Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J Lesperance.
We studied in vitro the vascular reactivity of a transplanted heart which was explanted 11 years later for chronic rejection. Radiologic, histologic, and vascular aspects are presented and correlated.
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Many studies have shown the prognostic value of angiographic data, but few have examined quantitative parameters of wall motion and shape or coronary stenosis severity. To determine whether these parameters have prognostic importance, baseline angiograms of 283 patients with up to 11.2 years (mean 8.3) of follow-up were quantitated. Event-free survival curves were constructed using log-rank testing. These indexes were also considered in 2 predictive models (Cox regression models): 1 with ("clinical") and 1 without ("quantitative") subjective angiographic analysis and clinical information. Regional shape (anterior and inferior walls) and motion (anterior wall only) indexes were predictive of event-free survival when considered singly. But these parameters were not of independent prognostic importance in the regression models. The most important independent parameters in the quantitative model for predicting overall cardiac mortality or an initial lethal cardiac event were the ejection fraction and the percent diameter narrowing of each major coronary artery. Myocardial infarction was predicted by the percent diameter stenosis of the left main and left anterior descending arteries but not the ejection fraction. In the clinical model, the factors of overriding prognostic importance were the ejection fraction and the subjective determination of the number of vessels involved with "significant" stenoses. Quantitative coronary arteriography still contributed independent prognostic value. Thus, quantification of the ejection fraction and severity of coronary lesions were of independent, prognostic importance, whereas indexes of regional function and shape were not.
We previously reported that a combination of aspirin and dipyridamole given before, during, and for 6 months following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) did not reduce the incidence of restenosis. In that trial, a total of 272 successfully dilated segments in 243 patients reached final quantitative angiography and of these, 86 segments (31.6%) had restenosed (46 of 130 segments in the group of patients given placebo and 40 of 142 segments in the aspirin-dipyridamole group). A secondary analysis of these 86 segments revealed that at follow-up angiography the severity of restenosis was greater in the 46 segments in the placebo group than in the 40 segments in the active treatment group (mean minimal luminal diameter at the stenosis = 0.76 +/- 0.52 and 1.03 +/- 0.45 mm, respectively, p = 0.01). The frequency of total or subtotal occlusions was higher in the placebo group (17.4%) than in the active treatment group (5.0%), but this observation did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.07). Although long-term treatment with aspirin and dipyridamole after successful PTCA does not reduce the incidence of recurrence, this secondary analysis suggests that it is associated with a decreased likelihood of severe restenosis.
Quantitative coronary arteriographic measurements were compared in 2 orthogonal views with the view that clearly showed the stenosis at its most severe in 147 lesions from 147 patients before, immediately after and 6 months after PTCA. In 21 of 147 patients (14%), 2 views could not be measured for technical reasons, even though all angiographers had tried to film 2 views. Lesion severity was slightly worse for 1 compared with 2 views (3.3 +/- 3.3% before PTCA, 3.6 +/- 3.8% after PTCA and 3.1 +/- 3.8% at follow-up). Similarly, minimal diameter was less for 1 view (0.11 +/- 0.09 mm before PTCA, 0.15 +/- 0.12 mm after PTCA and 0.13 +/- 0.09 mm at 6 months). When this systematic difference was taken into account, the 2 methods were within +/- 0.1 mm for minimal diameter in 288 of 376 measurements (77%) and within +/- 0.2 mm in 96%. For percent diameter stenosis the 2 methods were within +/- 5% in 90% and within +/- 10% in all but 2.7% (10 of 376). Thus, for routine clinical assessment, measurement of 1 view is adequate; for research purposes orthogonal views may sometimes be required.
The purpose of this study was to test the measurement reliability of the automatic stenosis quantitation program present in a digital angiography system (DG 300 General Electric CGR SA). The experimental study was performed on models mimicking circular, elliptic and irregular stenoses; it made it possible to measure the percentage of stenosis by geometric and densitometric methods. The parameters studied were the size and shape of the stenoses, the contrast medium concentration, the positioning of the stenosis in relation to the image intensifier, the number of Kvp and the angle of projection of X-ray beams in the case of elliptic and irregular stenoses. The results showed a perfect linear correlation between the thickness traversed by the X-ray beams and the value in grey level at the output of the optico-radiological chain (r between 0.987 and 0.997, p less than 0.001), using different Kvp (65 Kvp, 85 Kvp, 90 Kvp) and different X-ray doses (1 milliRoentgen and 80 microRoentgen). With all concentrations of contrast medium (320 mg I/ml to 5 mg I/ml), the values of the circular stenoses measured were very close to real values (75 p. 100) for vessels of all diameters, except those of 1.5 mm in a 22 cm field. When 16 cm and 11 cm fields were used, the results were very close to the 75 p. 100 real value (3 to 4 p. 100 of relative error), even with the 1.5 mm diameter. The values of elliptic stenoses measured by densitometry were very close to real values (1 to 4 p. 100 of relative error) with contrast medium concentrations ranging from 320 mg I/ml to 20 mg I/ml) and with three angles of projection (0 degrees, 30 degrees, 60 degrees). In contrast, the geometric method gave very different results with the three angles of projection. In the case of irregular stenosis (17 percentages of stenosis ranging from 26.2 p. 100 to 77.1 p. 100) the real values correlated very well with the estimated values (r = 0.999, p less than 0.0001). Some of the results were compared with those obtained with a digital cineradiology system (Pie Data) and were found to be equivalent.
This report presents the design and methodological features of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, trial in 383 patients with coronary artery disease. The study's principal objective is to determine whether chronic treatment with a calcium entry blocker can retard the progression of coronary artery disease. The study population consists of patients with coronary artery disease and a baseline coronary arteriogram that qualifies them as being at high risk for disease progression. After satisfying all entry criteria, patients were randomized to receive either the calcium entry blocker nicardipine or placebo. All indicated concomitant medications except calcium entry blockers are permitted. Patients are being followed clinically for 24 months before undergoing a second coronary arteriogram. The effect of the treatments on a variety of clinical and angiographic parameters will be determined.
To assess the best method of quantitating progression of coronary disease, we studied four measurements in 114 coronary segments from 35 medically treated patients from whom angiograms were obtained 5 years apart. Only stenoses of less than 70% that were visualized in nearly identical projections on both angiograms were evaluated. Vessel edges were measured by use of catheter calibration and an automated computer algorithm yielding two "absolute dimensions" (mean and minimum diameters) and two measurements (percent stenosis and atheroma area) that required a "normal reference" diameter. The coefficient of variation for repeated segment measurements was less for mean and minimum diameter than for percent stenosis and area of atheroma. The best measure of progression of coronary disease as determined by t test comparison of different methods was the change in mean diameter over time (6.7 +/- 14.1% decrease), whether calculated on a per coronary segment or per patient basis (p less than .001). Based on this measurement and its standard deviation of progression of coronary disease in this patient subset with relatively benign disease, it is estimated that 470 patients per group would be required for an interventional study to demonstrate a 33% reduction in disease progression (207 patients for 50% reduction) at a 95% confidence level and 90% power.
The incremental diagnostic yield of clinical data, exercise ECG, stress thallium scintigraphy, and cardiac fluoroscopy to predict coronary and multivessel disease was assessed in 171 symptomatic men by means of multiple logistic regression analyses. When clinical variables alone were analyzed, chest pain type and age were predictive of coronary disease, whereas chest pain type, age, a family history of premature coronary disease before age 55 years, and abnormal ST-T wave changes on the rest ECG were predictive of multivessel disease. The percentage of patients correctly classified by cardiac fluoroscopy (presence or absence of coronary artery calcification), exercise ECG, and thallium scintigraphy was 9%, 25%, and 50%, respectively, greater than for clinical variables, when the presence or absence of coronary disease was the outcome, and 13%, 25%, and 29%, respectively, when multivessel disease was studied; 5% of patients were misclassified. When the 37 clinical and noninvasive test variables were analyzed jointly, the most significant variable predictive of coronary disease was an abnormal thallium scan and for multivessel disease, the amount of exercise performed. The data from this study provide a quantitative model and confirm previous reports that optimal diagnostic efficacy is obtained when noninvasive tests are ordered sequentially. In symptomatic men, cardiac fluoroscopy is a relatively ineffective test when compared to exercise ECG and thallium scintigraphy.
The early and late results of a 4 year surgical experience with 119 left ventricular aneurysms (LVA) are analyzed. The most common indication for surgery was angina in 78 patients, congestive heart failure (CHF) in 34, arrhythmia in 5 and recurrent embolism in 1. One patient was operated on prophylactically. There were 112 "anterior" and 7 "posterior" aneurysms. Preoperative ventricular function was significantly worse in the CHF group. LVA resection was carried out in 105 patients and a plicature in other 14. In 92 cases the procedure was combined with a myocardial revascularization. Additional cardiac procedures were performed in 14 patients. Overall early (5.9%) and late mortality (18.7%) was significantly higher in the CHF group than in the angina group (14.7% versus 1.3%, p less than 0.01, and 37.9% versus 12.9%, p less than 0.01, respectively). Associated surgical procedures (p less than 0.001) and acuity of the LVA (p less than 0.05) also increased the operative risk. The 5 year-survival was better for the angina group (85.7 +/- 4%) and arrhythmias group (80 +/- 22%) than for CHF patients (46.7 +/- 19%) (p = 0.052). Functional improvement was uniform between survivors of all groups (73.2%). In 15 patients with pre- and postoperative studies hemodynamic parameters were found improved although only a global contractile score did reach significant levels (p less than 0.005).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Progression of atherosclerosis in aortocoronary saphenous vein grafts is frequent and is the predominant cause of late graft closure after CABG. Only approximately 60% of grafts remain patent between 10 and 12 years after surgery. Of patent grafts, 45% show angiographic evidence of atherosclerosis between 10 and 12 years after surgery and 70% of the atherosclerotic lesions reduce the graft lumen diameter by 50% or more. Atherosclerosis of saphenous vein grafts does not appear to be related to age, sex or cigarette smoking, but is associated with abnormalities of cholesterol lipoprotein fractions. Progression of atherosclerosis in the native coronary arteries is also very significant after CABG. Progression of CAD between 10 and 12 years after surgery occurs in approximately 50% of nongrafted arteries. Between 10 and 12 years after surgery, the rate of progression of disease in nongrafted arteries is not different from that of grafted arteries with patent grafts; however, progression is more frequent in grafted arteries with occluded grafts. The rate of progression is not related to age, sex, risk factors or extent of disease at baseline coronary arteriography. Progression of preexisting stenoses is more frequent than appearance of new stenosis. Progression is related to the severity of the preexisting stenosis only in nongrafted arteries. Finally, progression is related to alterations of left ventricular function during follow-up. Because of these progressive late changes, CABG should probably remain limited to patients with incapacitating anginal symptoms or to those with severe lesions for whom surgery might enhance long-term survival, such as patients with severe left main CAD and 3-vessel CAD.
The blood clearance of 51Cr-labeled heat-killed Salmonella pullorum was generally biphasic and exponential for each phase. Starvation had little significant effect on this pattern, although the rate of first phase clearance was probably slower. Raising the water temperature from 8 degrees C to 18 degrees C enhanced the rate of clearance of the second phase to almost exactly double that at 8 degrees C. At 18 hr postinoculation, the spleen contained much more radioactivity per gm than any other tissue. This finding is in marked contrast to earlier work that showed that at 1 hr postinoculation, the kidney contained the most, and it suggests that redistribution of bacteria occurred. The most distinct effect of temperature stress on tissue localization of bacteria was in the heart: A rising temperature stress caused increased numbers of bacteria to localize within the heart. Less clear-cut changes were also seen in other tissues with different treatments. With the possible exception of starvation effecting a slower first phase clearance rate, we have been unable to demonstrate that the vascular clearance mechanisms, including the reticuloendothelial system, are significantly compromised by raising the water temperature or by starvation.
We studied 83 men, who had a chest pain syndrome, no prior history of myocardial infarction, and exercise-induced horizontal or downsloping ST segment depression greater than or equal to 0.2 mV. The 38 patients unable to complete Bruce stage II had a significant increased risk of coronary (0.97 vs 0.71) and multivessel (0.88 vs 0.61) disease (p less than 0.01) compared to the pretest risk; data obtained from exercise-reperfusion thallium scintigraphy and cardiac fluoroscopy did not alter the risk of coronary or multivessel disease. The 45 patients who had ST depression greater than or equal to 0.2 mV and a peak work capacity greater than or equal to Bruce stage III did not have a significant increased risk of coronary (0.76) or multivessel disease (0.44). When both exercise-reperfusion thallium scintigraphy and cardiac fluoroscopy were abnormal in this latter patient subgroup, the post-test risk of multivessel disease was increased from 0.44 to 0.82 (p less than 0.03); when both tests were normal, none of the patients had multivessel disease (p less than 0.03) and only 0.18 had coronary artery disease. Thus, cardiac fluoroscopy and exercise thallium scintigraphy increase the diagnostic content of the strongly positive exercise ECG, particularly in men who have a peak work capacity greater than or equal to Bruce stage III.
Several diagnostic noninvasive tests to detect coronary and multivessel coronary disease are available for women. However, all are imperfect and it is not yet clear whether one particular test provides substantially more information than others. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical findings, exercise electrocardiography, exercise thallium myocardial scintigraphy and cardiac fluoroscopy in 92 symptomatic women without previous infarction and determine which tests were most useful in determining the presence of coronary disease and its severity. Univariate analysis revealed two clinical, eight exercise electrocardiographic, seven myocardial scintigraphic and seven fluoroscopic variables predictive of coronary or multivessel disease with 70% or greater stenosis. The multivariate discriminant function analysis selected a reversible thallium defect, coronary calcification and character of chest pain syndrome (p less than 0.05) as the variables most predictive of presence or absence of coronary disease. The ranked order of variables most predictive of multivessel disease were cardiac fluoroscopy score, thallium score and extent of ST segment depression in 14 electrocardiographic leads. Each provided statistically significant information to the model. The estimate of predictive accuracy was 89% for coronary disease and 97% for multivessel coronary disease. The results suggest that cardiac fluoroscopy or thallium scintigraphy provide significantly more diagnostic information than exercise electrocardiography in women over a wide range of clinical patient subsets.
Reliability of angiographic assessment of the left main coronary artery segment was evaluated by review of 106 coronary cineangiograms from the Coronary Artery Surgery Study. The films were interpreted by three groups of angiographers: those at a clinical site, those at a quality control site, and those on a study census panel. Among the readings of these three groups, there was 41% to 59% agreement on the severity of the lesion, with 80% agreement on whether the lesion was greater or less than 50%. The severity of lesion, its location, or presence of ectasia or calcium did not affect the discrepancy rate, whereas segments that were unusually short, diffusely diseased, or obscured by overlapping vessels were especially difficult to interpret.
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Randomly selected left ventricular cineangiograms performed by 14 medical centers (clinical sites) participating in a large multicenter study of medical and surgical treatment of coronary artery disease (CASS) were systematically recalled and reread by one of four designated quality control centers. The end diastolic volume (EDV), end systolic volume (ESV), and ejection fraction (EF) calculated by the quality control center were compared with those calculated by the clinical site, and correlation coefficients of 0.71, 0.84, and 0.79, respectively, were obtained. Regional left ventricular (LV) wall motion abnormalities were assessed by dividing the LV wall as viewed in the right anterior oblique (RAO) and left anterior oblique (LAO) views into five segments each and grading the motion of each segment according to six categories of increasing abnormalities from normal to aneurysm. When discrepancies based on "nearest neighbor" differences in naming adjacent segments were eliminated and only marked differences of more than one degree of severity of wall motion abnormality were considered, interobserver differences were 7% and 10% for RAO and LAO segments, respectively. Agreement was less frequent in designating a segment "aneurysmal." When each LV segment was assigned a numerical score based on increasing severity of wall motion abnormality and a total LV score for each ventriculogram computed, the quality control and clinical site readings were in good agreement with a correlation coefficient of 0.83.
Eight hundred seventy arteriograms from the Coronary Artery Surgery Study (CASS) were independently read by readers at two different clinics to evaluate the reproducibility of the interpretation of coronary arteriograms. Among proximal segments, the interpretation of lesions of the left main coronary artery were the least reproducible, P less than .02. When one angiographer reads a stenosis of 50% or more in the left main coronary artery, it is estimated that a second reader will report no lesion 18.6% of the time. In 94.7% of the films, the number of significantly (greater than or equal to 70% stenosis) diseased vessels was the same for both readers (72.1%) or differed by one vessel (22.6%). The reproducibility of interpretation of films of good or acceptable quality or completeness was better than the reproducibility of readings of arteriograms judged to be of poor quality or incomplete studies. The mean absolute difference between readings of the percent stenosis decreased over the time of the patient enrollment, 1975 to 1978. This may have resulted from major collaborative efforts made during the course of the study to improve the quality of angiography and to standardize the reading of the cine films.