Biomedical subjects

F Diévart

Publications and source records attributed to F Diévart.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Heart failure with preserved systolic function: a diagnostic algorithm for a pragmatic definition.

Heart failure is a major health problem which often concerns the elderly. Prevalence of heart failure with preserved systolic function is increasing and varies from 40 to 50%. In the literature, and in the large epidemiological studies, it is commonly designed with the term of "diastolic heart failure", even if a precise analysis of diastolic function is not performed. A diagnostic algorithm is proposed in order to better define the concept of heart failure with preserved systolic function. It consists of seven steps from symptoms and clinical signs to the echocardiographic analysis of diastolic function, in order to confirm the definition of heart failure with preserved systolic function.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2005

[Do beta-blockers prevent coronary events in hypertensive patients?].

Beta-blockers have been considered for decades as effective agents in preventing coronary events in hypertensive patients. Actually, the scrutiny of the available data arises some doubts over the real value of this pharmacological class. In primary prevention, the clinical benefits of beta-blockers are poorly documented: the studies conducted against placebo (MRC, IPPPSH...) did not show any significant differences regarding the rate of coronary events (except within non smokers); moreover, the beneficial effect of propranolol in preventing sudden deaths and silent myocardial infarctions has been reported byjust one retrospective analysis. Likewise in HAPPHY study, the comparison with diuretics did not emphasize a clear superiority of one of both classes; the better effect of metoprolol regarding overall mortality and fatal coronary events was shown in the pecular subset MAPHY, only. Furthermore, in elderly people, HEP, MRC OA and STOP studies did not find any significant effect of beta-blockers in preventing coronary events, as compared with placebo. However, SHEP study, which involved patients older than 60 years with isolated systolic hypertension receiving first a diuretic, then a beta-blocker(atenolol) in 1/4 of the cases, demonstrated a significant reduction versus placebo both in strokes and in coronary events. Finally, in UKPDS, CAPP, LIFE and CONVINCE studies, atenolol turned out to have a similar efficacy as captopril, losartan and verapamil, in preventing ischemic heart disease. Among the numerous published meta-analyses, that of Psaty pointed out the absence of a primary cardioprotective effect by beta-blockers; more recently, that of Carlberg, emphasized atenolol given alone as the first-line drug to fail in significantly reducing coronary events and strokes. In secondary prevention, some more convincing data may be found in the literature, regarding post myocardial infarction patients (meta-analyses of Staessen, 1982, Yusuf, 1985 and Soriano, 1997), as well as those with stable angina (BIP study in diabetics) or silent ischemia (ASIST study: significant reduction in number and duration of ischemic events by atenolol). Moreover, INVEST study recently showed atenolol and verapamil to have an equivalent efficacy in the hypertensive patients with stable coronary artery disease. Last, hypertension should be reminded as resulting in many cases of heart failure, a pathology where beta-blockers have clearly demonstrated their beneficial effects.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

PubMed2000

[Validation of the therapeutic role of amlodipine in 31,946 French hypertensive patients].

Amlodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker (CCB), with a long duration of action, has been the subject of numerous controlled studies which showed its effectiveness and good tolerance in arterial hypertension in once-daily doses. We report the results of a large, multicentric, French, prospective phase IV study which evaluated the effectiveness and tolerance of amlodipine administered at a rate of 5 to 10 mg in only one daily dose. We also assess the evolution of the quality of life after 12 weeks of treatment among 31,946 hypertensive patients followed up to the ambulatory stage by general practitioners. The response rate--defined as the patients having had a reduction of 10 mmHg or more diastolic blood pressure--was 88%. The blood pressure standardization--defined by a diastolic blood pressure lower than 90 mmHg--was achieved for 70% of the patients. Amlodipine was administered in stand-alone therapy in 78% of the cases. The occurrence of an undesirable event was noted in the course of treatment in 12% of the patients and justified interruption of the treatment for 3.7% of the total population. The index average of quality of life was improved by the end of the 12-week treatment. This study carried out on a significant number of hypertensive patients (n = 31,946) under real prescription conditions confirms the efficacy and good tolerance of amlodipine, as has already been demonstrated in the preliminary developmental studies.

Aged↗

PubMed1997

[What role to assign for calcium channel blockers in the treatment of arterial hypertension in 1997?].

What is the place of calcium channel blockers in the treatment of hypertension (HT)? And, more importantly, what is the place of any molecule recognised as being effective to reduce blood pressure figures in the treatment of HT? Beyond the hypotheses which have dominated the rational approach up until now, suggesting a possible answer to these two questions, medical practice is developing towards evidence-based medicine. This opposes two lines of logic:--that which argues that the benefit of treatment of HT is exclusively related to a reduction of blood pressure figure obtained with the use of the most effective molecule or class which is best tolerated in a given clinical context; that which argues that it is impossible to prescribe widely and indefinitely molecules whose real effect on the clinical prognosis of HT and long-term safety are unknown. This new logic no longer recognizes the reduction of blood pressure figures independently of the means used to achieve this reduction as the exclusive guarantee of the benefit of treatment and proposes that treatments which are widely prescribed must have a more detailed clinical evaluation file than that authorized by current practice. Calcium channel blockers were recently adopted as the main subject of this opposition between two logics, probably because several molecules of this class, evaluated in therapeutic trials conducted outside of the context of HT, demonstrated harmful cardiovascular effects and that case-control studies in the context of HT have indicated the possibility of extracardiac adverse effects. It therefore seems useful to try to redefine their place in the treatment of HT in the light of this recent debate and, more importantly, to extend the discussion to several principles of the pharmacological treatment of HT. Leaving current controversies to one side, this review is designed to present several elements of these opposing logics.

Calcium Channel Blockers↗