the patients life or vital organ functions. Since treatment of hypertensive emergencies by a rapid reduction of blood pressure can be complicated by serious unwanted effects, the treatment indications should be defined cautiously. In addition the principles of autoregulation of blood flow and vascular resistance in hypertensive patients should be considered as well as the widely differing effects of the drugs used in hypertensive emergencies like alpha- and beta-adrenergic blocking substances, central sympatholytics and vasodilating agents. A reduction of cardiac output as a consequence of betablockade or central sympatholytics may be beneficial in patients with aneurysms, but may result in severe central hypoperfusion in others which can also be induced by vasodilators by local and systemic steal effects. Therefore we propose a treatment scheme for hypertensive emergencies based on pathophysiological considerations with special regard to cerebral perfusion. In many instances calcium-antagonists can be considered as drugs of first choice since they lower blood pressure in relation to pretreatment blood pressure and have only a weak negative inotropic effect. In addition they exert their vasodilating action predominantly in vessels with a high vasoconstrictor tone and do not reduce cerebral perfusion despite a marked reduction of blood pressure within a short time. In every case the initial emergency treatment should be followed by a careful long term management of hypertension.

Administration, Oral↗