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Biomedical subjects

K Langes

Publications and source records attributed to K Langes.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Efficacy of antitachycardia pacing confirmed by stored electrograms. A retrospective analysis of 613 stored electrograms in implantable defibrillators.

The implantable defibrillator (ICD) is an established therapy in the prevention of sudden cardiac death by defibrillation of ventricular fibrillation. Another specific feature of the ICDs is antitachycardia pacing (ATP) of ventricular tachycardia. Several studies report success rates of ATP in 83 to 98% of cases. In clinical practice the success of terminating ventricular tachycardia is estimated only by automatic device analysis. Therefore the objective of this study was to confirm the efficacy of ATP based on the evaluation of stored electrograms. From the German Ventritex MD-register stored electrograms of 613 monomorphic ventricular tachycardias in 44 patients were analyzed retrospectively. The cycle length of the ventricular tachycardias was between 265 and 560 ms. The success rate of ATP-induced termination of the episodes reached 89.3%; another 2.3% of the ventricular tachycardias were accelerated by antitachycardia pacing into ventricular fibrillation. Left ventricular function did not influence the success rate, but the success rate was lower for fast ventricular tachycardias > 200/min (63.9%). For ventricular tachycardias < 150 bpm there was no restriction of ATP effectiveness. Of the episodes 72.9% were terminated by the first ATP burst. In these cases the duration of tachycardia was very short (11.9 +/- 2.8 s). Fifty-eight ventricular tachycardias (9.5%) had to be terminated by means of a shock, and only one case required 2 shocks. In patients with more than 10 episodes an individual therapy success > 90% was recorded for 80% of them. The very high success rate of the first ATP attempt in ICD therapy can be achieved with uniform programming, and is confirmed for ventricular tachycardias analyzed on the basis of stored electrograms.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Impact of intravascular ultrasound guidance on directional coronary atherectomy.

In contrast to the luminogram of coronary angiography, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) has proven to accurately assess both coronary lumen and vessel morphology due to its 360 degrees imaging capacity. Directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) improves the coronary lumen by removing plaque mass rather than stretching the vessel and compressing the plaque as with conventional percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. In an attempt to optimize the procedural result of DCA we prospectively investigated the impact of IVUS guidance in a head to head comparison to on-line quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) on the result of DCA. In 16 consecutive patients IVUS demonstrated significant residual plaque mass after DCA irrespective of a satisfactory angiographic result. After a mean of 9 +/- 2 cuts luminal improvement was obtained with an area stenosis by angiography of 39 +/- 17% and by IVUS of 50 +/- 10% (p < 0.05), a diameter stenosis by angiography of 23 +/- 10% and IVUS of 35 +/- 14% (p < 0.05) and finally a minimal lumen diameter (MLD) by angiography of 2.9 +/- 0.5 mm and by IVUS of 2.3 +/- 0.5 mm (p < 0.005). After both on-line QCA and IVUS measurements a second series of 7 +/- 2 cuts were initiated to debulk more atheroma and improve stenosis dimensions. After additional cuts IVUS revealed further luminal improvement with an area stenosis by angiography of 25 +/- 16% and IVUS of 21 +/- 18% (n.s.), a diameter stenosis by angiography of 16 +/- 11% and by IVUS of 13 +/- 19% (n.s.) and finally a MLD by angiography of 3.1 +/- 0.5 mm and by IVUS of 2.8 +/- 0.3 mm (p < 0.05). Intraprocedural use of IVUS is superior to on-line QCA to assess the immediate result of DCA. IVUS-guided DCA results in more effective atheroma debulking than luminographic evaluation. Results of larger follow-up studies are needed to substantiate the intraprocedural advantage of IVUS with DCA.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Diastolic left ventricular dysfunction with microvascular angina (Syndrome X)].

Findings on left ventricular function in microvascular angina (syndrome X) are somewhat controversial. Recently, an increased prevalence of insulin resistance and hyperlipoproteinemia has been demonstrated as well as arterial hypertension potentially impairing the left ventricular diastolic function. In an attempt to analyze the diastolic function at rest, we investigated by Doppler echocardiography the transmitral blood flow in 16 patients (51 +/- 8 years). The diastolic data were compared with those of 12 healthy people (50 +/- 6 years) who were matched for age. The patients with microvascular angina revealed a slightly higher systolic blood pressure (134 +/- 18 mm Hg vs 125 +/- 9 mm Hg, n.s.), but imposed by higher left ventricular mass index (92 +/- 18 g/m2 vs 65 +/- 13 g/m2, p < 0.001). There was a trend to an elevated A-wave-peak during transmitral blood flow (61 +/- 14 cm/s vs 50 +/- 9 cm/s). The findings suggest impairment of the left ventricular relaxation before manifestation of left ventricular hypertrophy and hypertension takes place.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Impairment of myocardial perfusion reserve in microvascular angina (syndrome X): assessment by 99mTc-MIBI-SPECT].

AIM: In 22 patients with typical chest pain and normal coronary arteries (microvascular angina, syndrome X) 99mTc-MIBI-SPECT was examined in regard to assess impairment of myocardial perfusion reserve. METHOD: The study was performed with 99mTc-MIBI-SPECT at rest and under vasodilation with dipyridamole. The findings were compared with a normal database. A normal perfusion reserve was said to be an increase > 20% of the 99mTc-MIBI-activity. RESULTS: In 2/22 (9%) of the patients the perfusion reserve lay > 20% i.e. 37%. In 91% of the patients a diminution or even decrease of the perfusion was to be seen. From these 9/22 (41%) of the patients showed a diminution of the 99mTc-MIBI-uptake by 6%. 1/22 patients had a decrease of the perfusion under vasodilation with dipyridamole i.e. a lower activity of 99mTc-MIBI by 13% CONCLUSION: Vasodilation 99mTc-MIBI-SPECT offers good imaging quality and enables semi-quantitative assessment of myocardial perfusion reserve in patients with microvascular angina.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1995

Insulin resistance and hyperlipoproteinemia in microvascular angina: risk factors or pathogenetic link?

BACKGROUND: Patients with chest pain and normal epicardial coronary arteries (microvascular angina; syndrome X) are characterized by an impairment of myocardial perfusion reserve which may be related to functional and morphological abnormalities of the intramyocardial arterioles. METHODS: In an attempt to identify predisposing factors for microvascular angina we investigated 34 consecutive patients (15 female, 19 male; mean age 53 +/- 7 years) with microvascular angina but without hypertension or left ventricular hypertrophy. The metabolic profile, including plasma insulin, glucose, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and fibrinogen levels, was determined in each case. Furthermore, insulin and glucose levels were measured after an oral glucose load of 100 g over 3 h. All parameters were compared with those of a control group of 15 healthy subjects matched for age, sex and body mass index. RESULTS: The systolic blood pressure in microvascular angina was 137 +/- 17 mmHg and thus higher than that of healthy controls (124 +/- 11 mmHg); diastolic blood pressure was 85 +/- 7 compared with 78 +/- 9 mmHg in controls. Insulin level was significantly elevated in patients with microvascular angina 90 min (median: 101 versus 54 microU/ml) and 120 min (median: 88 versus 51 microU/ml) after ingestion of 100 g glucose. The fasting glucose level was 98 +/- 12 versus 87 +/- 7 mg/dl in controls. Glucose concentration was also elevated after 30 min (176 +/- 28 versus 148 +/- 32 mg/dl), after 45 min (198 +/- 35 versus 152 +/- 53 mg/dl) and after 60 min (193 +/- 44 versus 145 +/- 54 mg/dl). In microvascular angina, parameters such as total cholesterol (244 +/- 46 versus 199 +/- 29 mg/dl), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (157 +/- 41 versus 122 +/- 18 mg/dl) and fibrinogen (377 +/- 150 versus 285 +/- 69 mg/dl) were elevated. CONCLUSIONS: The metabolic profile in patients with microvascular angina suggests a pathogenetic role of insulin resistance and hyperlipoproteinemia in the setting of impaired myocardial coronary reserve and in early stages of hypertensive heart disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[The significance of insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia in microvascular angina (syndrome X)].

Patients with chest pain and normal epicardial coronary arteries are characterized by an impairment of myocardial perfusion reserve. Functional and morphological abnormalities of the intramyocardial arterioles are suggested to be responsible for this, possibly as a consequence of hypertension and/or left ventricular hypertrophy. In an attempt to isolate predisposing factors of microvascular angina we investigated 34 patients (15 f, 19 m) with a mean age of 53 +/- 7 years. They were diagnosed as microvascular angina without hypertension or left ventricular hypertrophy. Parameters such as plasma insulin, glucose, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, (VLDL-cholesterol) and fibrinogen were determined for a metabolic profile. Furthermore, insulin and glucose were measured after an oral glucose load of 100 g glucose (OGTT) over 3 h. All parameters were compared to a control group of 15 healthy people matched for age and body mass index. In the study population systolic blood pressure was within normal limits at 137 +/- 17 mm Hg and thus higher than control at 124 +/- 11 mm Hg (p < 0.02). Furthermore, diastolic blood pressure was 85 +/- 7 mm Hg compared to 78 +/- 9 mm Hg in controls (p < 0.02). Insulin was significantly elevated in patients with microvascular angina 90 min (median: 101 vs 54 microU/ml; p < 0.01) and 120 min (median: 88 vs 51 microU/ml; p < 0.05) after ingestion of 100 g glucose. The fasting glucose was elevated at 98 +/- 12 compared to 87 +/- 7 mg/dl in controls (p < 0.01). Glucose concentration was also elevated after 30 min at 176 +/- 28 compared to 148 +/- 32 mg/dl (p < 0.02), after 45 minutes (198 +/- 35 compared to 152 +/- 53 mg/dl) (p < 0.01) and 60 minutes (193 +/- 44 compared to 145 +/- 54 mg/dl) (p < 0.01). In microvascular angina parameters such as total cholesterol: (244 +/- 46 vs 199 +/- 29 mg/dl (p < 0.01)), LDL-cholesterol (157 +/- 41 vs 122 +/- 18 mg/dl (p < 0.01)) and fibrinogen: (377 +/- 150 vs to 285 +/- 69 mg/dl (p < 0.03)) were elevated. These findings suggest a pathogenetic role of insulin resistance, hyperlipoproteinemia and elevated levels of fibrinogen for impaired myocardial coronary reserve. This metabolic constellation as well as exhaustion of coronary reserve is often found in hypertensive patients and may identify microvascular angina as an early stage of hypertensive heart disease before manifest hypertension has developed.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Intramural hemorrhage of the thoracic aorta as a precursor of dissection].

Aortic dissection without entry and blood-flow in a false lumen was recently identified at necropsy and in vivo as intramural hemorrhage in the aortic wall (IMH). It was the purpose of the study to elucidate clinical signs and prognosis in this rare and poorly understood condition. Among 360 prospectively evaluated patients with clinical suspicion of aortic dissection, 195 patients presented with evidence of aortic disease. Of these, 25 patients (13.2%) had IMH of the thoracic aorta with no primary intimal tear, flap or overt dissection as shown by MRI (n = 12), contrast enhanced CT (n = 14) and TEE (n = 3). IMH was confirmed intraoperatively or at necropsy. There were 16 men and 9 women of ages 56 +/- 13 years; arterial hypertension was associated in 84% and Marfan's syndrome in 12%. IMH involved the ascending aorta in 12 (48%), the arch in 2 (8%), and the descending aorta in 11 cases (44%). IMH occupied 8.5 +/- 5 cm in length and 2.0 +/- 1.2 cm in aortic wall thickness. Both aortic regurgitation and pericardial/mediastinal effusion was present in 42% of type A and in 18% of type B IMH. IMH progression to overt dissection, rupture and/or acute tamponade occurred in 8/25 cases (32%) within 24 to 72 h, indicating the need for urgent surgical repair. The 30-day mortality of IMH inflicting the ascending aorta was 80% (4 of 5) with medical treatment in contrast to none (of 7) with early surgical treatment (p < 0.01). One-year survival was 71% in surgically treated patients and 20% with medical treatment (p < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Outpatient diuretic treatment of terminal heart failure by a completely implantable venous infusion system].

In severe heart failure with peripheral and enterohepatic congestion resistance to diuretics with inactivation of oral furosemide is a common finding. Impaired bioavailability is most likely related to pharmacodynamic and especially to pharmacokinetic reasons. To ensure efficient drug delivery and effective treatment with diuretics, venous access devices (port-systems) were implanted in 10 patients (eight men and two women, age between 57 and 80 years). All patients were in heart failure functional class III-IV and had a history of recurrent episodes of severe decompensation; none was suitable for heart transplantation. Injections of furosemide and other drugs were performed 1-4 times a day; one female patient performed the intravenous injections herself, in three cases the partners and in six cases the practitioner or an outpatient nurse performed the injections. All patients were treated on an outpatient basis, i.e., at home or in nursing homes. The port-implantation was followed up between 30 and 742 days (1-24 months); no serious complications were observed. Both patients and their partners were considered to well tolerate and accept the port-systems. Totally implantable venous access devices promise to reduce the number and severeness of cardiac decompensations in chronic preterminal heart failure by application of daily intravenous furosemide. This form of outpatient treatment will ameliorate the quality of life and stabilize the course of these severely and chronically ill patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Intimal fibrosis (phlebosclerosis) in the saphenous vein of the lower limb: a quantitative analysis.

The influence of pre-existing phlebosclerosis on the patency rate of aorto-coronary bypasses is uncertain. To examine this influence, extensive quantitative histological investigations of the intimal thickness of the left saphenous vein were made in 30 cases. In almost all veins the intima was thickened by collagen and elastic fibres as well as by fusiform cells which were assumed to be smooth muscle cells. The innermost layers also contained increased collagen adding to the intimal thickening. Three different methods to measure the intimal thickness were tested morphometrically: planimetric, a four-point method and a so-called method of estimate. The latter is the most time-saving and effective method. The average intimal thickness showed considerable deviations, but the intimal thickness in individual veins did not deviate greatly. As a rule, a specimen with an intimal thickness of less than 100 microns belonged to a vein with mild or moderate intimal thickening, but specimens with an average intimal thickness of 100-250 microns usually derived from a vein with moderate or pronounced intimal fibrosis. However, extreme values allowed a more precise statement to be made. A specimen with a nonsclerotic intima suggested at best a mild intimal fibrosis of the vein in the lower limb, whereas a specimen with marked intimal thickening derived from a vein with severe phlebosclerosis.

Female↗
PubMed1991

[Diagnosis of suspected acute myocardial infarct in acute regional myocarditis].

We report on 4 patients in whom acute myocardial infarction was suspected due to acute onset of chest pain and elevation of the ST-segment. Furthermore in 2 patients the echocardiography revealed regional abnormal wall motion on admission, the others later. Coronary angiography showed normal coronary arteries in all cases. The left ventricular angiogram namely demonstrated regional abnormal wall motion. 2 patients developed a slight increase of the creatine phosphokinase including the CK-MB. Only one patient mentioned a grippal infectious disease 6 weeks before. During the hospital time all patients presented one of the inflammatory signs. A demonstration of the infectious agent was not possible in any of the cases. The endomyocardial biopsy was positive in two cases, and slightly positive in one case. Sometimes regional myocarditis might imitate an acute myocardial infarction. Both, the exact anamnesis and coronary angiography are necessary. The performance of an endomyocardial biopsy is desirable.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Sympathetic activity in patients with heart failure due to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: effect of ACE inhibitors and other vasodilators].

A decrease in cardiac output in patients with congestive heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy is compensated by stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. The increase in plasma norepinephrine and depletion of norepinephrine in the myocardium as well as the disturbance of beta-adrenal and baroreceptor function reflect the limits of the sympathetic nervous stimulation. Together with augmented levels of angiotensin II and vasopressin, this stimulation leads to a significant increase in systemic vascular resistance. Sustained stimulation of at least one of these mechanisms can cause further impairment of the left ventricular function. The severity and prognosis of congestive heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy is expressed by the plasma norepinephrine concentration and by its myocardial depletion. Ultimately, activation of the compensatory mechanisms provides the basis for therapeutic approaches: 1. reduction of afterload and systemic vascular resistance and/or 2. diminution of the sympathetic nervous activity. For about the last ten years, ACE inhibitors have been used as pharmacological treatment in addition to positive inotropic and vasodilating substances. Captopril, one of the first orally applicable drugs, reduces left ventricular filling pressure, pulmonary capillary pressure, systemic vascular resistance and increases the cardiac output. Beside the hemodynamic improvement, a decrease in plasma norepinephrine and aldosterone can be observed. Vasodilators and alpha-blocking agents can also reduce afterload and systemic vascular resistance in patients with congestive heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy, and may lead to hemodynamic improvement. The main limitations of their long-term application are relatively short duration of action, reflex activation of the renin-angiotensin system due to vasodilation and induction of tolerance.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗
PubMed1989

[Arrhythmia as an indicator for reperfusion following acute myocardial infarct?].

For the purposes of the European double blind and randomized study 27 patients with acute myocardial infarction underwent thrombolysis with rt-PA (60 mg over 90 minutes i.v.) or placebo. To evaluate whether arrhythmias, especially ventricular arrhythmias indicate coronary reperfusion after thrombolysis a 24 hour Holter monitoring was performed from the beginning of the rt-PA or placebo infusion. Typical reperfusion arrhythmias were thought to be idioventricular rhythms (rate less than 110/min), ventricular tachycardia (rate greater than 110/min) or bradycardic rhythm disturbances (rate less than 50/min). The effect of thrombolysis on reperfusion of the infarct related artery was evaluated 90 minutes after the infusion by coronary angiography. After 90 minutes of rt-PA or placebo infusion in 16/16 patients treated with rt-PA and 2/11 patients, who received placebo, was the infarct artery patent. 16/18 patients with a patent artery presented a total of 105 arrhythmic events. 47% of the arrhythmias obviously due to reperfusion were classified as idioventricular rhythms. In contrast only 3/9 patients with an occluded infarct artery presented 25 arrhythmic events. The time of occurrence was not different during the running rt-PA infusion compared to placebo. The following interval up to 24 hours showed no difference in incidence and type of the arrhythmias. No relationship was found between reperfusion arrhythmias and salvage of myocardium during 90 minutes of rt-PA or placebo infusion.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗
PubMed1989

Catheter atherectomy: functional results in peripheral arterial disease.

In 10 patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) atherectomy was performed with the Simpson atherectomy catheter. PAD was diagnosed by clinical evaluation, oxzillography, Doppler ultrasound examination, treadmill walking, and angiography. Eight patients belonged to stage II and 2 to stage IV. Two stenoses were located in the iliac artery, and the others in the superficial femoral artery or popliteal artery or both. The treadmill walking distance before the intervention ranged from 24 to 67 m before and 105 to 115 m after the procedure (speed 2 mph; gradient 12.5%). After atherectomy, the walking distance improved by 35% to 126%. No patient in stage II perceived pain. In these patients treadmill exercise was terminated because of dyspnea. The ankle/arm ratio (Doppler ultrasound) ranged from 0.4 to 1.0 before atherectomy with a mean improvement of 0.15 afterward (stages II and IV). Control angiography within three to six months in 4 patients did not reveal any significant change at the site of the original stenosis.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

[Requirements in radiologic diagnosis from the internist-cardiology viewpoint].

The article discusses the demands to be made on the various radiological methods in thoracic diagnostics in respect of their informative value for therapeutic consequences, as seen from the viewpoint of internal-cardiological intensive-care medicine. The importance of x-ray thoracic film in one or two planes is emphasised, with special reference to routine imaging. In consideration of the demonstration of essential pathological findings, routine chest x-ray film would be mandatory only the 40th year of age onwards and lateral projection from the 50th year. At any rate, about 50% of routine thorax x-rays in intensive-care wards show changes, the percentage being higher if there is a clinical suspicion of changes. Mention must be made of a so-called time phase lag between the x-ray thoracic findings and changed pulmonary arterial pressure. In diagnosis of pulmonary artery embolism the nuclear medicine methods are compared with pulmonary arterial angiography, taking sensitivity and specificity into account. 90% of pulmonary embolism show only non-specific changes in the chest x-ray. Together with these and perfusion scintigraphy a sensitivity of 98% can be attained, albeit with lower specificity, since perfusion angiography and angiography agree in only about 87% of the cases. The demands to be made on radiological diagnostics must be determined from case to case by the diagnostic effectivity in relation to the technical setup and cost. The cost aspect of the individual methods is of major importance when installing equipment in hospitals.

Cardiology↗
PubMed1988

[Avulsion of a calcified leaflet as a complication of aortic valvuloplasty].

Valvuloplasty was recently introduced as a palliative treatment of calcific aortic stenosis in elderly patients. Embolisation of valvular material has not been described as complication yet. We describe the detachment of a large calcific fragment resulting in acute, severe aortic incompetence in a 76-year-old patient. During immediate operative valve replacement the calcific embolus was recovered from the abdominal aorta.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Relationship between myocardial norepinephrine content and left ventricular function--an endomyocardial biopsy study.

To analyze the relationships between left ventricular function, catecholamine concentrations in plasma and myocardium, and morphological alterations, 20 patients were studied. Fifteen patients had idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, and 5 had normal left ventricular function. All patients underwent right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy to determine muscle fibre thickness, percent volume fraction of interstitium, and myocardial catecholamine content. Blood was sampled to measure plasma catecholamine concentrations, and left ventricular cineangiography was performed to determine global ejection fraction. In a simple correlation analysis a significant correlation was found between left ventricular ejection fraction and myocardial norepinephrine content (r = 0.80, P less than 0.001). Left ventricular ejection fraction was negatively correlated with plasma epinephrine concentration (r- = 0.53, P less than 0.02), and with muscle fibre thickness (r = -0.50, P less than 0.03). Myocardial norepinephrine concentration was negatively correlated with plasma epinephrine (r = -0.62, P less than 0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed a strong correlation between myocardial norepinephrine depletion and left ventricular dysfunction, which was independent of all other variables. These data suggest that myocardial norepinephrine depletion determined from right ventricular endomyocardial biopsies strongly correlates with left ventricular dysfunction in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, and seems to be independent of the degree of muscle fibre hypertrophy, volume fraction of interstitium, and of the increased sympathetic tone.

Biopsy↗