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Myocardial structure and left ventricular function in hypertrophic and dilative cardiomyopathy and aortic valve disease.

Left ventricular biopsies from 126 patients with advanced (EF less than 50%, n = 45) and mild (EF 50-60%, n = 21) and latent cardiomyopathy (EF greater than 60%, n = 60) and 18 additional patients with aortic valve disease and 22 cases with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were analyzed to define possible correlations between myocardial structure and function. Deterioration of ventricular function was combined with increasing muscle cell diameters (r = 0.47) and increasing nuclear size of the myocytes (r = 0.74) in latent and dilative cardiomyopathies and in patients with aortic valve disease (cell diameter, r = 0.6; nuclear size, r = 0.9). Patients with HCM showed a wide range of cell diameter and nuclear size. 24% of the latter patients had no bioptic evidence of myocardial hypertrophy. The mitochondrial volume of the myocytes was 23% in the normal and hypertrophied myocardium independent of the kind of disease and ventricular function. The volume fraction of the myofibrils continuously decreased with worsening of the left ventricular function in patients with latent and dilative cardiomyopathy (from 45 +/- 6.9 to 37.6 +/- 6.3%) and aortic valve disease (from 46.2 +/- 3.4 to 27.9 +/- 9.3%). Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy presented with normal or slightly decreased values of myofibrils consistent with normal ventricular function (42.5 +/- 5.0). The data demonstrate that the degree of myocardial hypertrophy and certain ultrastructural findings are inversely correlated with left ventricular function.

Aortic Valve↗

Target-controlled intravenous anaesthesia with bispectral index monitoring for thoracotomy in a patient with severely impaired left ventricular function.

The anaesthetic management of an elderly patient with severely impaired left ventricular function undergoing thoracotomy and lobectomy is described. Total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) with remifentanil and target-controlled infusion of propofol titrated according to the bispectral index (BIS) was used, with thoracic epidural anaesthesia commenced at the end of surgery providing postoperative analgesia. Avoidance of intraoperative epidural local anaesthetics and careful titration and dose reduction of propofol using the BIS was associated with excellent haemodynamic stability. The rapid offset of action of remifentanil and low-dose propofol facilitated early recovery and tracheal extubation. The BIS was a valuable monitor in optimal titration of TIVA.

Aged↗

Relationship between running speed, isoenzymes of serum creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase and left ventricular function in stallions.

The purpose of this study was to assess the possible relationship between maximal running speed, serum isoenzyme patterns of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and echocardiographic indices of left ventricular function. A group of 15 healthy, 3-year-old Maremmano stallions were given a 100 day training programme. At the end of this the animals carried out a maximum speed test and were divided into 2 groups (A and B) according to whether or not they had attained a speed of 15 m/s. Venous blood samples were taken from each horse before exercise (T0), 2 min (T1) and 24 h (T2) after exercise. Total serum activity of CK and LDH was measured and their isoenzyme distribution pattern determined. The day before the speed test echocardiographic examination was carried out at rest to assess the left ventricular function by calculating telediastolic, telesystolic and stroke volume, ejection fraction and stroke index. Statistically significant differences were found for the CK isoenzyme pattern at T2, where Group A showed an increase in the MM fraction (P = 0.003) and a decrease in the MB fraction (P = 0.014). These changes were thought to be linked to an increased membrane leakage due to exercise and not to muscle fibre disruption because the CK and LDH total activities remained within the normal range. In Group A there was also greater left ventricular telediastolic volume (P = 0.044) and length (P = 0.033) at rest as well as a greater stroke index (P = 0.032). We concluded that the evaluation of CK pattern after exercise and of echocardiographic left ventricular function indices at rest made it possible to select for the fastest horses (Group A).

Animals↗

[Left ventricular functional parameters using ECG-gated multidetector spiral CT in comparison with invasive ventriculography].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy of left ventricular function using a multidetector CT (MDCT) with retrospective ECG-gating and to compare the results with conventional ventriculography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 26 patients, retrospectively ECG-gated MDCT of the heart (Volume Zoom, Siemens, Germany) as well as conventional coronary angiography including ventriculography was performed to exclude or follow coronary artery disease. CT examination (120 KV, 400 mAs) was carried out with 4 x 1 mm collimation (500 ms gantry rotation time). For CT angiography, 150 ml of contrast media was injected intravenously at a flow rate of 4 ml/s. All data sets of the functional cardiac parameters were reconstructed in end-systolic and end-diastolic phase. End-systolic volume (ESV), end-diastolic volume (EDV) and ejection fraction (EF) were determined from multiplanar reformations orthogonally through the cardiac short axis and analyzed using special evaluation software (ARGUS, Siemens). The results were compared with ESV, EDV and EF obtained from invasive ventriculography. RESULTS: In all cases, a sufficient quality of the MDCT images was achieved. EDV (150.1 +/- 16.2 ml MDCT vs. 138.7 +/- 16.9 ml ventriculography; mean difference 11.4 +/- 12.7 ml; r = 0.51) had an acceptable correlation to conventional ventriculography, and ESV (58.1 +/- 14.6 ml vs. 50.2 +/- 13.4 ml; mean difference 7.9 +/- 8.8 ml; r = 0.81) and EF (60.9 +/- 13.6 % vs. 64.9 +/- 12.7 %; mean difference 4.0 +/- 6.2 %; r = 0.79) showed a good correlation. In comparison with invasive ventriculography, MDCT tended to overestimate significantly EDV (p = 0.008) and ESV (p = 0.003) and to underestimate EF (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: MDCT of the heart with retrospective ECG-gating enables efficient estimation of left ventricular function, providing important additional information of non-invasive cardiac imaging using MDCT. However, EDV and EVS were significantly overestimated and EF was underestimated in MDCT compared to ventriculography.

Aged↗

The effects of high dose NG-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester on myocardial blood flow and left ventricular function in dogs.

PURPOSE: Nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibition has been reported to cause elevation in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and a decrease in cardiac index (CI), the cause of which is not completely understood. It has been shown that increased concentrations of NO synthase inhibitors cause a further drop in cardiac output without a corresponding increase in arterial pressure, prompting the conclusion that NO inhibition results in direct myocardial depression. However, myocardial ischemia was not completely ruled out as a cause for myocardial dysfunction in these studies. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 30 mg/kg of the NO synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME) to those of 300 mg/kg and assess the effects on coronary ischemia and myocardial function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight anesthetized dogs underwent median sternotomy and pericardiectomy. L-NAME 30 mg/kg was administered and the effects were recorded at 5, 15, and 30 minutes. Thereafter, 300 mg/kg was administered and the effects were observed for 5, 15, and 30 minutes. We measured MAP, heart rate (HR), CI, left ventricle (LV) and systolic and diastolic pressures, the first derivative of LV pressure (dP/dt), left anterior descending artery blood flow, regional LV contraction, gas tensions, and lactates. A coronary sinus catheter allowed for measurements of coronary sinus pressure, lactate, and gas tensions. Stroke volume, percent myocardial shortening (dL/dt) myocardial oxygen consumption, and net lactate myocardial production were calculated. RESULTS: Whereas 30 mg/kg had minimal effects on coronary blood flow and LV function, 300 mg/kg resulted in profound hypotension, drop in CI, and acidocsis. CONCLUSIONS: L-NAME at 30 mg/kg caused a rise in MAP and systemic vascular resistance; however, it had no effect on ventricular function. High dose NO synthase inhibition causes myocardial depression not related to increased afterload, coronary vasoconstriction, or myocardial ischemia.

Animals↗

[Analysis of left ventricular function using 2-dimensional and pulsed Doppler echocardiography in type I diabetics].

In 44 patients with type I diabetes mellitus divided into a group of 29 patients (mean age 25 years, duration of diabetes 6 years on the average) without microangdiopathic complications and into a second group of 15 patients (mean age 31 years, duration of diabetes 16 years on the average) with retinopathy and/or nephropathy, parameters of cardiac function were studied by means of two-dimensional (2D) and pulsed Doppler (PD) echocardiography. The obtained results were compared with findings recorded in a third group of 20 healthy subjects (mean age 29 years). 2D measurements of parameters such as ejection fraction, diastolic diameter of left ventricle (LV), thickness of septum and posterior wall did not reveal any significant differences between the groups studied. On analysing diastolic function expressed by maximal velocity of rapid LV filling (E), atrial systole (A), E/A ratio, and atrial systole ejection time (AET), compared to the control group, the second group presented with significantly decreased E, increased A, and reduced E/A (p less than 0.001). In the first group only a shortened AET (p less than 0.01) was recorded. AET was changed also in the second group and was found to be inversely correlated with the duration of the disease, r = -0.43, p less than 0.05).

Adolescent↗

Dynamic ventriculography in patients with ischaemic heart disease. I. Influence of nitroglycerin on left ventricular function.

In 25 patients with ischaemic heart disease the effect of nitroglycerin [NTG] on segmental and global function of the left ventricle was assessed by means of left ventricular cineangiography. In 14 patients a segmental disturbance of contraction at rest was found; in six of them the function inproved after NTG. After NTG, the left ventricular diastolic volume, end-diastolic pressure, and systolic blood pressure decreased, the heart rate increased. The global left ventricular function did not significantly change. In patients with ischaemic heart disease NTG helps to differentiate reversible and irreversible disturbances of left ventricular contraction.

Adult↗

Left ventricular function in insulin-dependent and in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients: radionuclide assessment.

The aim of this study was to compare, by gated radionuclide angiography, systolic and diastolic ventricular function in insulin-dependent (IDDM) and non-insulin-dependent (NIDDM) diabetic patients without overt cardiovascular disease. The study population consisted of 20 IDDM patients (15 male, 5 female; 40.7 +/- 10.3 years), 14 NIDDM patients (9 male, 5 female; 47.0 +/- 7.5 years) and 12 healthy subjects (7 male, 5 female; 41.5 +/- 6.3 years) as a control (C) group. The duration of diabetes (DD) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) levels were significantly higher in the IDDM patients. The ventricular ejection fraction and peak ejection rate (PER) were assessed by gated radionuclide left ventriculography and were similar in three groups, while the peak filling rate (PFR) was lower in the NIDDM patients compared to the IDDM patients (p < 0.05) and controlled healthy subjects (p < 0.01, IDDM = 3.39 +/- 1.14; NIDDM = 2.65 +/- 0.83; C = 3.55 +/- 0.73), the time to PFR was significantly more prolonged in the NIDDM group than in the IDDM (p < 0.05) and C groups (p < 0.05, NIDDM = 162 +/- 26; IDDM = 140 +/- 28; C = 142 +/- 23). The PFR/PER ratio was near the normal value (approximately equal to 1) in the IDDM patients and controlled subjects, while in the NIDDM patients it was reduced (approximately equal to 0.84 +/- 0.18). Seven IDDM and 4 NIDDM patients had borderline signs of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy, unrelated to DD, HbA1C and scintigraphic parameters. Left ventricular systolic performance was substantially normal and similar in both the IDDM and NIDDM patients. Ventricular diastolic filling was impaired in the NIDDM patients, as shown by the decrease in PFR and in particular in the PFR/PER ratio. Our radionuclide data suggest that the NIDDM patients had a prevalent abnormality of ventricular diastolic performance, with respect to the IDDM patients, although the latter patients had higher DD and HbA1C values.

Adult↗

Effect of acute alterations in afterload on left ventricular function in patients with combined coronary artery and peripheral vascular disease.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of acute alterations in afterload by aortoiliac clamping, during peripheral vascular surgery, on left ventricular function. DESIGN: Prospective examination of the left ventricular long axis and transmitral Doppler flow preoperatively and intraoperatively; before aortic clamping, during clamping and 5 min, 15 min, and 5 days after unclamping. SETTING: A tertiary referral centre for cardiac and vascular disease equipped with invasive and non-invasive facilities. PATIENTS: 20 patients (11 men; mean (SD) age 61 (8) years) with significant aortoiliac disease and documented coronary artery disease and 21 normal controls of similar age. RESULTS: Preoperatively: long axis function was abnormal compared with that in normal controls. In systole total long axis excursion and peak shortening rate were reduced, onset of shortening delayed, and there was pre-ejection lengthening (P < 0.001). In diastole there was abnormal shortening during isovolumic relaxation, delaying the onset of long axis lengthening (P < 0.001). Peak lengthening rate was also reduced and A wave excursion increased (P < 0.001). Transmitral Doppler showed increased A wave velocity and reduced peak E/A diastolic flow velocities ratio (P < 0.001). Intraoperatively: preclamping results did not differ from those before operation. With clamping the extent of systolic and diastolic abnormalities promptly increased as to a lesser extent did those of transmitral flow velocity, although heart rate and blood pressure did not change significantly. Total long axis excursion and A wave amplitude were more reduced by aortic than iliac clamping, whereas the onset of lengthening was more delayed and the lengthening velocity more reduced with iliac clamping. Some 5 min after unclamping systolic long axis function had already returned towards normal; total excursion increased, as did the peak shortening rate, and the onset of shortening became less delayed (P < 0.001). In diastole the delayed onset of lengthening regressed, its lengthening velocity increased, and A wave excursion fell (P < 0.001). Early diastolic transmitral flow velocity also increased. This improvement in systolic and diastolic long axis function had progressed 15 min after unclamping but showed no further change at 5 days. At 5 days after operation, however, systolic and diastolic measurements had improved compared with those preoperatively. CONCLUSION: Resting left ventricular long axis function is abnormal in patients with combined coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease. It is unaffected by anaesthesia but deteriorates with aortic or iliac clamping, although blood pressure remains unchanged. It promptly improves with unclamping after successful peripheral arterial reconstruction. Thus, even in apparently stable coronary artery disease, resting subendocardial function is labile, showing pronounced alterations with changing after-load, even when arterial pressure itself does not change.

Blood Pressure↗

Aortic valve stenosis: fatal natural history despite normal left ventricular function and low invasive peak-to-peak pressure gradients.

For many years, the severity of valvular aortic stenosis (AS) was evaluated mainly on the basis of cardiac catheterization. In many centers, the handy peak-to-peak transvalvular pressure difference or 'peak-to-peak gradient' in relation to left ventricular function was used as a crucial feature in taking a decision regarding valve substitution. In a prospective study during the period 1994-1997, 150 consecutive patients with AS were examined systematically using cardiac catherization as well as transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography. The study was performed in order to compare the diagnostic accuracy and reproducibility of the three modalities with the purpose of improving our evaluation strategy. We found that the three methods were able to determine the aortic valve area with similar accuracy and reproducibility. The data thus support earlier papers and the currently recommended strategy of managing most patients on the basis of TTE since this approach is more rapid and gentle to the patients. In accordance with the past policy of our department, however, considerable weight was put on the invasive data during the study period. Thus, 12 patients with invasive peak-to-peak gradient <50 mm Hg and no severe depression of left ventricular function were not offered valve replacement, despite symptoms and significant valve area reductions. At 2.5 years of follow-up, 6 had died, 3 of severe heart failure, 2 while awaiting scheduled valve replacement, and 1 during aortocoronary bypass surgery. Another 3 patients later experienced further symptom progression and underwent successful aortic valve replacement. In the remaining 3 patients, all free from coronary stenoses and other valvular heart disease than AS, heart failure symptoms had worsened considerably during continued medical therapy. In conclusion, we do not recommend consideration of the peak-to-peak gradient in the process of deciding whether or not AS patients should receive valve replacement. A low peak-to-peak gradient does not exclude severe AS, even in the presence of preserved left ventricular function.

Aged↗

Effect of verapamil and nifedipine on left ventricular function at rest and during exercise in patients with Prinzmetal's variant angina pectoris.

To assess the effects of verapamil and nifedipine on left ventricular function at rest and during exercise in patients with Prinzmetal's variant angina pectoris, 10 patients (6 men and 4 women with a mean age of 52 years) with variant angina were each treated for 2 months periods with placebo, verapamil (400 +/- 80 mg/day, mean +/- standard deviation [SD]) and nifedipine (82 +/- 31 mg/day). During the final week of each 2 month treatment period equilibrium gated blood pool scintigraphy was performed at rest and during exercise. At rest, heart rate during verapamil therapy was lower than during treatment with nifedipine; systolic blood pressure and left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction were similar for the three interventions. The maximal work load achieved was similar during placebo, verapamil and nifedipine therapy. At the maximal work load common to all three exercise studies, heart rate and systolic blood pressure were lower with verapamil than with placebo and nifedipine; ventricular volumes and ejection fraction were similar with the three agents. Thus, in patients with variant angina and a wide range of left ventricular function at rest, neither verapamil nor nifedipine significantly alters left ventricular volumes or ejection fraction at rest or during exercise.

Angina Pectoris↗

Effect of mitral valve replacement on left ventricular function in mitral regurgitation.

To evaluate the effect of mitral valve replacement on left ventricular function in mitral regurgitation, we measured (1) the end-systolic stress/volume ratio, which is practically independent of changes in loading conditions, and (2) the left ventricular contractile reserves upon isometric exercise, both before and one year after mitral valve replacement in 11 patients with mitral regurgitation. The end-systolic stress/volume ratio increased, though the ejection fraction decreased after mitral valve replacement. The ejection fraction decreased and the end-systolic stress/volume ratio remained unchanged during isometric exercise before operation, whereas afterwards the ejection fraction remained unchanged and the end-systolic stress/volume ratio increased during exercise. Ventricular function improves after mitral valve replacement in patients with mitral regurgitation, though the ejection fraction, which is affected by altered loading conditions, deteriorates. The left ventricular response to stress caused by isometric exercise is also improved after surgery.

Adult↗

Early diastolic left ventricular function in children and adults with aortic stenosis.

Pressure overload hypertrophy of the left ventricle is associated with abnormal left ventricular early diastolic filling. The roles of the extent of cardiac hypertrophy, depressed left ventricular systolic function and aging in the pathogenesis of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction have not, however, been fully defined. To determine the relative importance of these factors in the pathogenesis of diastolic dysfunction in pressure overload hypertrophy, 16 children and 25 adults with aortic stenosis were compared with 48 normal children and adults, using rates of left ventricular early diastolic filling and wall thinning derived from M-mode echocardiography. Left ventricular early diastolic filling and wall thinning rates were significantly depressed in both children and adults with aortic stenosis as compared with values in normal subjects. Filling and thinning rates correlated negatively with age, left ventricular peak systolic pressure and wall thickness in all subjects. Furthermore, the effect of age on diastolic function appeared to be mediated by age-related increases in systolic pressure and wall thickness. In adults with aortic stenosis, early diastolic filling and wall thinning rates were depressed to a similar extent in subjects with normal and abnormal systolic function; thus, diastolic dysfunction does not appear to be a manifestation of abnormal systolic loading and ejection performance. These results suggest that extent of hypertrophy itself plays a dominant role in the mechanism of impaired left ventricular early diastolic filling in pressure overload due to aortic stenosis.

Adolescent↗

The relationship between left ventricular functional response to isometric exercise and asynergic contraction and diastolic stiffness.

Either augmentation or impairment of left ventricular function has previously been reported in different patients, in response to isometric exercise. To identify the mechanisms associated with these disparate responses, the effects of submaximal sustained handgrip upon left ventricular systolic and diastolic properties were studied in 29 patients during diagnostic catheterization. In 16 patients (group I), ejection fraction, mean Vcf, and the mean systolic ejection rate remained constant, while the ratio of peak systolic pressure to end systolic volume increased significantly from 2.81 +/- 0.6 to 3.17 +/- 0.6 ml/mm Hg. In 13 patients (group II) ejection fraction declined from 0.6 +/- 0.03 to 0.51 +/- 0.03, Vcf from 0.96 +/- 0.09 to 0.85 +/- 0.09 circ/sec, mean normalized systolic ejection rate from 1.79 +/- 0.1 to 1.50 +/- 0.09 sec-1, and the peak systolic pressure to end systolic volume ratio from 2.23 +/- 0.3 to 1.99 +/- 0.3 (p less than 0.05 for each). Systemic arterial mean pressure increased similarly by 19% and 21% in groups I and II, respectively (p less than 0.05 for each). Systemic vascular resistance increased significantly by 23% in group I and by 5% in group II (p less than 0.05). Left ventricular end diastolic volume declined from 85.4 +/- 7 to 77.3 +/- 11 ml/m2 in group I, while end diastolic and end systolic volumes increased by 13% and 35%, respectively in group II (p less than 0.05 for each). In both groups, baseline exponential pressure-volume relations were similar, though higher intercepts on the pressure-volume relations upon the Y-axis suggested greater "diastolic tone," and steeper volume-normalized pressure-volume elasticity relations indicated "stiffer" left ventricular chambers in group II patients. While the incidence of coronary artery disease was similar, both the severity and extent of left ventricular asynergy were greater in group II patients. We conclude that dilatation and deterioration of left ventricular ejection function in response to isometric exercise are causally related to, and comprise a useful predictor of, severe underlying left ventricular asynergy and impaired chamber distensibility.

Adult↗

[Hemodynamic effects of quinacainol administered via an intravenous route. Study in patients with normal left ventricular function].

The haemodynamic effects of a new antiarrhythmic drug quinacainol (RP 54272) were evaluated in 12 untreated patients with normal left ventricular function referred for diagnostic cardiac catheterisation. The haemodynamic data were obtained before, 5 and 25 minutes after the injection of the drug (0.21 mg/kg/min during 6 minutes). A slight decrease of cardiac contractility indexes was constantly observed: dp/dtmax decreased (-15%) in all patients (p less than 0.05), with no concomitant change of left ventricular pressure or left ventricular end diastolic volume with respect to control values. Cardiac output and left ventricular ejection fraction did not change significantly. Heart rate increased in all patients from 74.3 +/- 9.8 to 79.9 +/- 8.6 beats per minute after 5 minutes (paired t test p less than 0.05), and was 79.8 +/- 9.0 beats per minute after 25 minutes. Systemic arterial resistance increased in 7 patients due to a reflex adrenergic discharge. The interpretation of the haemodynamic data was difficult in 3 cases due to systemic vasodilatation, which was poorly tolerated in one patient. The contribution of vagolytic reaction and adrenergic reaction to the negative inotropic effects of the drug must be evaluated before giving in to patients with impaired left ventricular function.

Adult↗

Rescue use of abciximab improves regional left ventricular function after early incomplete reperfusion in acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Abciximab was shown to have important beneficial effects beyond the maintenance of epicardial coronary artery patency. However, it remains uncertain whether abciximab may lead to a better functional outcome in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and with incomplete reperfusion after primary angioplasty (PA). HYPOTHESIS: The study aimed to evaluate whether rescue use of abciximab may lead to a better functional outcome in such patients. METHODS: The study included 25 patients with first AMI who met the following criteria: (1) total occlusion of the infarct-related artery, (2) PA within 12 h of symptom onset, (3) postprocedural diameter stenosis < 30%, and final Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade 2. Echocardiographic examination was performed before and on Days 7 and 30 after PA. The study population was divided into two groups: Group 1 (usual care, n = 13) and Group 2 (rescue use of abciximab, n = 12). Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups. RESULTS: Peak level of creatine kinase was higher in Group 1 than in Group 2 (5,800+/-2,700 vs. 3,800+/-2,000 U/I, p < 0.05). At 1 month follow-up, infarct zone wall motion score index (2.71+/-0.26 vs. 2.05+/-0.63, p < 0.01) and left ventricular (LV) volume indices were smaller in Group 2 than in Group 1, whereas LV ejection fraction was higher in Group 2 than in Group 1 (52.1+/-7.8 vs. 42.1+/-6.4, p < 0.01). At 1-month, abciximab was the only independent predictor of wall motion recovery index by multiple regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Rescue use of abciximab may reduce the infarct size in patients with AMI and TIMI grade 2 flow after PA, which may improve the recovery of regional LV function.

Abciximab↗

[Normalization of left ventricular function and subsequent recurrence of dilatation and pump failure in a patient with hypertensive heart disease in dilated phase after treatment with anthracycline].

A 71 years old man, ex-smoker, moderate drinker, with a history of diabetes mellitus (type II), moderate arterial hypertension, mild aortic stenosis and moderate uniform left ventricular hypertrophy echographically documented, developed a non Hodgkin low malignancy cavum lymphoma. He has underwent chemotherapy for two years (adriamycin and other chemotherapy drugs) at moderate dosages. A complete remission of the lymphoma followed the treatment, but an initial deterioration of left ventricular function, with heart dilatation and congestive heart failure, was found. The patient improved by medical treatment, returning to the previously stable clinical condition. However a ventricular dilatation reoccurred and a paroxysmal complete atrio-ventricular block developed, necessitating the implantation of a pace maker. The patient died suddenly, during sleep, at home. This is a unique case, because of the numerous cardiac factors associated (chemotherapy and clinical findings). More probably the combination of these multiple factors and their interrelationship could explain the unique non-linear evolution of the left ventricular hypertrophy. In conclusion in these patients a very strict clinical and pharmacological follow up with serial echocardiographical examinations is fundamental and highly recommended.

Aged↗

Left ventricular function is not impaired in weight-lifters who use anabolic steroids.

Recent reports suggest that anabolic steroid use might deleteriously affect left ventricular function. To examine this possibility, the present study measured left ventricular size and function with use of Doppler echocardiographic techniques in 23 weight lifters: 12 who were currently using anabolic steroids and 11 who reported that they had never used these drugs. Drug users had administered anabolic steroids to themselves for at least three cycles over the past year. All studies were interpreted by blind review and group assignment was confirmed by urine testing. Average age, years of exercise training and body weight, as well as heart rate and blood pressure at rest were similar in both groups. Cardiac dimensions (mean +/- SD) including left ventricular diastolic cavity diameter (57 +/- 3 vs. 56 +/- 5 mm), septal thickness (10 +/- 2 vs. 9 +/- 1 mm), posterior wall thickness (8 +/- 1 vs. 8 +/- 1 mm) and myocardial mass (149 +/- 27 vs. 135 +/- 21 g) did not differ between the anabolic steroid users and nonusers, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗