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Biomedical subjects

J Clementy

Publications and source records attributed to J Clementy.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Flecainide acetate in the prevention of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: a nine-month follow-up of more than 500 patients.

In order to assess efficacy, safety, and long-term tolerance of flecainide for the prevention of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), 944 patients (555 male) were enrolled in an open multicenter study. All patients had had greater than or equal to 1 episodes of atrial fibrillation and were in sinus rhythm at the time of entry. The mean age was 65.3 +/- 11 years, and 43% of patients had no detectable heart disease. The mean daily dose of flecainide was 190 +/- 34 mg. Clinical examination, electrocardiogram (ECG) and 24-hour Holter monitoring were performed at entry into the study and on months 3, 6, and 9. Of the patients, 189 were lost to follow-up. Of the remaining 755 patients, 562 (74%) continued the treatment during the 9-month period and 193 (26%) dropped out. A total of 84 adverse effects were reported in 7.6% enrolled patients and in 9% of patients during follow-up, with treatment interruption in 50% of the cases. There were only 3 minor cardiovascular side effects, all leading to treatment discontinuation. No deaths in patients with recurrent PAF and no proarrhythmic events were reported. Flecainide appears to be effective in preventing PAF, with 65% of patients being arrhythmia-free after 9 months of treatment at a mean daily dose of 200 mg. Side effects were common, but clinically significant adverse events were infrequent.

Atrial Fibrillation

Evaluation of bepridil efficacy by electrophysiologic testing in patients with recurrent ventricular tachycardia: comparison of two regimens.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate this effect of different doses of intravenous and oral bepridil on the induction of ventricular tachycardia. Thirty-eight patients underwent electrophysiologic evaluation for recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT). Sustained monomorphic VT was induced by programmed ventricular stimulation, using up to three extrastimuli in all patients. The effects of intravenous bepridil (2 mg/kg) were evaluated during the initial study. Intravenous bepridil prevented the induction of sustained VT in eight patients (21%). Electrophysiologic study was repeated after oral bepridil. In six patients the study was stopped because of adverse effects or VT recurrence. Thirty-two patients underwent repeat study 7 days later, taking oral bepridil, 500 mg/day (n = 16) or 900/day (n = 16). A dose of 500 mg/day of bepridil prevented the induction of sustained VT in only one patient. A dose of 900 mg/day of bepridil prevented the induction of sustained VT in eight patients. There were no significant clinical adverse effects, except in one patient receiving intravenous bepridil. The response to intravenous bepridil did not predict the response to oral bepridil. The response to intravenous or oral bepridil was not related to the plasma level of bepridil but was related to a higher left ventricular ejection fraction. Eight patients (21%) in whom VTs were noninducible on oral bepridil were discharged on 300 mg/day of bepridil if their initial loading dose was 500 mg/day or on 600 mg/day if their initial loading dose was 900 mg/day. They remained free of VT during a follow-up of at least 6 months.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Oral

[Low calcium channel inhibitors: modalities for use].

The recent discovery of numerous new "calcium inhibiting" molecules and the multiplicity of their indications in cardiology and in other specialties have made it necessary to clarify their position in the armory of medical treatments in cardiology and their associations with other treatments. Before describing the various protocols for the use of calcium channel inhibitors, the article describes the basic factors involved in the choice of the most appropriate calcium channel inhibitor on the basis of their mechanisms of action, the tissue selectivity, the pharmacokinetic profile and the formulations available.

Calcium

[Fulguration of accessory pathways in children. Value of two-dimensional echocardiography].

Six children (4 boys and 2 girls) aged from 3 to 7 years who had an accessory pathway and were suffering from paroxysmal (n = 4) or permanent (n = 2) refractory reciprocating tachycardia underwent transcatheter ablation of the accessory pathway alone in 5 cases and of the normal and accessory pathways in 1 case. Conduction in the accessory pathway was interrupted in 3 cases and sufficiently modified in 2 cases for the attacks of tachycardia to be suppressed by a simple and previously ineffective medical treatment. There was one failure. The authors underline the value of two-dimensional echocardiography in such cases. This technique is useful in the preoperative evaluation, during catheter insertion, and also in the choice of the electrodes to be used, for the ablation itself and in the search for postoperative lesions. Transcatheter ablation seems to be feasible and safe enough to be offered as an alternative to surgery in the treatment of refractory reciprocating tachycardia in children.

Adolescent

[Electrophysiologic effects of intravenous 3-hydroxy-dihydroquinidine (LNC-834) in man].

The object of this study was to determine the electrophysiological effects of 3-hydroxy-dihydroquinidine (3-OH-HQ) in man. The electrophysiological parameters were measured in 12 patients before and after intravenous infusion of 5 mg/kg of 3-OH-HQ in 15 minutes. The mean plasma concentrations obtained varied from 2.4 +/- 1.1 mg/l at the 20th minute to 0.9 +/- 0.3 mg/l at the 60th minute. In these concentrations, 3-OH-HQ did not cause hypotension or affect the heart rate and nodal conduction. It did, however, prolong infra-hisian and intraventricular conduction and ventricular repolarisation from the 20th to the 60th minute after starting the infusion. The peak effect was observed at the 20th minute (+19 +/- 3.4 ms; +14.6 +/- 3.5 ms; and +44.5 +/- 6.6 ms, respectively). The 3-OH-HQ increased the effective atrial and ventricular refractory periods at the 30th minute (+21.8 +/- 5.5 ms and +22.3 +/- 7 ms, respectively). However, the ventricular effect only was discernable at the 60th minute. These effects are quantitatively comparable to those of quinidine. Extrapolation of these results to the effects of chronic oral treatment should be reserved as the therapeutic zone of this new molecule has not yet been determined.

Aged

Left ventricular hypertrophy and ventricular dysrhythmic risk in hypertensive patients: evaluation by programmed electrical stimulation.

Left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients is associated with an increased prevalence of ventricular arrhythmias. Twelve patients with left ventricular hypertrophy assessed by M-mode echocardiography and 12 without left ventricular hypertrophy underwent an electrophysiological study with programmed electrical stimulation. The patients with left ventricular hypertrophy had a prolonged infranodal conduction time which correlated closely with left ventricular mass (r = 0.71; P less than 0.001). Programmed electrical stimulation initiated more intraventricular re-entry and unsustained ventricular tachycardia in the group with left ventricular hypertrophy than in the control group, although sustained ventricular tachycardia was never induced. We conclude that ventricular vulnerability is increased in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy, especially in those who show electrocardiographic evidence of left ventricular hypertrophy.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac

Long-term follow-up of atrioventricular junctional transcatheter electrical ablation.

Complete data concerning long-term results of transcatheter electrical ablation of the atrioventricular junction is not available. At the request of the French Cardiac Arrhythmia Working group we undertook an inquiry in October 1983. All centers potentially able to perform such procedures were asked to report their experience. Eight centers have performed one case or more, over a period of 3 years, for a total of 91 patients. The mean follow-up completed in all patients in April 1986 was 12 +/- 10 months. The procedure was indicated for a supraventricular arrhythmia resistant to a mean of 3.9 +/- 1.3 classes of antiarrhythmic agents. Atrial flutter or fibrillation in 54 (59%) and atrioventricular nodal reentry in 17 (18%) were the most common arrhythmias. A mean of 2.6 +/- 2.3 electrical shocks (range 1-14 shocks) with a stored energy of 130-400 joules was delivered during 1-5 sessions. Complete heart block was obtained in 83 patients and persisted at the time of discharge from the hospital in 46 patients (50.5%). The immediate complication (within 24 hours after the procedure) included ventricular fibrillation successfully converted (one patient) and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (three patients). Late complications included one death 3 days after the procedure, in a patient in whom sustained ventricular tachycardia was documented, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia in two patients, sepsis in three patients and pericardial effusion in one patient. At the time of the follow-up, there were three additional deaths related to sepsis due to pacemaker pocket infection in one patient and to preexisting congestive heart failure in two patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult

[Ablation of atrio-ventricular conduction by fulguration of the His bundle. Proposal for a simplified technic. Apropos of 70 cases].

Between 1982 and 1987, 70 patients (32 men, 38 women, aged from 45 to 93 years) underwent catheter ablation of His bundle and were followed up for more than 3 months. The disorders treated were atrial fibrillation, flutter of tachycardia (62 cases), junctional tachycardia (7 cases) and refractory atrial extrasystoles (1 case). The overall results were: early failure in 1 case, late death in 3 cases, persistent high degree AV block in 53 cases (75 p. 100), 1st degree AV block in 9 cases (12 p. 100) and failure in 8 cases (13 p. 100). Two techniques were used. In the first 30 patients ablation was performed by tri- or quadripolar catheters with electrodes 10 mm apart (USCI 2943/2854) and localization by an unipolar electrode connected to the negative pole of the defibrillator. The mid-term results in this series were: complete AV block in 20 cases (66 p. 100), partial AV block in 5 cases (17 p. 100) and failure in 17 cases (17 p. 100). In the last 40 patients localization was bipolar and ablation was obtained with simultaneous bipolar leads taken from a Josephson catheter with electrodes 5 mm apart (USCI 8567); the two electrodes recording the highest His bundle potential were connected to the negative pole of the defibrillator. The results in these series were: complete AV block in 33 cases (82 p. 100), partial AV block in 4 cases (11 p. 100) and failure in 3 cases (7 p. 100). Although the two series were not exactly similar, it seems permissible to recommend the second, more convenient technique.

Aged

Comparison of the effects of muzolimine and a fixed combination of diuretics in essential hypertension.

The efficacy and tolerance of the loop diuretic muzolimine were compared with those of a fixed combination of hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride in patients with mild to moderate hypertension. After a placebo lead-in period, patients whose supine diastolic blood pressure was between 90 and 115 mm Hg were randomly allocated either to muzolimine, 20 mg/day, or to hydrochlorothiazide, 50 mg/day, and amiloride, 5 mg/day. The mean duration of follow-up was 4.7 months in both groups. Both muzolimine and the combination significantly decreased the mean blood pressure. The two treatments were similar in efficacy. The incidence of side effects during the trial was similar with both treatments, and no serious adverse reactions occurred. Eleven subjects in the muzolimine group were entered into an open long-term study. In all these subjects the blood pressure remained adequately controlled throughout the 4 to 6 months of additional follow-up and no side effects were reported. Muzolimine appears to be an effective and safe antihypertensive agent.

Administration, Oral

Study of the electrophysiologic properties of clonidine administered intravenously.

A few cases of sinus node dysfunction (SND) and AV block (AVB) were described with clonidine therapy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the electrophysiologic properties of clonidine in volunteers with normal electrophysiologic data. Twenty-eight subjects were investigated by endocavitary techniques. The following parameters were measured before and 20 min after intravenous administration of clonidine: systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP); sinus cycle (SC); PA, AH, and HV intervals; effective (ERP) and functional (FRP) refractory period of right atria (RA); AV node (AVN); His Purkinje system (HP); right ventricle (RV); corrected sinus node recovery time (SNRT); and sinoatrial conduction time (SACT). Blood pressure was reduced from 149/89 to 115/74 mm Hg. Sinus cycle was prolonged by 71 ms (p less than 0.01), corrected SNRT by 81 ms (p less than 0.05), and FRP of AVN by 16 ms (p less than 0.05). SND was more marked when initial SC was longer. Atrioventricular node depression was more marked when the PR interval was longer and when subject was older. Electrophysiologic effects of clonidine are similar to those of beta-blockers. The tensional effects are more marked than electrophysiologic effects. Clonidine in the high risk subject (age, bradycardia, long PR) may be cautiously dosed. Drug association with digitalis antiarrhythmic drugs, beta-blockers, and calcium antagonists may be avoided.

Adult

Comparative study of the efficacy and tolerance of capozide and moduretic administered in a single daily dose for the treatment of chronic moderate arterial hypertension.

A comparative study was made of the effects of a new therapeutic agent consisting of 50 mg captopril and 25 mg hydrochlorothiazide (Capozide) with an already existing agent Moduretic (50 mg hydrochlorothiazide and 5 mg amiloride). In the Capozide group (32 patients), 20 achieved normal blood pressure, 8 responded but were not brought under control, and 3 were non-responders. In the Moduretic group (31 patients), 17 achieved normal blood pressure, 10 were partially controlled and 4 were non-responders. Moduretic appeared to be most effective in patients previously untreated or who had been taking only one drug, while Capozide controlled patients who had been taking 1 or 2 antihypertensive drugs which had been either ineffective or poorly tolerated. The long-acting effect of a single dose of Capozide was demonstrated by blood pressure measurements taken at least 10 hours later. Both drugs were generally well tolerated and no significant changes were observed in the laboratory measurements. The combination of an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor with a diuretic proved more effective than single agents in lowering raised blood pressure. We therefore conclude that Capozide is an effective alternative to traditional medication in the treatment of moderate hypertension.

Adolescent

Pacing-induced alternate Wenckebach periods: incidence and clinical significance.

Alternate Wenckebach periods have been defined as episodes of 2:1 atrioventricular (AV) block in which conducted P waves exhibit progressive PR prolongation until two or three successively blocked P waves. Ocurrence of this phenomenon during atrial pacing has been established. Thirty-six patients were studied and right atrial pacing was achieved at increasing rates up to 350 beats/min in order to induce alternate Wenckebach periods. His bundle recordings were obtained in every patient. The patients were subdivided into three groups according to the AV nodal conduction time (AH interval): normal AH (75-130 ms) was present in 17 patients, short AH (70 ms) in 13 patients and prolonged AH (130 ms) in eight patients. Alternate Wenckebach periods were observed in 29 patients (80.5%). In every patient alternate Wenckebach periods occurred at the AV node level. Atrial pacing failed to induce alternate Wenckebach periods in seven patients, six of whom belonged to the short AH group. In four patients 3:1 block never appeared because of block at the atrial level. Two patients presented 2:1 and 3:1 infrahissian block without significant AH prolongation. The remaining patient developed atrial fibrillation. Alternate Wenckebach periods were observed in six of nine patients after intravenous atropine. This study suggests: 1. pacing-induced alternate Wenckebach periods at the AV node level are a physiologic phenomenon; and 2. total or partial bypass (or accelerated AV conduction) atrial refractoriness or vulnerability or block at a lower level may prevent its occurrence.

Adult

[Stenosis of the thoraco-abdominal aorta by endovascular calcification, with hypertension. Surgical treatment (author's transl)].

A case of a 24 year-old man in whom, following acute pulmonary oedema complicating hypertension known for a period of three years, stenosis of the thoraco-abdominal aorta produced by a large calcification within a zone of the aorta with an inflammatory appearance was demonstrated. This case is included within the context of the aortic syndrome. Operation led to normalisation of blood pressure immediately afterwords, but there was moderate hypertension 56 months later.

Adult

[Reintervention after valve replacement surgery. Study of 358 cases].

There is still a place for conservative surgery in valvular disease of the heart to the extent that artificial prostheses have not yet been perfected sufficiently for them to be regarded as the method of choice. While these conservative operations are rarely applicable to the aortic valve, techniques such as Carpentier's ring occupy an important place in the treatment armamentarium for disorders of the mitral valve, and even more so of the tricuspid valve.

Aortic Valve

[Congenital bundle-of-his focal tachycardias. Cooperative study of 7 cases].

The authors described seven cases of supraventricular tachycardia with atrio-ventricular dissociation, associated with the activity of an automatic focus in the bundle of His. These tachycardias, which appear at birth or are discovered at a very young age, appear to be congenital and sometimes familial, and are always isolated, having no associated cardiac abnormality. They give rise to cardiac failure, which is more marked when the rate is high (180-260/mn) and particularly resistant to treatment. The most effective form of treatment is amiodarone, almost always used in combination with digitalis. The anatomical abnormality, which was studied in the first case, is a contricting fibrosis around the main trunk of the bundle of His, and the appearances are reminiscent of those found in conditions of congenital atrio-ventricular block.

Amiodarone