We studied the hemodynamic effects of vasopressin and the renin-angiotensin system in an animal model of high output heart failure in conscious rats (aorto-caval fistula). We found significantly elevated levels of plasma renin concentration (p less than 0.025), norepinephrine (p less than 0.02), and up to 4 to 5 times higher values of vasopressin (p less than 0.002) in the rats with heart failure as compared with control animals. In contrast to the control rats that had a normally functioning osmoreceptor system, we found an inverse relationship between plasma osmolality and arginine vasopressin in the rats with heart failure in association with edema. Using a specific antagonist of the pressor activity of vasopressin, we found no significant effect on heart rate, mean arterial pressure, cardiac output (thermodilution), and peripheral vascular resistance in the control animals and in the rats with aorto-caval fistula. Captopril resulted in a significant fall of mean arterial pressure in the rats with shunt (p less than 0.001). The coincidence of high values of vasopressin and, in a number of animals, low plasma osmolalities and edema suggests a role of vasopressin in the formation of edema and in the development of "dilutional hypo-osmolality."

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Myocardial echinococcosis with perforation into the pericardium.

Though rare, cardiac echinococcosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of cardiac tumors, particularly in patients originating from endemic areas or with manifestation of hydatid disease in other organs. Diagnosis and localisation of the cysts is best accomplished with non-invasive methods such as 2-D transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography, computed tomography and NMR. Excision of the cardiac cyst from the interventricular septum in a 21 year old patient with polyvisceral echinococcosis was performed with cardiopulmonary bypass. Adjunctive medical therapy with mebendazol is being continued for 24 months postoperatively. Twelve months after surgery the patient is asymptomatic without echocardiographic signs of recurrence.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Antihypertensive monotherapy with prazosin].

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Blood Pressure↗