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Biomedical subjects

J Parameshwar

Publications and source records attributed to J Parameshwar.

44 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Value of ambulatory ST segment monitoring in patients with chronic stable angina: does measurement of the "total ischaemic burden" assist with management?

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prognostic significance of transient ischaemic episodes during daily activities in patients with stable angina. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 172 patients with stable angina attending the cardiac outpatients departments of Hillingdon Hospital (n = 155) and the National Heart Hospital (n = 17) were prospectively studied by exercise testing and 48 hours of ambulatory ST segment monitoring, and followed for prognostic purposes for up to 39 months (mean 24.5 months). Patient inclusion depended on a clinical diagnosis of stable coronary artery disease which necessitated outpatient review (and antianginal treatment in 94% of patients). It was not dependent on objective evidence of reversible ischaemia. Events recorded during the follow up period included death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, unstable angina, and the requirement for revascularisation. RESULTS: 72 patients (42%) had transient ischaemic episodes during daily activities, and 104 patients (60.5%) had an ischaemic response to exercise. 63 patients (36%) had evidence of ischaemia on both investigations; with 59 (34%) having no documented ischaemia on either investigation. There were 27 patient events (15.7%) recorded over a mean 24.5 month follow up, including five deaths (2.9%) (three cardiac related (1.7%)), six non-fatal myocardial infarctions (3.5%), six admissions with unstable angina (3.5%), and 10 revascularisation procedures (5.8%). Of the nine "hard" or objective end points (cardiac death and non-fatal myocardial infarction), only two had evidence of transient ischaemia on ambulatory ST segment monitoring at initial investigation, with 10 of the 25 patients (38.5%) with any cardiac event having such episodes. CONCLUSIONS: The outcome in patients with chronic stable angina receiving standard medical treatment was good over a mean two year follow up period. For the purpose of assessing prognosis over this time scale, there was no advantage to performing ambulatory ST segment monitoring in such patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Prevalence of heart failure in three general practices in north west London.

There is little recent information on the prevalence of heart failure in the United Kingdom. Assuming that patients with heart failure would be taking diuretic drugs all such patients were identified in three general practices in north west London. The practice records of these patients were examined to determine which patients had heart failure. Of the 30,204 patients served by the practices, 117 had heart failure, a prevalence of 3.9 per 1000 patients. The mean age of these patients was 74 years. The prevalence of heart failure among patients under 65 years of age was 0.6 per 1000 patients rising to 27.7 per 1000 among those aged 65 years and over. The aetiology of heart failure was considered to be coronary heart disease for 32% of patients, valve disease for 19%, hypertension for 6%, cor pulmonale for 4% and congenital heart disease for 2%. The aetiology for the remaining 37% of patients was unknown. Most patients were referred to hospital and only 20% had been treated solely by the general practitioner. An electrocardiogram and chest radiograph had been obtained for over 80% of patients but only 28% had an echocardiogram. Heart failure occurs primarily in elderly patients, and coronary heart disease is the dominant aetiological factor.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Heart failure in a district general hospital.

The frequency, clinical characteristics, and outcome of patients admitted with heart failure to a district general hospital in North-West London serving a population of approximately 155,000 was assessed over a six-month period. The number of patients with heart failure was determined by both a prospective ward survey and a retrospective study of all patient records with diagnostic codes for heart failure or pulmonary oedema. During those six months, 2,877 patients were admitted to the medical and geriatric services of whom 140 (4.9%) had heart failure. Only 29 patients in heart failure were under the age of 65 years. In 86 patients the mode of presentation was acute pulmonary oedema. Fifty-two (37%) patients had an arrhythmia at the time of admission of whom 48 had atrial fibrillation. An electrocardiogram, a chest X-ray, and an echocardiogram were performed in 137, 136, and 81 patients respectively. The aetiology of heart failure was considered to be coronary artery disease (41%), valve disease (9%), hypertension (6%), cor pulmonale (4%), a dilated cardiomyopathy (1%), congenital heart disease (1%), thyrotoxicosis (1%), and unknown (36%). During the period of hospital stay 42 patients (30%) died; a further 20 patients (14%) died in a one-year follow-up. In a district general hospital heart failure is a common reason for admission and patients remain in hospital for a considerable time. Arrhythmias are commonly associated with heart failure. The prognosis is poor and the hospital mortality high. The management of heart failure is an important consideration in allocating hospital resources in a district general hospital.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

A new exercise test for the assessment of heart failure: use of a self powered treadmill.

Time limited exercise on a self powered treadmill was evaluated as a method of assessing functional capacity in patients with mild heart failure. The characteristics of the treadmill were established by exercising 11 controls at three speeds and two inclinations and comparing oxygen consumption with that on a motorised treadmill under the same conditions. Oxygen consumption on the self powered treadmill at an equivalent speed and inclination was significantly higher because of the work needed to overcome the friction of the belt. Unlike a conventional treadmill, increasing the gradient on the self powered treadmill did not increase oxygen consumption. The distance walked in 12 minutes on the self powered treadmill was measured in eight patients with mild heart failure and ten controls. Maximal oxygen consumption was measured in the same group on a conventional treadmill by a mass spectrometer. There was a significant correlation between the distance walked and maximum oxygen consumption. In patients with mild heart failure the distance travelled in 12 minutes on a self powered treadmill provides a practical, inexpensive, and sensitive method of assessing functional capacity.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Double-blind comparison of captopril alone against frusemide plus amiloride in mild heart failure.

Captopril alone as therapy for mild heart failure was compared with a combination of frusemide and amiloride in a double-blind randomised crossover trial in 14 patients who had previously been treated with diuretics. Although 10 patients remained stable on captopril alone, 4 patients deteriorated, with the development of pulmonary oedema of breathlessness. All 4 patients had had pulmonary oedema previously, unlike the patients who remained stable. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition alone is not sufficient treatment for patients with mild heart failure and a history of overt pulmonary oedema.

Amiloride↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Epstein-Barr virus infection in heart and heart-lung transplant recipients: incidence and clinical impact.

BACKGROUND: A retrospective serologic study was made of 67 heart-lung and 295 heart transplant recipients (with transplantations at Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, England) to determine the incidence and clinical impact of Epstein-Barr virus infection. METHODS: Epstein-Barr virus capsid antigen immunofluorescence tests were performed, and the antibody avidity was determined by modifying the washing procedure to include a mild reducing agent (8M urea). RESULTS: This testing showed that 6.0% of the patients had primary Epstein-Barr virus infections, whereas 17.4% had the reactivation of a past infection. Primary infections were only detected in patients who were Epstein-Barr virus antibody-negative before transplantation, who had received an organ from an Epstein-Barr virus antibody-positive donor. Of the patients with serologically proven Epstein-Barr virus infections, 52.9% had symptoms. Although these were generally mild, five heart and two heart-lung transplant recipients had malignant lymphoma and one heart and one heart-lung transplant recipient had lymphoproliferative disease after Epstein-Barr virus infection. Additional four heart transplant recipients had lymphoma after transplantation. None of these four patients had evidence of active Epstein-Barr virus infection; one was Epstein-Barr virus antibody-negative during the study period and three had stable Epstein-Barr virus virus capsid antigen immunoglobulin G titers throughout. CONCLUSIONS: Epstein-Barr virus infection in organ transplant recipients may lead on to life-threatening lymphoproliferative disease or lymphoma. For this reason it may be beneficial to monitor patients after transplantation for evidence of Epstein-Barr virus infection and to follow the progress of those affected.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Heart transplantation in the United Kingdom: who waits longest and why.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to identify characteristics that increase the chance of death of potential cardiac transplant recipients before donor organs become available. METHODS: Between June 1, 1988, and May 31, 1993, 332 patients were accepted for heart transplantation; 235 underwent surgery. Ninety-seven patients had not received transplants; of these, 71 died, 13 were transferred to other lists, and 13 were awaiting organs at the close of the study. Median waiting time for those patients who received organs was 109 days, whereas patients who did not receive organs spent a median of 94 days on the list. Recipients are matched to donor organs according to blood group, size (height), and, recently, preoperative transpulmonary pressure gradient. Recently cytomegalovirus antibody mismatches (positive donor to negative recipient) have been avoided where possible. These factors, together with age, gender, underlying diagnosis, previous heart surgery, and Toxoplasma antibody status were studied to assess their influence on waiting time and survival. RESULTS: No characteristics were found significantly to influence survival after acceptance, so that the chance of death while the patient was waiting for heart transplantation is mainly affected by the severity of disease and the length of time a patient waits. In multivariate analyses the following were independently significantly associated with shorter waiting times: small patients (< 1.7 m tall; p = 0.005), patients with blood types B and AB (p = 0.003), and patients with cardiomyopathy (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results can be used by cardiologists to help assess the time at which a patient should be referred for transplantation.

Blood Grouping and Crossmatching↗