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Biomedical subjects

L Lonati

Publications and source records attributed to L Lonati.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

[Cardiac and vascular morphology in patients with "white-coat hypertension": echocardiographic and ultrasonographic study].

BACKGROUND: The introduction of ambulatory blood pressure (ABPM) in the clinical practice has defined a new subgroup of hypertensive patients (pts) called "white coat" hypertensive pts. It has been reported that white coat hypertensive pts have less cardiac involvement than established hypertensive pts. This study was designed to examine the extent of cardiac and vascular involvement in pts with white coat hypertension and established hypertension. METHODS: Fifty-four previously never treated pts with mild or moderate hypertension underwent a 24h ABPM and an echocardiographic and vascular ultrasonographic study in order to assess left ventricular anatomical parameters and the intima-media thickness of common carotid arteries. Left ventricular dimensions and mass were obtained according to Penn convention. The intima-media thickness of the far wall of both common carotid arteries was measured at 5, 10 and 20 mm caudally to the flow-divider; the average values were considered. RESULTS: Twenty-eight pts (age 43 +/- 8 years) had an average daytime ABPM below 140/90 mm Hg ("white coat") and 26 pts (age 46 +/- 10) had a consistently elevated diastolic blood pressure. Both groups had similar office blood pressure (152 +/- 9/101 +/- 7 vs 155 +/- 10/103 +/- 6 mm Hg) body surface mass (1.79 +/- 0.23 vs 1.86 +/- 0.21 mq), sex (18M/20F vs 18M/8F), duration of hypertension, glycolipidic parameters and smoking habit. The daytime ABPM was (by definition) significantly higher in established hypertensive pts than in white coat hypertensive pts (145 +/- 11/97 +/- 4 vs 129 +/- 7/83 +/- 5 mm Hg, p < 0.001). Left ventricular mass index and intima-media thickness resulted significantly greater in established (119 +/- 1.7 g/m2; 0.70 +/- 0.11 mm) than in white coat hypertensive pts (99 +/- 16 g/m2; 0.60 +/- 0.1 mm, p < 0.002). The prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy and cardiac remodeling was more frequent in established hypertensive pts (53%) compared to white coat hypertensive pts (7.7%). CONCLUSION: The results of our study confirm that structural changes of left ventricle in white coat hypertensive pts are more limited than in established hypertensive pts and for the first time show that in white coat hypertensive pts the involvement of the conductance vessels is significantly lower than in established hypertensive pts.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Cardiac and carotid structure in patients with established hypertension and white-coat hypertension.

AIM: The introduction of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in the clinical practice has defined a new subgroup of hypertensive patients called white-coat hypertensives. It has been reported that white-coat hypertensives have less cardiac involvement than established hypertensive patients. This study was designed to examine the extent of cardiac and vascular involvement in patients with white-coat hypertension and established hypertension. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 82 patients with mild essential hypertension, never previously treated, using 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and an echocardiographic and vascular ultrasonographic study. Left ventricular dimensions and mass were obtained according to the Penn convention. The intima-media thickness of the posterior wall of both common carotid arteries was measured 5, 10 and 20 mm caudally to the flow-divider and the average value was used for analysis. RESULTS: Of the 82 patients, 31 (mean +/- SD age 35 +/- 10 years) had average 24-h systolic/diastolic blood pressure values of below 132/85 mmHg (white-coat hypertensives) and 51 (aged 42 +/- 2 years) had a consistently elevated diastolic blood pressure. Both groups had similar body surface area (1.82 +/- 0.22 versus 1.81 +/- 0.22 m2), sex distribution (20 males and 11 females versus 32 males and 19 females), duration of hypertension, metabolic parameters and smoking habit. The 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring values were, by definition, significantly higher in established hypertensives than in white-coat hypertensives (142 +/- 10/94 +/- 6 versus 127 +/- 6/79 +/- 4 mmHg, P<0.001). The left ventricular mass index and intima-media thickness were significantly higher in the established hypertensives (112 +/- 17 g/m2, 0.67 +/- 0.11 mm, respectively) than in the white-coat hypertensives (98 +/- 18 g/m2, 0.58 +/- 0.09 mm; P<0.001 for both). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy and cardiac remodeling was significantly more frequent in established hypertensives (51%) compared to white-coat hypertensives (19%). These confirm that structural changes in the left ventricle in white-coat hypertensives are more limited than in established hypertensives and show that in white-coat hypertensives there is significantly less involvement of the conductance vessels than in established hypertensives.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Ultrasonographic evaluation of cardiac and vascular changes in young borderline hypertensives.

We measured the intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (CCA) and of its bifurcation (BIF) in 20 borderline hypertensives (age 24 +/- 4 years) and in 20 normotensive subjects (age 23 +/- 6 years), as a control group. Both carotid axes have been scanned from different views on a transversal and longitudinal section. Carotid diameter and thickness were measured in the longitudinal section. CCA parameters were assessed 20 mm caudally to the flow divider. In borderline patients blood pressure (147.8 +/- 10.5/90.7 +/- 6.6 mm Hg) and left ventricular mass index (102.5 +/- 15.3 g/m2) were significantly higher than in normotensive subjects (blood pressure 120.5 +/- 11.5/78.0 +/- 5.4 mm Hg; left ventricular mass 90.5 +/- 14.3 g/m2, p < 0.01 and p < 0.05 respectively). The intima-media thickness of both the CCA and BIF was significantly higher in borderline hypertensives than in normotensives (CCA 0.6 +/- 0.08 vs. 0.4 +/- 0.05 mm, p < 0.01; BIF 0.7 +/- 0.08 vs. 0.5 +/- 0.08, p < 0.01). In the whole population there was a statistically significant correlation between the carotid wall thickness and the left ventricular mass.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Cardiac and vascular hypertrophy in juvenile borderline hypertension: echocardiographic and ultrasonographic study].

BACKGROUND: High resolution ultrasonography is a noninvasive technique that allows us to investigate the cardiovascular system, in particular the wall thickness and the lumen diameter of the arteries, with accuracy and reproducibility. METHODS: We measured the intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (CCA) and of its bifurcation (BIF) in 20 borderline hypertensive (age 24 +/- 4 years) and in 20 normotensive subjects (age 24 +/- 4 years), as a control group. Both carotid axes were scanned from different views (anterior, lateral, posterior) on a transversal and longitudinal section using a high resolution steerable linear array of 5 MHz. Carotid diameter and thickness were measured in the longitudinal section. CCA parameters were assessed 20 mm caudally to the flow divider. RESULTS: In borderline patients blood pressure (147.8 +/- 10.5/90.7 +/- 6.6 mmHg) and left ventricular mass index (102.5 +/- 15.3 g/m2) were significantly higher than in normotensive subjects (blood pressure 120.5 +/- 11.5/78.0 +/- 5.4 mm Hg; left ventricular mass 90.5 +/- 14.3 g/m2). The intima-media thickness of both the CCA and BIF was significantly higher in borderlines than in normotensives (CCA 0.6 +/- 0.08 vs 0.4 +/- 0.05 mm, p < 0.001; BIF 0.7 +/- 0.08 vs 0.5 +/- 0.08, p < 0.001). In the whole population there was a statistically significant correlation between the carotid wall thickness and the left ventricular mass. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that ultrasonography provides direct evidence that in young borderline hypertensives the increased left ventricular mass is associated with vascular hypertrophy.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Echocardiographic and ultrasonographic evaluation of cardiac and vascular hypertrophy in patients with essential hypertension.

High-resolution ultrasonography is a noninvasive technique that allows to investigate the cardiovascular system, in particular the wall thickness and the lumen diameter of the arteries with accuracy and reproducibility. We measured the intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (CCA) and of its bifurcation (BIF) in 40 patients with essential hypertension, 20 of them with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH; age 42 +/- 10 years) and 20 without LVH (age 44 +/- 12 years); no other major cardiovascular risk factor was present in all the patients. Both carotid axes have been scanned from different views (anterior, lateral, posterior) on a transversal and longitudinal section using a high-resolution steerable linear array of 5.0 MHz. Carotid diameter and thickness were measured in the longitudinal section. CCA parameters were assessed 20 mm caudally to the flow divider. In patients with LVH, blood pressure (172 +/- 21/108 +/- 9 mm Hg) and left ventricular mass index (156 +/- 38 g/m2) were significantly (p < 0.01) higher than in patients without LVH (blood pressure: 158 +/- 11/99 +/- 12 mm Hg; left ventricular mass index: 98 +/- 10 g/m2), while there was no difference in serum glycemia, triglycerides, total and fractioned cholesterol levels. The intima-media thickness of both the CCA and BIF was significantly higher in the hypertensives with LVH (CCA: 0.85 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.65 +/- 0.02 mm; BIF: 0.93 +/- 0.04 vs. 0.70 +/- 0.03 mm, p < 0.01). There was a statistically significant correlation between the carotid wall thickness and the left ventricular mass index.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Prevalence of physiological valvular regurgitation in hypertensive patients: echocardiographic and color Doppler study.

Since the advent of the Doppler color flow echocardiography, the presence of a small degree of insufficiency of the cardiac valves has been detected with relative frequency in structurally and functionally normal hearts. Data about this so-called 'physiological' regurgitation are presently available only in normotensive subjects and athletes. We therefore studied the prevalence of this phenomenon in a group of patients with essential hypertension compared to a population of normotensive subjects. To this purpose, a Doppler color flow echocardiographic study was performed in 130 essential hypertensive patients (72M/58F; age 44.2 +/- 13.5 years; BP 154.3 +/- 12.8/98.3 +/- 7.1 mm Hg) without any evidence of left ventricular hypertrophy or cardiopathy and in 100 normal subjects (59M/41F; age 41.2 +/- 14.8 years; BP 119.1 +/- 8.1/79.2 +/- 8.1 mm Hg). We conclude that in patients with essential hypertension the physiological regurgitant jets are present in one or more cardiac valves; moreover, the regurgitation of the mitral and aortic valve is found with more frequency than in the normotensive control group (36.1 vs. 27.0% and 17.7 vs. 11.0%, respectively). These data suggest that the increased afterload of the left ventricle may play an important role in the pathogenesis of even minor degree of insufficiency of the cardiac valves. As this finding does not appear to have a pathological relevance, the main clinical implication of this study is that it is not advisable to create a jatrogenic heart disease in the hypertensive patients routinely screened by the echo-Doppler technique.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Ultrasonographic evaluation of cardiac and vascular hypertrophy in patients with essential hypertension].

High resolution ultrasonography allows the accurate and reproducible measurement of thickness and lumen diameter of carotid arteries. We investigated Common carotid (CCA) and bifurcation intima-media thickness in 40 hypertensive patients, 20 without left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) (age 42 +/- 10 years) and 20 with LVH (age 44 +/- 12 years), all free from other important cardiovascular risk factors. Both carotid axes were scanned from different views (anterior, lateral, posterior) on traversal and longitudinal section, using a high resolution steerable (HRS) 5.0 MHz linear array. Carotid diameter and thickness from longitudinal section were measured. CCA parameters were taken 20 mm caudally to flow divider. Using the B-mode as a guide we assessed LVH presence with M-mode technique when left ventricular mass index (LVMI) > or = 135 g/m2 for men and > or = 110 g/m2 for women. In hypertensive patients with LVH, left ventricular mass was significantly higher than in those without LVH (156 +/- 38 vs 98 +/- 10 g/m2, p < 0.01). Even blood pressure was significantly higher in hypertrophic group (172 +/- 21/108 +/- 9 vs 158 +/- 11/99 +/- 12 mmHg, p < 0.01), while there was no difference in serum glycemia, triglycerides, total and fractioned cholesterol levels. The intima-media thickness scanned in both CCA and bifurcation resulted significantly higher in hypertensives with LVH (CCA: 0.85 +/- 0.02 mm vs 0.65 +/- 0.02 mm; BIF: 0.93 +/- 0.04 mm vs 0.70 +/- 0.03 mm, p < 0.01). We also noticed a statistically significant correlation between carotid wall thickness and left ventricular mass index.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Arterial hypertension as a risk factor in the elderly and its treatment.

PURPOSE: World Health Statistic Annuals between 1973 and 1982 show that mortality from cardiovascular and coronary heart disease fell significantly during this period. Against this background, the present review analyses results from trials of antihypertensive therapy in elderly hypertensives. STUDY SELECTION: The review examined available trials specifically devoted to testing the hypothesis that antihypertensive treatment in the elderly hypertensive can lead to a decrease in morbidity and mortality. RESULTS OF DATA ANALYSIS: Different, randomly allocated, controlled trials have shown that a pharmacological reduction in blood pressure can reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events in the elderly to a similar extent as in young and adult hypertensive patients. Recent reviews have indicated, in contrast to previous suggestions, that the available antihypertensive agents do not have an age-dependent effect. Therefore the choice of antihypertensive therapy is more dependent on previous use or the presence of concomitant diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Arterial hypertension is a risk factor in the elderly which can be reduced with pharmacological intervention.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Cardiac structure and function before and after acute and chronic verapamil administration in hypertensive patients.

The aim of this study has been to analyze the acute and chronic effects of oral verapamil on diastolic function indices, derived from Doppler echocardiography, and left-ventricular (LV) dimensions and mass, assessed by M-mode echocardiography, in hypertensive patients without LV hypertrophy. 12 patients with essential hypertension were studied in basal conditions and (1) after a single oral administration of verapamil 160 mg and placebo in a double-blind protocol and (2) over chronic treatment (12 months) with verapamil 240 mg/day. At baseline, the ratio between early and atrial-induced transmitral velocities (E/A ratio) was lower in patients than in 12 age-matched normal subjects (1.08 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.51 +/- 0.3, p less than 0.01). Acute verapamil administration significantly decreased arterial blood pressure (162 +/- 26/101 +/- 8 to 142 +/- 12/88 +/- 7 mm Hg, p less than 0.01 after 2 h) and increased the E/A ratio to 1.26 +/- 0.3 (p less than 0.05) after 3 h. No change in ventricular dimensions and heart rate was observed. After chronic therapy, we found a further increase in the E/A ratio in 10 responder patients (1.49 +/- 0.3, p less than 0.01). The LV mass index, that was higher than in normal subjects before the treatment (118 +/- 16 vs. 91 +/- 11 g/m2, p less than 0.01), was significantly reduced (100 +/- 17 g/m2, p less than 0.05 vs. basal, nonsignificant vs. normal subjects). Our results demonstrate that acute administration of verapamil only partially improves the abnormal indices of diastolic function in hypertensive patients, whereas chronic treatment, by reducing LV mass indices and blood pressure to normal values, can completely normalize the indices of LV diastolic filling.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Blocked transcolostomy colonography in the identification of anorectal malformations].

The study of anorectal malformations has considerably improved over the last years also thanks to the use of such diagnostic techniques as CT and MR imaging, which allow a better knowledge of perineal region anatomy and the demonstration of the development of sphincteric structures. The most important diagnostic phase for the identification of anorectal malformations consists in the detection of rectal fistulas. The authors report on their experience with barred water-soluble contrast enema in the study of anorectal anomalies. Over 2 years, 23 patients with anorectal malformations (10 males and 13 females) previously submitted to colostomy, were studied with this method. Fistulas were detected in 21 cases; in the extant 2 patients (both females affected with Down syndrome), no fistulas were detected, not even at surgery, which was posterior sagittal anorectoplasty according to Peña-De Vries. In our experience, the most frequent anomalies were recto-bulbo-urethral fistula in males and low recto-vaginal fistula in females. The authors suggest the use of this method as a routine diagnostic examination, because of its proven reliability.

Anal Canal↗
PubMed1991

[Effects of acute and chronic administration of verapamil on the anatomy and function of the left ventricle in essential hypertensive patients ].

The aim of this study was to analyze the acute and chronic effects of oral verapamil on diastolic function indices, derived from Doppler echocardiography and left ventricular (LV) dimensions and mass, assessed by M-mode echocardiography, in hypertensive patients (pts). Twelve essential hypertensive pts without LV hypertrophy were studied in basal conditions and 1) after a single oral administration of verapamil 160 mg and placebo, in double blind protocol and 2) over chronic treatment (six months) of verapamil 240 mg/day. At baseline the ratio between early and atrial-induced transmitral velocities (E/A ratio) was lower in pts than in 12 age-matched normal subjects (1.0 +/- 0.3 vs 1.5 +/- 0.3, p less than 0.01). Acute verapamil administration significantly decreased arterial blood pressure (162 +/- 26/101 +/- 15 to 142 +/- 12/88 +/- 7 mmHg, p less than 0.01) after two hours and increased the E/A ratio to 1.26 +/- 0.3 (p less than 0.05) after three hours. No change in ventricular dimensions or heart rate was observed. After chronic therapy we found a further increase in the E/A ratio (1.49 +/- 0.3, p less than 0.01) in 10 responder pts. The LV mass index, which was higher than in normal subjects before the treatment (118 +/- 16 vs 91 +/- 11 g/m2, p less than 0.01), was significantly reduced (100 +/- 17 g/m2, p less than 0.05 vs basal, ns vs normal subjects). Our results demonstrate that acute administration of verapamil only partially improves the abnormal indices of diastolic function in hypertensive pts, whereas chronic treatment, by reducing left ventricular mass indices and blood pressure to normal values, can completely normalize the indices of LV diastolic filling.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[The characteristics of left ventricular filling in a mild grade of physiological and pathological hypertrophy. A Doppler echocardiographic study].

The aim of this study was to evaluate diastolic function in athletes and in young borderline hypertensives with mild left ventricular hypertrophy. To compare the effects on left ventricular filling of these two conditions we studied 15 borderline hypertensives (age 21 +/- 3 yrs, left ventricular mass index 137 +/- 9 g/m2), 18 soccer players (age 22 +/- 4 yrs, left ventricular mass index 136 +/- 12 g/m2) and 20 normotensive subjects (age 22 +/- 4 yrs, left ventricular mass index 94 +/- 10 g/m2) using the echo-Doppler technique. Left ventricular mass (LVM) was calculated with Devereux's formula. The criterion for left ventricular hypertrophy was left ventricular mass index greater than or equal to 120 g/m2. The following parameters of left ventricular filling were evaluated by Doppler transmitral flow analysis: the early (E) and late (A) peak velocity, the ratio E/A, the integral of early (Ei) and late (Ai) diastolic velocity. We concluded that the left ventricular filling profile was similar in borderline hypertensives, in athletes and in normotrophic subjects. These findings suggest that at least in its early stages, mild cardiac hypertrophy secondary to pathological stimulus is characterized by indices of diastolic function which are no different to those found in athletes with physiological hypertrophy.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[An association between anorectal malformations and Down's syndrome].

Down's syndrome is the most frequent chromosomal anomaly in humans and sometimes is associated with anorectal anomalies. The anorectal malformations include many varieties of anatomical anomalies, which are often difficult to evaluate. The Authors believe preoperative CT or MRI of the pelvis, together with other clinical and radiological examination to be a valid mean in the preoperative prognostic evaluation. In this study they analysed the association of anorectal malformations and Down's syndrome and the absence of a genito-urinary or perineal fistula.

Anal Canal↗