Biomedical subjects

G Scanavacca

Publications and source records attributed to G Scanavacca.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1994

[Initial and final changes in the signal-averaged QRS in the time and frequency domain in a case of hypertrophic myocardiopathy].

We report on a patient suffering from asymmetrical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, with alterations occurring in the signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAQRS). Recordings of 3-lead orthogonal ECG were obtained and analyzed by a Del Mar Avionics 750A Innovator device. The time domain analysis showed late potentials and a slow inscription of the initial portion of the SAQRS, that we called "early potentials". On the frequency domain there was a high degree of spectral turbulence at the beginning and at the end of the SAQRS. We discuss the possibility that the slow and fragmented conduction of the initial portion of the SAQRS could be related to the electrical instability of the disease.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗

PubMed1993

Prognostic significance of ventricular extrasystoles in healthy professional athletes: results of a 5-year follow-up.

To assess the natural history of ventricular extrasystoles (VE), a 5-year follow-up of 52 professional endurance athletes was made. All remained well during this period. Forty-four accepted to undergo repeat extensive noninvasive cardiologic examination. In the 23 athletes still in activity at the second study the prevalence of total and complex VE at 24-hour Holter monitoring was substantially unchanged, while in the 21 subjects who had stopped training, complex VE were no longer present (p = 0.01 vs. baseline). Echocardiographic dimensional parameters were significantly higher in the still active athletes than in the no longer active subjects; however, in the latter, left ventricular mass index was still greater than in a group of 40 sedentary subjects previously studied (107 vs. 81 g/m2; p = 0.001). High-intensity physical training does not seem to be harmful in athletes with complex VE, without evidence of underlying cardiac disease.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Ventricular ectopic activity in physically trained hypertensive subjects.

Exercise training is currently recommended in the management of mild hypertension, but the relationship between training and ventricular arrhythmias has never been investigated in hypertensive subjects. Forty hypertensive sportsmen were studied by means of 24-h ECG Holter monitoring and the results were compared with those obtained in 40 sedentary hypertensives, 40 normotensive sportsmen and 40 normotensive sedentary subjects. Among the hypertensive sportsmen 82.5% exhibited at least one ventricular extrasystole and 32.5% complex forms of ectopy, a prevalence higher than that observed in the sedentary hypertensives (50% and 17.5%; P = 0.002). In the normotensive sportsmen the prevalence of ventricular arrhythmias (62.5% and 22.5%) was lower than that in the hypertensive sportsmen, but the difference was not statistically significant. During a training session the prevalence of ventricular ectopy was similar in the two groups of trained individuals. Among the hypertensive sportsmen no correlation was found between the severity of ventricular arrhythmias and the degree of left ventricular hypertrophy and performance. The results of the present study suggest that exercise training may enhance left ventricular vulnerability in hypertensive subjects. Whether subjects who manifest complex ventricular arrhythmias should continue to train remains a matter for individual judgement.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Comparison of ST segment changes on standard and Holter electrocardiogram during exercise testing.

In order to compare the ST segment changes recorded simultaneously on Holter (Del Mar Avionics 445B recorder and DCG VII Scanner) and standard electrocardiogram, 22 patients with chest discomfort and normal resting ECG were evaluated during exercise testing. The conventional ECG was recorded using chest lead V5 and a modified lead II. The Holter recording was done using the bipolar chest lead CM5 and the same modified lead II. Bifurcating electrodes permitted simultaneous recording of electrocardiogram on both systems from the same electrode sites. Seven of the 22 patients had a positive test and 15 had a negative test by both systems. In 7 positive cases the amplitude of ST segment depression was compared. The Holter lead CM5 showed higher amplitude of ST segment depressions in 6 cases compared to the conventional lead V5: 3 cases by 0.5 mm; 2 cases by 1 mm and 1 case by 2.5 mm. In 1 case it was identical. The amplitude of ST segment depression in lead CM5 ranged from 1 to 3.5 mm (mean 2.2 +/- 0.6 mm) and in lead V5 from 1 to 2.5 mm (mean 1.5 +/- 0.6 mm). Thus the amplitude of ST depression was higher in lead CM5 by a mean of 0.7 mm compared to the lead V5. ST segment depression was present only in 6 cases in the modified lead II. ST segment depressions were reproduced faithfully in 3 patients and within the variation of 0.5 mm in other 3 cases by the Holter system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1990

[Familial hypertrophic myocardiopathy: complex ventricular arrhythmias in healthy family members].

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the electrocardiographic changes among the members of a family affected by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Seventeen unaffected members and 8 affected members were studied by 24-hour Holter monitoring. Twenty-five normal controls were also studied by 24-hour Holter monitoring. One out of 7 (12.5%) patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, 8 out of 17 (47%) unaffected relatives and 20 out of 25 (80%) controls did not show ventricular arrhythmias. One out of 7 patients (12.5%), 4 out of 17 (23.5%) unaffected relatives and 3 out of 25 (12%) of the control group showed Lown classes I-II ventricular arrhythmias. Complex ventricular arrhythmias (III-V Lown classes) were detected in 5/7 (71.4%) of patients, in 5/17 (29.5%) of unaffected members and only in 2/25 (8%) of the normals. Among the unaffected members we compared the prevalence of complex ventricular arrhythmias between the offspring of patients with that of the unaffected first-grade relatives. Three out 7 (43%) of the offspring of the patients showed complex ventricular arrhythmias and none among the offspring of normal first-grade relatives showed such arrhythmias. Neither the patients nor their relatives in this study showed any significant ST segment changes during the 24-hour Holter monitoring. We suggest that in first-grade relatives of patients with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, complex ventricular arrhythmias could be a marker of latent disease, without clinical and echocardiographic manifestations.

Adolescent↗