[Does the use of metoprolol-succinate in patients with chronic heart failure lead to a higher efficacy in treatment without causing additional costs?].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to F Sonntag.
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The indication to treat symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is discussed controversely. Successful medical treatment may result in the reduction of symptoms by improving hemodynamics in a reduction of thromboembolic events. However, several antiarrhythmic drugs are also known to increase the risk of proarrhythmic events. A randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled multicenter trial with 1000 patients to be recruited was designed to compare the effects of two antiarrhythmic drugs frequently used in Germany for the treatment of atrial fibrillation, Sotalol and the fixed combination of chinidin and verapamil (Cordichin). Patients with symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter will be observed for a period of one year. The occurrence of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is documented by transtelephonic ECG monitoring. Patients with document an ECG once daily, and recording is mandatory in case of symptoms. ECGs are transmitted to a central data base for analysis. This clinical trial is designed to answer the following questions: (1) What is the average rate of spontaneous events of symptomatic atrial fibrillation? (2) Is it possible to reduce the frequency of symptomatic events by chronic antiarrhythmic drug administration? (3) What is the long-term frequency for the occurrence of severe side-effects under antiarrhythmic medication? The primary endpoint is defined as the time to first recurrence of symptomatic arrhythmia after reaching steady-state plasma concentrations of the study medication. The trial started in November 1997 and is planned to be finished by the end of 1999.
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The usefulness of exercise as a preventive measure is discussed on the basis of a review of epidemiological studies. While no preventive effect has been reliably shown for physical activity at the workplace, physical exercise during leisure time does have such an effect. The incidence of myocardial infarction can be reduced by some 50 to 60%, although the contributions of protection and selection cannot be differentiated. The present data, however, militate against the possibility that, among those actively practicing sport, a primarily positive health selection effect is operative. The optimum of physical exercise would appear to be defined by a daily calorie consumption of 300 to 400 kcal (1250-1800 kJ) per day. Within the framework of secondary prevention, physical exercise can result in a reduction in mortality rate of 20%. The possibility of exercise related incidence prompts the requirement for a thorough physical check-up of those in the relevant risk groups.
To determine the hemodynamic effect of verapamil at rest and during exercise, 18 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were studied before and after 7 weeks of treatment with oral verapamil (maximal dose, 720 mg/day). At rest and at peak exercise, verapamil produced a significant increase in left ventricular (LV) systolic performance in terms of stroke volume index (rest, from 43 +/- 11 to 53 +/- 11 ml/m2, p less than 0.001; exercise, from 46 +/- 11 to 51 +/- 10 ml/m2, p less than 0.01), whereas heart rate decreased (rest, from 81 +/- 14 to 70 +/- 11 min-1, p less than 0.001; exercise, from 150 +/- 21 to 141 +/- 18 min-1, p less than 0.01). Cardiac index at rest and during exercise remained unchanged. Systolic vascular resistance did not change at rest, but decreased significantly during exercise (974 +/- 243 to 874 +/- 174 dynes s cm-5; p less than 0.05). After verapamil administration, pulmonary artery pressures did not change at rest, but decreased significantly during exercise. This was probably due to a shift in the LV pressure-volume relation. The improvement in LV hemodynamics was associated with a significant increase in exercise capacity. The findings of this study indicate that in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hemodynamic improvement at rest and during exercise can be achieved by chronic administration of verapamil.
A 42-year-old patient suffered from a nephrotic syndrome due to primary perireticular amyloidosis. One year after diagnosis the renal protein loss increased to 40 g/d within a short time so that sufficient substitution was no longer possible. The creatinine clearance was 7-10 ml/min so that haemodialysis was performed as a vital measure to remove excessive fluid. Two weeks later, as an alternative to surgical bilateral nephrectomy, simultaneous bilateral renal embolisation with Ethibloc was done without complications. A small artery to the left lower pole was spared from embolisation. Computer tomographic follow-up showed a residual parenchymal perfusion in the subcapsular and left lower pole areas so that metabolic functions of the renal parenchyma persisted. Plasma renin activity decreased to subnormal levels, the erythropoietin plasma level remained in the lower range of normal. "Medical binephrectomy" should be considered more often as a therapeutic alternative to surgery in therapy-resistant nephrotic syndrome on account of its advantage of preserved metabolic renal function.
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