Comparison of dual-chamber pacing with nonsurgical septal reduction effect in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to compare the influence of dual-chamber pacing vs. nonsurgical septal reduction on hemodynamic and morphological parameters in patients with obstructive form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. METHODS: Nineteen patients with dual-chamber pacing (group I) and 9 patients who underwent nonsurgical septal reduction (group II) were studied at baseline and after a 6-month follow-up. The changes of left ventricular outflow tract gradient and posterior wall thickness (as an index of left ventricular hypertrophy regression) were compared. RESULTS: The baseline left ventricular outflow tract gradient was comparable between group I and group II (77+/-25 vs. 82+/-25 mm Hg, p>0.05). At 6-month follow-up, the left ventricular outflow tract gradient was reduced to a similar level in both groups (28+/-19 vs. 25+/-12 mm Hg, p>0.05). At baseline, posterior wall hypertrophy was comparable between groups (12.9+/-1.7 vs. 13.6+/-2.2 mm, p>0.05). During follow-up, the posterior wall thickness was unchanged in the pacing group (12.9+/-1.7 vs. 12.6+/-1.6 mm, p>0.05), whereas nonsurgical septal reduction induced regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in myocardial region remote from the infarcted septal segment (13.6+/-2.2 vs. 10.5+/-2.3 mm, p<0.003). CONCLUSION: Despite comparable reduction of instantaneous left ventricular outflow tract gradient, the nonsurgical septal reduction decreased posterior wall thickness, whereas pacing did not reduce left ventricular hypertrophy. Thus, regression of left ventricular hypertrophy that appeared solely after nonsurgical septal reduction may reflect the more permanent reduction of left ventricular pressure overload. Thus, not only hemodynamic but also morphological benefit from nonsurgical septal reduction seems to indicate the superiority of this method over dual-chamber pacing.

[Changes in QT dispersion during the exercise test in women with syndrome X]. / Zmiany dyspersji QT w czasie wysilku u kobiet z kardiologicznym zespolem X.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of exercise test on QT dispersion (dQT) and to compare the result in women with syndrome X with women with coronary artery disease and normal subjects. We examined 53 women in mean age 54.2 +/- 9.2 who were divided into groups: 20 women with one-vessel coronary artery disease (group I), 19 women with syndrome X (group II) and 14 healthy control women (group III). All subjects underwent a modified Bruce protocol exercise test and QT intervals were measured manually at rest and peak exercise. The value of dQT was calculated as a difference between the longest and the shortest measured value in each of the 12 ECG leads. Corrected QT (dQTc) dispersion was measured after the QT interval was corrected with Bazett's formula. There were no significant differences in rest values of dQT between groups but rest dQTc was significantly greater in group I and II then in group III. We observed significant increase in dQT and dQTc on peak exercise in group I and II when compared with group III. CONCLUSION: At rest dQTc is significantly greater in women with syndrome X and coronary artery diseases in comparison with control subjects. The exercise caused increase in the value of dQT and dQTc both in women with syndrome X and coronary artery disease. The value of dQT and dQTc makes impossible to differentiate between women with syndrome X and women with coronary artery disease.

Long-term outcome in patients with unstable angina treated by coronary balloon angioplasty.

UNLABELLED: Comparison of balloon angioplasty results in 472 patients with stable angina (SA) and 158 patients with unstable angina (UA) in 5-year follow-up is reported. Clinical success rate did not differ significantly, while periprocedural complications rate was higher in UA group (22.3 vs. 11.1%, P<0.001). During follow-up UA patients demonstrated higher: restenosis rate (48.5 vs. 30.4%, P<0.001), incidence of myocardial infarction (8.8 vs. 3.0%, P=0.004), although cardiac mortality did not differ significantly (2.2 vs. 1.6%). Reintervention rate in patients with unstable angina resultant from restenosis or significant artherosclerosis progression in coronary vessels, or originating from both of them, was also higher (53.7 vs. 34.1%, P<0.001). Event-free survival was significantly lower in UA patients (43.4 vs. 61.3%, P=0.02). The uni- and multivariate analysis proved that unstable angina was an independent risk factor in restenosis, re-intervention and cardiac events rate, despite perceptible differences in the baseline characteristics. Sub-group analysis of UA patients according to Braunwald classification revealed lower success rate and higher incidence of myocardial infarction during follow-up in post-infarction angina (class C), whereas new onset, no-rest angina (class I) had higher event-free survival in comparison with rest angina (classes II and III). CONCLUSIONS: UA patients treated by balloon angioplasty had higher periprocedural complications rate, as well as restenosis and re-intervention rate. Despite higher cardiovascular events rate during 5-year follow-up in UA group, survival rate in both groups was high and cardiac mortality did not differ significantly. Unstable angina constitutes a strong independent risk factor in adverse long-term outcome.

[Long term outcome in patients with and without restenosis after coronary angioplasty]. / Odlegle obserwacje u chorych z restenoza i bez nawrotu zwezenia po angioplastyce wiencowej.

Restenosis at dilatation site still constitutes a significant limitation of percutaneous coronary revascularisation. Majority of patients with restenosis are treated with repeat angioplasty, although its impact on long-term outcome is still little known > Very few studies focused on this issue bring rather discrepant results. The present study is aimed at assessing the impact of restenosis on long-term outcome in patients treated with coronary angioplasty. A group of 567 patients, who in the years 1987-1996 had successfully undergone percutaneous balloon coronary angio-plasty (PTCA) at our Clinic, was retrospectively divided into two groups: a group comprising 188 patients (33.2%) suffering from recurrent angina in whom restenosis had been established through control angiography, and a group comprising 379 patients (66.8%) who during the observation period exhibited no angina symptoms, or in whom the control angiography did not reveal restenosis. The restenotic patients were older (p = 0.007), more frequently exhibited symptoms of unstable angina upon PTCA (p < 0.0001), and there were also fewer smokers among them (p = 0.02). Furthermore, restenotic patients more frequently had multivessel and multilesion angioplasty (p = 0.025; p = 0.004, respectively). Restenosis after the first PTCA was treated by repeated angioplasty in 149 (79.3%) patients, 26 (13.8%) underwent CABG operation and 13 (6.9%) patients were treated pharmacologically without repeated revascularization. Within the 5-year observation period the mortality rate in both groups did not differ significantly (5.9% vs. 4.0%). Restenotic patients sustained myocardial infarctions more frequently (8.0% vs. 3.2%, p = 0.01), had significant atherosclerosis progression (37.2% vs. 15.0%, p < 0.0001), and were more frequently subjected to repeated interventions (37.2% vs. 15.0%, p < 0.0001), both PTCA (79.3% vs. 11.6% p < 0.0001) and CABG surgery (32.5% vs. 4.2%, p < 0.0001), as well as to multiple re-interventions (31.9% vs. 4.8%, p < 0.0001), in comparison with the non-restenotic ones. Analysis of functional status of patients assessed in compliance with the CCS criteria at the end of the observation period proved that significantly more non-restenotic patients did not experience angina, or experienced it rather sporadically (CCS Class 0 and 1). Logistic regression uni- and multivariate analysis proved that restenosis is an independent risk factor of myocardial infarction, reinterventions--also multiple ones--and cardiac events, although not mortality.

[Clinical outcome in patients after single vessel PTCA with multiple stent implantation]. / Ocena chorych leczonych angioplastyka wiencowa i implantacja dwóch i wiecej stentów do jednej tetnicy.

Multiple stenting in a coronary artery may improve the angiographic result of unsatisfactory percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA) but little is known about its clinical outcome. We evaluated 42 patients who underwent multiple contiguous stent implantation (2-4 stents) within a single coronary artery in order to achieve optimal vessel reconstruction. Procedural success rate was 95%. In-hospital events included myocardial infarction in 2 patients (5%) and acute stent thrombosis in 2 patients (5%). Acute stent thrombosis was successfully treated with repeated PTCA and abciximab infusion. The mean stented segment length was 33.5 +/- 9.9 mm. In 23 patients (54.8%) stents were implanted due to abrupt or threatened artery closure (bailout), in 9 (21.4%) following total chronic artery occlusion and in 10 (23.8%) due to a suboptimal result of angioplasty (i.e. provisional stenting). The bailout stent implantation was most frequent in the left anterior descending artery (15 out of 23 patients, i.e. 65.2%). Long-segment multiple stenting was performed mainly in the right coronary artery to maintain recanalization after the chronic artery occlusion (6 out of 9 patients, i.e. 66.7%). Mean data for all studied patients revealed a significant improvement in the exercise stress test parameters after the procedure (exercise time: 8.5 +/- 3.9 vs. 11.4 +/- 3.5 min, maximal load: 5.4 + 3.0 vs. 7.6 +/- 2.9 METS, percent of the maximal predicted effort 75.5 +/- 10.3 vs. 83.2 +/- 9.2%, p < 0.01 for all). Although the sub-group analysis showed a significant increase in exercise test parameters in patients treated with stent implantation due to the bailout (p < 0.05), the increase did not reach statistical significance in the group of patients who underwent multiple stent implantation to maintain recanalization after chronic artery occlusion or to improve the result of angioplasty. At 14.9 +/- 8.3 months follow-up restenosis was found in 14 (33%) patients. It was successfully treated either with re-PTCA (10 patients, i.e. 23%) or with bypass surgery (4 patients, i.e. 10%). Interestingly, the length of the stented segment was not significantly higher in those patients who developed restenosis. No patient died sustained myocardial infarction or subacute stent thrombosis. We conclude that multiple stent implantation is a safe procedure, with an insignificant complication rate. Best outcome is seen when multiple stent implantation is performed for the left anterior descending artery bailout. Reconstruction of the right coronary artery due to chronic total occlusion usually requires multiple stent implantation. When multiple contiguous stent implantation is performed due to the suboptimal PTCA result, it does not seem to improve the clinical outcome as evaluated by exercise stress test. Although the risk of restenosis is increased, subacute stent thrombosis seems rare with multiple one-vessel stenting.

Long-term outcome of coronary balloon angioplasty in diabetic patients.

Diabetes is recognised to increase morbidity and mortality after coronary revascularization. We compared clinical outcomes in mean 5-year-long follow-up of coronary balloon angioplasty in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. We studied 621 patients undergoing elective angioplasty from 1987 to 1996. There were 60 (9.7%) patients with diabetes who were compared with 561 non-diabetic patients. Diabetics were older, more often obese, less frequently were current smokers, and less frequently had hypercholesterolaemia. Diabetic patients in comparison with non-diabetics had lower ejection fraction and more frequently had angioplasty of complex (B2 or C) lesions, but there were no differences between both groups in the other clinical and angiographic risk factors. Clinical success of angioplasty, as well as complications rate were similar in both groups. In follow-up restenosis occurred more frequently in diabetics (46.3 vs. 32.2%, P=0.03), resulting in significantly higher re-intervention rate (50.0 vs. 35.4%, P=0.03). Especially diabetic patients were more frequently referred to CABG (20.4 vs. 9. 9%, P=0.02). There were no significant differences in deaths (1.9 vs. 2.8%) and myocardial infarction (3.7 vs. 4.4%). Diabetics presented worse CCS status at the end of observation (Class 0 and I - 61.1 vs. 74.4%, P=0.037). Angioplasty proved to be a safe procedure in diabetic patients. Despite higher restenosis and re-intervention rate in diabetics, mortality as well as myocardial infarction rate was the same in both groups during mean 5-year follow-up.

[Assessment of the left ventricular function by tissue Doppler echocardiography]. / Ocena czynnosci lewej komory przy uzyciu tkankowej echokardiografii dopplerowskiej.

UNLABELLED: Myocardial velocity gradient is a new indicator of regional left ventricular contraction determined by a two dimensional tissue Doppler imaging technique. The main goal of this study was to compare myocardial velocity gradient in patients with old myocardial infarction and dilated cardiomyopathy to normal subjects. We assessed myocardial velocity gradient in 44 persons: 32 patients (19 men, 13 women, mean aged 51.2 +/- 6.1 years) and 12 healthy subjects (7 men, 5 women, mean age 49.3 +/- 8.3 years) who were divided into 4 groups. Group A--14 patients with old anteroseptal myocardial infarction, group B--7 patients with old posterior infarction, group C--11 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and group D--12 healthy subjects. In normal subjects myocardial velocity gradient in the anteroseptal segment was mean 2.44 +/- 0.34 s-1 and in the posterior segment was 3.08 +/- 0.38 s-1. Myocardial velocity gradient in the infarct regions was significantly lower than in noninfarct regions as well as that in the corresponding regions in normal subjects. Gradient in the anteroseptal and posterior segments was in group A: 0.61 +/- 0.33 s-1 12.39 +/- 0.65 s-1, p < 0.001 respectively and group B: 2.11 +/- 0.45 s-1 10.91 +/- 0.34 s-1, p < 0.001 respectively. In patients with dilated cardiomyopathy gradient was significantly lower (nteroseptal segment 0.55 +/- 0.37 s-1, posterior segment 0.85 +/- 0.31 s-1) than that in normal subjects (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Myocardial velocity gradient is a new indicator for the quantitative assessment of regional left ventricular contraction.

[Long-term results of coronary balloon angioplasty in various age groups]. / Wyniki angioplastyki wiencowej u chorych w róznych grupach wiekowych.

UNLABELLED: Some data indicate that natural history of coronary artery disease in younger patients is characterised by high dynamics and therefore the long-term results of revascularisation procedures have generally poorer outcome. To verify this we compared the early and the long-term results of balloon angioplasty in 630 consecutive patients divided into four age groups: < 40 years (77 patients), 41-50 years (247 patients), 51-60 years (160 patients) and > 60 years (146 patients). Groups differed significantly in many clinical factors: higher proportion of women and unstable angina were encountered in older groups, while higher frequency of hypertension, hypertriglycerydaemia, current smoking, familial history of angina, prior myocardial infarction, were more often observed in younger patients. Groups did not differ in such angiographic factors as: global ejection fraction (EF), presence of multivessel disease, type of dilated lesions and vessels, multilesion PTCA, except higher frequency of EF < 50% in patients < 40 years of age. Immediate results of angioplasty did not differ significantly between the respective age groups: success rate was 87-94%, complications rate between 4.5% and 6.5%, complete revascularisation was achieved in 46-61% patients (NS). In the mean 5-year follow-up period repeated angiography was carried out with comparable frequency in about half of the studied patients (NS). Restenosis rate equalled 21-42% and significantly increased with the patients' age (p = 0.02 in chi 2, 0.009 in log-rank test), the related reinterventions rate likewise (p = 0.05 in chi 2, 0.009 in log-rank test). We did not observe any differences among the respective groups with regard to significant atherosclerosis progression, which was encountered in 15-19% of patients (NS). Survival rate did not differ significantly either, being in fact quite high (96-99%). Myocardial infarction in follow-up significantly more frequently (p = 0.01) occurred in patients < 40 years of age, in comparison with patients > 60 years of age, although it did not differ significantly in terms of overall test for independence (p = 0.3) and log-rank test (p = 0.07). The frequency of major coronary events significantly increased according to patients' age as opposed to the event-free survival (p = 0.02 in both tests). Uni and multivariate analysis confirmed that age over 50 years is an independent factor of restenosis, reintervention, and major coronary event in follow-up. Patients functional status at the end of observation period, according to CCS criteria, proved that in the older age groups the percentage of patients with none, or minor anginal complaints decreased, whereas the proportion of patients exhibiting the symptoms of severe angina (Class III and IV) significantly increased (p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Balloon angioplasty offered similar short-term outcome in all age groups, as well as the survival rate during the 5-year follow-up period. Frequency of restenosis significantly increased in older patients especially the ones over 50 years of age; this in turn resulting in a higher reinterventions rate among them. On the other hand, patients below 40 years of age suffered more frequently from myocardial infarction during the follow-up period. Major coronary events were more frequent in patients over 50 years of age. Better functional status was observed in younger patients at the end of observation period.

[Quality of life in patients after implantation of pacemaker type DDD]. / Samoocena jakosci zycia chorych po wszczepieniu rozrusznika serca typu DDD.

The aim of this study was to evaluate quality of life in pts with DDD pacemakers. The study group consisted of 343 pts (181 F, 162 M), mean age 66.7 +/- 2.5 y (19-92) in whom DDD pacemakers were implanted in the years 1992-1998 due to sick sinus syndrome (213 pts) or AV block (130 pts). Follow-up period was 111-2574 days, mean 924.58 +/- 550 days. The QOL assessment was based on the questionnaire prepared at our Center. The questionnaires were mailed to the pts. The significant improvement in overall well-being (p < 0.001), physical capacity (p < 0.005) and concentration (p < 0.025) was found as compared to the time before implantation. The incidence of syncopy decreased after implantation (p < 0.001). The pts complained of: limitation of arm moving (50.1%), anxiety for disturbances of PM function (41.4%), resignation from job (17.2%), restriction of sport activity (15.7%), necessity for follow-up visits (15.7%) and limitation of sex activity (10.2%). There were not significant differences in QOL between pts paced due to SSS or AV block. We found significant improvement in QOL after implantation of DDD pacemakers. The questionnaire-based assessment of QOL may be useful in management of DDD-paced pts.

[QT dispersion in patients treated with repeated percutaneous transluminal coronary revascularization]. / Dyspersja QT u chorych leczonych powtórna przezskórna rewaskularyzacja miesnia sercowego.

In this study the group of 30 patients with coronary artery disease (mean age 55 +/- 7 years) were examined. All patients underwent repeated percutaneous transluminal coronary revascularisation (rePTCR) due to coronary artery restenosis after primary coronary angioplasty. QT dispersion (dQT) and the corrected QT dispersion (dQTc), obtained applying Bazett's (dQTB) and Hodge's (dQTH) formulas, were measured before rePTCR and 7 days after rePTCR. Standard 12-lead electrocardiograms, 25 mm/s speed, were used. QT dispersion, defined as a difference between maximal and minimal QT intervals, was manually measured. The significant decrease of dQT after rePTCA was observed. Mean dQT before rePTCR was 88.67 +/- 29.09 ms and 64.00 +/- 28.96 ms after rePTCR (p < 0.0001). The changes of dQTc (dQTB, dQTH) were similar. Mean values of dQTB before and after rePTCR were 92.97 +/- 34.40 ms and 65.42 +/- 29.80 ms respectively, and mean values of dQTH were 94.90 ms +/- 37.31 ms and 70.98 ms +/- 32.85 ms. It was also noted that the frequency of appearance of dQT exceeding 80 ms significantly decreased after rePTCR (dQT exceeded 80 ms in 17 cases before rePTCR vs 5 cases after revascularisation). Increased QT dispersion can be a marker of the coronary artery restenosis.

[Use of tissue Doppler echocardiography]. / Zastosowanie tkankowej Dopplerowskiej echokardiografii.

Tissue Doppler Echocardiography (TDE) is a new noninvasive technique which shows myocardial tissue by color-mapping. It's based on the color Doppler and used to assess in a direct way left ventricular systolic and diastolic function. It helps to measure velocities, acceleration and energy signal within the myocardial wall. The transmural gradient of velocities can be calculated too. TDE can be used to detect regional systolic dysfunction due to myocardial ischemia and viable myocardium. It gives specific view of intracardiac structures and is useful for identification tumors, thrombus and vegetations.

Left ventricular geometry and function in patients with aortic stenosis: gender differences.

BACKGROUND: Gender differences in cardiac size have been described in normal and pathological conditions in human and animals. Sex determination of a pattern of hypertrophy as a response to pressure overload has not been extensively evaluated and is still poorly understood in humans. METHODS AND RESULTS: To investigate the influence of gender in the left ventricle remodelling and preservation of the left ventricle function 195 adults (140 men and 55 women) with isolated aortic stenosis were evaluated. The mean age was 52 +/- 11 years for men and 53 +/- 13 years for women. All the patients had similar degree of aortic stenosis finally treated with valve replacement, similar clinical status and no signs of coronary artery disease in coronary angiograms. On echocardiography the left ventricle of women had a smaller the end systolic (30.5 +/- 7.8 vs. 39.4 +/- 11.2, P<0.001) and the end diastolic (49.4 +/- 9 vs. 57.3 +/- 11, P<0.001) chamber size. The female left ventricle generated a higher relative wall thickness (0.65 +/- 0.21 vs. 0.52 +/- 0.12, P<0.01), a greater fractional shortening (35.3 +/- 8.5 vs. 32.0 +/- 9.0, P<0.01) and a higher ejection fraction (64.4 +/- 12.7 vs. 57.5 +/- 14.6, P<0.001). The left ventricle posterior wall thickness and the septal thickness indexes were similar in both groups. There were also significant differences between the two groups in the left ventricle mass index. CONCLUSIONS: Gender has an important influence on the left ventricle adaptation pattern to pressure overload due to aortic stenosis. Women developed a greater degree of left ventricle hypertrophy documented as changes in left ventricle geometry (increased relative wall thickness, left ventricular mass) and left ventricle function (fractional shortening and ejection fraction).

The quality of life after aortic valve replacement with homografts or prosthetic valves.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: The study aim was to evaluate the quality of life in patients after homograft or prosthetic aortic valve implantation. Evaluation was based on clinical and echocardiographic examinations, and on analysis of data from patient questionnaires. METHODS: Patients undergoing either homograft (HV, n = 220) or prosthetic (PV, n = 220) aortic valve replacement were investigated. The patients groups were similar in age, sex, follow up period, risk factors and type of heart defect, and did not demonstrate any dysfunction of the replacement valve. RESULTS: During both pre- and postoperative periods, no significant inter-group differences were identified with regard to the occurrence of retrosternal pain, dyspnea, palpitation, fear reaction and circulatory efficiency based on NYHA classification, and self-evaluation of physical activity assessed by patient questionnaires. The majority of patients in both groups noticed on increase in their quality of life and physical activity. The reduced sexual activity (50%) and fear reaction (30%) in both groups did not correlate with their improved sense of well-being. Up to 14.6% of PV patients did not accept the implanted valve, and 65 (29.5%) would have preferred an HV, despite the need for reoperation. Following surgery, 21% of HV patients resumed work, compared with only 7.7% of PV patients. The frequency of claims for disability pension after surgery did not correlate with the considerate clinical and subjective improvement. CONCLUSIONS: In patients receiving either homograft or prosthetic valves, the subjective evaluation of life quality is comparable with the clinical evaluation, though the homograft valve was better accepted than its prosthetic counterpart.

[Aortic dissecting aneurysm in a patient with Marfan syndrome and an artificial aortic valve]. / Tetniak rozwarstwiajacy aorty u chorego z zespolem marfana i sztuczna zastawka aortalna.

We present patient with the Marfan syndrome in whom the dissecting abdominal aortic aneurysm comprising the left iliac and femoral artery was diagnosed two years after the implantation of an artificial aortic valve. The chest CT showed the extention of the ascending aorta without the aortic dissection features. The patient was taken into the clinic in a very bad general condition with sinus tachycardia, the left ventricular failure together with pulse absence in all standard places of pulse measurement in the left lower limb. During the TEE examination the dissecting aneurysm of type I according to De Bakey's classification and the normal function of the artificial aortic valve were recognized. Colour Doppler revealed the primary entry site above the sinus of Valsalva. The patient was qualified for an urgent surgical intervention. The diagnosis was confirmed during the operation. The patient had resection of aneurysm with Dacron tube replacement. After the cardiosurgical intervention the ischaemic symptoms of the left lower limb retreated, the size of the heart diminished in the chest X-ray and TTE examination. The left ventricular ejection fraction increased from 45% to 62%. The TEE of the patient proved the most accurate and precise method of the diagnosis of the aortic dissection. The obtained information was sufficient to decide on the surgical intervention.

Clinical and echocardiographical study of the aortic homograft implantations in patients with Marfan syndrome.

The aim of the study was to assess the long-term results of surgical treatment with homogenic aortic grafts (HAGs) implantation in patients with Marfan syndrome. There were 31 patients with Marfan syndrome and aortic aneurysm who were operated on between 1980 and 1996. Aortic dissection was diagnosed in 14 patients, DeBakey Type I in six patients and Type II in eight patients. Four patients had to be operated urgently in cardiogenic shock with cardiac tamponade. Sealing up and reinforcement with strip of felt or Gore-Tex has been applied in 22 patients. The surgical modifications mentioned above have been applied since 1987 in all patients with the diameter of the aortic ring exceeding 30 mm or with active infective endocarditis or during reoperation. In 16 patients the space between the aortic homograft and patients own aortic wall was joined to the right atrial auricle. Patients were followed up for 12-179 months (average: 94.6 +/- 499). Three patients died in the early postoperative period and four patients died in the late postoperative period. Rethoracotomy because of bleeding complications was necessary in five patients. HAG damage was responsible for six other reoperations-new HAGs have been implanted in three patients and artificial prostheses were implanted in the other three patients. In the late follow-up period significant improvement in cardiac performance was observed in 24 patients (NYHA I or II). Survival probability of 15 years for the whole group was 80%. The lowest survival probability has been shown in the group of patients with DeBakey Type I aortic dissection (35% survived 15 years after operation). Echocardiographic follow-up has shown that the pressure gradient in HAG was low (7.4 +/- 6.2 mmHg). Only in two patients did the HAG gradient exceeded 20 mmHg. There were no significant differences concerning aortic ring diameters, dimensions of HAG and echocardiographic parameters between the group with surgical modifications, i.e. sealing up and reinforcement with strip of felt or Gore-Tex applied and the group in which these modifications were not applied. Homogenic aortic graft implantation as a method of surgical treatment of aortic aneurysm in patients with Marfan syndrome avoids postoperative anticoagulation, results in substantial improvement of cardiac performance and prolongs life. Surgical treatment should be considered in asymptomatic patients with large aneurysms (exceeding 55-65 mm) in patients with Marfan syndrome because there is a high risk of death in this group of patients in the case of dissection.

[The role of ionized radiation in prevention of restenosis after coronary angioplasty]. / Rola promieniowania jonizujacego w zapobieganiu nawrotowi zwezenia po angioplastyce wiencowej.

Restenosis occurs to be an Achilles heel of coronary interventions. Three overlapping processes: elastic recoil, neointimal proliferation and arterial remodelling are responsible for development of arterial renarrowing. The only method which proved efficient in reducing the restenosis rate is coronary stenting. Stents deployed using high pressure technique diminish restenosis rate by about one third. Stents eliminate elastic recoil and arterial remodelling but aggravate neointimal proliferation. A concept of radiation therapy was introduced to solve the problem of neointimal hyperplasia. Experiments on animal models of restenosis proved that both gamma as well as beta irradiation inhibited neointimal proliferation after arterial injury. Results of experimental investigations concerning both intraarterial irradiation during angioplasty as well as radioactive stent implantation are reviewed. Authors discuss also results of first clinical trials, the design and preliminary results of some larger studies like PARIS, SCRIPPS, GENEVA, BERT, IRIS, WRIST. Further investigational directions in intravascular radiation therapy are also presented.

[Comparative study to assess the efficacy and adverse effects of amlodipine and nifedipine retard in patients with stable exertional angina and hypertension]. / Badania porównawcze skutecznosci i dzialania niepozadanego amlodypiny i nifedypiny retard u chorych na dlawice piersiowa stabilna z wspólistniejacym nadcisnieniem tetniczym.

The purpose of the study was to compare the antianginal and hypotensive efficacy and tolerability of 8 weeks of treatment with amlodipine taken once daily and nifedipine taken twice daily in patients with stable exertional angina pectoris and mild-to-moderate hypertension. Following a 2-week placebo run-in-period 13 patients were randomized to receive amlodipine (5 to 10 mg once daily) and 8 patients to receive nifedipine (20 or 40 mg twice daily) in an 8-week treatment phase. Antianginal efficacy was assessed with angina diares, investigators, and patients global evaluations and with treadmill exercise test during placebo run-in-period and after 8 weeks of the therapy. Amlodipine significantly reduced both weekly anginal attacks and consumption of glyceryl trinitrate tablets. This effect was more pronounced compared to efficacy of nifedipine. Exercise tolerance was also improved more markedly after amlodipine than after nifedipine treatment. Amlodipine treatment resulted in significant increase in total exercise time, increase the exercise time to angina onset, increase time to ST segment depression, decrease in ST segment depression, decrease in total duration of ST segment depression and decrease in duration of pain. In patients treated with nifedipine only favourable effect was significant decrease in total duration of ST segment depression, without significant changes of other examined parameters. Both drugs decreased blood pressure with no significant change in heart rate. No serious adverse events occurred in any patients during therapy with amlodipine as well as with nifedipine. The results of the study demonstrate that amlodipine has markedly better anti-anginal efficacy than nifedipine with respect to the most of the parameters examined. However both drugs showed comparable antihypertensive action and both were well tolerated by angina patients. The good anti-anginal and hypotensive efficacy and safety of amiodipine with once daily dosage regimen makes this drug an excellent choice of treatment for hypertensive patients with severe coronary artery disease.

[Long-term observation of patients with biopsy proven myocarditis or dilated cardiomyopathy]. / Odlegle obserwacje chorych z potwierdzonym biopsja endomiokardialna zapaleniem miesnia sercowego lub kardiomiopatia rozstrzeniowa.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DC) and myocarditis (MCD) are still cardiac diseases of unknown etiology and pathogenesis. Due to uncertain natural history of MCD also treatment remains controversial. We observe long-term outcome of 30 pts with biopsy-proved MCD (group I) and 25 pts with DC (group II). The diagnosis of MCD was established on Dallas criteria of MCD. Almost all pts presented symptoms of congestive heart failure. All group I pts were treated with immunosuppressive agents: azathioprine 1.5 mg/kg/d and prednisone with initial dose of 1.5 mg/kg/d. After tapering off 0.75 mg/kg/d of prednisone and initial dose of azathioprine were given up to 6 months. All pts obtained digitalis, diuretics, ACEI, antiarrhythmic drugs if necessary. We studied the survival and clinical status (NYHA class) of treated pts. Clinical improvement was observed in 93% of pts with MCD within 6 months, but 20% of pts deteriorated within the next 6 months. Almost all pts survived 1 year. Out of 30 pts with MCD, 16 pts remain in lower NYHA class (NYHA I-II) between 26 and 69 months of follow-up. Within the group II (DC) 28% of pts died in the first year of observation. Out of 15 pts in 14 pts advanced chronic heart failure (NYHA III-IV) is presented in the end of observation. Echocardiographic parameters of pts with congestive heart failure and biopsy-proved MCD or DC did not differ significantly. We observed correlation between improvement of the LV echocardiographic parameters and improvement of clinical status of treated pts.

Mouse model of infected wound.

Local Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection of experimental wound in mice was performed. Suspension of living bacteria was injected beneath skin muscle after skin window had been made on the back of animals. On day 1, 2, 3 and 8 mice were sacrificed, biopsies were taken, number of colony forming units in muscle specimens was estimated and histological examination of skin muscle flaps was performed. The number of bacteria dropped from the very beginning of experiment to the eighth day after infection, still remaining higher than critical value of clinical infection (10(5) CFU per 1 g). Histologically, healing processes beneath skin started from the third day and on the eight day the wounds were practically healed. Developed model of infected wound may be useful to study the antibacterial agents' effectiveness.