PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Algom

Publications and source records attributed to M Algom.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Serial changes in left ventricular diastolic indexes derived from Doppler echocardiography after anterior wall acute myocardial infarction.

Restrictive ventricular filling pattern derived from Doppler echocardiography after anterior wall AMI may serve as an indicator of diastolic dysfunction due to initial myocardial stiffness and complications such as extension of the infarction, Dressler syndrome, septal rupture, or myocardial failure. Later changes, such as prolongation of deceleration time, may indicate remodeling process, healing of the complications of AMI, or improved revascularization.

Aged↗

Cardiovascular, skeletal and ophthalmologic manifestations in patients with Marfan's syndrome.

Cardiovascular, skeletal and ophthalmologic manifestations of Marfan's syndrome were evaluated in 36 patients with Marfan's syndrome, including 22 females and 14 males whose ages ranged from 3 to 70 years. The patients complained mainly of palpitations and chest pain. Mitral clicks and/or systolic murmurs were heard in 31 patients (86%); skeletal findings were found in 35 patients (97%) and ECG T-wave changes in 11 (30%). Chest X-rays showed cardiac enlargement in six patients (17%) and dilatation of the aorta in two (6%). Holter monitoring performed in 21 patients showed only a few premature atrial and ventricular beats in 4, although prolapse of the mitral valve was found in 18 patients. Echocardiography revealed mitral valve prolapse in 32 patients (89%), 21 females (95% of females) and 11 males (79% of males). Aortic root dilatation was found in 19 patients (53%). 11 males (79% of males) and 8 females (36% of females). This study demonstrates the variable clinical expression of Marfan's syndrome and the importance of clinical and noninvasive methods, mainly echocardiography, for its evaluation.

Adult↗

Acute rheumatic fever in the young: changing prevalence and pattern.

Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is rare in young people. A group of 28 patients is described who were hospitalized during the years 1960-1984. Patients were divided into two groups: children who were admitted between 1960 and 1966 and those admitted between 1966 and 1984. The annual incidence of ARF declined from 1.17 to 0.44 cases per 10,000 population at risk. The incidence of arthritis declined in parallel to the decrease in number of children presenting with ARF, whereas the incidence of carditis remained the same.

Acute Disease↗

Prevalence of mitral valve prolapse in chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis and nongoitrous hypothyroidism.

An increased prevalence of mitral valve prolapse has been found in Graves' disease and a common autoimmune etiology has been suggested for both disorders. We investigated the prevalence of mitral valve prolapse in 87 patients with autoimmune chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, 50 patients with nongoitrous hypothyroidism and 111 healthy control subjects. Mitral valve prolapse was found in 16.09% of patients with chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis compared to 6 and 5.4% in nongoitrous hypothyroidism and normal controls, respectively. The result is statistically significant, p less than 0.02, and confirms that the prevalence of mitral valve prolapse is significantly increased in patients with autoimmune disorders of the thyroid gland, when compared to normals and nonautoimmune conditions.

Adult↗

Captopril as a replacement therapy in hypertension improving quality of life--a multicentre study.

A multicentre study was undertaken to determine whether side effects induced by hypotensive drugs could be reduced by replacement with low dose captopril. There were 100 patients on combinations of drugs, including diuretics, beta-blocking agents, methyldopa, clonidine and vasodilators. A questionnarie to obtain information on quality of life was completed by the patients. Each patient had major drugs, possibly responsible for side effects, withdrawn. Captopril was added at an initial dose of 12.5 up to 25 mg b.i.d. and titrated to a maximum of 50 mg t.i.d., until the blood pressure was equal to or lower than the level on entry into the study. Blood pressure was measured every two weeks and questionnaries were completed a number of times during the treatment period and scored at random, not in chronological order. A marked drop in blood pressure was obtained: mean systolic blood pressure went down from 173.4 +/- 2 to 154.5 +/- 2 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure dropped from 104.5 +/- 11 to 9l.5 +/- 12 mm Hg. Neither tachycardia nor orthostasis was observed. Side effects, including inability to concentrate, nightmares, dizziness and sexual dysfunction, were reduced in 36% of the patients. Captopril itself produced no significant additional adverse reactions. It is concluded that captopril is a safe and effective drug, which can replace antihypertensive drugs that have deleterious side effects.

Adult↗

Mitral valve prolapse in hyperthyroidism of two different origins.

The prevalence of mitral valve prolapse was investigated in 126 patients with hyperthyroidism due to Graves' disease or toxic nodular goitre and that of hyperthyroidism in 64 patients with mitral valve prolapse. One hundred and eleven asymptomatic healthy subjects comprised a control group. The patients with hyperthyroidism were divided into those with Graves' disease and those with toxic nodular goitre. Of the group as whole, 12 (9.5%) patients had mitral valve prolapse compared with six (5.4%) in the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant. The prevalence of mitral valve prolapse in the patients with toxic goitre was also not significantly different from that in the controls. When the prevalence in the group with Graves' disease was compared with that in the control group (16.3% vs 5.4%) the difference was significant. Only one patient with mitral valve prolapse had hyperthyroidism.

Adult↗

Cardiac tamponade in Dressler's syndrome. Case report.

A case of Dressler's syndrome with cardiac tamponade is presented. 19 days after an acute lateral myocardial infarction, the patient, 46 years old, was admitted the second time with a characteristic clinical picture of cardiac tamponade. The patient did not receive at any time during his admission an anticoagulant treatment. The clinical diagnosis was supported by fluoroscopic and echocardiographic findings. A pericardiocentesis performed immediately revealed a hemorrhagic pericardial fluid. After withdrawal of 60 ml, the patient's clinical condition improved dramatically and this improvement continued further under treatment with corticosteroids. At the best of our knowledge this is the second case in the literature of Dressler's syndrome with cardiac tamponade and hemorrhagic fluid in a patient not treated with anticoagulants.

Anticoagulants↗

Unexpected cardiac pathology in pregnant women treated with beta-adrenergic agents (ritodrine).

Premature uterine contractions were treated by intravenous beta-mimetics in 190 patients during a 2-year period. History and physical examination were directed toward identification of patients with cardiac problems. Unexpected cardiac pathology was discovered in 14 patients, all of whom exhibited severe and continuous nausea, retrosternal pain, or dyspnea during beta-mimetic administration. Treatment was immediately discontinued in the presence of S-T depression, supraventricular tachycardia, nonspecific T wave changes, and sinus tachycardia with right axis deviation. Further investigation revealed obstructive cardiac myopathy in one case and atrial septal defect in another. Such changes might be identified earlier by more extensive screening procedures (such as electrocardiogram) before drug administration. Administration of beta-mimetic agents may uncover previously unexpected cardiac pathology. Continuation of ritodrine in such cases is contraindicated and potentially hazardous.

Adult↗