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Biomedical subjects

M Lucente

Publications and source records attributed to M Lucente.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

[Mexiletine in treatment of chronic ventricular refractary arrhythmias (author's transl)].

We studied the antiarrhythmic effect of oral Mexiletine in 20 patients with stable high-frequency ventricular arrhythmias refractory to therapeutic doses of conventional antiarrhythmic therapy. Arrhythmias were classified according to modified grading system of Lown and Wolf. The efficacy of Mexiletine was assessed with use of both the arrhythmic modified classification of Lown and Wolf and count of premature ventricular beats (PVB) from 24 hours ambulatory electrocardiographic recordings. The dose of Mexiletine was 300 mg every 8 hours; 24 hours ECG recordings were obtained in each patient on days 5,15 and 20 during Mexiletine therapy. The worst of tracings before and during Mexiletine therapy was compared. Mean decrease in PVB was 57% (P less than 0.001). The decrease in PVB was more than 80% in 11 patients. Comparison of the grade of arrhythmias disclosed a favorable effect of Mexiletine in 13 patients, a worsening in 1, and no effect in 6. Classification of the most severe arrhythmia revealed a significant decrease from an average grade of 3.05 to 1.75 (P less than 0.01). Before Mexiletine therapy, 40% of our patients were in Class 0 to II and 60% were in Class III or V, whereas during Mexiletine therapy the corresponding proportions were 75% and 25% respectively. Side effects (confusion, tremors, gastro-intestinal complaints) prompted reduction of the dose in 3 patients. Three additional patients had transient minor side effects (dizziness, nystagmus and gastrointestinal disorders) that did not necessitate a change in therapy and 14 patients reported no side effects. In conclusion our data suggest that Mexiletine is an effective agent in the long-term treatment of serious ventricular arrhythmias refractory to other agents. Since Mexiletine therapy is not associated with severe long-term side effects, it should now be possible to determine its role as a first-line drug for treating ventricular arrhythmias.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

[Chronobiological pattern size of cardiac rhythm (author's transl)].

The basic knowledge of statistical methods in chronobiology are exposed, for the analysis of chronobiological features of cardiac rhythm. The cosinor's method, with definition of chronobiological parameters (acrophase, mesor and amplitude) allows a microscopic approach to study of biological rhythms. The AA. relate some chronobiological studies: a) on heart rate in normal subjects and in patients with myocardial infarction (MI); b) on premature ventricular beats in MI; c) on atrial and ventricular rates in complete AV block. These results demonstrate that there is an evident circadian rhythmicity for all analyzed parameters. The AA. analyse the physiological and clinical meaning of the chronobiological approach to cardiac rhythm for the chronopharmacological and pathophysiological studies and suggests the implications in pathology of adaptation to shift work.

Circadian Rhythm↗