[Cardiology in Sweden--risk of unnecessary surgery?].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to I Cullhed.
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Myoglobin has been measured in sera from 305 consecutive patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction (AMI) to study the clinical value in relation to other diagnostic methods. On admission the frequency of false negative (i.e. the diagnostic sensitivity) myoglobin values was 28% in the AMI group as compared with 60% for serum creatine kinase (CK) and 46% for serum aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT). Four hours after admission the corresponding figures were 2, 31 and 29%. This makes the diagnostic sensitivity of the myoglobin test 0.98, which is significantly higher (p less than 0.001) than that of the two enzyme tests. The predictive value of a negative myoglobin test was 0.97 and also significantly higher (p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.01) than for CK and ASAT. S-myoglobin was further related to the number of complications and the prognosis of the patients, and high levels appeared to be an unfavourable sign, particularly in combination with an anterior wall infarct. This study has demonstrated and confirmed the superior diagnostic sensitivity of myoglobin determination in early AMI. The inclusion of S-myoglobin in the routine diagnosis of AMI warrants serious consideration.
The long-term results of open-heart valve surgery in Uppsala in the period 1959-1974 were reviewed. The total number of patients operated on was 677 and the mean follow-up time was 10 years (range 5-22 years). The operative mortality was high in the early years, but fell to 11-12% towards the end of the period. The main long-term complication was embolism. The frequency of late reoperation was 10-20%, reflecting the limited durability of the early mechanical valves and of subsequently used biologic valves. The actuarial 10-year survival, calculated as 50%, was approximately equal among the patients with aortic and those with mitral valve disease. The predominant late causes of death (60-75%) were 'cardiac', including myocardial as well as valve-related causes. Follow-up investigation comprised 244 survivors. In general there was considerable functional improvement both in the aortic and in the mitral group. Valvular insufficiency leading to reoperation was detected at follow-up examination in 6-8% of the patients.
A case of atrial fibrillation during pregnancy in a 20-year-old patient with valvular heart disease is presented. Synchronized direct-current cardioversion was carried out successfully during monitoring of maternal and fetal ECG. Previously published cases are reviewed.
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The occurrence of myocardial infarction (MI) in subjects younger than 35 years of age is the subject of this work. The aims were to evaluate the validity of the diagnosis and to study the long-term prognosis for these patients. Through the central data register of all hospital discharges in the Uppsala hospital region (approximately 1.25 mill. inhabitants) 30 patient histories were obtained. They were carefully evaluated and all survivors were invited to an examination at the Department of Cardiology. The follow-up period from the initial hospital stay was up to 11 years. The hospital mortality among 14 subjects with MI and coronary atheromatosis was 29%, increasing to 43% in the follow-up period. Six of the seven investigated survivors in this group were symptom-free and full-time employed. Hyperlipoproteinemia, smoking and heredity for ischemic heart disease seemed to be the most important risk factors among the 14 subjects in this group. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the validity of diagnoses obtained from central data register. In ten patients the initial diagnosis had been incorrect.
Measurements of eosinophil cationic protein in serum (S-ECP) have been made in patients with acute myocardial infarction. In spite of low numbers of blood eosinophils in the acute phase of the disease S-ECP levels fluctuated widely with often markedly raised levels. Peak levels of S-ECP were significantly correlated (P less than 0.001) to peak numbers of blood eosinophils, although the former usually occurred within the first 2-3 d of illness and the latter usually after the sixth day. Intravenous injection of 0.5 g methylprednisolone in healthy individuals reduced blood eosinophil counts for at least 24 h, but S-ECP levels remained within normal limits. These results suggest that ECP is released from eosinophils in vivo. The raised levels of S-ECP in patients with acute myocardial infarction are probably due to the active participation of eosinophils in the inflammatory process.
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The ejection fraction of the left ventricle was determined by videodensitometry in 121 patients with angina pectoris. The mean value was 31 per cent. This estimation, which is easily performed by the method described, gives important and accurate information on the left ventricular function which, added to other parameters, should increase the reliability of the clinical evaluation of the patient.
Using a solid-phase radioimmunoassay for detection of serum myoglobin, the pattern of myoglobinemia was investigated in patients with acute myocardial infarction. All patients with acute infarcts had a marked rise in serum myoglobin concentration. Peak serum myoglobin concentration was found on an average 9 h after the initial onset of chest pain. Late onset of myoglobin peaks without signs of reinfarction as well as sustained abnormal myoglobinemia, in the majority of patients, could be explained by impaired renal function. The peak serum level of myoglobin correlated (r = 0.92) to the peak level of ASAT supporting the idea that the detection of myoglobin in serum may be a useful diagnostic aid in the qualitative diagnosis of myocardial infarction.
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The videodensitometer has been used in a group of 20 patients with aortic incompetence and incompetence combined with stenosis. The method appears effective in the preoperative evaluation of the valvular and ventricular function of the patient. It gives objective and probably more accurate information of the regurgitation fraction and the ejection fraction than the commonly used semiquantitative methods. The method is simple to use and needs no technical changes in the roentgen equipment.