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Biomedical subjects

H Klepzig

Publications and source records attributed to H Klepzig.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Captopril in acute myocardial infarction: beneficial effects on infarct size and arrhythmias.

It is known from experiments that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors can limit infarct size. In a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind study, 22 patients were given 1.5-2.0 mg captopril/h i.v., while 24 patients were given placebo. Medication was started between 2 and 18 h from the onset of infarction. The two groups were matched for age, infarct location, and time of intervention. With the exception of one patient in either group, all were concurrently given nitroglycerin. The necrosis parameters were provided by the quantitative measurement of the QRS complex. The Q wave decreased with captopril treatment (-0.003 mV), but increased with placebo (+0.14 mV, p < 0.05). The number of ventricular premature beats at 24 h from the start of treatment was 25/h with placebo, and 9/h with captopril (p < 0.02). Ventricular fibrillation occurred seven times in the placebo group, but did not occur in the captopril group. The creatine kinase infarct weight was 59 gram-equivalents (gEq) with placebo, and 45 gEq with captopril (p = NS). Mean arterial pressure was reduced by 12 mmHg with captopril treatment. The results show a beneficial effect of captopril on infarct size and electrical instability, over and above the effect of standard management with nitroglycerin and thrombolysis.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors

Sympathetic re-innervation after heart transplantation: dual-isotope neurotransmitter scintigraphy, norepinephrine content and histological examination.

Cardiac transplantation entails surgical disruption of the sympathetic nerve fibres from their somata, resulting in sympathetic denervation. In order to investigate the occurrence of sympathetic re-innervation, neurotransmitter scintigraphy using the norepinephrine analogue iodine-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) was performed in 15 patients 2-69 months after transplantation. In addition, norepinephrine content and immunohistochemical reactions of antibodies to Schwann cell-associated S100 protein, to neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and to norepinephrine were examined in 34 endomyocardial biopsies of 29 patients 1-88 months after transplantation. Anterobasal 123I-MIBG uptake indicating partial sympathetic re-innervation could be shown in 40% of the scintigraphically investigated patients 37-69 months after transplantation. In immunohistochemical studies 83% of the patients investigated 1-72 months after transplantation showed nerve fibres in their biopsies but not positive reaction to norepinephrine. Significant norepinephrine content indicating re-innervation could not be detected in any biopsy. It was concluded that in spite of the lack of norepinephrine content there seemed to be immunohistological and scintigraphic evidence of sympathetic re-innervation. An explanation for this contradictory finding may be the reduced or missing norepinephrine storage ability compared to the restored uptake ability of regenerated sympathetic nerve fibres.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine

[Lowering increased cholesterol--prolonging life?].

Epidemiologic surveys reveal a positive correlation between serum cholesterol levels and the incidence of coronary artery disease. Intervention trials demonstrated that a reduction of serum cholesterol by 1% results in a decrease of coronary non-fatal events by 2%. Fatal coronary events remain almost uninfluenced. On the other side, several intervention trials showed an excess mortality from non-cardiac causes in the therapy groups (i.e. malignant tumors, suicides, accidents). Thus, until now no prolongation of life expectancy could be verified by cholesterol lowering measures.

Cause of Death

[Iatrogenic origin of pleural effusion. A rare complication of the central venous catheter].

CASE REPORT: A 47-year-old woman with unremarkable plain chest X-rays in whom the Seldinger technique was employed to place a central venous line via the jugular vein, a catheter-related pleural effusion developed. CONCLUSIONS: This case points up the need to exercise care when placing a central venous line, and suggests the need to use contrast medium for the radiological follow-up examination.

Acute Disease

[Captopril in acute myocardial infarct: its effect on infarct size and arrhythmias].

The effect of captopril on infarct size and arrhythmias was determined in a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind study of 46 patients (9 women, 37 men; mean age 61 [38-86] years). Within 2-18 hours of entry into the study these patients received either a slow intravenous bolus injection of 2.5 or 5.0 mg captopril followed by a continuous infusion of 1.5-2.0 mg/h for a period of 48 hours (n = 22), or of a placebo by the same mode of administration (n = 24). The two groups were comparable as to age, infarct site and time of intervention. All patients, except one in each group, also received nitroglycerin (1.2-6.0 mg/h intravenously). QRS complexes were measured to provide a necrosis index. Q-wave amplitudes decreased under captopril (-0.08 +/- 0.04 mV) while increasing under placebo (+0.15 +/- 0.04 mV; P less than 0.05). The number of ventricular extrasystoles in the first 24 hours after onset of treatment or on placebo was 25/h and 9/h, respectively (P less than 0.02). Ventricular fibrillation occurred in 7 patients of the placebo group, in none of the captopril group. Creatine-kinase infarct weight was 59 and 45 gram-equivalents, respectively (placebo vs treated group: not significant). The mean arterial blood pressure fell by 14 mm Hg during the first hour in the captopril group, but by only 3 mm Hg on placebo (P less than 0.01). These results indicate that captopril has a favourable influence on infarct size and electrical stability which is additional to that provided by standard nitroglycerin treatment.

Adult

Effect of propranolol and disopyramide on left ventricular function at rest and during exercise in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

In 19 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (15 males, 4 females, mean age 49.2 +/- 10.8 years) left ventricular function was studied with radionuclide ventriculography at rest and during exercise in a crossover design without intervention and after disopyramide and propranolol treatment. 15 of the 19 patients had a resting or latent intraventricular gradient of more than 30 mm Hg. Left ventricular function at rest and during exercise was evaluated before medication, 90 min after oral administration of 200 mg disopyramide or 160 mg propranolol and after 3 weeks of oral therapy with disopyramide 200 mg 2 times a day or propranolol 80 mg 4 times a day. After long-term treatment with disopyramide, resting ejection fraction decreased from 72 +/- 12 to 69 +/- 14% (p less than 0.01) and peak ejection rate (PER) decreased from 3.46 +/- 135 to 3.24 +/- 65 end-diastolic volume (EDV).s-1 (p less than 0.01). Peak filling rate (PFR) at rest decreased from 3.01 +/- 0.8 to 2.77 +/- 0.63 EDV.s-1 (p less than 0.05). Time to peak filling rate (TPFR) at rest and during exercise after acute and chronic therapy did not change compared to control values. Acute and long-term administration of propranolol lead to a significant reduction in heart rate at rest and during exercise.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Oral

[Myocardial function before and after reopening of chronic coronary occlusion].

To assess the myocardial function before and after reopening of chronic coronary artery occlusions, 20 patients were investigated at rest and during exercise with ECG and equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography. The recanalisation of the chronically occluded vessel was carried out by means of Rotacs-catheter in 17 patients, of a guide wire enforced by recanalisation-catheter in 2 patients and of a thin guide wire alone in 1 patient, always followed by conventional balloon angioplasty. After successful PTCA the average coronary artery stenosis diameter decreased from 100% to 34 +/- 6%. Angina pectoris and/or dyspnea observed during exercise were improved in 83% of the patients. The radionuclide global left ventricular ejection fraction at rest increased from 55 +/- 9% to 59 +/- 10% (p < 0.05), and during exercise from 52 +/- 12% to 61 +/- 12% (p < 0.05). The improvement in global ejection fraction at rest was more pronounced in 5 patients, who suffered from angina pectoris at rest before PTCA (from 56 +/- 4% to 65 +/- 9%, p < 0.05). It is concluded that reopening of chronically occluded coronary arteries in properly selected patients leads to a significant improvement of the global left ventricular function at rest and during exercise.

Adult

[Cholesterol lowering and life expectancy: a critical evaluation].

Numerous studies have confirmed a positive correlation between serum cholesterol levels and the occurrence of coronary artery disease. Lowering cholesterol by 1% is accompanied by a reduction of coronary events by 2%. The rate of fatal coronary events is not significantly influenced. Coronary angiography demonstrated only a mild average reduction of coronary lesions after cholesterol-lowering therapy. This might be explained by the low lipid content of a coronary plaque (5-15%). The majority of intervention trials revealed an increase of the extracardiac mortality in treatment groups. Thus, up to the present, it remains unproven that cholesterol-lowering therapy leads to an increase in life expectancy.

Cholesterol

Impairment of left ventricular function during coronary angioplastic occlusion evaluated with a nonimaging scintillation probe.

Impairment of left ventricular function during controlled myocardial ischemia induced by coronary angioplasty has been reported from angiographic and echocardiographic studies. Ejection fraction, peak ejection, peak filling rates, and end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes were investigated before, during and after coronary occlusion on-line with a nonimaging scintillation probe. The study consisted of 18 patients (mean age 59 +/- 10 years) with coronary artery stenosis of greater than 70%. During balloon inflation of 60 seconds' duration, coronary occlusion pressure was 31.6 +/- 12 mm Hg. There was no significant change in heart rate. Delay between first and second dilatation was 109 +/- 63 seconds. Ejection fraction decreased from 53 +/- 16 to 40 +/- 12% (first dilatation, p less than 0.01) and to 39 +/- 14% (second dilatation, p less than 0.01) and recovered to 51 +/- 16% 5 minutes after the second dilatation. Peak ejection rate was significantly reduced during the first and second balloon inflations. Peak filling rate decreased from 2.5 +/- 0.8 to 2.0 +/- 0.7 end-diastolic volume.s-1 (first dilatation, p less than 0.01) and to 1.8 +/- 0.7 end-diastolic volume.s-1 (second dilatation, p less than 0.01) and remained reduced at 2.2 +/- 0.7 end-diastolic volume.s-1 (p = not significant) at 5 minutes after the second dilatation. End-systolic and end-diastolic volumes increased significantly during the first and second dilatations and returned to normal after dilatation. It is concluded that short, controlled myocardial ischemia during coronary angioplasty leads to a decrease in systolic and diastolic left ventricular function. Sequential dilatations do not further decrease function if a sufficient interval is kept.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary

[Aortic valve insufficiency. Diagnosis, course, therapy].

A radionuclide ventriculographic procedure for the accurate quantification of aortic insufficiency has been developed, and its use in follow-up, pharmacotherapy and surgical planning tested. In 28 patients, follow-up over a period of 20 months revealed only slow progression of the chronic aortic insufficiency; worsening of the symptoms leading to the need for valve replacement was associated with a rapid deterioration of objective parameters. In patients with a stable condition, captopril administered for 4-8 weeks failed to reduce left ventricular overload to any significant extent, while reduction in volume overload was observed in patients with accompanying congestive heart failure or systemic hypertension. Clinical analysis revealed that, as a rule, the indication for valve replacement must be based on follow-up examination. If radionuclide ventriculography reveals a disproportionate enlargement of the ventricle, surgery is indicated even in the absence of symptoms.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors

[Effect of bypass operation and balloon angioplasty on heart function at rest].

Improvement of exercise left-ventricular ejection fraction after successful aortocoronary bypass operation and transluminal coronary angioplasty has been demonstrated. The purpose of this study was to investigate in which patients improvement of left-ventricular function at rest can be observed. Radionuclide ventriculography and exercise stress test was carried out in 34 patients before and after successful aortocoronary bypass operation (Group 1), and in 69 patients before and after successful transluminal coronary angioplasty (Group 2). After bypass surgery, mean ejection fraction at rest increased from 42 +/- 11 to 49 +/- 13% (p less than 0.001). Marked improvement (greater than or equal to 5%) was observed in 19 patients (56%) in whom severe myocardial ischemia could be documented during exercise ECG (Group 1.1: Increase of ejection fraction from 40 +/- 14 to 54 +/- 12%, p less than 0.001; ischemia score during exercise test 8.8 +/- 10). In the remaining 15 patients no significant improvement occurred (Group 1.2: 43 +/- 16 vs. 43 +/- 16%, p = n.s.; ischemia score during exercise test 3.2 +/- 2.4, p = 0.02 vs. Group 1.1). After angioplasty, resting left-ventricular ejection fraction increased, on average, from 50 +/- 11 to 52 +/- 12% (p less than 0.001). Comparable to the results observed in patients after surgery, improvement was most pronounced in patients with severe exercise-induced ST-depression (Group 2.1: Increase of ejection fraction from 49 +/- 10 to 58 +/- 10%, p less than 0.001; ischemia score during exercise 2.5 +/- 2.3).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged

Analysis of 100 emergency aortocoronary bypass operations after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty: which patients are at risk for large infarctions?

Severe vascular complications are an inherent risk of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Data from 100 emergency aortocoronary bypass operations required after 2850 interventions (3.5%) were retrospectively analysed in order to identify factors that determine postoperative infarct size. Large infarctions were assumed if the patient died of cardiogenic shock (n = 12), if postoperative angiography demonstrated a decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction of more than 20% of if R-waves in the ECG decreased by more than 40% and a QRS-score increased by more than 5. According to these definitions, 29 patients experienced large infarctions, while 71 experienced no or only small infarctions. The following factors differentiated the two groups: age (58 vs 53 years, P = 0.008), pre-PTCA exercise work load (88 vs 118 Watts, P = 0.0001), exercise ischaemia score (2.7 vs 1.9, P = 0.045), degree of pre-PTCA stenosis (83 vs 86%, P = 0.03), coronary multivessel versus single vessel disease (60 vs 38%, P = 0.02), collaterals to the target vessel (10 vs 34%, P = 0.05), total vascular occlusion during PTCA (76 vs 56%, P = 0.035), and long duration of ischaemia after onset of the complication (253 vs 179 min, P = 0.012). Data from patients with large postoperative infarctions who survived ranged between those with no or small infarctions and those who died of cardiogenic shock. Higher age (P = 0.04), reduced exercise tolerance (P = 0.0004), absence of collaterals (P = 0.04), and duration of ischaemia until reperfusion (P = 0.001) were independent predictors of large postoperative myocardial infarctions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary

[Experiences with the application of monoclonal Indium-111 antimyosin scintigraphy in the diagnosis of rejection episodes following orthotopic heart transplantation].

Indium-111-labeled Fab fragment imaging using a murine antimyosin monoclonal antibody (Myoscint, Centocor, Leiden) was evaluated for efficacy in detecting cardiac allograft rejection. Diagnosis of rejection was made by endomyocardial biopsy with four to five samples taken for each procedure. Eighty-one studies were performed in 25 patients (21 men, four women, mean age 50 +/- 9 years) from 2 weeks to 45 months after cardiac transplantation. 0.5 mg of the monoclonal antibody labeled with 60 MBq Indium-111 (Antimyosin-Fab-DTPA) was administered i.v. Planar scintigraphic images were obtained in LAO 45 and anterior projections as well as "half-body-scintigrams" 48 h after injection. Using the regions-of-interest-(ROI)technique the relative uptake over the lung and the heart was determined and an index of In-111 uptake was calculated. A heart-to-lung ratio of 1.5 or higher was considered indicative for moderate to severe rejection. Specificity was 86% (nine false-positive In-111 studies in 68 negative biopsy studies), sensitivity was 85% (two false-negative In-111 studies in 13 pathological biopsy studies). It is concluded that the In-111 method has a high sensitivity and specificity in detecting heart transplant rejection and may be useful in the monitoring of patients in the chronic phase after heart transplantation. The 48-h delay in establishing the diagnosis limits the applicability in acute severe rejection.

Adult

[Improved left ventricular function and perfusion at rest following transluminal coronary angioplasty].

The purpose of this study was to evaluate left ventricular function and perfusion at rest before and after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. In consecutive 69 patients in whom coronary stenoses were dilated, the radionuclide left ventricular ejection fraction at rest increased significantly. In 26 of these patients, the ejection fraction increased by at least 4%. In these patients, exercise-induced ischemic ST depression had been more pronounced than in the others. 36 other patients underwent 201TI myocardial scintigraphy before and after angioplasty. Twelve patients in whom pre-PTCA images had revealed regions with irreversible 201TI uptake defects, showed normal 201TI distribution patterns on post-PTCA scintigrams. Post-exercise 201TI uptake (representing myocardial perfusion and metabolic activity) during pre-PTCA exercise stress tests was significantly lower in these cases. It is concluded that PTCA can improve left ventricular function and perfusion at rest. This improvement is most obvious in patients with pronounced exercise-induced myocardial ischemia as diagnosed by typical ST segment depression and reduced thallium uptake.

Adult

[Multiparametric analysis using radionuclide ventriculography in the assessment of left ventricular function following heart transplantation].

Left ventricular systolic and diastolic performance was evaluated by radionuclide angiography in 17 patients following cardiac transplantation and compared with normal persons. Both groups performed supine bicycle exercise during the investigation, the control group at 102 +/- 73 W and the transplanted patients at 61.2 +/- 15 W. The ejection fraction increased in the normal persons from 61 +/- 8 to 69 +/- 10% whereas in the transplanted patients it did not increase significantly. There were no relevant changes in systolic parameters during exercise in the transplant recipients. The changes in diastolic parameters were significantly smaller in transplant patients than in normals. After correction for heart rate-induced changes a significantly different time course of the systolic-diastolic sequence during the cardiac cycle became evident in the transplanted group at rest. During exercise the systolic-diastolic sequence during the cardiac cycle became similar in both groups. It is concluded that the reduced exercise capacity of patients in the late phase after cardiac transplantation is partially due to the absence of an EF increase and a limitation of diastolic reserve during exercise.

Adult

[Coronary angioplasty--can the risk of recurrence be predicted on the day of surgery? A prospective study].

Data from a retrospective study defining seven parameters of increased risk of restenosis after successful transluminal coronary angioplasty (high-grade stenoses, long stenoses, eccentric stenoses, use of high pressure, extended time of balloon inflation, stenoses in obese patients, stenoses in patients without a history of smoking) were fed into a computer. A discriminant analysis was made and an algorithm for prediction of restenosis was defined. The validity of prediction was prospectively tested in 101 patients. In 80/101 (79.2%) prediction was possible; in 21/101 (20.8%) it was not possible. In 15/80 patients (18.8%) the prediction was: "restenosis probable"; in 65/80 patients (81.2%): "restenosis not probable". After 4.4 months 93/101 patients (92.1%) had an angiographic follow-up. The prediction "restenosis" proved to be correct in 13/15 patients (86.7%), and the prediction "no restenosis" was correct in 56/65 patients (86.2%). It is concluded that in the majority of patients the risk of restenosis can be predicted immediately after the intervention.

Adult

[Long-term clinical follow-up after coronary dilatation].

To determine the long-term clinical course after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), 841 patients, 615 with successful PTCA and 226 without, were restudied by questionnaire 2-9 years after the intervention. After successful PTCA a lasting symptomatic improvement was seen in 78% of patients vs 55% of patients without successful PTCA (p less than 0.0001). The probability of myocardial infarction 8 years after successful PTCA was 6% vs 24% after unsuccessful PTCA (p less than 0.0005). The 8-year survival probability (non-cardiac deaths excluded) was 95.7% in patients with demonstrable PTCA success, and 92.0% in patients without (p less than 0.05). Similar significant differences in favor of patients with successful PTCA were seen in the long-term prognosis of patients with single-vessel disease (n = 580). It is concluded that a long-term improvement of the cardiac prognosis by successful PTCA is probable.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary

[Long-term therapy following myocardial infarct with isosorbide dinitrate in a low and high dose].

The favorable response to nitrates in the case of coronary heart diseases is based on both reduction in left ventricular pre- and afterload and improvement in coronary flow. These effects were studied in the setting of a long-term ISDN therapy with reference to the prognosis of patients after myocardial infarction. Following acute treatment in the respective hospitals, 608 patients with myocardial infarctions were allocated to two double-blind treatment groups with different ISDN dosage levels (group 1 = 5 x 2.5 mg i.d.; group 2 = 5 x 40 mg i.d.) and followed up over a period of 2 years. No differences were found with regard to the end points sudden cardiac death, reinfraction, and indication for revascularization. There was, however, a more frequent additional administration of calciumantagonists to patients of the low-dose group (p less than 0.05), a more frequent drop-out due to the lack of beneficial therapeutic results, and a more exceptional drop-out due to side effects in patients treated with low doses of ISDN (n.s.). The absence of any significant difference with regard to the end points might be attributed to; 1) a loss of potency of high-dose ISDN and simultaneous ineffectiveness of low-dose ISDN; 2) an efficacy of low doses; 3) an absence of actual influence on the target parameters, and 4) an inadequate follow-up time period.

Coronary Circulation