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Biomedical subjects

I Málek

Publications and source records attributed to I Málek.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

TGF-beta I gene polymorphism in heart transplant recipients--effect on renal function.

Renal dysfunction is a severe late complication of heart transplantation (HTx). Transforming growth factor beta I (TGF beta I) is a potent multifunctional cytokine with profibrogeneic effect. TGF beta I gene polymorphism correlates with cytokine production. In the present study, we looked for a predictor of renal insufficiency after HTx. In 175 HTx pts and 268 controls, polymorphism in the signal peptide of the TGF beta gene, substitution of leucine-proline at codon 10 and arginine-proline at codon 25, was evaluated by PCR. Renal function was followed after HTx and was compared with the TGF beta I genotypes. There were no differences in the frequencies of alleles and genotypes of TGF beta I gene in the healthy population and HTx recipients; TGF beta I genotype distribution in recipients with ischemic heart disease and dilated cardiomyopathy was almost identical. Renal function was decreasing in most HTx recipients with time. Progression of renal insufficiency (RI) was worse in patients with Leu at codon 10 (LeuLeu vs. LeuPro p < 0.01, LeuLeu vs. ProPro; p < 0.01). RI progression was also more pronounced in individuals homozygous at codon 25 (ArgArg vs. ArgPro; p < 0.01). In individuals heterozygous at codon 10 (LeuPro), the genotype at codon 25 determined the progression of RI (LeuPro/ArgArg vs. LeuPro/ArgPro; p < 0.05). In our study, we have demonstrated the prognostic significance of TGF beta I gene polymorphism for renal insufficiency in heart transplant recipients.

Amino Acid Substitution↗
PubMed1999

Does angiotensin-converting enzyme polymorphism influence the clinical manifestation and progression of heart failure in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy?

To evaluate the role of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) polymorphism on the development of end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy, the ACE gene polymorphism of 90 patients after heart transplantation because of this disease was compared with the population sample. No difference in gene frequencies was found, but when compared with the population sample there were fewer ID heterozygotes detected; no significant influence of ACE polymorphism on the course of the disease before transplantation was found.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Heart transplantation at the Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine in Prague].

In the Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine in Prague 101 orthotopic allotransplantations of the heart were performed in 100 patients (87 men and 13 women). The reason for transplantation were terminal stages in the first place dilated cardiomyopathies and ischaemic heart disease. 58% of the patients survive after transplantation, the mortality rate is 42%. The highest mortality is in the early postoperative period (within two weeks after operation)--21 cases (50%). The longest survival period is nine years and six months. All patients have cyclosporin immunosuppressive treatment (in combination with another drug, later with another two drugs). In the authors' group in particular incipient acute rejections are encountered, "mild" rejections are less frequent and "moderate" rejections least frequent. The patients do not reach the stage of advanced acute rejection, i.e. "severe" rejection. Acute rejections are treated as a rule with 3 g Urbason. After this treatment acute rejection improves as a rule completely after one or two weeks therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Pericardial puncture under echocardiographic control].

The authors summarize their hitherto assembled experience with pericardiocentesis under echocardiographic control. From May 1986 to December 1991 they made these punctures 55 times in 49 patients. In the majority therapeutic puncture was involved, only seven times puncture was used for diagnostic purposes. Echocardiography can evaluate not only the presence of an exudate and assess its haemodynamic impact but it is the optimal method for finding an optimal site for puncture and it is very suitable for checking the course of the operation. In smaller operations and in biopsies of pathological pericardial tissue it is advisable to use special instruments which make the procedure safe. The authors recorded a total of three failures, in one instance the exudate was removed with the assistance of a surgeon, in one instance the situation was coped with by repeated puncture and in one instance by a conservative procedure. None of the patients developed complications. A list of the latter is discussed. The method is nowadays part of therapeutic procedures of the cardiologist.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Indications for heart transplantation].

Heart transplantation may have a considerable impact on the fate of the patient in the end stage of heart failure. A successful procedure requires the existence of a sophisticated programme combining the expertise of top departments of cardiology and cardiac surgery working in conjunction with the transplant centre directly responsible for removing the organ. One of the factors playing an important role in a favourable outcome is the correct indication for the procedure. The information on patient selection and criteria for the heart donor, presented in this paper, become increasingly important even for the practitioner in cardiology referring their patients to specialized departments. The paper also offers background information on the heart transplant programme in the Czech Republic suggesting the need for expanding the availability of the therapeutic method in this country.

Heart Transplantation↗
PubMed1993

[The patient after heart transplantation].

The data of the first 100 patients undergoing heart transplantation in the period between January 1984 and May 1993 were analyzed. Of this group, 57 patients are alive. Out of the total of 43 deaths, 14 patients died from graft failure within the first postoperative days, 6 died from surgical complications, 11 from infection, 10 deaths were due to accelerated coronary atherosclerosis, and 2 patients died from tumours. Early mortality rates (within 30 days since surgery) were 37% and 17% in patients operated on between 1984-88 and between 1989-93, respectively. The health condition of heart transplant recipients is affected by side effects of immunosuppressive therapy. Forty per cent of patients re-develop systemic hypertension within the first post-transplantation year. Five years after transplantation, hypertension is detected in 60% of patients. Elevated serum creatinine levels are present in 70% of patients by the end of the first post-transplantation year. In the ensuing period, there is no progression in renal function impairment, which does not require cyclosporin withdrawal and is not associated with the development of hypertension. In the first post-transplantation year, 45% of patients are markedly obese. All patients with overweight and obesity show markedly raised levels of serum cholesterol. Another undesirable effect (mainly due to corticosteroid therapy) is the development of ulcers in 16% of patients. Heart transplantation has become an established method at the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine in Prague. Despite the above pitfalls, heart transplantation substantially prolongs the life of patients and dramatically alters the quality of their life.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Infectious complications in patients after heart transplantation].

The incidence of infectious complications was monitored in a group of the first 100 patients undergoing orthotopic heart transplantation at the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine from January 1984 through May 1993. The definition of an infectious complication was a clinically manifest infection requiring treatment. Cytomegalovirus infection and Epstein-Barr virus infection were evaluated by the development of antibody against IgM. A total of 168 infectious complications were detected in 80 patients. The infectious complications were fatal in 11 patients; hence, infections were implicated in 26% of all deaths following heart transplantation. The spectrum of infections markedly varies depending on the interval since the procedure. The most frequent infections within the 30 postoperative days are bacterial (often nosocomial) infections. In the later period (30 days onward), viral infections account for 72% of cases. Of the rarer types of infections, the pulmonary form of aspergillosis was identified in 3 cases, nocardiosis and legionellosis in one case each. Infectious complications were the main cause of deaths in the period of 1 to 4 months post-transplantation, and the spectrum and rate of complications were not different from data reported by other centres.

Heart Transplantation↗
PubMed1993

[Coronary disease in patients after heart transplantation].

Coronary artery lesions are evaluated in a group of 43 patients surviving for more than 3 months after heart transplantation. An angiographic finding was obtained from 35 patients, autopsy findings were available in eight cases. Angiography demonstrated coronary artery lesions in 12 out of the 35 patients whereas autopsy findings were positive in five out of the eight post mortem examinations. Overall, lesions were found in 40% of patients at a mean follow-up interval of 3.5 years. While the finding of a coronary artery lesion was not related to the classic risk factors for atherosclerosis, an association to a previous cytomegalovirus or Epstein-Barr virus infection was demonstrated. The data suggest that infection caused by the two above viruses is an important factor in the development of vascular lesions in the heart transplant.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Precordial isopotential electrocardiographic mapping and its clinical use in patients with ischaemic heart disease.

After ten years of experience, the authors present an overview of the possible clinical uses of precordial isopotential electrocardiographic mapping in patients with ischaemic heart disease. The resting Q wave and ST segment maps have most often been found useful in the early phases of myocardial infarction. They are a helpful tool for monitoring progression of the disease, the effect of drugs, or the therapeutic effect of fibrinolytic therapy, etc. R wave mapping provides an excellent opportunity for following up patients after orthotopic heart transplantation and monitoring cardiac rejection. Stress tests are usually performed under a workload; alternative loads may be mental, pharmacological, stimulation-induced or under hypoxaemic stress. To evaluate a test, resting values are compared with those obtained during exercise. It is mainly exercise ST segment maps which have proved to be most informative; their use in the chronic phase of ischaemic heart disease helps to make the diagnosis of coronary insufficiency more accurate. In clinical practice, stress tests are recommended mostly in the follow-up of drug therapy, monitoring of the therapeutic effect of cardiac surgery or coronary angioplasty.

Coronary Disease↗
PubMed1993

[Myocarditis and endomyocardial biopsy].

In a group of endomyocardial biopsies (EMB), performed in 45 patients with the clinical diagnosis of suspect myocarditis or dilated cardiomyopathy, positive findings (including histologically suspect lesions) were made in 53.3% of first EMB. Myocarditis, particularly its focal or multifocal forms, is bound to pose a major challenge not only in clinical diagnosis but, often, also in histological diagnosis. Of paramount importance in this situation are 1) early specimen removal after the onset of clinical manifestations and before initiation of the appropriate therapy, 2) removal of a major number of specimens in a single EMB because of the potential of focal lesions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Left main coronary artery stenosis.

Between 1 January, 1989, and 28 April, 1990, a total of 888 selective coronary arteriographies were performed at the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine in Prague. Of that number, 58 findings were assessed as at least 50% stenosis of the left main coronary artery (LCA). Having applied exclusion criteria, 50 patients (i.e., 5.63% of all those examined) were entered into a retrospective study. They were 45 men (90.0%) and 5 women (10.0%) with significant cumulation of risk factors for IHD; more than half on them had a history of coronary event. The patients had marked symptomatology--NYHA Class III and higher angina pectoris was present in 96%, a low tolerance of exercise was found in 26 patients undergoing ergometry (average workload of 13 kJ and heart rate of 111/min); exercise testing was invariably evaluated as positive. Coronary angiography regularly revealed multiple coronary artery lesions; the right coronary artery was also involved in 90%; a collateral circulation was present in as little as 34%. The localization of coronary stenoses and the mostly preserved left ventricular mechanical function allowed operative management of IHD in 84% of cases. In the group of patients undergoing surgery, hospital mortality was 4.8%. On long-term follow-up (mean 6.2 months) of the group of patients operated on, 59.9% were free of problem, 31% had NYHA Class II angina pectoris, and there was no improvement at all in one patient only (2.4%). In the group provided conservative therapy (not operated on primarily for severe left ventricular dysfunction), one patient died of recurrent myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock, 2 have NYHA Class IV angina pectoris, and the remaining subjects continue experiencing NYHA Class III problems.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Long-term results of tricuspid annuloplasty according to DeVega.

The long-term results on 36 patients undergoing tricuspid annuloplasty according to DeVega over the years 1981-1990 were analyzed. All had mitral valve replacement or repair in addition to the above procedure. Moreover, three patients had aortic valve replacement while aortocoronary bypass and interatrial septal defect closure was performed in two cases each. Duration of follow-up ranged between 6 to 72 months (mean 36 months). All patients were examined by echocardiography. Significant tricuspid regurgitation was found in three of the patients operated on, manifest clinical signs of the condition were present in one female patient only. Functional evaluation reassigned 72% of the operated patients from Class III and IV to Class I and II, and apparent subjective improvement was reported by 81% of patients. The analysis showed that indication of patients for simultaneous management of tricuspid regurgitation associated with mitral valve disease is justified, and that the surgical technique employed is appropriate.

Aortic Valve↗
PubMed1992

[Personal experience with heart transplantation].

During the period from 1984-1991 in the Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine 72 orthotopic transplantations of the heart were performed in 71 patients with irreversible cardiac failure. Indication for transplantation in 39 patients was IHD, in 28 cardiomyopathy, in 3 RHD and in one instance a tumour. The mean age of the patients was 41 years, the youngest patient was 17 and the oldest 62 years old. Immunosuppression involved a combination of three preparations Azathioprine, corticoids and Cyclosporine A. Nineteen patients died within one month after operation. The most frequent cause of death was cardiac failure. As to postoperative complications, renal failure was most frequent. Fifty patients were followed-up on a long-term basis. The longest survival period was 8 years and 2 months. The most frequent cause of death in the long-term follow-up was sudden death caused in the majority most probably by rapid development of coronary disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Myocardial scintigraphy using 99m-Tc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (Tc-MIBI): Is it equivalent to 201-Tl?.

The results of selective coronary angiography, myocardial 201-Tl scintigraphy (stress and redistribution) and after 99m-Tc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile stress and rest injections (Tc-MIBI, Cardiolite, DuPont de Nemours, USA) were compared in 19 patients with manifest ischemic heart disease in identical three projections and after same ergometric load. All three investigations were carried out within three consecutive days. 16 patients had significant stenoses of 1-3 main coronary arteries inclusive of left coronary artery main stem, insignificant stenoses (less than 50%) were present in remaining 3 patients. Scintigraphic localizations of accumulation defects in both Tc-MIBI and 201-Tl stress scintigraphy were in accordance in 70.6% of evaluated left ventricular wall segments. A positive 201-Tl redistribution and rest-stress Tc-MIBI scintigraphic difference agreed in 52.6% images of all three projections with verified accumulation defects. The sensitivity of the detection of ischemic area in reference to the coronary angiography was nearly identical in 201-Tl (75%) and Tc-MIBI scintigraphy (81.2%). False positive accumulation defects in the apical area were revealed in three patients with insignificant coronaro-angographic findings equally after both radiopharmaceuticals. Better physical properties of 99m-Tc from the point of view of a gamma camera detection, a possibility to get markedly higher counting rate and sufficient accumulation of the radiopharmaceutical in the perfused myocardium enable to reach scintigraphic pictures with a high contrast after labelled Tc-MIBI injection, even in case of sequential impulse summation during heart cycle (gating). Thus MIBI labelled by 99m-Tc is equivalent to 201-Tl as used for myocardial scintigraphy in patients with ischemic heart disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Endomyocardial biopsy and acute rejection in heart transplantation].

Nearly 6-year experience with EMB in patients with transplanted heart concerned especially problems of acute rejection. EMB proved to be a sensitive and for the time being unique method for the detection of acute rejection in patients treated by Cyclosporine immunosuppression. EMB were also criterion of correctness of immunosuppression because they reflected changes in treatment.

Acute Disease↗