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Biomedical subjects

P Cardaioli

Publications and source records attributed to P Cardaioli.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Percutaneous revascularization of coexisting severe carotid and coronary artery disease: a case report.

Following the NASCET and ACAS trials, the use of carotid endarterectomy for the treatment of carotid artery stenosis has become widespread. However, in high-risk patients, the perioperative morbidity and mortality have reached 18%. In such populations, a percutaneous approach including coronary angioplasty and stenting of the carotid lesion could be an option worth exploring. In this report we discuss a case that is representative of our experience with the simultaneous treatment of critical carotid and coronary stenosis. A 74-year-old patient with advanced coronary artery disease and severe bilateral carotid pathology was submitted to coronary angioplasty and stenting of the carotid lesions.

Aged↗

Positron emission tomography is a useful tool in differentiating idiopathic from ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

We evaluated the utility of positron emission tomography in differentiating patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy from those with ischemic cardiomyopathy. Twenty consecutive non-diabetic patients with dilatation (end-diastolic volume > or = 120 cc/m2) and reduced systolic function (ejection fraction < or = 40%) of the left ventricle on cineangiography, underwent coronary angiography, F18 fluorodeoxyglucose (F18-FDG) (glucose load technique) and N13-ammonia (N13-NH3) positron emission tomography. A semiquantitative score based on the extension and the severity of the uptake defects was calculated. Endomyocardial biopsy was performed in patients with normal coronary arteries. Ten patients (group A) had normal coronary arteries and histologic features of the endomyocardium fitting with the diagnosis of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Cineangiography showed critical stenosis of at least one major coronary artery in the other 10 patients (group B). The two groups were similar in age. left ventricular end-diastolic volume and ejection fraction. Both N13-NH3, positron emission tomography and F18-FDG positron emission tomography scores were lower in group A than in group B: 0.1 +/- 0.3 vs. 10.6 +/- 5.1 (P<0.0001) and 2.4 +/- 4.4 vs. 9.9 +/- 4.1 (P<0.0001) respectively. but only N13-NH3 positron emission tomography allowed a complete separation of the two groups (score range 0-1 group A vs. 4-12 group B). The F18-FDG score value showed some overlapping between the two groups (score range 0-12 in the group A vs. 2-17 in the group B). All three idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy patients with a F18-FDG score value >2 had left bundle branch block on standard ECG. Positron emission tomography imaging with N13-NH3 and F18-FDG provided a complete differentiation between idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and ischemic cardiomyopathy patients. However patients with left bundle branch block on ECG could present defects in FDG uptake even if affected by idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Adult↗

Angiographic presentation of coronary artery spasm in heart transplant recipients.

We describe the angiographic characteristics of coronary artery spasm observed in 12 out of 247 (4.9%) patients who underwent 808 coronary angiographies after heart transplantation. Coronary artery spasm was diagnosed when localized and reversible narrowing of the coronary lumen was identified. After coronary artery spasm identification all patients were followed-up clinically for a mean period of 5.1 years. Coronary artery spasm was documented 1-3 years after heart transplant. Coronary artery spasm affected 1 main coronary artery in 10 patients and 2 in 2 patients; in 3 patients 1 or more secondary branches were also affected. The right coronary artery was affected by coronary artery spasm in 8 patients and the anterior descending coronary artery in 6 patients. In 6 patients coronary artery spasm was mechanically induced by the catheter tip. The degree of luminal narrowing due to coronary artery spasm ranged from mild to almost complete occlusion. Coronary artery spasm appeared as a single tubular smooth and concentric stenosis in 8 patients, was discrete in 2 patients and multiple on the same vessel in 2 patients. In 1 patient coronary artery spasm was erroneously interpreted as an organic lesion and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty was planned. During follow-up 3 patients out of 4 who had shown multiple coronary artery spasm died and 2 patients developed critical organic stenosis. In conclusion coronary artery spasm after heart transplant is less rare than commonly believed. Although it usually has a peculiar appearance, it can be misinterpreted as an organic lesion. Multiple coronary artery spasm appears to carry a poor prognosis.

Adult↗

Analytical expression of effective afterload in aortic and mitral regurgitation.

Effective arterial elastance (Ea) is the coupling parameter between the left ventricle and peripheral circulation in normal subjects. If left ventricular end systolic pressure (Pes), contractility (Es) and Ea are known, left ventricular end diastolic volume (LVEDV) and ejection fraction of the ventricle are completely determined. The aim of this study was to give an analytical expression for Ea in patients with mitral and aortic regurgitation, and predict both LVEDV and the effect of vasodilator therapy on LVEDV. Twenty-three subjects with atypical chest pain, 15 patients with mitral insufficiency and 11 with aortic insufficiency underwent diagnostic cardiac catheterization, coronary angiography, and left ventricular cineangiography, which was analyzed quantitatively. Ea was 2.05 +/- 0.63 in normal subjects, while it was 1.28 +/- 0.71 and 1.57 +/- 0.87 in patients with mitral and aortic insufficiency, respectively. All these groups differed with ANOVA test (p = 0.0031). We tested the ability of the analytical expressions for Ea in normal subjects, and patients with mitral insufficiency or aortic insufficiency to predict measured Ea and LVEDV. Ea and LVEDV were predicted rather accurately in every case (p < 0.0001). We used published data to test the effect of resistance modulation on LVEDV. Predicted and measured LVEDV were linearly correlated both in aortic (p < 0.0001) and mitral insufficiency (p = 0.027). Moreover, in some cases a left ventricular enlargement after vasodilator therapy could be anticipated because of an unbalanced decrease in resistance and heart rate. Ea seems to be the coupling parameter between the left ventricle and the peripheral circulation not only in normal subjects, but also in patients with mitral or aortic regurgitation; its measurement before administering vasodilating drugs may be useful in order to predict the effects on LVEDV, and achieve an optimal ventriculoarterial coupling.

Aortic Valve Insufficiency↗

[Percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty in mitral restinosis after surgical commissurotomy].

UNLABELLED: The frequency of mitral restenosis after surgical commissurotomy has been estimated between 10 and 30% up to 10 years and 85% up to 28 years. Aim of this study was to analyze the results of balloon mitral valvuloplasty (BMV) in a series of patients with previous surgical commissurotomy. METHODS: Between December 1988 and December 1995 432 patients underwent BMV. Of these patients, 30 (6.9%; 10 men, 20 women, aged 53 +/- 12 years) had recurrent mitral stenosis after surgical commissurotomy. Contraindications to BMV were the evidence of left atrial thrombi at transesophageal echocardiography and/or of mitral insufficiency > 2+/4+. The Inoue's single balloon catheter was used for all the procedures. RESULTS: BMV resulted in a decrease in mean mitral gradient from 12.6 +/- 3.8 to 6.1 +/- 2.9 mmHg, and an increase in mitral valve area from 1.03 +/- 0.19 cm2 to 1.95 +/- 0.40 cm2. A mitral insufficiency > or = 3+/4+ occurred in 4/30 BMV (13%). At follow-up (mean 27 +/- 18 months) 20/26 patients (77%) remained clinically improved: 54% were in NYHA class I and 23% in class II. CONCLUSIONS: BMV is an effective short- and long-term procedure for patients with previous surgical commissurotomy, with a low additional risk of complications. Thus, BMV can be considered the treatment of choice in these patients.

Adult↗

Intracoronary stenting for thrombus-containing lesions in the setting of acute ischemic syndromes.

AIM: The presence of intracoronary thrombus was considered a contraindication for stent deployment. Recently, many investigators have demonstrated that the use of stents for thrombus-laden lesions under both elective and bail-out conditions is effective and safe, even in the setting of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study Palmaz-Schatz stents were implanted to treat suboptimal results and complications of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in 41 thrombus-containing lesions. Clinical presentation was unstable angina in 24 and AMI in 17 patients. Stents were deployed because of suboptimal result (n = 27), coronary dissection with threatening occlusion (n = 13) or abrupt closure (n = 1). An angiographic successful deployment was obtained in all but one lesions (98%). Four patients (9.8%) suffered from in-hospital complications: three developed a non fatal non-Q wave AMI and one died. There was no need for emergency coronary artery bypass graft surgery, repeat PTCA or blood transfusion for vascular complications. At six-months follow-up one patient (2.6%) developed a non-Q wave AMI and two (5.1%) underwent a repeat coronary angioplasty. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience confirms that adequately dilated Palmaz-Schatz stent might be safe and effective for thrombus-containing lesions in the setting of acute ischemic syndromes.

Aged↗

[Coronary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction].

Primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) allows to obtain a higher reperfusion rate in the culprit vessel than thrombolytic therapy, reducing the incidence of death, non fatal reinfarction and recurrent ischemia. The aim of this study was to test the in-hospital and mid-term results of an early invasive strategy with PTCA in patients with AMI. Thirty-four patients with AMI underwent coronary angiography within 3 hours from the onset of symptoms. Twenty-four patients had anterior AMI and 3 were in cardiogenic shock. Three patients, 1 without significant lesions and 2 with multivessel diffuse coronary disease, were left out of the procedure, and 31 patients underwent PTCA. Twenty-six lesions were total occlusions with TIMI flow 0.A TIMI flow 1 was present in the other 5 vessels. Stent deployment was decided for 16 lesions (52%). Primary success (TIMI flow 3 with mean residual stenosis of 15 +/- 20%) was obtained in 30 patients (97%). In 1 patient recanalization of the anterior descending coronary artery was not possible due to tortuosity of the abdominal and thoracic aorta. At pre-discharge angiography a good result was confirmed in 24/25 patients. After 6 months only 1 patient (3%) underwent a new PTCA for recurrent angina. In conclusion, primary PTCA for AMI within 3 hours of symptom onset allows good in-hospital and mid-term results with a low rate of complications.

Adult↗

[Immediate and long-term results of treatment of focal lesions with aortocoronary venous bypass with a stent implant].

Patients with recurrent angina after coronary artery bypass graft surgery pose a problem. Stent implantation has been advocated in an effort to avoid repeat operation and to address the limitations of balloon angioplasty. Aim of the present study was to determine the in-hospital and long-term results of stent deployment in focal, de novo lesions of vein grafts. Thirty-five focal, de novo lesions of vein grafts in 31 patients were treated with stent deployment. Twenty-four patients (77%) had three vessels, 6 (20%) two vessels and 1 (3%) single vessel disease. Saphenous vein grafts aged 9.7 +/- 4.2 years (range 1-19 years). Twenty-two lesions (63%) were located within the body of the saphenous graft, 8 (23%) at the graft/coronary artery anastomosis and 5 (14%) at the aorta/graft anastomosis. The indications for stent deployment included: suboptimal result from balloon angioplasty (defined as > or = 50% post-angioplasty residual stenosis) in 29/35 lesions (83%); post-angioplasty coronary dissection with threatening occlusion in 4/35 (11%); abrupt closure in 2/35 (6%). Patients were screened for death, myocardial infarction, bypass surgery and repeat angioplasty during in-hospital stay and after a follow-up of 12 +/- 8 months. Even-free survival curve was constructed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Stent deployment was successful in all patients. One stent was deployed in 24/35 lesions (69%), half Palmaz-Schatz stent in 6/35 (17%) and 2 or more stents in 5/35 (14%). The balloon/vessel ratio resulted of 1.0 +/- 0.1 Minimal lumen diameter increased from 0.8 +/- 0.4 to 3.8 +/- 0.6 mm, with a mean gain of 1.8 +/- 0.6 mm (range 1.8-4.0 mm). During the in-hospital period 1 patient (3.2%) died and 1 (3.2%) had a non Q wave myocardial infarction. Therefore, the clinical success rate, was 94%. During the follow-up period, 2 patients died (6.9%), 2 (6.9%) developed a non Q wave myocardial infarction, 1 (3.4%) underwent bypass surgery and 3 (10.3%) underwent repeat angioplasty. The estimated 2-year event-free survival rate (free from myocardial infarction, repeat surgery and repeat angioplasty) was 62%. In conclusion, Palmaz-Schatz stent deployment in focal, de novo vein grafts presents a high rate of procedural success, a low rate of acute complications and good long-term results.

Aged↗

Acute changes in left ventricular function after percutaneous transluminal mitral valvuloplasty.

Percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV) has been shown to induce an immediate increase in the left ventricular end-diastolic volume, which increase, in turn, has been attributed to an increase in left ventricular compliance. We studied 51 patients, 41 women and 10 men, who underwent PBMV, and were in sinus rhythm before and after the procedure. Heart rate did not vary significantly. There were increases in left ventricular end-diastolic volume (97.5 +/- 25.6 vs 112.7 +/- 25.7 ml/m2, P < 0.001), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (8.7 +/- 3.0 vs 9.7 +/- 4.3 mmHg, P = 0.04), and both left ventricular systolic pressure and stress (118 +/- 20.5 vs 123 +/- 23.2 mmHg and 468 +/- 129 vs 580 +/- 164 mmHg; P = 0.04 and P < 0.001, respectively). The elastic stiffness constant did not vary (16.2 +/- 1.9 vs 15.7 +/- 1.9 (dimensionless units), P = 0.2). The increase in volume seemed to be particularly important when the ventricle appeared to be "shrunken" before PBMV. This increase was still present after a 1 year follow up. Thus, PBMV determines an increase in both end-diastolic volume and pressure, so that the left ventricle appears to move along a single pressure-volume curve. This enlargement evokes the Frank Starling mechanism, and improves systolic performance. Since it is still evident after a 1 year follow up, some concern may arise when a simultaneous volume overload is present, as in aortic insufficiency.

Adult↗

[Percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty: the immediate and long-term results].

BACKGROUND: Between December 1988 and December 1992, 235 patients (pts) underwent percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV). METHODS AND RESULTS: There were 55 men (23%) aged 49 +/- 13 years and 180 women (77%) aged 51 +/- 13 years. Previous surgical commissurotomy (PSC) had been performed in 22 pts. Procedure was successful (area > 1.5 cm2 or area increase > or = 50% without mitral regurgitation > 2+) in 91.9% of pts, with increase in mitral valve area from 1.05 +/- 0.2 to 2.26 +/- 0.6 cm2, decrease of transvalvular mean pressure gradient from 14.4 +/- 5.5 to 6.05 +/- 4.91 mm Hg and increase of cardiac index from 2.79 +/- 0.75 to 3.17 +/- 0.9 l/m'/m2 (p < 0.001). Insufficient increase in valve area occurred in 3.8% of pts. Major complications included 5 pts with 3+ mitral regulation (MR) requiring mitral valve replacement (MVR), 2 TIA's (0.85%) and 1 pericardiocentesis (0.42%). At follow-up (mean 18.9 months) clinical improvement was achieved in 93.8% of pts (NYHA class from 2.4 to 1.3); mitral valve area was 1.9 +/- 0.4 cm2 and mean mitral valve gradient 5.3 +/- 2.3 mm Hg. Restenosis (area < 1.5 cm2 or > or = 50% loss of initial gain) occurred in 24 pts (10.16%). Six pts required MVR; 1 pt underwent a second successful PBMV. Multivariate study (logistic regression) identified as independent factors of severe MR NYHA class and PSC; echo score, age and basal mean mitral valve gradient were independent factors for restenosis. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, PBMV is a safe technique and stable clinical improvement can be obtained in the majority of pts.

Adolescent↗

[Rotational atherectomy and PTCA in complex coronary lesions (B2 and C): the immediate and long-term results].

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in complex coronary lesions (type B2 and C of the modified AHA/ACC classification) presents a lower primary success rate and higher risk of dissection than type A and B1 lesions. An alternative approach to this lesions is coronary rotational ablation (Rotablator, Heart Technology) with complementary PTCA using low inflation pressures ("facilitated angioplasty"). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six type B2 and C lesions in 24 patients (pts) (8 female, 16 male, age 37-80 years) were treated with coronary rotational ablation and complementary PTCA between January 1993 and December 1994 (4.7% of all interventional coronary procedures performed in this period in our laboratory). Eleven pts had stable effort angina and 13 pts had unstable, class IB, IIB, and IIC, angina. The treated vessel was the LAD in 15 cases, CX in 5, RCA in 5, and an intermediate branch in one case. Coronary rotational ablation was proposed because of the presence of two or more risk factors for uneffective or complicated PTCA: eccentricity, calcified lesions, bifurcation stenosis, lesion length > 10 mm, severe stenosis (90-99%), ostial location and bend location (45-60 degrees). No lesion showed coronary thrombus, considered as absolute contraindication to coronary rotational ablation. We used small burrs (burr/artery ratio < 0.75), and complementary PTCA was performed using low inflation pressure (< 8 atm) and long balloons for long lesions (> 10 mm) in order to minimize the risk of dissection. RESULTS: Coronary rotational ablation was successfully performed in all but two cases (24/26; 92.3%), with a reduction of the stenosis from 88 +/- 9% to 45 +/- 10% (range 30-60%). In two pts (7.7%) the procedure was complicated by acute occlusion: both pts underwent effective salvage PTCA with 30% residual stenosis. Small type A and B dissections occurred in 4/26 cases (15.4%). All but one lesions complicated by acute occlusion or dissection following coronary rotational ablation were not or only slightly calcified. Complementary PTCA was performed in all but two pts who already presented 30% residual stenosis after rotational ablation. A further reduction of stenosis to 20 +/- 9% (range 5-30%) was achieved. After complementary PTCA four pts (15.4%) developed type A and B dissections; in one of these a Palmaz-Schatz stent was implanted, whereas the remaining three pts presented a residual stenosis below 30% and no further procedures were undertaken. Overall success rate of rotational atherectomy plus salvage or complementary PTCA or stenting was 100%, and no major complications (Q-wave myocardial infarction, emergency bypass surgery or death) occurred. Three pts showed delayed coronary run-off (slow reflow) after rotational ablation, and two of these released a small amount of cardiac specific enzymes (CK MB) without ECG changes and wall motion alteration on echocardiographic examination. Clinical restenosis, defined as recurrent angina and/or positive exercise stress test, developed in 45.8% (11 pts); in all these pts restenosis was angiographically evidenced (75-99%). CONCLUSIONS: Our experience suggests that coronary rotational ablation along with complementary PTCA using low inflation pressure and long balloons is safe and effective in type B2 and C lesions if calcifications are present; however, restenosis rate remains high.

Adult↗

Measurement of systemic resistances in aortic regurgitation.

Peripheral resistance is usually measured by dividing mean aortic pressure by mean aortic flow. This statement holds true as long as resistance is constant throughout the heart cycle. This is not the case in aortic regurgitation, because during diastole, but not in systole, a conduit is opened to blood flow through the regurgitating valve. Peripheral resistance was measured in 11 patients with aortic regurgitation and in 23 normal subjects by solving for Ri in the "windkessel" equation. We compared this resistance (R1) with that measured by standard methods (RES). In normal subjects, R1 and RES are almost identical [R1 = 0.96 (RES) +/- 0.12, r = .95], while in aortic regurgitation there is no correlation [R1 = 0.64 (RES) +/- 1.4, r = 0.2]. RES in normal subjects is increased with respect to RES in aortic regurgitation (32 vs 22, p = 0.0019), while R1 in aortic regurgitation is decreased compared to both R1 and RES in normal subjects (13.5 vs 21 and 22, p = 0.0063). The difference between R1 and RES in aortic regurgitation is related to the regurgitating volume. Compliance, calculated by assuming a monoexponential diastolic aortic pressure decay, is markedly decreased in aortic insufficiency, while it is increased if it is calculated by dividing the time constant of aortic pressure decay by R1. Thus, in severe aortic regurgitation peripheral resistance is usually less than normal, and standard methods of measurement fail to detect this fact. Correct evaluation of resistance and compliance may be useful to evaluate ventriculoarterial coupling and to titrate vasodilator therapy in this disease.

Aortic Valve Insufficiency↗

[Regression of pulmonary hypertension in mitral stenosis: an echo-hemodynamic study in patients who underwent mitral balloon valvuloplasty].

BACKGROUND: Reversibility of pulmonary hypertension in patients affected by mitral stenosis is still under question. METHODS: We selected 80 patients (mean age 48 +/- 14) who underwent successful percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty (PMV) for hemodynamic significant mitral stenosis (area < 1.5 cm2) with pulmonary hypertension (mean artery pulmonary pressure--PPM > 25 mm Hg), producing significant increase in mitral valve area (area before PMV = 0.99 +/- 0.23 cm2 vs 2.08 +/- 0.32 cm2 after PMV--p < 0.001) without hemodynamic complications (mitral insufficiency and/or interatrial shunt). Cardiac index, pulmonary arterial pressures, and pulmonary arteriolar resistances were invasively evaluated before and immediately after valvuloplasty. Systolic pulmonary pressure was indirectly monitored by Doppler method in a period from 1 to 3 months after percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty. RESULTS: In general (70 pts.) there was an immediate significant reduction of pulmonary pressure after percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty (mean pulmonary pressure before PMV was 33.9 +/- 7.9 mm Hg vs 26.8 +/- 9.5 mm Hg after PMV, p < 0.01; systolic pulmonary pressure before PMV was 51.5 +/- 10.9 mm Hg vs 43.15 +/- 13.5 mm Hg after PMV--p < 0.01). A small subgroup of 10 pts., older in age (mean 59 +/- 15), manifested no reduction of pulmonary pressure immediately after procedure (mean pulmonary pressure before PMV = 35.2 +/- 8.37 mm Hg vs 36.5 +/- 6 mm Hg after PMV, p: ns; systolic pulmonary pressure before PMV = 58.2 +/- 10.6 mm Hg vs 59.2 +/- 9.6 mm Hg. after PMV, p: ns) and 4 of them (mean age 65 +/- 15) persisting pulmonary hypertension at 1-3 months follow-up (systolic pulmonary pressure before PMV = 58.75 +/- 14 mm Hg, immediately after PMV = 57.8 +/- 12.5 mm Hg, and 1-3 months after PMV = 62.5 +/- 9 mm Hg--p: ns). CONCLUSIONS: Neither severe pulmonary hypertension, nor pulmonary arteriolar resistances but only age seems to be a predictive factor of persisting pulmonary hypertension after percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty in mitral stenosis.

Adolescent↗

[Post-infarct rupture of the interventricular septum. 2-dimensional, continuous Doppler, pulsed and color-coded echocardiographic evaluation].

Rupture of the interventricular septum is an infrequent but always serious complication of acute myocardial infarction. It requires accurate timely diagnosis to decide the proper treatment and eventual surgical intervention. Echo-color-Doppler-cardiography appears to have such diagnostic capacities. In a total of 403 pts, with acute myocardial infarction we found 7 pts (1.7%) with suspected interventricular septum rupture; 5 with infero-posterior infarction and 2 with an anterior one. In 4 pts shock and death occurred rapidly, 2 pts were submitted to angiography and then to surgery with a good outcome, 1 pt died immediately after surgical repair. Echocardiographic findings were: 1) by 2-D (7 pts), direct visualization of septal rupture in 5/7, all with infero-posterior infarctions; 2) by pulsed wave Doppler (5 pts), detection of a typical systolic turbulence on the right septum in 5/5 pts, 3 with infero-posterior myocardial infarction, 2 with an anterior one; 3) by color Doppler (3 pts), detection of a "mosaic" color-jet expanding into the right ventricle in 3/3 pts, 2 with an anterior and 1 with an infero-posterior myocardial infarction. This technique immediately located two small ruptures which had not been easily detected by pulsed Doppler alone. In conclusion, echocolordopplercardiography appears to be a reliable method for the detection of ventricular septal rupture after myocardial infarction in so timely and accurately a manner as to rule out more aggressive procedures, angiography and surgery.

Aged↗

[Effect of propafenone on the pharmacokinetics of digoxin administered orally: a study in healthy volunteers].

It is well known that many cardiovascular drugs affect digoxin kinetics, but nothing is defined on propafenone-digoxin interaction. To clarify this problem, we studied digoxin kinetics in 8 healthy men, who received digoxin oral dose (0.50 mg) in the control state and again during maintenance therapy with propafenone (150 mg q.i.d.). Statistically significant changes were observed during propafenone in a number of digoxin kinetic indexes: a rise in peak serum digoxin concentration (4.30 vs 3.07 ng/ml - p less than 0.005), in area under the serum-digoxin concentration curve (4 h: 520.4 vs 368.9; 10 h: 789.6 vs 621.3 ng X min/ml - p less than 0.005; 24 h: 1187.6 vs 954.7 ng X min/ml - p less than 0.05) and urinary excretion of digoxin (277.7 vs 203.5 mcg - p less than 0.005). Renal digoxin clearance was not affected by propafenone. We conclude that propafenone interact kinetically with digoxin in healthy subjects, perhaps increasing digoxin bioavailability.

Administration, Oral↗

[Early changes in ventricular function in diastolic phase in the resting coronary patient].

The aim of this study is to test left ventricular diastolic function in coronary artery disease patients with preserved systolic performance. Two groups of patients (25 coronary artery disease patients with angiographic proved coronary artery stenosis, but with normal hemodynamic and angiographic indices of systolic phase, first group; and 14 normal subjects for control, second group) were tested comparing their systolic and diastolic ventricular function indices, obtained by using a Millar microtip catheter and a computerized program. Systolic ventricular function was similar in the two groups (EF: 0.61 +/- 0.05 vs 0.62 +/- 0.03, p: n.s.; Vmax:120 +/- 28 vs 112 +/- 24 sec-1, p: n.s.), while diastolic indices were significantly different (lowest diastolic pressure: 3.7 +/- 2.4 vs -1.72 +/- 1.45 mmHg, p less than 0.01; end-diastolic pressure: 11.2 +/- 4.2 vs 6.5 +/- 2.8 mmHg, p less than 0.05; T constant: 45 +/- 8 vs 35 +/- 6 mmHg, p less than 0.001; end-diastolic compliance: 2.79 +/- 0.3 X 10(-2) vs 5.68 +/- 0.4 X 10(-2) mmHg-1, p less than 0.001; Kp: 0.041 +/- 0.006 vs 0.003 +/- 0.004 p less than 0.001). In conclusion, impairment of left ventricular diastolic phase may be one of the earliest manifestations of functional alterations of ischemic ventricle.

Cardiac Catheterization↗